PEORIA, Ariz. — As the Padres prepared to hit during a spring training game Wednesday at the Peoria Sports Complex, a voice caused fill-in third base coach Mike Shildt to stop and pivot.
Angels manager Joe Maddon motioned over his former Cardinals counterpart, they hugged and some smiley chit-chat followed. Maddon, after all, sent Shildt a fancy bottle of wine and a warm note when St. Louis hired him.
Later, between innings, Shildt and home plate umpire Lance Barrett caught up on whatever one-time managers and those ruling the balls-and-strikes universe catch up on.
