Quote from MrPadre19 on March 12, 2018, 1:31 pm

Quote from hoffy51 on March 12, 2018, 12:37 pm

I would give Renfroe 100 at bats and see what he can do. I'm not sure platooning him will help make any decision.

It's not so much in order to make a decision it's to maximize production.

Renfroe against LH and Cordero against RH is a much better offense than Szczur against either.

Plus Renfroe and Cordero are still positioned to be part of our future "competitive" teams......Szczur isn't.

I guess putting Cordero in AAA is fine too but I usually prefer starting these kids earlier rather than later....esp. in a season we aren't expected to win even 70 games.

I assume it will just come down to whether they want to start Cordero in S.D. or E.P.

 

 

Quote from fenn68 on March 12, 2018, 2:08 pm

Not sure how they can just bypass Pirela given he is the one that did ... and continues ... to hit. At some point the Padres have to reward production. Szczur really is not the roadblock ... he is the back stop if they really don't like what they are seeing from Renfroe and his development.

At the core I don''t like platooning prospects ... never get the opportunity to develop from their weaknesses and it becomes a self fulling strategy were they become only platoon options. To that end (because he is younger), putting Cordero back in AAA and going with Jankowski (no longer prospect as a starter) as the LHH / 3 position / defensive specialist who will rarely get AB makes some sense to start the season allowing for a Cordero call-up as needed. With Renfroe can't really justify returning him to AAA and can't justify making him a starter given his inability to hit RHP ... a dilemma. So, to start the season, platoon him with the 2B since neither option can hit LHP and Pirela is at least serviceable at 2B and LF.

Renfroe gets to play to his strength in hitting LHP (and in the NL West quite a few ... maybe 30% if the time over the season) plus since the LH starter is rarely going to go the distance he will get his shot against RHP in those games ... his future depends on him taking advantage of those opportunities. Needs a chance ... but not at the expense of Pirela who has earned his chance by actually producing. At 26, Renfroe is about out of "prospect" cover and it is now or take a hike ... expecting Cordero to by the guy in 2019 even if he cannot hit LHP, maybe in mid season replacing both Jankowski and Renfroe.

I doubt the Padres plan to go into the season expecting that 70 wins will be a high so not going to set the roster TO START the season that is not their best chance to win out of the gates (mid-season that might change).

 

Quote from fenn68 on March 12, 2018, 3:51 pm

For some added perspective on Renfroe's futility vs. RHP:

In 2017 there were 36 RF who amassed 300 or more plate appearances vs. RHP, Renfroe ranked:

1. wRC+ 66 was the worst (next above was 79 and 27 players were over 100)
2. OBP .244 was the worst (next above .292)
3. SLG .393 was 32nd (and that supposedly is his strength)
4. K% at 33.5% worst (highest)
5. BB% at 4% worst (lowest)

Expand that to all OF with 300+ PA ... there were 82 and Renfroe ranked:

1. wRC+ 80th
2. OBP 82nd (worst)
3. SLG 71st (keeping in mind the slap hitting CF in the mix)
4. K% 81st
5. BB% 81st

All that is not and endorsement for continuing to play a 26 year old "prospect" against RHP ... and considering he is a corner OF only (with limited defensive skills) ... difficult to keep him on a roster that needs versatility on the bench to make up for carrying 13 pitchers and no DH.

Padres do owe the rest of the team, the player who he would displace, and actually the fans who want to see good baseball NOT to carry Renfroe unless HE shows the development ... have not seen that yet. Should make the 2018 line-up against LHP (the 2B out) and must show when the RHP come in.

Quote from Booster SD on March 12, 2018, 3:52 pm

I wonder if Danny Espinosa would have any appeal to SD as the back up INF. I know there is a battle between Spangy and Asuaje for 2B. However, Espinosa is a switch hitter capable of backing up both SS and 2B and carries a very good defensive reputation. Since we know Asuaje is probably short lived in a SD uniform, and frankly not overly impressed with Spangy this spring or last season as well. Why not basically cut bait on both in a ML aspect and bring in Espinosa to see if he would be a viable option for next year as well for defensive depth behind Tatis and Urias in 2019?

Quote from fenn68 on March 13, 2018, 7:17 am

With both Ross and Young pitching well in ST and only Richard and Mitchell so far handed starting roles to start the season (although Lamet looks pretty certain) ... might we see both be added to the roster? There is already some noise about Perdomo to El Paso to work on some stuff (added benefit of adding a year of control). No other candidates "ready" for opening day and that move would allow for at least half a year of further development (and adding a control year) for Lucchesi, Lauer, and Quantrill as the near term prospects. Might serve the same for Erlin and Strahm if they don't make the pen.

That would be a low risk move in 2018 with the benefit of developing / extending control of the "future" while potentially building some trade value in Ross / Young by the trade deadline. A low cost, FA to be who is pitching well would be of value to a contender in a playoff run and given Preller's track record of targeting A ball (or lower) prospects the return could be quality.

 

Quote from MrPadre19 on March 13, 2018, 10:14 am

Quote from fenn68 on March 12, 2018, 2:08 pm

Not sure how they can just bypass Pirela given he is the one that did ... and continues ... to hit. At some point the Padres have to reward production. Szczur really is not the roadblock ... he is the back stop if they really don't like what they are seeing from Renfroe and his development.

At the core I don''t like platooning prospects ... never get the opportunity to develop from their weaknesses and it becomes a self fulling strategy were they become only platoon options. To that end (because he is younger), putting Cordero back in AAA and going with Jankowski (no longer prospect as a starter) as the LHH / 3 position / defensive specialist who will rarely get AB makes some sense to start the season allowing for a Cordero call-up as needed. With Renfroe can't really justify returning him to AAA and can't justify making him a starter given his inability to hit RHP ... a dilemma. So, to start the season, platoon him with the 2B since neither option can hit LHP and Pirela is at least serviceable at 2B and LF.

Renfroe gets to play to his strength in hitting LHP (and in the NL West quite a few ... maybe 30% if the time over the season) plus since the LH starter is rarely going to go the distance he will get his shot against RHP in those games ... his future depends on him taking advantage of those opportunities. Needs a chance ... but not at the expense of Pirela who has earned his chance by actually producing. At 26, Renfroe is about out of "prospect" cover and it is now or take a hike ... expecting Cordero to by the guy in 2019 even if he cannot hit LHP, maybe in mid season replacing both Jankowski and Renfroe.

I doubt the Padres plan to go into the season expecting that 70 wins will be a high so not going to set the roster TO START the season that is not their best chance to win out of the gates (mid-season that might change).

 

I'm already assuming Pirela starts 2-3 days a week in LF and/or 2B.

 

Quote from Booster SD on March 13, 2018, 10:43 am

I think Pirela will start 5-6 days a week mostly in LF, until/if the league proves his bat was a fluke last season and in Spring this year. He is just hitting too well not to play.

Quote from Booster SD on March 13, 2018, 2:14 pm

You would hope that they start the season with Villanueva as the starting 3B. I know its just Spring, however Headley is doing nothing at the plate and Villanueva represents a potential piece for the future. Plus, being a switch hitter, wouldnt Headley represent a better PH option since he can flip boxes based on the RP coming into the game.

Quote from jcp2400 on March 13, 2018, 2:16 pm

I can’t see how Lyles makes the 25 man....his outings have been absolutely horrendous