Eight made Black's '85 Royals elite
By: DAN HAYES - Staff Writer | ∞
PEORIA, Ariz. ---- Bud Black loves recalling how the Kansas City Royals carried an eight-man pitching staff into the 1985 World Series against St. Louis.
Considering today's baseball standards, in which 12-man staffs have become the norm, the idea of bringing eight pitchers into a seven-game series seems unfathomable.
"We had four starters and four in the bullpen," Black, whose team won the '85 Series in seven games, said Sunday. "And (Mark) Gubicza didn't pitch. ... That's a baseball generation ago."
On that note, Black said the Padres likely will carry 12 pitchers. Last season, the team never had fewer than 12 pitchers and even had 13 on staff at one point.
"In this day and age, 12 is probably the magic number," Black said. "Some teams have the ability to go 11, but in the National League there's a few more changes, and you might need an extra guy."
Jake Peavy was the only Padres pitcher to eclipse 200 innings last season. Greg Maddux, who pitched the team's only complete game, logged 198 innings.
Black's '85 Royals had four pitchers over 200 innings and a fifth, Gubicza, who finished with 177 1/3. The Royals' 27 complete games that season was seventh best in baseball.
Long drive award
Heath Bell's 2,270-mile trek to Peoria apparently pales in comparison with Chase Headley's 2,500-mile jaunt. The rookie and his fiancee took four days to drive from Knoxville, Tenn., with stops at the Grand Canyon and Las Vegas.
Third baseman Kevin Kouzmanoff also drove, arriving in the wee hours Sunday morning from Colorado, a mere 13-hour drive.
Healthy pitchers
Black reported no issues among his 31 healthy pitchers. Clay Hensley, who had shoulder surgery in September, is the only inactive pitcher of the 32 in camp.
Among those given a clean bill of health were Mark Prior and Randy Wolf, both of whom had surgery in the offseason; Shawn Estes, who had reconstructive elbow surgery in 2006; and Glendon Rusch, who strained his oblique during the offseason.
No show
Enrique Gonzalez's visa problems will keep him out of camp until at least Wednesday. Black said the reliever, who is coming to the Padres by way of Venezuela, won't likely work out with the team until Thursday.
The Padres claimed the 25-year-old pitcher off waivers from Washington. Gonzalez has 23 career big-league appearances, including 18 starts for Arizona in 2006.
China, anyone?
The Padres haven't determined which big leaguers will be selected for a five-day exhibition trip to Beijing in mid-March. Black said Kouzmanoff is a likely candidate to go, as are relievers Trevor Hoffman and Bell.
"Those who express desire to go will be considered," Black said.
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