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The ending to the Padres’ 2022 season feels a bit strange, doesn't it? Taken on the whole, the year has to be considered a success. These Padres went further than all but two teams in the franchise's history, upsetting both the Mets and the rival Dodgers in October.

But after the way it ended, there's not much cause for celebration.

"I've thought long and hard about: Is this season a success?" manager Bob Melvin said Tuesday at the team's end-of-season press conference. "If you look at it from Spring Training, you'd say, 'Yeah.' Based on who we had, where we were in Spring Training, if you would say we go to the National League Championship Series and ask if that's a successful season -- sure.

"But once it becomes part of you, once the moves were made at the Trade Deadline, and you move forward into the postseason, and you're beating quality teams, your expectations rise. So when you lose that final game ... it’s more of a disappointment."

That's probably the best way to view it. In the aftermath of the Padres' loss to the Phillies in the NLCS, there was plenty to feel good about. It just didn't feel that way in the moment.

The Padres exceeded expectations in 2022. But by exceeding those expectations, the Padres also reset those expectations for the future.

"This was a taste of what's to come," said general manager A.J. Preller. "We all understand that we didn't quite get to the final goal. The biggest thing is looking forward, understanding that there's another couple steps in front of us. I think the experiences we had here over the last 6-8 months are going to serve us well here going forward."

Before we look forward, here's one last look back at the Padres' 2022 season:

Defining moment

San Diego waited 16 years for a playoff game before fans at Petco Park. When postseason baseball finally returned to the East Village, it didn't disappoint. The Padres won a pair of dramatic contests against the Dodgers in Games 3 and 4 of the NLDS. Those wins secured one of the most monumental playoff upsets in baseball history and sparked a full-on party in downtown San Diego. The Padres had spoken of slaying "that dragon up the freeway" -- and they finally did.

What we learned

No, the Padres didn't need Fernando Tatis Jr. to contend for a World Series. To be sure, they are a better team with their superstar shortstop on the field. But the Padres built a deep pitching staff, a sound roster and had Manny Machado at the center of it all. On top of that, their front office was willing to make a splash at the Trade Deadline. Now, with the bulk of the 2022 team set to return, Tatis will join them after missing the first 20 games of the '23 season. The Padres lineup will be that much scarier.

Best development

Juan Soto is a San Diego Padre. It's rare, of course, that a 23-year-old superstar in his prime becomes available. But Soto was -- and the Padres made it a priority to acquire him. They traded a massive haul to land Soto. But, again, this is Juan Soto, and despite some struggles during the regular season, he recorded a handful of the Padres' biggest hits during their playoff run. Plus, he's under contract for the next two seasons -- and if Preller has it his way, longer than that.

Area for improvement

Lineup depth. Tatis’ return will go a long way toward solving that issue. In 2022, the Padres were far too reliant on Machado, but with Soto and Tatis hitting ahead of him, that burden should be eased. Still, the Padres would be well served to sign a bopper at first-base during the offseason, and perhaps make an addition at catcher.

On the rise

Josh Hader looks like Josh Hader again. When the Padres acquired the electric left-hander at the Deadline, Hader was enduring some of the most pronounced struggles of his big league career. But after a few mechanical fixes, Hader looked like his usual dominant self in the postseason. Better, maybe. His fastball ticked up to 100 mph and he punched out the last eight hitters he faced in the playoffs. The Padres will enter the 2023 season with one of the sport's premier lockdown weapons at the back end of their bullpen (and, in hindsight, they probably got him at a bit of a discount).

Team MVP

Manny Machado. No question about it. With Tatis out, with the offense scuffling, with the Deadline acquisitions struggling to find their footing, Machado carried the load. He played hurt. He played well. And ultimately, he might have a National League MVP Award to show for his efforts next month. Machado has proven he's one of the steadiest performers in the game. Throw Tatis and a fully acclimated Soto into the mix, and the Padres have built themselves quite the core.