Padres Press Clips Saturday, February 25, 2017

Transcription

1 Padres Press Clips Saturday, February 25, 2017 Article Source Author Page Urias playing for Mexico a 'dream come true' MLB.com Cassavell 2 Padres sticking with basics in Cactus opener MLB.com Cassavell 3 Aybar sees bright future for nephew Franco MLB.com Cassavell 4 Myers Takes on Leadership Role for Padres NBC7 San Diego Togerson 6 New head of Padres radio: 'The world's changing' UT San Diego Lin 7 Tony Gwynn Classic: Tennessee catcher's name has UT San Diego Kenney 9 familiar ring Benito Santiago Padres' Jarred Cosart hopes to honor Jose Fernandez UT San Diego Lin 10 this year San Diego-rooted Renteria back in baseball and UT San Diego Miller 14 back in Chicago 1

2 Urias playing for Mexico a 'dream come true' BY: A.J. CASSAVELL MLB.com February 24, 2017 PEORIA, Ariz. -- Luis Urias has dreamed of playing at Petco Park since he signed out of Mexico in The 19-year-old prospect is still a longshot to do so for the Padres in But he could end up playing ball in the East Village very soon anyway. That's because Urias learned Thursday he'll be a backup infielder on Team Mexico in the World Baseball Classic next month. "I was very excited," said Urias, who received the news in a phone call Thursday night. "It's like a dream coming true for me." Urias, arguably the fastest-rising prospect in the Padres' system -- he's currently the team's 11thranked prospect -- is coming off a season in which he batted.333/.404/.446 and won the California League MVP Award for Class A Advanced Lake Elsinore. If Mexico finishes as one of the top two teams in its pool in the opening round, Urias and Co. will advance to the second round at Petco Park March "That's the goal," said Urias, who joins seven other Padres already listed on various World Baseball Classic rosters. "We've got a tough group with good opponents, with Venezuela, Puerto Rico and Italy. But it would be exciting to play there at Petco. It's not going to be easy, but to represent the Padres, it would be fun." It's going to be an interesting month for Urias, who is in his first big league camp and back at shortstop. He has spent most of the past couple seasons playing second base, where many view him long-term. Asked where he thinks he fits best, Urias said, "To be honest, I see myself as a shortstop," before pausing for a split second. "And a second baseman. And a third baseman. I would like to play everything," he added. Urias might profile best at second. But his quickest path to the Majors is undoubtedly at short, where the Padres have been searching for a reliable presence for nearly a decade. 2

3 "The way our roster is broken down, we've got a lot of options at second and at third down the line," said Padres manager Andy Green. "At the upper levels, [we have] minimal options at shortstop right now." There are far fewer questions about Urias' bat -- especially since his conversation with Jose Altuve during an exhibition game in Mexico City last spring. Altuve, a similarly diminutive middle infielder, told Urias about the power he derived from his leg kick. Urias then implemented a kick of his own around midseason last year. After hitting only one homer before the All-Star break -- an inside-the-parker -- he hit five afterward. This season, Urias likely will open the year at Double-A San Antonio, where he'll be one of the youngest players in the Texas League. That hasn't bothered him before. "To be honest, I've never cared about that," Urias said. "I've heard a lot of people asking me about [my age]. It's nice to hear, but to be honest, I don't really care. I just try to play." Padres sticking with basics in Cactus opener BY: A.J. CASSAVELL MLB.com February 24, 2017 PEORIA, Ariz. -- Are you ready for some baseball? Of course you are. But are the Padres ready for some baseball? That's a better question. The Cactus League opener against Seattle is slated for 12:10 p.m. PT on Saturday, and San Diego didn't hold its first regularly scheduled full-squad workout until Tuesday. The Padres spent plenty of time in the covered bullpen and batting cages last weekend, but rain kept them off the main practice fields until a shortened Monday afternoon session. "It might be the shortest lead-up ever [to the start of games], when you factor in the two rain days," said Padres skipper Andy Green. "You're effectively looking at four days of full-squad camp before your first game. I've never seen anything like that before. Health is going to be important, making sure they're good to handle the 5-6 innings we ask them to. We do have a lot of youth here, so with the youth, you figure you can kind of push them a little bit harder." How will the quirky schedule affect Saturday's game? "We'll be very basic tomorrow, partly because of the amount of time we've had on a baseball field," said Green. "We won't shift much in the first week of games; we'll introduce that through 3

4 camp. I'd rather do it right and slowly than have everything in place on Day One if it's rushed and incorrect. Right-hander Paul Clemens gets the ball first for the Padres. Cesar Vargas and Keith Hessler are among those slated to pitch as well. Clemens and Vargas are two of approximately 11 rotation candidates in Padres camp this spring. Hessler, meanwhile, is battling for a bullpen role. But don't expect lasting impressions to be made Saturday. "Staying healthy is the most important thing, making sure everything feels good," Hessler said. "It's really about putting what we've worked on in Spring Training to the test in a game situation." For Clemens, that means throwing his curveball for strikes. He posted a 3.67 ERA in 16 appearances for the Padres last year, including a strong September that kept him in the 2017 rotation discussion. "It'll be good to get the team out on the field and have some fun together," Clemens said. "We've been facing each other a lot. Let's go have some fun against somebody else." News and notes Zach Lee will get the ball Sunday for Game 2 of the Cactus League slate. The Padres claimed Lee off waivers from the Mariners during the offseason -- and, fittingly, he'll face the Mariners. Then Tyrell Jenkins gets the ball against the Angels on Monday. Clayton Richard played catch from 150 feet Friday after missing one day because of a bruised finger on his left hand. Green said Richard would likely throw his bullpen session -- originally slated for Thursday -- on Saturday. Left fielder Alex Dickerson (stiff back) and catcher Hector Sanchez (bruised left foot) missed Friday's workout. Neither injury is expected to linger long-term. Meanwhile, Andre Rienzo threw his first bullpen since returning from a left hamstring tweak. Aybar sees bright future for nephew Franco BY: A.J. CASSAVELL MLB.com February 24, 2017 PEORIA, Ariz. -- Wander Samuel Franco is a young, switch-hitting shortstop in the Dominican Republic with big league dreams and a serious chance to make a name for himself one day. 4

5 Erick Aybar knows exactly what that's like. Aybar has long been Franco's baseball idol. And as it would happen, he's also Franco's uncle and mentor. At 15, Franco is considered the best infield prospect in a country that regularly churns out top infielders. When the next international signing period opens on July 2, he'll be one of the most sought-after youngsters. "I've spent a lot of time with him, and I think he's a pretty complete prospect," said Aybar, who is competing for the starting shortstop job in Padres camp this spring. "He can hit, he can play defense, he can run the bases. I think he's going to be a really good prospect over the years when he keeps working." Aybar enjoys serving as a mentor for Franco in hopes that someday his nephew will reach his full potential. But he added that Franco already has the makeup necessary to do so. "Like any other 15-year-old, he has a lot of growth left to do," said Aybar through an interpreter. "That comes with time and with age. But for his age, he knows a lot. He's very open-minded. He's very willing to take coaching. He's very observant. From a mental standpoint, he's good to go." To his credit, Franco appears to have taken full advantage of his baseball pedigree. During the offseason, he and Aybar take batting practice together, they go to the gym together, and they run on the beach together. "I'd like to be just like my uncle Erick," Aybar told MLB.com's Jesse Sanchez at this week's International Prospect Showcase at Estadio Quisqueya Juan Marichal. Uncle Erick -- a former Gold Glove Award winner and All-Star entering his 12th season in the big leagues -- would like to see that, too. "I've helped him out with anything," Aybar said. "And anything that I can help him out with in the future, I'm there for him." Franco's two brothers -- Wander Javier and Wander Alexander -- play in the Minors for the Royals and Astros, respectively. Wander Samuel -- yes, they all have the same first name -- might be the best prospect of the bunch. "It's an advantage having so many players in the family," Franco said. "I know I'm lucky to be able to work out with my uncle. He's helped me a lot, with tips on the field and how to be a professional baseball player." Franco might get to put those tips to good use later this year. 5

6 Myers Takes on Leadership Role for Padres BY: DEREK TOGERSON NBC 7 San Diego February 24, 2017 The Padres are so young in 2016 that Wil Myers has the 6th-most MLB service time of anyone on the 40-man roster. Please keep in mind that Wil Myers only has three full seasons of big league experience. Still, the All-Star 1st baseman is being counted on as a leader, something that at the age of 26 is just a shade odd to him. Yeah a little bit, said Myers. I m still young. I don t feel like I m an older guy on the team. I just want these guys to go out there and learn from themselves. I think the best teacher is experience and if I can help them in any way obviously I will. In 2013 Myers was the American League Rookie of the Year for Tampa Bay. He knows what it s like to be in the spotlight at an early age and he s sharing his experience with some of the young players who are expected to have an impact on the big league level. For example, right fielder Hunter Renfroe made a huge splash in September with four home runs and 14 RBI in just 11 games. He is penciled in to be the everyday right fielder so Myers took the rookie aside to do some leading. I talked to Renfroe this off-season about kind of forgetting about his good year last year and moving on this year because I know, for me, it could be easy to look back on that one year and say Well I ve arrived and not work as hard. So I told him to forget about that year and get ready for this year, said Myers. Myers is a loose guy. He s the kind of player who keeps things light in the clubhouse and doesn t let the everyday grind of a 162-game season wear on him. When you talk about a leader I think it s just somebody who s authentic. I don t want to change anything about who I am. I just want to try to lead by example and do the best I can in that way. Padres Manager Andy Green wants Myers to keep that same positive outlook while growing in to his new leadership role. 6

7 I want Wil to play the game hard, intelligent, will a smile on his face, which is how he plays, said Green. I want guys to feed off the energy he brings to the ballpark. He s learning more and more what it means to be willing to step up and speak. That little change being a bit more vocal has already caught hold, and it s working. I ve been very impressed with him so far this year, said 24-year-old catcher Austin Hedges, who will be the Opening Day starter behind the plate. You can tell that he wants to take on that role. He wants to be the guy that we can rely on day in and day out. So far this spring the work that he s put in and what he s been saying as a vocal leader is very impressive. I m looking forward to following him this year. At least one odds maker has the Padres over/under win total at 64.5 games, the lowest in Major League Baseball. Myers hears that and thinks the 2017 San Diego Padres are an undervalued asset. I definitely think people are underestimating us. We have a very talented position player group. I think we definitely can surprise some people but, yeah, it is kind of a rebuilding year. We re going to go out there and learn from each other and figure out ways to compete every day but we re also going to create the new culture here and go from there. New head of Padres radio: 'The world's changing' BY: Dennis Lin San Diego Union Tribune February 24, 2017 A few years ago, Rich Herrera rushed to board a cross-country flight. His father had fallen ill and gone to the hospital. Herrera was living in Florida, thousands of miles from his parents residence in Bakersfield. I was on the plane thinking, What am I doing this far away from home? Herrera recalled. These days, the distance has shrunk to a 3 ½-hour drive. Herrera, a California native and 20-year veteran of sports radio, recently became the senior executive producer of Padres radio broadcasts, which, for the first time since Petco Park s opening, have a new home. It was announced last year that the team would be moving from Broadcast Company of the Americas The Mighty 1090 AM to Entercom s FM

8 The modern-rock station will carry the Padres Cactus League opener Saturday against Seattle, as well as nine more spring games. FM 949 s sister station, KSON 97.3 HD2, will air an additional 14 exhibitions, which also will be available on padres.com audio webcasts. While broadcasters Ted Leitner and Jesse Agler have returned to the booth, the transition to an FM dial represents a significant change, one for which Herrera has high hopes. I think we ll have a really well-rounded, robust broadcast that I think Padre fans are going to enjoy, said Herrera, who added he is thrilled to work with Leitner and Agler. When you listen to it on FM radio, it makes a world of difference. There s a trend of teams going to FM. The Padres are the 12th Major League Baseball team to make the switch. Under the new format, Herrera said, broadcasts will take a modern approach. With the full digital complements that we have, we re going to bring Padre fans as close as we can and engage them in ways they hadn t been engaged before, said Herrera, who also will be an in-game reporter and the host of pre- and postgame Padres shows. According to Herrera, FM 949 will provide in-game interviews, player features and other extra content inside the broadcast. There are plans to build digital offerings through podcasts, video, blogs and social media. It s going to have a different a different sound and tone to it, which I think baseball fans are really going to enjoy, Herrera said. You re going to see different platforms brought into the broadcast to help bring fans closer to the game and closer to the booth. The world s changing, and we re right there with those changes. Providing that digital content on demand is the future, and we embrace that. Herrera, who grew up in Salinas and attended Cal State Bakersfield, has hosted pre- and postgame shows for the Tampa Bay Rays, San Francisco Giants and Oakland Athletics. His national experience includes hosting gigs for Fox Sports Radio, MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM, and SB Nation Radio. Until the end of 2014, he worked for CBS Radio hosting an afternoon talk show in Tampa, Fla. Herrera s parents are becoming avid Padres fans, Herrera said. His father recently attended the Celebrate San Diego rally and intends to be at Petco Park on opening day. Until July, Herrera s wife and son will continue living in the Tampa area. Since he s a (U.S. Navy) Midshipman candidate, we didn t want to uproot him from school, Herrera said. It s been hard coming out here I haven t seen them in three months but they re supportive and thrilled. He s the only kid walking around playing high school baseball with a Padre cap on in Florida. I prayed and said, I hope I get a job back in baseball, and I hit a home run because I m back in California. 8

9 Tony Gwynn Classic: Tennessee catcher's name has familiar ring Benito Santiago BY: KIRK KENNEY San Diego Union Tribune February 24, 2017 Local baseball fans may not be too familiar with the Tennessee baseball team, but they d certainly recognize the name of the player hitting in the middle of the Volunteers batting order. Benito Santiago. The name conjures imagines of a strong-armed catcher who threw out would-be base stealers from his knees. He burst on the scene here 30 years ago, earning the 1987 National League Rookie of the Year Award with the Padres. His 20-year major league career started with seven seasons in San Diego. Benito Santiago the younger was batting fourth in the Tennessee lineup Friday against Seton Hall in the Tony Gwynn Classic. And, like his father, Santiago made an immediate impact in San Diego. He tripled, homered and drove in a game-high four runs to lead Tennessee to a 12-5 victory over Seton Hall at Tony Gwynn Stadium. Santiago was hitting just.133 after the season s first week. But when the junior, who bats lefthanded, lined out to left field in his first at-bat, Tennessee coach Dave Serrano sensed he was close to clicking at the plate. Sure enough, Serrano said. That ball he hit to center field off the scoreboard was as good a home run as I ve seen in a long time. While his father was already playing in the minor leagues as a teenager, the younger Santiago was trying to find his way in the Southeastern Conference his first two seasons with the Volunteers. He s always hit, Serrano said. It wasn t about that. He just came in and it was Welcome to the SEC early on. That could ruin a lot of careers early on. Benito s the type of guy who kind of shrugs things off.... I think that s what has allowed him to overcome his struggles early on. Santiago was Tennessee s DH against Seton Hall before moving behind the plate for the night game against San Diego State. After beating, Seton Hall, the Volunteers had to eat, change clothes and get right back on the field, so Santiago was not available to talk. 9

10 He did discuss the game and comparisons with his father last summer while playing in the Cape Cod League. My dad was very unique, he had his own styles, Santiago told the Barnstable Patriot. I ve got my own style and I just like coming out to the field each day and playing the game. Santiago, who was born in San Diego but grew up in Florida, was raised by his mother. He has had little contact with his father in recent years. It s a tough relationship, he said. I don t see him. It s a tough topic to talk about. He s carried the name, but I ve got to do something to live up to it. I feel like I ve put in the work and everyone else has put in the work to where I am right now. I credit my mom s side of the family for that. Asked if he sees any similarities between father and son, Serrano said: Behind the plate I do. He threw a guy out (at Loyola Marymount) the other night that was on a breaking ball where I thought for sure the guy had second base stolen. He was like a cat and got the guy by a step or two. Other Classic games Oregon collected 16 hits four of them by DH Gabe Matthews in an 11-5 win over UC Irvine at USD s Fowler Park. Third baseman Spencer Steer led the Ducks with four RBIs. In late games, USD led Notre Dame 6-2 in the eighth inning at Fowler Park while SDSU and Tennessee were tied 4-4 in the eighth at Tony Gwynn Stadium. Padres' Jarred Cosart hopes to honor Jose Fernandez this year BY: Dennis Lin San Diego Union Tribune February 24, 2017 The last two years of Jarred Cosart s career served a reminder that, for all its benefits, life in the major leagues can be unforgiving. On the mound, he was largely unable to replicate the success he experienced early in his career. Recurring blisters followed him as he moved from one coast to another. Just hours after he exited a game with elbow inflammation, a close friend died. Inspired by the same friend, Cosart has embarked on what he calls a fresh start. 2017, he said Friday, is going to be an all-positive for me. 10

11 The Padres right-hander joined his fourth organization in July. He had been traded from Miami, where, in the summer of 2014, he met a colorful, young ace named Jose Fernandez. At the time, Fernandez had recently undergone Tommy John surgery. When I got there, he was going through his rehab process, Cosart said. It s kind of easy to say we judged him. He was a different kind of guy. And then we got really close in On Sept. 24, Cosart pitched only one inning at Petco Park before his start was ended. He said after the game that, just weeks before, he d learned of a bone spur in the back of his right elbow. Early the next morning, Fernandez and two friends were killed in a boating accident off the coast of Miami Beach, Fla. A profound sadness settled over the sport. The Marlins game later that day was canceled. Tributes poured in from all corners of the baseball world. On Instagram, Cosart wrote: Don t know what to say besides I love you. Keep shining in heaven, ace. He had the world in front of him, probably better than any pitcher I ve seen, Cosart said Friday. It s shocking; he s gone now. But you try and live on. I know for a lot of guys, he meant a lot. So I m playing for him. We all know he s here in spirit. He s probably playing catch right now as we speak. Fernandez s passing has provided perspective to Cosart s current situation. Though he showed glimpses of his talent last season, he finished with a 6.03 ERA in nine starts for the Padres. He is one of about eight candidates vying for two openings in the starting rotation. Like his competitors, Cosart has reasons for optimism. His arm, he said, feels better than it has in any previous spring. On Oct. 19, he underwent surgery to remove a five-centimeter bone spur from his elbow. The doctors think it could ve been in there for years, Cosart said. That s always been my area of soreness, so maybe it s been there awhile. No complications have since arisen, and Cosart is scheduled to make his Cactus League debut in early March. There is no cure-all for blisters Cosart has spent considerable time trying to toughen up his hands in rice buckets but he has yet to notice any warning signs. The arid Arizona climate has helped. Right now, it s been nothing but positive, said Cosart, who recorded a 3.26 ERA over his first two seasons in the majors. I just feel like my extension s better on my pitches. So far my command s been better, my bullpens. Velocity feels good. I m excited for that to hopefully translate into on-field success, like I had in 2013,

12 I didn t lose many competitions growing up, and I don t plan on making that a new thing. I think every pitcher that s been signed, that s been here, thinks they re the best pitcher for the job, and I feel the same way. Now it s a matter of going out and executing pitches. Honoring a friend also has been on Cosart s mind. For Christmas, he received a hockey jersey with Fernandez s name and No. 16. I was trying to get 16 (with the Padres), but Travis Jankowksi had a pretty good first year in it, said Cosart, who wears No. 55. The background photo on Cosart s phone is of a smiling Fernandez. It s a reminder when you re having a bad day, Cosart said. He was always smiling. He was flamboyant. You always knew when Jose was around. It s always a way to make me smile when something s going wrong. Cosart isn t the only Padres player who will be thinking about Fernandez this year. Three other pitchers Paul Clemens, Brad Hand and Carter Capps opened 2016 on the Marlins. I want to play for Jose I got to meet him last year and bring that fire every day, Clemens, Cosart s roommate this spring, said. Because it doesn t matter if that guy is going to make $400 million. He s going play that game every day like it s his last day. Those are the kind of guys I think about every morning. Bulked up, slimmed down Accounts of grueling offseason regimens and revamped diets invariably make their way through clubhouses every spring. In the Padres, two of the most apparent belong to Clemens and catcher Hector Sanchez. Clemens finished last season weighing a little more than 200 pounds. He recently weighed in between 215 and 220 pounds. I lost some of the belly, put on some more shoulders, more around the glutes and quads, Clemens, 29, said. Definitely feel stronger, just out there doing my mechanics and moving around. My body feels more stable. Clemens drank a milkshake after each meal during the offseason. But it d be a healthy milkshake, said Clemens, whose wife is a dietician. Greek yogurt, flaxseed, chia seeds, all kinds of stuff in there. Did that about four times a day. Combine that with two hours in the gym and some good running. Clemens posted a 3.75 ERA in 16 appearances with the Padres last year, but he averaged fewer than five innings over his 12 starts. With a stronger base, the rotation candidate hopes to go deeper into games. He is the scheduled starter for the Padres Cactus League opener, against Seattle, on Saturday. 12

13 I m definitely excited, he said. It s just cool to see all the hard work for three months turn into the first start. For Sanchez, it s been about what he s lost. After ending last season above 270 pounds, the catcher shed 31. Like Clemens, he credited his significant other for the transformation. My wife helped me a lot with my my diet., Sanchez said. Salads, fish and chicken became daily staples. It was hard, the Venezuela native said, because I played winter ball and you see your teammates around you eating a lot of fatty foods, like arepas, empanadas and all that kind of stuff. Sanchez stuck with it, though, and arrived in camp looking trimmer and fitter. Non-tendered in December, he re-signed with the Padres on a minor league deal; while he may be a long shot to make the opening-day roster, he likely would be San Diego s first resort should anything happen in the majors. They talked to me about (losing weight) last year, said Sanchez, who hit.265 with three home runs in 28 games last year. This is what you want to feel someone cares about you and this organization showed me that. Notable Besides Clemens, Cesar Vargas will take the mound in Saturday s Cactus League opener against Seattle. Zach Lee will start Sunday against the Mariners, and Tyrell Jenkins will start Monday against the Angels. Green said starters will be limited to around 40 pitches during the opening portion of the Cactus League schedule. Left-hander Clayton Richard, who had a ball tip off a finger Wednesday, played catch out to 150 feet Friday. He is expected to throw a bullpen session Saturday. Right-hander Andre Rienzo (tweaked left hamstring) threw one Friday. Left fielder Alex Dickerson (lower back tightness) and Sanchez, who fouled a ball off his foot Wednesday, remain on the mend. 13

14 San Diego-rooted Renteria back in baseball and back in Chicago BY: BRYCE MILLER San Diego Union Tribune February 24, 2017 The Game 7 rain allowed the Cubs to catch their breath, then the confetti raining down on millions in Chicago allowed them to celebrate an epic World Series win an unthinkable 108 years in the making. Waving from the stage in throbbing Grant Park was Joe Maddon, a bespectacled symbol of a bedeviled franchise s moment in the baseball sun. Could that have been Rick Renteria? We ll never know. And Renteria, for the record, isn t wasting a whole lot of time thinking about it these days. The former Cubs manager and Temecula resident is in charge in Chicago again this time on the south side, with the rival White Sox. Renteria expends his considerable energy on things like his own middle relievers, not missed opportunities. That s living in the past, Renteria said Friday at the team s Camelback Ranch facility. I don t think of it that way. The only thing I can take away from that, there was some kids there that obviously we had experience with. I m happy for all of them. Great kids. Hard workers. And that s it. The game is the game in terms of the business of it. It does what it does. In the waning months of 2014, in places safely tucked away from any potential public-relations fallout, Renteria surely stewed. There were reasons to think the Cubs had started to accelerate around the clubhouse corner in 2014, his sole season calling the shots at Wrigley Field. The team won 73 games after averaging less than 64 the previous two seasons. The rebuild that General Manager Theo Epstein anchored around former Padres player Anthony Rizzo had started to sprout. Rizzo hit.286 with 32 homers, 78 RBIs and was named an All-Star for the first time. A year later, future NL MVP Kris Bryant arrived. A year later, Jake Arrieta polished himself into Cy Young form. Javier Baez and Addison Russell, the heart of a World Series-winning defense, began to blossom. The signings of Jon Lester and Dexter Fowler loomed. 14

15 Renteria never got the chance to find out how he would have handled all those shiny new tools. In a span of two weeks, Epstein pivoted from praising Renteria to chasing Maddon suddenly available because of an obscure contract clause. When the Cubs parted ways, the GM acknowledged that Renteria deserved better. In 2015, the Cubs won 97 games. The year after, 103 on the way to a historic championship. None of it guarantees Renteria would have pushed all the right buttons. What it means: The Cubs handed Maddon more and more clay to mold as the organization s master plan scaled the summit. Renteria had plenty of reasons to grind axes and teeth. He did neither, at least in the light of day. One of the most likable people in the game simply steeled himself for the next opportunity. The irony of diving back into the dugout in the same city only adds a dab of mustard to the story. Regardless of whether you re on the north side or the south side, it s a great sports city, said Renteria, 55. Both sides are avid fans of their clubs. For us on the south side, we just want to be known as the hardest working team in the city. That, in one calm, unemotional sound bite, is as close as Renteria comes to stoking any fires. The manager who traded blue pinstripes for black seems at ease. He seems ready to tackle designated hitters and all that the American League lobs at a guy like him for 162 games. He seems ready, willing and as many would agree in all parts of Chicago and beyond indisputably able. All of us try to be the best, wherever we re at, he said. Through it all, Renteria has remained firmly rooted in Southern California. He managed the Lake Elsinore Storm before climbing the organizational ladder, working as the Padres bench coach for six seasons. Renteria sees similarities between what s happening across Chicago and the current transformation at Petco Park. I can only speak to what I ve seen on the north side (of Chicago) and what s going on here on the south side, he said. There s a sincere commitment to youth (by the Padres). They re sprinkling in some really quality veterans that hopefully are filtering some of the things that need to be filtered to young players. The Padres entered spring training as the least experienced team in the majors, but added seasoned voices like Jered Weaver, Erick Aybar and Trevor Cahill. If the right lessons stick, the Cubs and others proved that change can come quickly. Talent trumps a lot, but talent that executes trumps almost everything, Renteria said. 15

16 Renteria also becomes the lone manager of Latino heritage in the big leagues after the Braves fired Fredi Gonzalez last May. At last year s All-Star game in San Diego, Commissioner Rob Manfred called the lack of a Latino manager glaring. I think I look at myself as simply a manager, who happens to be of Mexican-American descent, Renteria said. I don t think any man, humbly speaking, should ever crown himself anything. But if people want to use it in a positive way, so be it. That s not for me to do. My job is just to do what I do. No matter which side of Chicago he s on. 16