Padres ranked No. 3 in way-too-early MLB power rankings

The 2020 MLB season culminated last night in a Wold Series victory for the Los Angeles Dodgers because of course it did.

Like with the end of most professional sports season, the far-too-early opening power rankings for the following season are always close behind.

David Schoenfield is the man behind ESPN’s early rankings, and I think you’ll all be pretty okay with his list because your Padres come in at #3, behind only the Dodgers and the Braves.

Here’s what Schoenfield had to say about where he ranked the Padres:

“Sure, an argument can be made to put the Padres ahead of the Braves, but I think we have to first make sure Dinelson Lamet and Mike Clevinger are completely healthy in spring training. San Diego brings back essentially every significant player after running out the youngest lineup in the NL, with Jake Cronenworth and Trent Grisham looking like foundation additions alongside Fernando Tatis Jr. (All were acquired in trades; good job, A.J. Preller!) We’ll see if Eric Hosmer and Wil Myers can match their 2020 rate of production, but if Luis Patino and MacKenzie Gore become impact starters, the Padres are poised to make a multiyear run in challenging the Dodgers for NL West supremacy.”

After reading Schoenfield’s thoughts, I’m only reminded of the insanely frustrating injuries that hit Lamet and Clevinger just before the postseason.

Oh what could have been? Maybe not a World Series, but at least the dang NLDS would have been a hell of a lot more competitive/fun to watch.