Padres Press Clips Wednesday, March 28, 2018
Article Source Author Page Yet another change seen for Padres' Wil Myers this season SD Union Tribune Acee 2
Pink Pony chat: What MLB scouts say about Padres, others SD Union Tribune Krasovic 5
Padres' opening-day starter Clayton Richard creates legacy as he SD Union Tribune Acee 10
Finally, Padres land a legit opening-day shortstop in SD Union Tribune Miller 13 Freddy Galvis
2018 Padres: An 'R.B.I. Baseball' simulation SD Union Tribune Sanders 15
Walk the walk? Padres hope to boost OBP MLB.com Cassavell 18
Cimber earns surprise bullpen spot MLB.com Cassavell 20
Bowden: Is this the year the rest of the NL West catches The Athletic Bowden 22 up to the Dodgers?
Petco Park Again Offering New Lineup of Improvements FriarWire Center 24 for 2018
Happening Homestand Report: March 29–31 FriarWire Lafferty 29
San Diego Padres Opening Day: Everything You Need to NBC 7 Bledsoe 32 Know
Opening Day survey: $400 million for Harper? A Yankees ESPN.com Crasnick 365 letdown? MLB execs size up 2018
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Yet another change seen for Padres' Wil Myers this season Kevin Acee There was talk about the 20 extra pounds to help him not just be stronger but for longer.
There was talk about the work with a sports psychologist assisting him working through his difficulty handling baseball’s inevitable failures, with the hope he can learn to not work himself deeper into slumps.
There was talk about the signing of Eric Hosmer taking the burden of being the man from Wil Myers’ to-do list, allowing him to concentrate on his own game.
There was talk of his position change, from first base to a split between the corner outfield spots.
And well, there’s another thing Wil Myers worked on recently:
His vision.
He really couldn’t see as well as he needed to.
“I didn’t tell anybody,” Myers said this week. “I don’t give excuses.”
A couple days before spring training games began, Myers got his first pair of contacts. With them in, his vision in his right eye improves from 20/20 to 20/15 and in his left from 20/30 to 20/20.
As Myers explained the change, he had just returned from hitting in the cage and was not wearing his contacts. He puts them in just before batting practice and removes them after each game.
“I don’t know,” he said. “I can see a little clearer. It’s not one of those things that’s like ‘Oh my gosh.’ But it can only help, right?”
Myers hit .362/.373/.621 this spring with four home runs and three doubles. He walked once and struck out 14 times in 58 at-bats.
Last spring: .407/.500/.729 with four homers and five doubles in 59 at-bats, walking 11 times and striking out 12. His torrid pace continued into the season’s first month, when he hit .310/.325/.593 before falling into what was essentially a four-month slump.
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He said earlier in the spring he believes the work with the sports psychologist was the most important thing he did all offseason.
But seeing the ball better might work out for good too.
“Yeah,” he said. “It can’t hurt.”
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Pink Pony chat: What MLB scouts say about Padres, others Tom Krasovic Spring training is over, finally. And that means the Pink Pony Scouts Chat is here.
What did big league scouts see from the Padres the past six weeks?
You'll find their comments below, along with appraisals of San Diego’s four rivals.
Eight years ago, I created the Pink Pony chat in honor of the late Phil Collier, a longtime Padres beat writer for the San Diego Union. The Pink Pony steakhouse in Scottsdale was one of Phil's Cactus League hangouts where he talked ball with scouts, managers, coaches, players, broadcasters -- everybody.
So, pull up a chair.
PADRES
“Future looks brighter than it has for a long time. But, they’re still a ways away.”
“I’d guess they’re three years away from starting to make a lot of noise, and a lot of that is contingent on their young pitchers staying healthy.”
“Can they be a 75-to-80-win team? If their pitching holds up, and they overachieve, and the young guys sneak up into the rotation and give them a shot in the arm.”
“I’d be surprised if they clear 75 (wins).”
“They’re getting better. I think their position-player group will be pretty good. Pitching’s the question.”
“Offensively, they’re OK, but still below average.”
“People undersell their pitching every year, but they always seem to overachieve with (coach Darren) Balsley and the pitching environment.”
“They have more pitching prospects than player-position prospects. There’s more attrition and risk with pitching prospects.”
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“May want to manage expectations. It’s great to see 20- and 21-year olds get to the big leagues. People are excited. But the ultimate result is how good of big leaguer they are. I think development matters.”
“They have a plan; they’re sticking to the plan. I think the Padres fans should be excited about their future, I really do.”
“They’ve got starting pitching prospects who are nearing the big leagues.”
“Their system probably has the best stable of upside starting pitchers in baseball. They’ve done a good job of evaluating talent and being aggressive.”
“I think a lot of their higher-end prospects are worth their high-profile status, as of right now. Especially a lot of their pitchers. They have some real arms coming.”
FERNANDO TATIS, JR.
“Exciting. He’s big, he’s athletic. He’s got power, he’s got tools. Average to plus runner, surprisingly. Whether he becomes the third baseman or the shortstop of the future, they have reason to be excited.”
“Tatis is a good-looking player. He’s extremely talented offensively. I don’t think he stays a short.”
“Poised. Didn’t look overmatched, which is really rare. Hit an opposite-field home run that was really impressive. Has plus bat-speed. Swing is a tad long, but it’s not bad. Has a pretty good idea. Will chase it a little bit, which you expect from a young kid.”
LUIS URIAS
“What will he become? I don’t know. Very advanced hitting approach. Limited power. Doesn’t run. You like him. He can hit. You wouldn’t say he has tremendous upside. Kind of a split camp on him.”
“I like him a lot. He sees the ball really well. Short backswing. Has a good idea up there. Low- risk, safe, everyday guy. I don’t think he has the tools to be a star.”
“A pretty safe bet to be a good everyday player. He’ll be a gritty, tough out.”
JOEY LUCCHESI & ERIC LAUER
“Lucchesi and Lauer kind of go in the same basket. Both have a chance to be legitimate major league starters within the next year to year and a half.”
“Lucchesi, I love his competitiveness, his mindset, his preparation — things that a lot of times get overlooked. Hitters don’t see him well. Lot of ingredients there to be a good mid-rotation starter.”
“They could pivot a couple of months into the season and go with Lucchesi and Lauer. Maybe that helps their rotation be closer to average.” 5
“Lauer looked like he had a good feel for pitching.”
“Lauer keeps his composure well. Fastball plays up. It’s deceptive. Good command. He and Lucchesi — they’re pretty safe bets to be 3 or 4s sooner than later.”
“I love that they pitch with their fastballs.”
MACKENZIE GORE
“Everyone you talk to loves Gore. He may be a fast-track guy, like (Clayton) Kershaw or Steve Avery. He might blow through the system by age 20.”
“Big-time fastball. No. 1-type stuff. Good breaking ball. Good late life. Hitters have trouble picking him up. He has the frame and the fastball to be a horse up top.”
“Delivery looks athletic. Guess he had a blister this spring. I will be interested to see how he handles adversity for the first time. You can tell he’s never really been hit around.”
ERIC HOSMER
“Plays the game right. He’ll be good for the culture.”
“Obviously it’s a huge investment. I don’t understand the knock on it. Quality hitter. Good oppo- power. He can play defense. He’s young (28), he’s coming into his prime. You feel better about him as the face of your franchise than Wil Myers.”
“I do think he is a good player. The makeup and character are worth something. I think signing a player, not unlike the Tigers with Pudge and Nats with (Jayson) Werth, to jump start a turnaround is fine. But, he is a first baseman, and relative to others on the market, you probably could get more bang for your dollar.”
“Hosmer, they went out and spent some money to get a quality player. In time, they’re going to have to fill some holes. It looks like they’re willing to spend money when needed.”
“It wasn’t the best spring from him, but he’s a solid guy. They didn’t acquire him on a whim. They knew what they were getting. Quality person, quality baseball player. He’s going to help that team for years to come.”
FREDDY GALVIS
“They have a real shortstop, at least for the short term. The sum is a little greater than the parts with him. Makeup is good. He brings an attitude and a consistency to that position, and I can’t remember a guy they’ve had who’s steady and is going to make all the plays. His character and makeup make him a little more valuable than his offensive numbers would tell you.”
FRANCHY CORDERO
“Franchy needs to refine the tools.”
“Tools are interesting. Poor swing decisions last year.” 6
“Has to tone down his game a bit. Has some length to his swing. It’s identifying pitches, laying off pitches. It’s the same with (Hunter) Renfroe, a growth situation. It’s not about the swing. It’s the vision, it’s the mind, how he tracks the ball. Is he gonna get it? I don’t know.”
WIL MYERS
“The key for him is to stay healthy.”
HUNTER RENFROE
“Will he be a guy that just hits home runs? You’re surprised his defense wasn’t better last year. That was very surprising.”
“He needs to get the majority of the at-bats. He’s got the most upside of their (young corner outfielders). He’s got to improve against right-handed pitching. They need to find out about Renfroe and help him continue to develop. They’re not going to win this year, why not?”
“There’s a ton of swing and miss with his profile. They’ve been kind of quietly seeing what people may give up for him.”
“He’s gotten bigger and a little slower, like a lot of guys do.”
“Big power. He’s more geared toward left-handed pitching. I think in time he’s going to learn to make adjustments.”
JOSE PIRELA
“Good fastball hitter. Plays hards. Seems like a really good guy.”
“Has really good hand-eye. Had a good spring. He’s kind of a butcher defensively. Andy Green may be mixing and matching a lot in the outfield.”
CORY SPANGENBERG
“I think he’s the better player at second base. Has some power, and he can run. His swing and approach have improved a bit. (Carlos) Asuaje has pretty good hit skills. But there’s not much impact.”
“He’ll be an OK utility guy. I don’t see him sticking there long term.”
CARLOS ASUAJE
“I like him, but I think he gets passed by, by Urias. He’s a fine short-term option. If he plays well, maybe there’s some trade value. Probably more of a second-division player.”
TYSON ROSS
“Looked good. Looks healthy. Very good bounce-back candidate. His best sliders were really good. Questions are strikes and health.”
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“His velocity was pretty good. He had a good spring. He was a little sporadic (before). Shoulder history. It’s hard to expect anything big from him.”
DINELSON LAMET
“We’ll see with the elbow. Really good arm. Spotty command. Doesn’t really have anything for lefties.”
“Will overthrow and is learning to pitch. That’s not unusual for young guys.”
“Put him in the bullpen, and he could be a seventh- or eighth-inning guy. Not a front-rotation guy. Looks like a reliever to me. A good one, though.”
“A fine back-end starter, but with the elbow injury, let’s see.”
"I didn’t see it with the curveball.”
LUIS PERDOMO
“Has a chance to be a solid, dependable starter who throws a ton of ground balls and could log a lot of innings. They need to continue to be patient with him. He’s still young.”
“Solid five. Nothing sexy about him. Gets ground balls. Keeps you in game. In a pitcher’s park in San Diego, he’s a fine innings-eater back of the rotation guy.”
“I think they can do better. I think he becomes a trade chip if their young guys stay healthy.”
AUSTIN HEDGES
“Everything is a little quieter with his hitting approach. He has power. Elite defender. The fact that he’s a high-strikeout, low-walk guy, that’s probably not going to change.”
“You hear he’s a great teammate and his pitchers love him.”
CHRISTIAN VILLANUEVA
“Solid corner utility player. Good right-handed hit skill.”
“He and Chase Headley were fine. They want to emphasize competition. My guess is they go with the hot hand there at third. I don’t think Villanueva is the long-term answer.”
“Villanueva, he’s got bat speed. He’s part of their mix, whether he’s going to be their future third baseman or a bat off the bench. He’s not a butcher at third.”
BRYAN MITCHELL
“He’s a guy that looks the part, has really good stuff but underachieves. The Yankees are a pretty smart organization. Everyone makes mistakes; it’s hard to believe they would just give him away if they really thought he was good.”
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“I think he ends up in the ’pen.”
ADRIAN MOREJON
“He’s impressive because he’s so young but so polished. Three pitches. Physically mature. I don’t know how much more physical upside is there. But his stuff is plenty good.”
“In terms of age and polish, he reminds me of a young Cole Hamels. Different body types. But the action and the polish are really advanced for his age.”
CAL QUANTRILL
“He clearly has a chance to be a back-end guy in a rotation. Fastball plays down a little.”
JOSH NAYLOR
“Could stand to lose some weight. Sort of a tweener.”
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Padres' opening-day starter Clayton Richard creates legacy as he plays to win Kevin Acee Clayton Richard insists on remaining in Indiana with his young family during the winter.
“I value my time at home very highly,” he said. “I want to be with my family and my friends. It grounds me, gets me back to a realistic view of the world outside of this world of professional baseball.”
The work, however, doesn’t stop. Anyone who has seen the 34-year-old with the 24-year-old’s torso knows that to be true. That’s why he built a massive gym on his property.
So he told the Padres he couldn’t get to San Diego this past offseason but that they could send some prospects to him for some lessons.
The invitation from the old left-hander was accepted on behalf of two young left-handers.
Warnings were given.
Recalled Eric Lauer: “We were in San Diego and people said, ‘Oh, you’re going to work out with Clayton? Good luck. He’s going to kill you.’ ”
Lauer, 22, and Joey Lucchesi, 24, arrived the week after Christmas. They stayed five days, all of them filled with some sort of torture.
“I’d done some of the workouts, but this was more intense,” Lucchesi said. “He’s in shape, man. I thought I was going to be all right. I was pretty tired after. I just wanted to go to bed.”
Richard declines any credit for the development of the two prospects, who survived longer in major league camp than any of the organization’s other highly touted minor leaguers and showed they will be making their big-league debuts before too long.
Certainly, Lauer and Lucchesi rose through the minors and got themselves in good standing before they met Richard. But it would be ignorant to believe their following him around as if he were a mama duck this spring had nothing to do with their recent ascension.
Said manager Andy Green: “That kind of thirst and hunger to get a competitive edge, if you can impact that in young guys and it can be modeled for them. … He’s the type of person you want Joey Lucchesi and Eric Lauer to be around.”
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And that is why, almost as much as anything, Richard will on Thursday afternoon at Petco Park make his first opening day start, the honor a fitting tribute to a career well spent and hard earned.
He will probably start another 30 games this season, because that’s what he does. No one who knows the man will bet against him doing the same thing again next year, in the second and final year of his contract, at age 35.
But whatever happens between this start against the Milwaukee Brewers and his final time taking the ball in 2019, the Padres believe they are better for him being around — start after start, day after day, willingly sharing his Clayton Richardness with any and all who come around him.
It almost seems insulting to talk too much about how much Richard helps off the field — as if he can’t still throw the gravity out of his sinker, didn’t induce 29 double play grounders (second in MLB) and pick off eight runners at first base (most in MLB) and make all 32 of his starts and throw a team-high 197 1/3 innings in 2017.
The Padres didn’t give him a two-year, $6 million contract at the end of last season to be a teacher. He didn’t accept the contract to be a teacher.
“I want to be a part of San Diego winning,” said Richard. who was 8-15 with a 4.79 ERA last year. “I’ve been here on and off since 2009 (when he was acquired in the Jake Peavytrade). That’s always been my goal. I want to win in San Diego. There would be nothing more fulfilling than to have a winning team in San Diego.”
Still, both parties embraced that his imparting wisdom to younger pitchers came with the deal.
“If you’re not doing that, you’re cheating yourself and the team,” Richard said. “If you’re too selfish in that aspect, you’re going to miss an opportunity to grow.”
Fact is, he hardly even has to try to teach as he is so busy trying to win.
“He’s always doing something to get better,” Lauer said. “… He’s a good teacher as well as a good player. He leads by example, and he can tell you what to do. He knows the game so well. He’s taught me so much about the little intricacies that most people don’t think about, but as a pitcher at that level you have to understand and think about.”
Richard is so prepared for his starts, it changes the way catcher Austin Hedges goes about that day’s work.
“It’s different than any pitcher I’ve ever worked with,” Hedges said. ““If I even thought about going to the mound, he’d be like, ‘No.’ … It’s nice to know what we’ve prepared for we’re going to stick to, and if we need make an adjustment we are going to make it together between innings. But when he’s on the mound, he’s in complete control. He helps me out a lot with his game plan for the day, making me do a little less work on the days he pitches.”
Richard fills notebooks with information like he did when he was a quarterback, backing up Chad Henne at the University of Michigan. He writes down at the end of bullpen sessions, workouts and games what felt good and what didn’t and what he wants to work on next time. 11
“Nolan Ryan was once quoted saying, ‘You never know what the game is going to ask of you,’ ” Richard said. “With that in mind, I want to be prepared for anything. To me, that means I’m not going to go into a game asking myself if I’m ready. I’m going to know I did everything in my power to be ready for that day.”
One day, Lauer and Lucchesi and the rest of the next generation of Padres pitchers will be quoting Clayton Richard.
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Finally, Padres land a legit opening-day shortstop in Freddy Galvis Bryce Miller The ball rocketing off the bat of Atlanta’s Nick Markakis was ticketed for short-center. Even if Phillies shortstop Freddy Galvis was able to make a play — and surely he wouldn’t — you simply knock it down, limit the damage and play on.
Galvis, though, kept coming. And coming. And coming.
In a forgettable inning between teams clawing to avoid the NL East cellar in 2015, Galvis hurled himself into a crumpled, twisted mess on the shallow outfield grass like a deranged yoga instructor.
Without planting a foot or knee, Galvis spun his body in a way that denied physics, gravity and common sense to rotate, mid-air, toward first base. With no leverage, he miraculously put enough oomph on the throw to erase the stunned baserunner.
“Craziest play I’ve had,” Galvis said.
Galvis clutched his right arm and side on the grass for a few moments. Then he got up to play the seventh inning. And the eighth. And the ninth. What the play showed: The Padresfinally have a real opening-day shortstop.
He’s a durable defensive star — without an AARP card. This isn’t Clint Barmes, at 36. This isn’t Alexei Ramirez, at 34. This isn’t Erick Aybar, at 33. Those were the final career seasons for Barmes and Ramirez and it still could play out that way for Aybar, as well. None cracked 128 games in those seasons, while Barmes and Ramirez averaged just 103 between them.
Galvis, closer to 28 than 29, finished last season with the best fielding percentage of anyone at the position, despite the bumps and bruises of playing 162 games. The rest of baseball’s 2017 ironmen: Eric Hosmer, Alcides Escobar and Joey Votto. That’s it.
He shows up. He makes plays. That sounds simple, but its something the Padres have lacked for far too long at a position so critically important. The last Padre to play every game was Adrian Gonzalez in 2008. Before that, as The Athletic’s Dennis Lin explained: Joe Carter in 1990 and Steve Garvey … in 1985.
“He’s as consistent as anybody (defensively),” Padres manager Andy Green said. “I think he kicked one the other day and it shocks everybody. That hadn’t necessarily been the case for us the last number of years at shortstop. He makes plays. He makes them routinely. His head’s in the game. He talks. He’s been as-advertised.
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“The ball disappears in his glove. Quick exchange. Those are real skill sets.”
It’s not sexy to talk about Galvis and his reliable glove with Hosmer, Wil Myers and the youth movement of Manny Margot, Austin Hedges and Hunter Renfroe flowering.
When you consider starting pitchers Clayton Richard and Luis Perdomo ranked Nos. 2 and 3 in all of baseball for percentage of ground balls and the Padres finished third overall, why it matters becomes crystal.
Galvis tied Jose Iglesias of the Tigers for the fewest errors among everyday shortstops last season, with seven. As the Union-Tribune’s Jeff Sanders pointed out, Galvis owns a 5.2 wins- above-replacement number the past three seasons — while 14 Padres shortstops during that period combined for a minus-5.9.
Don Welke, the Padres vice president for scouting operations who signed Galvis while working for the Phillies, had to convince the team to latch onto the game, gritty 16-year-old. He’s averaged 157 games played the last three seasons.
“I don’t think he drops a ball, period. Hardly ever,” Welke said. “A lot of people don’t know how good he is. And he doesn’t care.”
Welke recalled arguing with a pair of Phillies “cross checkers” about the potential of Galvis.
“What? How can you not like this kid?” Welke said. “He’s a switch-hitting shortstop. Where in the hell do you find a switch-hitting shortstop? You just don’t find those.”
If the career .245 hitter offers much at the plate other than favorable matchups, it would be a welcome surprise — though he’s coming off one of his best seasons offensively. His 155 hits were more than any Padre a season ago, while his 45 walks would have ranked second. His RBIs (61) and steals (14) would have stood third best.
Green thinks there’s some offense to mine, in addition to the slick glove.
“He’s coming off a .309 on-base and we think there’s a lot more in him than that,” Green said. “We’ve also seen some pop in spring training. That ball he hit out of Glendale the other day was crushed to center field. It’s good to see him swing the bat like that.”
Galvis has carved out time with younger infielders, including the one poised to potentially take his job.
Though the 5-10, 185-pound Galvis is entering a contract year, the Padres are not ruling out re- signing him. Sooner than later, though, the organization’s No. 1 prospect Fernando Tatis Jr. will arrive at shortstop.
To Galvis, it’s not a him-or-I situation. It’s an us thing.
“When they get here, they’re going to help us win games,” Galvis reasoned. “I think it’s pretty cool to help them. I enjoy it. We play for the same team. All we want to do is win games.”
There’s some more of that fancy footwork. 14
2018 Padres: An 'R.B.I. Baseball' simulation Jeff Sanders “R.B.I. Baseball” doesn’t get the Padres.
There’s no Fernando Tatis. No Luis Urias. No Joey Lucchesi or Eric Lauer or Cal Quantrill. There’s not even an actual 40-man roster to manage, let alone a minor league system to mine for call-ups in the video game’s entry for the 2018 season.
Of course, the game includes the arrival of Eric Hosmer and Freddy Galvis, Wil Myers’ move to the outfield and the return of Chase Headley. There’s a rotation the industry doesn’t hold in high regard (neither does “R.B.I.”). And there’s a semblance of a franchise mode — but nothing like you’ll get with an uber-simulation like “MLB The Show.”
To be clear, “R.B.I. Baseball” is a straight-up arcade-style MLB experience, and the folks at MLBAM — based on one simulation of the season — say the Padres are in for a rough 2018 campaign.
As in 73 wins.
As in fourth place in the NL West.
As in more of the same from a franchise with one winning season in the last 10 years.
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• Disclaimer: You might be asking yourself, why not conduct this exercise with “MLB The Show?” Well, further research might have helped when a certain 6-year-old was persuaded to put an Xbox One on his Santa list over a “kiddie” Nintendo Switch. Alas, “MLB The Show” is available only on Sony’s PlayStation consoles, leaving “R.B.I. Baseball” as the lone MLB experience available to Xbox gamers (the 6-year-old, in this case). Surely someone will sim a Padres season on “MLB The Show” … soon (challenge extended).
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Anyway, on to the season, which starts on a bright note with the Brewers, an upstart team to be sure, on the opening day schedule instead of the World Series-or-bust Dodgers.
Manuel Margot leads off the year with a homer on the second pitch he sees. Clayton Richard fetches two double plays in limiting Milwaukee to three runs through five-plus innings. The bullpen then holds serve, with Brad Hand striking out the side in the ninth despite yielding two hits to preserve a 5-3 win that gets the Padres started on a season-opening 4-3 homestand.
Momentum doesn’t stay in San Diego for long. 15
Soon, Carlos Asuaje (hamstring) and Bryan Mitchell (forearm strain) are lost for several weeks to injuries. Hosmer has a 1.025 OPS through April, but the Padres slide to a 12-18 mark as only Mitchell, Richard and Tyson Ross have ERAs under 5.00.
The ERAs climb from there, as does the bullpen’s as relief innings pile up. Again, there’s no farm system to turn to as General Manager A.J. Preller will in 2018, so the snowball is in full effect when the Padres are 23-35 at the end of May, 37-48 at the end of June and 46-63 at the trade deadline.
The most movable piece, Headley, is hitting .218 with four homers and 21 RBIs, so the phone isn’t ringing.
Asuaje has also hit the DL for a second time. Mitchell has returned and is the lone starting pitcher with a respectable ERA despite rotating in Colin Rea and Robbie Erlin and Jordan Lyles in hopes of stopping the bleeding. It doesn’t because Craig Stammen’s up past 100 innings — in July — because the AI is pulling starting pitchers in the third or fourth inning just about every game.
There are bright spots as the season drags on to a 73-89 finish that at least keeps the Giants in the NL West cellar.
Hunter Renfroe (.879 OPS), despite beginning the season in a bench role, leads the Padres with 29 homers. Three other Padres — Hosmer (27, .866 OPS), Myers (26, .833 OPS) and Galvis (23, .767 OPS) — hit more than 20 homers and Renfroe (118), Hosmer (119), Myers (102) and Galvis (115) incredibly (and unbelievably) top 100 RBIs. Margot (.669 OPS, 10 HRs, 7 steals) does not take a step forward, but Asuaje — even in an injury-riddled season — impresses with a .77O OPS, 13 homers and 49 RBIs in just 94 games.
Meantime, the homegrown Astros win a second straight World Series title (in six games over the Nationals) utilizing a build-from-within model that might never materialize for the Padres in this version of the game.
Wait ‘til next year?
Remember.
No Tatis. No Urias. No Lucchesi, let alone MacKenzie Gore (at least not before their real big league call-ups prompt one of the game’s periodic roster updates).
As far as “R.B.I. Baseball” goes, Padres fans might never see the future they’ve been yearning for.
At least not in the 2018 version of the game.
OK, but what about the gameplay in “R.B.I. Baseball?” Again, this is an arcade-style update of the original game that debuted in the late ‘80s on Nintendo’s eight-bit system. It’s simple to jump into, easy to get the hang of and includes at least some sophistication if you’d like to simulate a major league season.
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There’s a five-man rotation, real reserves to put onto a roster when you sustain injuries and a trading deadline (although the AI doesn’t appear to propose trades).
The problems arise when you realize you want more.
The ability to double-switch is glitchy. The franchise mode beyond Season 1 is borderline worthless without a semblance of some kind of amateur draft. The midseason All-Star rosters pull from the 2017 season and not current simulations and the home run derbymode forces you select someone from last year’s field instead of anyone from any roster (even the old Ken Griffey Jr. game on Super Nintendo allowed that).
But it’s hard to complain when you walk past the 6-year-old’s room to find him “suiting up” as his Little League team on Xbox instead of logging on another round of “Minecraft.”
A seed has been planted. I’ll take it … for now.
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Walk the walk? Padres hope to boost OBP Additions of Hosmer, Headley, Stairs made with eye toward improving plate approach By AJ Cassavell MLB.com @AJCassavell Mar. 27th, 2018
SAN DIEGO -- The 2016 Padres hit more home runs than any Padres team had ever hit. A year later, the '17 club smashed that record.
And yet, in each of those years, San Diego slumped toward the bottom of the Majors in offense. It's no secret why.
"I like home runs -- you score every time you hit one," said Padres manager Andy Green. "But I'd like to score two or three runs every time we hit one."
And therein lies the most important issue facing the 2018 San Diego Padres: improving their on- base percentage. The Padres have finished last in the Majors in OBP each of the past two seasons. A year ago, they reached base at a .299 clip -- 10 points worse than the 29th-ranked Giants. During the offseason, every offensive move San Diego made was with an eye on improving that number.
The Padres signed Eric Hosmer (.385 OBP). They traded for Chase Headley (.352 OBP). They hired Matt Stairs as hitting coach (.356 career OBP), a year after Stairs filled the same role in Philadelphia and brought a patient approach to a similarly young offense.
. 20th, 2018 "We're going to limit the at-bats we give away, which will up our on-base percentage," said Stairs, who was hired in October to replace Alan Zinter. "[If we do that] we're capable of a ton. Look at the talent we have, with power, with speed, with the ability to drive the ball to every part of the ballpark."
The Padres are still in the early stages of what they hope is a push toward annual playoff contention. They boast one of the league's youngest rosters and the sport's best farm system, according to MLB Pipeline. If their pitching struggles in 2018, it won't be catastrophic -- there are reinforcements in the Minor Leagues, and the rotation of the future hasn't really begun to crystallize.
But San Diego's offense of the future has. Hunter Renfroe, Austin Hedges, Manuel Margot and Wil Myers are clear pieces in the organization's long-term vision. In 2017, none of the four reached base at a rate the Padres were pleased with.
To some extent, they're young hitters, and those struggles were understandable. That doesn't diminish the need for change.
"We couldn't really string hits together," Renfroe said. "Some of it was, we were young, we were a little inexperienced. Now we've got a year under our belt. ... We're ready to punch back, and obviously we brought in guys like Hoz, Headley, who know what they're doing and get on base a lot. We're going to be better."
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. 2nd, 2018 They have to be. If this Padres offense -- with the new personnel, deeper lineup and additional experience -- were to post similar on-base numbers, it'd qualify as disastrous.
The early returns, taken with the usual Spring Training grain of salt, are favorable. The Padres' 10.2 percent walk rate trails only the Yankees, Nationals and D-backs this spring. Green was quick to note that the addition of Hosmer and Headley has been an instant boost.
"It's always predicated on personnel," Green said. "You have [Headley] and Hosmer at the top, and you exchange two of your lower on-base-percentage guys out of the lineup, and you start to be an offense that churns a little bit quicker."
When Headley walked six times in his first four games, young teammates approached him, specifically asking for advice regarding his plate discipline.
"To a certain extent, hitters are either that way or not that way," Headley said. "But there are ways to get better. Some of these guys don't need to be as patient as I am. Part of the reason I'm as patient as I am is because I can't take that ball that's on the outer edge and hit a home run the other way. That's not my game. There are guys here that can.
"Wil Myers, I want him swinging more than I do. Same with Hunter. They've got that ability. Now, if we can get them to refine that approach, be more selective and not swing at balls out of the zone, we're going to make a lot of progress."
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Cimber earns surprise bullpen spot After making adjustments, righty sidearmer wins job with dominant spring By AJ Cassavell MLB.com @AJCassavell Mar. 27th, 2018
SAN DIEGO -- Adam Cimber didn't break camp with any Padres affiliate last spring. Struggling with his mechanics and unable to get left-handed hitters out consistently, the Padres told Cimber he'd need to remain in Peoria, Ariz. for an extra couple weeks to figure things out.
Where some might have pouted, Cimber embraced the challenge. He would piece together an excellent 2017 campaign for Triple-A El Paso and was nothing short of dominant in big-league camp this spring. On Monday, the 27-year-old right-handed got his reward. Having entered camp as a roster afterthought this year, Cimber was informed by manager Andy Green that he will make the Opening Day roster.
What a difference a year makes.
"Once I stopped sulking and got over the fact that I was sticking around here, I took it as a challenge," said Cimber earlier this spring. "From there, just tried to get better."
Cimber watched hours upon hours of video of Orioles right-hander Darren O'Day, whose sidearm delivery, pitch mix and velocity are similar to his own. Cimber studied every pitch from O'Day's All-Star 2015 season.
The biggest takeaway was pitch sequencing -- especially against left-handers. Typically, pitchers of Cimber's ilk get designated as righty specialists. The Padres believed his stuff might play nicely against lefties, too. Cimber quickly proved them right.
"My game plan in the past was to stay away from lefties," Cimber said. "Steer clear and try and get to a righty. I wasn't attacking them. Now, I'm mixing pitches up better, showing them something different, as opposed to just fastballs down and away."
In 10 Cactus League appearances this spring, Cimber held opponents scoreless. He struck out nine over nine innings, allowing just four hits and a walk. Perhaps most telling was that experienced Major League hitters have looked very uncomfortable with Cimber's sidearm delivery.
"[They don't react] well at all," said Green. "There's just something to it. There are late swings. Even when they put it in play, it's not good contact."
Cimber's inclusion on the roster means five bullpen spots are locked up, with two or three places still available. Cimber hasn't yet been placed on the 40-man squad, but there's room for him after the club outrighted Carter Capps to El Paso earlier on Monday.
It's unclear how the Padres will use Cimber. But his recent success against lefty hitters makes him a candidate for just about any role, including multiple innings.
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"I've done a little bit of everything, one out to three innings and everything else in there," Cimber said. "It's something I've definitely been used to doing the last couple years. ... Whatever they ask of me."
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Bowden: Is this the year the rest of the NL West catches up to the Dodgers?
By Jim Bowden
Predictions: 1. Los Angeles Dodgers 2. Arizona Diamondbacks (wild card) 3. Colorado Rockies 4. San Diego Padres 5. San Francisco Giants
Padres Trades: Chase Headley, Bryan Mitchell, Freddie Galvis. Free agents: Eric Hosmer: eight years, $144 million; Jordan Lyles: one year, $1 million; Craig Stammen: two years, $4.5 million; Kazuhisa Makita. Offseason grade: B Starting Rotation: Clayton Richard leads the Padres rotation and provides mentorship for their young starters. They were so pleased with his leadership and his ability to get ground balls that they rewarded him with a two-year extension. Dinelson Lamet has the best arm of their starters with a mid-90s fastball and nasty slider, but he has an elbow problem and will start the year on the DL. Bryan Mitchell was acquired from the Yankees because they love his raw stuff. Luis Perdomo has a solid sinker but left- handers are his kryptonite. The Padres have a lot of solid pitching prospects in the pipeline, including Mackenzie Gore, Michel Baez, Cal Quantrill, Adrian Morejon and Anderson Espinoza. The only question is when they’ll be major league ready; that's when the Padres will be considered legitimate contenders again. Bullpen: The Padres bullpen is led by Brad Hand, one of the best left-handed relievers in baseball. In fact, GM A.J. Preller told me he gets more trade requests on Hand than any player he’s had since taking over the Padres. The rest of the Padres bullpen includes veterans like Kirby Yates, Kazuhisa Makita and Craig Stammen. Makita and Stammen were signed as free agents in the offseason. Phil Maton, Buddy Baumann and Jordan Lyles provide depth. Catching: Austin Hedges is finally developing into a front-line catcher. He’s always been special defensively and can shut down the running game with the best of them. He is an agile receiver with quick feet, sure hands and an elite ability to call a game. His bat has started to improve, as he belted 18 home runs last year. Veteran A.J. Ellis will back him up. Ellis will be a big league managers someday and provides great leadership qualities. Infield: The Padres made a huge splash in free agency when they landed Eric Hosmer, who lived through a complete rebuild with the Kansas City Royals and later enjoyed two World Series appearances, including a championship. Now he will try to do the same thing in San Diego while trying to lead their young players along a similar path. His experience and leadership should help the Padres get there faster. Carlos Asuaje and Cory Spangenberg will compete for playing time at second base while veteran Freddie
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Galvis — acquired from the Phillies in a trade — can be a stopgap for the Padres as they wait for their top prospect Fernando Tatís Jr. to arrive. Chase Headley will play third base after being acquired in a trade with the Yankees. Outfield: Wil Myers hit 30 home runs and stole 20 bases last year for the Padres while playing first base. This year, he will move to right field to open up first base for Hosmer, his former Royals teammate. Manuel Margot, who has great range and should be a member of the 20-20 club in home runs and stolen bases, will play center field. Left field will be a completion between Franchy Cordero, Hunter Renfroe and José Pirela, but Cordero will start the year on the disabled list with a groin injury. Speedster Travis Jankowski and Matt Szczur add further depth. BOTTOM LINE: The Padres are making great progress on their rebuilding program and could be ready to compete as early as 2019, or if not then, 2020. The arrival of their young starting pitching prospects will be the key to when they are ready to contend.
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Petco Park Again Offering New Lineup of Improvements for 2018
By Bill Center
The only constant at Petco Park is change.
The Padres downtown home and its offerings have been upgraded annually since Executive Chairman Ron Fowler and Managing Partner Peter Seidlertook command.
Tuesday morning, the Padres unveiled a wide range of the latest changes, additions and improvements to Petco Park.
There will be a new video board in right field . . . and a new lineup of hot dogs.
The Breitbard Hall of Fame will be open to Padres fans on the concourse level of the Western Metal Supply Company building . . . with the SONY Experience interactive one floor below in the Padres store.
The netting protecting fans from line-drive foul balls will be extended beyond both dugouts . . . plus two new restaurants and expanded locations for the Sculpin IPA Bar and Phil’s BBQ.
And more, so much more.
To celebrate Trevor Hoffman’s election to the National Baseball Hall of Fame and the 20th anniversary of the Padres’ 1998 National League championship, the Padres will feature an expanded schedule of special nights and give-aways to include a series of bobbleheads and a “Hoffytable Book.”
Some of the improvements the fans won’t notice. The largest solar energy system in Major League baseball has been installed on the roof.
And some improvements will be noticed over time. Work started during the off-season on resurfacing the exposed structural steel throughout the ballpark.
Here’s an outline of what’s new at Petco Park in 2018.
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Right Field Videoboard — The Padres have added a Daktronics video board above the right field stands to assist fans in the left field grandstands and deep down the third base line that had restricted viewing of the main video board. The right field video board is 31 feet high with a width of 55 feet plus two side panels (by comparison, the main video board is 61 feet tall and 123 ½ feet wide). The right field video board is 1,722 ¼-square feet compared to 7,564 1/3-square feet for the left field video board.
Extended netting protection down the baselines — The Padres are going 120 feet beyond the Major League mandate of extending the netting to the far sides of the dugouts. The Padres netting will extend to the second gates on each side of the foul lines — without adding poles that would reduce visibility for some fans. The netting will taper down from 24 feet high where it connects to the traditional netting behind home plate. Like the original netting, the extension is tied back to seating bowl with no obstructed views.
Breitbard Hall of Champions — When the Hall of Champions closed in Balboa Park last year, Petco Park was selected to be the permanent home for the 156-plaque Hall of Fame, which memorializes the accomplishments of the region’s greatest professional and amateur athletes. The Hall of Fame is located on the main concourse as it runs through the Western Metal Supply Company building — which is also one of the busiest corridors on game days.
San Diego Section CIF Baseball and Softball — The display at Section 114 on the main concourse showcases all the high schools in San Diego County participating in baseball and softball. Baseball caps from every school plus an interactive display allows fans to explore every program.
Padres Solar Project — The largest solar program in Major League baseball numbers 700 solar panels on the roof canopy above the upper deck seats at Petco Park. The panels can produce 330 kilowatts of electricity per hour.
Refurbishing the Structural Steel at Petco Park — This year was the first of a five-stage program to refinish the structural steel to prevent rust and corrosion and remove the stains from the visible skeleton throughout the ballpark. The portion that has been completed is to the upper deck from the tower lofts outs. The color will remain the same, although a different, longer-lasting product has been applied.
Membership Headquarters for Season Ticket Members— The facility outside section105 on the main concourse (across from the Seaside Market) allows season ticket members to meet with Padres representatives. The facility will include televisions.
There are two new seating areas. The Terrace VIP Box in Section 204 provides premium theater- style seats and access to the Omni Premier Club. The Premier Club Suites on the Field Level have been renovated to accommodate parties of 20 to 60 fans.
Already recognized in baseball for its wide-range excellent dining options, Petco Park is expanding its eating lineup again in 2018. 25
New will be Buona Forchetta, Blue Water Seafood Market & Grill, Jack & Craft and the Cutwater Spirits Bali Hai Tiki Bar. Expanding their operations will be the Sculpin IPA Bar and Phil’s BBQ. And there will be a new roster of hot dogs at the Budweiser Ballpark Eats Hot Dogs throughout Petco Park.
On the merchandise side, the new Padres Authentics retail shop will open on the field level behind home plate, giving fans a second place to shop for souvenir and memorabilia items at Petco Park. Padres Authentics will complement the Padres Team Store located on the floor level of the Western Metal Supply Co. Building.
Available items include everything from historical items from Padres alumni such as Trevor Hoffman and Tony Gwynn to game-used items coming off the field from the previous day’s game.
Buona Forchetta is located in the Field Level Mercado and will offer the restaurant’s iconic Neapolitan-style pizza and a new thick crust Roman style pizza. Buona Forchetta will feature a Stefano Ferrara wood-burning oven made from Biscotto di Sorrento clay from Italy’s Sorrento region. The Italian market concept will also offer a wide variety of California and Italian varietals and a vespa gelato bar.
The Blue Water Seafood Market & Grill will have two locations at Petco Park. The Field Level location behind first base will offer fresh fish tacos, plates and sandwiches. The restaurant on the Toyota Terrace will feature an expanded menu that will include clam chowder, poke and sashimi. The Blue Water Seafood Market & Grill concept started with the Mission Hills restaurant that was opened in 2004 by brothers Judd and Matt Braun. The San Diegans feature an exceptional range of “fresh and local” seafood.
Two Jack & Craft sites add to Petco Park’s dessert experiences. Located on the Field Level at sections 117 and 226, Jack & Craft will offer freshly made caramel corn with a variety of flavor options. Also available are San Diego craft beers including Ballast Point, AleSmith, Iron Fist, Resident, Pizza Port, Hess and Karl Strauss.
The Cutwater Spirits Bali Hai Tiki Bar will be located on the Field Level at Section 101. The featured attraction is the Signature Bali Hai Tiki Gold Rum Mai Tai.
Ballast Point will have two new kiosks at Petco Park in 2018 at the Field Level at Sections 101 and 226. The highlight will be the six Sculpin IPA flavors — Sculpin, Unfiltered Sculpin, Grapefruit Sculpin, Pineapple Sculpin, Habanero Sculpin and the new Aloha Sculpin.
Petco Park executive chef Carlos Vargas has developed a new lineup for the Budweiser Ballpark Eats Hot Dogs topped by an improved version of the Friar Frank. Added to the lineup will be the Caprese Turkey Dog, the Bacon Wrapped Dog, the Chilli Cheese Dog and the Little Slugger Dog.
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Now in its sixth season at Petco Park, Phil’s BBQ is adding a third location on the roof of the of the Western Metal Supply Co. building. Phil’s BBQ can also be found at the Park at the Park and at Section 113 of the Field Level.
Meanwhile, the promotions lineup has also been expanded.
The Padres will be celebrating the 20th anniversary of the 2018 National League championship team from May 10–13. Fans attending each game will receive a commemorative bobblehead representing four key players from the 1998 team — Tony Gwynn (May 10), Ken Caminiti (May 11), Trevor Hoffman (May 12) and Greg Vaughn (May 13). Sycuan Casino will be the Padres presenting sponsor for the bobbleheads, which will have connecting bases.
In addition, general manager Kevin Towers, who was the architect of the 1998 teams and three other Padres teams that won National League West titles will posthumously be inducted into the Padres Hall of Fame on May 12 during pre-game ceremonies.
The first salute to Hoffman will be on June 30 with a bobblehead commemorating his 500th save. The opponent that day will be the Pittsburgh Pirates. Hoffman recorded the 500th of his 601 career saves on June 6, 2007, against the Dodgers at Petco Park.
Hoffman will again be feted July 28–29 when the closer will be in Cooperstown to be formally inducted into the Hall of Fame. Fans attending the Saturday (July 28) game against Arizona will receive a Trevor Hoffman №51 retirement bobblehead. The next day, the first 15,000 fans at Petco Park will receive a №51 Hoffman flag as the Padres celebrate his formal induction ceremony in Cooperstown.
The Padres real salute to Hoffman the Hall of Famer will come Aug. 16–19 during a four-game series against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Fans at Petco Park on Thursday (Aug. 16) will receive a replica Hoffman jersey. On Friday night (Aug. 17), fans will receive a “Hoffy Table Book” chronicling the life of the Hall of Fame closer. On Saturday (Aug. 18) the gift to fans will be a replica of the Trevor Hoffman plaque hanging in Cooperstown. And on Sunday (Aug. 19) will be a Hoffman replica statue.
New giveaways to the promotional lineup in 2018 include a Hawaiian Shirt (presented by National University), a Beach Hat (presented by FOX Sports San Diego), a Replica Batting Practice Jersey (presented by COX), a Cub Busters T-shirt and a Backpack cooler (presented by Mission Federal Credit Union).
Returning Baseball Night in San Diego favorites include the Padres Hoodie with a 1998 design (presented by Toyota), the Beach Towel (presented by UC San Diego Health) and the Fleece Blanket (presented by Sycuan Casino).
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Fans attending Opening Day on Thursday, March 29, against the Milwaukee Brewers will receive an Opening Day Hat (presented by Sycuan Casino).
Several laser and fireworks shows will also be presented at Petco Park throughout the season.
There will be five 1998-themed Way Back Wednesdays (presented by Budweiser) during the 2018 season.
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Happening Homestand Report: March 29–31 Opening Day, WineFest & Hailey’s Ceremonial First Pitch
By Justin Lafferty
You’ve made it, Padres fans. We’ve survived the winter, acquired a slugger and now it’s time to watch the games that count in the standings.
We open our first homestand of the year Thursday against the Milwaukee Brewers, who have also made splashes in the offseason.
The 2018 schedule is packed full of great promotions for fans, starting with a Padres hat on Opening Day and the Padres & Pets Calendar on Friday.
In addition to Opening Day festivities on Thursday, there’s plenty of action at Petco Park this homestand — ending in a day off on Easter Sunday. Vino-minded fans can partake in WineFest before Friday night’s game, and there’s a postgame laser show (a popular addition from last season) following the series finale on Saturday.
PADRES vs. BREWERS
Thursday, March 29
All gates open: 10:30 a.m.
First pitch: 1:10 p.m.
How many of us have had this date circled on our calendars since New Year’s Day? Clayton Richard, the dependable veteran southpaw, gets his first Opening Day start at 1:10 p.m.
It’s a big day for fans, too. All who come through the turnstiles on Thursday receive a Padres Opening Day hat, presented by Sycuan Casino. 29
After you receive your hat and check out the new additions to Petco Park, you’ll want to get to your seat no later than 12:30 p.m. to take in our pregame ceremonies. In addition to the bunting and the outfield-sized Holiday Bowl Big Flag, held by sailors from Navy Region Southwest, we’ve got plenty to offer.
Trevor Hoffman, the legendary Padre closer and 2018 Baseball Hall of Fame class member, will throw out the Ceremonial First Pitch.
Opening Day will include a presentation by the United States Navy Parachute Team, more commonly known as the “Leap Frogs.” U.S. Marine Corps Captain James Henning will ring the Ceremonial Bell and San Diego native Jackie Foster — a 2018 contestant on NBC’s The Voice — will sing The Star-Spangled Banner.
The anthem will conclude with a flyover by a quartet of F-18 Superhornets from the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing. U.S. Navy Petty Officer First Class Yarrick Sharod Conner will perform God Bless America in the 7th inning.
With a sellout crowd expected at Petco Park that day, we stress the importance of arriving early, purchasing parking beforehand or utilizing public transportation.
Fans can purchase parking for off-site locations, including the San Diego Convention Center and the Bayfront Hilton, by clicking here. In addition, Uber is giving new users a $15 credit with the promo code PETCOPARK.
Friday, March 30
Park at the Park gates open: 4:30 p.m.
First pitch: 7:10 p.m.
Our first night game of the year features the first Party in the Park, presented by Southwest Airlines. Every Friday night at Petco Park features one of the most popular parties in the city, with live entertainment and drink specials.
Friday’s Party in the Park is WineFest, featuring $5 wine specials from local and regional wineries. Those who purchase a theme game ticket can add some Friar flair to their wine collection, with Padres-themed wine stoppers.
Be sure to arrive early, as the first 15,000 fans in attendance will receive a Padres & Pets Calendar, presented by Petco.
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Friday is also our First Responder Opening Day. San Diego County Sheriff’s Department Deputy Roland Garza will perform the National Anthem and the family of fallen CAL FIRE firefighter Cory Iverson will throw that night’s Ceremonial First Pitch.
Saturday, March 31
Park at the Park gates open: 3:10 p.m.
First pitch: 5:40 p.m.
Our homestand concludes on a Saturday with the first Baseball Night in San Diego of the season.
All fans will receive a fleece blanket, presented by Sycuan Casino. Prior to the game, 7-year- old Hailey Dawson will throw the Ceremonial First Pitch. Dawson, born with Poland Syndrome, uses a 3D-printed prosthetic hand. Petco Park is proud to be the first stop of the 2018 season in her “Journey to Thirty First Pitch Tour.”
San Diego native and American Idol semi-finalist Stephany Negrete will sing the National Anthem prior to Saturday’s game.
Additionally, new first baseman Eric Hosmer will receive his 2017 Silver Slugger award during a pre-game ceremony.
Stick around after the game for the popular postgame laser show, set to top 40s hits.
The Padres get Easter Sunday off, then return to Petco Park Monday to host the division rival Colorado Rockies from April 2–5.
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San Diego Padres Opening Day: Everything You Need to Know By Greg Bledsoe Published 5 hours ago | Updated 4 hours ago
The trees inside the Park at the Park are in bloom, which means San Diego’s East Village is about to come to life.
Baseball season is here, and this is your guide to Opening Day.
Game Day: What You Need to Know
Soon to be Hall of Famer Trevor Hoffman will throw out the first pitch a little after 1:00 pm Thursday when the Padres open the 2018 season against the Milwaukee Brewers. Get to the park early. Traffic is always backed up in the East Village on opening day. MTS has added extra trolley service, if you’d rather avoid driving. Metal detectors are now part of life at Major League Ballparks. So, allow yourself a little extra time and patience to make it inside for the pre-game festivities. As for those festivities, the U.S. Navy Leapfrog team will land on the field. The national anthem will be sung by Jackie Foster, the Poway High grad making a run on the current season of NBC’s the Voice. When she’s done, downtown may shake a bit during an F-18 Superhornet flyover. When the game gets underway, veteran Padres pitcher Clayton Richard will make the start for the Friars. More on the team below.
The Ballpark
Once you sit down, look around. The Padres fine-tune Petco a little every year, and construction crews have been busy this offseason. The headliner of the offseason projects is the new scoreboard in right field. Petco already claims the largest scoreboard in the National League with the mega screen they added to left center field a couple seasons back. Now, the Padres have added a compliment in right field, with a newer, somewhat smaller scoreboard, making sure everyone can see at least one of the two. And by smaller, we mean roughly 55 feet by 33 feet.
Closer to the field, you’ll notice extended safety nets this season. After a few scary incidents and close calls at ballparks around the country, major league baseball called on teams to extend safety netting to the end of each dugout. The Padres have decided to go even farther with new netting stretching three sections down each baseline. At its peak, the nets will be 24 feet high and then taper down as they move towards the outfield. The company that made the mesh netting claims it has 95 percent spectator visibility and has colors woven in that match the field. So, the idea is to make Petco safer for the fans without impacting their view of the action, too much.
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The Padres are going solar. When you play in San Diego, why not take home field advantage of the sunshine? This change might be harder for you to see from your seat, but just know you’re sitting under 716 new solar panels installed on the roof of the upper deck. The system is supposed to be enough to power the team’s front office. It’s billed as the largest solar panel system in Major League baseball. In fact, the company installing the system said it’s larger than the solar installations at every other Major League Park combined.
The team store is doing a lot more than selling t-shirts this season. The Padres have created a virtual reality experience. Fans can feel like they’re standing at home plate and have 90 seconds to hit as many home runs as they can. Also, a few steps away, there’s a new Sony Experience. Four 4K TVs give fans a chance to play video game baseball while looking just out the window at the actual game.
The Food
Petco Park has become a destination for more than just baseball fans and the food is a big reason why. Several years ago, the Padres made a conscious decision to focus on more local vendors and the fans have fully embraced it. 2018 will bring in new local favorites like South Park’s Buona Forchetta, an Italian restaurant that started in South Park, and now brings gourmet pizza and gelato to the park. Blue Water Seafood brings a taste of Mission Hills to the park promising to serve seafood caught the same day. Jack & Craft will feature freshly popped caramel corn. Ballast Point will have two new Sculpin bars featuring their world-renowned IPA and now an Aloha version of it infused with mango and guava. The Friar Frank has been reimagined to now offer a turkey caprese dog, as well as a vegetarian dog topped with artichokes. Petco is bringing back a lot of other local favorites like Baked Bear ice cream, Phil’s BBQ, Hodads, Lucha Libre, Pizza Port, and of course a long list of craft beers from what has become America’s Finest beer town. NBC 7's write up on this year’s food lineup will make you hungry.
The Team
We should probably at least talk a little baseball. Temper your expectations on the field for this season when it comes to a championship, but there is a lot to be excited about. And a lot of that excitement is about what’s happening in the Padres minor league system. Derek Togerson said there’s a chance we might start getting a look at the stars of tomorrow during the second half of the season. As far as where the big league roster begins the season, look for the Padres richest contract to make an impact right away. The Padres signed first baseman Eric Hosmer to an eight-year $144 million contract. It’s an interesting decision to spend all that money on a team that looks like it’s still two or three years away from contending, but if they’re looking to build a culture, he is known as a leader. Hosmer won a championship with the Royals, and he’s bilingual which could be very valuable considering the enormous investment the Padres have recently made in young talent from Latin America. 2018 will also bring back some familiar faces that left San Diego but couldn't stay away. Chase Headley is back at third base after his stint in New York pinstripes.
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This is a team that’s had bad luck when it comes to injuries, and 2018 already has a setback before the team ever takes the field at Petco. Number two starter Dinelson Lamet is expected to miss the first month of the season after suffering some sort of an elbow injury at that tail end of spring training.
Now's the time to check out some of the team’s last-minute moves and a preview of the rest of the league.
The party goes all weekend. Padres opening weekend will also feature the 8th Annual Block Party on Friday and Saturday. It’s free and open to anyone with or without game tickets. Check it out on J street between 6th and 10th. The team is off on Easter Sunday.
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Opening Day survey: $400 million for Harper? A Yankees letdown? MLB execs size up 2018 Jerry CrasnickESPN Senior Writer
Clayton Kershaw wrapped up spring training with a 0.00 ERA, while Madison Bumgarner left camp with three pins in the broken pinkie of his pitching hand. Ronald Acuna begins the season in the minors, while Scott Kingery has a spot on the Philadelphia Phillies' roster and a guaranteed $24 million in his future. And while Jake Arrieta prepares for his first start in Philly, fellow Scott Boras client Greg Holland is still looking for work in the aftermath of a 41-save season.
A lot of things changed on the Major League Baseball landscape in recent weeks, but everyone is back at square one starting Thursday. The 2018 season begins with 15 openers, and even the alleged tankers and teams in noncompetitive mode have varying degrees of reason to be hopeful.
How will MLB's big on- and off-field questions play out over the coming months? ESPN.com surveyed 43 general managers, assistant GMs, personnel directors and scouts in an attempt to gauge the industry pulse on eight topics that will drive the season narrative. The poll took place via email, and respondents received assurances of anonymity to best allow them to speak candidly. In cases where a half-point is given, the respondent split his vote between two clubs.
7. Eric Hosmer and J.D. Martinez were the two position players to sign $100 million-plus deals this winter. Which hitter will turn out to be the best investment over the life of his contract?
Responses: Hosmer 24; Martinez 15; 1 respondent said "both,'' while another replied "neither.'' Two participants had no opinion.
Martinez, who signed with the Boston Red Sox for five years and $110 million, is a right-handed basher who has emerged as one of the most dangerous hitters in the game since the Houston Astros released him in March 2014. Over the past four seasons, he ranks second between Mike Trout (.579) and Giancarlo Stanton (.573) among MLB hitters with a .574 slugging percentage. Hosmer is two years younger than Martinez at age 28. His five-year, $105 million contract with San Diego includes three player option years that could extend the deal to eight years and $144 million. He's a solid lefty bat, but his 111 career OPS+ and 14.2 career WAR prompted some observers to judge the Padres guilty of overpaying.
Hosmer is an excellent leader and teammate who has a better glove than the modern metrics give him credit for, but one survey respondent wondered why the Padres would splurge for Hosmer when a slow market allowed the Twins to sign Logan Morrison to a one-year, $6.5 million guaranteed deal fresh off a 38-homer season.
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"Martinez is the more prolific offensive player, with a more consistent year-to-year track record, and there is less exposure on the length of the contract,'' a National League executive said. "There's no reason to think he won't continue to be a dominant hitter, whereas it would not be shocking if Hosmer has a handful of sub-.800 OPS seasons over the course of his deal.''
The Padres think Hosmer will have a beneficial effect on Wil Myers, who was never comfortable with the "face of the franchise'' talk after signing an $83 million extension. And as Boras observed at the introductory news conference, the Padres are betting that Hosmer will help shape the team's "volcano of hot talent lava'' into major league rock.
"I love the Hosmer deal for San Diego,'' an NL official said. "You've got to change culture at some point in a rebuild, and you need real leadership to do that. I believe that Hos is a unique leader from everything that I've heard and think that adding him to some of the absurd talent that they have in that system makes them a legitimate threat to the Dodgers in 2020-2021.''
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