Quote from JasonE135 on January 9, 2020, 11:27 pm

Quote from Brian Connelly on November 4, 2019, 12:04 pm

Quote from BoosterSD on November 4, 2019, 10:04 am

Quote from David Nevin on November 4, 2019, 9:46 am

Quote from BoosterSD on November 4, 2019, 8:22 am

Quote from David Nevin on November 4, 2019, 7:57 am

Hedges was robbed.

To be honest MrP. kinda glad he was robbed on the award. Maybe this will make him realize that he has to be less of a one way player, especially on a team starved for offense such as SD. Cant win a gold glove when you are sitting on the bench.

I think he knows his offense is an issue.

Unfortunately knowing doesn't necessarily equate to improving.

Hitting that round ball with a round bat is pretty hard with the best in the world tossing it at you all sorts of ways!

(:

Totally get what you are saying MrP, and I understand how difficult it is to hit a baseball. However with Hedges, what bothers me is that interview late in the season where I paraphrase, "My defense is basically the only thing needed for me to be the starting Catcher." In my mind, it showed a lack of concern on his part to improve his bat. I appreciate that he has honed the defensive aspect of his game to the level that he has. And by definition, that should win him the defensive award, the Gold Glove. However, in this day and age, being the best defensive catcher is not what it used to be, and writers now take in account both sides of the ball when it comes to awards. Add that with our desire to see our team play in the post season again, Hedges needs to start working on the other side of his game, and become a complete player. Then the accolades will come. Hopefully this, along with the threat of reduced playing time, will motivate Hedges to at least get to a .225/.275 BA/OBP line. If he can do that, then his power IMO becomes a bonus to what he does behind the plate.

I truly believe that if he applied himself, a .25o BA with a .290 OBP is totally within his level of ability. Then with his defense and power, he is an All Star. And that is what I want for him and SD.

I'm with Booster on this.  Hedges P*** ed me off when he said that.  Maybe if he wasn't BY FAR the worst offensive Catcher in MLB; a position where offense is secondary.   He was the entitled/enshrined starter in SD since Pads traded Grandal; this was the first year anyone has remotely "pushed" him.   He said something similar in the offseason; paraphrasing "I'm underrated as a hitter b/c of my elite power at the position"?  100% defensive, no acknowledgement he needed to change/improve!

Contrast his attitude about this to Renfroe who had multiple injuries and NEVER once said one word about it, even though it clearly negatively affected his performance to the point where people are saying cut/trade him (which is idiotic).  One handled his situation as a true pro; even though he had reason to blame his injuries, he didn't.  The other has yet to look in the mirror and say these words:

"My defensive abilities at C are elite in MLB.  I do NOT need to work on them.  My offensive approach HAS NOT WORKED FOR MY ENTIRE MLB CAREER.  I NEED TO ANALZYE IT, AND WORK ON WHAT I CAN TO DO A BETTER JOB TO HELP MY TEAM WIN, NOT FOCUS ON HITTING AS MANY HR AS I CAN TO BOOST MY ARB $$."   Great U-T column in Summer pointed out how Hedges & Myers were giving away much of their inherent advantage in AB vs LHP by never changing their approach.  I at least get Myers not changing his approach, b/c when he "finds" his swing he is an elite offensive MLB player.  But if you're Hedges, why NOT try something different....   I literally don't get it.   Not asking for .300 ... .280 ... or even .260...  .225 would be fine with everything else he brings; .240 = fantastic & he wins GG.

I get what Booster and Brian were saying about Hedges and his attitude. I just think he got naturally defensive. When an older guy/girl is looking at getting replaced by someone younger and prettier(Mejia), they tout their pluses like experience and defense and minimize their deficiencies.

Competition should be good for them. If Hedges wants to keep his job, or have any job, he will need to work his butt off on his hitting. He knows now if he doesn’t hit, he doesn’t play. If we keep a the worst hitter in baseball on the team just for his defense at C, that should also send a message to Mejia. AJ saying he was looking to trade for a C may have been a shot across both Mejia’s and Hedges bow. “If you expect to be our future catcher and get a contract that pays you as such, you have to be able to play both OFFENSE and DEFENSE.

Quote from LynchMob on January 22, 2020, 6:27 pm

https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/san-diego-padres-2020-top-10-mlb-prospects-chat/

G4 (Milwaukee):

Not technically a prospect question, but 300 ABs in, what's the revised outlook for Francisco Mejia? Your gut, do you think he'll fulfill his top 50 prospect potential within the next 2-3 years. Thanks!

Kyle Glaser: I'm always happy to answer big league questions. Keep them coming. The good thing with Mejia is we saw that even with his free-swinging ways, he can still hit .260+ in the majors. (And that number was a lot higher once he actually started getting consistent playing time). That was the question on his bat, how much the free swinging would hamper him, and he showed his hand-eye coordination and natural hitting gifts are good enough to overcome it. Now, whether he fulfills that Top 50 prospect status will be determined by how he grows as a catcher. There are still a lot of improvements to be made there.

Quote from LynchMob on September 16, 2020, 4:32 pm

Is it "news" that Mejia is batting RH vs RHP Baez right now?

He was shaking his hands a bit ... so maybe something still not 100%?

It was a good at-bat ... hit a line-drive ... I'm hopful / rooting for him ...

Quote from fenn68 on September 16, 2020, 4:42 pm

Quote from LynchMob on September 16, 2020, 4:32 pm

Is it "news" that Mejia is batting RH vs RHP Baez right now?

He was shaking his hands a bit ... so maybe something still not 100%?

It was a good at-bat ... hit a line-drive ... I'm hopful / rooting for him ...

Good eye on both counts ... but the RHH vs a RHP is something that needs more explanation by the Padres.

Quote from fenn68 on September 16, 2020, 5:05 pm

Tingler’s comments were not really clear but apparently Mejia still has some difficulty swinging LH ... so I guess his left thumb injury does linger.

Seems at the alternate site his right hand swing has been good and he has been working right on right. Depending on how things go and the situation, he may bat right on right again or left on right.

Since it is a left thumb ... probably does not impact his catching / throwing.

=====

Given the way Moreland is not handling LHP ... Mejia’s RH bat might get some DH time as well as PH. Having him around does cover a bit more options on the use of Nola/Castro.

When Pham and Hosmer return (and hopefully are effective) and needing to keep Profar in the line-up ... probably will not see much time in the playoffs (but neither will Moreland).

Quote from fenn68 on September 17, 2020, 7:09 am

Mejia was much vilified for his sub-optimal defense before his injury ... but on his return I don't expect him to get much catching time baring an emergency. So went back to look at his offense in 2019 to see if that can be of value down the stretch ... in the playoffs ... and in 2021 (once Castro is gone).

Remember Mejia is still only 24 ... pre-arbitration ... four more years of control ... so an asset for some time. In 2019, he was a much better hitter (statistically) than I recall ... especially for a catcher in this era of catchers who can't hit.

AWAY: 115 AB ... 287/344/487 (831)

HOME: 111 AB .. 243/286/387 (673)

v LHP: 61 AB ... 279/323/377 (700)

v RHP 165 AB ... 261/313/461 (774)

With Campusano in the mix (especially for the future) and Nola under control for 5 more years (but much older) Padres are in a strong position in 2021 if they want to start Campusano in AAA and with both Mejia and Campusano having options they can shuffle them as needed.

If going forward they choose to go with three catchers ... potentially a good rotation of catcher / DH / back-up 1B. Nola (in an emergency) can handle 2B. Mejia has worked in the OF (and actually looked as though he is not totally out of place). All three are projected to be good hitters, so in 2022 the only offensive "hole" may be LF when Pham departs.

2021 will take care of itself. In 2020, I can see a real potential value as a RHH to cover as needed the currently really poor production vs. LHP by Garcia, Moreland, Castro .... Pham's return should minimize that issue IF his hitting is back to speed but never bad to have a back-up.

Wonder if Mejia's future may be LF/DH in 2022?