"Big Papi" David Ortiz said after the Dodgers won the first game against the Padres in the NLDS “The reality is that when you’re playing against your daddy you need to try to do something different. You can’t just keep having the same approach — your dad knows what you’re going to do. You need to try something different.”. This was laughed at but agreed upon by other commentators.
The reality is, the Padres did find a way to beat the Dodgers (although most say the Dodgers beat themselves), and earned the right to move on to the NLCS.
The problem is...beating the Dodgers seemed to me like that WAS the World Series for the Padres. Watching the incredible amount of celebration by the team and the town after that series win, followed by the flat footed, less than totally focused approach to a Phillies team that they could have beaten, made it seem to me like the Padres replaced one "daddy" with another.
The Dodgers were certainly unhappy with their series loss to the Padres, but not because it was the Padres. The Dodgers set a record for wins in a regular season and EXPECTED to win the World Series. The Dodgers set their sights on the WS every year and that is their goal.
Beating the Dodgers was a huge accomplishment for the Padres, but you don't play to beat a team, you play to win the World Series. Until the Padres change their focus to the much bigger picture and just see the Dodgers as one of many obstacles to overcome, I don't see them in a World Series.
The big 2022 Season Story will not be about the Padres- it will be about how the Phillies beat their "daddies"- St Louis and Atlanta- and didn't stop until they went all the way to the World Series.
I, for one, hope the Phillies win it all. They did what it took and never lost focus on the ultimate goal.
that they