San Diego Padres: Random Thoughts After Friars First Win

The San Diego Padres got into the win column last night with an all-around great effort in an 8-4 win over the Colorado Rockies. Here are my musings on the Friars’ first win of the season.

After some inconsistency early on, Tyson Ross was solid in his first outing since returning to the San Diego Padres. Ross, 30, has worked all the way back from thoracic outlet syndrome surgery and did not disappoint in his first start of the year.

Christian Villanueva, the 26-year-old rookie with a total of 36 career MLB at-bats under his belt before last night, hit three towering home runs, all of which were meaningful, win-probability changing shots.

Just because, here’s his third of the night, that put the Friars out in front 8-3 in the seventh inning:

Jose Pirela keeps on hitting, notching his second multi-hit game of the year last night and making a terrific throw to nab Trevor Story trying to move to third in the fourth inning.

Speaking of fantastic outfield play, Hunter Renfroe made an outstanding, diving catch in the first inning that most certainly saved a run from scoring. He almost made another diving grab to end the game but the ball tipped off of the top of his glove.

I don’t care what the metrics or the “experts” have to say about Eric Hosmer‘s fielding skills; this dude is one of the best fielding first-basemen in all of baseball. Let this season play out and I’ll revisit this discussion. Onward and upward…

More from Friars on Base

• Padres fighting with hated rival to sign quality veteran relief pitcher
• Jurickson Profar free agency update likely rules out Padres reunion
• Fernando Tatis Jr. may not take to outfield move after Xander Bogaerts addition
• Padres News: Fernando Tatis Jr. trade rumors, Seth Lugo chase, Manny Machado
• Padres barely missed out on high-end veteran starting pitcher

More thoughts on the Padres’ first win

After a hitless game on Monday night and without a hit up until his sixth-inning, two-RBI single, I wrote down that even though Freddy Galvis has slowed down at the plate after a hot start, his pristine fielding makes up for a mid-.200’s batting average.

He’s hitting .333 with a .929 OPS and five RBI. I’m not one to say I told you so, but…

I’m shocked that the Rockies played the shift against Eric Hosmer last night, after seeing him go to the opposite field twice the previous night.

He didn’t hit into it, but man do I wish he poked one to the empty side (or even laid down a bunt) just to stick it to Bud Black for making such a call.

Next: Villanueva's Journey to the San Diego Padres

Finally, Kazuhisa Makita continues to climb the ranks in my Favorite MLB Reliever rankings. Hitters are guessing in every at-bat; it’s awesome in the truest sense of the word. Let’s see how he looks after the league gets a better look at him.

Last night, Mark Grant of FOX Sports San Diego called him the knuckle-scraper; I like that. Eephus all day!!