February 29, 2008
Fixing the Outfield
The San Diego outfield is in flux, but Chase Headley took a step toward bringing it into equilibrium:
Headley, a former third baseman who is the Padres' top prospect, was starting in left for the first time as a professional player. Suzuki, the Mariners' leadoff man whose late-swing flicks are notoriously difficult to defend, sliced a liner toward him.
The rookie peered through sunglasses into direct sunlight, charged and caught the ball as he skidded to his knees. "That's a tough ball, man," he said.
Naturally, the next hitter, Jose Vidro, served another ball to left, a high shot. Headley could have panicked when he briefly lost the ball in the high sun. "You just hang with it and go to where you think it will come down," he said.
He caught it, then snared another sun-ball in the fourth inning of Seattle's 10-3 win at Peoria Stadium.
Three chances, three outs. One big boost.
Headley's done a great job getting on base in the minors. If they can get that and decent defense out of a leftfielder, the Padres will have improved that position.
Posted by David Pinto at
11:22 AM
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