Padres Spring Training Report – Mar. 11, 2015

The Padres ran into a spring training buzzsaw today and were chopped down by the Royals 4-3.  I call them the buzzsaw both because with their spilt squad sweep today they are now 8-1 in Cactus League play, and also because their pitching staff can run out some of the most powerful arms in the game.  With Ventura starting the game the Friar batters were already guaranteed to face the pitcher with the highest average velocity FB in all of MLB.  The bullpen of young arms that followed featured more of the same – heat, heat, and more heat.

So what were the takeaways for the Pads on this one?

• The 5th spot in the rotation is still up for grabs – Morrow started the game and went 3 innings allowing 1 run, on 4 hits, and 4 K’s.  Not a terrible line score,  but I keep waiting for him to bust out and put forth an outing that shows off the overpowering stuff that lies within.  There were flashes of it today. The first inning was shaky allowing 3 singles in a row and a run before recording an out.  Then the second inning he looked really sharp.  Good life on the well located heaters complimented with what looked to be split fingers for an easy 1-2-3 with 2 punch outs.  Then the third inning was back to some inconsistency, not like the first inning, but definitely not the second inning stuff.  I guess I’m just waiting for him to…well…you know….release the fury! Despaigne then followed for 2 2/3 of 1-run (unearned) work. Again not a bad effort at all, with flashes of excellence, but not the kind of outing that just makes a statement to grab the spot. There were a couple of at bats where he got himself into trouble trying to be tricky early in the count with side arm off seed pitches, only to have to come with a fastball once falling behind in the count.  He was most effective when he pitched of his fastball (which is better than he thinks, I believe), then expanding with his funky slow stuff. The battle will continue until hopefully someone really steps up and grabs it with authority.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6iW1NfjReE

• Wil Myers – Two hits today, one up the middle and the other lined to right. The kid can hit. He played right field today, and made a play on a slicing line drive heading over his head look easy.  I have not seen that same ease on a play in center yet, so hoping he gets those opportunities to show his stuff and be tested out there as spring goes on.
• Will Venable – He also had two hits today, as well as a walk.  He almost had a a highlight film catch to go with it, but the ball barely crept out of the end of his glove as he went horizontal and laid out for a liner to his right. We’ve come to expect these types of plays from Will, and it was great to see him make that kind of effort in a a spiring game.
• Cody Decker –  Drove a 2-run HR over the right center wall. Keep swinging the hot stick Cody!
• Brett Wallace – Had a hit in the DH spot to raise his avg. to .444 for spring.  He’s hanging tough in the hunt to be a LHB and corner infielder off the bench.
• Chris Rearick – Only pitched 1/3 of an inning retiring the lefty, but for a team leading fourth time this spring he came in and did his job.
• Alex Torres – Filthy change up today.  Just filthy. Threw a couple of good curves as well, so a nice “0” posted with a strikeout for Alex today.

Nothing overly dramatic today good or bad.  Some nice moments, but overall the Royals pitching, which featured no less than 4 guys who pitched 95+ controlled the game.

Tomorrow should be something special. Actor/comedian Will Ferrell will actually take the field with the Friars tomorrow at some point during the evening’s contest with the Dodgers. The appearance is part of a n HBO production called Funny Or Die that is being made in conjunction with MLB for a charity cause.  It will be his last stop during a day in which he will play a different position on the field for 10 different teams in honor of  Bert Campaneris who played all 9 positions in a game for the then Kansas city A’s in 1965.  Who knows when he’ll enter the game, or where he’ll play but it will likely be hilarious whenever it does take place.

First pitch will be at 6:15 and the game can be heard I’ve on ESPN 1700 AM.  Hope you’ll join Jesse Agler and me for all the fun!

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