Quote from Randy Manese on January 15, 2022, 1:07 pm

According to Baseball America, the Padres just signed the number one rated pitcher in the International Free Agent signing period (as rated any Baseball America), Jarlin Susana.  He's a 6:05 RH who already throws in the mid-90s at 90 mph.  More info on the Baseball America website.  Susana was eligible to sign last year but held out for this year to get a higher signing bonus.  Could start in Arizona if as advanced as his write-up makes him out to be.

Quote from Randy Manese on January 15, 2022, 1:10 pm

Oops - correction, the second sentence should end ... topping out at 96 with a sharp breaking ball.

Sorry!

Quote from fenn68 on January 15, 2022, 2:55 pm

Quote from BoosterSD on January 14, 2022, 9:24 am

According to MLBTR, today the Padres have signed both Jose Castillo and Webster Rivas to MiL contracts. Obviously Castillo is still rehabbing from TJ. Looks as if Rivas will probably sit in El Paso as depth and back up to Campusano to start the season.

 

Heard a clip from a Preller interview today … apparently Castillo has been working in AZ for the past few months and should be ready to go when ST starts. (Note both arm and back issues in 2021). For Castillo the fact he was DFA off the 40 man worked in his favor as he could, as a minor leaguer, still work with the Padres in getting ready.

Preller said (unless the league gives a different directive) they plan to start minor league ST on time.

Let’s hope for his health … he has the talent to contribute in 2022.

Quote from WindsorUK on January 22, 2022, 7:05 am

https://www.mlb.com/news/triple-a-to-have-automated-ball-and-strike-system

Coming to a big league ball park near you.......soon?

Quote from fenn68 on January 23, 2022, 4:58 am

Quote from WindsorUK on January 22, 2022, 7:05 am

https://www.mlb.com/news/triple-a-to-have-automated-ball-and-strike-system

Coming to a big league ball park near you.......soon?

The sooner the better in my mind. After watching for years (and apparently getting worse) the umpires’ inconsistency changing the game flow … time to give the game to the pitchers and hitters.

If anything, the automated system will be consistent and the game will rely on the pitchers and hitters executing. Confident the systems can work … only question becomes cost of installation / operation which will be an issue with the owners and speed of adoption.

Pretty sure the owners are also looking at how a consistent system will change the offense … since both pitchers and hitters will have to “adapt” to the programmed strike zone. Some pitchers will benefit (ones with good command) and some will have trouble (ones who benefit from hitters chasing outside the zone). Some hitters with good strike zone sense should benefit. To that end, in AAA guess they will map the success on the initial programmed strike zone then adjust it to balance the offense and defense.

I would not be surprised to see it in  the ML in 2023 after the testing in AAA is completed in 2022.

 

Quote from Randy Manese on January 23, 2022, 11:40 am

Fangraphs already has extensive data for both hitters and pitchers for balls through outside and inside the strike zone. That strike zone must be what would be considered the automatic system strike zone and not an umpire based ball and strike called strike zone.  Therefore, for those who really want to dive into the analytics, you could research how some of the elite hitters and pitchers work the zone for their advantage.

I recall reading an article in Fangraphs as to one of the many reasons why so many Padres hitters had poor years (besides being injury-impacted) and the rationale was that they were too passive, i.e., let too many good pitches within the strike zone go by without swinging.    Whether this automatic system would help someone like Grisham is arguable, however, I am sure it would help someone like Machado who game after game looked to get some of the worst ball/strike calls imaginable.  I'm guessing it will benefit hitters slightly more than pitchers but you will still see hitters swing wildly at sliders and get fooled by change-ups if the pitchers have the talent to throw these pitches with competence.  It will certainly impact catchers whose greatest value to a team is pitch-framing and put of a value on location within the strike zone for pitchers vice pure velocity.

Quote from fenn68 on January 23, 2022, 2:31 pm

A lot of potential subtle impacts based on how both pitchers and hitters alter their approaches (or don't).

Will pitchers who intentionally throw just off the plate based on the umpire in an effort to get a cheap call or get the hitter to swing based on the worry on the umpire's call now actually throw a strike on the corner? Hitter may not be swinging at those outside pitches if they have confidence in their knowledge of the standard strike zone.

So, for those who can, will we see a change in pitch locating and less swinging for pitches outside the zone? If the pitchers throw more strikes ... will hitters be more productive?

Beyond that, will be interesting to see how the potential change in hitter's approaches will alter the careers in some pitchers. The pitchers that have little command ... and the hitters are more confident laying off pitches ... will those pitches lose value / productivity? Could go either way for sinker ball types ... either great command gets more called strikes or hitters laying off pitches dipping below the zone will hurt their production.

Another potential impact could be a greater value on command and lesser value on velocity for pitchers.

May take a period of adjustment for players and GM valuing players ... but in the end the consistency will make the game better .... especially of gamblers.

Quote from Randy Manese on February 1, 2022, 12:27 pm

Looking at the latest Top 100 potential MLB players in 2022 by Baseball America and Keith Law, I'm surprised by how many catchers with only 1 year of experience at the lowest levels or 1 good year of stats last year were rated higher than Campusano - maybe 7 or 8 of them.  Maybe it's the next new shiny prospect on the block syndrome but I don't see how a guy who was skipped over Hi A and Double A and hit very well in AAA until injured (albeit at El Paso) loses ground in the ratings.  Maybe this is good for the Padres, since he may be a less desired acquisition and allow him to develop to his full potential in AAA this year.   Certainly, he still has a ways to go defensively, but he has improved enough to at least be average and with Melvin, I'm sure he's going to get a lot better.

Rutschmann belongs at the top of all catching prospects but Campusano did nothing poorly last year except be forced to play in the majors when he wasn't ready.   I'm looking for a big year from Campusano if he remains at AAA but I would rather see him show those skills in San Diego with the Padres shipping out Caratini or Alfaro so he can develop slowly behind Nola.  Still think he is the Padres' catcher of the future or a great trading chip if Valenzuela continues to show the same hitting prowess he did last year.

Quote from MrPadre19 on February 1, 2022, 3:33 pm

I had the exact same thought while scrolling that top 100 list.

I doubt there has ever been this many catchers period on a top 100 list.

I believe Campy will take advantage of the EP hitting paradise and charge back up that list.