Quote from fenn68 on September 25, 2024, 11:29 am

Quote from Jeremy Hill on September 25, 2024, 9:31 am

Acee says Kim could be back for the DBacks series. It seems like they should put him back at SS if he can handle it. Acee says a platoon with Cronenworth at 2B is under consideration though.

A lot depends on how important those last games are with AZ. Kim has not been in game competition for a month … arm (for us) is an unknown but where does his hitting stand after the layoff?

I could see … especially if the last games are not critical … Kim gets activated just to get him some AB (even if just DH) … then make the real call when they set the round 1 playoff roster. They can make that call before each series I believe. Plus it would be nice for Kim to end the season on the active roster of a playoff team after all he had contributed for four years and before he departs via FA. Fans, players, and team all seem to like him … a good farewell?

I suspect that Kim still can run … so even if the games are meaningful … might he be added with Lockridge optioned and, at a minimum, serve the role of PR (which is about all that Lockridge is doing now)?

Maybe the Padres get more … just don’t want to assume Kim after a month of not playing will return to form immediately.

———————————-

Side: we really don’t know what they have in Ahmed …never much of a hitter but at his age does his defense still hold up? However, given the uncertainty of Kim’s arm, probably need to hold Ahmed on the roster (can’t option him but can deactivate him for any playoff series).

Quote from MrPadre19 on September 25, 2024, 11:37 am

We may be in a position where we need the Rockies to win 2 of 3 from the dodgers this weekend.

Even if we pull off the sweep we would have to also sweep the D Backs or need help from the Rox.

At least they are playing in Coors where anything can happen.

 

Quote from WindsorUK on September 25, 2024, 12:03 pm

Quote from Randy Manese on September 25, 2024, 7:13 am

Great pitching and superior defense are usually the hallmarks of a championship team.  The Padres have that with the exception of their two weakest links - Bogaerts on defense and Suarez in his role as closer.  It almost cost them last night but if both can shake off their respective "slumps" for the remainder of the games the Padres will play in 2024, who knows how it will end?

I'm not ready to replace Bogaerts with Ahmed, but if Kim is healthy enough to throw across the diamond that is who you want out there at shortstop; Bogaerts goes back to 2b.  As for Suarez, he's got to get better location with all of his pitches and induce more ground balls.  If he continues to try to strike everyone out with his heater down the middle of the plate, he puts team success in jeopardy.  Go back to being a pitcher and hit your spots; just being a 100 mph thrower and expecting positive results is not realistic because even guys who have only 5 HRs in a season can take velocity deep.

5 more regular season games and then the playoffs.  Let's finish strong!  GO PADRES!

I know I've been harping on this since we signed Xander but yes, he has to be our 1st baseman next year( been saying this for ever!).

His defense is appalling- range, arm, transition glove to hand, you name it! He's just not good. Have him start taking reps in January. By time ST comes around, he'll be ready. Cronenworth is more valuable to us at 2B.

Quote from BoosterSD on September 25, 2024, 12:16 pm

Quote from WindsorUK on September 25, 2024, 12:03 pm

 

I know I've been harping on this since we signed Xander but yes, he has to be our 1st baseman next year( been saying this for ever!).

His defense is appalling- range, arm, transition glove to hand, you name it! He's just not good. Have him start taking reps in January. By time ST comes around, he'll be ready. Cronenworth is more valuable to us at 2B.

I brough this up in a previous post. And I believe that I read somewhere that even Bogaerts is aware of the fact that as he ages, he will need to move to 1B.

The question now; with the pending FA of Kim and the move of Merrill to CF, who would play SS next season?

I am not in favor of moving Merrill back to SS, finding CFers is becoming increasingly difficult. I dont think Crone is an answer for SS. And Kim is a FA who will probably command more than SD can budget while paying for other positions of need in the offseason.

Can SD live with Bogaerts at SS until DeVries is ready...about 3 years? I think they might have to, at least for the 2025 season. I would imagine at this time for the 2025 season, we see an INF of Machado 3B, Bogaerts SS, Crone/Rosario 2B platoon, and Arreaz/Solano 1B platoon.

Quote from fenn68 on September 25, 2024, 12:29 pm

Quote from MrPadre19 on September 25, 2024, 11:37 am

We may be in a position where we need the Rockies to win 2 of 3 from the dodgers this weekend.

Even if we pull off the sweep we would have to also sweep the D Backs or need help from the Rox.

At least they are playing in Coors where anything can happen.

 

If the Padres sweep the LAD they have the tie-breaker as I understand … if so the Padres only need to match what the LAD do in COLO.

Quote from fenn68 on September 25, 2024, 12:50 pm

Quote from BoosterSD on September 25, 2024, 12:16 pm

Quote from WindsorUK on September 25, 2024, 12:03 pm

 

I know I've been harping on this since we signed Xander but yes, he has to be our 1st baseman next year( been saying this for ever!).

His defense is appalling- range, arm, transition glove to hand, you name it! He's just not good. Have him start taking reps in January. By time ST comes around, he'll be ready. Cronenworth is more valuable to us at 2B.

I brough this up in a previous post. And I believe that I read somewhere that even Bogaerts is aware of the fact that as he ages, he will need to move to 1B.

The question now; with the pending FA of Kim and the move of Merrill to CF, who would play SS next season?

I am not in favor of moving Merrill back to SS, finding CFers is becoming increasingly difficult. I dont think Crone is an answer for SS. And Kim is a FA who will probably command more than SD can budget while paying for other positions of need in the offseason.

Can SD live with Bogaerts at SS until DeVries is ready...about 3 years? I think they might have to, at least for the 2025 season. I would imagine at this time for the 2025 season, we see an INF of Machado 3B, Bogaerts SS, Crone/Rosario 2B platoon, and Arreaz/Solano 1B platoon.

There is one other scenario under the assumption that Kim departs via FA. We a talking Preller and he could trade for / sign FA a defensive first SS at the lower end cost profile … short term deal.

Team has offense (assuming money is spent to return Profar and some of the low cost FA) … so a defensive first SS (hitting in low .200s) might be fine … let’s face it in 2024 that is what we got from Kim. Also, Shildt seems to like a strong defense and my try to influence Preller.

No idea who … but an alternative route to keep Bogaerts off SS … keep Cronenworth at his better position 2B … and keep Arraez at DH. Solano (if re-signed) would be that bench fill for 1B/DH/3B/PH. As long as they have the glove … and low cost … probably don’t care too much if he is a veteran or a rookie (just a bit more risk with a rookie).

Side … might the Padres as insurance try to re-sign Ahmed (a defensive first option) early in the off-season on the cheap (maybe low base and incentives) while seeking a better option?

Quote from Jeremy Hill on September 25, 2024, 12:54 pm

Quote from fenn68 on September 25, 2024, 11:29 am

Quote from Jeremy Hill on September 25, 2024, 9:31 am

Acee says Kim could be back for the DBacks series. It seems like they should put him back at SS if he can handle it. Acee says a platoon with Cronenworth at 2B is under consideration though.

A lot depends on how important those last games are with AZ. Kim has not been in game competition for a month … arm (for us) is an unknown but where does his hitting stand after the layoff?

I could see … especially if the last games are not critical … Kim gets activated just to get him some AB (even if just DH) … then make the real call when they set the round 1 playoff roster. They can make that call before each series I believe. Plus it would be nice for Kim to end the season on the active roster of a playoff team after all he had contributed for four years and before he departs via FA. Fans, players, and team all seem to like him … a good farewell?

I suspect that Kim still can run … so even if the games are meaningful … might he be added with Lockridge optioned and, at a minimum, serve the role of PR (which is about all that Lockridge is doing now)?

Maybe the Padres get more … just don’t want to assume Kim after a month of not playing will return to form immediately.

———————————-

Side: we really don’t know what they have in Ahmed …never much of a hitter but at his age does his defense still hold up? However, given the uncertainty of Kim’s arm, probably need to hold Ahmed on the roster (can’t option him but can deactivate him for any playoff series).

I think they probably have Kim on the same program they had Tatis on. Remember Tatis took a ton of ABs off of minor leaguers in Arizona and returned without an official rehab assignment. Shildt seemed like a big fan of that as a new approach to get guys up to speed. Cronenworth's production against lefties isn't a very high bar to clear if they go the platoon route. If Kim is good to go defensively I think it's an easy call to drop Ahmed and one of Wade or Lockridge. It wouldn't take much to improve on what they bring to the roster.

Quote from Jeremy Hill on September 25, 2024, 12:57 pm

I thought Bogaerts was playing a pretty solid 2B in the second half. He looked like he was getting more comfortable out there and it was starting to come together. The transition back to SS has been rough. I remember him saying that he wanted to stay up the middle as long as possible. I think a move to 1B is unlikely.

Quote from ultratvfan on September 25, 2024, 1:13 pm

40 YEARS AFTER FIRST WORLD SERIES APPEARANCE

Some 1984 first World Series Padres and 2024 Padres parallels:

1. Owners dies before season: Ray A Kroc dies Jan 14, 1984, Peter Seidler dies November 14, 2023.
2. Each teams honors the late owner with patches on their Jersey: The 1984 Padres wear RAK, 2024 Padres wear PS.
3. Each team had a similar record the season prior: The ’84 Padres were coming off an 81-win season; this year’s Padres are coming off an 82-win campaign.
4. Each team has lined up with a new prospect CF: Kevin McReynolds, Jackson Merrill.
5. Each team has a new closer: The 1984 Padres sign Rich "Goose" Gossage to be closer, Robert Suarez replaces Hader to be closer.
6. Each team acquired a new player just before the season: The 1984 Padres added third baseman Graig Nettles as their final piece. The 2024 Padres, of course, added Cease in a trade with the White Sox just as they were breaking camp.
7. Each had a young superstar in right field: Tony Gwynn, Fernando Tatis Jr.
8. Each had a leadoff batter who moved from another position to second base for that season: Alan Wiggins, Xander Bogaerts.
9. Both teams will have or have batting champs: Tony Gwynn, Luis Arraez
10. Both the 1984 and 2020 teams finish or will finish with similar records: at least 92 wins