San Diego Union-Tribune (Sunday)
Padres excited at prospect of having fans at Petco.
Padres players were informed a couple days ago that Petco Park likely will be about one-quarter full on opening day.
“All the players were very excited about that,” Wil Myers said. “That was something we didn’t expect this early in the season.”
Improving COVID-19 numbers have teams in California believing they will be allowed to have a limited number of fans from the start of the season. And perhaps no team is more excited than the Padres, who last season made the franchise’s first trip to the playoff in 14 years with the stands empty for every game.
“We feel the one thing we’re missing in this entire deal is the fans to be part of this,” manager Jayce Tingler said. “It’s crucial to us. That’s the component where we’re feeling a little emptiness. If we get that opportunity, not only the buzz, the excitement, the energy, I think it’s got a chance to make us complete.”
The Padres will play in front of fans today for the first time in more than 11 months, as they open Cactus League play against the Seattle Mariners at Peoria Stadium. Capacity is limited to 1,960 fans and every game at the ballpark this spring is sold out.
“Even tomorrow, with our game here, it will be cool,” Myers said Saturday. “It won’t be an automated crowd noise. It will be real crowd noise for the first time in a year. Everybody here has wanted to play in front of fans. That’s what gets that adrenaline going.”
The last time the Padres played with fans in a ballpark was March 11, 2020. The next day, spring training was suspended due to the spread of COVID.
When the season began in late July, it was with games played in empty ballparks. The Padres were eliminated from the postseason a round before a limited number of fans were allowed in Globe Life Field to watch the Dodgers and Braves play in the National League Championship Series in October. Fans were also at the World Series between the Dodgers and Rays at the same venue in Arlington, Texas.
The fans who show up today probably will see at least two plate appearance by most of the Padres regulars. Tingler said he plans to have all but first baseman Eric Hosmer in the starting lineup and have most play at least two innings. Ha-seong Kim will serve as designated hitter before playing shortstop Monday.
Taking care
As part of MLB’S measures to limit players’ exposure, spring training games can be shortened to five or seven innings the first two weeks. Both teams’ managers must consent, and most have said they prefer to play a full nine to get all their pitchers enough work.
“Our goal right now, whether we can do it or not, we’re trying the best we can to go for nine innings,” Tingler said. “… That can change because somebody gets scratched or you have a setback or the other team is in the same position as well. We’re trying to line up on most days for nine innings.”
Another concern that prompted the flexibility is the unique circumstance in which teams will try to build up their pitchers to go a full 162-game schedule after playing just 60 in 2020. An option available to managers the first two weeks of spring is calling an inning when a pitcher has thrown 20 pitches, even if three outs have not been recorded. They can also replace that pitcher with a reliever and still bring the original pitcher back the next inning.
“We all understand the health and safety of building these pitchers up right,” Tingler said. “It is the most important thing, and I think it’s nice for Major League Baseball to step in and give us some flexibility, not just with the nine, seven innings, et cetera, but also they’ve given us some flexibility for the first two weeks.”
Four play
Blake Snell wore No. 4 for his five seasons in Tampa Bay, but he couldn’t pry it from Wil Myers after being traded in December and will instead wear 24.
“I’ll tell you what, he’s going to win more Cy Youngs as number 24 than 4,” Myers said. “We had some conversation. I won’t go into details on that. I feel like 24 is his new number. He’s going to win multiple Cy in 24. I’m pulling for him. I can’t wait to see what he does in 24.”
Notable
Mackenzie Gore struck out four of the seven batters he faced in a simulated game Saturday. He actually struck out Tommy Pham twice in one at-bat and got Fernando Tatis Jr. on what almost certainly would have been a foul pop out caught by the first baseman and struck out Tatis in the same at-bat. Gore, considered by most to be the top pitching prospect in the game, used an excellent curveball to get ahead in a few counts and also got some misses on his fastball up in the zone.
Tingler said Snell will make his first start Wednesday with Gore to follow Thursday.
Dinelson Lamet, who did not pitch in the postseason due to an elbow injury, threw all his pitches and came through his first “updown” bullpen healthy Friday. In such a session, a pitcher throws 10 to 15 pitches, sits for five or six minutes and throws 10 to 15 more pitches in order to simulate working two innings.
Jurickson Profar, who had visa issues in his native Curacao, arrived in Arizona and undergone intake screening. The Padres expect him at practice today.