Padres News: SD's Loss Leads to Players-Only Meeting, Stars on Last Straw

I'm not sure how I continue to say this after every games but the vibes within the San Diego Padres' clubhouse continue to grow lower and lower with every disappointing loss. Coming into Wednesday night's outing against the Kansas City Royals that would decide the series, Xander Bogaerts noted it as a must-win game for the squad.

However, we all know how that played out. The offense was pretty non-existent once again and the Friars fell to a Royals team that had no business even coming close. Even though Juan Soto was moved back to the same cleanup spot that saw his resurgence earlier in the year, he garnered no hits in his four at-bats and outside of Jake Cronenworth's homer, SD scored strictly thanks to KC's errors.

Croney crushed it 💥 #BringTheGold pic.twitter.com/jXxXSJgmGZ
— San Diego Padres (@Padres) May 17, 2023

Players Taking Matters Into Their Own Hands

At the end of the eighth inning, Fernando Tatis Jr. slammed his bat down when he failed to reach bases once again and clearly was frustrated with their lack of success. Not too long after, a packed Petco Park rained down boo's on the team once again.

Nando wasn't too surprised about this.

“The way that we’re finishing the game,” Fernando Tatis Jr. said later, “I would boo ourselves too.”

(Via The San Diego-Union Tribune)

Postgame reporters and beat writers then had to wait a little longer than usual to speak to the team due to them staying in the lockers by themselves to host a private, players-only meeting.

Even though nobody wanted to reveal exactly what was said in the gathering, it shouldn't be too hard to guess. When the friars take on the Boston Red Sox on Friday, they will be looking to end a drought in which they've lost three straight series and nine out of their last 11 games.

This is where the stars must view themselves as leaders.

Croney sums it up well

(Via @MartyCaswell) pic.twitter.com/a7FouxTRp6
— Talking Friars (@TalkingFriars) May 18, 2023

Keys Moving Forward

The likes of Tatis, Bogaerts, and Manny Machado have all said exactly what they must do moving forward and that revolves around the fact that they have been talking a little too much and need to actually make good on their promises on the field.

It will be hard for Machado to do so right now considering that he suffered a fracture to his hand and is clearly frustrated about that.

But Jake Cronenworth brought up a good point about the team's confidence levels that I think could serve to be important.

“We have a ton of really good hitters on this team,” said Cronenworth. “But when it comes down to it, you need to go up there and believe that you’re going to do it -- and believe that if you strike out with nobody out and the bases loaded that the next guy’s going to get it done.”

(Via MLB.com)

Hopefully the Friars can come back with a fresh mentality after this rest day.