Padres Notebook: Speed coach hopes to have Padres sprinting into season

By: BRIAN HIRO - Staff Writer | Wednesday, March 23, 2005 11:27 PM PST ∞

SURPRISE, Ariz. ---- If LaTanya Sheffield has her way, the Padres will sprint to a division title this season ---- literally.

On Wednesday afternoon, as she has twice a week throughout spring training, Sheffield ran a group of Padres players through a session of speed work designed to fine-tune their bodies and help the team close the gap on their National League West rivals.

"They're responding to instruction because they know the benefit as well as the importance of sprinting," Sheffield said. "That's what I'm here for, to give them the best instruction on sprinting."

Sheffield is building on the foundation laid by her brother, San Diego State women's track and field coach Rahn Sheffield, who organized similar speed and conditioning workouts for the Padres at Petco Park leading up to spring training.

Like Rahn, LaTanya Sheffield boasts impressive credentials. A Long Beach native who now lives in Tucson, the 41-year-old is a former U.S. record holder in the 400-meter hurdles. She competed in the 1988 Olympics in Seoul.

In baseball circles, she served as the personal speed coach for Kenny Lofton ---- he of the 545 career stolen bases ---- for several years.

"The common element between myself and the baseball players is that we're athletes," Sheffield said. "So I understand their competition because competing is competing. I understand what it's going to take to be an elite athlete, as I'm an elite athlete."

Sheffield takes her work with the Padres seriously, but she also keeps things light, making wisecracks and challenging players to races. The structure of the sessions involves a mix of dynamic stretching, plyometrics and running technique instruction, which most baseball players have never received.

"She's been great. It's helped us," first baseman Phil Nevin said. "Hopefully, we can get something out of it. First and foremost, it will help us avoid injury. And if we can improve our speed by even half a step, it will be beneficial."

Minor injury for Nevin

Proving that being in good condition isn't everything, Nevin left Wednesday night's game against a Kansas City split squad with a mild sprain of his left ankle.

Nevin twisted the ankle when his foot got stuck on the bag as he stretched to grab an errant throw from third baseman Xavier Nady in the fifth inning. He played the rest of the inning, but was replaced by backup catcher Miguel Ojeda in the sixth.

Trainer Todd Hutcheson said Nevin had slight swelling and should miss only a day.

Short hops

The Padres lost 9-7 to the Royals at Surprise Stadium when INF Ruben Gotay hit a three-run homer off RHP Akinori Otsuka with one out in the ninth inning. Gotay ranks second in the Cactus League with five home runs. RHP Tim Stauffer started for the Padres and allowed three runs in three innings. ... INF Jesse Garcia made another strong statement to earn a bench job by hitting his third spring homer and adding a double. "He's done everything he can," manager Bruce Bochy said. "He's played great defense and offense." ... LHP Randy Williams (hip flexor) is scheduled to throw out of the bullpen today.

Contact staff writer Brian Hiro at b_hiro@hotmail.com.