Padres Spring Training Report – Mar. 15, 2015

One of the fun things about spring training baseball is that you get to see things that you might not see very often during the regular season.  One of the reasons for this is the playing conditions which usually include high skies, bright sun, and changing gusting winds that exist almost every day on the fields of the Cactus League.  Today was one of those days at Goodyear Park as the Pads fell to the Indians 4-2.

Sometimes the sun and wind work in your favor…and sometimes not.  Today it was not on the padres side. Not that it was entirely the difference maker in the final score but did help create an inside the park HR for Cleveland’s Lindor, and caused Yangervis Solarte to make a twisting dive for a pop up that left him limping.  Solarte stayed in the game to get another at bat, but left immediately afterwards, and hopefully doesn’t have any lingering effects when he wakes up tomorrow.

As for the rest of the game here were the takeaways for the Pads…

• Wil Myers – Crushed the ball today! Had three hits, all of them hammered!!! The first was a double driven opposite field into the wind, reaching the gap.  He then hit a home run to the left field power ally that took off on a line and kept carrying and rising like a well hit 2-iron. He followed that up with another line drive that hit off the yellow line at the top of the left field wall, missing his second HR by a matter of inches settling for his second double. Appears the wrists that hampered him last season are feeling better, and he seems determined to prove his doubters that wrote him off after last season wrong…way wrong!
• Matt Kemp – Continued his hot spring by driving a double into the left-center gap.
• Carlos Quentin – Had a solid hit today, and advanced to second on a ball in the dirt, showing that his knees are so far functioning much better than last year.  The better he plays, the better it is for him and the Padres. It either gives the Pads a healthier big bat off the bench, or A.J. Preller a more attractive piece to find a trade partner with.
• Ian Kennedy – He allowed 2 runs in three innings, but generally showed good command of the fastball to both sides of the plate and some really good changeups.  Progress towards being ready for opening day.
• Robbie Erlin – Two scoreless innings.  More importantly showed some toughness by stranding a leadoff  double who reached third with one out.  Ground out, ground out and the run didn’t score. He then came out and struck out the side the next inning.
• Shawn Kelly & Nick Vincent – Scoreless innings each, while showing good breaking balls today. Vincent’s cutter was especially biting, causing three of the batters he faced to have to go back to the bat rack to get new lumber.

Injury Update: Casey Kelly threw live BP today and reportedly looked very good. He’s getting closer to being game ready, which means the Pads will have more depth to call upon from AAA once the season starts. He may start in the bullpen as he  is coming back from TJ, but that decision remains to be made. His innings will be watched closely this year either way.  Still with his tenacity and competitiveness to go with a healthy arm, he could be a welcomed piece to have on call.

Tomorrow Morrow goes for the Pads agains the Cubs at Peoria.  The game will be televised but not on radio, which means I’ll get to watch and scout a game and give you the report tomorrow as always. 18 spring games remain, with opening day getting closer.  Decisions still to be made…should be fun!

Scan