Padres CEO Takes Apparent Shot at Dodgers Fans at Fan Fest
Not making any major moves to improve your roster the entire offseason can certainly make one jealous, especially when seeing all the ways that the Los Angeles Dodgers are improving upon a championship-proven roster.
From signing Cy Young award-winners, international phenoms, and bringing in talent that is already improving a team that won its’ eighth World Series title a few months ago, the Dodgers are doing just fine as of recently. The San Diego Padres, not so much.
Padres’ CEO Erik Geupner took an apparent shot at Dodgers fans at San Diego’s Fan Fest recently when talking about how passionate their fans are.
“One of the things that I think is so cool about the way you support this team and the environment that you create which has become as [Mike] Shildt said one of the most difficult environment for other teams to come into and play, is that you do it in a classy way, right?” Greupner said to Padres fans in attendance.
“I think we saw some things some other places, I won’t give you more detail on that, but I will just tell you that that’s not who we are, and that’s not who we were, and that’s not who we’re gonna be, you guys do it in a positive, supportive, passionate way, and you guys are the best.”
Frustration is a term that comes to mind when discussing how the Padres front office might feel this offseason.
An ownership lawsuit hanging over the ball club, losing the Roki Sasaki sweepstakes despite making it among the final three teams, seeing a former Cy Young award winner go to L.A., and even the inability to maintain core free agents are just a few issues for fans this offseason.
To be fair, Geupner may have been referencing the tensions that arose when the Padres ultimately lost to the Dodgers in the NLDS.
The series featured former Dodgers pitcher Jack Flaherty hitting Fernando Tatis Jr. with a pitch, fans throwing items onto the field, and even Padres infielder Manny Machado allegedly throwing a ball at the Dodgers dugout that manager Dave Roberts said had “intent behind it.”
The Dodgers of course had the last laugh that series and look to be even more dominant in 2025.
Photo Credit: Sandy Hooper-USA TODAY
Have you joined our Discord Channel yet? Be a part of the ultimate Dodgers Nation community and get VIP Nation Access! Don’t miss out on real-time Dodgers talk, call-in access to Dodgers Dougout, behind-the-scenes content, exclusive interviews, giveaways, and more!
Please talk all the trash you want after you win your first World Series. Until then, sport your 0-2 WS record and the oldest franchise to have never won one means your “shots” at a rival are worthless. That our last two WS wins came through San Diego makes your whining all that much sweeter.