The Morning Friar – 2/17/11

Clipped from: stlouis.sbnation.com (share this clip)

Panda Express owner Tom Davin just happens to be a part of the San Diego Padres’ ownership group. I can only hope this becomes a commercial, maybe about the tension between this position and Maybin’s expressed ambivalence toward snitching.

From stlouis.sbnation.com (share this quote)

Clipped from: www.sfexaminer.com (share this clip)

Despite being sidelined by a strained left calf, San Diego Padres closer Heath Bell could throw as early as Wednesday.

Bell, second in the NL with 47 saves last season, said he missed Tuesday’s bullpen session for precautionary reasons one day after he injured himself while running during the team’s first workout. Bell said Tuesday afternoon that the injury improved enough in 24 hours for him to think he can return to the mound quickly but he isn’t as certain about when he’ll run again.

From www.sfexaminer.com (share this quote)

Clipped from: www.google.com (share this clip)

If he was going to return for another season, Gregg Zaun wanted to come back the right way.

The 39-year-old Zaun is a non-roster player in camp with the San Diego Padres, competing for a backup catching job. He had surgery for a tear in his right shoulder last June, and knew his career could be over.

From www.google.com (share this quote)

Clipped from: www.standard.net (share this clip)

The most famous smile in San Diego couldn’t be seen over the phone line, but it could be heard.

It could be heard when Tony Gwynn light-heartedly talked about how much easier it was to hit a baseball than fight for his life. Or when he spoke about coaching again, or his son’s move to the Dodgers.

From www.standard.net (share this quote)

Clipped from: www.signonsandiego.com (share this clip)

The Padres have seven catchers in camp this spring to handle the 32 pitchers on the spring training roster. Included in the catching corps are prospects Jason Hagerty and Luis Martinez.

“It’s a great experience for them,” said Padres manager Bud Black of the young catchers added to the big league camp. “And it’s a great chance for us to see them for the first time. Catching is such a premium in this game.”

From www.signonsandiego.com (share this quote)

Clipped from: mlb.fanhouse.com (share this clip)

Winter’s migratory patterns wired into him like those of sea turtles or birds, Trevor Hoffman could’ve homed in on the ballfields here blindfolded when spring training beckoned.

From mlb.fanhouse.com (share this quote)