Rekrutierungen » SAN DIEGO (AP) — It’s the beginning of the end for San

Francisco Giants manager Bruce Bochy and the beginning of what the San Diego Padres and their long-suffering fans hope is a return to relevance behind All-Star slugger Manny Machado and hotshot rookie shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr.Bochy begins his 25th and final season as a manager — his first 12 were with the Padres — when Madison Bumgarner and the Giants face Eric Lauer and the Padres in a matchup of left-handers Thursday at sold-out Petco Park.It’s easily the most-anticipated opening day in San Diego since the downtown ballpark opened in 2004 because of the signing of Machado to a $300 million Justin Verlander Jersey , 10-year contract and the addition of the 20-year-old Tatis Jr., the No. 2 overall prospect in baseball, to the roster.It’ll be special for Bochy as well. He managed the Padres from 1995 until being pushed out after the Padres’ playoff loss to St. Louis in 2006. While the Padres haven’t been back to the postseason since then, Bochy was snapped up by the Giants and managed them to three World Series titles in five seasons starting in 2010.“I have great memories there,” said Bochy, who announced during spring training that he’ll retire after this season. “It’s ironic that that’s where I’m starting this year. I hadn’t really thought about it . but I’m sure I’ll do some reflecting there, but more importantly, we’ll focus on trying to win some ballgames. I’ve made that drive to the ballpark quite a few times, so I look forward to getting the season going. I’ll probably have some moments there and think about some great times there, and also some battles we’ve had with them.”Bochy played for the Padres when they made it to the World Series in 1984, losing in five games to Detroit, and was their manager in the World Series in 1998, when they were swept by the New York Yankees. That 1998 season was the impetus that helped get Petco Park built.The Padres hope to return to the World Series sooner rather than later. They showed they are serious about moving from rebuilding to contending by signing Machado early in spring training and then adding Tatis Jr., the prized prospect in what’s generally considered baseball’s top farm system Houston Astros Jersey , to the big league roster.What did the Padres learn about Machado in his first month with the team?“Good person. Good teammate,” said manager Andy Green, who’s starting his fourth season with the Padres. “Fun to be around. Easy to talk to for all his teammates, staff, everybody. Very approachable. A good person. He’s a good baseball player too, but I already knew that.”Green spoke glowingly about Tatis Jr. even before he was added to the opening day roster.“He’s young obviously. He’s a special talent. Incredibly athletic,” Green said. “You watch him run the bases and you see real quickly there is real power there. Comes out in bursts at time where you’re blown away by it and there are times it’s just hustle beating other teams. I think that’s been really positive. His improvement on the defensive side is the best thing for me. From where he was last year in spring training to where he is this year, if he takes one more leap like that he has a chance to be one of the absolute best in the game at that position.”Tatis’ father, who played in the major leagues, was ecstatic when his son called him with the news of his promotion.“It’s awesome for him,” the senior Tatis said from San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic, where he was making arrangements for the rest of the family to travel to San Diego for Thursday’s game. “It’s going to be great because playing right next to Manny is going to be a big help for him. I believe it’s going to be a great combination, third and short. I don’t think many balls are going to go through third base and shortstop because of their range. The left side of the infield is going to be amazing.”Bumgarner (6-7 http://www.astrosfanproshop.com/authentic-justin-verlander-jersey , 3.26 ERA in 2018) is coming off a second straight injury-shortened season. Lauer was 6-7 with a 4.34 ERA in his first big league season. DENVER (AP) — Denver native Kyle Freeland wears the affection for his city on his right arm: Tattoos of the area code (303), the elevation (5,280) and a silhouette of the Rocky Mountains.With his left, there’s the ability to carry the Colorado Rockies to even greater heights.Since it’s the team he grew up rooting for, Freeland takes immense satisfaction in the Rockies’ recent run of success. The homegrown hurler hopes to deliver something else this season along the way to what would be a third straight postseason appearance: Colorado’s first NL West title. The left-hander will try to begin the season on the right foot as the opening day starter Thursday in Miami.“I take a ton of pride of being a part of this team, that is winning and that is trending up,” Freeland said . “I take pride in being from Colorado, being a product of the school system in Denver and everything that my life has been leading up to these past couple of years. It’s just pure pride. I love the state, love the city, and I can’t imagine growing up anywhere else.”Freeland is coming off a strong season in which he finished 17-7 with a 2.85 ERA. He wound up fourth in the NL Cy Young voting in part because of a 2.40 ERA at Coors Field, which was the lowest home mark in team history.So much for being rattled by the hitter friendly park. Then again, he went to high school in the area and became accustomed to pitching at altitude.“It’s kind of nice to shove it back in some people’s faces who doubt the pitching at Coors Field or pitching for the Rockies,” Freeland said. “We’re starting to show people it doesn’t matter if you’re high altitude or sea level, if you can pitch you can pitch.”As a kid Hector Rondon Jersey , Freeland watched this team go through numerous valleys with an occasional peak (like 2007, when the Rockies made their only World Series appearance). That’s why last season was so special, with Colorado in the NL West chase all the way to the end, before the team lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers in a tiebreaking game.Freeland got the call to start the postseason. He tossed 6 2/3 masterful innings on short rest in a 2-1, 13-inning win over the Chicago Cubs in the NL wild-card game. That was his final start of the season as the Rockies were swept by the Milwaukee Brewers in the NL Division Series. German Marquez, another bright spot in the rotation, made Colorado’s lone start at home.The season was another step in the right direction for the Rockies, who made the playoffs in back-to-back seasons for the first time in franchise history.“You start getting addicted to that feeling. You want more. You want to get deeper into the playoffs,” Freeland said .Given his heavy workload — a career-high 202 1/3 innings — he really didn’t start throwing until January. Other than that, he kept his offseason routine pretty much the same.“You can always improve,” said Freeland, who turns 26 on May 14. “Because if you’re not looking to improve yourself in this game at this level, that you’ve figured it out, you’re wrong and you’re going to get hit in the mouth pretty hard the following season.”Freeland was originally drafted in the 35th round out of Thomas Jefferson High School by Philadelphia. Instead of signing http://www.astrosfanproshop.com/authentic-justin-verlander-jersey , he went to the University of Evansville, where he posted a 1.90 ERA his final season. He was taken by Colorado with the No. 8 overall pick in 2014.He made the squad in 2017 and went on to win 11 games during his rookie season. His most notable start that season was against the Chicago White Sox when he came within two outs of the first no-hitter by a Rockies pitcher at Coors before surrendering a crisp single to Melky Cabrera.Freeland was the model of consistency last season with 24 quality starts.“With Kyle, there’s always a desire to get better,” manager Bud Black said. “He’s talented and he has a good head on his shoulders.”As for having his name mentioned alongside the likes of New York’s Jacob deGrom, Washington’s Max Scherzer and Philly’s Aaron Nola — the trio who finished ahead of him in last year’s NL Cy Young vote — now that was humbling.“It shows you that you belong there and you can compete,” Freeland said. “I’m excited to see where it takes me.”About those tattoos along his right arm — simply his pride showing through.“I love pitching here, love having the support group I have from friends, family and the entire fan base,” Freeland said. “Being a hometown kid, this is great. It would be a little weird to be somewhere else.”