Padres Fan Chat with Bill Center: August 7th, 2015

By Friar Wire

It’s that time of the week again! Bill Center was on hand Friday to field questions and talk about all things Padres baseball as Friar Faithful logged in for another weekly addition of Padres Fan Chat.

The Padres are back in town to kick of a six-game homestand after going 5–5 on the road in New York, Miami and Milwaukee. Despite going only .500 on the road over their last 10 games, many fans feel that the Padres play has improved since the first half of the season and with the trade deadline behind us, fans were curious to know what’s next for their Padres.

In case you couldn’t join us today before Friday night’s game against the Phillies, here are some highlights from today’s Padres fan chat: For starters, one fan wanted to know what the “starting situation” would be for infielder Cory Spangenberg upon his return from the disabled list. Spangenberg landed on the 15-day DL on June 28th with a bone bruise to his left knee and has been on a rehab assignment with the Double-A San Antonio Missions since August 3rd:

Fan: “Afternoon Bill, thanks once again for the chats. What does the infield look like when Cory Spangenberg is ready to return to the roster?”

@PadresCentral: “Great question. I don’t think Spangenberg is going to regularly play shortstop as some expect. He made the one start at San Antonio because Benji Gonzalez had played there every day since Jose Rondon had elbow surgery. If the Padres wanted to take a look at Spangenberg at short, it would likely be next spring and it would help his chances grow as a utility infielder. With Jedd Gyorko and Yangervis Solarte producing at second and third at the moment, I think Spangenberg will backup at both of those spots and start more when either cools off.”

Another fan was curious about the status of backup catcher Tim Federowicz who recently was activated off of the 60-day DL and subsequently designated for assignment to keep rookie Austin Hedges with the big league club in San Diego:

Fan: “Did FedEx clear waivers, or did some other organization snap him up?”

@PadresCentral: “There has not been an update yet. The 10-days onhis ‘designated for assignment’ period runs on August 10th. Because nothing has been said, Federowicz might have been claimed by another team and the Padres have three more days to work out a trade with that team. But he could have cleared waivers and the Padres are still looking for a trade partner before asking him to report to the minors or releasing him.”

Looking forward to the Padres future, one fan wanted to know if Bill saw a big change in the future for the Padres starting rotation come 2016:

Fan: “How many new faces (do you think will) make up the 2016 opening day rotation? How many from the farm system and how many from outside the organization today?”

@PadresCentral: “I’d say there will be at least two new faces in the 2016 starting rotation with Colin Rea having the best shot from inside the organization. I also see Odrisamer Despaigne becoming the long man in the bullpen next year while also having him available for spot starts in an emergency.”

Finally, Bill finished up the chat addressing a question about the Padres skipper situation with interim-manager Pat Murphy growing ever more comfortable in his role as leader of the team:

Fan: “Have you seen a change in the clubhouse now that Murphy has been around a couple months? Winning and losing aside, it seems as though the guys are really coming together as a team. Do you see him staying as the skipper past this year, or is it too soon to speculate?”

@PadresCentral: “All players are happy when they are winning. Would have been no different with (Bud) Black. Murphy’s personality is different than Bud’s and different players act differently to different managers. I can’t say they are any closer now than they were before. Remember, half the Padres are here for the first year, they are still getting to really know one another. Chemistry doesn’t happen overnight — sometime not even in the first year. It is too soon to speculate on his future. Had they made the playoffs, I think he would have gotten at least a full season.”

Fans also asked Bill about the Padres playoff chances, the odds of calling up Travis Jankowski in September with the expansion of rosters and what the upcoming offseason will hold for San Diego as the year comes to a close. If you would like to read Friday’s fan chat in its entirety, then you can read the full script of the Padres Fan Chat here!