Have the Padres lost their chance to advance? It's hard to look at it any other way – San Diego Union-Tribune

Sez Me…

There is no harsher word in sports than “choking.”

It means you came up empty and failed when it mattered most. But it's also hard to prove. Everyone has bad days. Especially in baseball, where the best is the one who has failed the least.

But if it's a cumulative effort, if enough olives were swallowed to cause Lindsay to shake more trees, one has to consider the possibility that not everything was easily swallowed.

So the question must be asked: Did the Padres surrender their NLDS series to the stinking Dodgers and leave the impression that they were riding a great racehorse against the claimants?

I think they gagged. It started here with “charging,” in which suffocation was as common as bodily functions. And now I hate to say it, Padreing. When we bring our professional sports teams together with local government, San Diegoing is created.

There is no other way to look at it. After leading the Bums two games to one in their best-of-five series, they collapsed like a ruined soufflé. In the last two games – both in which their batters hunkered down and were shut out – they pitched an astonishing 24 straight innings without scoring against a depleted staff. And in the 2-0 final, the last 19 batters went gently into the good night with Dylan Thomas.

I realize how hard it is to hit a baseball. But these are professionals, good players who are supposed to thrive under pressure. They stank. Some didn't show up. It was more than just a smell. It was “Seinfeld” car BO

You don’t get shut out of bullpens back-to-back.

The pitching was good enough, but allow me to quote my father again: “You can't win if you don't score.” This was a case study in inability to hit. And this was a club that led baseball in batting average and fewest strikeouts, which means plate discipline.

Losing starter Joe Musgrove to Tommy John surgery just before this series hurt, no question. While Joe doesn't strike – although who knows? – perhaps he could have helped an offense with enormous deficiencies.

I thought manager Mike Shildt did as much as he could (I think he had to start Dylan Cease), but I will forever think that Game 1 would have been his if he had Shohei Ohtani with two outs, an open first Base and runners would have been defeated on second and third. Granted, Mookie Betts was next, but at that point Mookie couldn't hit a baseball with a Sequoia.

This was their best team and LA's slip-up was visible. It was the ideal opportunity to bring the now-great baseball city its first major sports championship.

The San Diego Curse? I'm not qualified to answer this, but it might be a good idea for Sheel Seidler to bring in an exorcist. …

If you don't believe there's a Padres-Dodgers rivalry, you're either an LA fan who throws things on the field or an idiot, which, come to think of it, is the same thing. …

Dave Roberts is the son of a Marine. He was quarterback of the great Rancho Buena Vista High School team. Since then, he has been the most popular figure in Boston Paul Revere. So, big baby Manny Machado Dugout praise doesn't fit his profile. You can't fool a joke, Dave. Bad attempt. …

There has never been a great defensive baseball player who didn't make mistakes. Willie Mays made 139. This is what happens when you get to balls that mere mortals can't get to. Willie had more putouts than any other center fielder in history. …

In 2024, there were more than 27,000 missed balls and referee strikes. I'm proud to say I've seen 29,000 of them. …

If you are one of those who are still worried Caleb WilliamsCheck out last week's Bears-Panthers highlights. The last time Chicago scored 36 points, Mrs. O'Learys The cow was so excited while being milked that she knocked over the lantern. …

I know the world has gone crazy, but I can't understand how a fan can cheer for a player who beat up a woman, an idiot who has no business earning two bits in the NFL. To me it's disgusting. …

Meanwhile, Baltimore police arrested Patriots security Jabrill peppersand charges him with assault (on a female), assault with a deadly weapon, strangulation and possession of a Class B substance suspected to be cocaine. The NFL may be promoting the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award. …

When we now talk about problematic “adults”, Deshaun Watson has settled more lawsuits (24) than he has thrown touchdown passes (19) since wasting the Browns' money. …

Georgia is now a receiver Colbie Young was arrested for assault and battery on an unborn child. The Bulldogs are the Chiefs of the NFL. …

Bills is now back James Cook He is reportedly being investigated by Buffalo police after he allegedly ran out of a nightclub bill of $860. Wait. Professional athletes pay for something in their hometown? He couldn't have known. …

Robert Saleh will receive $19,000 per day from the Jets for the next two years. Can he become unemployed? …

A bus gets arrested and escorted out of the building? This embarrassment happened to Saleh, and the only time he was considered dangerous was when he suggested play calls. …

Jets owner Woody Johnson let Saleh bounce without bothering to consult GM Joe Douglas. Now there are signs of a terrible organization. …

Everyone complained at some point Aaron Rodgers went to Egypt and missed minicamp. But not a single word was heard from an Egyptian Pharaoh Khufu went on a trip to Manhattan during the construction of the Great Pyramid. …

So NFL New York reviewers don't have the camera angles that a network does? Why not? How difficult is it for these people to see what we see? …

The NFL may play a game in Abu Dhabi. I guess the league doesn't know we have an extradition treaty with the UAE. …

Why can Patrick Mahomes get away with the no weapons sign? Man, I don't know. …

If Al Luginbill These Aztecs practiced against Wyoming: “There is no room for tricks in college football.”…

REST IN PEACE, Luis Tiant. He was good. He was absolutely unique. He could throw a baseball from the back of his neck. Dizzy Dean called him “Taint.” …

Congratulations to the colleague/friend Jim Trotter for forcing the NFL to reach an out-of-court settlement on the racial issue he raised Roger Goodell (and for getting Jim fired from NFL Media). No chance (none, zero) The league wanted to hold a trial in a laundromat where all of their dirty laundry could come to light. …

Note to Bicycle Mayor/Ham & Eggers: A pothole occurred on the Pacific Highway north of the car rental buildings in Versailles, which is being used as a temporary Halloween store. …

Why should I – or anyone – care who an NFL is? Kicker endorses the office of president? …

Men and women have explored only 23 percent of our oceans. Good news. Only 73 percent have fallen victim to pollution. …

Without a national election, we are stupid enough when the average school grade seems to be: “What is school?”…

When I was warm last week, I went outside and waved my arms, encouraging the marine layer to come in early.

Originally published: October 12, 2024 at 2:56 p.m