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#2731 · September 1, 2023, 7:16 pm
Despite not being able to get his curve over, Lesko still only gave up 1 hit, walked 3 and struck out 9 in his 5 inning win. Looked especially dominant in the first 3 innings with this walks coming in the latter two. Lot of movement on his FB, change-up was mostly good but gave up the 1 hit on the change - when he gets ahead of the count, he is devastating. FB up in the mid-90's. Agree that next year should see him move up to AA after an initial assignment back at Ft. Wayne.
Bergert also was very good early even though the ump was squeezing him on his sliders on the outside corner. Did not give up a run but command was only so-so, even though he had all of his pitches working. Really like how he's progressed since last year - compare the stats and you'll see how far he has come.
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MrPadre19
#2732 · September 1, 2023, 8:23 pm
What adjustment(s) has Bergert made from last year to this?
Amyone know?
At almost the same ip he’s given up nearly half as many hits and only 4 HR’s after allowing 18 last season
#2733 · September 1, 2023, 9:41 pm
John Coniff did a Q & A with Bergert that was on Mad Friars on 31 May 2023. To summarize, Bergert said he's finally through with his rehab process and back to where he was before TJ surgery. He said he has increased his velocity on his FB to 94-96, added a sweeper slider to go with a harder, tighter slider and was working on a better change-up. Since this Q & A, Bergert maintained that consistency and actually got better before he was promoted to San Antonio. At SA, he started slowly but now is back in the grove and with his performance today, his San Antonio stats are actually better than he had at Ft. Wayne.
For this reason, I mentioned before that I think he is the most advanced of the Padres' pitchers and would not be surprised if he got a very long look for the 5th or 6th spot in the rotation or even long relief. He has good poise on the mound and is very competitive. When looking a RH pitchers in the system, his stuff is not as good as Lesko's or Iriarte (when Iriarte is on his game) but he is very consistent with the results being a good mix of fly balls to ground balls. A stat I like to look at is K-BB% and even though he has a BB rate a little higher than I'd like (around 4.0), he still is up there at 18%, which is very good. If Bergert can keep opponent's batting average in the low .200's and not give up that big fly, he can work around that slightly high walk rate.
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MrPadre19fenn68
#2734 · September 2, 2023, 5:24 am
We will see in ST but given the potential SP mix (as it stands), Bergert has a very good chance to make the 26 man roster whether he is fully ready or not.
As it stands he is in the mix with Morejon, Waldron, and Avila … maybe Martinez for what could be two open slots (even if they retain Wacha). Actually the long relief / 6th SP role is also wide open. So the door is wide open.
Padres will have to balance making outside moves (long term / large money) for SP against the upside (but not quite ready) of Bergert who may be followed to the ML in 2024 by Snelling, Iriate, Mazur … and can Lesko be that far behind. That prospect potential may allow the Padres to seek additions in 2024 in more the Lugo / Wacha mode (short term / lower cost).
Probably a pretty safe bet that if he does not make the opening day Padres’s roster he will be up in 2024.
#2735 · September 2, 2023, 10:40 am
Quote from fenn68 on August 30, 2023, 6:08 amAny word on Austin Nola?
Padres optioned him mid-July ... played a bit in EP (27 AB / 8 games ... but still did not hit) but then has not played since Aug 2 ... still listed on the ACTIVE roster for EP.
IF injured why not on the IL? ... IF not injured why not even some token AB or released? Almost 4 weeks in the twilight zone.
Given his 2023 and the fact he will be 34 next year (not a great age for catchers) ... would think he becomes a Padres' non-tender although he does not have a major salary and there will not be a 40 man roster issue over the winter (at least initially). On the other hand, maybe they are just "resting" Nola to see if he can rebound a little (maybe thinking the beanball from early in the season is an issue) and have him as insurance if they don't re-sign Sanchez or another catcher. Looking more like Campusano will get a long run in 2024 as one of the catchers so the 2nd catcher is at issue ... probably not Sullivan so ???????? (no not Salas in 2024)
From this article that just came out.
Then Nola heard Anthony Rizzo discuss the fogginess that lingered well after the Yankees first baseman’s late May collision with Fernando Tatis Jr.’s knee.
It sounded familiar, prompting Nola to halt his assignment at Triple-A El Paso and embark on a battery of neurology and ophthalmology tests over the past month at UC San Diego, UCLA and UC Irvine.
Nola had not played since Aug. 2 and was finally placed on El Paso’s injured list Saturday. The official diagnosis is oculomotor dysfunction, a vision issue that impacts the brain’s ability to coordinate eye movement. It could provide an answer as to why Nola wasn’t tracking the ball as well as he was in spring training.
#2736 · September 2, 2023, 12:14 pm
Quote from Jeremy Hill on September 2, 2023, 10:40 amQuote from fenn68 on August 30, 2023, 6:08 amAny word on Austin Nola?
Padres optioned him mid-July ... played a bit in EP (27 AB / 8 games ... but still did not hit) but then has not played since Aug 2 ... still listed on the ACTIVE roster for EP.
IF injured why not on the IL? ... IF not injured why not even some token AB or released? Almost 4 weeks in the twilight zone.
Given his 2023 and the fact he will be 34 next year (not a great age for catchers) ... would think he becomes a Padres' non-tender although he does not have a major salary and there will not be a 40 man roster issue over the winter (at least initially). On the other hand, maybe they are just "resting" Nola to see if he can rebound a little (maybe thinking the beanball from early in the season is an issue) and have him as insurance if they don't re-sign Sanchez or another catcher. Looking more like Campusano will get a long run in 2024 as one of the catchers so the 2nd catcher is at issue ... probably not Sullivan so ???????? (no not Salas in 2024)
From this article that just came out.
Then Nola heard Anthony Rizzo discuss the fogginess that lingered well after the Yankees first baseman’s late May collision with Fernando Tatis Jr.’s knee.
It sounded familiar, prompting Nola to halt his assignment at Triple-A El Paso and embark on a battery of neurology and ophthalmology tests over the past month at UC San Diego, UCLA and UC Irvine.
Nola had not played since Aug. 2 and was finally placed on El Paso’s injured list Saturday. The official diagnosis is oculomotor dysfunction, a vision issue that impacts the brain’s ability to coordinate eye movement. It could provide an answer as to why Nola wasn’t tracking the ball as well as he was in spring training.
Thanks for the update.
Never like to hear stuff like that … hope Nola can recover just for normal life not just baseball.
Just considering the Seidler character … pretty sure he will work out some accommodation with Nola to ensure he gets full medical support if the decision is to retire or get released … in the short run should be a lot of room on the 40 man if that is needed.
#2737 · September 2, 2023, 12:41 pm
Quote from fenn68 on September 2, 2023, 12:14 pmQuote from Jeremy Hill on September 2, 2023, 10:40 amQuote from fenn68 on August 30, 2023, 6:08 amAny word on Austin Nola?
Padres optioned him mid-July ... played a bit in EP (27 AB / 8 games ... but still did not hit) but then has not played since Aug 2 ... still listed on the ACTIVE roster for EP.
IF injured why not on the IL? ... IF not injured why not even some token AB or released? Almost 4 weeks in the twilight zone.
Given his 2023 and the fact he will be 34 next year (not a great age for catchers) ... would think he becomes a Padres' non-tender although he does not have a major salary and there will not be a 40 man roster issue over the winter (at least initially). On the other hand, maybe they are just "resting" Nola to see if he can rebound a little (maybe thinking the beanball from early in the season is an issue) and have him as insurance if they don't re-sign Sanchez or another catcher. Looking more like Campusano will get a long run in 2024 as one of the catchers so the 2nd catcher is at issue ... probably not Sullivan so ???????? (no not Salas in 2024)
From this article that just came out.
Then Nola heard Anthony Rizzo discuss the fogginess that lingered well after the Yankees first baseman’s late May collision with Fernando Tatis Jr.’s knee.
It sounded familiar, prompting Nola to halt his assignment at Triple-A El Paso and embark on a battery of neurology and ophthalmology tests over the past month at UC San Diego, UCLA and UC Irvine.
Nola had not played since Aug. 2 and was finally placed on El Paso’s injured list Saturday. The official diagnosis is oculomotor dysfunction, a vision issue that impacts the brain’s ability to coordinate eye movement. It could provide an answer as to why Nola wasn’t tracking the ball as well as he was in spring training.
Thanks for the update.
Never like to hear stuff like that … hope Nola can recover just for normal life not just baseball.
Just considering the Seidler character … pretty sure he will work out some accommodation with Nola to ensure he gets full medical support if the decision is to retire or get released … in the short run should be a lot of room on the 40 man if that is needed.
The full article makes it sound like he's on the road to recovery and hoping to get into a few games before the Chihuahuas wrap up their season. It could change the decision on whether or not to retain him. Maybe now they at least keep him around until spring training to see how he looks.
#2738 · September 2, 2023, 8:20 pm
Pinales had a no-hitter going into the 7th inning for the Storm only to give up 2 solo HRs and end up with a no decision. Storm came back to win the game and keep close to division-leading Inland Empire for their showdown series next week. It will be a tough road to get into the playoffs but they still have a chance as they play for the opportunity.
Iriarte has not really been on his game since they bounced him back from RP to SP. His BB rate is way up and is more hittable, catching way too much of the plate even when he is ahead of the count. Still, got to like that K/9 rate of over 15 and low HR rate. He's just a little bit off but it seems fixable. With San Antonio already in the playoff's it will be interesting to see what the most high prospect-laden team does in the playoff and how many innings the young arms are going to be allowed to pitch.
Excellent start by Krob and got 11 K's to boot. Keep being surprised by him but I'm going to look at this game again to try to see what really is working for him. Current year looking a lot like his second year at TCU. Ft. Wayne only 1/2 game back of leading Western Michigan but they don't play them in the final 6 game series of the year. They'll need help from Great Lakes team besides winning the series over Dayton. Possible but not easy.
#2739 · September 3, 2023, 10:34 pm
Very nice game by Lizarraga, who pitched around some questionable defense and/or hard luck to keep runners from scoring. Had his FB up to the mid-90's and was consistently getting the outside corner with his curve and/or change-up. Hasn't looked this good since last year at LE. With some solid SP over this last series and currently in 1st place, TinCaps will need to win at least two games at Dayton and keep pace with whatever Western Michigan does at home against 1st half winner Great Lakes. It's probably going to come down to the wire! Caps on!
In the California League, the Storm will need to win 4 of 6 against Inland Empire at San Bernardino to clinch a playoff spot. They've been playing over there heads this last series to get this close, so we'll see if the magic continues in the final series. Go Storm!
#2740 · September 4, 2023, 3:08 am
Any insights on what is going on with the RP Reynolds (25) who the Padres got with Cooper in the Reynolds trade. His results have been beyond awful. He had a below 3 ERA (AA/AAA) before he was acquired for the MIA affiliates with a decent WHIP in 49 innings and was decent in 2022. However in his appearances with EP (only 7 innings) consistently bad yielding an eye popping 23.48 ERA / 4.43 WHIP … 7 innings: 17 hits / 17 walks. That is way more than just the PCL / ballpark.
Same question about Groome (25) who after an encouraging 2022 (3.44 ERA in 144 innings … 3.24 ERA in EP in 51 innings) he also has totally fallen apart. 27 starts (121 innings) with a 8.53 ERA / 2.09 WHIP. Clearly lost all control. Again, way worse than the EP effect. Groome is on the 40 man and does not have another option year so if they don’t DFA him his winter he will have to make the 26 man or get DFA out of ST … can’t see him making the ML roster.