Blake SnellI just wanted one more chance opposite the Dodgers lineupWith the World Series at stake last October, Snell never got it. But he’ll be seeing much of that lineup as a new Padres element in the coming seasons, and it goes without saying, given his never-supporting personality, he’s looking forward to it.
Can’t wait to play the Dodgers“Snell said on Wednesday, the day the Padres pitchers and catchers reported to the Peoria Sports Complex.” They are incredibly talented. We have incredible talent … It will be a lot of fun. Every party “.
Of course, Snell was eliminated in Game 6 of the World Series in the sixth inning while working on a shutout. Two months later, he was transferred from Tampa Bay to San Diego in exchange for four potential clients. As such, Wednesday got a “first day of school” vibe for Snell. He says it’s “awful for names,” but at least there are some familiar faces in the clubhouse.
Snell was one of the three biggest rotation buys for the Padres this winter, along with Yu Darvish and Joe Musgrove. If you count Dinelson Lamet and Chris Paddack, Snell says he would take this spin above any other in baseball, including the Dodgers.
“They have guys, so it’s going to be a lot of fun going against them,” said Snell. ‘But I choose my team every time. I think it is going well. ‘
Snell’s workload for the 2021 season was a major topic of conversation on Day 1. The 28-year-old left-handed won the AL Cy Young Award in 2018, but did it in 180 2/3 innings, the most you’ve accomplished. thrown in a season.
When Snell came out of a shortened 2020 season, he acknowledged his limitations and predicted between 150 and 180 innings – “and then the postseason.” That seems to be in line with what the Padres are looking for. They have made it clear that they will be careful with their pitchers from the start.
More striking, however, are the Padres’ game plans for Snell. Since his Cy Young Award-winning campaign, he has only passed the sixth inning twice. This is partly due to a few injuries, but it is also an organizing principle.
The Padres may seem more open to using Snell outside of its previous limits.
“When he’s healthy, he’s right and everything is fine. He’s one of the best pitchers in the game,” said manager Jayce Tingler. “We have every confidence that he can. But we have to work on that.”
Snell is completely on board with that plan. He expects a slow progression early in the season, but also looks forward to letting go of the reins.
“I want to see what’s inside me, and the only way to really see it is to dig deep into the games,” said Snell. “When you start to get a little more tired and you have to fight some things and try to be cool, then I think that’s what turns me on the most.”
Who knows? Maybe even against the Dodgers. He would certainly enjoy it.
“I know what this rivalry has been like,” said Snell. “I know he’s been a bit of a fighter lately, that … I’m here for all of that.”
Snell joked that he said “thank you” to the Red Sox last spring when they traded Mookie Betts from AL East. Now back in the division with the star rightfielder of the Dodgers, he said, “Thank you.”
Still, Snell made it clear that he looks forward to the challenge. He prefers the Dodgers to a monster because he prefers to defeat a monster.
This winter, when the Padres and Dodgers switched moves, Snell was the first domino to fall. From the moment he landed in San Diego, he watched the two clubs hit the headlines. The Padres further improved their rotation with Darvish and Musgrove, and the Dodgers improved theirs with Trevor Bauer. The Padres signed Ha-Seong Kim and Jurickson Profar, then the Dodgers brought back Justin Turner. Both teams joined their bullpens.
“The Padres started quickly, they threw some troublemakers quickly,” said Snell. “Then the Dodgers followed, they also followed some great troublemakers. It’s exciting. That’s what baseball is all about. Make the best team you can make and do what you can to win.
“It will be a fun series that everyone wants to see. That’s what it’s all about.”
AJ Cassavell / MLB.com