--RHP Cha Seung Baek, the projected No. 3 starter in the Padres rotation, opened the season on the 15-day disabled list because of a forearm strain. Padres manager Bud Black said Baek probably won't be available for at least three weeks. "It's going to be at least another week before CSB can throw and he'll need to make at least one rehab start," said Black.
--RHP Luke Gregerson, who was acquired from St. Louis two weeks ago to complete the trade for SS Khalil Greene, edged out LHP Arturo Lopez for the final spot in the bullpen. "I've been sitting here all morning with knots in my stomach," the 24-year-old Gregerson admitted after being told he had won the final spot on the 25-man opening-day roster. "I figured as long as I'm sitting here, I'm here. I had an idea I had a chance but you don't know." Gregerson allowed only one hit and no runs over four spring training innings with the Cardinals and Padres. The 6-foot-3, 200-pound Gregerson was a Texas League All-Star and 7-6 with 10 saves and a 3.35 ERA in 57 games (75 1/3 innings) for Class AA Springfield last season. His fastball is in the low 90s, but Padres general manager Kevin Towers said it is "the slider that sets Gregerson apart." --LHP Arturo Lopez was the victim of Gregerson winning the last spot in the bullpen, although Lopez, 26, had a much better spring than such recent additions as RHPs Eulogio De La Cruz and Edward Mujica. Lopez had a 2.13 ERA this spring over 12 2/3 innings in 11 appearances. Opposing batters hit .222 against Lopez this spring. He was re-assigned to the Padres minor league camp.
--The Padres had to do some interesting last-minute maneuvering to get to the 25-man and 40-man roster limits because they officially signed six players Sunday morning who were in their spring training camp on minor league contracts and were not on the 40-man roster. All were pitchers -- starters Kevin Correia, Shawn Hill and Walter Silva and relievers Luke Gregerson, Duaner Sanchez and Edwin Moreno. Entering the day, the Padres had three openings on their 40-man roster. To open up three more berths, they transferred post-operative RHPs Mike Adams and Mark Worrell from the 15-day to the 60-day disabled list and designated RHP Wilton Lopez for assignment.
--RHP Cla Meredith, who joined the Padres on May 1, 2006, has the most tenure among Padres relief pitchers. Counting the five new faces in the bullpen today, Meredith has worked with 47 other pitchers in the Padres bullpen since his arrival.
BY THE NUMBERS: 10-21 -- The Padres' final spring training record, the fourth-worst in the franchise's 40-year history.
6.85 -- The staff earned run average this spring.
45 -- Pitchers who worked in at least one major league exhibition for the Padres this spring.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "When he's on, he's as good as anyone in this game. He can match up with anyone else's No. 1 and win. These last two (spring training) games, he's looked as good as I've ever seen him, down and sharp." -- Padres manager Bud Black on ace and 2007 National League Cy Young Award winner Jake Peavy, who remains the subject of trade rumors and is almost certain to be dealt for prospects if he gets off to a good start and the Padres don't.
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