Quote from Notmyopic on March 20, 2023, 11:56 am

Quote from Randy Manese on March 20, 2023, 11:50 am

Padres have had a glaring hole at catcher since Mike Piazza's penultimate year with the Padres in 2006.  Because the rest of the team was not full of all stars like this one, no one really noticed the big drop-off.  I mean Rene Rivera and Nick Hundley looked awfully good at times!  Like most things, not as bad as it seems - Padres will likely survive Nola's loss with better than a .500 record during his absence.

And that makes it less of a huge glaring hole?

Quote from MrPadre19 on March 20, 2023, 12:05 pm

Still a hole...but made up for with the offense around the position now.

IMO AJ likes Nola because the pitchers do and doesn't see it as a glaring need for this reason.

Just as CF isn't a "glaring need" because defense is superior and offense is made up for elsewhere.

 

 

Quote from Henry Silvestre on March 20, 2023, 12:58 pm

Quote from MrPadre19 on March 20, 2023, 12:05 pm

Still a hole...but made up for with the offense around the position now.

IMO AJ likes Nola because the pitchers do and doesn't see it as a glaring need for this reason.

Just as CF isn't a "glaring need" because defense is superior and offense is made up for elsewhere.

 

 

Not sure this is accurate at how AJP feels about Nola since he pursuit a trade for Vazquez / Contreras and Murphy at the deadline.. and Vazquez in the offseason even after Xander signed, Vazquez went to Twins cause of guaranteed #1 C vs SDP where he would have fought with Nola and Campy for starts.. and with the Soto trade.. he offered a lesser package for Sean Murphy vs Braves since his 6 shooter was low on ammo

Quote from Henry Silvestre on March 20, 2023, 1:17 pm

If u were AJP and news cone out circa 2pm that Nola will miss 8 weeks (return circa 5/20 to 6/1) obviously Nola to IL 60.. But what do u do?

1) Add Gary Sanchez (automatically your best C and a DR WBC member who feels at home with Manny Soto Diaz right awsy)

2) Stay the course bumping Campy to 1 /Sullivan 2 and having Severino/Seagle and Fernadez at AAA.. til Nola returns

3) Make a minor yet long term type trade like Eric Hasse even if it means including the untested Campusano in the deal.. allowing for a seemless transition once Nola/Hasse returns "upgrading" the bench as well with Eric's positional versatility.. Hasse would have 10 days or so to acclimate himself to pitching staff.. unless we included other pieces (not Campy) in deal raising ?? When Nola comes back

4) Go all in on Tyler Stephenson as a 3-4yr #1 guy while Salas/King Jr/others  get ready.. again P and Tyler would need to learn each other

5) Bring in the VET.. Salvador Perez if KC let's him go..already a mentor to Salas, can be his backup C in 2 yrs and ease the 18-19 yr old rook along nicely like he did in VWL..

 

4 is the least favorable to me.. no need to loose 1 2 or even 3 top prospects for Steohenson atm.. 5 would be more of a deadline move for me, I like 1 and 3 a lot.. but for now #2 is fine knowing the other 4 options are still there..and wouldn't mind a minor league deal for 1.. ramp up in AA/AAA and be ready if Campy/Sully struggle off the gate by 4/15 or so..

What's your view?

Quote from fenn68 on March 20, 2023, 1:51 pm

I will go with #2 … stay the course to start the season … need to fully understand when Nola is going to return … need to fully evaluate the incumbents (not just pre-judge) … then IF the catching situation is project to be a problem for the last 4 months of the season, then look at trade options. Until then I think (hope) the rest of this elite team still wins.

Might help that by then some teams with expendable catchers have lost all hope and are more willing to move an upgrade catcher at a “reasonable” price. Right now if a catcher is made available he is probably no upgrade over the incumbents.

Side: Sanchez is a FA in a league that needs catchers for a reason … he is not good. Would re-unite with the defensively challenged Alfaro before Sanchez … at least he knows the staff and, apparently, was liked.

_________________

IF Campusano / Sullivan don’t produce to near a #1 quality in 2023 … expect Preller on the hunt next offseason for a prime time catcher for #1 to replace Nola (getting old) and moving him (or one of the others) to #2. No long term expectation out of Severino.

 

Quote from BoosterSD on March 20, 2023, 2:12 pm

Quote from Henry Silvestre on March 20, 2023, 1:17 pm

If u were AJP and news cone out circa 2pm that Nola will miss 8 weeks (return circa 5/20 to 6/1) obviously Nola to IL 60.. But what do u do?

4) Go all in on Tyler Stephenson as a 3-4yr #1 guy while Salas/King Jr/others  get ready.. again P and Tyler would need to learn each other

What's your view?

I would avoid Stephenson like the plague. He is a product of CIN home ball park. Not very exciting away from Great American Ball Park.

Career Splits

Home: .340 BA, .405 OBP, .525 SLG

Away: .256 BA, .334 OBP, .387 SLG

Quote from BoosterSD on March 20, 2023, 2:17 pm

Quote from Henry Silvestre on March 20, 2023, 1:17 pm

5) Bring in the VET.. Salvador Perez if KC let's him go..already a mentor to Salas, can be his backup C in 2 yrs and ease the 18-19 yr old rook along nicely like he did in VWL..

What's your view?

Let's be realistic about Salas. He is a prospect, and most of the top prospects still flame out and dont make the majors. Lets let him get some real ABs and playing time before thinking he will set a record and be a ML ready C at age 18.

I am sure that he will be very good, and ML ready at a young age. But that age will be in 4 years, at age 20.

To plan or expect anything else is not realistic.

 

Quote from Notmyopic on March 20, 2023, 4:58 pm

Quote from BoosterSD on March 20, 2023, 2:17 pm

Quote from Henry Silvestre on March 20, 2023, 1:17 pm

5) Bring in the VET.. Salvador Perez if KC let's him go..already a mentor to Salas, can be his backup C in 2 yrs and ease the 18-19 yr old rook along nicely like he did in VWL..

What's your view?

Let's be realistic about Salas. He is a prospect, and most of the top prospects still flame out and dont make the majors. Lets let him get some real ABs and playing time before thinking he will set a record and be a ML ready C at age 18.

I am sure that he will be very good, and ML ready at a young age. But that age will be in 4 years, at age 20.

To plan or expect anything else is not realistic.

 

Also as you said, most prospects don’t make it.  As excited as we all are for him, the Padres can’t just act like he will have the position locked down in 3-4 years.

Quote from Henry Silvestre on March 20, 2023, 9:44 pm

Quote from Notmyopic on March 20, 2023, 4:58 pm

Quote from BoosterSD on March 20, 2023, 2:17 pm

Quote from Henry Silvestre on March 20, 2023, 1:17 pm

5) Bring in the VET.. Salvador Perez if KC let's him go..already a mentor to Salas, can be his backup C in 2 yrs and ease the 18-19 yr old rook along nicely like he did in VWL..

What's your view?

Let's be realistic about Salas. He is a prospect, and most of the top prospects still flame out and dont make the majors. Lets let him get some real ABs and playing time before thinking he will set a record and be a ML ready C at age 18.

I am sure that he will be very good, and ML ready at a young age. But that age will be in 4 years, at age 20.

To plan or expect anything else is not realistic.

 

Also as you said, most prospects don’t make it.  As excited as we all are for him, the Padres can’t just act like he will have the position locked down in 3-4 years.

nobody is saying that .. I mean we are signing the #2 Prospect in the world next January and he us a SS with even a higher grade than Salas in DeVrie and we are set at SS for the next Drcade+