Quote from fenn68 on May 15, 2023, 4:21 pm

Quote from MrPadre19 on May 15, 2023, 4:02 pm

Quote from fenn68 on May 14, 2023, 3:09 pm

If anyone is following LE closely ... any insight on LHP Austin Krob (12 round pick last year) who has had 6 starts and been very effective. Not so much his performance (as a college pitcher in low A) but what caught my eye was in those 6 starts / 24.2 innings he now has SIX ERRORS per the game day recap!

How is that possible for a SP in such a short span?

Wild Pitches?

Zero Wild Pitches!

Listed as 9 fielding chances ... 2 PutOuts ... 2 Assists ... 5 Errors ... I guess some could be bad pick-off attempts but still 5 errors in 24.2 innings is just mind blowing.

Quote from Randy Manese on May 17, 2023, 9:58 am

As I posted earlier, I wouldn't get too excited about Krob's success as a pitcher and similarly his poor fielding stats.  I saw a couple of those throws that sailed over the infielders head and resulted in runs scored; very bad footwork but correctable.  As a former college pitcher at TCU he should be expected to do well at Low A but likely will top out at AA if he even gets there.  Nothing dynamic with his stuff but it works at this level.  Of the 7 starters the Storm are currently using, I'd rank them this way:  (1) Snelling, (2) Williams, (3) Lowe, (4) Baez, (5) Haynes (rated this low only because he's coming back from TJ surgery and performance likely will be inconsistent), (6) Krob and (7) Balboni although the latter two are kind of interchangeable; hope Lowe is not seriously injured and that Williams will be able to work to 35-50 IP this year.  Castro also has been used as a starter but his small stature might make him more suitable for relief; he'd be rated in the Baez/Haynes range as a potential starter.  These LE pitchers still have a long way to go but several have already flashed skills that would be comparable to upper level minor league prospects Iriarte, Lizarraga and Wolf.

Quote from Randy Manese on May 17, 2023, 10:03 am

Espinoza pitched another good game yesterday.  Big difference is that he now doesn't seem afraid to challenge hitters with his stuff, so he's filling up the strike zone instead of gingerly trying to hit the corners or go high/low.  If he can mentally absorb the occasional long ball when he misses, he still has good enough velocity and working change-up/slider to regain his former prospect status.  For him and Contreras, let's see how they are doing by the end of June/early July.

Quote from fenn68 on May 17, 2023, 11:35 am

Quote from Randy Manese on May 17, 2023, 10:03 am

Espinoza pitched another good game yesterday.  Big difference is that he now doesn't seem afraid to challenge hitters with his stuff, so he's filling up the strike zone instead of gingerly trying to hit the corners or go high/low.  If he can mentally absorb the occasional long ball when he misses, he still has good enough velocity and working change-up/slider to regain his former prospect status.  For him and Contreras, let's see how they are doing by the end of June/early July.

With the possibility Snell, Wacha, Martinez, and Lugo all becoming FA at at the end of the season if everyone declines the club/player options … wonder who among the AAA/AA SP prospects have a stuff secure a ML SP role in 2024?

I would guess Weathers has the inside track but not seeing much in Groome, Knehr, Avila, or Morejon to count on them.

So, understanding four months to go in 2023, is there any chance with Espinosa, Contreras, Wolf, ?, the Padres can generate a legit internal candidate? At least for the #5, maybe #4 SP.

Quote from MrPadre19 on May 17, 2023, 2:24 pm

I still like Groome…..AAA stats aren’t going to change my mind in any way.

Could have an 8.00 era there and I wouldn’t care….means nothing.

El Paso is a waste for “evaluating” pitching prospects.

 

Quote from Randy Manese on May 17, 2023, 8:05 pm

Lizarraga had a very tough time today, throwing only 12 strikes in 30 pitches - and they weren't even close.  FB velocity was down with no command; strikes he got were mainly from his curve.  Arm speed looked down - possible injury?  Maybe needs time on the developmental list.  MadFriars today says it might be the flu bug - which is a lot better situation than an injury.  Fingers crossed.

Quote from LynchMob on May 18, 2023, 9:43 am

https://www.mlb.com/padres/news/the-best-prospect-finds-for-each-mlb-team-2023?t=mlb-pipeline-coverage

Padres: Jairo Iriarte, RHP (No. 11)
San Diego was capped at giving out $300,000 international bonuses in 2018 but may have found a potential Major League contributor for just $75,000 in Iriarte. The 21-year-old right-hander now sits in the mid-90s and has the slider and changeup to round out a solid three-pitch mix. He’s off to a great start at High-A Fort Wayne, including pitching the first six innings in the club’s no-hitter on Tuesday.

Quote from fenn68 on May 18, 2023, 9:51 am

I must have missed it but it appears that the minor leagues have eliminated the mid-season league all-star games. The only break on the schedule is July 10-13 coinciding with the ML All-Star break and the draft. Am I wrong?

In the past teams used the minor league all-star break as a point where they shuffle players up to the next level. So, maybe that becomes that July window giving the players time to move and settle. That timing would give the players moving up about 2 months at the new level.

Quote from Randy Manese on May 18, 2023, 10:52 am

First look at Miguel Mendez.  Over the top delivery much like Baez.  Has slightly better velocity (going to upper 90's) but less movement on slider and change up and velocity not much different between FB and changeup - everything was hard.  Not a lot of swing and miss and was very lucky to have hard hit balls right at OF's.  Stat line looked better than he actually pitched.  Seems to have improved command but still a long ways to go to become a serious prospect.