The seemingly inevitable became official in an almost impossible way last night, as the Padres clinched a spot in the 2024 postseason in a fashion that had never been done before in the history of Major League Baseball: with a game-ending triple play.
And while it’s felt for a few days now like it was only a matter of time before the team was officially “in,” I can’t imagine anyone could have dreamed up the Hollywood ending that we saw last night at Dodger Stadium.
Just add this to the list of borderline unbelievable things that have happened for this team this year:
I mean…come on.
As I was excitedly (and unnecessarily; sorry, AJ) telling AJ Preller in the clubhouse long after the game ended last night, seeing a triple play in person was my baseball white whale. And all I know is that this one was worth the wait.
The New Standard
Obviously 2020 is a little bit goofy, but the reality is the Padres have now made the playoffs three times in the last five years.
Beyond that, they now sit at 91 wins on the season with five games to go, putting the 2024 team near the top of the list when it comes to the most successful regular seasons in franchise history:
MOST WINS IN A SINGLE SEASON
98 wins/1998
92 wins/1984
91 wins/1996
91 wins/2024 (w/5 games to go)
90 wins/2010
As far as where and against whom the Padres will be playing after they wrap the regular season this weekend in Phoenix, that’s a major “stay tuned” situation, because this thing can still go a few (thousand?) different directions.
One of those directions, of course, is a potential National League West title. The Padre continue to control their own destiny in regards to a Division title (and a presumable first round bye), though there’s still some heavy lifting ahead. Nonetheless, it’s very much in play here on September 25th and that’s pretty special.
The important thing for now, though, is that the Padres are in the tournament. And so we buckle up for what is hopefully a long and dramatic month or so ahead. As Michael King said last night, he wants to be playing baseball on Halloween and beyond.
In the Clubhouse
Amazing job by my broadcast partner Tony Gwynn Jr. in the Padres clubhouse after the game last night.
Tony snuck down after the top of the 9th inning and was getting ready to do live postgame coverage as the craziness in the bottom half unfolded. After watching the game end on a monitor adjacent to the locker room, he was in the middle of all the action once the champagne started flowing (I can’t figure out how to embed the video, sorry).
Tony had live interviews with Mike Shildt, Manny Machado, Fernando Tatis Jr., Joe Musgrove, Jackson Merrill, Jake Cronenworth, Xander Bogaerts, and Michael King. I think that’s the correct list, at least. I was in the booth at Dodger Stadium furiously scribbling key points down while Tony talked to the guys.
The over-arching theme from everyone he spoke to: there are still more boxes to check.
Speaking of the Broadcast
A friendly reminder that local TV goes away for the postseason, but Tony (and Dave!) and Jesse will be with you the rest of the way, however far it goes. And as we did in 2022, Tony will be live in the clubhouse for any and all champagne celebrations. I don’t often toot our own horn, but Tony does a phenomenal job with that piece of it and as I said, last night was no exception. It’s worth tuning in for, really is.
How They Got Here
There are seemingly an infinite number of reasons why the Padres are where they are. To state some obvious ones: incredible starting pitching, especially considering long absences from both Joe Musgrove and Yu Darvish. Elite-level play from Jurickson Profar and Jackson Merrill, neither of whom were penciled in to be what they have been on the first day of Spring Training. And on it goes. Great teams have a long answer to the question of “How?”
For a moment, though, let’s give Manny Machado some love, and not just for somehow turning a playoff-clinching 5-4-3 triple play.
On the afternoon of June 19th, the Padres had lost five in a row, were sitting at 37-40, and trying to avoid a sweep in Philadelphia.
That day at Citizens Bank Park, they survived a couple of Bryce Harper homers and won 5-2. Machado had a 2-5 day with a couple of singles, but looking back, that was probably the day that changed 2024.
The next night at home against the Brewers, Machado hit a 3-run homer in the 1st inning, Jake Cronenworth would walk it off, and the Padres would take off.
They are 54-26 since.
In that time, Machado has hit 23 of his 29 HRs on the season.
Credit to Kevin Acee of the U-T for being all over the 6/19 date a few weeks ago. Fitting that that was when it turned around.
And Lastly..
Yes, this happened:
What a sport. What a team.
Talk soon…