'Goal is to win': New Chihuahuas manager Pete Zamora excited for shot at Triple-A
New El Paso Chihuahuas manager Pete Zamora's No. 1 job is to get his players ready to play for the San Diego Padres, but when asked about what his goals here were for a season that starts March 29, that wasn't where he began.
"The ultimate goal is to win, to bring a winning atmosphere in El Paso, not only San Diego," Zamora said via Zoom from San Diego's spring training facility in Peoria, Ariz. It was his first availability to El Paso media since being named the Chihuahuas eighth manager two weeks ago.
More: El Paso Chihuahuas schedule
"It starts with the preparation at the Triple-A level and it's not going to be a situation where we're just there to play baseball," Zamora said. "We're there to win games. I think the city of El Paso and the people who come to those games deserve that.
"The expectation and vision is that every time we get on the baseball field, we're there to win the baseball game. Development is a huge part of it, but like I said, being that close to San Diego, winning is huge to us as well."
This is the ninth year in the San Diego organization for Zamora, who was a Padre fan growing up, and he spent that time as a pitching coach and as a Single-A manager. He was slated to be the Chihuahuas pitching coach in 2020 before that season was cancelled.
His job fundamentally changes in El Paso this year as he takes over a roster of payers on the doorstep of the majors, a roster that will have Major League veterans.
"The respect factor, these are players who have been there and done that," Zamora said. "A lot of the players will have been in the big leagues. A lot of times in A ball you're teaching them the aspects of the pro game, what it takes to be a pro at this level. These guys already know what it takes.
"To motivate them and get them set — it's like a hockey line. These guys have to be prepared to be the second line, they have to be ready when their number is called. It's not about teaching them about the pro game. At their age, with what they've experienced, I'm going to respect that."
Zamora will also be managing in front of more fans than he did at, say, Lake Elsinore last year, and he's looking forward to it.
"I've heard nothing but great things about the city (of El Paso), the stadium, just a place to play baseball," Zamora said. "Rod Barajas (El Paso's manager from 2016-18) is a good friend of mine, a guy I look up to a tremendous amount in the baseball world, and he has nothing but good things to say about it.
"Everything I've heard about El Paso and the fandom there makes me very excited to finally get out there."
This is the logical next step for a person who has made his career with the Padres.
"I grew up a Padre fan, the city of San Diego means a lot to me," he said. "To be part of the organization as long as I have, I'm extremely grateful for that, something I don't take lightly at all.
"When given the opportunity, there was two seconds of thought about whether to come to (to El Paso) or not. It's not something I take lightly. I have a passion for the game, but more importantly a passion for the Padres, this organization and San Diego.
"Hopefully we can bring that passion to El Paso on a nightly basis, but I couldn't be more grateful."
His next stage on the journey begins March 29 when El Paso starts its season in Albuquerque.
Bret Bloomquist can be reached at bbloomquist@elpasotimes.com; @Bretbloomquist on Twitter.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: New Chihuahuas manager Pete Zamora excited for shot at Triple-A
