TATIS BACK, WITH A FEW RESTRICTIONS ON PLAY
It will be on the minds of virtually everyone involved and everyone observing and of Fernando Tatis Jr. himself.
His ability to remain on the field has become as central an issue as his ability to create runs.
“The last thing we want is in a couple days, a couple weeks, a couple months, something happening again,” manager Jayce Tingler said. “We’ve got a long year this year, and he’s got a long career ahead of him.”
The Padres shortstop was activated off the injured list Friday after 10 days of strengthening his left shoulder and working on ways to help assure it doesn’t dislocate again.
That includes altering how he slides, staying off the ground as much as possible and using a two-hand followthrough on his swing as much as possible.
“The reality is you get out there and the game speeds up, adrenaline and all those things,” Tingler said. “We’ve tried to use the past seven, 10 days and talk about with the medical team how can we minimize risk. These things are going to happen in the game. Just trying to do the best we can talking about what are some of the danger points. … We’ve tried to cover those things with the full understanding he’s going to be a ballplayer as well.”
Tatis has a slight tear in his labrum and had the shoulder dislocate at least twice in a two-week span. The incident that landed him on the IL came on a swing in a game on April 5.
This risk of recurrence
with a shoulder dislocation is high, and doctors say each time it happens increases the likelihood it will happen again.
That is a particular concern with the high-energy Tatis. One of the things Tingler said will likely not be seen for a while Tatis’ twisting “Matrix sliding,” in which he dives into base while contorting his body around a tag attempt.
“Just understanding — and he understands — the more pounding he takes on the ground with that, obviously that can be greater risk,” Tingler said. “Just understanding risk-reward.”
Nola progress
Austin Nola is expected to start catching games at the team’s alternate site
soon with the hope he can make his season debut next week.
Nola fractured the middle finger of his left (catching) hand on March 12. His return has been somewhat slower than anticipated, as the swelling in the finger has continued.
“He’s been having a good day, having a bad day,” Tingler said. “Today was one of the better days he had where the swelling has been staying down. …
“The trainers felt good. Nola stated this has been the first time in a couple weeks he’s felt like he’s taken a significant step going forward. Fingers are still crossed. We’ve got a ways to go, but certainly happy to hear some of the swelling has not popped up in the last day or two.”
Rookie catcher Luis Campusano starting a second straight day — and being the one to catch Ryan Weathers’ first big-league start on Friday — was a decision made with an eye on the big picture.
“I thought Campy had a good one (Thursday),” Tingler said. “With Victor (Caratini), we’ve got to be sure to keep his workload manageable. It also gives him an opportunity to catch three in a row after tonight. … I just want to make sure we’re not riding Victor so hard that we’re running him out of gas.”
Friday was Campusano’s seventh start and the first time he went back-to-back. Should Caratini catch the next three games, it will be just the second time in his career he has started that many in a row.
Grisham at the top
Tingler was asked what he liked about running out a lineup with Trent Grisham batting lead-off and Tatis second, as the Padres had Friday in the first game the two will play together this season.
“Both of them, they get on base, they slug,” Tingler said.
He then chuckled, as if to indicate there isn’t a whole lot he doesn’t like about the pair atop the order.
“They do a lot of things I like,” he said.
The two alternated the last month of 2020, with Tatis leading off against lefthanded starters and Grisham against righties.
Grisham appreciates hitting ahead of Tatis.
“I’m probably going to get a lot of good pitches to hit,” he said, “because they don’t want to face him with me on base.”
Grisham hit .298/.379/.515 in the 35 starts in which he batted in front of Tatis and hit .173/.309/.358 in his other 22 starts. (Grisham got off to a .333/.429/.750 start in six games this season without Tatis in the lineup.)
Notable
Dinelson Lamet threw five innings (in about 70 pitches) in an alternate site game Thursday before driving to San Diego on Friday. He is likely with the team for good now. While the Padres briefly considered having him start this week, their intention from the start of spring was for him to reach the 70-pitch mark in Arizona, which he had not before Thursday.
• Rookie Tucupita Marcano was optioned to the alternate site to make room on the active roster for Tatis. Marcano made his first start, in right field, Thursday in Pittsburgh. He was 2for-12 with a walk in 10 games. Said Tingler: “He’s going to go back and get a little more of an opportunity to get some of the rhythm and timing, consistent at-bats. I explained to Tucu, the job he did for us, coming off the bench, the at-bats he gave, super impressive for a young player.”
• Right fielder Wil Myers returned to the lineup after having two days off to rest his knee. Myers as been playing through patellar tendonitis in his right knee and left Tuesday’s game after the third inning.