Earlier this year, I wrote that the San Diego Padres Baseball Team would not win their division, but would have a winning record. While I am pleased to be correct on that point, I am also sad to see that despite her best efforts, Ahsoka Tano of “Star Wars: The Clone Wars,” could not bring the Padres the playoff opportunity they so richly deserved this year.
Ahsoka Tano?
Yup, this year, the Padres have had a wonderful and magical relationship with “Star Wars.” For example, rookie pitcher, Ryan Webb, was designated to bring Yoda and Chewbacca to the bullpen every day. The character back packs hold all the sunflower seeds and gum, the bullpen pitchers will use that day. The back pack used to be “Dora the Explorer,” but David Eckstein, the Padres’ second baseman, suggested that his wife could get a back pack that would 
symbolize the team’s can do attitude this year of “Try not. Do or do not. There is no try.”
David’s wife managed to get the back packs and Yoda dolls for everyone on the team. You see, David’s wife is Ashley Eckstein, who is the voice of Ahsoka Tano on the Cartoon Network show “Star Wars: The Clone Wars.” She is also the founder of Her Universe, a company that makes Star Wars-themed clothing for women.
I don’t know if the Star Wars connection motivated an underfunded team to overachieve this year, but I had fun watching them. I hope next year is as great and rewarding as this year was because, I’m sure, next year the Force will be with the San Diego Padres.