I Was At Juan Soto's Padres Debut

 

(Photo is owned by the San Diego Union Tribune, we do not own the rights)

 

8/3/2022- Juan Soto’s debut as a San Diego Padre was the greatest moment I’ve ever had as a Padres fan. I can’t explain what it felt like to be in attendance with all of my fellow San Diegans in the pregame awaiting Soto’s inevitable entrance. I’m not talking about his first AB, I’m talking running out of the dugout to stretch. The place was absolutely ELECTRIC. I have no idea why or if this will even make sense but as I was sitting there in my seat in section 121 row 34 endlessly staring at the dugout, I was legitimately nervous with anticipation. Basically, I can’t believe that this happened to the Padres. To my city. We have never ever made such an aggressive leap to contend for the World Series in the history of the franchise and you could feel that in the crowd yesterday. It was unbelievable. People were standing and damn near in full capacity 30 minutes before gametime. Literally doesn’t happen in baseball. I felt like a little kid again dreaming to be one of these superstars on the field and that’s the beauty of baseball and what the “baseball is so boring” crowd doesn’t understand.

THE FIRST INNING

Holy cow. If there was ever a playoff atmosphere in a game that wasn’t actually playoffs it was the bottom of the first. Profar pops out on the first pitch and the moment was here… the crowd rises to their feet as the Padres PA announcer introduces Juan Soto in his first AB with the team. I could literally feel the energy, anticipation, and fire, from the Padres fan base. It was literally 45k of us versus that Rockies pitcher. What a powerful feeling. It was at that moment when I think the moment became too big for the Rockies pitcher (who cares who it was) some guy with the last name Kuhl. Yeah okay. He walks Soto on 4 straight pitches and then Manny hits an absolute rocket to the wall and the place is going BANANAS. Like I said 45k of us versus the Rockies pitcher. He could feel the pressure mounting as all of us are literally standing the entire inning. 


I've been going to games since the Qualcomn days and have NEVER seen that from our fan base. It was incredible. Bell’s at bat was electric, draws a walk to load the bases and then Crony gets smoked in the foot to bring in the first run. 1 out bases loaded for Brandon Drury. Who the hell is Brandon Drury all of us were thinking. I looked up at the scoreboard…. Batting .270 20 HR’s 58 RBI’s and I go hey this guys pretty good I guess. And the first pitch……………





GRAND SLAM!!! Dude are you kidding me??? I couldn’t believe what just happened. The stadium erupted, absolutely erupted. What a moment for Drury who I’m calling either King Drury or King of the Drury’s. You tell me which is better but I literally still can’t believe that happened. Magic at Petco Park. It was a euphoric feeling I’ve never felt as a Padres fan. It felt like we all hit the grand slam or even willed it to happen but wow Drury you freakin dog you. Then as the game went on Machado and Crony went deep and Soto got his first hit in the 8th inning. It was the perfect baseball game as a Padres fan.


So the bottom line is this… We’re here for the long term and we’re going to beat you and make you accept it. That’s who the San Diego Padres are now. After a decade and then some of futility and guys names and faces who aren’t even currently playing anymore, this is who we’ve become. A World Series contender. Legitimately. Wow what a game to attend, I’m so excited for today’s game. And here’s the other thing. If we don’t win it all? I don’t really care honestly. Yeah I want to win it all of course but this ownership group has gone all in and given us Tatis, Soto, and Machado to watch every night. That’s all I’ve ever wanted. Not those guys specifically but just people in power who will give us a chance to actually win. And Peter Seidler and AJ Preller have done so much more than that now. 


WHAT A TIME TO BE A SAN DIEGO PADRES FAN. LFGSD!!





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