Padres Position Battles in Spring Training: Set-up Man

by Dex on Mar 1, 2012 1:20 PM PST

The position of Set-up Man isn't a glamour position on most teams, but the San Diego Padres aren't most teams. (You like that? Sounds like the intro a beat would write).

Over the past 16 or 17 years, the second-best reliever on the Padres has had to sit behind at worst the late, great Rod Beck. Otherwise it was a steady stream of Trevor Hoffman and Heath Bell. Hall of Famer and Psycho All-Star.

With Heath Bell gone, Mike Adams traded and Huston Street coming in and inheriting the closer by default, there is now a battle to see who will set-up games for the Padres. Bill Center (and most everybody) has the favorite as Andrew Cashner, but there should still be Spring Training competition from Ernesto Frieri and Luke Gregerson.

Even money is on Cashner and his 276 mph fastball. The sentimental facial-hair favorite is Luke Gregerson. Ernesto Frieri is rooted for by people who like to be contrarian.

Even if Cashner wins the job out of Spring Training, there could be opportunity for him to slide into a starter role by mid-season and/or audition as the closer of the future. I propose God's Gonna Cut You Down as entrance music.

Andrew Cashner

#34 / Pitcher / San Diego Padres

Height: 6-6

Weight: 200

Bats: R

Throws: R

Born: Sep 11, 1986

Facial Hair: Bright Red Goatee. Sideburns.

Ernesto Frieri

#39 / Pitcher / San Diego Padres

Height: 6-2

Weight: 200

Bats: R

Throws: R

Born: Jul 19, 1985

Facial Hair: Black goatee. Wispy mustache.

Luke Gregerson

#57 / Pitcher / San Diego Padres

Height: 6-3

Weight: 200

Bats: L

Throws: R

Born: May 14, 1984

Facial Hair: Salvador Dali (not pictured)

Poll

Who should be the 8th inning man for the Padres in 2012?

Andrew Cashner

163 votes

Ernesto Frieri

18 votes

Luke Gregerson

70 votes

Some other dude (note in the comments)

10 votes

261 votes | Poll has closed

Tweet Comment 16 comments | 0 recs |

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Comments

so funny

There are 57 votes, but there are no comments as of right now. Its hard to say who should have the job without seeing more from these guys. Luke is the more experienced guy, and the Padres are not going to have a lot of easy wins so I don’t want somebody else learning to be a late inning reliever on the job.

by Ualtar on Mar 1, 2012 4:27 PM PST reply actions

read Bill's chat today

sounds like people are impressed with Cashner and Venable out of camp so far.

by abara on Mar 1, 2012 4:59 PM PST reply actions

"People are impressed with Venable out of camp"

If I had a nickel…

by isaic16 on Mar 2, 2012 6:38 AM PST up reply actions

air.ness.toe.

the final portland beaver to be a PCL all star.

cash rules everything around me CREAM get tha money dolla dolla bill yaaaaallll

by staceyaugmon4HOF on Mar 1, 2012 5:11 PM PST reply actions

I'll second "God's Gonna Cut You Down"

It’s a pun and it’s intimidating as hell!

Yakety Sax: Making divisional matchups hilarious since 1963.
Gaslamp Ball: SMELLS LIKE PROSPECTS IN HERE

Please, call me StrangeBro.

by StrangeBroP25 on Mar 1, 2012 6:08 PM PST reply actions

so is his nickname gonna be Tango and Cashner

or Straight Cashner Homie

by iheartyourfart on Mar 1, 2012 9:24 PM PST up reply actions

I like the former, although Cold Hard Cashner could work with the staredown factor.

And if he’s not a country fan, there are plenty of other songs he can use for his intro. I’ll chip in Knights of Cydonia by Muse. I don’t think anybody currently uses it for entrance music, and it is thunderous.

Yakety Sax: Making divisional matchups hilarious since 1963.
Gaslamp Ball: SMELLS LIKE PROSPECTS IN HERE

Please, call me StrangeBro.

by StrangeBroP25 on Mar 1, 2012 9:48 PM PST up reply actions

That would be totally badass!

I like The Cash Man as a nickname and to completely throw everyone off their game his intro could be The Gas Man Cometh.

Harry Doyle: The post-game show is brought to you by...
[searches through his papers]
Harry Doyle: Christ, I can't find it. To hell with it.

by FletchIsMyHero on Mar 1, 2012 10:10 PM PST up reply actions

i just want him to lock down the 8th

so after every 8th inning i can post SHIT WAS SO CASH.

by iheartyourfart on Mar 2, 2012 10:19 AM PST up reply actions

Cashner

Been reading good things about him so far but I say start him as the 7th inning guy and keep Luke in for the 8th…less pressure for him at first and we’ll go from there.

by SanDiegan247 on Mar 1, 2012 6:26 PM PST reply actions

yes

Since Cashner is pretty much what we got for Adrian lets not destroy his confidence in his first season with the team.

by Ualtar on Mar 1, 2012 7:50 PM PST up reply actions

Casey Kelly wants to know where all the love went.

Yakety Sax: Making divisional matchups hilarious since 1963.
Gaslamp Ball: SMELLS LIKE PROSPECTS IN HERE

Please, call me StrangeBro.

by StrangeBroP25 on Mar 3, 2012 11:51 AM PST up reply actions

Long term i'm a big believer in Ernie's potential

he has the stuff, the makeup, and the perfect amount of crazy to make a good closer one day.

but i think cashner in the 8th inning is virtually a lock for this season. middle relief guys tend to take more arm-abuse and i’m sure the padres want to ease cashner’s workload up so that he can make the jump to the rotation next season. Given his shoulder troubles i think they want to avoid giving him the >1 inning assignments that he’s likely to see as the 6th or 7th inning guy.

by iheartyourfart on Mar 1, 2012 9:28 PM PST reply actions

I agree with this statement

And I don’t think the Padres would’ve moved Rizzo who’s arguably close to major league ready for a middle relief guy. It’s closer, starter or bust for Cashner.

by Dex on Mar 1, 2012 10:01 PM PST up reply actions

I voted for some other dude.

While neither have the facial hair that compares with Cashner, Gregerson and Frieri I wouldn’t mind seeing Boxberger or Brach. Both are young and have great K/9 rates… a little wild but I’d think they would jump at the opportunity.

Neither is likely for this upcoming season and so realistically I’d say Cashner.

Harry Doyle: The post-game show is brought to you by...
[searches through his papers]
Harry Doyle: Christ, I can't find it. To hell with it.

by FletchIsMyHero on Mar 1, 2012 10:05 PM PST reply actions