Results in Spring Training do not often hold up once the regular season begins. Hot hitters go cold. Dominant pitchers become pedestrian and players struggling seem to find success. Spring Training is all about players getting their work in and building momentum as the regular season approaches.
The problem for the San Diego Padres and their closer, Robert Suarez, is that the momentum has not been trending in a positive direction. In five Cactus League games, Suarez has posted a 19.64 ERA in 3 2/3 innings with just four strikeouts. Suarez worked 1/3 of an inning in his most recent outing against the Colorado Rockies, allowing four earned runs on five hits and one walk.