Jason Martinez: It probably shouldn’t be a surprise but the Astros continuing to just be way better than any team in that division no matter which superstar player leaves and no matter who gets hurt is amazing. Winning culture is a real thing, as long as there is a strong core of veterans who have been there through all the winning. And they’re one of those teams that has a sneaky good farm system.
Padres looking like the 2023 version of themselves is also surprising. I thought this team and the front office had finally figured out how to succeed at Petco Park last season. Maybe the baseballs changing again is a big part of it — balls aren’t flying as far and MLB acknowledged that the baseball are different. But it’s a really bad roster right now and they’re not even trying to shake things up. Giants did a minor shakeup — Wade DFAd, Dom Smith and Daniel Johnson promoted — and it worked out pretty well, even if just temporary. Unplugging things and plugging them back in can help at times.
