Quote from Randy Manese on May 6, 2022, 12:21 pm

The promising thing about this season is that the team is doing well while it is still evolving.  The team that started out in April is not the team you are going to see by the end of June.  Melvin and staff are patient enough to know what they want to see and when they have seen enough - he is also very aware of injuries and have the big picture of a long season.  While it is true we have built up our success on the backs of some lower standing teams, a win is a win - would love to have had some of those last year facing "easier" teams.

With so many players coming back healthy from injuries and an expected glut of starting pitching and even possibly relief pitching, there is a lot of room for Preller to put something together if some of the bats don't get going and we don't get much more production off the bench. If you look around the league, a lot of players have had slow starts hitting-wise.  Could mandatory refrigerating of those baseballs this year be the cause?  Maybe with warmer whether, they'll play a little livelier.

Quote from lafnboy13 on May 6, 2022, 2:21 pm

Quote from fenn68 on May 5, 2022, 9:16 am

Quote from BoosterSD on May 5, 2022, 8:15 am

Quote from fenn68 on May 5, 2022, 7:27 am

Never really expect to take this tact but can't wait for Myers and Voit to be activated ... at least they have a track record of superior performance than Thompson, Azocar, and Beaty. All three of those guys are providing zero offense.

Also, adding Mazara (doing well in AAA and legit ML history) and dropping Beaty as the LHH is beginning to make a lot of sense.

Think Abrams goes down when (if) Tatis returns since zip in AAA for middle INF. Kim is doing well enough to hold a starting SS role until then and Abrams gets only spot starts as needed. Two more months?

I agree, Mazara needs to be given a chance in SD, cant be any worse than what we are getting from Beatty. Thompson and Azocar both seem to be that typical 4A player, too good for AAA, and cant cut it in the MLs.

When it comes to Abrams, I think that SD is doing a big disservice keeping him in SD. You can tell he is over matched in the MLs at this time. He needs his time in AAA to further his development. Waiting until Tatis comes back to send him down, IMO would be counter productive do his development, he needs daily at bats so he can adjust to better pitching.

Agree that Abrams should be in AAA but there is the practical matter that the Padres have nothing to back fill middle INF until Tatis returns and relying on Kim / Cronenworth / Machado as the INF everyday probably hurts the long term performance of the ML team. The other guys in AAA are not even performing in AAA.

I guess Abrams in the ML can be spun as a development challenge for him for three months and then play out the second half in the minors. He is getting playing time and hopefully learning what he needs to be a MLer.

Would guess that if in mid-season there is an issue with Tatis returning ... we may see Preller making a deal for a middle INF.

Why can't Profar move into the infield if there is a situation where Kim can't start? If we also have Mazara up then he would cover LF.

Quote from fenn68 on May 6, 2022, 6:09 pm

Quote from lafnboy13 on May 6, 2022, 2:21 pm

Quote from fenn68 on May 5, 2022, 9:16 am

Quote from BoosterSD on May 5, 2022, 8:15 am

Quote from fenn68 on May 5, 2022, 7:27 am

Never really expect to take this tact but can't wait for Myers and Voit to be activated ... at least they have a track record of superior performance than Thompson, Azocar, and Beaty. All three of those guys are providing zero offense.

Also, adding Mazara (doing well in AAA and legit ML history) and dropping Beaty as the LHH is beginning to make a lot of sense.

Think Abrams goes down when (if) Tatis returns since zip in AAA for middle INF. Kim is doing well enough to hold a starting SS role until then and Abrams gets only spot starts as needed. Two more months?

I agree, Mazara needs to be given a chance in SD, cant be any worse than what we are getting from Beatty. Thompson and Azocar both seem to be that typical 4A player, too good for AAA, and cant cut it in the MLs.

When it comes to Abrams, I think that SD is doing a big disservice keeping him in SD. You can tell he is over matched in the MLs at this time. He needs his time in AAA to further his development. Waiting until Tatis comes back to send him down, IMO would be counter productive do his development, he needs daily at bats so he can adjust to better pitching.

Agree that Abrams should be in AAA but there is the practical matter that the Padres have nothing to back fill middle INF until Tatis returns and relying on Kim / Cronenworth / Machado as the INF everyday probably hurts the long term performance of the ML team. The other guys in AAA are not even performing in AAA.

I guess Abrams in the ML can be spun as a development challenge for him for three months and then play out the second half in the minors. He is getting playing time and hopefully learning what he needs to be a MLer.

Would guess that if in mid-season there is an issue with Tatis returning ... we may see Preller making a deal for a middle INF.

Why can't Profar move into the infield if there is a situation where Kim can't start? If we also have Mazara up then he would cover LF.

On the fence on that option … could work but a bit concerned over a longer spell as Melvin wants to DH any of the INF for “rest” … ends up bouncing Profar back and forth which may not be all that good for him offensively or defensively.

I am more inclined to option Abrams and “find” a serviceable veteran middle INF to hold fort until Tatis returns.

Quote from fenn68 on May 6, 2022, 6:29 pm

Maybe it just me but it seems that Melvin is much more “old school” than Tingler / Green / and the analytics folks in the front office … and he is in control.

Clearly he believes in his SP going 6 or more innings and will do whatever he can to allow that to happen.

In the field, he seems to like establishing a position for a starter … and keep him there using the bench to move around to fill. About the only move has been Cronenworth to 1B if Hosmer to DH. Also, in the shifting we are not seeing Machado move much into short RF, rather he is usually staying on the left side of the INF. To me that suggests that Melvin would not like to move Profar back and forth between LF and INF as a strategy.

Since I am “old school” … that works for me. However, the Padres do need to scrounge up some better bench assets.

Quote from Randy Manese on May 6, 2022, 7:31 pm

Tough day for guys who are rehabbing or in "spring training".  Voit continues to struggle, striking out 4 x in 4 ABs.  Petit got hit hard and could not complete an inning, giving up 4 runs with one being a solo HR.  Contreras couldn't find the plate for Ft. Wayne but did get through one inning - he's is very rusty and looked uncomfortable with the pitch clock, having several balls called because he was not quick enough to the plate.  All these guys seem to have a long way to go.  Not sure what is wrong with Voit, but he looks lost at the plate.  Petit probably just needs more time as with Contreras.  Check back on the pitchers in a couple of weeks.  Voit might be pulled for some work with the hitting coach in San Diego.

Quote from fenn68 on May 7, 2022, 6:09 am

With the apparent need for more time to get Voit / Myers back in the line-up … think the Padres need to make a move that even marginally improves the offense.

Mazara is the logical add at the expense of Thompson (DFA). Thompson is only 1 for 14 (6K) and no real upside as an over 30 career minor leaguer. Thompson may be a RHH and Mazara a LHH but as it stands, Mazara may be better vs LHP than Thompson plus may be better than Beaty vs RHP. Note that I think Azocar has performed better than Thompson both offensively and defensively.

Additionally, Preller needs to scrounge around for a veteran that can provide some INF and/or OF back-up better than Abrams / Beaty / Azocar … again only needs to be a better option for the bench who can provide some offense above the .200 BA level. Probably someone “disposable” when Tatis / Myers / Voit all return.

At this point not looking for a starter (unlikely to get one at this point) … just create a credible bench.

Quote from 3fingersplit on May 7, 2022, 5:39 pm

Tim Hill to the IL with left shoulder tightness.....Kerr recalled to fill the LHP role out of the Pen

Quote from LynchMob on May 7, 2022, 6:20 pm

Beatty just left after diving for a ball and hurting shoulder ... that should get Mazera up ...

Man, our lineup stinks ...

Quote from fenn68 on May 7, 2022, 6:48 pm

Quote from Randy Manese on May 6, 2022, 7:31 pm

Tough day for guys who are rehabbing or in "spring training".  Voit continues to struggle, striking out 4 x in 4 ABs.  Petit got hit hard and could not complete an inning, giving up 4 runs with one being a solo HR.  Contreras couldn't find the plate for Ft. Wayne but did get through one inning - he's is very rusty and looked uncomfortable with the pitch clock, having several balls called because he was not quick enough to the plate.  All these guys seem to have a long way to go.  Not sure what is wrong with Voit, but he looks lost at the plate.  Petit probably just needs more time as with Contreras.  Check back on the pitchers in a couple of weeks.  Voit might be pulled for some work with the hitting coach in San Diego.

Looks as though Voit today again goes 0 for 4 with 4 Ks.

For a veteran with his offensive credentials  … has to be something more than the usual out of sync that a hitting coach can fix.

Remember he was not tearing it up when he when on the IL … maybe some real concern here.