Padres Editorial: Hot and Cold Padres from Opening Week

Apr 9, 2015; San Diego, CA, USA; San Francisco Giants center fielder Angel Pagan (left) reacts during an at bat in the ninth inning as San Diego Padres catcher Derek Norris (3) gestures at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

Derek Norris

I loved the gusto Norris played with this entire week.  You rarely see a catcher in the second spot in the lineup, but Norris is a perfect fit for it.  He always gives a tough at bat, and consistently gets on base, already posting a .370 OBP.  Once on base, Norris recklessly throws himself at the next bag, taking the extra 90 feet whenever he can.

Defensively, I thought Norris did a great job throwing out base runners and blocking balls behind the plate.

It was great to see him show some passion when dealing with Angel Pagan.  The little argument clearly fired up the team and the players.  Norris seems to be emerging as the leader of this club.  Having the heart of the team at the catcher position will be integral to the Padres success, as Norris will help lead and inspire both the hitters and the pitching staff.

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