In October of last year, the San Diego Padres were tantalizingly close to eliminating their fierce rivals, the Los Angeles Dodgers, from playoff contention. They came within just one game of achieving this goal, a moment that still resonates with the teams manager, Mike Shildt. However, rather than dwelling on the frustration of that near miss, Shildt reflects on the resilience and camaraderie displayed by his players during the high-pressure moments of the series.

One particular incident stands out in Shildt's memory. In Game 2, the Padres faced a hostile environment at Dodger Stadium, where fans began throwing garbage at them. Instead of fracturing under the pressure, the Padres players rallied together, demonstrating remarkable unity. Shildt recalls how third baseman Manny Machado took the initiative to gather the team in the dugout, addressing the chaos around them. In a huge moment, a riotous atmosphere, our group got even closer together, Shildt explained. We played even better.

This collective spirit was evident throughout the series, showcasing the Padres' ability to perform in critical moments. Even after the Dodgers went on to win the World Series, their manager, Dave Roberts, and some of his players acknowledged that the Padres were the toughest team they faced in the postseason.

Fast forward to this season, and the Padres have returned with an invigorated spirit and enhanced capabilities. Players like Machado have credited last Octobers experience as a catalyst for the teams renewed confidence. With a formidable bullpen and an impressive Fernando Tatis Jr., who is arguably in the best form of his career, the Padres have opened the season with an impressive 15-4 record, allowing only 51 runs despite dealing with a wave of early injuries that sidelined key players like center fielder Jackson Merrill and second baseman Jake Cronenworth.

It speaks to the depth, Shildt remarked after the Padres secured a recent series victory against the Chicago Cubs. It speaks to the mentality of the team. It's never going to be a straight line. ... It's how you handle the deviations. This resilient mindset will be vital as the Padres compete in the National League West, a division that A.J. Preller, the Padres' general manager, has likened to the Southeastern Conference (SEC) in college football this year. The Arizona Diamondbacks, currently in fourth place, entered the weekend with one of the best records in baseball.

Following their series loss to the Dodgers last year, the Padres shifted their focus toward improvement. Preller emphasized the importance of moving forward with determination, stating, We focused on -- 'now go and get better.' We weren't good enough. And this was the message from Shildt in spring training: 'How do we get better?'

For Tatis, this season has meant embracing a new role as a leadoff hitter, which allows him to leverage his speed and power to impact the game from the get-go. Changes in his batting stance and approach have simplified his game, leading to a remarkable improvement in his discipline at the plate. Historically, Tatis averaged about 2.5 strikeouts for every walk; in 2021, he recorded a staggering 153 strikeouts against only 62 walks. Remarkably, to date this season, he has managed just nine strikeouts while drawing ten walks, including a pivotal bases-loaded walk against the Cubs.

During a critical moment in a recent game, with the Padres ahead 3-2 in the eighth inning, Tatis faced a challenging full count against pitcher Luke Little. As he readied to swing at a breaking ball that veered out of the strike zone, Tatis demonstrated remarkable composure by checking his swing, eliciting cheers from the crowd as he casually walked to first base. This highlights not only Tatis exceptional talent but also his newfound patience as a hitter, a quality that is sure to serve himand his teamwell as the season progresses.

He is so talentedhe can do anything, Preller remarked about Tatis. He is exceptionally smart and learning how to channel his aggression. Tatis early-season on-base percentage of .425 far exceeds his previous career highs, indicating a significant leap in his performance. When pitches are in the strike zone, his contact rate stands at an impressive 79.9%, a personal best, leading to six home runs and 16 runs batted in.

Yet, the path to improvement for the Padres comes with its complexities, particularly given the current organizational restructuring. Sheel Seidler, the widow of late Padres owner Peter Seidler, has initiated a lawsuit against Seidler's brothers over potential control of the team, creating an uncertain atmosphere at the ownership level. Despite being known as one of the most proactive general managers in baseball, Preller faced limitations in the offseason due to this ongoing legal battle.

As a result, he considered various options, including pitchers Dylan Cease and Michael King, while weighing how to allocate resources effectively. The Padres payroll saw a drastic reduction from $291.2 million in 2023 to $227.8 million in 2024, necessitating careful financial decisions for the upcoming seasons. Ultimately, Preller secured a backloaded contract with pitcher Nick Pivetta, alongside signing infielders Gavin Sheets and Jose Iglesias, as well as outfielders Jason Heyward and Connor Joe, all at affordable salaries.

This strategic financial management has allowed Preller to maintain a strong bullpen from the previous year, with the exception of losing free agent Tanner Scott. Rival evaluators have noted that while the Dodgers have a bullpen filled with closers, the Padres bullpen could be even more formidable, as evidenced by their current combined ERA of 1.52, having allowed only 41 hits over 71 innings.

Recalling a sentiment expressed by Kyle Higashioka, a catcher for the Padres during last Octobers series, Preller remains hopeful. Higashioka had predicted that whoever won that divisional series would go on to take the World Series title. This is the best team Ive been on, Higashioka told Preller, a sentiment echoed by many players in the Padres clubhouse. As the early-season results suggest, San Diego appears poised for a successful campaign, with aspirations to return to last October's heights and beyond.