Front Row Seat: Padres return home after 5-5 road trip
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John Gennaro
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San Diego Padres
Padres hold playoff position after breaking even on long trip - Padres.com
The 2025 Padres have a tremendously high ceiling and some very obvious flaws.
That was abundantly clear, even before they finished their three-city road trip at 5-5. Still, the post-All-Star trek through Washington, Miami and St. Louis only served to reinforce those strengths and weaknesses.
With their 9-2 victory over the Cardinals on Sunday afternoon at Busch Stadium, the Padres finished a grueling trip at 5-5 – still clinging onto the National League’s final playoff spot.
Rosenthal: What I’m hearing about D-Backs’ and Rays’ deadline plans, Cedric Mullins, more - The Athletic
And finally, one rival executive proclaimed the Cincinnati Reds and San Francisco Giants should be aggressive buyers, saying it’s “open season” on the third NL wild card because of the San Diego Padres’ uncertain hold on the position.
The Padres entered Saturday with four straight losses, a 3-5 record against the Washington Nationals, Miami Marlins and St. Louis Cardinals since the break and a 41-46 mark since starting the season 14-3. And, in the exec’s opinion, Padres general manager A.J. Preller “doesn’t really have the money or the farm system for big additions.”
Padres Daily: Plumbing for depth; Manny on fire; Rotation creativity - San Diego Union-Tribune
There are plenty of people around the game who believe the Padres playing into October could very well hinge on A.J. Preller finding a way to make their lineup (and their bench) deeper by Thursday’s deadline.
Stephen Kolek had another quality start yesterday, a day after Randy Vásquez and the Four Horseman turned in another superb combination effort. The Padres’ bullpen maintains the lowest ERA in the major leagues. But Preller would still do well to also add a starting pitcher and possibly another higher-leverage reliever, though that might take his best trade deadline maneuvering ever given that he doesn’t have much money (if any) to spend.
If Preller makes the Padres appreciably better, most believe, it will mean he pulled off some combination of buying and selling and will have unloaded at least one of the team’s current regulars and/or starting pitchers.
Whatever he does, it would seem a failure if the Padres can’t legitimately claim to have a better starting lineup after 3 p.m. PT on Thursday.
As trade deadline approaches, Padres prepare for sizzling Mets - Field Level Media
The Mets will sleep in unfamiliar beds again for this series but will do so after a 5-3 win on Sunday at San Francisco polished off a series sweep that upped their NL East lead on Philadelphia to 1 1/2 games. They have won seven straight after starting the second half 0-2.
Princeton catcher Jake Bold signs with hometown San Diego Padres - The Daily Princetonian
“It was a dream come true to sign with my hometown team and I am grateful to the Padres organization for giving me a chance,” Bold told The Daily Princetonian after reaching a deal with San Diego.
Bold has been an elite hitter across his three years with the Tigers, consistently leading the team in a number of important statistics. After earning a starting role in his first year, the catcher never looked back, starting every game through his sophomore and junior seasons. He had a remarkable eye at the plate, leading the team in walks in 2024 before outdoing himself and drawing the second-most walks in a single season in program history in 2025.
San Diego FC
Nashville SC 'vulnerable in the back' vs San Diego FC, falls 1-0 on the road - The Tennessean
"I thought we were probably a little bit too high, not as nicely connected with our press," Nashville SC coach B.J. Callaghan said. "We were probably a little bit vulnerable in the back. San Diego's a really good team, and they attract you up, and I thought they did a good job running behind the backline. In the end, I still think we handled it OK."
Nashville Gets Fried in San Diego - Chromatic FC
San Diego FC's next challenge is the Leagues Cup, a competition primarily featuring teams from MLS and Liga MX. This differs from the Concacaf Champions Cup, which includes teams from North America, Central America, and the Caribbean. This year marks the fifth edition of the Leagues Cup and introduces a new format.
The top eighteen MLS teams from the 2024 season will participate, with the exception of the Vancouver Whitecaps, who have been replaced by San Diego FC due to their participation in two other competitions this season. All 18 Liga MX teams will also compete.
Tom Krasovic: Top pick Manu Duah making early impact from new position - San Diego Union-Tribune
The team’s buildup game should be enhanced, in time, by the former defensive midfielder’s ball skills. Where Duah has attempted three take-ons in both starts there, SDFC veteran center back Christopher McVey — a very good player — attempted more than one take-on just once this season.
“Manu has been a midfielder most of his life, but he’s got a good frame, he’s fast, and he’s got a good technical ability,” Varas said. “So, what he brings is, he brings the ability to carry the ball, to make really brave line breaking passes, but then he has the physical attributes to help us defend the space in behind, in transition. And he’s still learning the principles a lot.”
Duah, who played center back in the June 7 exhibition against Club America, said his new position isn’t much different from playing defensive midfielder. But he quipped that he sometimes dribbles too much because he forgets he’s at center back.
Leagues Cup: 10 must-watch Phase One matches - MLSsoccer.com
Storylines don't get more compelling than this: Hirving "Chucky" Lozano, Mexican international superstar and figurehead of San Diego FC's remarkable debut 2025 MLS season, faces his boyhood club for the first time.
Chucky, who shot to superstardom with Pachuca over a decade ago, will now take on his beloved Tuzos as a member of the Chrome-and-Azul. Expect emotions to hit a fever pitch at Snapdragon Stadium.
Odds & Ends
Women's Euro 2025 final: England stuns Spain in penalties to earn second straight Euro title - Yahoo Sports
England came into Sunday’s UEFA Euro 2025 final looking for revenge — and got it. Two years after losing to Spain in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, the Lionesses defeated Spain in penalties, 1(3) - 1(1), to take home back-to-back Euro titles.
Five Things to Watch: Aztecs open fall camp eager for improvement - San Diego Union-Tribune
Junior transfers Jayden Denegal (Michigan) and Bert Emanuel Jr. (Central Michigan) will resume the starting quarterback competition that began in the spring.
The 6-foot-5 Denegal was a backup at Michigan the past three years. He starred at Apple Valley High School, throwing for more than 4,600 yards and 69 touchdowns while rushing for 14 TDs.
The 6-3 Emanuel hails from Houston. The son of former NFL receiver Bert Emanuel was sidetracked by injuries at Central Michigan, where he was noted more for his running (carrying 145 times for 844 yards and 12 TDs) than his passing (27 of 51, 439 yards, and 5 TDs/3 INTs).
Denegal emerged from spring workouts listed first on the depth chart, so he has the edge coming into fall camp.
Bubba Wallace overcomes Brickyard 400 field and his own doubts, snapping 100-race winless streak - The Athletic
Bubba Wallace was filled with doubt during the last 20 laps of the Brickyard 400, haunted by the mental demons of low confidence and a 100-race winless drought.
“I kept telling myself ‘I’m not going to be able to do it,’” he said.
As it turned out, Wallace was wrong.
Wallace drove to a surprising victory in one of NASCAR’s “majors” on Sunday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, putting himself and his Michael Jordan-owned 23XI Racing team into victory lane — and back into NASCAR’s playoffs.
Magoon Gwath followed his heart, exited the transfer portal and returned to San Diego State - San Diego Union-Tribune
Gwath had multiple zoom calls with Michigan and Kentucky. He listened to their vision of utilizing an agile 7-foot shot blocker who can shoot 3s, handle the ball and guard multiple positions. He considered the financial enticements.
“I felt with the other schools, the only thing they could provide that San Diego State couldn’t provide was (more) money,” Gwath said. “Dutch talked to me last year about a two-year plan to get to the NBA and I believe in his plan, so I might as well finish where I started."
Nikola Jokić cries tears of joy, takes champagne shower after his horse wins race in Serbia - Yahoo Sports
After his horse crossed the finish line, Jokić put his head in his hands in tears. He then hopped a fence to access the track, still in tears as he approached his horse and his driver with his arms wide open. He then shared a hug with the driver and gave his horse a pat on the back.
The tears kept flowing as he walked with his team to the celebration circle. There, Jokić was in charge of the magnum bottle of champagne. He popped the cork, then sprayed down his team, horse included.
He then proceeded to pour champagne on the heads of his team members while saving the final champagne shower for himself.
Alright, that's going to do it for today's edition of Front Row Seat. I'll be back tomorrow, and every weekday, to try and make it easier for you to follow the news.
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