Quote from Brian Connelly on September 19, 2020, 12:23 pm

Assuming the Padres clinch this weekend, it will just be a matter of juggling the relief pitchers, to ensure none get overused - this might entail sending some pitchers down that have options but wouldn't ordinarily be sent down. My understanding is that playoff rosters can be set before every series, so there is no minimum 10 days off a roster after 9/27.

Yes.  From this point on, anyone optioned down can't return until the playoffs, unless it's to replace an injured player.   But I'm 98% sure you are correct that being sent down with < 10 days before playoffs start does NOT preclude them from being on a playoff roster.  The slate gets wiped clean; setting the roster for each series has nothing to do with Minors/optioning/service time/regular season pay any more.

I'm not sure about this in the compressed season where each 1 game in (or out) MLB = 2.7 "games" worth of service time, but I THINK option periods of 10 days or less don't affect MLB pay or service time?  Anyone know?  That would be a big issue; that you're not punishing one guy's pay or service time to look at another guy in MLB.   Remember, under the "old" rules (was going to change in a 'normal' full 2020 season), this time of year is when rosters would have expanded.  So if it were say 2018 when this was happening, it would be a moot point:  Pads could activate from IL &/or recall as many RP's as they wanted.

Have to navigate it differently this year with the Alt site, etc.  Seeing how it's affecting Padres this season, I'd be in favor of putting a cap on # of Sept callups, but more than just +2 normal active roster.  +4?  Or how about a limit UNTIL you are eliminated from playoffs (time to look at young guys) OR clinch (time to protect your playoff guys), then unlimited?

Anyway, a perfect example of an option down would never "normally" do, might be Paddack after his 9/23 start.  If no $/service time impact to him, it's purely semantics; he's not going to pitch in those last 3 days at SF on < normal rest, but team has a doubleheader in those 3 days, so could use an extra P.  The entire 40-man roster starts quarantining "together" (NOT with the Alt site "prospect" guys anymore) on 9/23 I think... so to CP the experience of being "sent down" literally changes nothing for him:  he's sitting their social distanced in the stands watching the games, not getting on a plane for El Paso.

Quote from fenn68 on September 19, 2020, 12:32 pm

If Clevinger and Lamet both go on Friday in SF ... Padres have the luxury of selecting which one to go game 1 of the WC and who goes game 2 ... might be a call based on the opposition or how they did on that Friday. Figure they go with their two best in the first two WC games and just try to end it ... foolish to take any risk that a bad call, bad bounce, off performance day in game 3 costing them the series. Both can still go 1-2 in Round 2.

I know we the fans and the media get well into this strategic thinking of how to set up future games / rotations ... reality is that the actual teams focus on winning the game / series at hand. Basically don't hold anything back and go with the best options for winning every game. If they move on ... regroup for the next game / round.

Quote from MrPadre19 on September 21, 2020, 10:05 am

Not looking good for my preferred 1st round opponent The Marlins.

They finish up with SEVEN games against the Braves and Yankees.

Unless those teams rest some players I don't see the Marlins staying ahead of the Cards for the 6th seed.

The Cards finish with the royals and the Brewers.

Those games against the Brewers could be intense though "plus" they may have to play a make up game,or even a double header on Monday against the Tigers depending on final standings.If that happens between the Brewers series and make up games they could be pretty spent by the time the play their first playoff game.

The Phillies are currently dealing with injuries to Realmuto,Harper and Hoskins!

Ouch!

Either way it's going to be a crazy last week and I'm real happy we can just play out the string(just about) without stressing too much with a 5 1/2 game lead for the 4th seed at the moment.

 

 

 

Quote from Randy Manese on September 21, 2020, 10:24 am

It looks like Clevinger's injury is minor but not sure how if he'll go beyond his one last start and probably be limited in his innings/pitches thrown.  This might push Lamet out front as the opening pitcher followed by Clevinger (or Davies?).  I'm curious to see what Adams has and we need to get Strahm activated to ensure he's ready to go.  Pagan seemed less "back" yesterday, so he too needs some regular work as, surprisingly, does Pomeranz who has thrown a lot of pitches (around 20 or more) in his usual one inning of work.  Looks like Moreland is finally coming around with him going opposite field and in the air more.  Would like to see Hosmer and Pham get a lot more work to get back their strokes for the playoffs irrespective of whether it is a left or right handed pitcher.  I'm sure Tingler has some off time planned for the core iron men - Machado, Tatis, Grisham, Myers and Cronenworth - to keep them fresh - just not all of them at one time.

We need to have some momentum going into the playoffs so I do see them being competitive and not just clearing the bench, particularly against the Giants, during that last series in SF.

Quote from Brian Connelly on September 21, 2020, 12:48 pm

Quote from MrPadre19 on September 21, 2020, 10:05 am

Not looking good for my preferred 1st round opponent The Marlins.

They finish up with SEVEN games against the Braves and Yankees.

Unless those teams rest some players I don't see the Marlins staying ahead of the Cards for the 6th seed.

The Cards finish with the royals and the Brewers.

Those games against the Brewers could be intense though "plus" they may have to play a make up game,or even a double header on Monday against the Tigers depending on final standings.If that happens between the Brewers series and make up games they could be pretty spent by the time the play their first playoff game.

The Phillies are currently dealing with injuries to Realmuto,Harper and Hoskins!

Ouch!

Either way it's going to be a crazy last week and I'm real happy we can just play out the string(just about) without stressing too much with a 5 1/2 game lead for the 4th seed at the moment.

 

 

 

Good info...   I looked today via the Athletic's power rankings:

• Marlins have toughest schedule all on road... 4 @ ATL then 3 @ NYY (fighting MINN likely for #4 seed: Home Field).  But the weird Marlins ARE 17-10 on the road where they lived for however long after their re-start...
• Philadelphia (7) & Milwaukee (8) are also all on road:  Phils 4 @ WASH, 3 @ T.B.  Milw 3 @ CINCY, 5 @ St. L.
• San Francisco is all Home, where they're 16-9:  4 vs. Rockies, then 4 vs Pads (1 is technically an "Away" game)
• Cincinnati only has 6 (tough) games left:  3 @vs MILW, 3 @ MINN
• St Louis will finish season having played only 58 games:   3 @ KC, then 5 vs. MILW

Very favorable for Giants, since we may be totally locked into seeding by that series.  St. Louis's 2 fewer games is annoying & team to watch re: win %.  Marlins probably OK if go 3-4 = 32-28 on season.

I was thinking I'd pick Marlins too, but the road clearly doesn't faze them, and Sixto Sanchez lighting it up.  Just glad we can't face SF right after finishing season with them.

Quote from MrPadre19 on September 21, 2020, 12:59 pm

I heard this morning that it may happen that the Cards have to make those two games up against Detroit on Monday.

They even said if they schedule a double header but the "second" game becomes un necessary based on the outcome of the first game they may not even play the second game.

That would be tough on the Cardinals to have to play a game(or two) on Monday...then fly out and only have Tuesday off before the first round games start on Wednesday.

So depending on how their rotation works out it could be an advantage to their opponent(Padres?) if this scenario plays out.

We(along with the Dodgers) are going into the playoffs in a great position.

Relatively healthy(esp compared to Phils) and locking up early and with a big lead allows us to be smart about how we approach the Playoffs.

 

Quote from Brian Connelly on September 21, 2020, 2:11 pm

I heard this morning that it may happen that the Cards have to make those two games up against Detroit on Monday.

They even said if they schedule a double header but the "second" game becomes un necessary based on the outcome of the first game they may not even play the second game.

What an insane year this is that with a week to go, this hasn't been decided...

The rest of crazy 2020 life in general aside, no matter what happens in the playoffs, no way I'll ever forget this bonkers season.

Quote from Ben Davey on September 21, 2020, 7:57 pm

I'd look at it as who do you most want to face, and least of the people that could finish 5th (so not an NL West team)

I would rank them as...
1. Phillies (their bullpen had given up a run in something like 30 straight games)
2. Marlins (how are they a playoff team?  But Sixto could be dangerous in a short series)
3. Cards (they dont scare me, but the Cards seem to knock us off everytime)
4. Brewers (Bring on Davies vs Lauer in the playoffs)
5. Reds (this scares me the most)

The Reds are also the ONLY team I think could take out the Dodgers in the first round.

Quote from fenn68 on September 21, 2020, 9:00 pm

I know still a bit of a small sample size but looking at the potential SP in a three game set in SD ... SD home ERA / others road ERA:

SD: Lamet (1.88) ... Davies (2.81) ... Clevinger (3.00)

========

CINN: Bauer (1.35) ... DeSciafani (1.86) .... Castillo (3.57)

MILW: Burnes (2.08) ... Woodruff (3.52) ... Anderson (4.11)

STL: Kim (2.14) ... Hudson (2.50) ... Wainwright (3.00)

MIA: Alcantara (1.42) ... Sanchez (2.45) ... Hernandez (3.86)

PHIL: Wheeler (3.38) ... Nola (3.68) ... ??????? (All > 4.00)

========

Padres match up pretty well ... especially if it gets to the 3rd SP.

CINN or STL would be a full three game challenge from a pitching standpoint. Hope one ends up playing LAD. No real patsies in games 1 or 2.