On the rare times when a Major League Baseball franchise becomes a true dynasty, its closest rivals often bear much of the brunt.

That’s a predicament the Padres are living.

It’s not entirely a bummer for them. Pertinent history serves up a crumb or two of hope. Also, heightened competition often can spur growth.

There’s no gilding that the Los Angeles Dodgers’ growing mastery of baseball is troubling for Padres Land.

L.A. is too deep to lose the 162-game marathon, denying the Padres and other National League West teams a shot at skipping the first round.

And the past two autumns, they’ve gobbled up the World Series tournament, itself a test of depth.

Winning 25 of 34 games, including a Saturday’s nervy Game 7 in Toronto, they’ve become MLB’s first back-to-back champions since the 19

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