The San Diego Padres have gained seven consecutive video games, however it’s virtually actually too little, too late for his or her playoff hopes. That is probably not coincidental, a minimum of based mostly on what Fernando Tatis Jr. needed to say after Wednesday’s win.
Tatis instructed that the Padres had struggled below the load of expectations to begin the season, and that gamers put an excessive amount of stress on themselves to carry out as a substitute of merely specializing in the duty at hand.
“All of the expectations and realizing the group that we had been,” Tatis mentioned, through AJ Cassavell of MLB.com. “All the great gamers and the hype. Individuals had been excited. Coming in as a gaggle collectively, I really feel like we put somewhat little bit of stress on ourselves. An excessive amount of. Not making an attempt to carry out, however making an attempt to make it occur. … I really feel like we discovered our lesson.
“It taught us lots as a gaggle. It means: Lower the eyewash. Simply are available as a gaggle realizing what you’ll want to do. Go on the market, play the sport, make your self really feel like a child once more. That is the toughest sport on this planet. Including that stress is simply overwhelming.”
After an NLCS look in 2022, the Padres signed Xander Bogaerts as a free agent and had been thought of World Collection contenders at the beginning of the season. The perspective they’d very a lot backed that up. As a substitute, issues went unsuitable, because the Padres have struggled from begin to end. Even after profitable seven straight coming into play Thursday, they’re simply 75-78.
The 2024 Padres ought to have lots much less hype surrounding them and maybe that can assist. Tatis can have an enormous say in whether or not issues enhance subsequent yr, as he has hit a modest 25 house runs with a .260 common up to now this season.