San Diego Padres: Franchy Cordero Pulverized A Baseball

The San Diego Padres dropped their second straight Cactus League game yesterday, falling to the Oakland Athletics, 8-3.

There wasn’t a lot of action in yesterday’s game for the San Diego Padres. In a seemingly pretty standard spring training game, the Padres fell to 0-2  on the young spring, losing to the Oakland A’s, 8-3.

If there is one positive to take away from today’s game, it’s the walks. For a second time in a row, the Padres recorded more walks (5) than their opponent did (3). Each spring training game is about finding a small victory to build on. For this team, which finished with a collective .299 on-base percentage last season, showing patience at the plate is a noteworthy victory.

San Diego Padres outfielder Franchy Cordero wasn’t happy.

According to Dennis Lin, Franchy Cordero wasn’t happy about not playing in the Padres’ spring training debut.

Cordero’s response? He turned an innocent baseball into rubber dust….

Cordero’s weaknesses are well documented. He’s a free swinger and an undisciplined hitter. However, we should accept Franchy for who he is, a hitter who sends right-handed pitchers running for the hills.

San Diego has the perfect pieces to platoon in left field this season should Wil Myers be given the keys to right field. Put Franchy Cordero in the lineup vs righties and Hunter Renfroe in vs lefties. Problem solved, right?

San Diego Padres prospects struggle at the plate.

#PadresOnDeck stars Luis Urias, Fernando Tatis, Jr, Josh Naylor, and Gabriel Arias ended the day a combined 0-7 with six strikeouts. Arias, who doesn’t turn 18 until Tuesday, went 0-2 with two strikeouts in his major league spring training debut.

The defense of Arias is already far advanced past his age. He was able to show off his plus-plus glove and hands at third base, making a beautiful pick play late in the game.

Here’s Arias taking groundballs in warmups. His bat will take a few years to develop, however, Arias could be this year’s Fernando Tatis.

https://www.twitter.com/beisbol_al_dia/status/967506254766669824

San Diego Padres veterans make a return to the mound.

Veterans Tyson Ross and Chris Young, who are attempting to make a comeback with the Padres on minor league deals, made their first cases for making the team on Saturday.

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Ross was given the start, working two innings, giving up three hits (including a home run), two earned runs, and a walk. Despite giving up a first-inning home run, Ross struck out the side in the inning, flashing a very good fastball and slider.

Chris Young’s day also went well. Young pitched two innings of shutout baseball, walking one and striking out one.

The biggest disappointment on the day was Walker Lockett. Lockett is also in a battle for a starting rotation spot. He took the loss yesterday, giving up five runs (one earned) off four hits in just 1.1 innings of work.

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The San Diego Padres return to the field today at 12:10 pm PT. Fans can watch today’s action on Fox Sports San Diego or MLB.tv.