Fernando Tatis Jr.'s villain arc taking beautiful turn after Padres win vs Dodgers

Nearly every book ever written or movie ever filmed has a villain. The battle between good and evil is a tale as old as time, and it finds its way into every walk of life; even sports. The San Diego Padres are no exception to the rule.

So just like every novel or play needs a villain, so does every sport. Throughout baseball history, players like Roger Clemens, Barry Bonds, and Alex Rodriguez certainly filled the role of the sport's top villain at one time or another. Even the Padres' own Manny Machado is viewed in a negative light by many opposing fanbases.

But Fernando Tatis Jr. may have already usurped his teammate as the biggest villain on the Padres' roster. And if that's not the sentiment throughout Major League Baseball, the Los Angeles Dodgers fanbase undoubtedly feels that way about the Friars' superstar.

Fernando Tatis Jr.'s villain arc taking beautiful turn after Padres win vs Dodgers

To be a villain, it takes more than just being good. Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge are really good, and yet, those two players are relatively well liked throughout the sport. But Tatis brings a brash, arrogant attitude to the stage. Worse yet for the opposing fanbases, he backs it up with his play on the field.

That was never more evident than what transpired in Games 1 and 2 of the NLDS against the Dodgers. Though the Friars lost Game 1 to the Dodgers 7-5, one can hardly blame Tatis for the team's shortcomings. The Padres' outfielder was 2-for-4 with double, a walk, and two runs scored on Saturday. Tatis got the Padres' hit parade started on Sunday evening at Chavez Ravine with a solo shot in the first inning. The outlandish San Diego star smashed a two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth and finished 3-for-4 with three RBI.

Of course, the Los Angeles faithful do not appreciate Tatis' bat flips, jab-steps while rounding third base, over-the-top celebrations, and obscene dances in the outfield; especially at the expense of the Dodgers. And while Dodgers' fans, and others throughout baseball, may not Tatis' brash approach to the game, that's just Nando being Nando.

The Padres need more of the same from Fernando Tatis Jr. in Game 3 of the NLDS vs. Dodgers

After evening up the series on Sunday night, there's no way that manager Mike Shildt is going to ask Tatis to rein it in. In fact, the Padres' skipper might ask even more of the 25-year-old ahead of Tuesday's clash at Petco Park.

Game 3 of the NLDS had the potential to swing the series one way or the other, and the question the Friar faithful are eager to see answered is whether or not the bad guy will win this one and put the Padres up 2-1 with a chance to clinch the series.

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