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Minor League Discussion
#3041 · June 19, 2024, 2:36 pm
In judging the success or failure of trades the Padres have made and player performances (both in the majors and in the minor leagues) from one year to the next, there are so many factors that enter into the results on the field, not the least of which is that baseball is probably the hardest of the major sports team activities to play and to play well at a high and consistent level.
I know that the Padres/Preller and top management get criticized to trading top-rated prospects to try to win now, but isn't that what most fans want (if indeed the probability is realistic) and what your owner should want?
For example, who would have thought that Matt Waldron would be the most valuable piece obtained in the trade of Naylor, Arias, Quantrill, Hedges, Cantillo and Miller to Cleveland for Waldron, Clevinger and Greg Allen? Hedges, Miller and Quantrill are long gone; Cantillo is still in the minors; Arias has not found a full time position while hitting under .220 in the 4 years since the trade; and finally Naylor is down from his solid year last year. In the meantime, Waldron has been a rock for the Padres staff that has lost Darvish and Musgrove to injuries for long periods in the 1st half of the season. Clevinger didn't give us much overall, but he did get us into the 2020 playoffs with his 2 wins before his injuries (which is something no one could anticipate). Further, we did get into the 2022 playoffs with Clevinger even though he got hit hard. After 4 years, it seems the Padres have now gotten the best of this trade for what we have gotten out of Clevinger and now Waldron at the major league level despite Naylor stats last year which got Cleveland into the playoffs. Waldron is only 27 years of age for most of the 2024 season, while Naylor will turn 27 next week and is now at 1b, a position much more easily filled at less cost than a reliable 4th or 5th starter for a team that hopes to contend/get in the playoffs. Naylor is making 6.5M this year; Waldron is under 750,000. Was is just luck? Baseball is a hard game to play and one little tweak or adjustment can make a player become much more than was expected or vice versa.
#3042 · June 21, 2024, 1:22 pm
A couple crazy games in the DSL today.
Padres Gold scored 19 runs on 7 hits....yes,7 hits .....and only one was extra bases(a triple) in a game that took FOUR hours to complete.
For good measure in the other game Padres Brown "gave up" 19 runs
#3043 · June 21, 2024, 8:10 pm
What is wrong with Robby Snelling?
Gives up 9 runs and FIVE homeruns in 5.1 innings today.
Now 1-7 with an ERA nearly 6
Yes I know he’s still just 20……..also,please don’t ever put him in El Paso!
#3044 · June 21, 2024, 8:29 pm
Is Snelling just working on new pitches or something? Is he being told, regardless of outcome, we want you to throw your slider with 2 strikes? Something like that?
#3045 · June 22, 2024, 8:53 am
Snelling told broadcasters in SA a few days ago that he has been fighting a dead arm, which probably accounts for the loss of velocity and location. It also explains, to some degree, why he usually can make it through the first 2-4 innings and then get lit up after that. Amarillo is just as bad or maybe worse than El Paso, Las Vegas, Albuquerque,etc. so that explains the HRs but you got to put the kid on the IL if he's not physically sound. He wants to pitch his way through it, but the results are not good and could lead to more severe injuries if allowed to continue.
#3046 · June 22, 2024, 10:43 am
What does it mean to have a dead arm exactly ? Is this something that is of concern ?
#3047 · June 22, 2024, 12:26 pm
Quote from Stergios on June 22, 2024, 10:43 amWhat does it mean to have a dead arm exactly ? Is this something that is of concern ?
The term is used to cover a lot of varying conditions … some potentially more serious than others. I guess the team training staff / doctors are making the judgement but a bit surprised they have not shut him down for a week or two to rest his shoulder / rotator cuff or what ever is the cause.
In ST it usually is just a process that happens as the pitcher builds innings but in Snelling’s case this far into the season would speculate something different. If the cause (and not suggesting it is) is based on the rotator cuff handled poorly could results in month to a year of limited use.
#3048 · June 22, 2024, 1:30 pm
Just to add to what Fenn said, it could be some degree of fatigue in the biceps, triceps or even forearm and typically is taken care of in spring training, oftentimes extending the time the player stays in camp before opening the season. With the competitive nature of Snelling, I could see him arguing that he's okay enough to pitch but as the season progresses it seems to be getting worse. As Fenn indicates, if this is in the rotator cuff this could lead to shutting him down for months and/or even surgery. As I said earlier, put him on the 10 day minor league IL and give his arm time to rebound - he's much too valuable to the Padres to risk his future when there is no real need to do so.
#3049 · June 22, 2024, 7:41 pm
Salas with 10 hits in his last 6 games.
Finally some life from one of our top prospects?
Pauley,Lesko,Snelling,Salas,DeVries,Bergert…….yikes.
#3050 · June 23, 2024, 6:58 am
Its baby steps with these younger prospects, appreciating the learning curve and ability to take instruction. For example, although his overall stats don't show it, he has been making progress and has now thrown 50 innings this year with 100 likely the most he will toss. So far he has pitched 4 games in April, May and June. In April, there was only 1 game where he had less walks than Ks and only 1 game where he pitched 5 or more innings. In May, he had 3 games with less walks than Ks and 2 games of 5 or more innings. And in June to date, he again has 3 of 4 games with less walks than Ks and has pitched 3 games of 5 or more innings. He's starting to fill up the zone, which is the Padres philosophy and as a result seems more hittable but in the long run bettering his command/location will result in less hits while reducing the walks. He should have one more start in June and looks to be on the right trajectory plus all indications are that his arm is healthy.
Expectations for DeVries were high but probably unrealistic given this is his first exposure to professional baseball at 17 and then his subsequent shoulder injury which limited him from hitting from the right side but I surmise also affecting him hitting from the left. I think Ive seen just about every at bat he's had at Lake Elsinore and while he looks like a grown man in his stance and poise, his inexperience shows in his pitch recognition and by his chasing too many pitches outside of the zone. However, when you look at this kid, you can see the talent just waiting to come out and some of the hits he has had have outstanding velocity off the bat. As he continues to heal and mature, I think he will finish very strong. For DeVries, somewhat like Salas, give him a little more time to grow into his talent because both these kids are special.