Quote from Randy Manese on May 5, 2023, 12:11 pm

Enjoyed our swing through Texas, catching the Missions on the 26th and 27th and the Chihuahuas on the 29th and 30th.  Missions looked a lot better than I thought the would and Wolf pitched a great game - coming at them with elbows and knees flapping and hiding the ball real well.  I think he'd do even better with more extension on his stride but he threw very well that day.  Snider was more hittable the next day but the Missions bats were on so that was 2 wins in a row.  In El Paso, the Chihuahuas didn't fare so well and, as reported, Avila was horrible!  The SLC Bees were hitting HRs at a terrific clip in both games and Mickey Moniak looked like Mickey Mantle.  It was two losses there but great food in both cities as we followed the Mad Friars recommendations for places to eat.  Couldn't get to the L & J cafe, but Mamasitas restaurant in our hotel, Hotel Indigo, had very good food although a little pricey.  The mushroom and goat cheese empanadas were outstanding!  Both ballparks were nice, although the San Antonio park is a little more isolated from town; SW University park in El Paso is walking distance from virtually any hotel in the city.  Had a great time and only on the last day did the temp get over 90!

Quote from WindsorUK on May 5, 2023, 12:14 pm

Thanks for the updates Randy!

I enjoy reading your takes on future Padres( or wherever AJ trades them!)

Quote from Randy Manese on May 5, 2023, 1:29 pm

Confirmed that the Florida Complex League and Dominican Summer League have identical schedules, opening 5 June and closing 22 Aug; since the Arizona Complex League normally mirrors the FCL, then I assume it too will have the same schedule.  This is a departure from previous years when the Complex League started later than the DSL.  With the Padres fielding 2 DSL teams  and 1 ACL team simultaneously, this will probably have impact throughout the system with players getting longer looks that normally would be released in the middle of the season.  With the draft from 9-11 July, early signees/NDFAs may be able to spend some time in the ACL before going to Lake Elsinore(if they show well) since that season ends 10 Sept.  Early guesses in the July draft is for the Padres to take the best available hitter, which likely will be an OF or a SS.

Quote from MrPadre19 on May 5, 2023, 3:15 pm

So most likely Salas makes his debut in the ACL?

 

Quote from Jeremy Hill on May 5, 2023, 10:56 pm

Pauley seems like he might be too good for A ball. He smacked a line drive into LF and beat the defense with 2 well placed ground balls at the game tonight. He seems like a bit of a throwback hitter. Someone next to me at the game was calling him the Wade Boggs of Lake Elsinore. Snelling was super impressive on the mound too. Kai Murphy left the game. It looked like he pulled a hammy rounding second base.

Quote from fenn68 on May 6, 2023, 1:47 am

I wonder when the Padres choose to promote Pauley and Snelling to the next level … never like to do that prematurely wanting to be sure on the player over time (and quality of opponents)?

Pauley is making the best case that he should be up a level having an OPS of ..958 (58 AB in 2022) and 1.029 (86 AB in 2023). At 22 with 140 A ball AB should be enough. He is working at 3B in 2023 but in 2022 was used at 2B … has shown some power and some speed and since they have him at 3B must have at least a decent arm to go with the bat. Wonder if a shift to the OF (at some point) would improve his path to the ML with SD?

Snelling is only 19 and did not pitch with the Padres in 2022 … so 2023 is his debut season. What a debut … only 21 innings over 5 starts but all 5 were outstanding with the last three going 5 innings. ERA of 0.86 and for me more impressive is a WHIP of 0.90. A harder call on Snelling given his age and only 21 innings … if he continues this way maybe June 1 after 9-10 starts. Just might not want to change pitching coaches too quickly on the kid.

Going to be a bit of a system issue with most of the SP in LE having very strong starts and candidates for promotion but not sure that the FW prospects (some pitching well) are ready to move up to SA … maybe that delays any moves.

Quote from fenn68 on May 6, 2023, 2:03 am

Maybe on the same timeline for promotion is Jairo Iriate who is in FW and considered a top prospect. Only 21 but in his 5 starts (18 innings) against A+ competition has a 2.50 ERA / 1.39 WHIP but most impressive is his 30K in 18 innings. Control is an issue but the stuff seems compelling.

Padres have not been aggressive in mid-season promotions in the past but given their projected pitching needs in the next few years and the quality of performances of some of the arms in A/A+ … might serve everyone well to challenge the best of the crop sooner than later. A challenge for the development evaluators to make that call.

Quote from Jeremy Hill on May 6, 2023, 8:01 am

Pauley being a 3 year college guy seems like someone they could be a little more aggressive with. I agree that they probably take it slower with Snelling. They might let him get a taste of A+ ball later in the year, but I'm sure they'll want to be careful with a young arm. He's probably on an innings limit too.

Also a correction it was Tyler Robertson not Kai Murphy that left the game.

Quote from Randy Manese on May 6, 2023, 9:55 am

Watched both the Ft Wayne game and LE game on MiLB yesterday, as well as the FtW game yesterday.  In all 3 games, young Padres' pitchers showed very good poise and for the most part, command of their stuff.  Lizarraga has progressed greatly since the early part of the season and used a good FB/change-up mix to keep hitters off balance; his command was strong for that game although he did not register many K's, which actually may be good for his short-term development.  Iriarte has the best stuff of any of the Padres pitchers - it is electric. He was around the plate most of the time but in one short stretch lost his release point/rhythm and walked consecutive batters.  One he got back on track, he was virtually unhittable.  His delivery is now very simple from the stretch, so he should be able to self-correct when he starts throwing high in the zone.  Snelling is doing remarkably well for not having pitched at all last season after the draft.  You have to remember that he played football in high school and his body is still line-backer like but he's getting good movement on his sweeper and knows how to add and subtract from his fastball.  I'd keep all 3 exactly where they are. because of their age and inexperience and let them grow in confidence/mental strength to go at least 5 innings and the feel you need to pitch at a higher level - late season promotions at best.

As for Pauley, was touting his promotion as well as Vilar's and Robertson's awhile back.  These are older position players who can take the place of a few of the older/underperforming Ft. Wayne who are either also going to get promoted or released.  There is a talent gap in position players at San Antonio so the opportunity is there for movement.  Padres still have some guys in extended spring training but also intend to field 2 DSL teams in June so there might not be as much movement of position players as you might expect this year until after the July draft.  Prediction:  when Vilar is promoted, look for Salas as the LH platoon at catcher with one of the RH catcher on the roster - maybe Duarte, possibly Alvarez-Lopez off the 60 day IL.  Lake Elsinore is doing an excellent job of bringing along their young pitchers but it is likely the staff and not the catchers themselves that are having the bigger impact, so no real pressure on the young catchers to do anything but learn their craft.