Play ball!

Happy Opening Day to all those who celebrate. After traveling to Peoria, Arizona for spring training, the Padres have come home to kick off another season. 

If you have kept up with any of the off-season chatter you might be aware of the big changes looming over the front office. After former owner Peter Seidler died in 2023, a familial squabble over ownership ensued. Now, the team is up for sale, and the Seidler family stands to make a pretty penny. Two business publications valued the team at around $3.1 billion.

Our contributor Barry M. Bloom mentions that despite being worth an unconscionable amount of money, the franchise is in debt. Even as the team was able to rally the second highest home attendance in baseball last year it’s still losing multi-millions of dollars a year.

But, the team itself is in tip-top shape, right? No drama there, everything squared away?

Well, maybe if you forget the fact there was a slight overhaul of the pitching staff, and major injuries too. Yu Darvish and Joe Musgrove are both opening the season on the injured list and Darvish may not pitch again. 

Not all changes bring uncertainty, though. There have been some additions to Petco Park, from the ballpark’s collection of available cuisine to the opening of the Diamond Room and new video boards on the first and third base towers.

Thankfully, there is one thing that appears to have stayed the same: The Friar faithful are some of the best fans around.

Slam Diego, baby. 

Thoughts? Opinions? Share them with us at news@timesofsandiego.com.