Quote from Henry Silvestre on March 16, 2023, 4:40 pm

Quote from fenn68 on March 16, 2023, 3:54 pm

Maybe a candidate to sneak into the EP roster is Conner Hollis (INF). Sort of the underdog to root for. Not big, not fast, little power but hits / gets on base. Signed last April after being released by TB and proceeded to tear up AA and did well in a AAA promotion. 28 year old college type who as not drafted out of U. of Houston but signed as a FA (2018) and systematically worked up the ladder.

At best his future may be a ML utility player ... but has the look of a guy a team would want on their bench.

He is getting some looks in ST games.

I am looking at RP Moises Lugo as someone who has scaled that depth chart this spring .. 6 IP 0.00 ERA and 0.50 WHIP.. sneaky and Impressive..

Wolf looked really good in his ST debut.. only 2/3 of an inning but very deceptive.. He could be Groome like for 2024..

Quote from fenn68 on March 17, 2023, 2:15 pm

MLB had a piece on the best FB in each organization. A surprise to me, the Padre player was Angel Filipe who frankly never really paid much attention to.

25 and signed last spring as a minor league FA after being released by (I think) TB.

Apparently he has a huge number of FB over 100 MPH ... and that is what probably got him added to the 40 man at the end of last season. Has control issues, but with that velocity if he harness some control he would be a great BP add.

He will be an important watch in EP this season and COULD be a Padres bullpen factor down the stretch ... then in 2024.

Quote from fenn68 on March 18, 2023, 3:27 pm

Merrill was sent to the minor league camp ... as expected when Machado, Bogaerts, and Kim returned.

Melvin was over the top in praise of Merrill and expects him in the ML relatively quickly. Pivoting off Melvin's comment that with all the elite Padres INF talent they will find a way for his talent to play.

Most seem to do a knee jerk reaction and trade someone (usually Kim) but let us think out of the box and keep in mind that Cruz is gone after this season, Carpenter may (or may not) be gone, and we have the uncertain future productivity of Grisham. Only Merrill is a near term quality bat.

Might the Padres move Merrill (or someone else) to a different position to get his bat in the line-up? Probably a 2025 issue more than 2024 but never really know.

Quote from Henry Silvestre on March 18, 2023, 7:58 pm

Quote from fenn68 on March 18, 2023, 3:27 pm

Merrill was sent to the minor league camp ... as expected when Machado, Bogaerts, and Kim returned.

Melvin was over the top in praise of Merrill and expects him in the ML relatively quickly. Pivoting off Melvin's comment that with all the elite Padres INF talent they will find a way for his talent to play.

Most seem to do a knee jerk reaction and trade someone (usually Kim) but let us think out of the box and keep in mind that Cruz is gone after this season, Carpenter may (or may not) be gone, and we have the uncertain future productivity of Grisham. Only Merrill is a near term quality bat.

Might the Padres move Merrill (or someone else) to a different position to get his bat in the line-up? Probably a 2025 issue more than 2024 but never really know.

Also depending on how well everyone does from Crone and Kim (assuming X and Manny career avg season) we will need to cover bench and DH spots lost could we see Merrill at SS to keep the rookie from switching positions .. Kim/Xander and Crone at 2B/DH/1B rotation.. with Kim/Xander playing some SS and 3B when Manny and Merrill need a break in 2024

Quote from Henry Silvestre on March 18, 2023, 8:04 pm

https://twitter.com/WillHolder9/status/1637266344386383872?t=Rqsxc9UiaDQ3366wLHQFQg&s=19

For selfish reasons I would love this 1/4 mile from home = Storm stadium

Quote from Randy Manese on March 20, 2023, 10:25 am

Sorry to see Jonny Homza has retired.  Was just developing as a catcher when he had that terrible off-road vehicle accident.  I guess he couldn't fully recover from that - wish him well.

Quote from Henry Silvestre on March 20, 2023, 1:20 pm

The possibility of Salas C Joe Musgrove SP game 1 at Storm Stadium for the 2023 A ball opener has me salivating atm..

Quote from Randy Manese on March 20, 2023, 2:21 pm

El Paso opens the season on 3/31.   AAA teams have a maximum of 28 active players and are not limited to 13 active pitchers on the team.  A couple of guys who would have made the EP staff are now likely to start the season on the MLB 15 day IL, Castillo and Morejon; in fact, one or both may even go on the 60 but hopefully their injuries are not severe.  Despite Padres keeping transactions close to their vest, Kerr and Knehr will be sent down next, Weathers last bloating the current 28 pitching roster to 31.

Because of possibility of a couple of other pitchers on the 15 day IL (Musgrove and Pomeranz), I'm thinking that EP will only go with 14 pitchers vice 15 or even 16.  Those on the injured list makes this a fluid situation.  Here is my guess for the 14 opening day El Paso roster active pitching spots:

SP:  Avila, Weathers, Teheran, Knehr and Leasher

RP:  M Baez, Cosgrove, Felipe, Kerr, M Lugo, Carlton, Tapia, Hanhold and Poppen

60 day IL:  Camarena, Hamels and Stammen

15 day IL:  Font (thinking he's been injured otherwise would have made appearance in Spring)

Start the season at San Antonio: Contreras, Espinoza, Waldron, Fox, Quezada

Released:  Belen, Brooks, B Gonzalez, N Hernandez, Koenig, Pelham, A Sanchez, J Sanchez

Padres will go with Honeywell as their 13th pitcher until Musgrove and Pomeranz are activated from 15 day IL.  If Musgrove and/or Pomeranz don't need to be put on the the 15 day IL,  Honeywell and/or Wilson will be sent down (depends on whether SP or RP); expect Honeywell to clear waivers.  Don't expect Teheran to brought up until MLB pitchers show effectiveness/ineffectiveness and/or injuries to pitching staff or elsewhere sort themselves out; once brought up, also has to pass waivers to be sent down.  Lopez will be offered back to Tampa Bay and they will take him back.  Lopez' 40 man spot will be used to roster Dahl.  When Castillo and Morejon healthy, the less effective older non-40 man pitchers will likely be released.  El Paso is brutal on pitchers.  That's my guess.  Probably Padres do something later in the day that will make this wrong, but it's a fun exercise!

Quote from fenn68 on March 22, 2023, 10:19 am

Padres release LHP O. Hernandez … been around the Padres system for quite a few years.

Also, they signed a 28 year old SS Luis Aviles presumably to play at SA … career minor leaguer but OK for AA. SA lacked a lot of INF options unless a AAA type was dropped down or Merrill was jumped up. Might signal some injuries, retirements, releases that impact the projected SA  middle INF situation.