The Padres returned to Petco Park on Friday staring up at double-digit deficit in the NL West standings. They’d certainly been there before under fourth-year manager Andy Green. But their record – a symmetrical 40-40 entering the season’s midpoint – certainly marked new territory.
They hadn’t been above. 500 at the start of the second half since 2010. They’d been 11 games under .500 or worse to start each of Green’s first three seasons as the Padres’ manager.
Yes, this feels different.
“We’re in the position now where we feel like there’s enough here to win,” Green said.