Quote from TarheelPadre on August 12, 2021, 1:28 pm

All this talk about needing a 4th and 5th starter is exactly why Preller should be nervous if we don’t make the playoffs.  Absolutely had to have at least one starter at the deadline and he failed.

Quote from fenn68 on August 12, 2021, 1:30 pm

Plus the Pads have 5 off days in Sept … so with adding two more arms (carry 16) should be able to keep key arms fresh.

Padres will have to balance what it takes to insure a Wild Card with avoiding burning out Musgrove, Darvish, and Snell before getting to the playoffs.

Quote from Randy Manese on August 12, 2021, 1:55 pm

Impressed by the way Diaz bailed Hudson out in the 8th inning of last night's game even though he got himself into a little trouble in the 9th.  Hudson was very rusty but still should be a contributor down the stretch - not another Rosenthal but can giver Pagan, Johnson and Adams a break from the right side in higher leverage situations.

Quote from fenn68 on August 12, 2021, 5:14 pm

Crismatt up —- Knehr down.

Quote from fenn68 on August 12, 2021, 5:30 pm

Random observations about SP the Padres should have pursued more vigorously:

1. Duffy (to LAD) was put in the 60 day IL probably retro back to late July … so will not be available (if at all) until late SEPT … left arm flexor strain

2. Hamels (to LAD) has not appeared as he tries to get into game shape … maybe by Sept? Will he be effective? LAD did offer a ML deal (Padres a minor league deal until added when ready). However, seems as though Hamels was a huge LAD fan as a kid plus maybe his last chance at a ring so LAD gives him the best shot. Sounds as though Padres really did not have a shot unless LAD stepped away.

3. Davies (still with Cubs .. guess no one wanted him) … in August made two starts (6 innings) …21.00 ERA … 13 H / 14 R / 4 HR.

Padres have a current need … none would be filling that.

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Scherzer on the other hand has been outstanding for LAD in two starts.

Report from D.Lin says the Padres offered Campusano and Paddack (maybe some other lesser pieces) for Scherzer and Turner … basically the same structure as the LAD deal but apparently WASH preferred the LAD combo … and maybe the Padres had nothing to swing them back to SD (at least anything that made sense to SD).

Also, would not be surprised it Boras did his behind the scenes magic to get his client on the odds on favorite for the World Series and get his buddy Rizzo the best return.

Quote from fenn68 on August 12, 2021, 5:38 pm

Don’t miss the key point that the Padres wanted Trea Turner with Scherzer. Last I checked he was a SS and plus defense (although has played some OF).

Other than Preller likes to accumulate SS … have to consider the current trend of maximum position flexibility (see LAD) will be the mantra for the Padres going forward.

Add some substance to the idea of Tatis seeing time at BOTH SS and the OF going forward.

I know we can say Preller should have added XXXX … don’t discount that WASH may not like who we like.

Quote from TarheelPadre on August 12, 2021, 8:37 pm

I will say this for the 37th time.....Tingler needs to be gone like yesterday.  Rothschild needs to be gone like the day before yesterday and Preller needed to be gone the day after the deadline.

Quote from fenn68 on August 13, 2021, 10:33 am

Just working with the expected starting rotation before the season comparing 2021 ERA performance to 2020 performance:

1. Darvish .... 3.70 vs. 2.01 ... UP 1.69
2. Snell ........ 4.86 vs. 3.24 ... UP 1.72
3. Lamet ...... 3.69 vs. 2.09 ... UP 0.98 (plus out most of the season)
4. Musgrove. 2.81 vs. 3.81 ... DOWN 1.08
5. Paddack ... 5.13 vs. 4.73 ... UP 0.40

When 4 out of the 5 expected starting pitchers (and the top 3) basically fall apart (and not from being overworked) not going to win. Went from a projected top SP staff given their histories to just a serviceable staff for a wild card contender.

Quote from fenn68 on August 13, 2021, 10:57 am

For balance the 8 man starting line-up: Nola - Hosmer - Cronenworth - Tatis - Machad0 - Pham - Grisham - Myers are ALL carrying a wRC+ greater than 100 ... that is a long good offense. However, comparing to 2020 only Pham and Tatis are performing better. Notably lower are Myers (-49), Hosmer (-24), and Machado (-20). Overall, offense is about  the same ... so focus should remain on the SP.

Winning percentage in 2020 was .617 (in 60 game slate) and in 2021 it is .564 (in over 110 games). Putting things into perspective ... the last season prior to 2020 with a winning record was 2010, so a decade of losing. Then add that the last time the Padres had a greater than .564 winning percentage was 1998 (.605).

So while failing most of our 2021 expectations they are putting the best winning team in over 20 years.