![\"Oct](\"https:\/\/images2.minutemediacdn.com\/image\/upload\/c_crop,w_7509,h_4223,x_0,y_0\/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto\/images\/ImagnImages\/mmsport\/inside_the_dodgers\/01jkrak4ezanmtp9qhh9.jpg\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
With Padres fans eager for a spark at the team\u2019s annual Fan Fest at Petco Park, CEO Erik Greupner found a way to rally the crowd \u2014 by taking a shot at their biggest rivals.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne of the things that I think is so cool about the way you support this team and the environment that you create, which has become, as [Mike] Shildt said, one of the most difficult environments for other teams to come into and play, is that you do it in a classy way, right?\u201d Greupner told the fans.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think we saw some things in some other places, I won\u2019t give you more detail on that, but I will just tell you that that\u2019s not who we are, and that\u2019s not who we were, and that\u2019s not who we\u2019re gonna be. You guys do it in a positive, supportive, passionate way, and you guys are the best.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n His comments appeared to reference the heated National League Division Series between the Padres and Dodgers, where emotions ran high.<\/p>\n The five-game series featured multiple flashpoints, including Jack Flaherty hitting Fernando Tatis Jr. with a pitch, fans throwing objects onto the field and causing a delay, and Manny Machado allegedly tossing a ball toward the Dodgers\u2019 dugout \u2014 an action Dodgers manager Dave Roberts hinted was intentional.<\/p>\n San Diego\u2019s frustration is understandable.<\/p>\n Payroll limitations have restricted their ability to sign free agents, and ownership uncertainty has made the franchise less appealing to top talent. Adding to the sting, it was the Dodgers who knocked the Padres out of the playoffs, overcoming a 2-1 NLDS deficit before cruising to a World Series title in five games against the Yankees.<\/p>\n Tensions between the two clubs remain high, and given the events of this offseason, they don\u2019t appear to be cooling anytime soon.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" With Padres fans eager for a spark at the team\u2019s annual Fan Fest at Petco Park, CEO Erik Greupner found a way to rally the crowd \u2014… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":32863,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-32862","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mlb"],"yoast_head":"\n