Padres Spring Training Report – Mar. 8, 2014

Grandal getting the ball down to second during intrasquad game.

Bonus baseball in the the desert!  That’s what the Padres and Indians treated fans to today, playing to a 4-4 tie in 10 innings at the Peoria Sports Complex.  But a lot happened before a single pitch in that game was even thrown.

• MLBPA Meeting:  Every spring the MLB Players Association meets with its constituency, team by team, to go over issues in the game, rule changes, negotiating issues with ownership, licensing opportunities, functional house keeping stuff, etc.  It’s usually a mix of some interesting topics, some boring administrative must dos, and is capped off with the best cherry on top you could imagine…a licensing share check!  One of the most notable aspects of this year’s meeting may have been not what was said, but who was saying it.  Newly elected executive director Tony Clark was running the proceedings for the first time, after being voted to replace Michael Weiner who passed away this off season succumbing to a courageous battle with brain cancer.  It’s always an interesting transition when new leadership takes over, and potentially even more so this time as Tony is the first former player to serve as the union head, and may be remembered by Padres fans for his time with the Pads in 2008. He is certainly respected by everyone in the game, and will need to use his leadership skills to keep his membership together during a time of, in my opinion, unusual opportunity for fissures to form amongst the union brethren.  With the added uncertainty of how the power will settle on ownership’s side with the pending planned abdication of the commissionership by Bud Selig, the theater of engagement between the owners and players could have more potential for land mines than the relatively sanguine landscape that has seemed to have existed during the last two rounds of CBA (Collective Bargainn Agreement) negotiations headed by Weiner and Selig.  For the good of the game, hopefulyl the relative peaceful spirit of cooperation that has recently existed, or at least portrayed as such to those not at the table, continues with the change of leadership taking place on both sides.
• The Grandal Games:  Well, that’s what they could had been called since today’s intrasquad simulated game was conducted in large part to allow Yasmani Grandal to get some game condition activity on his surgically repaired knee.  Yes, some other pitchers who needed some innings also got some work in but the focus was Yasmani, and all seemed to go well.  There were no visible signs that I could see that he was tentative or restricted in his movements behind the plate.  This would seem to be the final step in getting cleared by the medical staff to participate in actual Cactus League games, and start a serious push towards getting ready for opening day, which is still the optimistic expectation.
• Street’s Strain: Huston Street continued his recovery from a a slight groin strain, throwing a bullpen session today, and if all still feels good tomorrow will likely throw another before getting into a Cactus League game for the first time this spring.

…and THEN the first pitch of today’s game was thrown.  It started out a little rocky for Josh Johnson, as he allowed 4 hits and three runs to score in the first, but it was more bad breaks than bad pitching.  A jam shot opposite field ground ball started things, followed by a routine fly ball to left that was lost in the sun by Seth Smith and fell safely for a hit. Add in a seeing eye ground ball single through the right side, and one decently hit line drive single up the middle and voila…three runs on one well hit ball.  He made even better pitches, however, after that to take away any chance for misfortune to take over, retiring 7 of the next 8 batters, striking out 3 of them.  His slider looked good today, to go along with the fastball and change up he used in his last outing.

The rest of the Padres hurlers fared well today also, with 7 relievers combining for 7 innings of 1-run ball, while striking out 7.   Kevin Quackenbush looked especially sharp striking out 2, as did Nick Vincent who also punched out a pair during a nice rebound outing after a couple for roughies to start the spring.

The offense showed some guts today by climbing back out of deficits twice through solid at bats, and some productive outs to get the job done.  In the 7th, Medica and Nady reached on an error and hit respectively, then Ryan Jackson place a perfect sacrifice bun to the left side advancing the runners to 2nd and 3rd.  That set the stage perfectly for Jonathan Galvez to come up with a clutch 2-out hit to plate both runners and tie the game up at 3 each.  Assist to Jackson for setting that up.  Then in the 9th with the Padres again trailing by a run, it was the Medica-Nady one-two punch again knocking back to back singles  to set up another opportunity for Jackson to contribute, and he came through in the clutch hitting an 0-2 pitch deep enough to left field to score pinch runner Rico Noel and tie the game up at 4.  Have I told you in previous reports how much I am enjoying watching Ryan Jackson play baseball so far this spring?  I’ll say it again then…he’s shown he can help this team with his glove, his arm, and now his bat.  Granted, he will not likely be a huge threat at the plate, but he seems to be able to handle the bat, and do things to help the team win even if it’s just putting down a bunt, hitting a grounder behind a runner to advance him, or get a ball in play to drive in the run.  He’s looked like a baller so far, and could play on my team as a dependable guy off the bench any day if he can keep doing what he has been so far.

Last comment about this game today would be a shout out for the athletic diving catch that was made by Will Venable in the gap to save a run in the 3rd inning, which reminds me of the near flawless defense the Padres played yet again.  The Pads have not made an error in the last 5 games that we’ve broadcasted.  Yes, there had been a couple of AZ sun balls that have fallen in safely, but no mental or physical misplays by the Pads starting or back up defenders. Nice!!!

Did I say “Last comment”…I lied.  How cool was it to have Andrews Cashner tweeting with fans during the game today? Jesse Agler and I had fun seeing the hunting questions being thrown at Cash.  We’ll be answering questions in game as well so hit us up at @HeyScan, and @JesseAgler.  Appreciated team president/CEO Mike Dee for stopping by for some fun chat, and updates on some Padres events as well.  Fun and full broadcast today!

Ok I’m done… Tomorrow the boys travel to Salt River Fields at Talking Stick to take on the Diamondbacks.  Game time tomorrow is at 1:05 PST – don’t forget to set your clocks an hour ahead tonight San Diego!   The game will be on TV and radio for you to enjoy.  It will be Ted Leitner and myself bringing you the action on the Mighty 1090.  Hope you’ll join us!

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