Quote from Henry Silvestre on May 27, 2023, 7:33 am

Quote from fenn68 on May 27, 2023, 7:14 am

In a similar “tough decision” … what to do with Nola given no obvious internal options with Campusano out for two months and Sullivan here but only marginally more productive. Padres love his handling of the pitching staff and he is really connected to Darvish but his bat has deteriorated below just bad and can’t be realistically carried by this team trying to scratch back into contention. His Apr … May slash lines:

155/279/241 … (58 AB) … 5 RBI

094/216/094 … (32 AB) … 0 RBI … only 3 singles

Most likely in the short run Sullivan gets the bulk of the catching assignments but the Nola decision has to be made … at age 33 (and maybe the head injury played a part) don’t see any significant rebound to ML quality. Can they really wait for Campusano?

Plawecki is now in AAA … a historically slightly better than .200 hitter in the ML but that is sadly better than Nola. In AAA Cantu can’t hit and Rodriguez is not even good enough to be a regular catcher in the minors.

Good chance Preller is on the phone trying to find a catcher … not just body but one that can be considered an upgrade over Plawecki as Nola’s replacement. At this point in the season few teams are going to make that easy.

Think Nola has a minor league option … wonder if some time in EP would help … call up Plawecki and retain Nola as insurance if Sullivan / Plawecki get injured while still shopping for an upgrade?

Something has to be done.

To be honest Sully seems to be getting more and more comfortable and also the bulk of the C lately... Bring up Plawecki let him assume Nola's role.. Put Nola on 10 day IL.. then let him play a week/2weeks/ a month at AAA see if he can find his .250 stroke from last season and bring him back (IF either of Sully or Plawecki falter).

I dont think he is right at all... like PTSD or something from face hit... he should have been IL then and sit out a week or 2 or more after.. He was on fire in ST.. then the hit face and this version of Nola (age or not) is not just recession

Quote from Henry Silvestre on May 27, 2023, 7:37 am

Quote from fenn68 on May 27, 2023, 6:49 am

Quote from Henry Silvestre on May 26, 2023, 8:48 pm

If we keep getting contributions from Dixon + Odor and Carp and Cruz continue to struggle.. wouldn't mind seeing these 2 DHing until we get someone >

Agree … when Machado and Kim (who was one of the more productive hitters in May) return they will start … forcing some tough decisions given the play of Odor and Dixon (and the poor play of Cruz and Carpenter).

The tough decision is what to do with Cruz and Carpenter who have been very very bad in May. Machado off the IL means drop someone (Dixon or Azocar can be optioned). If it is Cruz is there an issue with the Dominican players who look at Cruz and a leader / legend… if Carpenter he is on a larger contract with a player option for 2024 meaning Padres would be eating even more dead money. Who has the best chance to contribute going forward? Is there a phantom IL on the horizon? To note:

1. Cruz

323/338/565 (62 AB) .. Apr … 16 RBI

147/194/147 (34 AB) … May … 0 RBI … 14 K

2. Carpenter

271/393/583 (48 AB) … Apr … 15 RBI

111/238/185 (54 AB) … May … 5 RBI … 24 K (that is huge in 54 AB)

Who goes? Both are “old” but guess Carpenter has the better chance to slightly rebound and at least he can play a field position in case of injury. Leads me to Cruz as the odd man out … but Padres probably don’t go that route NOW.

I guess Azocar who has not been getting much playing time and only serving as the back-up CF if Grisham get hurt. Gamble a bit … play Grisham full time and IF injured Azocar is a plane flight away and in the interim slide Tatis to CF and back fill RF with Dixon / Odor.

I can see a world in which Cruz becomes assistant to the Manager /hitting coach .. soon.. keeping him in the dugout and the organization ..maybe takes over a minor league club in 2024 as Manager *in trainning

Quote from BoosterSD on May 27, 2023, 11:15 am

I do like the idea of Cruz staying on this season and maybe more as coach/hitting guru. Also thinking that maybe Bogaerts maybe should be DH and keep Kim at SS and Crone at 2B. That would allow SD to go get a bigger bat for 1B, that can share time with Carpenter should his bat bounce back a to a respectable mark.

Quote from Stergios on May 28, 2023, 4:58 am

**** it…I say just call up Salas.  How much worse could it get?!?!

Quote from Henry Silvestre on May 28, 2023, 3:12 pm

Quote from Stergios on May 28, 2023, 4:58 am

**** it…I say just call up Salas.  How much worse could it get?!?!

Cant til his 18th birthday.. 6/1/2024 per MLB rules... also can't even have him in minor league ball til 17 yrs old (states side) why he still in AZ complex and not LE .. 6/1/23 he turns 17.. so Thursday he will likely be in LE

Quote from Henry Silvestre on May 28, 2023, 5:00 pm

Didn't even realized this til now..

The Padres haven't had their 4 best players in the lineup in the same game  for 35 of their 53 games.. only 18 games with all 4 in the lineup..

Quote from fenn68 on May 29, 2023, 12:14 pm

Well 1/3rd of he season in the books and a losing record (24-29) but played without Tatis for 20 games, injuries to Musgrove / Machado, and slumps for Soto (early) and Bogaerts (late) along with zip for the supporting players on offense. Yet, per Roster Resource the Padres are still given a 10% chance to win the NL West and 54% chance of the playoffs. So the next two months (prior to the trade deadline) will be critical on which direction the Padres take.

Although the poor play of the supporting players is an issue ... in my mind the season rests on the big 5 bats (Tatis, Machado, Soto, Bogaerts, and Cronenworth) all playing to expectations (and their contracts). They fail and the team will fail ... they succeed the team will succeed. So, not sure the Padres can do much (if anything) to change the team's destiny if the big 5 is failing at the trade deadline (besides not having much to deal for an impact player except the few remaining plus prospects in A ball). If that is the case, are the Padres sellers ... they have a few pieces that could get them some decent upper level prospects.

 

Quote from MrPadre19 on May 29, 2023, 3:14 pm

Gary Sanchez on a Major League deal.

 

Quote from fenn68 on May 29, 2023, 3:46 pm

Quote from MrPadre19 on May 29, 2023, 3:14 pm

Gary Sanchez on a Major League deal.

 

They do have an open slot on the 40 man so no action there.

Will it be Sullivan optioned or Nola optioned / IL / released for the spot on the 26 man?

______________

Not a fan of Sanchez either offensively or defensively at this stage of his career ... but may still better offense than either Nola or Sullivan.

Power yes but not much BA and a high K%. Defensively has a big throwing arm but has a very poor track record on passed balls and catcher errors ... not a great rep in handling pitchers.

I guess they did not get impressed by Plawecki in AAA and (if it is Nola the odd man out) just saw the futility in sticking with Nola.

Probably a plus if you are looking for some offense ... but really on the margin (net) and will not move the needle up on the season.