SAN DIEGO —
I walked into the Dodgers’ team store the other day and asked whether I could buy any “Beat SD” merchandise. Of course not.
I walked into the San Diego Padres’ team store Monday. I did not have to ask whether I could buy any “Beat L.A.” merchandise.
The rack of “Beat L.A.” shirts stared me in the face as soon as I entered the store. There are no other words on the shirt: nothing about San Diego, or the Padres. It is a rallying cry at Petco Park, but it is also a civic mission statement.