Mookie Betts' take on Padres fans should motivate San Diego to finish the job in 2025

If this doesn't fire up the San Diego Padres' roster, then we don't know what else will. Friars fans are not only renowned for showing up to games. They're known for being great baseball fans. In 2024, Petco Park had the third-highest attendance total and fourth-best average across Major League Baseball — and the opposing players noticed.

Mookie Betts, the superstar versatile player for the World Series-defending Los Angeles Dodgers, had some light to shed on Padres fans. Betts, one of the most positive and high-energy players in the game, loved what San Diego's faithful brought to the ballpark every night.

On his podcast via Bleacher Report, Betts unveiled that he believes that Padres fans offer the hardest atmosphere to play in.

Betts' thoughts are shared with Padres infielder Jake Cronenworth, who spoke on behalf of his team, suggesting the fans have undoubtedly contributed to the franchise's recent success. He, along with the rest of the players, feed off the energy and resilience from the crowd.

Jake Cronenworth to Padres fans as they come to Petco Park tonight:

“You’re a huge part to our success…what you guys brought in ’22 was huge for us. That support, that level of intensity and emotion, and how loud you guys were…that’s really important to us.” pic.twitter.com/dmsO2KceTu
— Sammy Levitt (@SammyLev) October 1, 2024

Betts also said that he thinks the Manny Machado, Fernando Tatis Jr.-led squad was the best team in baseball. He really went to bat for his divisional rival, but all of this should only motivate this San Diego team to finish the job in 2025.

After losing in the NLCS in 2022 and the NLDS in 2024, it seems like the Padres are all out of excuses. They have the talent and they have the fans to carry them to a championship victory. Not only do the Padres know of the advantages they possess, but players on other teams are fully aware of this.

It's time for the Pads to bear down and live up to the potential that is on paper. A roster highlighted by MVP contenders and Cy Young Award vote-getters should be enough to get them to a World Series. Not to mention, the Padres also have an All-Star coaching staff.

Learn from the prior postseason failures and apply that to 2025. The Padres should 100% be ready for a franchise-best campaign. If Mookie Betts is anticipating this happening, then maybe the Padres should feel even more fueled to get their city the ring that they deserve.

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