Quote from Alex Tamayo on August 14, 2023, 6:28 pm

Quote from WindsorUK on August 14, 2023, 2:13 pm

Quote from sportwarrior on August 14, 2023, 11:33 am

Quote from BoosterSD on August 14, 2023, 10:46 am

Okay, once again I will drink some Kool Aid, and think that SD can use this home stand for a season turn around. 10 games at home v. BAL (3), AZ (4), and MIA (3).

If they can go 9-1 or 8-2, I will believe they have fire in their guts. Anything less, and I will confirm that my recent assessment of this team is correct and some one might need to pay for this abomination of a season with their job. And not just a sacrificial hitting coach this time!!!

I just cannot see how it's possible. At least 4 players only meetings, at least one coach's meeting, countless wakeup calls and new lows, and we're still completely unable to win the games we should and/or need to. This team... it just isn't it.

100%....this a horrible team.

Guy who put it together had no idea what he was doing. Can him.

At this point, I am not sure this Is actually a team, just a bunch of individuals playing together, still a 5-2 week would be wonderful

Quote from WindsorUK on August 16, 2023, 3:05 pm

Alright, should we start taking bets on final win total?

Does anyone have over 70?

Without the ability to win more than 3 in a row, and with the leagues worst clutch hitting, and really nothing to play for,  I think this group craters the rest of the way.

My bet is 70.

Quote from MrPadre19 on August 16, 2023, 4:33 pm

Give me 80

The exclamation point on this season would be playing well the last month and it being too little too late.

Quote from fenn68 on August 17, 2023, 2:13 am

Just a frustrating and hard to explain season so far. Was hoping that the ups and downs of April-July would settle and ... when it was crunch time in Aug - Sept ... the team we expected would come together ... apparently not.

In August , so far, a 6-8 record ... not good when trying to catch and pass 5 teams for a wild card slot especially when those teams are also paying mediocre ball and were  clearly passible with a strong winning streak. Some excuse with Musgrove and Wacha out injured but the pitching has tanked (18th in August ERA after being a top 5 team earlier). Relief pitching has run out of gas.

Offense has not stepped up to carry the team ... although somewhat an issue with a different set of players in August. OPS in August was 13th in MLB (.753 ... just above league average). However, the players "carrying " the team are surprising: Campusano (1.169); Sanchez (1.018); Cronenworth (.899); Kim (.812); Bogaeerts (.785) are all doing their part in crunch time.

The players not stepping up: Soto (.743 ... about league average for a high paid super start); Tatis (.689); Grisham (.624); and maybe the biggest disappointment Machado (.600). Big money super stars and 2-4 in the line-up are all failing when they are needed most.

I guess if Soto - Tatis - Machado all get hot (and the rest don't cool off) ... with the return of an effective Wacha ... there is still a shot with a blistering stretch run ... if none of those teams ahead get hot ... long shot but the horses to pull it off (in theory) ... but even the optimistic side of me can only must an 81 win season and missing the Wild Card.

Quote from fenn68 on August 17, 2023, 2:51 am

Beginning to look ahead to 2024 and how to reconstruct the the roster around the guaranteed big contracts that will return. Some early season performances are being recast with late season showing. Hard to sort reality going forward if wanting to bring some FA  back.

Early guess is they let Hader go (putting pressure on the end of the pen) along with FA Garcia, Rich Hill, Pomeranz, Cooper, Choi. Then it become a question on players with a contract option for 2024 .. Wacha will likely have is Club Option picked up ($32MM/2 years ... need good SP) but Martinez' Club Option will likely be declined (then a question will he pick up the Player Option for about $8MM ...given age and 2023 ... probably yes). Lugo has a Player Option for $7.5MM (early thought an easy decline but lately not so sure). Then there is Carpenter who has a Player Option for $5.5MM who we would have to believe he exercises ... given he has gone into deep hiding not sure when the Padres move on but can't see him in 2024.

The challenge will be SP with Musgrove, Darvish, and Wacha (likely) returning ... almost every team wanting to add SP .... how hard to they go to re-sign Snell given his Cy Young level of work in 2023? It should be an aggressive SP FA market but maybe the Padres have an advantage with Snell's need for routine and a comfort level.

That ties directly to the other FA question ... Gary Sanchez. He has been better defensively and offensively than I expected plus, importantly, seems to have a good relationship with Snell. No idea (at age 30) what kind of contract he would command or whether 2023 is the real Gary Sanchez. At the base level the Padres still need a catcher to pair with Campusano (who seems to be winning a  major role for 2024) and Nola seems ticketed for a non-tender.

We will know the FA/option decisions at the end of the World Series and that will clarify the winter strategy. Can't address everything with big money stars and have to hope/believe the core returning players will be what we need to compete. Makes me think that a winter focus on SP/RP will be the plan. That adds pressure on re-signing Snell.

Quote from fenn68 on August 17, 2023, 3:17 am

Something to start considering is Merrill's role in 2024 with the ML club. Up until his .300 hitting production in AA I would have set him as a potential late 2024 call-up. Now, remembering Tatis jumped successfully for AA, could we see a role for Merrill to start 2024 with the ML club?

He should be more productive (plus have a future) than Carpenter, Gamel, Choi, or any of the other LHH options that have been trotted out in 2023. Add that he can legit play middle INF if not DHing. Get him playing ... greater production and a league minimum cost would seem smart ... plus might alter the approach to Kim (last season before FA).

IF IF IF ... the stars rebound ... Kim / Campusano keep hitting ... and just one bat (Merrill) would effectively lengthen the line-up 1-9 (and can carry Grisham for defense). Then just add some better veteran bench pieces ... low cost and the offense should be fine. That set-up then sends the focus (and spending) at pitching.

Don't see any other hitters ready for 2024 within the system ... one I would rely on as bench pieces. Pitching is always hard to judge the jump to the ML ... but maybe Irate and /or Mazur are close enough to help fill out he staff (RP / #5-6 SP). Probably should consider Avila in some role (out of minor league options) ... I had written him off but his 2023 has suggested he too should get a look.

Quote from BoosterSD on August 17, 2023, 7:59 am

Quote from BoosterSD on August 14, 2023, 10:46 am

Okay, once again I will drink some Kool Aid, and think that SD can use this home stand for a season turn around. 10 games at home v. BAL (3), AZ (4), and MIA (3).

If they can go 9-1 or 8-2, I will believe they have fire in their guts. Anything less, and I will confirm that my recent assessment of this team is correct and some one might need to pay for this abomination of a season with their job. And not just a sacrificial hitting coach this time!!!

OK, we took 2 of 3 from BAL, one of the best teams in MLB. And the one loss in my 9-1, was in my thoughts to BAL. So now it is time to pull their collective heads out of their arses and take care of business and sweep AZ and MIA.

IF they do that, then they are in a fairly nice spot to burn through September hot, and ATL Brave this to a WS Championship.

Quote from Stergios on August 17, 2023, 8:37 am

Quote from BoosterSD on August 17, 2023, 7:59 am

Quote from BoosterSD on August 14, 2023, 10:46 am

Okay, once again I will drink some Kool Aid, and think that SD can use this home stand for a season turn around. 10 games at home v. BAL (3), AZ (4), and MIA (3).

If they can go 9-1 or 8-2, I will believe they have fire in their guts. Anything less, and I will confirm that my recent assessment of this team is correct and some one might need to pay for this abomination of a season with their job. And not just a sacrificial hitting coach this time!!!

OK, we took 2 of 3 from BAL, one of the best teams in MLB. And the one loss in my 9-1, was in my thoughts to BAL. So now it is time to pull their collective heads out of their arses and take care of business and sweep AZ and MIA.

IF they do that, then they are in a fairly nice spot to burn through September hot, and ATL Brave this to a WS Championship.

https://friarsonbase.com/posts/san-diego-padres-albert-pujols-bold-statement

Quote from Stergios on August 17, 2023, 8:39 am

Quote from fenn68 on August 17, 2023, 3:17 am

Something to start considering is Merrill's role in 2024 with the ML club. Up until his .300 hitting production in AA I would have set him as a potential late 2024 call-up. Now, remembering Tatis jumped successfully for AA, could we see a role for Merrill to start 2024 with the ML club?

He should be more productive (plus have a future) than Carpenter, Gamel, Choi, or any of the other LHH options that have been trotted out in 2023. Add that he can legit play middle INF if not DHing. Get him playing ... greater production and a league minimum cost would seem smart ... plus might alter the approach to Kim (last season before FA).

IF IF IF ... the stars rebound ... Kim / Campusano keep hitting ... and just one bat (Merrill) would effectively lengthen the line-up 1-9 (and can carry Grisham for defense). Then just add some better veteran bench pieces ... low cost and the offense should be fine. That set-up then sends the focus (and spending) at pitching.

Don't see any other hitters ready for 2024 within the system ... one I would rely on as bench pieces. Pitching is always hard to judge the jump to the ML ... but maybe Irate and /or Mazur are close enough to help fill out he staff (RP / #5-6 SP). Probably should consider Avila in some role (out of minor league options) ... I had written him off but his 2023 has suggested he too should get a look.

I’m thinking that we should try to make Merrill into a Crone/Kim-type player, a guy who can play all over.  And with his speed, I try him out in the OF as well.  Is that being unrealistic?