Padres Spring Training Report – Mar. 6, 2015

The Padres pitching was outstanding today as the boys shut out the visiting White sox 5-0 for their first win of the 2015 Cactus League season.  Honestly, I don’t care if it’s playoffs, regular season, Cactus League competition, or a dang intrasquad game, it’s always nicer to win!  So how did the Padres do it today?  Solid pitching, hits from some less likely sources, and frankly some assistance from the Southsiders’ defense.

Who chimed in for the win?

• Padres Pitchers – Heck when you throw a shutout everyone must have done their job! Indeed everyone did throw fine.  Between the two guys battling for the #5 spot in the rotation today I would call it a draw.  Both Despaigne and Morrow posted 2 scoreless innings, each allowed 2 hits, issued a walk, with 2K’s for OD, 1 for Morrow.  I can’t say there was anything exceptional or terrible about either outing.  Despaigne did his usual different arm slots, changing speeds, getting guys out front.  Morrow used a few more off speed pitches than I would expect to see, some split fingers I believe to keep guys off balance.  I guess I was hoping for a little more sizzle out of his FB, but maybe that is still on the way.  So, no knockout blows either way. Quack, Vincent, Torres all fine.  Maurer appeared to be rushing it up there pretty good, gave up 2 opposite field hits, but knocked the bat out of the hands of the other two outs to go with his K.  Valverde was very effective closing it out throwing multiple off speed pitches both sliders and splits extremely effectively and with great movement to get swings and misses in his 1-2-3 frame with 2 K’s. Staff issued only 2 walks while punching out 9…nice work boys!
• Mat Kemp – 2 hits on the day, both hard hit but honestly the second one that resulted in the Pads second run crossing should have probably been ruled an error on a shaky back hand attempt by the shortstop.  Again it was hit hard so quality AB none the less.
• 9 Hole Hitters – Federowicz drove in the first Friar run with a double, and later Ramiro Pena also doubled to start the 3-run rally in the 7th and scored, both players contributing form the 9 spot in the lineup.
• Jedd Gyorko – REAL nice play on a pop up over his head that he had to turn his back and run for then readjust as the gusting winds took the ball back towards the infield forcing him to twist and reach at the end, but he made the athletic almost gymnastic like play. He also had a hit.
• Cody Decker – Coming in off the bench lined a single into CF to drive in the Pads 4th run, and also made a nice diving play at 1B.  Making the most of his late inning playing time…nice!
• Tommy Medica – Another hard hit single today gives him safety in all three games so far, and 4-6 to start the spring.  Stay hot Tommy!

Not much else to report thank goodness.  Health has been good so far (knock on wood), and the only minor injury victim, Casey Kelly, was back on the mound today to throw a ‘pen.

Young infielder Jose Rondon was sent to work with the extended spring training players for now so that he can get some needed work in. No mention of whether he will stay on the minor league side moving forward or whether he will spend a little more time on the MLB side once minor league camp opens.

That’s it folks! Tomorrow another new toy gets taken out of the box as James Shields will throw for the first time in a Padres uniform as the Friars take on the W.S. Champion Giants at Scottsdale.  Game will be on The Mighty 1090 AM so hope you’ll join Jesse Agler and yours truly at 12:05 PST for the action. Nice effort today, which is what matters regardless of the final score being in their favor, and hope they do it again tomorrow.

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