Professional athletes get asked a lot of questions that have little relevance to their jobs.
For San Diego Padres first baseman Jake Cronenworth, that includes questions about the Los Angeles Dodgers' massive offseason spending spree, which threatened to hijack every headline about the National League West for the next six months.
When a team commits more than $1.2 billion in future contracts in a matter of months, it's a big deal. It's without precedent in MLB, and it comes with expectations of winning both the division and the World Series.
And since the Padres are starting their season with a pair of games against the Dodgers in Seoul, South Korea, guess who grew tired of answering questions about the Dodgers before the regular season even began?
“Why does it have to be about beating them? Why can’t it be about beating everyone else? Or focusing on us?”
— San Diego Padres first baseman Jake Cronenworth, via the San Diego Union-Tribune
Like it or not — we know where Cronenworth stands — the Dodgers enter the 2024 season as the team to beat. That's the reality of the last three months, even with another National League West team (the Arizona Diamondbacks) coming off a surprising run to the World Series.
Cronenworth's job is to hit baseballs, play a mean first base, and make sure his glove is in working order. Answering questions about the above topics is occasionally among his daily tasks, too.
This week, however, his job is to help the Padres beat the Dodgers who (did we mention?) just had the most audacious offseason in baseball history. Still, Cronenworth apparently doesn't get it.
“I don’t get why everybody makes it about us finishing ahead of them. There are 29 other teams in baseball.”
— San Diego Padres first baseman Jake Cronenworth, via the San Diego Union-Tribune
Don't worry, Jake. You'll probably get a breather after this week. The Padres don't play the Dodgers again until May 10. Hopefully your glove is fixed by then.
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