Quote from fenn68 on January 21, 2021, 12:20 pm

Catchers were next up on MLB.com’s Top 10 prospects.

#3 Campusano

not listed at the top of any of the categories ... so arguable made #3 based on plus in all the categories ... and this is good.

Quote from fenn68 on January 22, 2021, 2:42 pm

Saw a comment from a reporter (don't recall who) suggesting the Lawson ... coming off injury and turning 24 ... should start the transition to RP. I guess part was the current SP crew and "better" near term prospects.

He has the stuff to be a very good piece out of the pen and runs the risk of being blocked in a starting role. Don't think the Padres are necessarily ready to make that move in 2021. Does seem like a win-win move sooner than later.

Quote from Brian Connelly on January 23, 2021, 10:25 am

Have to hit on that while I "get" Preller's draft/Intl signs focus on "up the middle" players @ C (this one IS correct, like P, can't have enough, but hard to find good ones), SS/2B, & CF.... there ARE 4 other field positions in baseball.  And the whole "an up the middle athlete can move to the corner positions later" is pretty deeply flawed b/c the up-the-middle guys typically lack the power you want from the corners.  Marcano is a good example.  He CAN play 3B, but he'll never be a starter there b/c he lacks the power.   We are paying those 4 "low value draft" positions:  79 MM this season alone in MLB.  Cumulatively their max contracts are well over half a billion $$$!!!

A lot of what Preller has done including signing Hosmer in the first place, not drafting BECAUSE these guys are on long term deals, etc came before he did.  And he has added a few power corner OF like Ornelas & Mears.    Potts @ 3B (before Machado).  But really zero focus at all on 1B.  It will be interesting to see if we lock Tatis up for even "just" 6 years, if Preller's philosophy shifts b/c SS is really locked down with Tatis plus CJ Abrams?  Maybe a little more focus on infusing pure hit & power over athleticism/run/defense into bottom of Farm system?

Quote from BoosterSD on January 23, 2021, 10:37 am

While I understand your point, LF and 1B are a dime a dozen. You can get them way too easily via many methods. FA, trades, and even drafting in lower rounds. Plus as you mentioned, it is always possible to slide over the middle type players if/when they grow out of of those more athletic positions.

Quote from Brian Connelly on January 23, 2021, 2:00 pm

Quote from BoosterSD on January 23, 2021, 10:37 am

While I understand your point, LF and 1B are a dime a dozen. You can get them way too easily via many methods. FA, trades, and even drafting in lower rounds. Plus as you mentioned, it is always possible to slide over the middle type players if/when they grow out of of those more athletic positions.

uhhh.... I was actually saying that while the "slide over" guys like Marcano can typically handle it DEFENSIVELY, they usually don't have the power needed to play those positions on a starter/regular basis.

Another way to state my arugument would be:  "If there is less premium on Corner INF/OF than up the middle, why are we paying > 1/2 Billion $$$ to those 4 guys over life of all their deals"

Quote from fenn68 on January 23, 2021, 3:10 pm

A factor may be projecting the hitting skill in any draftee and most will fall short of hope. So, maybe an “up the middle” player is viewed as the better athlete that has a better chance of developing (perfecting) hitting skills and can end up at multiple positions. A corner player may be viewed as a potential hitter only ... so an all or nothing pick. Sure sometimes you get Freddie Freeman who can hit ... but most of the amateur 1B only fade into memory.

If in a draft the objective his to get as many quality selections as possible (most will fail) ... maybe the odds suggest not selecting a 1B type ... not high or not in volume. (In this day and age ... probably a lot of statistical work on the odds of success by player type and position in the draft).

My bias ... if I were wanting to stock potential for 1B/3B is draft a hitting first oversized amateur SS (probably a plus athlete) and shift him as a pro (see Potts).

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Since no team is built entirely on the draft / international signings .... to be successful usually need to pay to supplement to core. So, better to spend big on corner players or middle players / pitchers? My bias is NOT pitchers given injury probability ... so draft pitchers heavily unless a clear position talent is there (usually early).

Quote from BoosterSD on January 23, 2021, 3:15 pm

Quote from Brian Connelly on January 23, 2021, 2:00 pm

Quote from BoosterSD on January 23, 2021, 10:37 am

While I understand your point, LF and 1B are a dime a dozen. You can get them way too easily via many methods. FA, trades, and even drafting in lower rounds. Plus as you mentioned, it is always possible to slide over the middle type players if/when they grow out of of those more athletic positions.

uhhh.... I was actually saying that while the "slide over" guys like Marcano can typically handle it DEFENSIVELY, they usually don't have the power needed to play those positions on a starter/regular basis.

Another way to state my arugument would be:  "If there is less premium on Corner INF/OF than up the middle, why are we paying > 1/2 Billion $$$ to those 4 guys over life of all their deals"

No, I got your point. And $300M is going to a generational talent that very few draft. Its still better to draft up the middle and pay for power if it doesnt develop in your system.

Quote from fenn68 on January 23, 2021, 3:41 pm

Took a quick look at MLBPipeline’s Top 10 1B .... an ugly list.

Top 3 look promising ... Vaughn, Casas, Mountcastle (converted SS/3B). After that a notable drop and near the end just close to ‘non-prospect” status.

If these are the top 1B prospects .... can’t really fault the Padres for not having a top 1B prospect ...

 

Quote from fenn68 on January 29, 2021, 12:42 pm

MLBPipeline just released its Top 100 prospects .... Padres:

6... Gore down from #3 but #1 pitcher

8... Abrams up from #21

45... Campusano up from #46

62... Hassell up from #74

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Ex Padres:

19... Patino up from 23

85... Edwards down from 67

100.. Trammell down from 51