PEORIA, ARIZONA – FEBRUARY 13: Former professional baseball player Craig Stammen watches the bullpen sessions during the daily workout at Peoria Sports Complex on February 13, 2024 in Peoria, Arizona. (Photo by Matt Thomas/San Diego Padres/Getty Images)
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The San Diego Padres won 90 games and earned a second straight playoff berth this past season but they came up short when they ran into the Chicago Cubs in the National League Wild Card Series.
It was a disappointment after the team reached the National League Division Series in 2024 and brought the eventual champion Los Angeles Dodgers to a decisive fifth game. And that was a step back from the team’s 2022 postseason, which saw it reach the National League Championship series after beating the Dodgers in the division series.
San Diego Padres Manager Looks Forward To ‘Battles’ With Los Angeles Dodgers
While the Padres will reset and look to make it even further next year behind the star power of Fernando Tatis Jr., Manny Machado and company, they will almost certainly have to go through the Dodgers once again. As division rivals, the two compete fiercely during the regular season and any team with National League pennant aspirations should prepare to face the Dodgers at some point in the playoffs.
It’s a rivalry that’s understood by every member of the Padres organization, including their newly appointed manager Craig Stammen, who was hired this offseason after skipper Mike Shildt stepped down.
“We’ve definitely had a lot of battles with them,” Stammen said of his outlook on the Dodgers for next season, during a recent appearance on “Foul Territory.” “We’re looking forward to those battles this season.”
That attitude might seem like a given from the Padres’ new manager, but in the context of the offseason so far, it would be understandable if Stammen felt like the gap between the two teams was getting wider.
Los Angeles Dodgers Seem To Be Gaining Ground On San Diego Padres
The Dodgers have now won back-to-back championships and added All-Star closer Edwin Diaz to the roster. Meanwhile, the Padres have had more of a modest offseason, re-signing Michael King and adding Sung-Mun Song while losing Dylan Cease, Robert Suarez and Ryan O’Hearn. The Padres might also start next season without Luis Arraez and several other players who remain free agents.
With that backdrop, Stammen delivered a noteworthy, four-word vow about how he expects his team to match up with the reigning champions.
“We’re going to compete,” Stammen said during the “Foul Territory” appearance.
Unless the Padres’ front office makes some significant moves in the next few weeks, it might be hard to imagine the rivalry being very competitive next season. But no matter who takes the field, Padres’ series with the Dodgers are usually pretty entertaining.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/peterchawaga/2026/01/14/padres-new-skipper-sends-4-word-dodgers-promise/
