Quote from Brian Connelly on July 17, 2020, 12:25 am

What the trade means for 30-man:

• Hill joins the group of 8 "locked" RP's (taking Castillo's place).  With Quantrill aleady locked as #6 SP/swing or better, that leaves at least 1 "RP" spot = 15 total P's.  A benefit of Hill being there is Pads can avoid "having to" have Morejon up as a LHRP...  remember he's only thrown 44, 65, & 63 IP the last 3 years due to injuries.  He REALLY needs to stretch out as a SP to be able to potentially do it next season.   I look for Perdomo to get the 9th spot.
• Olivares appears to be a lock.  Trammell might have more of a chance than we think, but likely Naylor wins out.
• With "only" 5 OF just = a normal bench, makes Torrens very likely.
• That would leave 1 more spot, very likely Mateo.  Or if he's not ready to go, a 10th RP.

Quote from fenn68 on July 17, 2020, 7:06 am

Any update on Mateo? Possible he starts the season on the IL?

Given the recent positive commentary on France ... Tingler likes his bat vs. both LHP and RHP .... can serve as DH, 1B vs. some LHP, 2B if needed, and back-up catcher ... he looks to have a roster slot with a lot of DH time and that needed versatility to be tapped if needed for a "non-IL" type situation for a player. He should (unless he doesn't hit) make the 30 - 28 - 26 rosters.

Sort of working backwards from the 26 and likely 5 bench players: Hedges; Garcia; Mateo; Olivares; France. That puts Naylor and Torrens "on the bubble" between now and the end of August .... all subject to "injury" / IL occurrences. Except for Mateo and Garcia ... all have minor league options. I guess Torrens is on the "traveling taxi squad". He sure looks like a different man than in his Rule 5 year ... clearly bigger and all the reports seem to like his defense and bat. Having him around the club enhances his chances for being productive if added in 2020 and in 2021.

Quote from MrPadre19 on July 17, 2020, 7:14 am

I really like Cronenworth along with France to cover the infield also though.

But I'm thinking Mateo was brought in for that reason so.....

Cronenworth's ability to pitch in a pinch may come in handy.....even if just a few times it may make a difference in a 60 game season.

 

 

Quote from fenn68 on July 17, 2020, 7:15 am

Again working backwards from 26 with likely 13 pitchers:

SP (5): Paddack; Lamet; Richards; Davies; Lucchesi (or Quantrill)

RHRP: (5): Yates; Pagan; Stammen; Johnson; Guerra

LHRP: (3): Pomeranz; Strahm; Hill

On the August "bubble": Quantrill (or Lucchesi); Perdomo; Baez

Likely just optioned: Bednar; Reyes; Morejon; Wingenter (if not injured).

37 games to get to the last cutdown ... so a pretty good length of time to determine effectiveness and incur some injuries that juggle this mix.

Quote from fenn68 on July 17, 2020, 7:18 am

Quote from MrPadre19 on July 17, 2020, 7:14 am

I really like Cronenworth along with France to cover the infield also though.

But I'm thinking Mateo was brought in for that reason so.....

Cronenworth's ability to pitch in a pinch may come in handy.....even if just a few times it may make a difference in a 60 game season.

 

 

Was a report that Tingler told Cronenworth (for this season) to just focus on his INF work ... to that end he has had no reps on the mound. He should be the one and only INF call-up if anyone gets injured ... being the last INF on the 40 man.

Quote from Randy Manese on July 17, 2020, 9:15 am

Great article on Tim Hill in the Athletic under the KC team write-up.  Got to pull for this guy after all he's been through.  Another high character person who literally has come back from the brink of death.  Already knows Strahm and has some history of being in San Diego so I think this is going to be more of an addition than I originally thought.  His stats last year show he finished strong - hope that continues with us.

Quote from Brian Connelly on July 17, 2020, 9:34 am

Quote from MrPadre19 on July 17, 2020, 7:14 am

I really like Cronenworth along with France to cover the infield also though.

But I'm thinking Mateo was brought in for that reason so.....

Cronenworth's ability to pitch in a pinch may come in handy.....even if just a few times it may make a difference in a 60 game season.

 

 

Last report was that they're not working him at RP at all even though the rules about RP got relaxed due to Covid...... specifically BECAUSE of the short 60-game season.

With the strange short season & roster rules he's in a weird situation:  Think his value is lower on a 30-man roster, but higher on a regular 26-man.  I'd like to see Pads work him at RP regularly on the taxi squad so if he does end up on active roster later, when there are "only" 8 RP's his extra RP arm could help.... same would be true ALL next "normal" season too.   When else are they going to have the silver lining of the "taxi squad" guys working out in groundhog day fashion needing RP arms to throw to the young position players?

Quote from Brian Connelly on July 17, 2020, 9:44 am

August 1st is an eternity away.  SO much could happen by then.  I'm just trying to zero in on Opening Day...

Quote from fenn68 on July 17, 2020, 9:59 am

Cronenworth as a RP is probably over hyped. Yes was a college pitcher years ago ... minimal since and without great success. When (if) the limiting rules return in 2021 he is not going to get many shots to pitch. Probably does not need a lot of work to fill that limited role.

On the other hand, that development time should be better deployed on his offense / defense since a very good chance he will be part of the 2021 mix for 2B, or at least reserve INF ... and if he doesn’t fill those roles he will not be around to even be the mop up RP.

Let him earn that position player roster spot first ... then move on to emergency RP development.