Talking with … Padres pitcher Sean Manaea

Left-handed pitcher Sean Manaea spent his first six MLB seasons underneath Bob Melvin in Oakland, earlier than the Athletics traded him to the Padres a couple of weeks into Spring Coaching, the place he was reunited together with his former supervisor. At 30 years outdated, Manaea is a stable piece of a rotation that’s second within the majors in high quality begins and innings pitched per begin, and has develop into recognized for its camaraderie and mischief off the sector, spearheaded by the long-haired Samoan. Touted by others because the “world’s finest teammate,” Manaea brings a laid-back vibe and foolish character to the clubhouse, however is misleading on the mound.

Union-Tribune: I really feel like you could possibly slot in anyplace, however you appear to actually match with this specific workforce.

Manaea: It’s unbelievable. Everybody’s obtained their very own quirks and their very own issues happening, but it surely doesn’t cease us from meshing properly. I feel everybody must be a person and have their very own identification and do their very own factor, however we’re additionally teammates. You gotta have steadiness.

U-T: How do you look again in your time in Oakland?

Manaea: Like it. A variety of studying, lots of nice reminiscences and lots of not-so-great reminiscences, however nonetheless reminiscences. I wouldn’t be the place I’m at with out them. The folks there are unbelievable and my tenure, I look again at it fondly. I’m undoubtedly very comfortable that I began my profession there.

U-T: Now I’ve to ask in regards to the not-so-great reminiscences. Is that largely due to accidents?

Manaea: The best way I view accidents is like, they suck, and it’s by no means enjoyable to be on the injured listing or lacking video games. However it was additionally time for me to develop and determine some issues out. Like, why was I harm, why are this stuff taking place? And to get my physique proper. I sort of tried to twist it right into a extra constructive outlook. However I’m speaking extra about video games, particularly in opposition to the Crimson Sox. They’d my quantity, so lots of irritating instances on the market. However you study and develop from these issues.

U-T: You had a no-hitter in opposition to the Crimson Sox …

Manaea: A no-hitter in Oakland. My numbers in Fenway are usually not nice …

U-T: Isn’t it attention-grabbing how gamers appear to all the time keep in mind those they need again?

Manaea: Yeah. I imply as a pitcher, you’re on a literal island by your self, and particularly an iconic park like Fenway, simply the ambiance there and having balls fly in all places … you’re simply strolling in after the second inning, like, what occurred?! These are fairly burned in my reminiscence. I imply, the nice ones are, too, they simply have a distinct feeling to them.

U-T: What do you keep in mind about your no-hitter (April 21, 2018)?

Manaea: The night time earlier than we had simply misplaced, I need to say on a stroll — not a walk-off — however like a late inning comeback or one thing like that. And I used to be simply sitting there like, all proper, it’s on. As a result of the final two instances I’d confronted these guys these video games hadn’t gone properly. I get to the sector the subsequent day and ate some sliders from the meals truck, that are scrumptious. Apart from that, nothing loopy. It wasn’t like I did an additional warm-up or something. It was only a common day. Received into the bullpen, felt regular. Received into the sport and within the first inning, had just a little little bit of nerves. That’s how each recreation begins. I walked Mookie (Betts) to start out the sport after which obtained the subsequent three guys out, which is nice, after which simply saved rolling from there. And because the recreation went on, simply obtained extra into the zone after which earlier than I knew it, I had a no-hitter. Loopy.

U-T: The place does that rank as a spotlight in your profession?

Manaea: Positively primary. It’s fairly arduous to prime.

U-T: You had shoulder surgical procedure in 2018. How did that change your pitching type, when it comes to throwing at a decrease velocity?

Manaea: I wouldn’t say I particularly modified it to do this, I feel that simply sort of occurred. After which I discovered to take care of that. So once I got here again from surgical procedure, I used to be throwing 88-90 mph. You need to study to take care of what you’ve obtained, you understand, play with the playing cards that you just’re dealt. I used to be like, all proper, I’m solely throwing 88. I’m not going to fixate on attempting to throw 100. That’s not me proper now. I’d quite learn to pitch and attempt to get guys out at this velocity after which slowly work my method again up in direction of throwing just a little bit more durable.

U-T: Did that train you to be a better pitcher?

Manaea: Yeah. Once you’re throwing 88, you don’t actually have a lot room for errors, particularly at this stage and with the fellows right this moment. They bang these issues. Studying to pitch 88, round that velocity, you undoubtedly should attempt to hit your spots just a little bit extra.

U-T: What would you say has been probably the most difficult a part of your profession so far?

Manaea: In all probability simply being relaxed on the market and never being so tense in sure conditions. Like bases loaded, how am I gonna get out of this one? However the extra you may keep relaxed in these conditions — not essentially such as you’re giving in however extra of, ‘I do know what the state of affairs is and I’m coping with this.’ The extra tense you’re results in extra errors and stuff like that. Being calm in hectic conditions is unquestionably a giant half.

U-T: Once I was taking a look at highlights of your no-hitter, all of your hair match neatly underneath your baseball cap. Give us the background in your hair. When did you develop it out?

Manaea: So my hair has been on fairly a journey. I’ve had lots of completely different hairstyles over time. Rising up, my mother would by no means let me develop my hair out. So I used to be all the time combover, clear lower, all that stuff. After which I obtained to the (Kansas Metropolis) Royals and it was sort of the identical factor. Even in school you needed to be clear lower. So I might by no means develop my hair out, you understand? However then I obtained to Oakland, and it was like, we don’t actually care, simply exit and play. Good! So for my debut, I had lengthy hair. After which I had a pair dangerous begins and lower it off. I’ve gone from lengthy hair to shaving it, then I grew it out once more, then I had cornrows. Minimize that after which dyed it blonde simply to see what it was going to be like. I had by no means dyed my hair earlier than, so it turned out a tennis ball shade. Like neon inexperienced. And I used to be like, okay, this isn’t what you had been going for. So we made it just a little bit darker, then it turned inexperienced. However then it pale to blonde after per week. So I had blonde hair proper earlier than quarantine. After which I shaved my head in Could 2020 and I haven’t lower it since.

U-T: So we might are available in in the future and it might be utterly gone, if the second strikes you?

Manaea: Positively. At this level, I need to see how lengthy I can get it. However yeah, there’s all the time that chance of me coming in with no hair in any respect.

U-T: Can we simply give some love actual fast to your scrunchies?

Manaea: Yeah, I’ve obtained 5 – 6. A fan, I overlook her title, she simply made a San Diego Padres scrunchie for me. So I’ve been rocking that on the video games. Love that one. I obtained colourful ones, I obtained brown ones. I just about simply go to Walgreens and get no matter is there.

U-T: Why is your nickname Child Giraffe?

Manaea: Proper now I’m like 250 kilos, however once I was with the Royals, I used to be this top, however 210-215 kilos. Lengthy, gangly, didn’t actually know the place my physique was in area. So the primary day I used to be doing (pitchers’ fielding follow) after hip surgical procedure, and simply throwing the ball in all places. One among my teammates began calling me child giraffe. After which it sort of slowly caught on with everyone.

U-T: Are you continue to good with it?

Manaea: Yeah, it doesn’t trouble me. I feel I’ve sort of advanced right into a giraffe, like an grownup giraffe, at this level.

U-T: Truthful level. Okay, your dad is American Samoan; let’s discuss your Samoan roots. How a lot are you aware about your heritage?

Manaea: I do know little or no. That’s one thing I would like to spend so much extra time on. I’d like to stay in American Samoa for an offseason, I feel that’d be unbelievable. Dad didn’t actually discuss a loopy quantity. He’s tried to show me but it surely’s additionally arduous when it’s simply him attempting to show you about an entire tradition that you just’re nowhere close to. It’s been without end since he’s been again there. It’s undoubtedly one thing I’m very enthusiastic about, undoubtedly a giant mission for me.

U-T: Did you go to Samoa and get your arm tattoo there?

Manaea: I began it there again in 2014, after which completed it in Los Angeles.

U-T: Do all of the symbols imply one thing?

Manaea: Yeah, all the things has its personal little story, message, nonetheless you need to name it and all the things simply sort of flows collectively, which is gorgeous.

U-T: Your dad fought within the Vietnam Conflict, then was stationed in Indiana. And so that you guys grew up in Indiana. What was your childhood like?

Manaea: Effectively, Wanatah is a really small city. One thousand folks, one stoplight. To me it was common, nothing too loopy. Taking part in within the cornfields and messing round. There’s probably not an excessive amount of to do on the market. However I had an amazing childhood. Baseball was clearly a really massive a part of it.

U-T: The place’s house for you now?

Manaea: It was San Francisco for the previous couple years however most likely going to maneuver down right here, to San Diego, for the offseason.

U-T: That normally occurs. OK, earlier within the season you copped to being just a little little bit of a nonconformist. Or put higher, you prefer to be just a little completely different.

Manaea: I assume I prefer to be my very own particular person, you understand?

U-T: I do. That brings me to your quirks. You title your pitching gloves, which I like. The inexperienced glove is SheHulk and the mint one, Crestineth, just like the toothpaste. Minty.

Manaea: My different black glove, her title is Midnight. That was simply sort of random. I’ve had Abraham Lincoln — he was a crimson, white and blue glove. My automotive’s title is Sasha. My bike’s title is Salsa Azul.

U-T: I additionally heard you don’t prefer to make appointments at “regular” instances, like 12:30. You want 12:32 or 12:39, proper? It’s not superstition. You simply don’t need to be proper on the dot.

Manaea: Yeah. It’s sort of the nonconformity factor. It’s like, I’ll be there at 12:37. Anticipate me there. And I will be there at 12:37.

U-T: Effectively, it’s 38 previous the hour proper now, so within the spirit of that, we are able to’t get to the :40 mark. Let’s wrap it right here.

Manaea: Precisely. Thanks.

Heilbrunn is a freelancer.