Padres Spring Training Report – Mar. 17, 2014

Amarista weaving though traffic to record the out in today’s ballgame.

Another busy day in Padres camp with lots of news to report, some good and some not so good.  We’ll get to all of it in this report, but we’ll start with the game results which, despite wearing their luck green hats, found the Padres on the wrong end of 9-7 decision with the Rockies.

Tyson Ross had his toughest outing of the spring by far today as he allowed 6 runs on 12 hits, 5 of them doubles, as he lasted 4 1/3 before reaching his pitch count.  Mistakes up in the zone were certainly the culprit today for Tyson, and a wind howling out towards dead center did not help matters.  There were at least 3 of the extra base hits that likely would have been routine fly outs under more normal wind conditions, but that is no excuse.  He threw some great sliders at times, but was hit hard on elevated mistakes.  My experience as a player, and now from a different view as a broadcaster has been that no matter how good a guy throws in spring training there is usually at last one day that he gets beat up.  Get it out of the way and move on is all you can do, and hopefully that’s what Tyson will do.

Meanwhile the Rockies’ Brett Anderson showed the Pads batters some really good stuff through his first 3 innings, mixing FB’s, SL’s, and CB’s in and out on the Friars lineup holding them in check until the 4th.  Xavier Nady finally busted through with the farthest HR we’ve seen hit this spring.  For those of you familiar with Peoria Sports Complex you know that beyond the wall in left field is a large grass berm that is about 50′ deep.  Beyond the berm is a tent…X’s blast landed a couple of feet from the tent!  He got all of it, and the wind gave it a little extra carry – fun to watch! The Friars pushed across 3 in the 5th as well, thanks in large part to an Everth Cabrera 3B that scored 2, and setup his crossing the plate on a Chris Denorfia ground out to make it a one run game at that point.

Matt Wisler relieved Ross in the 5th and threw well for 2 2/3, allowing a solo HR but nothing more. Wisler continues to impress me not only with the quality of his repertoire, but his knowledge of how to use it, and his composure.  I do believe that we will see him at Petco at some point during the season, as it is normally the case that an MLB club needs more starters during a season than the 5 they start with.  Pads should be ready if/when that time comes in 2014.  Patrick Schuster then came in and although he allowed a run, he likely would not have with a big league defense behind him.  Unfortunately with some A/AA defenders on the field he allowed a run on an infield single, but that was it.  All in all I think he has put up a fairly compelling case for the Pads to keep him on the roster as Rule V “scholarship” player, as we used to call them when I was still in uniform, but he has stiff competition from Tony Sipp, and Robbie Erlin as well.  Stauffer came in for the final inning and also a lowed a single run, his on a HR.  At some point I would think Stauffer will need to get stretched out a little beyond these mostly 1-inning outings if he is to be the long man for the staff out of spring.

As was expected, because this team never seems to quit, a Padres rally was forged with 2 runs crossing in the bottom of the 9th, but the rebellion was quelled by the Rockies who held on to even the Cactus league series between the clubs at 1-1.

A couple of observances about the game including some outfield and infield play.  First, for those of you who are Little Ninja fans, Alexi Amarista made several very nice plays today at 3B.  He seems to be getting better first moves on balls, and covering more ground because of it especially to his left.  He’s also shown that although he may not have a rocket arm his ability to get rid of the ball quickly makes up for whatever may be missing in velocity.  Now for those of you who are Medica fans there’s also good news.  Tommy, for better or for worse, has finally had a chance to show off a little more the last two games what he’s capable of in LF.  So far no major red flags.  He seems to have pretty good speed, has not taken any bad routes, and has essentially made all the plays that have come his way, granted none have been real testers, and none have required a strong throw.  The biggest challenge he may have is opposing base runners testing his surgically repaired arm.  There’s still a lot to be seen of what he is really capable of, or not capable of out there, but the initial data suggests he may be able to hold his own…especially if his bat continues to show difference making pop.

So what other news came out of camp today?  First the good news…

• Huston Street is feeling good, and is expected to make his Cactus League debut Tuesday night.  If all goes well there is still time for him to be ready for opening day.
• Chase Headley is also expected to start playing in games, with the goal being Thursday night.
• Yasmani Grandal continues to progress as hoped since starting game action.  He’s been on an every third day routine to start with, but that will change to every other day, then to more innings in those outings, and finally full games back to back days.  The hope is that progression can be completed before opening day, but it’s not a sure thing.

Now the not so good….

• Joe Wieland has gone back to San Diego to get his elbow looked at.  Apparently mid way through his outing two days ago, he felt some discomfort in the back of his elbow.  By the time he finished his next inning it was bad enough that he felt he could not pitch any more with it.  It sounds as though it is similar, if not the same, as the back of the elbow pain that twice inhibited his rehab from TJ surgery.  Those previous episodes appeared to be more of lower triceps issue as opposed to a problem with the UCL replacement, and was treated and eventually went away.  Hopefully this is something similar that can be treated as an inflammation problem, and nothing more structural.
• Carlos Quentin was a last second scratch from the starting lineup today.  No word on why, but he is expected to be back in the lineup and ready to play Tuesday night.
• Alex Dickerson and Blaine Boyer had MRI’s taken of their ankles today.  Dickerson sprained his left ankle a couple of days ago, and is not considered day-to-day, but is expected to be out a little longer.  Boyer, who’s been throwing very well this spring and opening eyes, was hit in the left ankle on a come backer yesterday.  He is considered to be on a day-to-day schedule, ad should be back on the mound soon.

You’re now up to date.  Tomorrow is a night game, and will be broadcast on the Mighty 1090.  Jesse Agler and myself will bring the call. Hope you’ll join us!

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