Carpenter on 'special' roster; Groome in groove

SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Matt Carpenter knows winners. He has played on seven postseason teams in his 12-year career, including six with St. Louis and another with the Yankees last season.

Yet he has never seen anything quite like these Padres.

“I don’t know if I’ve ever been on a roster like this one,” Carpenter said before the Padres’ 1-0 loss to the Royals on Friday.“You could make a case that there are four guys that have true legitimate MVP chances. How many teams can say that? How many teams ever?”

He did not need to name names.

Manny Machado, Fernando Tatis Jr., Juan Soto and Xander Bogaerts need no introduction. Add Yu Darvish at the top of the rotation and All-Star closer Josh Hader, and, well, you see what Carpenter saw when he signed a two-year, $12 million free-agent deal over the winter.

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“Our best years in St. Louis, maybe [we had] two of those guys,” said Carpenter, who played with Albert Pujols in 2012 and Yadier Molina from 2012-20. “The thing that St. Louis always does, you get production from guys you are not expecting.

“This team, you have some guys that not only you expect, but you know are going to produce. It is different rosters. This is a special one.”

The versatile Carpenter has played mostly first base this spring and is projected to also see time this season at DH when Nelson Cruz has a day off. Carpenter also gives the Padres another left-handed bat when Jake Cronenworth shifts to second base to give righty Ha-Seong Kim a day, or to pinch-hit against a right-hander in a high-leverage situation.

“This is one of the I’d say eight teams in Major League Baseball that you would say legitimately has a shot at winning the World Series,” Carpenter said.

“You can’t say that about everybody. Everybody comes into spring very optimistic, and locker room talk will all be about, ‘Hey, we are competing for the World Series.’ The reality is there are about eight teams that really are, and we’re one of them."

Groome finds a groove
Left-hander Jay Groome ran his scoreless spring streak to 10 2/3 innings Friday, when he gave up three hits in four innings and twice pitched out of trouble.

Groome struck out three and walked three, getting out of a two-on, two-out situation in the first inning and stranding the two batters he walked to open the fourth.

“I came into this camp trying to turn some heads and really prove to these guys that I’m ready,” said Groome, who mixed in a changeup for the first time this spring. “I think I’ve been doing that. I’ve found a really good groove here so far.”

Groome, acquired in the trade that sent Eric Hosmer and two prospects to Boston at last year's Trade Deadline, is an intriguing candidate if the Padres opt to open the season with a six-man rotation that does not include injured Joe Musgrove, or perhaps as a long reliever.

“We have a lot of time left to figure that one out,” manager Bob Melvin said. “[He's been] really efficient. Pitching to both sides of the plate. A little deception. Fighting for a job.”

Groome has given up six hits and seven walks this spring.

“I’m just telling myself, 'This is it,'” Groome said. “Go out there and keep my nose on the grindstone and not really worry too much about results. But it’s always in the back of my head. I know this camp is pretty important for me. Just want to show these guys that I can contribute and hopefully be a part of something special up there.”