Padres Press Clips Friday, March 4, 2016

Transcription

1 Padres Press Clips Friday, March 4, 2016 Article Source Author Page Ramirez looks sharp in Padres debut UT San Diego Lin 2 How Spangenberg, Green bonded at third base UT San Diego Miller 5 Padres sign lefties Thornton, Friedrich UT San Diego Lin 8 Roster rankings: No. 22 Kevin Quackenbush UT San Diego Sanders 11 Alexei contributes key plays in Padres debut MLB.com Brock 12 Humber logs 2 scoreless innings vs. Mariners MLB.com Brock 13 Padres sign reliever Friedrich to Minors deal MLB.com Brock 15 Humber begins comeback bid for Padres in loss to Mariners Associated Press AP 16 Padres add more pitching NBCSanDiego.com Togerson 18 Kemp s Goal: Padres in the playoffs NBCSanDiego.com Togerson 20 1

2 Ramirez looks sharp in Padres debut New Padres shortstop drives in a run, makes diving stop on defense By Dennis Lin 3:50 p.m. March 3, 2016 PEORIA, ARIZ. In recent years, the Padres have had little in the way of certainty at shortstop, a position where even the slightest weakness is magnified. The January acquisition of Alexei Ramirez may not have moved the needle much. But it may turn out to provide considerable value, from both production and aesthetic standpoints. Ramirez made his debut in a San Diego uniform Thursday and gave the Padres an early glimpse of potential two-way impact. The Mariners won for a second consecutive day, this time by a score of 6-5, but the Padres (0-2 in Cactus League play) will remember what their new shortstop did. At the plate, Ramirez lined out to center in his first at-bat. His second and final time up, a sharp grounder went through the infield, driving in center fielder Jon Jay, who'd also singled, for the Padres' first run of the spring. In the field, Ramirez showed his arm strength in the middle of an putout, combining with Jay and third baseman Adam Rosales. Later, he made a diving backhanded stop at short and threw to second baseman Cory Spangenberg for a force out. "I try to give 100 percent, whether it s spring training or any other game," Ramirez, who finished 1-for-2 with an RBI, said through an interpreter. "I think it s important for everyone else to see the way in which I play." Ramirez, who had spent his entire major league career with the White Sox, will be playing in the National League for the first time. He said the adjustment to a new clubhouse has gone smoothly. He and Spangenberg are expected to form one of the Padres' more athletic middle infields in recent memory. "It s been going well," Ramirez said. "We practice together, we rotate together. I still think we need to get a feel for it, making throws but it s a good team, it s a good group." 2

3 Pomeranz wants to start Left-hander Drew Pomeranz was another player making his Padres debut, and he might have been the most impressive of eight pitchers who took the mound for San Diego. In a perfect inning, Pomeranz struck out each of the first two batters swinging and induced a fly out. He threw 14 pitches, nine for strikes. "It was probably the first time I ve thrown out of the windup (in a game) in two or three years, so I was glad to get what I got," said Pomeranz, who began pitching exclusively out of the stretch for Oakland in 2014; at the time, he believed a simplified delivery would help his performance. "He adds that Japanese pause to the mix out of the windup, which you don't really see when he's in the stretch," Padres manager Andy Green said. "There was good shape to his breaking ball, the fastball was playing live up in the zone, and he was throwing it by guys. So it's a nice mix." Pomeranz has experience starting and relieving, his most recent role, but now he appears to be leaning toward the former. The Padres will stretch him out this spring. If things don't go as planned, they still could use him in the bullpen. The Padres did add a couple southpaw relief options Thursday, signing Matt Thornton and Christian Friedrich to minor league deals. "Initially, I thought I was probably going to be in the bullpen, and as I started feeling better and everything came along, I knew I was going to get a chance to start," Pomeranz said. "Competition is good in spring training; you ve got guys competing against each other, and I think that helps you be a better player." Pomeranz was asked if he preferred to start this year. "I want to be successful as a person, as a pitcher, as a player. I want to help the team," he said. "Last year, I didn t feel as great starting for whatever reason, and then I did way better in the bullpen. This year, I feel pretty good, so feeling like that, you want to start a lot more than if you re kind of in between, if you re not feeling too great. I had 3

4 some shoulder stuff going on last year, but I m definitely looking forward to hopefully starting this year." Notable With the Padres down to their final out in the ninth, catcher Christian Bethancourt fouled off five of the nine pitches he saw. The last, a full-count fastball, he blasted off the batter's eye for a two-run homer. "Best at-bat we've had this spring, just competing all the way till the end," Green said. "He's been really impressive in batting practice. He's swinging the bat incredibly well." Right-hander Philip Humber, who threw a perfect game against the Mariners in 2012, started for the Padres and threw two scoreless innings. In the second, he worked around two walks and a single. The non-roster invitee is one of more than a half-dozen pitchers competing for one of two openings in the rotation. In a possible preview of the Padres' future outfield, prospects Hunter Renfroe and Manuel Margot drilled consecutive doubles in the seventh. Right-hander Colin Rea will start Friday's game against Kansas City. Opening-day starter Tyson Ross will take the mound Saturday when the Padres visit the Rockies 4

5 How Spangenberg, Green bonded at third base The Padres second baseman and rookie manager chatted it up during games in 2015 By Bryce Miller noon March 3, 2016 PEORIA, Ariz. It s critical for baseball players in the everyday lineup to connect with a new manager. It s wise to whip up a little of the ol cohesive chit-chat to get the relationship ball rolling. Cory Spangenberg and Andy Green got a jump on the process a season early on opposing teams during games. When the San Diego Padres second baseman shuffled across the infield to play third for five games against Arizona, then-diamondbacks third-base coach Green was waiting to gab. Discussions routinely drifted to the blur of bullets launched from Spangenberg s quick bat. Spangenberg has the chance to grow into an everyday difference-maker for the Padres, a team salivating for someone like that after an 88-loss season. If you said, Who hit the ball the hardest against you last year when you were in Arizona (with the Diamondbacks)? Cory Spangenberg, without question, said Green, the Padres rookie clubhouse boss. He was lining out all over the place. Think about that for a minute. Line-outs are outs, by pure and simple definition. Consider some of the All-Star company Spangenberg shared, though, in Green s thinking. In its own division, Arizona faced Troy Tulowitzki, Buster Posey, Joc Pederson, Brandon Crawford, Joe Panik, Nolan Arenado and DJ LeMahieu, along with former Padres Justin Upton, Adrian Gonzalez and Yasmani Grandal. In interleague games, the D backs ran into Mike Trout, Prince Fielder, Albert Pujols, Jose Altuve and Nelson Cruz. That in no way means Spangenberg will finalize All-Star plans in a couple hundred atbats. What it does mean: Green saw the potency of his pop, one clothesline at a time. In Spangenberg s final two games against Arizona in 2015, he finished 4-for-7 with two doubles, two runs, no strikeouts and a robust.625 on-base percentage. 5

6 Green, a man with defensive shifting soaked into his DNA, worried that it was a matter of time before the then-foe busted loose. Spangenberg limped to 0-for-11 in the first three meetings last season, hammering outs all over the place. We joked (at third base) a few times about me lining out and him positioning players the way he did, said Spangenberg, who turns 25 on March 16. I enjoyed talking to him last year. We had some good conversations. When I found out he got the manager job, I was excited. Spangenberg led the Padres in bunts for hits last season with nine, which was tied for the fourth most in baseball. The next closest Padres were Wil Myers and Will Venable with three each. The combination of swing and speed make him a candidate with Jon Jay to hit leadoff this season. Yeah, that s a possibility, Green said. I don t want to put that on him right now. He s got to come out here and fight and earn what s in front of him. But he s in good position at this point. The unvarnished truth about Spangenberg: Though his bat and speed ooze promise, he has rough edges to smooth defensively. The Padres are working with Spangenberg to improving double-play turns. Padres coach Glenn Hoffman has focused on the relay by using an undersized glove to polish details. They ve also slapped a band on Spangenberg to connect his arms at a limited distance. The tool ensures his hands remain in the same zip code, rather than one trailing to the side. The transfer drill reinforces muscle memory to keep the hands in line like the 3 and 9 positions on a clock as he works to efficiently move the ball from one hand to the other. Hoffman said Spangenberg s defensive improvement will be aided by the offseason signing of veteran shortstop Alexei Ramirez. 6

7 (Ramirez s) feeds are going to be good to him, Hoffman said. He knows how to play. It s exciting to watch the two of them work together. The look in Cory s eye is great. When you see confidence, that answers a lot of questions. Green s already noticed a change. There have been some (times), in my opinion, where he s come in too square to the throw, which removes some of his athleticism (not) letting the right foot really attack the throw when it comes, Green said. I thought (Tuesday) on turns was the best I ve seen him look, so he s progressing nicely. But there s always going to be things for him to get better on, and he s embracing that. Spangenberg hit.271 in 108 games last season, missing about a month and a half because of a knee that was bruised on a hard slide by Arizona s Nick Ahmed to break up a double play June 27. When he returned in mid-august, the bat heated up and squelched questions about sharing the spot with Jedd Gyorko. The Padres traded Gyorko to St. Louis for outfielder Jon Jay in early-december. As the bat warmed against the Diamondbacks, Green was there to trade good-natured jabs. He said he was looking forward to having conversations in the same dugout this year, Spangenberg said. Sounds a lot more convenient. 7

8 Padres sign lefties Thornton, Friedrich Two lefties and former first-rounders in camp on minor league deals By Dennis Lin 6:28 a.m. March 3, 2016 Updated, 4:04 p.m. PEORIA, ARIZ. The Padres went long stretches last season without much of a left-handed presence on their pitching staff. They appear determined to address that issue in Thursday, exactly two weeks into spring training, San Diego signed former first-round draft picks Matt Thornton and Christian Friedrich to minor league deals with invitations to big-league camp. Both southpaws participated in Thursday morning's workout. Thornton, 39, has been one of baseball's better lefty relievers over the last decade. While his average fastball velocity dipped to a still-respectable 94 mph, he remained effective last season, posting a 2.18 ERA in 41 1/3 innings with Washington. He has been remarkably durable; he pitched in 60 games for the tenth consecutive year, becoming the 21st pitcher to reach 60 appearances at least 10 times. Since 2005, Thornton has recorded the most innings (613) and third-best ERA (3.30) among all qualifying left-handed relievers. He s obviously a very established left-handed reliever. He brings an element that we don t have, Padres manager Andy Green said....thornton s right in the thick of the bullpen, and a guy who held lefties to a.484 (on-base plus slugging) last year. Very dominant against lefties, very successful through his career. And he s got a chip on his shoulder because he did earn another roster job but he couldn t find one. A number of clubs showed interest in Thornton over the winter, but even after pitchers and catchers reported to Arizona for the start of spring training, he found himself still working out at the Fischer Sports Institute in Tempe, Ariz., still waiting for a fit to come along. It s been a long offseason for me, frustrating at times, said Thornton, a resident of Paradise Valley, Ariz.. But I m excited to be here.... (The Padres) were the team that 8

9 was most aggressive with their deal with me. No promises to me, everyone said that, but they said I have a good opportunity to make it. There was definitely a group of free agents still out there that have been quality bigleaguers, General Manager A.J. Preller said. I think he s one of those guys we had on our short list. Over parts of 12 seasons with the Mariners, White Sox, Red Sox, Yankees and Nationals, Thornton has a 3.35 ERA. He was an All-Star with the White Sox in He has worked mostly in setup and specialist roles. He s done it for a long time and still has quality stuff, Preller said. I think the pen is pretty open, so he s got a legit chance to make the team. Thornton is now the oldest player in the Padres' camp. He arrives with more than 11 years of major league service time, second only to closer Fernando Rodney. The Mariners' first-round selection in 1998, he underwent Tommy John surgery in 2002 and made his major league debut with Seattle two years later, throwing four scoreless innings against the Padres. The first hit he allowed was to second baseman Mark Loretta, who now works in the Padres' front office. He s a victim to an aging curve. When you re older than the manager, sometimes that puts you in a bad position from other front offices, Green, 38, joked. But I m glad to have him. He s going to be a nice piece for us. The Rockies' first-rounder in 2008, Friedrich was claimed off waivers by the Angels on Feb. 5, but two weeks later, Los Angeles returned him to Colorado because of an undisclosed medical issue. The Angels said a physical had raised concerns over "Friedrich's ability to play at his accustomed level." The 28-year-old was subsequently released by the Rockies. Green said Friedrich's arm wasn t ready to go; it was shoulder-related stuff, adding that the pitcher looks really good now as he s gone through his throwing progression. Friedrich is long-tossing from 90 feet and could see Cactus League action near the end of spring. 9

10 He s going to be a long-term play for us, Green said. He s going to be a guy we re going to invest in throughout the year, make sure he s healthy before he gets either introduced to a rotation spot or introduced to a bullpen competition. There s not going to be a rush with him. We re excited to have him here. Friedrich reached the majors in 2012 as a starter before eventually winding up in the bullpen. Across parts of three seasons with the Rockies, he is 5-16 with a 5.81 ERA in 100 games (19 starts). Like Thornton, he faced the Padres in his big-league debut, allowing one run over six innings. The acquisitions of the two lefties, particularly Thornton, should bolster the Padres' relief options. Green said left-hander Drew Pomeranz currently is competing for one of the rotation's final two spots, though he also could fit in the bullpen depending on how the spring unfolds. The other southpaw relievers in camp are Buddy Baumann, Ryan Buchter and Frank Garces. Baumann, who had a tight lower back examined in San Diego earlier in the week, has returned to Peoria. He will receive treatment and be gradually re-integrated into workouts. Last year s team, most parts of the year, the best pitchers we had ended up being pretty right-handed dominant, Preller said. Just trying to get that balance, leftyrighty, giving Andy some options, I think that s where you see a lot of these guys in camp, and we feel like we ll have a couple quality ones. 10

11 Roster rankings: No. 22 Kevin Quackenbush Sizing up the players on the Padres 40-man roster. By Jeff Sanders 8 a.m. March 3, 2016 No. 22 Kevin Quackenbush Position: Right-handed reliever 2016 Opening Day age: 27 Contract status: With just over a year of service time, Quackenbush isn t arbitration-eligible until The Padres will set his salary slightly above league minimum should he make the 25-man roster. Key stats: 3-2, 4.01 ERA, 58 Ks, 20 BBs, 1.23 WHIP, 58.1 IP (57 games). Trending: Down After saving six games and fashioning a 2.48 ERA over 54 1/3 innings a rookie, Quackenbush started 2015 in the minors, one of several casualties of Craig Kimbrel trade s trickledown effect last April. He struck out nine of the first 20 batters he faced at Triple-A El Paso to earn an early call-up and was in the majors for good by the end of June after fashioning a 0.77 ERA in 11 2/3 innings in the Pacific Coast League. However, in the majors, Quackenbush s hit, homer and walk rate all jumped in 2015, as his ERA (4.01) ballooned well above his minor league average (1.13) outlook: The owner of 70 saves across parts of five minor league seasons, Quackenbush was a dark horse candidate to save games before the Padres signed RHP Fernando Rodney. Quackenbush may yet wind up that role if Rodney s good, he s a trade candidate if the Padres fall out of contention but he ll have to survive a healthy competition for middle relief roles this spring. 11

12 Alexei contributes key plays in Padres debut Shortstop combines RBI single with solid defense against Mariners By Corey Brock / March 3rd, 2016 PEORIA, Ariz. -- The Padres got a glimpse of what new shortstop Alexei Ramirez is capable of during Thursday's 6-5 loss to the Mariners. "It was a heck of a game for him," manager Andy Green said. "He made some great plays out in the field, swung the bat ball. He brought an energy and a smile to the field. He loves playing. I thought he was great today." Ramirez, who signed a one-year deal with an option for 2017 this offseason, lined out to center field in his first at-bat and then had an RBI single in the third inning, on another crisply-hit ball. Defensively, Ramirez made a nice play on a ball hit toward the hole between third base and second by Seattle's Steve Clevenger in the fourth inning, making a diving stop before throwing to second base to get the force on the lead runner. "I try to give 100 percent, whether it's Spring Training or any other game," Ramirez said through a translator. "I think it's important for everyone else to see the way in which I play." Ramirez, who arrived a few days before the rest of the position players last month in order to get acclimated to his new team, said the adjustment has gone well. "It's been great. They've made me feel part of the team. We've got a great team," he said. On Thursday, in the second spring game for the Padres, Green paired Ramirez with second baseman Cory Spangenberg for the first time. The two have worked closely in drills and will continue to build their relationship moving forward. "It's been going well. We practice together, we rotate together. I still think we need to get a feel for it, making throws," Ramirez said. The Padres cut the lead to 6-5 in the ninth inning when new catcher Christian Bethancourt drilled a two-run home run off the batter's eye in straightaway center field. Bethancourt was down, 0-2, in the count and then fouled off three more pitches, hitting the homer on the ninth pitch of the at-bat. 12

13 Humber logs 2 scoreless innings vs. Mariners By Corey Brock / March 3rd, 2016 PEORIA, Ariz. -- Luis Sardinas came off the Mariners' bench on Thursday in time for a pair of two-run doubles that helped lift Seattle to a 6-5 victory over the Padres at the Peoria Sports Complex. Sardinas, 22, is competing for a backup infield job with the Mariners, who are 2-0 in Cactus League play. The Padres fell to 0-2. Sardinas doubled in two runs in the sixth to give the Mariners a 2-1 lead before adding his second two-run double in a decisive four-run seventh. Christian Bethancourt tightened things with a two-run blast in the Padres' ninth. Sardinas wasn't scheduled to play, but he came in at third base after first baseman Stefen Romero was hit by a line drive and left the game with a bruised knee in the fifth. "That's a tough spot," Mariners manager Scott Servais said. "He has no idea he's even playing today and then, boom, he's in the game and he played really well. His at-bats all day were really good. That's what he can do. He's a talented guy. He's still a very young player, but you kind of saw it all today. He can switch-hit, he's got speed, he can defend multiple positions. It was a good day for him." New Padres shortstop Alexei Ramirez certainly didn't waste time making an impact in his spring debut. He had an RBI single in the third inning and made a diving play to grab a ground ball hit by Steve Clevenger in the fourth inning. Seattle starter Nathan Karns, who was making his Cactus debut after being acquired in an offseason trade with the Rays, needed 22 pitches to get through the first inning on Thursday. Karns, who is competing for the fifth spot in the rotation, allowed one hit and a walk in his two innings. San Diego starter Philip Humber allowed one hit and two walks in two innings. Humber, who tossed a perfect game against the Mariners in 2012, is trying to make the team as a non-roster invitee. San Diego second baseman Cory Spangenberg had the first hit of the game in the first inning, stole a base and later made a nice diving play to smother a ground ball hit by Mike Baxter, recovering to make the throw to first base. New Padres pitcher Drew Pomeranz, who could crack the team's rotation or, at the very least, earn a job in the bullpen, struck out two in a scoreless inning. 13

14 Romero, who had a homer in Wednesday's victory over San Diego, had a single and a walk. He also robbed Adam Rosales of a hit with a diving catch in right field. Up next for Mariners: Right-hander Taijuan Walker (11-8, 4.56 ERA in 2015) makes his spring debut on Friday at 12:05 p.m. PT against the Brewers at Maryvale Park. Cody Martin, Mayckol Guaipe, Paul Fry, Adrian Sampson and David Rollins are scheduled to appear in relief. The Mariners' starting outfield trio of Nori Aoki, Leonys Martin and Seth Smith is expected to start after getting Thursday off, while manager Scott Servais will go with backups in the infield. Up next for Padres: Colin Rea will make his first start of the spring season as the Padres face the Royals on Friday at 6:10 p.m. PT at the Peoria Sports Complex. Rea is a candidate to win one of the final two spots in the starting rotation. He'll be followed by veteran Carlos Villanueva, who is being stretched out this spring as a starter, but could very well end up in the bullpen. The game will be televised live by FOX Sports San Diego and MLB.TV. 14

15 Padres sign reliever Friedrich to Minors deal By Corey Brock / March 3rd, 2016 PEORIA, Ariz. -- The Padres have signed left-handed pitcher Christian Friedrich to a Minor League deal with an invite to big league camp. Friedrich, a first-round pick of the Rockies in the 2008 Draft, was in uniform for Thursday's morning workout. Friedrich, 28, has a career 5.81 ERA in 100 games spread over three seasons with the Rockies (2012, '14-15). In February, Friedrich was designated for assignment by the Rockies. He was then claimed by the Angels, only to be returned to Colorado when the waiver claim was reversed due to questions over his medical evaluation with the team. "It doesn't happen a lot," Angels manager Billy Eppler said. "Where you do see it happen is in the offseasons, when there's a time lapse between a player's last game and the next time that player is in front of people again." Padres manager Andy Green said Friedrich is still getting his arm in shape and is up to throwing at 90 feet. Green thought Friedrich has been slowed by a shoulder issue. "He's a long-term play for us," said Green, who noted Friedrich could be ready to pitch in Cactus League games later this month. "He's going to be a guy we're going to invest in throughout the year and make sure he's healthy before he gets introduced to a rotation spot or introduced to bullpen competition." Friedrich was the second lefty the Padres added on Thursday, as the club alsoinked veteran reliever Matt Thornton to a Minor League deal with an invite to big league camp. The 25th overall pick in 2008 out of Eastern Kentucky University, Friedrich reached the big leagues in May He made his first start against the Padres at Petco Park, allowing one earned run over six innings with seven strikeouts. Friedrich went 5-8 with a 6.17 ERA in 16 starts that season before missing the last two months and most of 2013 with a stress fracture in his lower back. 15

16 Humber begins comeback bid for Padres in loss to Mariners By MIKE CRANSTON Associated Press March 3, 2016 PEORIA, Ariz. (AP) Philip Humber began a comeback bid by throwing two scoreless innings for the San Diego Padres in a 6-5 loss to the Seattle Mariners on Thursday. Facing the same club he threw a perfect game against four years ago, the 33-year-old righthander retired his first three batters. He worked around two walks and Jesus Montero's single in the second. After Humber's 2012 perfect game with the Chicago White Sox, his ERA soared to 7.90 a year later with Houston, his last big league season. He was cut from his South Korean team last year. ''One of the guys in the dugout when I got done said, `You finally gave up a hit to the Mariners,''' Humber said. ''I told him the sad thing is I've given up a lot of hits to the Tacoma Rainiers since that perfect game'' - a reference to ther Mariners' Triple-A farm team. Nathan Karns allowed Cory Spangenberg's single and a walk in two scoreless innings in his Mariners spring training debut. Luis Sardinas' consecutive two-run doubles in the fifth and sixth put Seattle ahead. Alexei Ramirez had an RBI single off Joe Wieland in his first San Diego appearance, ending the Padres' 11-inning scoreless streak at the start of the exhibition season. STARTING TIME Mariners: Karns, acquired from Tampa Bay in November, struggled with his control working out of the stretch in the first inning. ''I've always had to compete to make a team, since 2009, so it's the same story every camp,'' the 28-year-old said. ''In the past I'd be very critical of every little thing, and that just comes from lack of experience. Now I know this call isn't being made the first day of camp.'' Padres: Humber is in camp on a minor league deal. ''There have been a lot of trying times,'' he said. ''But at the same time, a lot of strides with my pitching and as a person. I've met a lot of great people and been a lot of cool places and I really wouldn't trade any of it.'' TRAINER'S ROOM 16

17 Mariners: Nelson Cruz (sore left knee) participated in morning drills. Manager Scott Servais said he could play Saturday.. 1B Stefen Romero left in the fifth after taking a hard grounder off his knee. The ball ricocheted to second and ended with Romero's putout to finish a double play. Padres: C Austin Hedges left for a pinch runner after getting hit on the hand in the fifth, but wasn't injured.. LHP Buddy Baumann returned to camp after doctors in San Diego determined he wouldn't need back surgery. CANO HITS THIRD Mariners second baseman Robinson Cano, who hit cleanup most of last season, batted third for the second straight day and went 0 for 2. Servais plans to bat Cano ahead of Cruz in the regular season. KING FELIX Mariners ace Felix Hernandez was in full uniform in the clubhouse during the game filming a commercial. THORNTON'S CHIP Matt Thornton spent the offseason looking for work before signing a minor league deal with San Diego before the game. That despite a 2.18 ERA in 60 appearances with Washington last season. Manager Andy Green thinks the 39-year-old lefty arrived with a chip on his shoulder. ''Yeah,'' Thornton said, ''I'd say so.'' Thornton is a year older than his rookie manager. UP NEXT Mariners: RHP Taijuan Walker starts Friday against Milwaukee. Padres: Rotation candidates Colin Rea and Carlos Villanueva pitch Friday night against Kansas City. 17

18 Padres Add More Pitching Competition increases in San Diego's ever-growing staff By Derek Togerson The Padres have tried to create competition in 2016 Spring Training, especially in the pitching staff. That competition got a little more well, competitive on Thursday. The Friars signed a pair of relievers, both of them left-handed relievers: Matt Thornton and Chris Friedrich. Both are in training camp on minor-league deals with a chance to earn a Major League gig. Thornton is 39 years old, making him a year older than Padres manager Andy Green. But, age has not been an issue for him. Last year in Washington Thornton pitched to a 2.18 ERA in 60 innings, the 10th straight year he s reached at least 60 innings out of the bullpen. He immediately becomes a strong candidate for the left-handed relief specialist role, a spot that many think Drew Pomeranz was favored to earn. However, Pomeranz is stretching out to be a potential starting pitcher. In fact, the Padres have multiple players they re giving a chance to earn a spot in the starting rotation. After Tyson Ross, James Shields and Andrew Cashner, San Diego is looking at a seven different guys to potentially earn the final two starting spots. It s widely believed that Brandon Maurer has the inside track on the 4th spot in the rotation. Maurer, who was one of the Padres most effective relievers before injury cut short his 2015 season, floated the idea of moving back in to the rotation around last year s All-Star break. The Padres agreed in the off-season. Now Brandon thinks there s only one thing that could keep him out of a starting role. All I really need to do is make sure my arm is ready, says Maurer. If my arm is ready to go by the beginning of the season I should be alright. If so that leaves five guys competing for one spot. A few of them, like Pomeranz and Carlos Villanueva, would stay on the Opening Day roster, easily sliding back in to the bullpen if they don t work out as starters. Robbie Erlin would also be an option for that move as a long-relief of swing-guy. Colin Rea, Brandon Morrow and Philip Humber are also going to get a chance to win a role in the Top-5 but they are likely not bullpen candidates. Green says the competition is wide open and all seven men will get an equal chance to win a job. 18

19 As for Friedrich, he s what Green called a, longer-term play. The former Rockies firstround pick is coming off a rough season in Colorado, where he walked 25 batters in 58 innings. Friedrich is also recovering from a shoulder problem but the Padres expect to see him in Spring Training games by the end of March. Published at 9:07 AM PST on Mar 3,

20 Kemp's Goal: Padres in the Playoffs San Diego outfielder thinks his team can surprise in 2016 By Derek Togerson In 2015 Padres outfielder Matt Kemp led the team in hits, total bases and RBI and was second in OPS and home runs and by most accounts he had a bad season. Despite driving in 100 runs, Kemp was not the player the Padres were hoping they d gotten when they swung the blockbuster trade to land him before the season. Kemp s on-base percentage plummeted and his outfield defense was, at best, sub-par. The disappointment probably cuts deeper than it should because of all the hype that was heaped upon the team after the Great Experiment of Kemp did not live up to expectations. Really nobody on the roster did. So this year the Friars and Kemp are flying under the radar. Matt has no problem with that at all. I think we like being the underdog, said Kemp. Especially me. I ve been the underdog a lot in seasons past and you feed off of that. Kemp s injury history has put him in the position where he has, indeed, been overlooked in recent years even though he possesses immense natural ability. It s because of that history that the now-31-year-old altered his off-season conditioning program a bit this year. I think as you get older you switch it up a little bit, said Kemp. You don t do as much pounding as you used to when you were younger. Just kind of work on mobility, flexibility, and try to be as loose and in shape as you can possibly be. If he s able to stay healthy and return to being the MVP candidate he was just three years ago, the Padres hope to fulfill the goal he has set for the team in Just play hard and in the end be in the mix and possibly make the playoffs. 20