SHILDT SAYS: Discussing Machado’s return at 3B, Merrill’s status, Darvish’s recovery and Estrada’s promotion
Prior to Friday’s opener of a six-game homestand, the Padres activated Manny Machado from the paternity list and announced he would make his first start of the season at third base. The Padres also promoted right-handed reliever Jeremiah Estrada from Triple-A El Paso and optioned right-handed pitcher Randy Vásquez and infielder Matthew Batten to the Chihuahuas.
“It feels good to be home regardless of the circumstance,” said Padres manager Mike Shildt in Friday’s pre-game media session. “Coming back to San Diego, it doesn’t get much greater than that.”
Shildt then turned to the return of Machado.
“It’s great to have him back, we’re thrill about him being at third tonight,” said Shildt. “We knew it was coming. He’s been working toward this for a while. We’re really happy for him on a lot of fronts … some big milestones. He’s welcomed his new addition to the family and now he’s back at third base. So, life is good for the Machados and for the Padres.”
“We were always honest … our ear-marking his return at third was always very fluid. But he was making progress, making progress. So he knew, reading the tea leaves that it would be pretty close to this. He sent me a text and I talked to him … we had some conversation while we were in Colorado that today being likely and then he checked the final box in his mental and physical world and here we are.”
“Manny’s schedule right now will be fluid as well. He’s going to play third tonight. Tomorrow, rightfully if you think about a spring training ramp up that he didn’t really have … he had a hybrid spring training in the designated hitter role. Now he has defense added on and with the recover factor, you’re probably looking being at DH tomorrow and an evaluation after that. We’ll just take it from there.”
“I talked to (Tyler) Wade earlier and will meet with (Eguy) Rosario. First of all, that platoon system worked really well. I mean we got a lot of production out of those guys … defensively, offensively, running the bases. Those guys were huge in contributing to us winning baseball games. I applaud them. But now it does change when you talk about the use.”
“Manny will slide back into the DH spot tomorrow, so it goes back … we’re not away from that scenario where guys are going be moving and shaking at third. But it also frees up Wade to move around the field and become more of a utility guy. Rosario as well to be able to do some different things that he hadn’t been doing relative to before Manny was able to play third base.”
“Manny came over to Petco Park Wednesday and Thursday while on paternity leave and got work in here at the ballpark.”
Shildt on comparisons between Machado and the Phillies’ Bryce Harper: “I don’t know all the specifics of all of it, but following both of them — of course Manny being closer recently although I’ve competed against Bryce for years — it’s really eerie. Free agency and very similar in their contracts, length of contracts right down to paternity leaves. Two really generational talents who have been able to have tremendous careers and still have bright futures.”
Shildt discussed the Jackson Merrill injury that is keeping him out of the lineup for a second straight game.
“Jackson is in a really, really good place,” said Shildt. “We’re going to continue to be mindful of the fact that it’s early in the year. We just want to make sure with a lower-half extremity injury that he’s going to be okay. He’s going to move around today. He feels great. I’m so happy that he’s kind of pounding the table to be in there, which is great. I love the fact that it looks like we’re getting it behind us. But we want to make sure it’s behind us. I don’t want to do something that’s not smart and prudent and have a guy out who is a big part of our club for any extended period of time. It’s trending upward. It’s an ‘owie’ and not an ‘oochie’ but we want to keep it there and not let it get into an ‘oh, no.’ It’s something he’s had treatment on for a couple days. When he started feeling it in his swing before Thursday’s game, it was ‘No, it doesn’t feel great … let’s get ahead of it,’ which we feel we have.”
Shildt on Estrada: “He’s throwing the ball exceptionally well in Triple-A. He brings a power arm with a really elite fastball. He’s in a good spot and we’re looking forward to seeing him pitch. He had a great spring. Many of us were following him and he did a great job. Vásquez will go back to Triple-A and feel good about some of the steps he’s taken and following the plan. Vásquez is going to pitch well for us for a long time. He’s just still in that developmental process of being a starter.”
Shildt on Yu Darvish: “He threw a bullpen two days ago and all reports were positive. He’s starting to get back to normal for Yu. Now we’re just making the determination of what’s next. His next spot to start lines up with Yu being a possibility. But everything is on the table. It’s the proverbial to-be-determined.”
