A spring stockpot

PEORIA, Ariz. -- Today was major-league photo day. That means early arrivals for players and coaches, then being put through the paces as they move from stop to stop, getting their picture taken or delivering sound bites for promos to be used during the coming season.

It's organized chaos, and it's a day that makes clear who are the veterans  and who are the rookies. The rookies are wide-eyed and need to be pointed to the next station at every turn. The vets are blase, just hoping to get through the cycle as quickly as possible.

The weather wasn't the warmest for a 6:45 a.m. start, but things went as smoothly as they could, allowing the players to be back to the business of baseball in time for 9:15 a.m. conditioning drills.

Among the sights and scenes of the day:

> Jake Peavy threw live batting practice and concentrated on improving his change-up. He was not thrilled with the deliveries but got the full work in.

> Brian Giles was lugging around a Chargers helmet -- Quentin Jammer's helmet, specifically.

> Manager Bud Black listed Wade LeBlanc among the candidates for the No. 5 starting job. What separates LeBlanc from the other young prospects in camp who are sure to return to the minors? His change-up. "It's a big-league pitch," Black said.

LeBlanc, in case you're wondering, is a 23-year-old left-hander less than two years removed from the University of Alabama. He went 13-8 with a 2.95 ERA while splitting last year between Single-A Lake Elsinore and Double-A San Antonio.

> The Padres will play only one intrasquad game, on Wednesday, before starting the exhibition schedule.

> Could head groundskeeper Luke Yoder and his staff be the team's secret weapon? When Khalil Greene arrived in camp and pronounced his intention to remain a Padre for years to come, he cited how much he enjoys fielding on the PETCO Park infield. Now new center fielder Jim Edmonds is telling reporters that the consistency of the PETCO Park surface will benefit him as he bounces back from injury. Black called the playing surface "immaculate".

> Peter Gammons, honored in the writers' wing of the Hall of Fame, made his annual visit to check out the Padres. A rocker at heart, he has the Rolling Stones' "Gimme Shelter" as his cell phone ring tone. How do we know? His always busy phone went off during Black's daily media briefing.

Friar John will get into the Hall of Fame only by buying a ticket, so this phone stays on vibrate when the skipper is talking.

FJ