While his Padres teammates doused each other in champagne and beer at the center of the home clubhouse at Petco Park, celebrating a sweep of the Cubs in the National League Wild Card Series after a 4-1 win Wednesday night, Xander Bogaerts took it all in from the edge of the room.
No, the rush of a good party isn’t getting old for the 14-year veteran and two-time World Series champion. He was simply appreciating all the hard work it took to earn it.
Bogaerts has done this many, many times before. If anything, this particular celebration probably felt a little more satisfying than the last few.
“I couldn’t have asked for a better [series],” Bogaerts said. “Contributed both days, helping us win some games. … Any time you’re contributing in a positive way, that’s a big plus.”
Bogaerts’ performance was overshadowed by more electrifying moments provided by Manny Machado, Fernando Tatis Jr. and Gavin Sheets, but he was just as instrumental in helping send the Padres to the NL Division Series against the Brewers this week.
He went 4-for-8 in the series, homering off the Western Metal Building in left field in Tuesday’s Game 1 rout and drawing first blood in Game 2 with his second-inning RBI single that gave San Diego a lead it wouldn’t relinquish. He was hypercritical of himself for a throwing error he committed behind Michael King in the first game, but it ultimately never mattered. It was a brilliant showing from one of baseball’s most seasoned playoff competitors.
“You just get different feelings playing postseason baseball,” manager Craig Stammen said. “There's more intensity, more adrenaline, the focus is heightened. You're facing better pitching typically.
“To have a guy that's experienced at it and even experienced at a very young age and experienced that his whole career … he felt very comfortable in that environment, and I think it's a good sign for the Padres.”
The word “experience” gets thrown around loosely sometimes. With Bogaerts, there’s no question. In 2013, he was thrust into a pennant chase with the Red Sox at just 20 years old and played a role in helping secure the franchise’s eighth World Series. He did it again in ‘18 with a 108-win Boston team that defeated the Dodgers in five games in the Fall Classic.
He’s appeared in 56 postseason games over eight seasons -- 20th among active players and the most out of anyone currently on the Padres’ roster -- with seven home runs and 23 RBIs over 227 plate appearances.
Those credentials were part of why San Diego signed him to an 11-year, $280 million deal ahead of the ‘23 campaign. Since joining the Padres, Bogaerts owns a .781 OPS over 46 trips to the plate in the playoffs.
“He’s a two-time world champion, so he’s used to these moments,” general manager A.J. Preller said. “Guys like Xander, Manny, Tati, [Jake Cronenworth], they’ve played in so many postseasons now. I think that experience showed out the last couple days. We’re going to need it if we want to keep advancing.”
It has been just as beneficial for the Padres’ youngsters, who Bogaerts has never hesitated in imparting his wisdom on.
“I know the position that some of these young kids are in,” Bogaerts said. “They’re playing for the first time -- with the crowd, the big situations. It can get a little big and I understand that. I was there. I think all the years of experience and continuing to play in the playoffs helps out.”
Bogaerts’ signing has come with a lot of criticism. He’s an aging shortstop (he turned 34 on Thursday) who plays solid enough defense, but whose bat hasn’t been nearly as impactful as it was for 10 years in Boston.
Those grievances peaked this summer during one of Bogaerts’ worst seasons. He went from batting in the heart of the Padres’ order early in the year to being dropped all the way down to the No. 8 spot at one point. Through 132 games entering September, Bogaerts was slashing .217/.316/.322.
Then everything started to click. Bogaerts had a .915 OPS over 21 contests to finish the regular season. He had a big series in Colorado in the middle of the month that “changed a lot” for him at the plate.
So far, it’s carried into October, a stage he’s become so familiar with over the years.
“Sometimes it can get tough, man,” Bogaerts said. “The fans, whether you’re home or away, are a lot. I understand that sometimes it can be a little tough, I’ve been there.
“Once you can control the moment … you can relax a little more.”