Spring Training Report – Mar. 12, 2014

Xavier Nady is hitting .364 this spring.

Ehhhh….so things didn’t go so well for the Friars today losing 12-7 to the Indians.  Mama said there would be days like this.  Thank goodness it’s spring training!

Tyson Ross struggled from the get go, and did not appear to have dependable FB command, nor the great downward tilt on his SL that we’ve become accustomed to seeing. He allowed 3 runs in the first 3 innings.  3 1/3, before reaching his pitch count and giving way to the bullpen.  Campos came in next and could not throw strikes, walking 3, and lucky to allow only 1 run before the end of the inning. Matt Wisler and Nick Vincent followed with scoreless innings, with Vincent looking the sharpest of any Pads pitcher on the day.

The offense did fight back after the early deficit, with Xavier Nady, Alex Dickerson, Alex Castellanos, and Rene Rivera all clubbing doubles to score 3, tying the game in the top of the 4th.  The Friar bats then tied the game again in the 6th thanks to an Xavier Nady 1st pitch, lead off, opposite field HR.

The lead was lost for the final time in the 7th when Dale Thayer allowed  a run on 3 hits.  Then things got completely out of control.  Anthony Carter had a nightmarish 8th inning, retiring the first batter, but then allowing the next 6 to reach base on 5 hits and a walk.  He simply could not get the ball down and was punished for it.  Kevin Quackenbush had to be summoned to stop the bleeding, and allowed a run of his own to cross before the inning mercifully came to end with 7 runs having crossed the plate.

You have to give the Pads credit for fighting until the end as trailing by 8 they scored 3 in the top of the ninth, thanks to a Rymer Liriano HR, and Jayce Peterson RBI 2B before the final out was made.

So what positives can be taken out of these 8.5 innings of baseball?

• Nick Vincent looked like…well…Nick Vincent.  After getting beat up in his first two outing he has now had to consecutive sharp 1-2-3 innings of work.  Good to see his cutter cutting, and his FB back down in the zone.
• Xavier Nady had the HR and 2B mentioned above, as well as a nice day with the glove at first. The veteran is now hitting .364 this spring in his quest to make the team as a non-roster invite.
• Rene Rivera had two hits today is now hitting .500 for the spring.  He did make an ill advised throw to third that got away and allowed a run to score, but also made some good throws today, and has done nothing this spring to dissuade the notion that he is a solid MLB receiver.  The chance the Pads will break with 3 catchers is still a possibility.
• Rymer Lriano crushed his HR today, and continues to show his reconstructed elbow is not inhibiting him in any way. He has shown glimpses of all 5 of his tools throughout the spring, and with some more playing time to get him back up to speed after missing all of last year he could be a close to ready, impact type prospect again.
• Tommy Medica got another extra base hit today to keep the right handed bench battle interesting.  He played left field for the entire game, and as luck would have it as 18 hits were raining down today almost none of them went in his direction that were catchable.  So we learned almost nothing about his defensive abilities other than he can run down balls after they’ve hit the wall in the gap.  Baseball…..

Nothing major to report in camp today.  Huston Street threw another bullpen.  Yasmani Grandal is expected to play his second Cactus League contest tomorrow. Chase Headley continues his rehab with no major set backs. Expect some more cuts to take place soon.  That’s it!

The games the next two days will be televised, but not on radio nor webcast. I’ll miss talking ball with you the next 48 hours, but we’ll catch up on Friday!

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