Quote from fenn68 on May 7, 2021, 12:45 pm

The roster is (was) on the EP website under one of the tabs ... all the minor league teams seem to be a bit different in location so don’t remember the EP format.

No idea how the listed “taxi squad” players are handled. First guess is that neither Kuzia nor Malone are counted toward the EP limit of 28 (?) and cannot play.

Although listed as taxi squad on EP ... maybe that is just a technical formality. Possible both travel with the Padres and are in SD for home games. The concern maybe more more subbing in a body if a player(s) test positive just before the game and have to be isolated. If then it appears to be an extend out ... time to call up someone from EP (wherever they happen to be playing).

No shot at Kuzia and Malone but neither are big prospects (Kuzia a NDFA and Malone a 28th round pick) and ... in 2021 ... may be fine with serving with that non-playing role for the ML experience working the the big club (and maybe some “extra” pay). Resume their careers in 2022.

From a Padres perspective probably not expecting to ever use them so not looking for options for the taxi squad that they may actually call up if needed.

Quote from Brian Connelly on May 7, 2021, 4:38 pm

I hope to get some reporting tonight on "procedure" for callups now that AAA team is playing & not "isolating" at the "Alternate site" in Peoria.

> a month into season now, it seems pretty unlikely there is a positive covid test/s an hour before game time in MLB that would necessitate "non prospects" from low A & short season ball playing in MLB even for 1 day.... think Manager, coaches, trainers, etc are more organized than that.  If there were a big outbreak (i.e. probably = > 1 player + staff), MLB would just not play the game that day.

Seems like "it" is structured that for now players can only go up/down from AAA.  Logical, and not TOO disruptive to player placement.  We probably have 3-4 guys in AAA a level higher than I would have put them.  Prior to AAA season start it was same/next day as is typical in MLB, but now that AAA team could be on road, will that change?   Hopefully not, since seems like AAA team with guys inevitably going up to MLB is going to probably test with same frequency & diligence as the MLB team.

Until I hear otherwise, I'm interpreting it as smart people figured out that it would make more sense to have a Taxi squad at AAA backfilling than with MLB team.  Simply cancelling/rescheduling the game has become the norm, which allows needed reinforcements to arrive.

Quote from fenn68 on May 7, 2021, 4:58 pm

Heard one discussion that MLB and AAA are under the same protocols ... so “easy” movement between the two. However, AA and below are not ... so, movement to even AAA will require some days of isolation as I understand before joining the AAA team.

Maybe the taxi squad of Kuzia / Malone is just a buffer if there is an EP issue and they can’t quickly backfill from lower levels? Pretty easy to imagine scenarios where injuries in SD requiring a call up for AAA and injuries in EP would create a need for “bodies” quickly and can’t supplement from AA ... not even a direct COVID situation. Still see this as a very low probability situation and COVID procedures seem to be working well across the league in 2021.

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Quote from fenn68 on May 8, 2021, 5:22 am

Not what we hoped for Gore in his start. 4 innings ... 5 hits / 3 walks / 3 runs. Worse in those 4 innings 94 pitches only 52 strikes.

Maybe this will put the “why don’t they call up Gore” on the back burner for awhile. His initial performance was in line with what was being said about his command .... and that is not ML ready. Give the kid 2021 to actually pitch and develop rather than push him just on projection.

Quote from MrPadre19 on May 8, 2021, 6:58 am

So those of you on the West Coast may be able to help me with this.

Shouldn't all of these players and coaches be vaccinated by now?

Here in Georgia anyone over the age of 16 can get vaccinated any time they wish.

There is no shortage of vaccinations.

Wouldn't MLB have "everyone" done?

I guess I don't get why they aren't at this point?

Quote from fenn68 on May 8, 2021, 7:16 am

At least for the El Paso roster ... availability might have been dependent on the status in AZ during ST and now in Texas ... no idea there. In SD it is open up for all over 16 ... not to the point that there is not a demand and appointments are (normally) still required.

So, not sure the percentage of players vaccinated ... have not heard the Padres have pulled strings to cut to the head of the line for the jabs.

Add that I am confident that a number of players don’t want to get the shot ... doubt they are different than the rest of the population. In SD most of the surveys have about 30% of the population not wanting (or ready) to get the shots ... mainly the “younger” population.

My guess MLB has to be confident that all the teams in MLB (and likely AAA) are in a position to be “safe” to relax the protocols (and get that agree to with the union).

Quote from Brian Connelly on May 8, 2021, 9:03 am

Quote from fenn68 on May 7, 2021, 4:58 pm

Heard one discussion that MLB and AAA are under the same protocols ... so “easy” movement between the two. However, AA and below are not ... so, movement to even AAA will require some days of isolation as I understand before joining the AAA team.

Maybe the taxi squad of Kuzia / Malone is just a buffer if there is an EP issue and they can’t quickly backfill from lower levels? Pretty easy to imagine scenarios where injuries in SD requiring a call up for AAA and injuries in EP would create a need for “bodies” quickly and can’t supplement from AA ... not even a direct COVID situation. Still see this as a very low probability situation and COVID procedures seem to be working well across the league in 2021.

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Well, that didn't take long.  We should find out today with Kela certainly headed back to IL.  My guess is it's:  Miguel Diaz up, Kuzia gets added to AAA roster (from "taxi"), and another P in Peoria moves to the "isolation chamber" and is added to EL PASO's "taxi squad".

Quote from BoosterSD on May 8, 2021, 10:15 am

Quote from MrPadre19 on May 8, 2021, 6:58 am

So those of you on the West Coast may be able to help me with this.

Shouldn't all of these players and coaches be vaccinated by now?

Here in Georgia anyone over the age of 16 can get vaccinated any time they wish.

There is no shortage of vaccinations.

Wouldn't MLB have "everyone" done?

I guess I don't get why they aren't at this point?

Because they dont want to get it.

Quote from LynchMob on May 10, 2021, 8:45 pm

Do we have a hidden gem in Ivan Castillo?

Is he the best 25-year-old yet to get a PA in MLB?

Or is he a classic AAAA guy?

I'm jumping on the Ivan Castillo bandwagon ... what's not to love?

He's 2-for-3 so far tonight ... raising his BA to .471 🙂

https://www.milb.com/gameday/chihuahuas-vs-rainiers/2021/05/10/644654#game_state=live,game_tab=,game=644654