A couple of months or so ago I made a hypothetical mixtape for Padres fans. I liked to think of it as equal parts hopeful, justifiably critical, a bit cynical, and above all --- dedicated with love.
Well when I made that mixtape and attempted to eloquently state my reasoning behind each song selection, I was under the false impression that the season couldn't get worse. I should have known better.
Because there's nothing like seeing homegrown talent get traded and then flourish with a "big club" or questioning three-seasons-ago roster moves or trying to learn a million new names when injuries result in guys being called up or just being disappointed to hear about a player suspension. Or being no-hit for the second time in two seasons. By the same pitcher. #DarkestTimeline
And of course there was the absolute heartbreak that was Tony's passing. Can't really go there right now.
So I'd been considering making a few additions to the mixtape, and whilst currently watching this rag-tag group of dreamers taking on the Cubs, why not....
1. "When Will I Be Loved?" - Linda Ronstadt
Written by Phil Everly of the Everly Brothers --- but I'm sharing Linda Ronstadt's performance because she's my Number One Girl Crush --- I wonder if he was in fact a prophetic Padres fan... Consider lines such as "When I find a new man... he always breaks my heart in two... (granted that was slightly altered from the original)" and "I've been made blue..." Really, Phil Everly? What did you foresee that we didn't? And do any of your other songs contain clues as to when the team will #BringBackTheBrown and, you know, win?
Not baseball-related but in my next life I want to come back as 20-year old Linda Ronstadt.
Yeah, I know some incredible fans who are loyal-to-the-core, ride-or-die types, but that doesn't mean it isn't a bit embarrassing sometimes to sit through another 1-0 or 2-0 loss... to have fans of other teams ask what's happened or what's being done to improve and you really don't know what to tell them... I'm not suggesting that anyone hide their love for the Pads by any means --- in fact I'm all for spreading the love and trying to convert anyone who will listen to give our guys a chance --- but with lyrics like "Everywhere people stare - Each and every day - I can see them laugh at me..." it's hard not to identify with this Fab Four tune every once in awhile.
"Oh, you have a bad baseball team? Cry me a river," - Cubs fans, probably.
This is how I feel every year at the trade deadline:
 |
| "Hold on 'til the end...that's what I intend to do." |
Hey, new owners... you gonna' make this a winning franchise or what? Yeah, the payroll increased --- we're still within the bottom 10 teams and shedding some of the bigger contracts --- and the pitching is pretty solid if you don't count the injuries and I hear that you've made your desire for an All-Star Game at Petco known. These are all good things. But Padres fans have waited a long time and went through some pretty patience-testing times with recent owners. Please don't trail us along leaving teeny breadcrumbs of hope only to come up short when the big opportunities present themselves. We've waited long enough (In fact, I recently commented vented to my mom and dad that so far this ownership has proven that the thing they're really good at is hosting memorial services ---- and I don't ever want to have to go through one of those again. Two in six months is more than enough.).
You've got to keep it to be able to run on it, right?
Imagine getting a love song like this from the ownership/struggling players. I. Would. Swoon.
"I know perfectly well
I'm not where I should beI've been very awareYou've been patient with me...How can it be
You still believe in me..."
More so from the ownership/front office of the last six or seven years --- I feel like, just admit that you've made mistakes; we'd respect that more than statements that sound like flimsy excuses/passing the blame or cover-ups.
So what genres am I clearly missing in the two editions of this mixtape? And what do you want to see from this team; in the last few days before the trade deadline and looking towards next year? I have mixed feelings about posting this now that the Padres just beat the Cubs 8-3 but let's have this conversation anyways ---- I need to think of some really fun, positive songs to include!!
Keep the Faith,
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