Quote from Randy Manese on October 12, 2023, 10:00 pm

Good performance by Enmanuel Pinales in the AFL.  Came in with runners at 1st and 2nd with 1 out, got a pop up to the infield and then a fly out.  Pitched another inning and went 3 up and 3 down, with one strike.   Small sample size, but in 2 appearances, 4.2 innings, Pinales has given up just one hit (a monster HR), 1 walk and has struck out 5.  His ERA is 1.93 and his WHIP is currently 0.43.  Currently slotted to be a SP at Ft Wayne if he continues his success, but may move up more quickly in the system as a RP.  Time will tell.

Quote from Randy Manese on October 13, 2023, 2:55 pm

Heard a great Podcast on MiLB.com called Show Before the Show that featured an interview with Graham Pauley.  It is Podcast #428 and his interview starts around the 49 minute mark into the show; moderators earlier mention how well Jakob Marsee is doing in the AFL, which is just before the game, I believe, when he struck out 4 times in 5 AB's.  Anyway, Pauley talks about what he and the Padres staff did to make him a better player/hitter, so I felt it was a worthwhile listen to some behind the scenes that are happening in the Padres minor league system.

Quote from Randy Manese on October 14, 2023, 5:52 pm

Padres farmhands did better today overall in the AFL, but the team is in a bit of a batting slump and pitching hasn't been good so they've now lost 3 straight after going undefeated in their first 9 games.  Marsee sent his 2 hits to RF, a 2b and a run-scoring single with a K in between.  Martorella also had a 2b to RF, going 1-3 with a K and a ground out to 2nd.  Pauley, seems to be in a slump (long season finally catching up to him?) and when 0-3 with 2 Ks and a little pop out to SS.  Cole Paplham pitched a dominant inning, with a K sandwiched around 2 ground outs - 9 of his 14 pitches were for strikes.

Quote from Randy Manese on October 16, 2023, 10:18 pm

Focus today in the AFL was on the Padres pitchers, Braden Nett (who started the game) and Enmanuel Pinales, who followed him in the 6th and pitched into one out in the 7th.  Nett only gave up 1 hit in 5 innings (solo HR), striking out 7 and walking 1; he's really trying to make a case for starting out 2024 in Hi A vice Lake Elsinore, however, have to keep in mind that the Glendale Desert Dogs do not have that strong a line-up.  Pinales pitched better than his line, but didn't have his best command, hitting a batter and throwing a WP.  He gave up 1 run on 2 hits in the 6th and was pulled after a single and HB in the 7th with one out; unfortunately, the guy after him put another guy on and then gave up a grand slam, so two of those runs were charged to Pinales.  Had been pitching well, but because of command issues may start back in Low A to begin 2024.

Marsee was the only offensive player on the field for the Javelinas.  He went 0-2 but walked twice and stole 3 bases.  Not a bad night for a lead-off hitter who was in the starting lineup even though the opposing pitcher was left handed.

 

Quote from Randy Manese on October 19, 2023, 11:40 pm

Paplham's inconsistency is frustrating.  After a great prior outing, he was all over the place today, taking 31 pitches to get 2 outs.  Only 16 of the 31 were thrown for strikes and he had both a WP and a Balk.  He only gave up 1 hit but walked 3, including 1 with the bases loaded.  Thought he might be a dark horse for the Padres bullpen, but now it looks like AA to start the season.  Got to get his mechanics together because he definitely has the arm and competitiveness to be a top RP.

Quote from LynchMob on October 22, 2023, 9:01 am

https://www.milb.com/news/san-diego-padres-2023-organization-all-stars

Quote from Randy Manese on October 22, 2023, 10:50 am

Of those on the list, Loewen is Rule 5 eligible while Ornelas can elect Free Agency 5 days after the end of the World Series.  Loewen is worth a gamble as a RP in the majors, so Padres will probably protect him on their 40-man.  May try to re-sign Ornelas, but he's been with the organization a long time, so might want a change of scenery.  One of the many decisions Padres will have to make and execute beginning 5 days after the World Series ends.

Quote from Randy Manese on October 23, 2023, 11:59 am

Surprise release by Padres today - Eddy Beltre, OF, who looked very promising in the DSL in 2021.  Flashed power and speed but injured most of 2022 and 2023.  Still only 20 but skills may have deteriorated with injuries - baseball is a hard game!

Quote from Randy Manese on October 27, 2023, 12:22 pm

With less than 2 weeks to go in the AFL, probably have enough data to evaluate where the Padres prospects are in their development and assignments in 2024.

Pitchers:  Mendez, Nett, Paplham, Pena, Pinales.  SPs Mendez and Pinales definitely back to LE.  Pinales has flashed skills at times but lack of command facing better hitters means he needs to get better to move up.  RP Pena already at FtW, but he too has been inconsistent; could start 2024 in FtW, but not surprised if goes back to LE.  RP Paplham on AA roster but again, lack of command shows he must deliver solid results before being considered for a MLB bullpen role - has to have that appearance to appearance consistency.  SP Nett is the only one of the group that has showed well with only 1 bad outing and could be in line for a Hi A starting job; his last couple of appearances may determine whether Hi or Low A but has been the best and most consistent of this group.

Hitters: Marsee, Martorella, Pauley.  Pauley and Martorella have been up and down and both have not played as often as Marsee.  Pauley still showing the power but only 2 BB in 64 plate appearances which has kept that OBP below 300 which is far off his regular season stats; K rate at 20% is okay but showing he's not quite ready to move up.  Martorella has struggled to make hard contact, hitting a lot of ground balls that have resulted in DPs despite his BB and K rate being somewhat close to what we could expect.  Martorella showing that he is likely only to be a 1b/DH prospect, while Pauley can play a good OF and decent IF at 3b.  Marsee, on the other hand, looks like the most major-league ready.  His stroke and eye at the plate will likely keep him out of prolonged slumps plus a good base runner even though he doesn't have superior speed.  He plays at least average in CF/LF generally getting good jumps and tracking the ball well; not a RF candidate since his arm is average at best.  While Pauley and Martorella will probably start 2024 in San Antonio, not surprised if Marsee is assigned to El Paso.  His game is least likely to be affected by the altitude so if he doesn't make the Padres roster out of spring training as the 4th-5th OF, then I'm targeting him for the Chihuahuas roster.