Talking with … Padres reliever Craig Stammen

In his 13th season in the major leagues, reliever Craig Stammen has a career 3.63 ERA and a 1.229 WHIP, demonstrating the longevity and consistency he’s sustained during his time with the Washington Nationals and San Diego Padres. Affectionately called “Dad” by the younger relievers, Stammen — now in his sixth year with the Padres — has led the bullpen to success through the many changes this organization has seen since he was signed in 2017. The Ohio native began his career in the starting rotation before moving to the ‘pen and is often praised for the guidance he gives to the players around him, as well as his ability to pitch in any situation, whether it’s high-leverage innings, mop-up innings, or to start or close a game.

Union-Tribune: We’re a (third) of the way through the season. What stands out about the group of guys in this bullpen?

Stammen: Great group of guys, as always. I think we’re trying to find a rhythm as a group to where we all fit together. But we get along really good and it’s like our own mini-team out there. I’m excited about the group and excited to get some of the guys that are injured back healthy again.

U-T: The bullpen has been a bit more inconsistent this season than in past years. Why do you think that is?

Stammen: Well, a lot of new faces, new manager, new pitching coach. All that stuff kind of blends together. You know, we’re trying to feel out how Bob (Melvin) is going to use us and also trying to feel each other out, what we can talk to each other about and how we can help each other. Just building those relationships. Relationships don’t get built in two months, they get built over the course of time. I think you’ll see us find an even better rhythm than what we have now later in the year.

U-T: It’s also unique that you guys just haven’t been needed as much as past years because the starting pitching has been so good. Is that a blessing or a curse or a little bit of both?

Stammen: In my opinion, it’s both. One, it’s great. Your arm is rested and hopefully better for the stretch run. But also, you’re not getting the reps that you’re accustomed to. And so maybe you’re a little off here and there; you know, a product of inconsistent performances, in my opinion. If you’re getting to pitch a lot usually, the performances are pretty consistent. If it’s erratic, like it’s kind of been this year because our starting pitching is so good, sometimes you get erratic performances, but in the long run, it’s better for the team that the starters are doing so good because we win more games. … Hopefully the starters pitch like this the rest of the year. We’ll figure out a way to figure it out. If you’re only worried about bullpen ERA [laughs] then it’s a little bit better when we pitch a lot usually.

U-T: Who keeps you the youngest in the bullpen?

Stammen: Nabil (Crismatt) keeps me the lightest, I would say. I don’t know about the youngest. He’s put a few gray hairs in my head but he keeps me smiling and laughing and joking and not being as serious as I normally would probably be.

U-T: How are the relievers going to get into the Polaroids? You guys are never in the dugout. This question keeps me up at night.

Stammen: We do have one Polaroid. We had to make someone take it, though. There’s only been one, but we kept it for ourselves and we hung it in the bullpen because we’re kind of the forgotten group …

U-T: You’re the offensive linemen.

Stammen: Yeah. Or the kickers. You’re only reminded of who you are if you do bad. But you know, it’s our own little tight-knit group. And so we rally around each other.

U-T: So there’s a Polaroid hanging in the bullpen? Of who?

Stammen: Just a photo of the group of us that Nabil made us take. I forget who took it. But we had to make somebody take it for us before a game. [Note: It was Eric Hosmer.] … You should bring it up with the marketing group. They just don’t like to market us.

U-T: I feel like it’s a lost opportunity because some of the best personalities, at least in my opinion, are in the bullpen. I’ll do what I can. OK, I always marvel at any athlete who can sustain longevity at a high level throughout his career. You’re 38 years old and in your 13th season. What would you say has gotten you this far?

Stammen: Man, that’s a loaded question. I have a lot of people who have been in my corner throughout the whole process and a lot of people who believed in me that allowed me to believe in myself. Along with that, a lot of faith that things could work out good for me. I think that was a huge part of how I’ve still been able to play and it’s a blessing to be here today.

U-T: How much would you say you’ve had to reinvent yourself through the years, if at all?

Stammen: I wouldn’t call it reinventing. I always had the idea that I was going to try to be a little better every year. And if I could improve every single year from where I was the last year, no matter how good or bad that season was, I could stick around and be the best player I could possibly be. I’m still trying to reach that potential, wherever that may be. Maybe it’s tapped out or whatever, but I’m still trying to be a little better than I was yesterday.

U-T: You pitched the most innings of any reliever last season. How is it that as you get older you can pitch more?

Stammen: It’s good genes, so I gotta thank my mom and dad. I’ve been blessed to have a resilient arm. I’ve had a resilient arm since even when I was in Little League. I could just throw and throw and throw. And so it’s carried on and I’m blessed to have that attribute, but there’s some work on the side that goes into it and a lot of these guys put in that same work, and I’ve just been fortunate to have a limited number of injuries.

U-T: Have you changed or emphasized anything as you’ve gotten older?

Stammen: It’s definitely evolved as I’ve gotten older. I have to do a lot less than what I used to. There was a time in my life when I thought I was invincible and I’d never get hurt, and I think when I did get hurt in 2015, it opened my eyes to, alright, you’re not He-Man. So I tweaked some things; there was a little bit of mechanical stuff that I did that has definitely given me a good second half of my career with the Padres.

U-T: Does the bullpen still call you dad? (The bullpen players around him shout “Yes.”)

Stammen: Not as much anymore. All those young guys that brought that up have gone on to bigger and better things.

U-T: You spent seven years with the Nationals and this is your sixth with the Padres. As you look at your career, are you glad that you were able to spend a long amount of time in two places versus having to jump all over?

Stammen: I am proud of that. It’s something I’m lucky to be able to do, because I have a lot of friends who have been in baseball a long time and they’re on their 10th, 11th, 12th team. I’m loyal by nature and I feel like that attribute has kept me around with both those organizations as long as I possibly can.

U-T: How do you handle pressure?

Stammen: Pressure is only what you put on yourself. It’s always external. You think internally, having joy and peace and playing baseball like you’re a 12-year-old, pressure seems to go away.

U-T: How’s North Star, Ohio — population 218 — where you live in the offseason? Have you gotten a Starbucks?

Stammen: (Laughs) No. The nearest Starbucks is 35 minutes away in Troy, Ohio. … North Star, Ohio, I love that place. It’s the best small town you could ever dream of growing up in. I was raised the right way and a big part of why I’m here is because of that little small town.

U-T: What’s the happening restaurant there?

Stammen: Well, there are no restaurants. There are bars that serve food. There’s one stoplight. We do have a gas station with a Subway. And there’s a Dollar General just outside of town. So that’s about all we got.

U-T: North Star is on my bucket list. You and your wife Audrey have three kids under 4 years old. What are your off days like?

Stammen: My wife is pretty good about letting me go play a round of golf here or there, just to get away. I should probably return the favor to her. Besides that, it’s usually a lot of time in the pool, riding bikes and scooters, playing Wiffle Ball.

U-T: You and Audrey seem like you really love San Diego. How much have you enjoyed being part of this community?

Stammen: Yeah, it’s been a blast. I’m thankful for the ownership group and how they’ve welcomed us, welcomed my family and my wife, allowed us to be part of the community and do things within the community to serve them, and obviously get to play baseball for them, for a great organization and a great ballpark and a great city. It’s our second home.

Heilbrunn is a freelance writer.