Quote from MrPadre19 on May 13, 2024, 12:58 pm

Tanner Scott from Miami may be an option as a late inning reliever target.

Left handed and used to high leverage situations...also,with the trade of Arraez these two GM's should be familiar with each others wants/needs etc.

Andrew Kittredge or Ryan Helsley from Stl are other less expensive options.

My guess is Preller takes a "wait and see" attitude with the Pen and doesn't make a move until the deadline if at all.

 

 

Quote from sportwarrior on May 13, 2024, 2:34 pm

Quote from Randy Manese on May 12, 2024, 10:24 pm

Slightly more than 1/4 of the season gone, you have to be impressed by our two "rookie" starters, Campusano and Merrill.    Both have been solid both offensively and defensively and even though they are not performing at superstar levels, filling in what we expected to be big holes prior to the start of the 2024 season.

Really like how Campy has embraced his role as #1 catcher and the SPs seem to have a lot of confidence in him.  Greatly improved at blocking balls in the dirt and minimizing wild pitches.  Similarly, Merrill has shown good tracking skills in the OF and more than adequate closing speed.  Moves well both laterally and coming in/going back for balls.  Both can get better both offensively and defensively and undoubtedly will form that core group that will keep the team competitive in the years ahead.

I've been very impressed with both. I'd like them (and especially Jackson) to continue working on consistent power, but that'd about be my only gripe. I feel like Merrill puts together very high quality plate appearances on a consistent basis. Campy has done well in that regard, too, especially considering his approach through out the minors.

Moreover, I agree that their maturity has been exemplary. Campy regularly demonstrates a high-quality rapport with the pitching staff and Merrill seems to blend seamlessly in with the vets. I'm very excited to watch them continue their development.

Quote from fenn68 on May 14, 2024, 11:05 am

After a couple of good games ... checked out Merrill's fWAR status.

For all qualified ML CF ... Merrill now sits #4 ... amazing for a a rookie who just turned 21 and had never played CF before this season.

He is at #3 in wRC+ even with the limited power (says something about getting power out of a CF not named Judge). Maybe most importantly he is #7 in dWAR ... 7th best for a guy who never played CF or the OF!

The kid is the real deal and SHOULD own CF for the Padres for the next 6 years.

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Now don't know if Ken Rosenthal was really serious or just trying for clicks but reports suggest he has written the Padres should consider trading Merrill to OAK for their closer ... Mason Miller.

Now Miller is also a rookie with a 101 MPH FB and a plus breaking ball producing a 18K/9 vs only a 2BB/9 ... kid with serious talent but has only been in 13 games. #1 RP in fWAR.

Two real talents but who would trade 6 years of an elite CF for any pitching? Especially a 101 MPH closer who is more likely to blow out his arm sooner than later.

Quote from fenn68 on May 14, 2024, 11:20 am

Side: never understood (or accepted) fWAR when it comes to pitching ... so Suarez' ranking is just puzzling to me.

Suarez sits #31 for RP ... a closer who is 12 for 12 in saves (tied for most saves) ... #5 lowest ERA. Yet it appears he is down in the rankings apparently due to being #62 in innings pitched and being #131 in K/9.

Quality / effectiveness in actual game performance seems to be not evaluated in deference to the more theoretical aspects of K/9.

If fWAR is used in evaluation pitchers for contracts / arbitrations ... not fair for the pitchers. As it stands, Suarez is clearly a more effective RP than most of the RP that rank above him.

Quote from Randy Manese on May 14, 2024, 12:25 pm

I'm advocating bringing up Mazur for the last game of the Colorado series.  I know we want to win the series, but if go into Atlanta with Waldron, Darvish and Vasquez that is really tempting fate to even get 1 of 3.  If Padres bring up Mazur (believe he is scheduled to pitch in San Antonio on Wednesday anyway), he would be on his regular rest day and the Padres will simply have to outhit (especially in RISP) Colorado to claim the series win after Cease shuts Colorado down today.  Alternatively, you could bring up Wolf, who also is scheduled to pitch early this week.  Wolf coming off his best 2 games of the year and certainly a change of pace from other pitchers Colorado has faced.  Anyway, it's a long season and I'd like to have a better shot at winning the Atlanta series if I can throw King and Darvish against them vice Vasquez and Darvish (Waldron will pitch the other game).

Quote from fenn68 on May 16, 2024, 7:15 am

I a bit of a head scratcher for the season … not sure I have seen this before … but over 1/4 through the season a team (in this case the Padres) have a losing record (22-24) and are sitting in the 6th playoff slot.

I guess if you are frustrated with the Padres … think what you would feel if you are a fan of the worse off nine other NL teams. Strange days.

Quote from fenn68 on May 17, 2024, 7:03 am

I know this is not the most satisfying strategy given how poorly the Padres are playing but some sense of reality is the objective of making the playoffs supersedes the “quality” of play.To that end, at least so far, it appears if a team can hover around .500 they are just one hot streak from making the playoffs then … in the playoffs who knows.

Padres don’t have a lot of levers to pull other than light candles to the “stars” getting on track. However, there is one potential move that COULD keep the closer to .500 (maybe better) … readdress the #5 SP.

Waldron is the incumbent … 8 starts and the Padres are 1-7 in those starts. He has had 4 good starts (still the Padres lost 3 of them) and 4 really bad starts. So, on a “quality” basis he is .500 but on a team result basis not good. Do you move him out of #5 just because the team fails in his starts? Vasquez, Brito, or Morejon have not given any reason to think they would be better BUT Mazur may be worth the shot given his minor league worth (keeping in mind that a big jump to the ML).

Do you give Waldron a longer leash … his 50/50 good vs bad starts might turn to more Padres success in those good starts … so at least “better”. Do you go with the “hot” prospect to deliver a better ratio of good starts that at least would give the Padres a chance to compete (and win) closer to .500?

Padres are entering a 13 consecutive game run … some question on the timing (effectiveness) of Musgrove’s return and Vasquez has not impressed … so even before the make the call on Waldron … is this stretch call for the Padres to give Mazur a “test run”?

Quote from WindsorUK on May 17, 2024, 2:15 pm

I'm all in for giving the kid a shot👍🏼

Quote from 3fingersplit on May 17, 2024, 8:05 pm

I have been reading all these comments as I recover from another cancer surgery and I haven’t had the strength to actually post anything but I have to say this…all of you guys that are predicting gloom and doom and how this team sucks or this player isn’t doing his job…we have professional baseball in San Diego so pump the brakes on all the negativity…it’s freaking ridiculous and it’s baseball and I love it.

I don’t know if I’ll see another opening day but this has been my team since 1969 and I’ll ride with my Padres…good, bad, thin or flush and by the way…those of you that have been bagging on Waldron….you can stick it in your ear…he was awesome tonight…10k’s in 5.2 innings…give it a rest already

I gotta go lay down for a bit

go Padres!!!