San Diego Padres Need a Name Change

The team name “Padres” is far too respectful for a group of contemptuous players like Manny Machado, Fernando Tatis Jr., Trent Grisham, Jurickson Profar, and others. Certainly not applicable to all of the San Diego players, but a few rotten apples in the barrel (aka dugout) stigmatizes the entire team.

San Diego has an extremely talented group of players, but some lack respect for the game and their opponents, particularly the Los Angeles Dodgers, who currently lead the best-of-five 2020 National League Division Series two games to none.

Some will say “let the players have fun” or “the unwritten rules of MLB are an anachronism for today’s players,” to which I reply — hogwash. Exaggerated bat flips, tossing balls into the opposing team’s bullpen, turning toward your dugout after hitting a home run for an extended demonstrative display, etc. are intentional taunts to disrespect and minimalize the other team.

Call it what it is, “taunting.” If this were college or professional football, a penalty flag would be thrown, and the team assessed a 15-yard penalty. If it were college basketball or the National Basketball Association, a technical foul would be called and a foul shot awarded. A yellow card would be issued to the offending player in soccer.

Compounding their childish behaviors, the San Diego offenders confront an opposing player who dares to dish-back even a modicum of similar behavior, coming out of the dugout, pointing their fingers, and repeatedly yelling “f*** you, in an effort to intimidate and harass.

After hitting a solo home run off of future Hall of Famer Clayton Kershaw in the top of the sixth inning on Wednesday evening, non-future Hall of Famer Manny Machado didn’t flip his bat, he slammed it to the ground, turned to his dugout, and yelled “F*** You.” Pure class, Manny. Pure class.
(Video capture courtesy of Fox Sports)

It is hard to imagine that some San Diego players’ behaviors are acceptable to veteran players like first basemen Eric Hosmer and Mitch Moreland or of veteran pitchers Drew Pomeranz, Trevor Rosenthal, and Kirby Yates. It would not be surprising if, in the past, they themselves had intentionally knocked down – or hit – opposing hitters for disrespecting them or their team.

There is no doubt that coaches Skip Schumaker, Damion Easley, Wayne Kirby, and Glenn Hoffman did not condone that type of disrespectful behavior during their playing careers. So, who is in charge of the San Diego team during games? The manager, Jayce Tingler, should be in control, but he appears to be intimidated by some of his own players.

For now, it appears that a handful of players are running the baseball asylum in San Diego.

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Author’s Note: Thankfully, the Dodgers did not sign Manny Machado to a contract extension after his one season in LA. It didn’t take long for him to wear out his welcome with Dodger fans.

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15 Responses to “San Diego Padres Need a Name Change”

  1. Mick Mick says:

    @Dodgers I’d argue that the Dodgers could’ve made it without Machado in 2018 to the series and I coul… https://t.co/qASLQpnpFO

  2. Senor Padre says:

    Wow, another Dodger fan hypocrite that forgets that Max Muncy has bat flipped every homerun he’s hit with the Dodgers. You have the nerve to rip Padre players for displaying Muncy-type antics…lol.

    Also, the Dodgers never intended to resign Manny. It is well known he was a rental that took over for Seager.

    • Jesse Pearce says:

      I defy you to find even one occurrence of Muncy flipping/throwing bats like Machado, Tatis, and Grisham, or turning his back on the pitcher to demonstrate into his own dugout before starting his trot around the bases. Dodgers were in position to re-sign (not resign) Machado in free agency, but his lazy, and often indifferent play made it easy for the team say good-bye.

  3. Chloe says:

    Incredible how tone deaf this article is; the “bad players” are all people of color and the “good players” are all white! Wow! What a coincidence! It’s almost like policing behavior is a way to reinforce racism and white supremacy.

    • Joey G says:

      An a-hole is an a-hole, regardless of the color of their skin. Mr. Padre, the all-time great, Tony Gwynn was a class act, and so was Chase Utley. On the other hand you have guys like John Rocker or Milton Bradley. Race has nothing to do with it.

    • Jesse Pearce says:

      I had reservations about posting this piece figuring that someone would pull the race card, regardless of the truth. But thanks for reading, perhaps you would like to peruse the Think Blue LA archives and read the articles in which I was extremely critical of players like Josh Reddick, Justin Verlander, Alex Bregman, manager AJ Hinch, GM Jeff Luhnow, and owner Jim Crane for their roles in cheating MLB. Or my criticism of Mets third baseman Todd Frazier for cheating when he fooled umpires into believing a kids baseball was the real deal resulting in an erroneous out call. You will even find criticism of Dodgers AJ Pollock, Joc Pederson, and Max Muncy in these archives. I could go on, but hopefully you get the FULL picture. I am reminded of the quote: “Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?”

      • Chloe says:

        Thanks for the offer, but I’ll pass on reading more from you to get the full picture. The “full picture” includes this tone deaf take, which isn’t magically not racist just because you have criticised white people for cheating before. Cheating and bat flips are fundamentally different, but you know that. There’s a reason you hesitated in posting this, and maybe next time you should follow that instinct.

        • Sam Fishburne says:

          So wait, because they are of people of color they get a pass? Manny was trash when he was a Dodger…When he kicked that first baseman for the Brewers he was done in my eyes.

          Remember it is discrimination to call out a person because of their skin color, but it is also discrimination not calling out a person because of their skin color.

          But hey, you said you were done reading…door is over there…free country

  4. Steve Smith Steve Smith says:

    @Dodgers Bullys can always dish it out and can’t take it. Let’s just sweep them and move on. Best ans… https://t.co/dgBnZjAAr0

  5. stevebendodger says:

    I think this ” Bat Flip” Turning your back to the pitcher and screaming expletives will be dealt with this offseason. It must stop. Mr Marchado was so overtly over the top and his screaming FU was not in the best interest of baseball.
    Tonite we will put the Padres back where they belong -In the Losing Dugout.

    Go Dodgers

  6. DodgerBlueMom says:

    When you can’t beat them by being better, you taunt them. Not a terrific example for all the young boys and girls they are trying to get interested in playing baseball. I am so grateful the Dodgers did not sign Machado. What a immature brat he is.

  7. Scott Harvey says:

    Here is a thought, Tatis and Grisham are both young players and might look up to Machado and I think it is well documented that Machado is a dirty player. I have been watching a lot of baseball ejections on youtube and Manny is in a lot of them. In fact on one video he was in there three times! Manny is a bad apple.

  8. stevebendodger says:

    I think the man behind the curtain Our Own Freidman is a very smart guy. Passes on Harper and Machado, gets the right guy and signs him long term- Betts.

    Since Grisholm turned his back on Kershaw in the regular season the Dodgers beat the Pads 5 times in a row. They were completely beaten last night and didnt put up any resistance. The Pads looked like a team who met their enemy and it might be their own antics.

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