The parents have not yet named a relative. As I see it, they have four.
However, manager Jayce Tingler said he would prefer to settle with one man for the ninth inning by the end of the camp, and the Padres commander considered the race for that place “an open competition” this spring.
“In an ideal world, you’d like to have a ninth inning,” Tingler said. “Are we open to the commission?” Are we open to matches? We are. But we would like to get out of here feeling, “Well, this is our ninth inning type,” and we can move on.
“We are open to a lot of things. In this spring of spring training, I don’t think we’re interested in announcing anything or giving anyone that title. We have an open competition and we would love to play that in the next few weeks until we get a little more clarity. “
This group boasts over 250 rescues among them (most belonging to Melancon, which is entering its 13th season). Pagán – probably the favorite for the role – spoke to the media on Saturday, which means that all four talked to reporters this spring and all four offered a similar refrain.
“I definitely want a shot at that role, but we have four guys who have done it before and probably four or five more who have the ability to do it,” Pagán said. “Yes, obviously I would like to be closer. I would like to have a season of 40 saves. But I could have a season of zero saves – we win a World Series and I’m happy.”
Among the four closest options, Pomeranz was the one who posted the best season in ’20 – recording an ERA 1.45 with 14 K / 9. be a little more flexible. If, say, Corey Seager, Max Muncy and Cody Bellinger are to reach the seventh, it may not be the best idea for Pomeranz to be tied for ninth.
“I don’t care when I throw,” Pomeranz said earlier this week. “I’m here to help the team win. No matter what half this is for me. … We have so many guys here who can finish the games. I’m personally not tied to a role. They want me to almost, it’s in “They want me to throw six, seven, eight, and that’s good.”
It’s been a while since my parents entered the camp with tighter legitimate competition. Kirby Yates and Brad Hand have blocked this role in the last four seasons. Given the illustrious history of the San Diego closures, this could mark the first time in history that the parents entered a season as competitors without an obvious man of the ninth half.
General Manager AJ Preller, in his typical freewheel fashion, hit the tires in a potential Milwaukee trade for Josh Hader earlier this winter. According to sources, the high price on Hader was prohibitive, and those talks never progressed seriously.
Here’s what to read: Padres are open for another bullpen upgrade. But I don’t see it as a necessity. Preller, the sources said, would be fully comfortable entering the season with his current options closer.
Now, parents only have to assign that title to one of the four options. After two weeks of play, Melancon and Pagán achieved mixed results, while Pomeranz and Kela – in limited action – seemed dominant. Don’t read too much in those shows, Tingler warned.
“Obviously we will not make a decision in this regard at this time,” Tingler said. “We’re going to start reading in the next two weeks, when we’re going to start seeing these guys go out there, leave some rust and start looking like their game A.”
It’s worthless
• Right-back Wil Myers had a late scratch from Saturday’s game, with pain in his right knee. He participated in the entire team’s training session on Saturday morning, but was withheld as a precaution, Tingler said, in part because of the cold temperatures.
“We’re in the spring training right now, where if we don’t feel very well, we’re not going to have any minor pain right now,” Tingler said.
• Left-back Dinelson Lamet threw another simulated half on a field behind the Peoria sports complex on Saturday. He used all his pitches, including five or six slides, and a fast ball that stood at 95-96 mph.
Lamet, who missed the October postseason last year after suffering an elbow injury in his last start to the regular season, has not yet appeared in the Cactus League and remains a question mark for the opening list. Understandably, the parents build it slowly, but so far, Lamet has passed every test.
• If Lamet is not built in time for the opening of the day, his place in the rotation could go to left-hander Adrian Morejon – who certainly made a strong argument for a place on the opening list on Saturday.
The 22-year-old left-hander taught a home run at Ketel Mars, on the D-back side. But he came back nicely, working three clear innings, not allowing another run, while hitting five.
“I liked what I saw,” Tingler said. “It was as sharp, as clear as I saw it. With all its tones, it was very good.”