Quackenbush fine with shuttling up and down
DENVER -- Chances are Padres' reliever Kevin Quackenbush might have to fight the urge to head for the airport on the team's off-day Monday.
That has been the drill so far this season for Quackenbush, who has joined the Padres five times since April 25 as an additional reliever to the bullpen for various reasons.
Quackenbush joined the team on May 13 when reliever Dale Thayer landed on the paternity list. Then, two days later, he was the 26th man on the roster for the second game of a doubleheader against the Reds. He also joined the team on May 8 when Hector Ambriz was designated for assignment.
His latest stint with the team started on Saturday when he joined the team from Triple-A El Paso when Andrew Cashner landed on the disabled list -- one day after he flew from Cincinnati back to El Paso.
"It's still pretty exciting," he said. "This is where I want to be, so every time I'm up here, it's a blessing. It is something to laugh about a bit, I guess. But it's still exciting."
Before this stint, Quackenbush's longest stint in the big leagues was two days, and that came last month when he was with the team for two days in Washington D.C.
He figures to be around longer this time -- at least through Monday's off-day before the Padres open a two-game series against the Twins at Petco Park.
The travel for Quackenbush, getting from where El Paso is playing, to reach the big league team hasn't been bad, he said.
He recently had a somewhat harrowing experience changing planes in Dallas on the way from El Paso to Cincinnati. Three flights were canceled, but he ended up taking a late flight into Dayton and then a cab to Cincinnati.
Typically, a player on the 40-man roster is allotted three Minor League option years. He can be sent to the Minor Leagues and recalled as often as needed over those three option years.
The player has to remain in the Minor Leagues for 10 days upon being optioned unless he's recalled to replace a player on the disabled list, paternity leave or the bereavement list. He can also be recalled prior to 10 days if being used as the 26th man on a roster for a doubleheader.