Quote from BoosterSD on February 20, 2023, 12:41 pm

Quote from Henry Silvestre on February 20, 2023, 12:19 pm

 

Bell was .587 OPS... I dont think our lowest 13 th guy will hit lower than that

.192 .316 .271 .587 Bell as a Padre

Steamers projections for 2023 SD line up, OPS wise, the lowest OPS they are predicting is from Batten with a .627 OPS in 13 PA. The lowest from a batter projected to see over 100 PA is Azocar with an OPS of .661. Every other regular, is projected to have an OPS over .700, including Campusano, Nola, and Grisham.

So this team should be in really good shape offense wise in 2023.

Quote from fenn68 on February 21, 2023, 6:17 pm

A lot of speculation on the rule changes … mainly the impact of the end of the shift and the pitch clock for pitchers. We should probably consider the clock associated with batters getting in the box ready to hit and limits to time out to step out.

While pitchers have a years of routine to develop a slow to deliver approach that has to be altered (and that may impact certain pitchers with a limited ability to change) … so have hitters who have developed routines (slow delaying routines) before getting ready to hit and the frequency of stepping out if they feel “uncomfortable”. Not sure which Padres fall in that profile and if they have to change will that impact their hitting.

It does not take much to throw a hitter or pitcher off their game if their career routine has to be changed … some will but some may have trouble impacting their performance. No way to tell when it comes to Padres who will have to change approach and whether they can successfully. Sort of a wild card in projecting performance.

I just recall Mike Hargrove from years past who before every pitch and to step out and got through a long set-up routine before returning to the box and being ready to hit. Hope we never see the like of that again.

Anyone have an opinion which Padre hitters will have to quicken their routine? Did not see much of Soto but he seems to be “slower” than most.

Quote from fenn68 on February 21, 2023, 6:25 pm

Martinez back to the WBC … not sure that is good or bad for his 2023 season. Getting up to full speed early takes a lot of bullets out of his arm and the season is 162 games.

With him and Darvish in the WBC … makes the 6 man rotation even more useful in lessening their early season workload. Also, makes a deep bullpen more useful to allow pulling them maybe an inning early (probably if the Padres are blowing the other team it) with lesser risk of having the game flip … and saving some more of their arms early.

It should be interesting to see the SP innings management in the first half of the season to ensure strong arms for the stretch / playoffs. The offense should help in giving some flexibility in the strategy the employ.

Quote from Notmyopic on February 24, 2023, 12:37 pm

Finally, games have started.

Quote from Henry Silvestre on February 24, 2023, 2:18 pm

Jackson Merrill one game in ST and already making his case as SD 2B in 2023.. 2 for 2 Run score.. turned a beautiful double play on D

Worst case scenario he is starting in AA

Quote from 3fingersplit on February 24, 2023, 6:24 pm

Take aways from the first game....Manny being Manny, Martinez looked good. Weathers deserved better...Soto muffed it and led to 3 unearned runs, Pitch clock is a winner...Get the ball and rock and fire and lastly...Jackson Merrill goes 3-3 with a run scored...he may be here sooner than later but lets see how the Spring goes...I really liked his approach at the plate.

Quote from Henry Silvestre on February 24, 2023, 6:36 pm

Quote from 3fingersplit on February 24, 2023, 6:24 pm

Take aways from the first game....Manny being Manny, Martinez looked good. Weathers deserved better...Soto muffed it and led to 3 unearned runs, Pitch clock is a winner...Get the ball and rock and fire and lastly...Jackson Merrill goes 3-3 with a run scored...he may be here sooner than later but lets see how the Spring goes...I really liked his approach at the plate.

Appears BoMel likes him too.. he will be starting tomorrow

Quote from Notmyopic on February 25, 2023, 5:37 am

Quote from Henry Silvestre on February 24, 2023, 6:36 pm

Quote from 3fingersplit on February 24, 2023, 6:24 pm

Take aways from the first game....Manny being Manny, Martinez looked good. Weathers deserved better...Soto muffed it and led to 3 unearned runs, Pitch clock is a winner...Get the ball and rock and fire and lastly...Jackson Merrill goes 3-3 with a run scored...he may be here sooner than later but lets see how the Spring goes...I really liked his approach at the plate.

Appears BoMel likes him too.. he will be starting tomorrow

Prediction:  he makes his first out today.

Quote from Randy Manese on February 26, 2023, 1:45 pm

You have to believe that in the majority of their games, the Padres' offense is going to provide a lot of run support to their starting pitchers.  Today's ST game against the Diamondbacks is an exaggerated example of what the offense could generate on a regular basis.  Having/expecting this kind of run support will likely allow starting pitchers to go deeper into games, even those whose expected ERA's are in the mid 4's.  This, in turn, will help the bullpen who will have many good shutdown options to turn to in closing out a game.