Manny Machado feels the Padres are more united than ever

We’ve all seen those playoff shirts that have some sort of team phrase like ‘All In’ or ‘All One’. The Padres are embodying that this season, especially over the last couple of nights.

Enyel De Los Santos allows three runs in the tenth? The Padres offense picked him up. The Nationals didn’t like how Jurickson Profar celebrated a walk-off win in his home ballpark? Mike Shildt was there to support his guy and Manny Machado picked him up. Adam Mazur has trouble keeping the lead last night? Jake Cronenworth, Donovan Solano and Jurickson Profar are there to pick him up.

“I think this team is more united than ever,” Manny Machado told the media last night.

A great way to put it, Manny.

It’s not just the players I mentioned above that have played their role. How about Tyler Wade laying down the bunt to get two runners in scoring position before the walk-off? How about Kyle Higashioka and Jackson Merrill not trying to do too much at the plate?

How about Jeremiah Estrada losing 15 pounds and throwing up for hours but still going out there and trying his best to help the team? How about Fernando Tatis Jr. fighting through leg pain for months until it essentially got unbearable?

You know you’ve got something special when that sort of stuff is happening.

Not to keep harping on 2023 but we didn’t see this type of group last season.

Those teams that make long postseason runs usually have that great bond together. They love being around each other and all pull on the rope in the same direction. Nobody knows how this season will end but this team has the qualities that those special teams had.