Quote from BoosterSD on June 12, 2023, 6:17 am

I am surprised that SD did not get something done for Plesac. Not sure what happened behind the scenes obviously, but he was DFA'd so you would think that CLE didnt want a lot for him.

This could have worked out well for SD not only this season, but next as well.

Quote from fenn68 on June 12, 2023, 7:56 am

Quote from BoosterSD on June 12, 2023, 6:17 am

I am surprised that SD did not get something done for Plesac. Not sure what happened behind the scenes obviously, but he was DFA'd so you would think that CLE didnt want a lot for him.

This could have worked out well for SD not only this season, but next as well.

The fact that no team claimed Plesac (who does not have a big contract and has minor league options) might suggest that the league is not that high on him.

Quote from fenn68 on June 12, 2023, 9:13 am

Listen to two interviews last week ... first with Soto saying he prefers batting 3rd or 4th (note he was not saying he was not willing to bat 2nd) ... next Melvin who indicating that batting Soto 2nd gets his best hitter up in the line-up and as a LHH keeps a gap between him and the next LHH giving a problem to opposing teams.

Not sure how much this decision is pure Melvin or ... as often stated ... a collective decision with the coaches and front office (assume analytics department) and who has the influence. However modern analytical thinking does place your best hitter 2nd ... and essentially top load the 1st inning with the best hitters. Also, analytics may not think where a batter hits actually impacts the batter or even the continual movement up and down the line-up. Theory may say it shouldn't (a good hitter can hit at any spot) but reality suggests ... for some ... it does and if a team wants to win they need to work with that ... not fight it.

However, "theory" has to sometimes give ground to what is actually happening in the field and for the Padres / Soto ... don't bat him 2nd.

Soto has a .528 OPS batting 2nd vs .959 (3rd) and .1187 (4th). The reason is irrelevant if you want to win ... maybe just in his head or maybe the pitchers approach the #2 hitter differently. Soto is right and Padres should just sit him at #3.

So how to set up the rest of line-up. Tatis has been hitting #1 or #2 and OPS is about the same in either slot ... over .850. So comfortable with him in either slot and no other player is hitting better than Tatis in either slot.

Option to have Bogaerts lead off (.735 OPS) ... however he has not been used at #2 .... so some unknown but could try Tatis leading off and Bogaerts 2nd and keep Tatis' game changing speed engaged.

Option is Tatis leading off and at #2 platoon Cronenworth (.736 at #2) and Kim (.538 at #2) letting Bogarts hit #4 (.823).

Until Machado gets his stroke back ... drop him to #5 (he will not like that). If winning now is important ... have to deal with current production and Machado is struggling and hurts the line-up hitting higher.

How about Tatis - Bogaerts - Soto (L) - Machado - Cronenworth (L) - Sanchez - DH (L/R) - Kim - Grisham (L). Keeps the LHH apart ... drops Soto to his better slot ... assuming Machado get back on track while Sanchez cools off.

Quote from BoosterSD on June 12, 2023, 9:37 am

I said it at the beginning of the year, and I will say it again now Soto needs to bat 4th.

And in keeping the LHH separated, which I have always agreed with as well, I would think again about batting Grisham 2nd. Historically it is his most successful batting spot. Plus he can bunt well, (yesterday being an exception), letting Tatis speed play well. And with that being said, it might be time to go to a platoon situation with Azocar and Grisham. Both have opposite splits, Grisham better v. LHP and Azocar v. RHP, mind that Azocar is a small sample size. They both occupy the 2 spot.

Lead off 1. Tatis, 2. Grisham/Azocar, 3. Machado, 4. Soto, 5. Bogaerts, 6. Sanchez DH or C, 7. Crone (this is his best spot historically) 8. Kim, 9. Nola or Odor based on C duties.

This is a balanced line up, with only Bogaerts and Sanchez being back to back same handed batters, depending on C and DH spots. It puts each batter in their historically best batting spot, with the exception of Sanchez, and he is not batting 3rd on this team. Machado is coming around, he will be fine. Leave 1-8 the same each day, changing out Nola and Odor at 9 based on who is C that day, Nola or Sanchez.

Quote from fenn68 on June 12, 2023, 11:17 am

Not really an issue now for the Padres but after June 15th they can trade any of the FA signed last winter (until then the players had a no trade right).

Possible opens some possibilities for more options on moves when players are coming off the IL given the cluster of players without minor league options.

Technically Wacha, Martinez, Lugo, Honeywell, Carpenter, and Cruz are now in play. Wacha and Martinez are not going anywhere BUT the others (not for much but maybe the alternatives are better).

Carpenter and Lugo are both “older’ and clearly not doing much for the Padres so far yet may have some appeal to others in a playoff run. I pick on them since both have player options for 2024 totaling around $13MM and looking ahead could get more productivity out of someone else for that than those two.

Doesn’t have to be immediately but something to consider even before the trade deadline.

Quote from Jeremy Hill on June 12, 2023, 11:38 am

My only real concern with Soto at this point is that he's still not covering the outer half of the plate well and thus really struggling with lefties. He still only has a handful of opposite field hits.

Career vs RHP .295/.447/.555

2022 .261/.431/.511

2023 .280/.435/.527

 

Career vs LHP .263/.373/.453

2022 .210/.348/.354

2023 .213/.344/.333

 

He's been slightly down, but still elite against right handers. The drop off against lefties has been much more significant. It also seems to be getting worse. Last year he still maintained a nearly 1:1 K to BB ratio. This year it's just short of 1:2. He doesn't look good against lefties. It's been a lot of weak contact and rolling over on balls mixed with more chasing and swinging and missing than before.

 

Quote from WindsorUK on June 12, 2023, 12:41 pm

Tatis

Cronenworth

Machado

Soto

Boagaerts

Sanchez

DH

Kim

Grisham

Quote from BoosterSD on June 12, 2023, 1:49 pm

Quote from WindsorUK on June 12, 2023, 12:41 pm

Tatis

Cronenworth

Machado

Soto

Boagaerts

Sanchez

DH

Kim

Grisham

I get the no love for Grisham in the 2 spot, but Crone is not the answer either.

Crone career splits batting 2nd versus 7th.

2nd .237 BA, .346 OBP, & .408 SLG - 410 ABs

7th .280 BA, .356 OBP, & .470 SLG - 100 ABs Yes smaller sample size.

Grisham career splits batting 2nd.

.256 BA, .346 OBP, & .496 SLG - 117 ABs

So why not get the best Crone and Grisham possible.

Quote from 3fingersplit on June 12, 2023, 3:08 pm

Back on April 20th I commented about how the Dbacks were going to be a team that would give others a hard time because they were young and fast and played with a lot of enthusiasm…the Padres took 3 of 4 and both teams were right about.500…here we are in June and the Padres are 3 games under.500 in 4th place in the NL West and the Dbacks are 15 games OVER .500 and sit on top of the NL West with the Padres 9 games behind them….whatever they are doing sure seems like the right recipe…Go Figure

Our Padres need to get a sense of urgency to get back into this race