San Diego Union-Tribune (Sunday)
TINGLER HOPEFUL PHAM WILL RETURN
Injured Padres outfielder Tommy Pham is catching fly balls in the outfield and working on strengthening his grip as he progresses toward a return from hamate bone surgery.
The pregame work Pham does helps keep his legs in shape and his ability to track the ball intact. The Padres believe he’ll need those things sooner than later.
“I’m definitely optimistic,” manager Jayce Tingler said Friday when asked whether he expected Pham to return later this month.
Pham, who had surgery on his left hand Aug. 17, has over the past two days been able to open and close his glove. Virtually every day, his hand gets a little stronger. Being able to grip the bat and swing will be the ultimate test.
“He’s got to get his grip strength up to a certain degree before he can start to swing the bat with both hands,” Tingler said. “After that, it’s a pain tolerance deal.”
Tingler chuckled at that notion.
The hook of the hamate bone, which is what Pham fractured, is at the outer part of the wrist and sustains a good amount of pressure with every swing. Typical recovery time is at least five weeks.
Based on what they have seen — and the fact he played the final two months of last season with a tear in his UCL and a fracture in his hand — the Padres are confident Pham will grit his teeth and do everything he can to be in left field for them by the postseason.
The Padres believe they are a more formidable offense with Pham in the lineup.
He was hitting just .207 with a .608 OPS (on-baseplus-slugging percentage) at the time of his injury. But he was acquired in the offseason due to his production the previous three seasons, when he hit .284 with a .856 OPS.
Late scratch
Luis Campusano’s first season began with a bang Friday night. Just as it was about to get going in earnest, there is concern within the organization it might be over.
The Padres’ No. 4 prospect, who was called up and homered in his debut while serving as designated hitter Friday, was slated to catch Saturday. But he was scratched about an hour before first pitch due to “soreness” in his left hand after feeling a twinge when he swung in batting practice.
“Something didn’t feel right,” Tingler said after the 8-4 loss. “… We’ll have more information once we get some tests back.”
Should Campusano be OK to resume playing, then plan is to get all three catchers playing time, likely based on the opposing pitcher. Campusano and Austin Nola bat right-handed, Jason Castro from the left side.
“They’re all going to catch, they’re all going to play,” Tingler said. “We’re going to keep them sharp. We’re going to keep them fresh. But all three guys are going to catch and get atbats.” Tingler has used two catchers in 16 of the Padres’ 41 games.
Nola, who was initially the designated hitter in Saturday’s lineup started at catcher. Jorge Mateo replaced Campusano in the lineup at DH.
Nola doubled off the wall in right-center field in the sixth inning and homered to virtually the same spot, just about 20 feet higher, in the eighth. He came within five feet of a three-run homer that would have tied the game 4-4 on a fly ball to the center field wall in the third inning.
Mitch Moreland, who has a 1.142 OPS against righties and a .657 OPS against lefties, sat against A’s left-hander Sean Manaea until called on to play first base in the ninth inning when Eric Hosmer was ejected for yelling at home plate umpire Quinn Wolcott.
Not utilizing the utility yet
Nola has caught four of the Padres’ five games since he was acquired in a trade Sunday.
The converted infielder has taken ground balls at second and third base before games and could sub in there, but it seems the Padres have decided that will be a rarity this season.
He has played first, second, third and catcher in both the majors and minors. He also played shortstop in the minors. He didn’t start playing catcher until 2017 in
Double-a.
“We feel he can play all four (infield) positions if needed,” Tingler said. “Right now, Manny (Machado is) feeling pretty good, Tatis is feeling pretty good as far as their legs and feet. Obviously, Hos and Moreland over there (at first base). So right now we’re going to stick with those guys. But I can definitely see Nola getting action at some point at one of those infield spots.”
Missing everybody
Tingler smiled at the question.
Yes, it was an oddity that Fernando Tatis Jr. was being interviewed while playing shortstop in the bottom of the second inning. But that’s how it goes on Fox’s nationally televised broadcasts this year. And, well, 2020.
“I’d say it’s normally weird,” Tingler said. “But is there really anything weird in 2020? I think this: hearing conversation in our clubhouse, the one thing, whether it’s myself or the staff or the players, the one thing that hurts the most is that as well as we’re playing and as fun and energized as this team is, the constant discussion in there is not being able to share that with the fanbase. … So is it a little weird? Yeah. But being able to give them access to somebody with an opportunity to grow the game, we can take an inning or two of weirdness any day of the week.”