What could have been for the Padres this Opening Day
March 26 was supposed to be the beginning of a special season for the San Diego Padres, but for now that journey has been put on hold.
The San Diego Padres, maybe more than any other team, could not wait to take the field on this Opening Day for the 2020 season.
After a disappointing end to the 2019 season, one that saw their rising start at shorts in Fernando Tatis Jr. get injured and missed the final few months, there was a lot of excitement for 2020.
With a couple of offseason moves to try and boost the offense, and some high upside arms in the rotation and bullpen, this team looked like one that could compete in the National League — at least for a Wild Card spot.
And that very well could happen, but the path to get there may take a very different route.
The Padres will not be taking the field at Petco Park tonight against the Colorado Rockies with Chris Paddack getting the Opening Day start.
I was planning to be at the game on Monday against the Atlanta Braves, but that isn’t happening either — still waiting on notification of my refund for that game…
In fact, we have no idea when the 2020 season will get starts — but I’m very hopeful that it will at some point.
Even if the Padres didn’t make the postseason this season, it was still a year where a lot of their young players were supposed to get a lot of reps to build up confidence at the big league level.
How does this suspension of the season delay that development now? Does it put the Padres window to contend back a year?
These, and many others, are all questions we have to ponder right now instead of watching our favorite team take the field.
It’s a difficult time indeed. While there are certainly more important issues happening in our world, I was so excited to see this Padres team finally get on the field and compete.
Today was supposed to be the day that all started. For now we just wait, pray this virus gets under control, and that the Padres will be playing baseball again really soon.