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2020 Season
#451 · September 5, 2020, 12:33 am
Quote from MrPadre19 on September 3, 2020, 12:04 pmI believe it's also evidence that hitting is contagious.
I don't believe it's a coincidence that just about everybody is hitting better than expected.
Hitting breeds more hitting and winning breeds more winning.
Finally it's happening in S.D. and looks like it's here to stay for awhile.
Anyone else glad Fowler is a patient man and didn't over react and send Heads rolling?
We can say hitting is contagious but I think it is the approach that is contagious. It seems like when Pham was in the lineup EVERYONE was seeing 6-7 pitches per at bat. He goes down and all of a sudden players started swinging earlier and earlier, and it seems like the ones who are still taking pitches are striking out a lot on pitches 5 inches out of the strike zone.
I still currently think that the Padres' approach is off. They have been getting shut out pretty handily and then have one big inning. In fact, the Padres had virtually nothing tonight until Myers laid down a bunt and Campusano was hit.
The weaknesses of most teams are their middle relief. If we are going after the Dodgers, we have to get through the starters, make them work, work the counts, and have them out after 4 or 5. They get tired and make a mistake, or we capitalize off of their relievers (and I am well aware that the Dodgers bullpen has been AMAZING this year).
#452 · September 5, 2020, 9:31 am
Only 20 games for the Padres in the regular season ... and only 3 against a team with a winning record (LAD). That SHOULD set-up a safe run into the playoffs.
Then consider the Padres are 6 games behind the LAD in the NL West ... a real long shot to overtake them ... and 5 games ahead of COLO ... a similar long shot to drop below them ... and falling out of the playoffs altogether is a truly remote probability .... Padres should be in a position to begin setting up for the playoffs.
Maybe getting some bench options more playing time ... maybe a different use of pitchers ... all with the goal of getting the best prepared 28 man roster for the first series.
FanGraphs now has the Padres at 99.3% of making the playoffs and 92.5% of 2nd place in the NL West.
#453 · September 5, 2020, 12:58 pm
Only 20 games for the Padres in the regular season ... and only 3 against a team with a winning record (LAD). That SHOULD set-up a safe run into the playoffs.
Actually plus the 2 left vs the A's = 5 games vs winning records.
Still, likely that going 6-14 or 7-13 against 75% <.500 would be "good enough" to get in. Keep it rolling, the series with LAD is big no matter what to give a first indication of whether the "New, New" Padres can hang with the evil empire...
Work guys in, work injured players back, etc...
#454 · September 5, 2020, 7:05 pm
They talked about this on the Fox broadcast.
Winning more games isn’t necessarily any benefit this year.
All that matters is getting into the playoffs.
Theres no home field advantage.
So there could be benefit to “not” being a higher seed depending on who you’re matched up with.
Obviously you’re gonna try to win every game.....but once you’re in you may want to rest guys and set up your rotation etc. even if it means losing a higher seed.
The hot team is more dangerous than the one that has finished higher in the standings many times.
#455 · September 5, 2020, 9:01 pm
If we can bring up Campusano for the last two weeks in the season, is it time to replace Paddack with Morejon in the rotation to see what he has? Paddack, at best, is the #4 starter and more likely a long man in the pen in the playoffs. Why not see if Morejon can go over 4 innings and send Patino down to the alternate training site with Paddack taking over that role thus freeing up a roster spot? Other than his command not being close to what it was last year or, in fact, any year he has pitched, not sure why he is so hittable and with hard contact. Too late to make major adjustments this year but needs to remake himself over the 2020 version before the 2021 season or we might have to resign Richards or put Morejon, Patino, Gore or even Weathers (dark horse) into the rotation over Paddack. I prefer putting Morejon in that 5 spot vice Lucchesi, who we've heard nothing about since he was sent down. Paddack has the talent but he seems to have lost something and has no clue on how to get it back. Didn't Trev basically have the same two pitches - fastball and changeup?
#456 · September 6, 2020, 8:10 pm
So, maybe this should be the start of a new thread, however, looking forward to the 2021 season, as has been mentioned in a couple of different threads, I think we are looking pretty good. As long as the seasons that Myers and Hosmer are closer to legit comebacks than a COVID-19 halucinations.
If it is true corrections for Hosmer and launch angle, and Myers being comfortable because he is NOT the man, and more a back ground guy, then I think most can agree that we are set at 3B, SS, 2B, 1B, C, RF, and CF or LF. I like Grisham, and he has been above decent in CF; however, doesnt he not get the greatest jumps, and try to make up for it with speed?
So, with the addition of Nola, and no longer having an offensive hole at C, could we perhaps move Grisham to LF, and then sacrifice a little offense and get a great defensive CFer? Like a Billy Hamilton type that can bat 8 or 9, depending on your thoughts of what MLB does with the DH in the NL. Frankly I unfortunately think it is here to stay.
#457 · September 7, 2020, 7:07 am
Hopefully Pham returns sooner than later ... and healthy.
Noted that the Padres are only 6-8 vs. LHP ... wrong match-up in a short playoff series could be a problem.
Pham does hit LHP much better than Moreland, Profar, Garcia so if only for DH ... should be a major upgrade.
While Machado, Myers, and Tatis crush LHP ... Hosmer, Grisham, and Cronenworth all are less productive (but not bad) ... and in Seattle Nola was not good vs LHP (and neither is Castro).
Too bad Campusano has the wrist injury ... really needed to see him hit and catch over the last part of the season to see if he can be on the playoff rosters as a RHH DH/C option. Putting an effective Pham in LF and Campusano at DH (if he showed he can hit) would do a lot to make the Padres more effective vs LHP.
#458 · September 7, 2020, 5:44 pm
I remember before the season there were comments that one advantage Tingler may have is his history of winning in winter ball when the seasons are short.
Many were worried about the short starts early in the season but it sure looks as though Tingler was going for the slow build and now ... as we approach the playoffs ... the starters are going 90+ pitches and into the 6th/7th innings ... now saving the bullpen.
Now we will see how he manipulates the players in the final stretch to set up the best playoff roster.
Players doing well ... yes but time to give a bit of credit to Tingler as a new manager taking over a mix and match of new and returning players.
#459 · September 7, 2020, 6:07 pm
The national media has a lot of focus (justifiably) on Tatis as MVP and Cronenworth as ROY .... but would suggest that a lot of consideration should be given to:
Tingler as NL Manager of the Year and, yes, Preller as Executive / GM of the year.
Consider the Padres in 2019 were one of the worst teams in MLB. They had a .432 winning percentage ... in 2020 they have a.595 winning percentage. That is the biggest increase in the NL ... +.163 and that is by far the best increase in the NL with 2nd going to MIA (+.134) and 3rd COLO (+.062). Both of those teams are struggling to make the playoffs while the Padres have the 3rd best record in the NL.
Add in that the Padres improved their MLB rankings:
OPS: #26 in 2019 (.718) up to #1 in 2020 (.822)
ERA: #18 in 2019 (4.60) up to #10 in 2020 (4.23)
That did not happen by accident ... Preller made the right moves ... Tingler effectively got all the pieces to mesh and win.
#460 · September 10, 2020, 7:23 am
The Dang Dodgers just keep on winning!
Giants too.
We can’t catch the Dodgers without some help.....I’m hoping we take care of business so the last 3 against the Giants don’t matter and we can ready our guys for the first playoff series.