Quote from Jeremy Hill on June 21, 2023, 7:45 am

Quote from fenn68 on June 21, 2023, 3:09 am

On the flip side, beginning to worry about a Machado rebound to his norm … pretty deep into the season.

Other than a couple of games … he just is not making good contact with a lot of weak ground balls (think he is leading the ML in hitting into double plays) and clearly he is one of the main culprits in failing to hit with runners in scoring position … not what you want from the #3 hitter when you have Tatis / Soto on base ahead of him.

I know it is easy to pick on small stuff when a player is going bad but it seems that Manny … who has never appeared to be an enthusiastic player on the field as his norm … seems to be even less so during this slump. We know the measures when he runs hard based on game situations normally but just as an observation seems to not be running hard even in more critical situations (maybe just my biased observation but that is how I am seeing it). Less zip when on base and almost without energy in his AB.

Maybe the standard being set by Tatis (and even Kim) of enthusiasm / engagement is being unfair to Machado’s personna … or is there something more?

Manny, Jake and Grisham all seem like they might be struggling to adjust to the sweeper/slider revolution to me. Manny especially seems to be doing his best Khalil Greene impersonation consistently chasing them well off the plate.

The lack of hustle doesn't bother me. That's always been Manny's MO. I don't know if we would even notice if not for some poor throws lately making it clear just how easy he is taking it down the line.

Quote from fenn68 on June 21, 2023, 8:45 am

Manny is the only one I am really surprised about ... and worried about ... given he was a mid-.800 OPS guy maybe more, MVP candidate, and the key middle of the order bat. He is way down in BA/OBP/SLG. Never was that impressive vs the outside slider ... just now worse.

As for Cronenworth, actually not surprised about his production given that since his first season 2020 when he had an .831 OPS, every season he was less productive going down .800 to .722 to .673 this season. Down in all three slash line elements BA/OBP/SLG. I was surprised when the Padres gave him that extension with two more control years via arbitration (2024-5) beyond 2023 and running through 2030 and age 36. Why the urgency for a 29 year old with declining production ... and for that length? Worse that he got moved to 1B were his lack of production is more in focus vs other 1B. Think Cronenworth maybe be who now who he will be.

Grisham is what he has been ... no surprise there ... and don't expect more.

Tatis is doing better than anticipated ... Soto is (in my view) what we should expect from Soto ... so the rebound for the Padres is on the shoulders of Manny and Bogaerts hitting 3 and 4 and current significantly under performing.

Quote from fenn68 on June 21, 2023, 10:38 am

Quote from Jeremy Hill on June 21, 2023, 7:45 am

Quote from fenn68 on June 21, 2023, 3:09 am

On the flip side, beginning to worry about a Machado rebound to his norm … pretty deep into the season.

Other than a couple of games … he just is not making good contact with a lot of weak ground balls (think he is leading the ML in hitting into double plays) and clearly he is one of the main culprits in failing to hit with runners in scoring position … not what you want from the #3 hitter when you have Tatis / Soto on base ahead of him.

I know it is easy to pick on small stuff when a player is going bad but it seems that Manny … who has never appeared to be an enthusiastic player on the field as his norm … seems to be even less so during this slump. We know the measures when he runs hard based on game situations normally but just as an observation seems to not be running hard even in more critical situations (maybe just my biased observation but that is how I am seeing it). Less zip when on base and almost without energy in his AB.

Maybe the standard being set by Tatis (and even Kim) of enthusiasm / engagement is being unfair to Machado’s personna … or is there something more?

Manny, Jake and Grisham all seem like they might be struggling to adjust to the sweeper/slider revolution to me. Manny especially seems to be doing his best Khalil Greene impersonation consistently chasing them well off the plate.

The lack of hustle doesn't bother me. That's always been Manny's MO. I don't know if we would even notice if not for some poor throws lately making it clear just how easy he is taking it down the line.

Any concern about Manny being injured? ... we know he does not like to succumb to injury, discuss injury, and wants to play every day. Just speculation to explain poor performance but a back issue could impact the swing and make him move a bit more gingerly. Defense is still fine but more a quick reaction move (that still may hurt but not as limiting).

No rumor here ... just my pure speculation.

Quote from Jeremy Hill on June 21, 2023, 11:56 am

I don't think we can ever be certain of a player's health. Maybe the hand is still giving him issues. Maybe he's dealing with something else. We know he plays at less than 100% regularly. To me it just seems like his approach has gotten worse. He's got the highest swing rate, chase rate and whiff rate of his career right now. It's probably an oversimplification, but swinging more at bad pitches is not a recipe for success.

Quote from fenn68 on June 21, 2023, 12:37 pm

Quote from Jeremy Hill on June 21, 2023, 11:56 am

I don't think we can ever be certain of a player's health. Maybe the hand is still giving him issues. Maybe he's dealing with something else. We know he plays at less than 100% regularly. To me it just seems like his approach has gotten worse. He's got the highest swing rate, chase rate and whiff rate of his career right now. It's probably an oversimplification, but swinging more at bad pitches is not a recipe for success.

Agree but a 30 year old super star probably just does not lose it without some underlying reason(s) ... physical or mental.

Quote from fenn68 on June 21, 2023, 3:23 pm

Padres confuse me again … understand they may need a “fresh arm” but after a couple of days ago suggesting they need another RHRP they …

recall LHP Morejon and option RHP Carlton instead of LHP Kerr while bypassing Tapia or Knehr.

There must be some logic … just eludes me.

Quote from Jeremy Hill on June 21, 2023, 6:17 pm

Morejon is probably better than Carlton and a few other guys in the pen if he's healthy and right. A right hander might be preferred, but as we discussed I'm not sure there are any great options there. Sometimes you just have to work with what you've got.

Quote from Jeremy Hill on June 21, 2023, 8:17 pm

They need to reevaluate the blocking the plate rule. I can't believe the intent was to bail out a guy that gets thrown out by 3+ steps. There was an awful one against the Rangers yesterday too.

Quote from BoosterSD on June 21, 2023, 8:22 pm

Quote from Jeremy Hill on June 21, 2023, 8:17 pm

They need to reevaluate the blocking the plate rule. I can't believe the intent was to bail out a guy that gets thrown out by 3+ steps. There was an awful one against the Rangers yesterday too.

As much as I am an umpire guy, that call was bullshit. Horrible call from NY. 2 runs on MLB