Team: San Diego Padres Burning Question Matt Bush has fallen off the radar screen, not easy to do for a former No. 1 overall pick. What can he do to get back on it? The biggest thing Bush, taken with that first pick back in 2004, can do is stay on the field. He's played in just a grand total of 177 games since being drafted, only 22 in 2006. The biggest problem has been his hamstrings, a big reason why he hasn't been able to get past Fort Wayne in the Midwest League. It appears, though, that Bush is at least taking the right steps toward reaching that goal of remaining healthy. He's put on some weight, coming into camp at 185 pounds, 15 heavier than a year ago. He's bought into the organization's conditioning and nutrition program, so that should help. If he can stay healthy, then at least the Padres' staff can work on developing his shortstop skills. If all goes well, he'll start the year in Lake Elsinore and go from there But there is a Plan B. Back in high school, Bush was a legitimate pitching prospect who could throw as hard as 94 mph from the mound. If things start to unravel this spring, if it looks like Bush isn't making any progress, the Padres have discussed internally the possibility of tinkering with Bush as a pitcher. "If things don't work out, then this may be the camp that maybe we decide to tinker with him on the mound a little bit," Padres vice president of scouting and player development Grady Fuson said. "We're not wiping the deck clean. He's going out there as a shortstop and hopefully he's made a better commitment to himself and the organization by working at it hard this winter." Other News of the Day Cesar Carrillo, the Padres' first-round pick from 2005, only made 10 starts in 2006 because an elbow injury. He did not have surgery, instead going with a program of rest and rehab. So far, so good. He started light tossing and working out in January, then came here to Peoria at the beginning of February to be near the medical staff. Everything's been clean and he's been throwing live bullpens, putting him on schedule. If things continue to go as planned, he'll open the season as part of Triple-A Portland's rotation, just a phone call away. Fuson admits it'll probably be five or six starts before everyone stops worrying about the elbow. ... The other Cesar -- Cesar Ramos, the lefty taken in the supplemental first round the same year as Carrillo, is moving ahead as hoped. With a good camp, he could make the move up to Double-A San Antonio. As satisfied as the Padres are with his performance to this point -- he's never really experienced failure -- they will work with the crafty lefty to tweak a few things to get him ready for the upper levels. ... A couple of hitters showed up in Peoria clearly having taken the offseason conditioning program seriously. OF Cedric Hunter, the 2006 third-rounder who was the rookie-level Arizona League MVP last summer, is up to about 190 pounds and looks ready to go. He should eventually play at around 205 pounds in the future. ... 3B Chase Headley was put on a serious weight program and it's worked. He's showing up for camp up to about 215-220 pounds, up from about 195. It will be interesting to see how he carries the weight into performance. #ques_include {width:300px;float:right;margin-left:5px;} #ques_content {border-top:1px solid #4C8CA8;border-left:1px solid #4C8CA8;padding-left:5px;} .ques_schedule {margin-top:5px;font-size:11px;} .ques_dates {font-size:11px;font-style:italic;color:#999;} 
Five Questions with Will Venable MiLB.com: What is your proudest accomplishment on or off the field? WV: Graduating from Princeton and getting a college degree. That was a big one that sticks out in my mind off the field. The awards and everything are nice for what you accomplish on the field, but basically I'm just proud of myself at this point for getting to where I've gotten -- doing the best that I can and working hard -- and I'm proud that I've done that and carried myself in a good way by doing it. MiLB.com: Who is the most unusual character you've come across in the Minors and why? WV: There's a guy, I think in Burlington. He's at every game, and there's some pretty bad weather there. He's at every game, dancing between every inning. He may have had a screw loose, but he was the ultimate fan and he loved his team. He was a definite character with some decent dance moves, just a guy in the middle of nowhere and loving that he was going to all these baseball games. He was a pretty cool guy. Just to be able to look up at him or other characters, it breaks up the game and makes it fun. MiLB.com: People would be surprised to know that I... WV: Grew up liking basketball more than baseball. I played basketball my whole life. Basketball was my first love. I love being a baseball player, but I still love the game of basketball as a fan and as a spectator. It's probably my favorite sport. I grew up loving to play the game. Now, just being able to watch the games has been enough to fill that void, the college game especially. MiLB.com: Grady Fuson described you as "pushable," meaning you could be challenged by moving a little more quickly. How does that make you feel, knowing that if things continue the way they started for you that there could be a very clear, and perhaps, quick path to the big leagues? WV: That would be great. I can't get too far ahead thinking about that because there's a long road ahead, but it's great to hear from the boss. I always like challenging myself. It's why I'm out here. I'm open for that challenge and that's why I'm playing baseball. It would be great to start the year in San Antonio. It also would be great to get off to a good start in Lake Elsinore. I'll let them worry about that. My personal goals are to be in San Diego at some point, but before that, my goals are to go about my business in the right way every day, work hard and get better. If I can do that and stay focused, everything else will take care of itself. MiLB.com: The longer you're involved in baseball, how often do people call you Max (Will's father, Max Venable, played in the big leagues for 12 years)? WV: A lot, especially people who have known my dad. It's a good thing. It's nice to know people know who my dad is. It's fine by me if we get confused every once in a while. Lasting Impression The Padres took right-handed pitcher Kevin Cameron with the 13th pick of the Rule 5 draft last December. The 27-year-old reliever had been with the Twins, pitching for Triple-A Rochester a year ago. So far, the Padres love what they see from him. And that's important for Cameron, or any Rule 5 pick for that matter. First impressions may be the only ones a Rule 5 pick get a chance to make. "In a Rule 5 situation, they have to come in and show it right away," Fuson said. "You don't have the same amount of time. You're either in or your out. Rule 5 guys can't afford to build up. They have to come in and be ready to go and open as many eyes as they can early." Cameron has been opening some eyes, showing a cutter and a slider that have been plus pitches so far. Granted, they haven't done a whole lot so far -- he did get into his first Spring Training game and tossed a scoreless inning -- but color Fuson impressed so far. "He is filthy in the hitting zone," Fuson said. "Will he be in that zone enough is the question. They haven't done a lot of things live, but to this point, his stuff in the zone has been tough. He's got the weapons." Parting Shots Grady Fuson is entering his third year with the San Diego Padres, his second running everything as the head of scouting and player development. He came to San Diego with an impressive resume and a certain philosophy he undoubtedly wanted to bring to the organization. Any change of that nature is going to take time. But while no one would claim the Padres have the deepest system in baseball, there are some signs of life. Fuson surveys what he sees in Peoria and feels things are moving in the right direction and will continue to improve. Here is Fuson's state of the system address. "I'm pleased," Fuson said. "Our talent level is medium. We're not really strong with homegrown talent at the upper levels. We're pretty good at the bottom. The good news is there are kids here who are pushable, not just pitching-wise, but position-player wise as well. We have some pitching as well who will provide some depth, guys who can handle going to the next level. This is another stage because we've added depth. We're so bottom-heavy, we want to get some growth and movement going in 2007. We could be doing a lot of movement between Fort Wayne and San Antonio in 2007."
Jonathan Mayo is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs. |
