Pencil in the Padres
No, change that to a Sharpie or something more permanent. San Diego has officially ended a 14 year absence from the playoffs. Mitch Moreland -- seen here in his days with the Red Sox -- doubled in another American League expat, Manny Machado (below) with the go-ahead run in the top of the 11th inning. The Padres 7-4 victory over the Mariners clinch a spot in the Wild Card round. Playing out west and in a smaller media market, San Diego has made a combination of bold and subtle moves to assure themselves of a spot in the tournament. Mid-season pickup Moreland and headline-grabbing 2019 free agent Machado are the perfect contrast. Little moves and big ones finally enabled the Padres recast their image. They did a lot that "under the radar."
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