Quote from Brian Connelly on September 15, 2020, 11:05 am

A lot of guys on verge of returning off IL, but frankly, playing so well right now I don't know if I'd "rock the boat".

Wait till after LAD series & make a handful of moves all same time?

Quote from fenn68 on September 15, 2020, 11:16 am

Quote from Brian Connelly on September 15, 2020, 11:05 am

A lot of guys on verge of returning off IL, but frankly, playing so well right now I don't know if I'd "rock the boat".

Wait till after LAD series & make a handful of moves all same time?

Probably since that is when the go on their "road trip" after the off day.

Quote from fenn68 on September 16, 2020, 12:04 pm

Mejia back up .... Almonte down.

Quote from Brian Connelly on September 16, 2020, 1:04 pm

Quote from fenn68 on September 16, 2020, 12:04 pm

Mejia back up .... Almonte down.

Wow.   Didn't see that one coming.  Like it though.

Thinking ahead:  with 3 games, off day, 2 games, off day,  4 games (incl a Doubleheader) then off dayS before playoffs, SHOULD be able to tighten shrink the RP staff for the remainder of season with no more long stretches of games.  Maybe even down a SP?

"Options" 🙂 to go down:   (or IL) - Paddack, Lucchesi, Perdomo, Morejon

Remember Strahm on IL to likely return too...

 

 

 

Quote from fenn68 on September 17, 2020, 11:51 am

Strahm can come off the IL for the LAA series. His knee soreness was not billed as a significant issue ... so maybe more of just a rest issue and he can return on the 21st to get some game work in before the playoffs.

If they drop Ona and Lucchesi for Pham and Hosmer ... not really sure who goes next (likely someone with an option remaining).

Quote from fenn68 on September 17, 2020, 11:59 am

Late in August there was some speculation that Yates was recovering quickly and could be ready for the playoffs. Padres added Rosenthal (and Pagan has upped his game) ... then all such talk has moved to total silence.

Is there any remote chance (not advocating it) that Yates surfaces in the last week .. he is only on the 10 day IL so optioning Perdomo could get it done.

Not going to unseat Rosenthal as the closer BUT if he can get in some ML game time to see where he stands ... then if there is an injury to Rosenthal (or Pagan) in the playoffs ... maybe the Padres are more comfortable activating Yates over any other late inning option.

If at all healthy ... might be a look worth taking.

Quote from Brian Connelly on September 17, 2020, 1:08 pm

Is there any remote chance (not advocating it) that Yates surfaces in the last week .. he is only on the 10 day IL so optioning Perdomo could get it done.

I'd say very remote chance Kirby returns in regular season.  Went on IL 8/15.  Recovery time "6-8 weeks".  So last week of season  (5 weeks) / start of playoffs (6 weeks) would be </= extreme short end of recovery.  For comparison, "fantatical" worker Pham if back today is at the extreme short end of his recovery.   But him getting back some feel for hitting BEFORE playoffs even if not 100% may be much more important than an RP getting work now, vs being 100% full health IN playoffs...   I could see Kirby returning if the Padres advance past first round:  10/6 = "7 weeks", 10/12 = "8 weeks", 10/20 = "9 weeks"...

Yes, it would be "cold" after 1.5 months out... but talking about replacing someone like Altavilla on a playoff roster.  He's a Free Agent too though... yes, he could boost his stock, but he could also lose potentially 8 figures guaranteed $ if he's not all the way back and performs poorly or worse, re-injures it.

Quote from Brian Connelly on September 17, 2020, 2:31 pm

This season is making my head hurt (wait, that could be the forest fire smoke).   Just SO much info to process over so short a season.   Two ideas to explore:

1.  I might have to apologize for Bullpen game "rant" yesterday:   I didn't understand why Tingler went so light on the usage of Morejon - 38 P, Perdomo - 28, Richards -22, and especially Lucchesi -11...  BUT with Paddack's ankle a question that probably won't get answered until after he takes the mound tomorrow, did Tingler set up for another "if needed" Bullpen game by preserving his long arms so they would be ready to go again tomorrow?  If so, potential "option down" guys like Lucchesi & Perdomo might stick through tomorrow's game which affects...
2. The compressed due to "bubble" format playoffs schedule was likely forseen by Preller, and it's now or never to explore even depth bullpen options.  A team that survives the first round could then face (after 1 off day) 12 games in 13 days; WAY more compressed than typical playoff format with travel off days.  Even with the off days between the series, there are definitely scenarios that might "tweak" your bullpen composition in this format.   Of course, injuries can happen too.

Just as you wouldn't want Franscico Mejia to suddenly get called into playoff action "cold", with no regular season playing time since injury, I would argue the same thing for many bullpen arms.  7 games before the playoffs begin, the entire 40-man roster goes into quarantine and non-active roster guys have to leave the Alternate site behind.   They will be with the team, but not in uniform during games (?) or practicing pre or in game (i.e. no Bullpen sessions during games?) with Active roster.

What if 2-3 RP's do go down during playoffs?  Wouldn't it make sense NOW with the rare luxury of likely some meaningless games at season end to give some guys a look in MLB to sharpen up?  I am making the major assumption that a guy optioned down < 10 days before playoffs start CAN be on initial playoff roster.   SO many options it's easier to start with:   Who can be optioned?

• Lucchesi  -  Could be down tomorrow, unless kept up as insurance for - Paddack's start.  Next day seems certain.
• Morejon -  !!  Think Pads intend for him to be on playoff roster.  But with that knowledge in hand & less length need, could be a "surprise" option down just to get others some playing time.
• Paddack - Some % chance IL before game tomorrow.  Higher chance optioned if he makes another start 9/23.  May not be on first playoff series roster.
• Perdomo - I thought Perdomo was headed for Non-Tender when Pads used his last option & sent him down 8/18.  But then someone got hurt & he was back up 4 days later.  I don't know the exact rules, but I believe that "negates" the option being used.  More importantly, he pitched really well after that... until yesterday.  But he hadn't pitched in a LONG time, and some of his individual pitches were still really good.  I could be way off, but I THINK Pads are trying to "thread the needle" with Perdomo so that he will still have an option left going into 2021.  I also think he's at least a candidate for playoff series.
• Hill -  Seems unlikely, but Pads COULD option him just to look at someone else.  Very likely on playoff roster.

Quote from fenn68 on September 17, 2020, 2:53 pm

Going to be interesting mix and match for the rest of the season.

Do think Morejon is likely to be on the playoff roster ... and probably a lock if Strahm is not ready to return. Whether they keep 3 or 4 LHP in the pen may depend a bit on the opponent’s line-up ... LHH heavy may go with 4.  Lucchesi will not be included.

At least for round 1 ... should see both Richards and Paddack in the pen since they are two of the better arms (some risk of not spending time in the pen) and may want to make sure they get some game play to be ready for the second round when one (or two) will be needed to start. Opens a Pandora’s box on who to not activate for that first series ... not needing a ton of pitchers (hopefully).