Padres Spring Training Report – Feb. 19, 2014

Gyorko ready to barrel it up.

When you see the team’s executive chairman, president and CEO, general manager, assistant general manager, and a host of front office personnel congregating at the entrance of the players spring training clubhouse door it can only mean one thing…the first team meeting of the season is about to start thus officially inaugurating the first full squad workout!  That was the scene today in Peoria as the Padres brass officially cut the ribbon so to speak on the new facility, and spring training 2014 with some opening comments to the players and staff.  From what I understand executive chairman Ron Fowler was succinct, and got his message out to the players loud and clear.  Only those behind the closed doors know exactly what was said, but afterwards Mr. Fowler and president Mike Dee spoke to the media about the heightened enthusiasm and optimism that is palpable amongst the players, coaches, and everyone in the organization.

Several minutes later the clubhouse door opens, and a single player emerges.  It’s Yasmani Grandal with his loaded bag of gear slung over his shoulder, a couple of bat handles sticking out of one of the ends.  Then you hear what to me is one of the most unmistakable sounds of spring.  It starts as a simple click-clack, click-clack, click-clack…the sound of spikes hitting the cement on the walkway as he makes his way from the clubhouse towards the field.  A few seconds later another player walks out, and an unsynchronized duet begins, clickity-clackity, clackity-clackity.  Moments later a group of players emerge, initiating a surge as the entire team begins to pour through the clubhouse doors, and as it does that sound, the sound of their spikes on the pavement, quickly crescendos into a cacophony of metal on cement, that triggers a heightened awareness in me that it’s on – spring training baseball is here!  Nowhere else can you get the unmistakable clatter of that many pairs of metal spiked cleats pounding the concrete as they resolutely march in the same direction.  The only sound that sporadically accents this unwritten sonata is the occasional moment of laughter, likely induced by some good natured player-on-player ribbing as they make their way towards the field.  It’s a great sound.  And just as quickly as it took over the area and drowned out everything around it, in less than 30-seconds it starts to subside as the players reach the grass.  Eventually it trickles back down to just the unsynchronized clickety-clack duet of the last couple of players, and then…it’s gone.  The voices of coaches relaying instructions, and players talking and joking now takes over.

As much as I’ve enjoyed watching the pitchers and catchers do their thing the past five days, it was great to have the full squad out on the field finally.  While many of the drills done today were the same as what the pitchers have already been doing , it is different to have players at their positions on the infield instead of coaches.  This is where the finer details of the drills come into play, and are really what often make the difference in whether you record the crucial out or not, get two outs on the come backer or just one, or get the lead runner on the late inning bunt down the third base line versus settling for the out at first.  It’s all about timing, and understanding your fellow players’ capabilities physically and mentally. Infielder’s need to know which pitchers can field their position adeptly, get off the mound quickly, are comfortable throwing to the bases, and which can not.  Pitchers need to know the rhythm their infielders like to use on the timing plays, their cadence on a day-light play, and how gutsy they are in calling for an attempt to get that lead runner.  These are the little things that win or lose games when split second decisions need to be made with runners on base, and the game is on the line.  Every one gets tired of these drills over the course of a long spring, but these are the plays that can cost wins, playoff spots, division titles, pennants, and championships.

Several pitchers threw bullpens today, including Josh Johnson who looked sharp once again after taking a planned extra day off between his work sessions.  Many of the guys who threw today will now take a couple of days off before next throwing live BP to hitters.  LHP Patrick Schuster appeared to have another strong day of work peppering the strike zone at the knees with his entire repertoire as he makes a bid to make the bullpen as the second lefty, along with Alex Torres.  The ‘pen is probably basically set, barring any injuries (knock on wood!) with Street, Benoit, Torres (L), Thayer, Vincent, and Stauffer, leaving one spot for either a second lefty or long reliever.  If Schuster, who has not yet pitched higher than A ball, can possibly show this spring that he can be both the lefty and second long man that would make the bullpen, which appears already to be a team strength, that much more versatile for Buddy.

Of note also today in the bullpen area was Casey Kelly throwing again as shown in this photo, as he continues his rehab from TJ surgery.  After throwing close to 70 pitches 3 days ago, the schedule for today was to back off and throw 35 pitches, which he did with apparent ease, and pain free.  Although he’s not cutting it lose, he looks pretty fluid in his delivery and already practicing good habits in keeping almost everything at the knees.  It should also be pointed out that the group of players shown in this photo all came over to watch him throw his bullpen, stayed for the entire session, then each gave him a high five when he was done.  These type of gestures can go a long way in boosting a player’s morale during the long and often lonely road of rehab from a major and potentially career altering surgery…NICELY DONE GUYS!!!

Not much remarkable to report on the position players, other than the most important thing for the Padres which is that they’re projected starting players were indeed all out on the field practicing.  Of course, I’m referring specifically to the players the Friars were missing by last season’s end including Carlos Quenitn (knee), Cameron Maybin (wrist & knee), Yasmani Grandal (knee), Yonder Alonso (hand), and Everth Cabrera (suspension).  Everyone looks in shape and ready to go, although I must admit that more than once I momentarily was asking myself “Who’s that at first base right now?”, not recognizing Yonder with his beardless face.

Quentin, by the way, was commenting at FanFest how good he is feeling physically, and because of that how excited he is coming into spring this season, so that’s a good sign.  Also, Yasmani continues to appear to be by all accounts weeks if not months ahead of schedule on his rehab, and each day that goes by the optimism within the organization rises that he will indeed be ready for opening day.

One final note, going back to some of the comments that Ron fowler and Mike Dee made during their time with the media this morning, it was noted that there was going to be a new emphasis on international scouting and signings moving forward.  In fact, it was noted that some internal changes had already taken place to get that process moving forward more aggressively.  I’ve also heard from other sources that the focus on what types of players are being scouted and pursued has changed, with the expectation that higher ceiling talent will be infused into the program moving forward.  All good news for an organization that has one of the nicest facilities in the Dominican to utilize.

The hitters will continue to hit off coaches for the next couple of days, and then the dreaded live BP will start where the pitchers mercilessly try to knock the bats out of their teammates’ hands.  Pitchers love it, while batters generally call it the worst three days of the spring, until they get their timing up to speed…yes, I do miss those days!

Catch up with you again tomorrow with another update from Padres ST!

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