Optimism is Dangerous for a Padres Fan

By Ethan McKnight

“One year soon the baseball gods will shine on the San Diego Padres, and we will have a parade.”
—Peter Seidler

“This is the year,” I say,
as Suarez locks down our seventh straight win,
our best start in franchise history.

This is the year
I’ll finally see the Commissioner’s Trophy
lifted high before a roaring sea of San Diegans,
Machado shouting, “This is for Peter!”
as he’s crowned World Series MVP.

This is the year
we win gold
that isn’t just a marketing gimmick.

And then,
as if on cue,
I wake up.

The parade fades into another 24 scoreless innings,
October slipping through our fingers,
as the devils in Dodger blue
send us home early again.

Ethan McKnight is a poet and college student in San Diego, California.

Rickey Henderson

RIP to the greatest lead-off hitter of all time. (12/25/58-12/20/24)

Rickey came on Christmas Day
Rickey born in a cab that day
Rickey lightning on the field
Rickey is the Man of Steal
Rickey wins with all his teams
Rickey says what Rickey means
Rickey never gonna quit
Rickey too legit to quit
Rickey slowing down? Never!
Rickey gonna run forever.