Quote from Brian Connelly on June 24, 2020, 12:03 pm

Quote from MrPadre19 on June 24, 2020, 9:48 am

Any particulars on how the "man on 2nd base" plan for extra innings works?

Does this baserunner have to be someone who has not already been in the lineup?

Do they have to stay in the game or lose eligibility for this game?

 

I HATE this rule.  I'm OK with shortening extra innings games, but can't stand doing it this way because it "artificially" dictates what the next batter is going to do:  Bunt.  This 'solution' could not be more artificial "Bush/Little League"

There are a million other ways to decide games.  Also, it seems bonkers to me that in a 162 game season it makes more sense to risk guys' health & wellbeing (not talking Covid, I mean "normal" years), not to mention careers & income with options up/down etc as an aftereffect of the game vs... having 1 of 162 games GASP! end in a tie.   WHYYY does it matter so much over that long of a season?  A few ties over the course of a season actually help with playoff determination, and more importantly prevent arm & other injuries.

My solution:   Play extra innings as in the past (no baserunners!) through the 12th inning.  If still tied then, GASP... it's a tie.

Playoffs:  Since there are more days off (pitching) / travel breaks than regular season:  Play 12 innings 'normally' as regular season.  If still tied, start 13th with baserunner on 1st.  14th with guy on 2nd.  15th on with guy on 3rd.

Quote from MrPadre19 on June 24, 2020, 1:09 pm

Or even leave it up to the managers.

If still tied after the 12th if "both" Managers want to keep playing you keep playing.

If either one is done....it ends in a tie.

Ask again after each full inning.

Those should be the guys making the decision.

I agree that starting an inning with any baserunner already on base is just not how baseball is played.

Adding the DH to the NL is one thing(I still don't want it but understand it's gonna happen so may as well be now)....but adding a baserunner in scoring position?

 

Quote from Brian Connelly on June 24, 2020, 3:12 pm

Quote from fenn68 on June 24, 2020, 10:47 am

Not sure but one report was the “60” who can be invited to ST2 ... would be the 40 man roster and 20 non-roster types. Still unclear how that is paired down to the 50 active/non-active during the season (if that is still the structure) since another comment was the active roster has to come for that original game 60. The add the fuzziness of trades that may include minor leaguers not part of the 60.

From a pragmatic standpoint, I see the Padres having 4 guys who were "in" ST- One NOT on the 60-man "available player" list:

• Anderson Espinoza (60-IL), Andres Munoz (will be 60-IL), Pedro Avila, Reggie Lawson

All 4 due to TJ Surgery.  Avila (9/19) & Lawson (3/20) out all year.  Munoz (3/20) certain to be 60-day IL when transactions re-start; also opening a 40-man spot.  Espinoza (4/19) COULD come off IL as he approaches 16 months post-surgery; but would make 40-man roster tighter for a guy with no chance of pitching in MLB this season... Pads were essentially 'postponing' a decision on Espinoza; in a "typical" season, someone/s else would have wound up on 60-day IL in season, "opening" a 40-man spot for him to get optioned down.  Covid cancels that development time for him; likely a roster casualty in offseason.

These 5 active 40-man guys were optioned to the Minors before the Covid transactions freeze:

• Adrian Morejon, Ronald Bolanos, Gerardo Reyes, Edward Olivares, Jorge Ona

Presume the use of the option prior to ST shutdown "counts"; even if a player recalled for entire 60-game season, that option WAS still used.  The first 4 are locks to be on the "60-man".  Don't see why Ona wouldn't be either; he needs whatever "development" he can get after missing almost all of last season... Pads at least get to work with him getting lots of swings on the taxi squad.

These 16 Non-roster players were still in camp when ST shut down:

• SP-Eickhoff, SP-Frankoff, RP-Yacabonis, RP-Hu, RP-C.Johnson, C-Rivas, 1B/INF-Mejias-Brean, 2B-DOZIER, 3B-Vosler, 2B/INF- I. Castillo, CF-LAGARES, OF-Almonte, SP-Gore, SP-Patino, RP-E. Miller, RP-Radke (L),

One (likely Dozier or Lagares) likely to fill the open 40-man spot.  But really only Gore & Patino look like 60-man locks.  Minors FA guys much more vulnerable than normal with no AAA to go to, such a short season, and in the Pads case, a very tight 40-man.  I'll guess 13 of these 16 on 40 &/or 60-man; that = 52 of 60 open spots...

These 10 players were re-assigned to Minors camp before the shutdown:

• Bachar-SP, S. Wilson-RP, Barraclough-RP, Gettys-OF, D. Valdez-RP, Campusano-C, O. Miller-2B, Arias-SS, Potts-3B, Trammell-OF

At least half of them are locks to be on the 60-man.  That = 57 ....

I think these names NOT in ST warrant consideration for the 60-man:

• Aaron Leasher-SP (L), Elliot Ashbeck-RP, Jordan Guerrero-RP, Brad Zunica-1B (L), Blake Hunt-C, C.J. Abrams-SS (L), Levi Thomas-RP, Cole Wilcox-RP?

Leasher & Ashbeck have pitched well as long relief/swingman types.  Guerrero can hit 100 MPH & was frequently mentioned as a possible Rule 5 pick, Zunica "should" be in AAA this year, Hunt might replace Charlie Valerio who was the 6th C in ST & was released (just help Catch all those P's), Abrams would be WAY over his head but might just want to play/look/develop him.... sure would be an elite pinch runner in a season with weird extra inning rules... not serious, but just saying!

Wilcox of course would have to sign soon.  Minor incentive to him to get it done ASAP?  Great stuff, needs development.  Keep IP on track with a more normal year, since not maxed on college IP.  Thomas on other hand might be one of those "he's as good as he'll ever get" guys where his stuff doesn't approach many others, but his pitch mix, reportedly high spin rate & control actually puts him in the pool of your 25-30 "best" --in terms of MLB readiness-- pitchers.

 

 

Quote from fenn68 on June 24, 2020, 4:03 pm

IF the rules are firm on 20 non-roster players being a max ... really makes little difference who on the 40 man is invited to participate unless the team does not want to clog up the "taxi squad" ... and maybe adding to their health risk ... with players that have almost no value to a 2020 campaign. (e.g. Ona, Munoz).

Under the current circumstances, I probably would go with all the veteran AAA non-roster types as the core of that 20 and maybe supplement that with a strategic "close" prospect or even sign a ML FA still out there on a minor league deal. If I included a prospect my preference would be one that would need to be added to the 40 man this winter just in case the team had to use him. Trammell and Patino would be such cases.

Not sure what the "taxi squad" will be doing ... other than "keeping in shape" and doing some game simulation, so not a forum for instruction / development. Still, need catchers and position players along with the emergency pitchers ... so a bit forced selection to generate a mix to most effectively simulate games and keep the replacement core fresh and healthy. I do expect a large number than normal of injuries plus COVID IL cases ... both on the ML roster and the "taxi squad".

With "normal" transaction rules apparently in place, if you want to add a non-roster player ... a 40 man roster player has to be moved. Munoz to the 60 day (45 day in 2020) will be the easy #1 move ... and Valera (the INF) should be an easy DFA but gets more dicy after that if the move is to add a very marginal non-roster vet that has no future at the risk of losing a better talent that has control for more years. I would expect all the moves will focus on 40 man roster types and maybe a more aggressive use of the 45 day IL to clear a spot for a non-roster (if needed).

Going to be interesting on how each team handles this ... no real idea.

 

Quote from fenn68 on June 24, 2020, 4:30 pm

Before all this started the intent was a 26 man roster (13 pitchers max, 13 position players) and strict rules about using position players to pitch. Now the rules on position players pitching have been eliminated plus the roster jumps to 30 (for 15 days) then to 28 (another 15 days) then back to the 26 by the end of August (also the trade deadline).

Expected that 26 to 30 was target for pitchers only (basically holding the max position players at 13). However, expect that pitching will still be an issue ... so does all this increase the chance that Cronenworth makes the active roster since he may be the best suited for back-up SS AND can add a further break for the pitching staff?

Sort of the reverse goes for Guerra not only providing the pitching depth but could in an emergency provide some defense skills in the INF.

If that is the way the Padres play it ... might make a difference on the other position players knowing that Machado and Tatis likely would play every day ... DH minimized the need for PH ... so a defensive fill for a late inning break may be the need and open up a slot of another catcher (allowing Mejia to roam to 1B/DH/OF) or maybe another RHH OF/DH type to "compliment" Grisham, Cordero, and Naylor vs LHP.

Baring an "injury" making the decision easy ... either Garcia or Profar would seem at highest risk (although both out of options) and the odds of Dozier being added becomes very low. Of course either Cordero or Naylor could stink in ST2 and just be optioned to the taxi squad "to get their timing down".

Just might be some real survival battles in ST2.

=======

Side: apparently there will be a 3 player "traveling taxi squad" to go with the team on road trips (one has to be a catcher) ... probably more for use in case of testing positive for COVID by active players and needing to get them guaranteed ASAP and replacements in ASAP. Guessing the other two will be pitchers since covering position players may be easier in the short run.

Quote from Brian Connelly on June 24, 2020, 4:40 pm

I missed 2 names in the mix for the "60"....

• Off roster, previously sent to Minors:  Miguel Diaz-RP.   Think he was still recovering from knee surgery last Summer.  He may be recovered now & if so, would be a strong candidate with his MLB stuff & past experience
• Not in ST:  Jake Nix-SP.  From Madfriars article, sounded like he was healthy, but with the arrest distraction & need to look at other arms he wasn't in MLB ST.  But he is still at the fringes of Pads prospect lists in 30-40 range.

Both of these guys if at full health are pretty easily among the Pads say 30 "best" MLB ready /capable Pitchers.

Quote from fenn68 on June 24, 2020, 4:44 pm

Dennis Lin:

At the moment, the Padres' likeliest alternate training site is the Peoria Sports Complex. The facilities there are good and spacious, but it's a five-hour drive. Also, as you might have heard, COVID-19 cases have been surging in Arizona. Lake Elsinore is another option.

=============

If not on the active roster the taxi squad has to be at an alternative site. (health reasons keeping the player count low at the ML facility)

Unless the earlier report was superseded (or wrong) the league said the "alternative site" had to be with ? miles of the home ball park and as I recall Peoria was outside that range. Want to get replacements to the ML club as quickly as possible if the are a multiple COVID positives a couple of hours before a scheduled game.

So LE is a very good option but so could be USD (is it not Fowler Park?) and not sure a lot of students are around. T.Gwynn field at SDSU also could work. All are good fields ... close if players are needed ... a close if Padre medical staff is needed.

Quote from fenn68 on June 24, 2020, 4:48 pm

Quote from Brian Connelly on June 24, 2020, 4:40 pm

I missed 2 names in the mix for the "60"....

• Off roster, previously sent to Minors:  Miguel Diaz-RP.   Think he was still recovering from knee surgery last Summer.  He may be recovered now & if so, would be a strong candidate with his MLB stuff & past experience
• Not in ST:  Jake Nix-SP.  From Madfriars article, sounded like he was healthy, but with the arrest distraction & need to look at other arms he wasn't in MLB ST.  But he is still at the fringes of Pads prospect lists in 30-40 range.

Both of these guys if at full health are pretty easily among the Pads say 30 "best" MLB ready /capable Pitchers.

Toss in Brett Kennedy too ... he was a decent prospect and was once added to the 40 man .... since dropped due to injury but he too should be full recovered.

Clearly not going to be an easy selection process since almost all are truly marginal (except for the legit prospects) and not sure how the handled the 3 month layoff to keep in shape.

Quote from fenn68 on June 24, 2020, 4:58 pm

Quote from MrPadre19 on June 24, 2020, 1:09 pm

Or even leave it up to the managers.

If still tied after the 12th if "both" Managers want to keep playing you keep playing.

If either one is done....it ends in a tie.

Ask again after each full inning.

Those should be the guys making the decision.

I agree that starting an inning with any baserunner already on base is just not how baseball is played.

Adding the DH to the NL is one thing(I still don't want it but understand it's gonna happen so may as well be now)....but adding a baserunner in scoring position?

 

Just as a reference ... Padres only played 12 extra inning games last season. So, in a shortened season maybe only 4 or 5 ... maybe not as big a deal no matter the solution.

Still, I go with the tie format after 9 and just get out of the park.