There are some things you just don’t say out loud in Los Angeles—like praising the San Diego Padres in the middle of a heated division race. But the Dodgers’ $66 million slugger clearly missed that memo. With a few carefully chosen (but wildly timed) words, he managed to nod respectfully at Manny Machado’s crew while giving Dodgers fans the kind of existential sports crisis usually reserved for October meltdowns.

The Los Angeles Dodgers and Padres have been at each other’s throats for a long time. We usually don’t see fans or players appreciate the other team so often, but when somebody does, it becomes news. That is exactly what happened when Teoscar Hernández and Mookie Betts sat down to talk.

In the recent episode of On Base with Mookie Betts, the Dodgers outfielder asked teammate Hernández which team he thinks is the one to watch out for. Hernández said, “The Padres. I know a lot of fans not gonna like that but whatever… they better this year I think.”

“They might be better, but you can’t say that,” is the reaction of most Dodgers fans. The Padres currently lead the NL West with a 17-8 win-loss record, while the Dodgers sit in third with a 16-9 record. This comment might open a new door for the rivalry between the Dodgers and the Padres, and looking at the history, it is always the feud you watch out for.

The 2022 NLDS shock that the Padres delivered to the Dodgers will be remembered forever by the Dodgers fans. It was a one-sided affair, with San Diego winning the series 3-1 when the Dodgers were the favorites to reach the World Series.

One of the most iconic moments that grabbed attention was the Machado incident. Tempers flared when Jack Flaherty and Machado started to “chirp” at each other. When the Padres came out to the field, Machado threw a ball at the Dodgers’ dugout with some force. This angered the Dodgers’ dugout, and the whole Game 2 of the NLDS turned into a war between these two fan bases. So when a comment like this comes up, it is hard for fans to take it as just another comment.

And so, the rivalry continues to smolder, fueled by every jab, throw, and controversial comment. Hernández may have thought he was simply giving an honest opinion, but for Dodger fans, it’s an unforgivable betrayal—like admitting you’d rather be at Disneyland than Dodger Stadium. If there’s one thing we’ve learned from this ongoing saga, it’s that no praise for the Padres will ever be seen as “just another comment.” Welcome to the rivalry, Teoscar—now, enjoy the fireworks.

Teoscar Hernández likes playing for Dodgers

Hernández has only been with the Dodgers for a short time, but already he’s figured out one thing: playing in the NL West isn’t about cruising to a title—it’s about thriving in chaos. With the Padres nipping at their heels and the Diamondbacks looking feisty, Hernández knows this division is no place for the faint of heart. In fact, he likes the pressure. So don’t expect him to hide away from it anytime soon.

The Dodgers have not been having a good season by their standards, and this season has been especially competitive. The NL West has become one of the most competitive divisions in all of MLB, and Hernández loves it.

In a recent interview, he revealed why he likes playing in the NL West. He said, “It’s not about just winning, winning, winning, winning. If you don’t feel the pressure from the other teams, I don’t think you’re enjoying it. I like the competition.” He also added that winning 162 games is good, but the league becomes boring when a team has no competition and wins all the games. He likes the fact that, until the end of the regular season, there is no guarantee which team will make the postseason or who the favorites are.

As the Dodgers continue to battle for supremacy in an ever-tougher division, Hernández’s words are a reminder of what makes baseball great—the pressure, the uncertainty, and the drama. It’s not just about the wins, it’s about the thrill of the chase. So while the Dodgers might be feeling the heat, one thing’s for sure: Hernández is embracing the fire. In the NL West, it’s not the title that counts—it’s the battle to get there.