The sun did come up Tuesday for manager Andy Green and his Padres after Monday’s historic 15-0 loss to the Dodgers in the season opener.
“At the end of the day Monday, I laughed about it,” said Green. “Those days are going to happen in baseball.”
To a point, Green enjoyed Opening Day. “I liked the pomp and circumstance.”
As for the game. “It’s over,” he said. “There are 162. I’m very process oriented. There are things we can do better. James Shields wants to get on the mound tonight and get to work. James is ready to compete.”
And James will be competing Tuesday night in the Padres retro brown-and-yellow colors. The Padres will be wearing the uniforms for the first time this season.
“It’s going to be fun tonight,” said Green. “I saw the uniforms. They look pretty sharp. We want to make the brown work for us.”
Other items touched upon by Green:
—Colin Rea pitching an inning in a mop-up role Monday night although he is scheduled to make his first start Friday in Colorado: “It was the day he was going to throw a side session,” said Green. “We discussed it. We did it to protect the back of the bullpen guys.”
—Jabari Blash, who drew a walk in his first Major League plate appearance: “He was disciplined,” said Green. “It was exciting to see that. He stayed true to what he is despite the emotions of being up there for the first time.”
—Cory Spangenberg hitting second Tuesday night after hitting eighth in the Season Opener although the Dodgers are starting a second straight left-hander in Scott Kazmir (hint, Kazmir is not Clayton Kershaw): “Kazmir has had reverse splits the past two years,” said Green, meaning Kazmir has had better luck against right-handed hitters than left-handers. “And Jon Jay and Spangenberg also have reserve splits against left-handed pitchers.”
–On the Padres using an iPad in the dugout Monday as allowed by a new Major League rule: “I didn’t use it, but it was used,” said Green.
Green said Brandon Maurer will probably work as the Padres’ eighth-inning reliever in front of closer Fernando Rodney.
