San Diego Padres outfielder Wil Myers used the Los Angeles Dodgers’ ring ceremony as motivation.
When the Los Angeles Dodgers replayed highlights from their 2020 World Series ring ceremony, San Diego Padres outfielder Wil Myers sat in the visiting dugout alone to use it as motivation.
San Diego is coming off its best season in a decade-plus. However, the Padres lost in the NLDS to their division rivals last October. With Myers channeling his inner Stefon Diggs in watching a rival team celebrate victory, it remains to be seen how if this blatant motivational tactic will yield results. So far, the Padres are 2-2 in their four games vs. the Dodgers, including a win on Thursday night.
Myers watching the ring ceremony highlights on the Jumbotron alone is quite the lasting image.
San Diego Padres: Wil Myers uses Los Angeles Dodgers’ ring video as motivation
Even with a five-team postseason field, most people expect the Dodgers and the Padres to be among the quintet playing in October out of the National League. Unfortunately, since both play in the same division, one of these rival clubs will have to play in the absolutely brutal Wild Card Game. Since it has been years since the Dodgers have not won the division, it feels like San Diego.
The good news for Myers and the Padres is their championship window in their competitive life cycle is wide open. San Diego was one of a handful of teams in baseball that had serious World Series aspirations this season. While the Padres have only been hovering around .500 through the first few weeks of the season, we know that their best baseball is firmly ahead of them this year.
Myers using the Dodgers’ ring ceremony highlights is painful, but something we all understand.