Padres 2012 Spring Training Report – 2/24

Another fun and productive day at Padres Peoria training complex for pitchers and catchers.  With the position players having their official report day today, and busy with physicals, it was the last day for the hurlers to get their work in and escape early before having to shag batting practice for the new arrivals.

Once again I got a chance to see something new  – Catcher’s Olympics.  Although a couple of the Pads receiver’s had experienced a similar event with other organizations, I think this was the inaugural event for Friar’s camp, with catching instructor Brad Ausmus overseeing and enforcing the ground rules.  Events included throwing to bases for accuracy, blocking balls in the dirt, pop up drill, and a speed/efficiency drill.  Ali Solis was the winner of the throwing accuracy contest, Nick Hundley was tops in ball blocking.  Jason Hagerty earned the most over all points to take home the tournament title, with Hundely coming in second and John Baker third.  Although it brought on a lot of heavy breathing and sweat to an already well worked catching crew, a good time appeared to be had by all.

It was the prospective bullpen candidates’ turn to toe the slabs today, and my first chance to see some of the new faces that will help close out victories for the Pads this season.   I was reminded by manager Buddy Black the importance of the bullpen to any team, but especially the Padres because of the number of close games they play, which makes every spot on that team within the team valuable.  There is no hiding a mop up man, or Rule V draft in Petco – that phone will ring and everyone’s name will be called. This year’s relief corps could provide quite a bit of contrast in what Buddy is able to throw at opposing batters to keep them off balance late in the game.

THE HEAT: Andrew Cashner – Easy gas.  We’ve heard about the stuff, but seeing it live still makes you stop and watch.  Fairly compact arm motion does not foretell how the ball will just explode out of his hand with ease.  In today’s workout he owned the low outside corner going to it seemingly at will.  He also has a slider and change up to go with his 95-100 MPH fastball, with the confidence in his change to throw it any time to righties and lefties.  He had arm problems last season, but has looked 100% healthy and strong so far this spring.  He figures to be a key part of the 7th & 8th innings to set up for…

THE COMMAND: Huston Street – He uses pinpoint control to lock up victories.  I’m still trying to get used to his mere mortal 6′-0″, 190 lb. frame – simply not what we are accustomed to seeing coming out of those bullpen doors to slam the door in the 9th. But the results speak for themselves with 178 career saves and a 3.11 lifetime ERA including 3 successful seasons working in hitter friendly Coors Field.  He carries himself with a calm self assuredness that says, “Don’t worry boys, I’ll carve these guys up”.  He didn’t wow with pure stuff today (nor should he with 5 weeks to go before opening day), but as you watch him work, you start to notice how quiet his catcher is and how little he has to move his glove.  There’s more than one way to lock down a W in the 9th, and pinpoint control, not MPH, will be the key ingredient this year for the Pads.

SLIDER SMORGASBORD: Luke Gregerson & Joe Thatcher –  Both of these guys have wipe out sliders when right.  Two years ago Gergerson had one of the best slider’s I’d ever seen, and he used it to put together three of the most dominating months you could ask for out of a late inning specialist.  Last year for whatever reason it didn’t have the same bite, and Luke spent much of the year fighting to find that magical feel for it, but still posted a 2.75 over 61 games, although with only half as many K/9 as his previous two seasons.  He looked good on the hill in today’s work, throwing lots of sliders most with pretty good away action, and some with that 2010 tilt.  It’s always hard to gauge breaking ball action in the thin, dry AZ air, but I didn’t see any cement mixer hangers which were dangerous for him on occasion last year.  Thatcher looked solid as well, showing that tight left handed sweeper that gets lefties chasing.  His goal is to just get out of spring healthy (which he hasn’t done the past two years), and the coaching staff has altered his program this spring, lightening it to have him available for opening day.  Again, when right, these two guys give Buddy a great lefty-righty combo for match ups late in the game.

Other guys that were interesting on first glance included Cory Burns with his Luis Tiant-esque back turn to the batter before delivery (nasty sink on his ball), Miles Mikolas and Nick Vincent showing off a strong arms, and Josh Spence who thank god appears to have not added 1 MPH to his under hitting speed reptoire.

One other thing I learned from pitching coach Darren Balsley – there will be a significant importance and focus put on the Padres pitching staff’s ability to contribute with their bats this year, as well as with their arms.  It was the first thing he wanted to point out before we went over what each guy was working on in preparation for the season.  I’ll be curious to see what is done additionally or differently to prepare the 9 hole hitters for their expected increase in productivity, and how it shows during the season.

Final observation after seeing everyone throw now: there is a general sense of confidence and competence throughout this batch of hurlers.  You always expect that out of the veteran guys who have a job locked in, but usually there are some rookies stumbling through the experience of their first big league camp, or guys trying to make the team that are trying to do too much too fast.  But I haven’t felt any of that want to impress anxiety from anyone so far, and the depth of talent on every one of the mounds is noticeable.  My early impression is that whoever doesn’t make the team will be ready to step in and get the job done when called upon, and Josh Byrnes and the staff will have more options to choose from than in the past.  All good news if what I am sensing here early on continues.

First full squad workout on Saturday – nice!

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