Quote from fenn68 on May 4, 2021, 7:47 am

Could be an interesting decision day on SP.

Individual pitcher health and readiness is obviously the first hurdle ... with an eye on making sure they remain healthy for the foreseeable future.

1. Lamet is eligible to be activated and has been throwing bullpen sessions ... seems ready
2. Weathers is active and has been throwing bullpen sessions ... seems ready
3. Paddack will be eligible to be activated soon (little unclear with COVID) but listed as 10 day ... so May 10th

Today's game in SD v Pitt is TBD and that spot in the rotation is up again on Sunday, May 9th vs SF in SF (benefit of the off day on Thursday). The first date that the 5th SP is needed would be Tuesday, May 11.

One strategy: Activate Lamet for the start today ... put Weathers on the IL (back dated to May 1) giving him more time to get ready and limit his inning accumulation for 2021. Activate Weathers for the start on May 11th. Option a RP (by then someone else will go IL).

Maybe, reverse the usage of Lamet and Weathers ... and delay the activation of Lamet to May 11th.

Maybe, activate Lamet to start to day ... option a RP .... use Weathers in the pen for now and let him start on May 11th or May 9th and Lamet on May 11th (2 extra days rest).

No idea what to do with Paddack when he is eligible to return given the days off during May ... returning him to start would put the SP on a once a week rotation or force Weathers (who has be top of the rotation quality) to the pen? Paddack can be optioned to get some work and recalled once the schedule fills back up.

Quote from Brian Connelly on May 4, 2021, 9:28 am

Another highly likely scenario is that both Lamet and Weathers pitch tonight, since they will both be on short leashes.

I like the idea of them piggybacking like that until Lamet stretches out to where he can go 5 IP.  But it leaves the 5th spot in the rotation open until Paddack returns.

Paddack had been improving. There's only 2 more weeks of 6 games followed by off day.  Just piggyback Lamet & Weathers in #4 spot, CP in #5 until they hit a stretch of 33 games in 34 days (20, then 13 games in a row).  Go to 6 man rotation for duration of that.

Quote from Brian Connelly on May 4, 2021, 9:30 am

Diaz might lose the roster shuffle today & get sent down, but don't have to be a scout to see his stuff is WAYYY > Crismatt, Ramirez, Northcraft.   Control has been his issue.  When the dust settles out here with the SP's, it's pretty easy to envision Diaz becoming that primary up/down "length" last guy in bullpen current held by Crismatt.

Quote from fenn68 on May 4, 2021, 10:17 am

Health (readiness) of Lamet and Weathers still are in a question mark in my mind. Some were thinking Lamet was ready days ago ... certainly for yesterday BUT did not get the call. Weather was throwing pen sessions with no apparent ill effects and could have gone yesterday BUT did not get the call.

Does one more day make a difference for both? either? No idea.

I guess could add that if both were "ready" now ... why not just activate Lamet and option Northcraft rather than call back up Crismatt? Prefer Crismatt as long man vs Diaz?

Gut tells me still some "health" concerns slowing down a full re-boot.

Quote from Brian Connelly on May 4, 2021, 10:44 am

Quote from fenn68 on May 4, 2021, 10:17 am

Health (readiness) of Lamet and Weathers still are in a question mark in my mind. Some were thinking Lamet was ready days ago ... certainly for yesterday BUT did not get the call. Weather was throwing pen sessions with no apparent ill effects and could have gone yesterday BUT did not get the call.

Does one more day make a difference for both? either? No idea.

I guess could add that if both were "ready" now ... why not just activate Lamet and option Northcraft rather than call back up Crismatt? Prefer Crismatt as long man vs Diaz?

Gut tells me still some "health" concerns slowing down a full re-boot.

Both Lamet & Weathers throwing Bullpens on Sunday which precluded either from going yesterday.  Think they wanted to see how they'd come out of it.   Both have to be able to go 40-50 pitches or might as well call up someone else.  If Lamet not active, they probably have to recall/select a fresh arm for Diaz anyway... just not seeing enough total innings in that pen otherwise.

 

Quote from fenn68 on May 4, 2021, 11:09 am

Quote from Brian Connelly on May 4, 2021, 10:44 am

Quote from fenn68 on May 4, 2021, 10:17 am

Health (readiness) of Lamet and Weathers still are in a question mark in my mind. Some were thinking Lamet was ready days ago ... certainly for yesterday BUT did not get the call. Weather was throwing pen sessions with no apparent ill effects and could have gone yesterday BUT did not get the call.

Does one more day make a difference for both? either? No idea.

I guess could add that if both were "ready" now ... why not just activate Lamet and option Northcraft rather than call back up Crismatt? Prefer Crismatt as long man vs Diaz?

Gut tells me still some "health" concerns slowing down a full re-boot.

Both Lamet & Weathers throwing Bullpens on Sunday which precluded either from going yesterday.  Think they wanted to see how they'd come out of it.   Both have to be able to go 40-50 pitches or might as well call up someone else.  If Lamet not active, they probably have to recall/select a fresh arm for Diaz anyway... just not seeing enough total innings in that pen otherwise.

 

Lamet was being discussed as the starter for last Sunday (or Monday) after his bullpen mid-week then had the Sunday bullpen that bumped him out ... so maybe Padres are being cautious after that mid-week pen session .. maybe did not feel fine? No idea how he felt after Sunday’s session.

If Sunday’s bullpen was game intensity to show he is really ready ... is today too early to comeback? Guess the same question about Weathers? However, have to think one is ready for the start.

After Lamet’s last and brief return ... a lot of discussion about the difference between bullpens, sim games, and the minors when it comes to intensity and stress on the pitchers arms. Lamet looked good in bullpens and under stress had pain ... not sure how the coaches split hairs on ready vs not ready.

Quote from hoffy51 on May 4, 2021, 12:25 pm

I know it is a small sample size, but I would prefer Diaz to Paddock. Diaz has three pitches that he can throw for strikes. Wow. What a concept. I say put Paddock in the pen.

Quote from MrPadre19 on May 4, 2021, 1:28 pm

Diaz looked really good.Not sure why they didn't just let him hit in the 3rd and go at least one more inning....but it worked out.

IF we have 5 healthy starters(big if I know) I'd like to see Diaz as the RH long man out of the Pen(ala Quantrill).

Especially next season having Strahm/Diaz as long men would be ideal IMO.

I still think Paddack will become a more than serviceable #4 or #5 Starter.

He's still young.Look around the league and see how many guys came up young with a ton of hype but still took 2-4 years to "get it".

Guys like Jake Arrieta and Dylan Bundy are the first that pop into my mind.Both came up with Balt. with high expectations....both took several years before they were actually effective.The list is long.

 

 

 

Quote from fenn68 on May 4, 2021, 2:02 pm

Diaz has a good chance to stick next year in the pen ... if he is sent down this year that will use his last minor league option year. 2022 joins the "out of options" gang. Stuff + ... command - but only 26.

=====

Agree that Paddack has the basics of a ML pitcher ... just don't know how long a contending team can keep him in the rotation to have that potential turn into results. Add that he will only be controlled from 2022-24.

2022: Darvish - Snell - Musgrove - Lamet - Weathers - Clevinger (if healthy) puts 6 options ahead of him and have not yet added in Gore.

He will have most of this year to turn the tide but with ERA of 4.73 (2020) and 5.40 (2021) ... he will have to deliver to his potential or maybe be trade bait this winter (or trade deadline) to a team that can afford the time to get him to his potential. Young, low cost, 3 years control with upside should have appeal.