Quote from Jeremy Hill on June 4, 2024, 7:15 pm

Ippei lied about going to UC Riverside. He lied about working for the Red Sox. He lied about working for the Yankees. I think he's a pathological liar who only came clean when he realized the jig was up. Shohei was cleared by a federal investigation. All of the evidence points to him being a victim.

The news about Marcano and company does have me wondering if gambling is a bigger problem with players than the league is letting on. I kind of look at it similarly to PED use in some regard. They probably aren't the only ones gambling. They're just the only ones dumb enough to get caught. It's not a good look for the league with how much they push gambling on fans. It also sort of feels like Marcano is getting jammed up on a technicality. He gets banned for life because he was technically on a major league roster even though he was rehabbing when the bets were made. It seems like the actual bets would fit the same criteria the league used to explain the 1 year suspensions for the other guys. I don't feel bad for any of them. It does feel slightly unfair to Marcano though.

Quote from WindsorUK on June 4, 2024, 11:14 pm

Quote from Jeremy Hill on June 4, 2024, 7:15 pm

Ippei lied about going to UC Riverside. He lied about working for the Red Sox. He lied about working for the Yankees. I think he's a pathological liar who only came clean when he realized the jig was up. Shohei was cleared by a federal investigation. All of the evidence points to him being a victim.

The news about Marcano and company does have me wondering if gambling is a bigger problem with players than the league is letting on. I kind of look at it similarly to PED use in some regard. They probably aren't the only ones gambling. They're just the only ones dumb enough to get caught. It's not a good look for the league with how much they push gambling on fans. It also sort of feels like Marcano is getting jammed up on a technicality. He gets banned for life because he was technically on a major league roster even though he was rehabbing when the bets were made. It seems like the actual bets would fit the same criteria the league used to explain the 1 year suspensions for the other guys. I don't feel bad for any of them. It does feel slightly unfair to Marcano though.

The PED thing so much more than was ever reported.

My buddy played for the Duds for 10 years and he said at least half the guys were juicing. Yet outside of Gagne, no other Duds were called out.

 

Quote from Jeremy Hill on June 5, 2024, 11:28 am

There's lots of chatter about AJ hunting for a starter. The way this offense has struggled with lefties this season I'm wondering if finding a lefty masher or 2 should be a bigger or at least equal priority. Tatis, Manny and Kim all seem like they're starting to come around. Profar and Solano have been great. Arraez is serviceable though he is much better against right handed pitching. Campusano, Merrill and Cronenworth have been brutal. Campusano has typically been better against lefties for most of his professional career. Teams also typically don't like to change catchers in season. They might just have to stick with him despite his absolutely awful .087/.143/.196 performance to this point. Merrill had pretty solid splits in the minors. We're talking about a guy who only played 46 games above A+ ball though. He's been solid against right handed pitching. Lefties have been a challenge. He's only hitting .200/.224/.200 against them. Cronenworth has always had pronounced splits and they've been more drastic this year. He's hitting .286/.350/.528 against right handed pitching and .194/.244/.236 against lefties. Maybe it's time to find some platoon partners for them. I get that pitching is a concern. Especially with Darvish and Musgrove dealing with nagging injuries. It doesn't really matter how good your pitching is if you can't score. The last 3 nights have shown us that.

Quote from fenn68 on June 5, 2024, 11:50 am

I would bet that Preller is looking for hitters who can mash LHP … and probably not finding any who he likes (and a price he wants to pay) at this point in the season … even if he discovers a player that another team wants to trade.

A CF to platoon with Merrill, a C to replace Higashioka (and platoon with Campy), a bat to platoon with Cronenworth? Solano (for now) is hitting so he is not the problem and not finding a better hitter v LHP than Arraez ahead of players to cover the others. Not easy to ID players available to fit this early prior to the deadline.

Preller wants to improve the team and without the hitters he wants available … pivot to pitching. As I suggested before … just maybe they are much more concerned about Musgrove’s elbow than reported. Darvish at 37 has been on the IL twice this year. Going with Vazquez and Mazur for the bulk of the rest of the season with no clear “next in line” is asking for disaster.

No idea prospect-wise what it would take to get Crochet but from a salary view … virtually no impact on money for a trade deadline add while remaining under the CBT. If he goes for a “rental” bat of some quality at the deadline, he can take on 1/3 of a fairly high salary with probably “secondary” prospects.

Preller just needs to navigate the next 6-7 weeks … remaining in contention … waiting for the “right player” to go on the market for the right price.

 

Quote from sportwarrior on June 5, 2024, 2:20 pm

Quote from fenn68 on June 5, 2024, 11:50 am

I would bet that Preller is looking for hitters who can mash LHP … and probably not finding any who he likes (and a price he wants to pay) at this point in the season … even if he discovers a player that another team wants to trade.

A CF to platoon with Merrill, a C to replace Higashioka (and platoon with Campy), a bat to platoon with Cronenworth? Solano (for now) is hitting so he is not the problem and not finding a better hitter v LHP than Arraez ahead of players to cover the others. Not easy to ID players available to fit this early prior to the deadline.

Preller wants to improve the team and without the hitters he wants available … pivot to pitching. As I suggested before … just maybe they are much more concerned about Musgrove’s elbow than reported. Darvish at 37 has been on the IL twice this year. Going with Vazquez and Mazur for the bulk of the rest of the season with no clear “next in line” is asking for disaster.

No idea prospect-wise what it would take to get Crochet but from a salary view … virtually no impact on money for a trade deadline add while remaining under the CBT. If he goes for a “rental” bat of some quality at the deadline, he can take on 1/3 of a fairly high salary with probably “secondary” prospects.

Preller just needs to navigate the next 6-7 weeks … remaining in contention … waiting for the “right player” to go on the market for the right price.

 

It's gonna be hard to remain in contention if we can't beat shitty teams. It absolutely boggles my mind that we finally busted the 1 run extra inning ghosts from last season, only to see new left handed demons and spooky basement teams begin haunting us instead.

Quote from fenn68 on June 5, 2024, 2:27 pm

Remember last year when the Padres defied the odds by a total inability to win extra inning games and one run games … well this year they are defying the odds by a total inability to hit LHP … not even a couple of games by accident.

In 2023 the OPS vs LHP for Tatis (.915), Kim (897), and Machado (.887) … this year all in the .600-.699 range. So the key issue is the three big RH bats made a complete turnaround and are defying their past history.

Add Campy in limited AB vs LHP in 2023 hit 1.114 OPS and now .339. The only players delivering are Profar (.940) and Solano (.925).

As expected Cronenworth (.480) and Merrill (.424) are struggling vs LHP but hitting well vs RHP. I guess they can look for platoon options there but finding a quality hitting CF vs LHP may just be wishful thinking. Easier to work around Cronenworth with the potential to add a 2B or 1B or DH while moving Arraez and Solano as needed.

Nothing really is a game changer unless Machado, Tatis, and Kim don’t start hitting LHP with authority.

Quote from fenn68 on June 5, 2024, 5:19 pm

As I see it … if looking for a trade … at this point in the season only five teams might be willing to deal (OAK, LAA, CWS, COLO, MIA) who seem to be clearly out of wild card contention. All the others (even if others don’t believe it) likely see a hot streak away from making a Wild Card plus not willing to tell their fans they are throwing in the towel and maybe losing attendance over the summer.

Then those five that MIGHT be willing to trade … could want to wait for a clear group of potential buyers unless someone comes in with an “overwhelming” offer.

Who do those teams have (and are willing to deal)?

Quote from fenn68 on June 6, 2024, 7:55 am

Last word on Musgrove is that he will not touch a ball for a couple of weeks then be re-evaluated … if OK will start a ramp up which could take weeks … if not ??????

So, if things go well maybe a return by the All-Star break in mid-July? Padres are always optimistic in their releases … so too soon to rule out season ending.

Quote from Jeremy Hill on June 7, 2024, 6:26 pm

Some interesting DFAs around the league. Start with Harold Ramirez. He's typically killed lefties. The power hasn't been there this year, but he's still hitting .310 against them. Derek Hill can fly and has hit .312/.336/.442 against lefties in 113 career PAs against them. Cavan Biggio has had a really up and down career. He's got a .359 OBP against lefties in his time in the big leagues. For a team that's really struggled against lefties maybe there's an opportunity to upgrade on the margins among them.