Quote from fenn68 on June 25, 2020, 3:42 am

Quote from Brian Connelly on June 24, 2020, 10:54 pm

I think they released Brett Kennedy in the wave of minors guys let go last month

I think the release was of AJ Kennedy who was a catcher in the system for a number of years.

Quote from fenn68 on June 25, 2020, 4:09 am

Jim Crane (owner of the Astros) is working hard to earn (if he already does not have it) the title of the most disliked owner in baseball. Sure some hard competition to include Loria (Miami) and McCourt (LAD) from the past and certainly topping the recent recent incredible comments from DeWitt (STL) and Ricketts (CUBS) about the lack of significant profit in owning a MLB franchise.

Keep in mind that Crane bought the Astros in 2011 for $680MM and it is worth now $1.8 BILLION. So, now in the midst of the pandemic (which is getting worse in Texas) and while Gov. Abbot who about a month ago said sports could be played with fans (about 25% capacity) BUT just now said everyone should stay home and not go out but refused to order that and punted to decision to local mayors .... Crane has come out and said he will play with fans in the stands because he needs that revenue to offset losses this year.

Astros owner Jim Crane said the "only thing we have to do that can counter" the team's revenue losses "is get some people in the building and sell some tickets, some merchandise, some cold beer, whatever they'd like to have."

Add that to his team (of course without his knowledge ... wink wink) hired Ludnow from StL and immediately had a data stealing scandal ... created the model for total tanking with virtually zero payroll and 100 loss seasons ... had the executive dumped for comments to a female reporter ... and the recent sign stealing scandal.

Profit at any cost. Sad.

Quote from WindsorUK on June 25, 2020, 8:26 am

This could be the season of fundamental baseball!

EVERY single win will count- more so than ever.

You'll see teams playing for the one run. Pitchers will be multiple and fresh. Look for more bunting, sacrificing, hit and running, run and hitting, stolen bases, hitting behind runners. Guys taking monstrous cuts when a simple tap to the right side of the infield would do, will not sit well with management.

The ONLY big number that will count this year is W's!

And I can't wait.

Quote from 3fingersplit on June 25, 2020, 11:15 am

Quote from WindsorUK on June 25, 2020, 8:26 am

This could be the season of fundamental baseball!

EVERY single win will count- more so than ever.

You'll see teams playing for the one run. Pitchers will be multiple and fresh. Look for more bunting, sacrificing, hit and running, run and hitting, stolen bases, hitting behind runners. Guys taking monstrous cuts when a simple tap to the right side of the infield would do, will not sit well with management.

The ONLY big number that will count this year is W's!

I love that whole idea Windsor and in a season that will be muted to a degree maybe real baseball will get played the ole fashioned way......get em on, get em over, get em in 🙂

And I can't wait.

 

Quote from fenn68 on June 25, 2020, 2:16 pm

The window for transactions of ML players opens tomorrow. Maybe not immediately but maybe before the season teams may make some moves once they see their own players (in shape or not).

It is a short season,  so a slow start may just take a team out of contention early with no long season to engineer a recovery. IF you are a team that really expects to win (NYY, LAD, etc.) and has some financial flexibility, they may be willing to pick up some salary (only 38% of the contract) for a better chance of a strong start. At the same time a team with cash flow issues and minimal chance of the playoffs may opt to sell just to clear a contract. Really older FA to be fit this scenario (but not limited to them). Think Samardzija from SF to someone like NYY.

Even a team really having a cash flow issue ... even if a contender potential ... might just punt a better player. Think Lindor from CLEVE to anyone willing to pay him a decent chunk next season.

No idea where the Padres fall in that spectrum ... or at what point they may feel out of contention but Yates, Richards, and Profar will all be FA and cost a bit in 2020. On the flip side, do they have the money to add a strategic piece if some of their current players are found wanting in a playoff run? Trade deadline at the end of August so only about 30 days to make the call.

That should add some interest (speculation) building in July/August beyond the games. An accelerated chess match.

Quote from fenn68 on June 25, 2020, 2:29 pm

Yes, never know in a 60 game season but most are still considering the LAD prohibitive favorites in the NL West. So, Padres most likely route to the playoffs is still via the Wild Card (still two team unless additional negotiations ... which are apparently still ongoing ... change that).

So concern given the schedule with the Padres playing the AL West and a number of very good teams (HOUSTON, LAA, OAK ... maybe even TEX) may cost some wins while winning a lot against LAD/AZ will be a challenge. The NL Central teams get to bulk up on wins with a pretty weak AL Central with KC, DET and some question about CLEV and CWS. Not great for the NL East getting the AL East with NYY and TB but they do benefit a lot for BALT and TOR / BOST (without Betts) may not be all that great.

Basically if the 4th and 5th playoff slots go to the most wins in the NL ... the schedule may not be a benefit to the Padres suggesting all the more importance of putting the best they have out there and if they struggle move to the next best option. Not a scenario to hope someone lives up to their potential if an immediate improvement is at hand.

Short strings on everyone.

Quote from Ben Davey on June 25, 2020, 6:21 pm

Listening to a few podcasts today

If its a 10 team playoff teams need >33 wins, if its a 16 game playoff it goes down to 30 wins.

Vegas has Padres set at 31 wins.

But they have the Braves as the 2nd highest NL team at 33, and 8 teams within 3 games of each other.

Quote from MrPadre19 on June 26, 2020, 5:29 am

https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/mlb-roundtable-which-team-is-best-positioned-for-a-cinderella-run-in-60-game-season/

 

We don't even rate as a potential Cinderella team.

I think we do.

Considering how we played in the first half last year....with Tatis,the fact we've added Pham to the top of the order and most importantly our Bullpen I would say we have as much chance as the White Sox and Rangers.

I just don't believe they have the pitching we do.

ESPECIALLY if Gore and/or Patino pitch at all this season.

 

Quote from fenn68 on June 26, 2020, 7:18 am

I guess I am in a totally different camp on Gore and Patino being ready for 2020. Personally think they have a better chance to be a detriment to winning if they start the season on the active roster. I have seen them mentioned by a number of "reporters" without citing who would get "bumped" and although the active roster starts at 30 ... it drops back to 26 in a month putting an even more difficult squeeze based on 2020 productivity.

Now I do think they have great POTENTIAL but still need more development before we can expect them to be plus ML pitchers. Gore (21) only has 21.2 innings in AA and Patino (20) only has 7.2 innings in AA.

With a 60 game schedule ... Padres really can't gamble that the POTENTIAL plays in the ML in 2020 while having to drop known pitching commodities that can be used with some understanding what to expect. With only 2-3 weeks to access the effectiveness to start the season ... really need to go with the "known". Add that both are non-roster players ... so they would require a couple of offsetting roster moves. IF those were the only moves, maybe not the issue but if they are not productive and more moves are needed ... starting to be forced into dropping some valued assets. Plus if they were added to the active roster ... prove less than hoped ... they will be sent to the taxi squad and burn one of their 3 minor league option years (maybe not a big issue considering their POTENTIAL) but would try to avoid that future restriction.

Maybe the worst outcome is having either on the active roster for the full 60 game schedule ... not being any more effective than the alternatives ... but burning one control year.

Probably would have them on the 20 man non-roster taxi squad to start ... work with them and keep them in shape then IF the circumstances demand it ... add them then and active them. Could be health driven or could be from the Padres falling out of contention in September.