Padres Insider Highly Disappointed in Team's Inability to Perform in Big Games

The stage was set for them to go back-to-back.

Even though it was confirmed that the players and coaching staff within the San Diego Padres had nothing to do with the screening of an image showcasing a crying Clayton Kershaw, it still represented each of them.

In a sport where competitive spirit and trash-talking remain key components within, there are still certain lines in which teams know they should not cross. Displaying such an image after winning just the first game of the season against the Los Angeles Dodgers was definitely crossing one of those lines in many people's books.

#Padres put a crying Clayton Kershaw photo onto the Jumbotron after the win: https://t.co/2sj8QX1EzF

— Annie Heilbrunn (@annieheilbrunn) May 6, 2023

Despite Kershaw himself coming out and stating that he didn't mind the diss at all because its just a reminder that he needs to pitch better and that his team needs to win, there has a still been a ton of backlash against it.

It didn't help at all either that the Friars came out the next day and fell to LA at home 1-2. Kevin Acee of The Athletic was very frustrated with the outcome of this game because he loved the performance Blake Snell put forth and thought it was a very winnable game for the Padres.

Acee sees this loss as yet another one to add to pile of question marks surrounding San Diego.

Blake Snell gets his first strikeout of the night pic.twitter.com/IhmfkYMkOH

— Talking Friars (@TalkingFriars) May 7, 2023

"Worse, the Padres again got pitching that was more than adequate.The biggest disappointment through the season’s first 34 games is that the pitching has been about what was expected, maybe better. Without Robert Suarez all season and Joe Musgrove for most of it, the staff has endured. This team was built to have enough pitching and more than enough offense. One of those has come to fruition."

(Via The San Diego-Union Tribune)

Luckily, the Friars still have a chance to close out the series today at 4:10 pm PT. It is important they do so and make a clear statement that they are the team to beat in the NL West.