Quote from Randy Manese on September 20, 2020, 11:13 am

I've watched virtually every inning of every game this year and there certainly have been some head-scratching times in handling pitchers - who's coming in from the pen, how many innings/pitches is that pitcher limited to when he's looking pretty good, taken out too late or too early, rookie over veteran.  Even acquiring 3 Seattle pitchers and giving up Munoz in the deal.  However, I'm not privy to how someone's arm is feeling on a particular day or whether the risk in the trade is worth the projected reward.

With regard to Patino, he would have had to be protected on the 40 man anyway this year and in his mind, he probably thought he was ready given what he was doing at the alternative training site and how badly the bullpen was faring in the early going.  I think the exposure this year, over a very abbreviated schedule, allowed the Padres to get Patino to realize that while he has great stuff, he has poor command and that's why he's not going to be in the rotation for at least another year, maybe 2.  His 1.90 WHIP drives that point home.  That's his "homework" - develop the command because they generally can't hit what he throws when he gets ahead in the count.

Morejon's problem has been his health and whether he can sustain his stuff beyond 30-40 pitches before his arm or shoulder gives out.  He is way ahead of Patino in terms of command and his stuff ranks right up there with Gore and Patino.  With a WHIP of barely over 1.00, his issue is much like Weathers - get yourself in shape physically and mentally and you could take Richards' place in the rotation next year.

I agree that how both have been handled could have been better and I hope there are not any long-lasting adverse affects from their experiences this year.  I look forward to having both in the starting rotation in the next few years although not play a major role for at least another year.  Because of this, I think we make an concerted effort to extend at least one, maybe two, of our current top 3 (Clevinger, Lamet, Davies) beyond the  time we would lose them to FA.