Quote from Randy Manese on August 30, 2021, 11:20 pm

While I didn't see the game, Gore got thru 6 innings with no WPs or walks but he did give up 2 runs on 8 hits and struck out only 7.  I don't consider that effort to be dominant considering the level of competition.  I think the Padres need to push him to at least Lake Elsinore or Ft. Wayne for a start or two to see whether any of the mechanical adjustments he made are successful against better hitters.  It's still too early to give up on him, but I'd like to see him challenged more before this season ends.

Quote from Randy Manese on August 30, 2021, 11:48 pm

With regard to Valenzuela, his line drive, ground ball and fly ball percentages haven't changed much over the three years he's been with the team.  Likewise, his pull and opposite field numbers are pretty much the same.  What seems to have happened is that he's gotten a lot stronger and hitting the ball a lot harder as he's filled out.  Padres still list him as 6 feet and 170 pounds but Baseball America has him at 6-3 and 230 lbs.  Valenzuela looks somewhere in-between those dimensions and certainly does not look bulky or out of shape.  If he finishes strong at Ft. Wayne, I could see him passing over Homza as the predominant San Antonio catcher in 2022.  He has to be protected on the 40-man and may be the eventually successor to Nola/Caratini if Campy is traded.  First, let's see how he handles tougher pitching at Ft. Wayne.

 

Quote from fenn68 on August 31, 2021, 6:35 am

Quote from Randy Manese on August 30, 2021, 11:48 pm

With regard to Valenzuela, his line drive, ground ball and fly ball percentages haven't changed much over the three years he's been with the team.  Likewise, his pull and opposite field numbers are pretty much the same.  What seems to have happened is that he's gotten a lot stronger and hitting the ball a lot harder as he's filled out.  Padres still list him as 6 feet and 170 pounds but Baseball America has him at 6-3 and 230 lbs.  Valenzuela looks somewhere in-between those dimensions and certainly does not look bulky or out of shape.  If he finishes strong at Ft. Wayne, I could see him passing over Homza as the predominant San Antonio catcher in 2022.  He has to be protected on the 40-man and may be the eventually successor to Nola/Caratini if Campy is traded.  First, let's see how he handles tougher pitching at Ft. Wayne.

 

Would add that Valenzuela is only 20 (21 in OCT) .. so given his 2021 production in LE he should be up on the prospect lists. With a month at FW ... probably the AZ Winter instructs and maybe some winter ball ... has a real chance to hit AA in 2022 given how the Padres do like to challenge prospects.

A clear protect on the winter 40 man ... a young catcher (high value position) who has demonstrated both offense and defense would be taken (and even kept ... think Torrens) by some team.

With Nola under long control, Caratini, Campusano, and Valenzuela Padres have the potential for a very stable situation at catcher for some time.

Quote from fenn68 on August 31, 2021, 6:50 am

Quote from Randy Manese on August 30, 2021, 11:20 pm

While I didn't see the game, Gore got thru 6 innings with no WPs or walks but he did give up 2 runs on 8 hits and struck out only 7.  I don't consider that effort to be dominant considering the level of competition.  I think the Padres need to push him to at least Lake Elsinore or Ft. Wayne for a start or two to see whether any of the mechanical adjustments he made are successful against better hitters.  It's still too early to give up on him, but I'd like to see him challenged more before this season ends.

Hard to conclude much from work in AZ ... not only the competition but also what the coaches have as a game plan for Gore.

Did note that Gore went the first 5 innings with no runs, 4 singles, and no walks. However, (if correct) the amazing stat for his outing was that in 6 innings he threw only 39 pitches .. ALL WERE STRIKES!

If nothing else that shows his "stuff" is hard to hit and his control is improved ... not sure about command in zone but if that is still off his "stuff" appears to outweigh that at this level.

Sounds as though (Madfriars) that he may go back to EP for his next start.

Quote from Randy Manese on September 1, 2021, 9:07 am

Padres daily farm report did not mention that Joshua Mears struck out 5 times in 5 AB's last night.  It appears that some of that is pitch recognition but it seems the majority of the contact problem is a long swing path to the ball that makes his bat speed appear too slow to catch up to very good velocity.  If he can adjust that swing by next season to a more compact one, he probably won't lose too much power and cut that K rate to somewhere in the mid to high 20's, which is acceptable for someone with his power.   I'm pulling for him but if can't make those adjustments might never make it out of AA.  Wood has much of the same problem in the ACL.  Both of these guys have a lot of talent and would be huge boosts to the Padres future OF if they can make the necessary adjustments.  Wood's power hasn't shown up yet but Mears' is already epic.

Quote from fenn68 on September 1, 2021, 3:11 pm

I mentioned before that SA was beginning to use Cordoba at 1B after almost exclusive work at 3B this season … now it seems that is becoming an audition for the rest of the season (eye on 2022 and and support for Hosmer?).

Ethan Skender was promoted from FW were he was used as a 3B about 75% of the time BUT after promotion they have had him at 2B.

Basabe who had been that utility guy popping up all over is now settled at 3B (not really a prospect). Looks as though Melean is the odd man out.

At least in AA … the last month looks to be a effort to see players regularly at different positions. (Also noted that E. Ruiz is getting CF time more regularly).

At last for Cordoba and Ruiz, maybe adding info for the call on adding them to the 40 man this winter.

Quote from Randy Manese on September 1, 2021, 11:07 pm

Even Hassell couldn't believe it - he was shaking his head after hitting his 3rd HR of the game tonight!  It's only 3 games, but he should be fine for the rest of the season at Ft. Wayne.  The Loons announcer (Dodgers affiliate) was impressed by the way Valenzuela moved behind the plate and Valenzuela has also shown good pitch recognition and is making solid contact.  Angeles, the youngest of the 3 and the one who had the highest BABIP (almost 400) is not finding those gaps in the infield and although he is too good a hitter not to improve over the rest of the season, it seems like he'll need to start 2022 at this level.

By the way, the Ft. Wayne team played a very entertaining game, winning in extra innings.  Justin Lopez has come alive but in my opinion, Tirso Ornelas has gone the other way - he's way too passive at the plate even though he has a good eye.  Let's too many good pitches to hit go by, kind of like Grisham but not at that talent level.

Quote from LynchMob on September 6, 2021, 9:51 am

It sure seems like if the Padres get desperate here in Sept for a few relief innings, that Kopps is a candidate ... from today's DFR ...

Kevin Kopps worked another perfect inning to finish the game. The Padres’ third-rounder has given up just one hit in six outings since joining the TinCaps and opponents have hit just .114 in 10 overall professional outings.

Quote from Randy Manese on September 9, 2021, 5:27 pm

Kopps has done very well but pitched a lot of innings for Arkansas this year - Padres probably don't want to risk blowing out his arm in high stress situations when he is unproven at the higher minor league levels.  Moreover, he'd have to be put on the 40 man and that is going to be quite a challenge and we'll all be guessing as to who gets released, waived, non-tendered, traded or otherwise moved from the current cast under Padres' control as we head into November/December deadline.

Kopps is likely to start out at AA San Antonio next year and, if all goes well, into El Paso soon thereafter.  He could be a steal in the draft if his stuff plays at the higher levels.  It depends on him remaining injury free, his effectiveness in spring training and how the Padres have reshuffled an aging and overworked bullpen, who worked through nagging injuries and periods of ineffectiveness in 2021.