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2023 Season
#611 · June 17, 2023, 2:47 pm
I return to my general dissatisfaction with Juan Soto … and on-going theme for me.
I still see him as a stats darling of the analytic community but when it comes to team performance he still does not deliver in high leverage / clutch situations. Now with that as my starting point … things are getting worse even from the analytic standpoint.
He had a poor April … very hot May … but now in June an abysmal slash line (for the best hitter in baseball) of 235/365/353 noting all three are down but the power drop in most worrisome.
However, I am here to help (really to try to get his trade value up to move him before 2024). As most seem to recognize Soto is a pure disaster hitting 2nd with a slash line of 187/319/307 in 75 AB … also him being set at #2 also ties with his terrible June. Note that at #3 (131 AB) 282/447/511 and #4 (30 AB) 333/487/700 … think those are better numbers.
To be honest I have no idea what the Padres front office is thinking. If they are locked into “theory” that a team’s best hitter should be batting #2 and believe Soto is the team’s best hitter so keep running him out there until proven right … shouldn’t they look at reality on the field and try to win not prove a theory.
Maybe they don’t have a much better option at #2 BUT Soto’s production at #3/#4 is a gigantic improvement over him at #2 or any of the other players deployed at #3/#4 … isn’t that a good strategy? With that slash line level at #3/#4 he should accidentally become more productive in high leverage situations.
Improve his 2023 stat profile and maybe some team will deal for him sooner than later. No way I sign Soto long term even at a lower AAV.
Side: just piling on here but I find him annoying at the plate as he consistently makes bold moves to 1B thinking a walk on a pitch clearly over the plate then mugs shock that a pitch was called against him. The Padres should just let him shuffle off to another team.
#612 · June 17, 2023, 4:06 pm
Soto is hitting .323/.421/.484 and has had a number of hard hit tough outs since moving back into the 2 hole.
#613 · June 17, 2023, 4:26 pm
Quote from Jeremy Hill on June 17, 2023, 4:06 pmSoto is hitting .323/.421/.484 and has had a number of hard hit tough outs since moving back into the 2 hole.
Outside of the 5 for 5 game vs. SEA with 4 RBI ... what has he done in JUN? 8 for 46 with 3 RBI in 13 games (not sure they were all in the #2 slot ... but still). .174 BA and only 3 RBI hitting behind the hot Tatis ... that will not get the Padres into the playoffs.
#614 · June 17, 2023, 5:11 pm
He's 2 for 20 hitting 3rd in June. There are plenty of reasons to be frustrated with Soto. Chalking it all up to lineup position is wishful thinking.
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#615 · June 17, 2023, 5:39 pm
Quote from Jeremy Hill on June 17, 2023, 5:11 pmHe's 2 for 20 hitting 3rd in June. There are plenty of reasons to be frustrated with Soto. Chalking it all up to lineup position is wishful thinking.
That I agree with ... he has the ability to underwhelm from any position in the line-up (the core of my issue with Soto).
Not creating a cause - effect scenario but his production (or lack thereof) is worse for him batting 2nd and can't just keep running him out there ... still will slump at any other slot but at least this season he has shown some life outside of the 2nd slot. Don't care why ... just is.
#616 · June 17, 2023, 6:09 pm
I don't remember the exact numbers anymore, but he started out something like 7 for 40 hitting 3rd and 3 or 4 of the hits were off Charlie Morton. It was clear he wasn't right early on. He worked his way out of it and was hitting 3rd when he started to get going. I think he'll be fine hitting 2nd now that he's figured some things out. I've said it before, but I'm much more concerned with the fact that he's still so pull happy. That to me is the real reason he hasn't been the old Soto and that's been a consistent problem regardless of where he's hitting.
#617 · June 18, 2023, 2:37 pm
OK Padres make somewhat of a odd roster move.
They added to the 40 man Preston Tucker … 32 year old LHH OF and immediately put him on the IL with plantar fasciitis. I guess he had an opt out coming soon they did not want to be exercised.
Angel Filipe was DFA to make room.
I guess the question is why the Padres would go through that exercise given that Tucker really is not really a prospect and unlikely to do much to help the club BUT he has no minor league options so when off the IL he has to be added to the active 26 man … displacing someone else.
Note that plantar fasciitis can linger for a long time … so maybe the IL goes beyond the trade deadline and they may need his LH bat then or alternatively they wanted to keep him around over the winter so the IL to avoid the opt out was the only option.
Just seems like a lot of effort with not that much potential upside.
#618 · June 21, 2023, 10:48 am
With the DFA of Crismatt the 40 man now sits at 39 ... the four 60 day IL players (Pomeranz, Campusano, Suarez, Rosario) are not near returning and then add rehab time ... that is not going to be an issue in filling that last slot.
Does this give Preller a window (until the trade deadline) to add a non-roster player targeting and upgrade the 26 man roster. Don't see that coming internally ... so is there an opportunity for trade (probably a minor deal using a mid-range prospect) for that upgrade. The threshold is not all that high for an upgrade at DH/1B for some offense. Maybe just a rental type but not the point to look long term.
#619 · June 22, 2023, 5:03 am
Quote from fenn68 on June 21, 2023, 10:48 amWith the DFA of Crismatt the 40 man now sits at 39 ... the four 60 day IL players (Pomeranz, Campusano, Suarez, Rosario) are not near returning and then add rehab time ... that is not going to be an issue in filling that last slot.
Does this give Preller a window (until the trade deadline) to add a non-roster player targeting and upgrade the 26 man roster. Don't see that coming internally ... so is there an opportunity for trade (probably a minor deal using a mid-range prospect) for that upgrade. The threshold is not all that high for an upgrade at DH/1B for some offense. Maybe just a rental type but not the point to look long term.
Anyone think that 40th spot goes to Alek Jacob?
25 yrs old and dominating AA right now.
#620 · June 22, 2023, 5:52 am
Quote from MrPadre19 on June 22, 2023, 5:03 amQuote from fenn68 on June 21, 2023, 10:48 amWith the DFA of Crismatt the 40 man now sits at 39 ... the four 60 day IL players (Pomeranz, Campusano, Suarez, Rosario) are not near returning and then add rehab time ... that is not going to be an issue in filling that last slot.
Does this give Preller a window (until the trade deadline) to add a non-roster player targeting and upgrade the 26 man roster. Don't see that coming internally ... so is there an opportunity for trade (probably a minor deal using a mid-range prospect) for that upgrade. The threshold is not all that high for an upgrade at DH/1B for some offense. Maybe just a rental type but not the point to look long term.
Anyone think that 40th spot goes to Alek Jacob?
25 yrs old and dominating AA right now.
Has to be an option in play but probably only if an injury prompts it … at least prior to the trade deadline. Guessing Preller will hold using that slot while searching for an enhancement for the offense first (probably a trade).
Although don’t really think Preller will have an issue … if needed … with DFA of a number of current roster players if room is needed. Not seeing a long term future for Batten, Rivas, Tucker, Dixon, Avila, Tapia, even Groome. Cruz / Carpenter have to also be on the bubble if Preller adds a bat.
The 40 man roster is just weak … the bottom part of the 26 man … clearly on the offensive side is bad and debatable with the pitching. The 13 in the minors effectively only has Weathers and Knehr that, for me, really have a chance for long term ML value.
So, if the Padres want to add an upside player … should be no issue. Problem is that AAA and AA has little to offer … especially if looking for help in 2023. Jacob, Wolf, and the resurgent Ornelas, outside chance as a bench piece in Fernandez may be a factor in 2024-5.