Quote from fenn68 on July 25, 2020, 8:10 am

A note on Hosmer ... and something to watch as the season continues:

Exit Velocity: 95+ MPH in all four AB yesterday vs. career at 90 MPH (note league average is 88 MPH)

Launch Angle: 22+ % in all four AB yesterday vs. career at 2.8 % (note league average is 11.5%)

A “one off” game or something he has fundamentally altered in his approach / swing?

Quote from Randy Manese on July 25, 2020, 9:09 am

Didn't expect much from Homer in those RBIs ABs because he was down in the count and swung hard and missed on the previous pitch.  However, he battled and got the head of the bat out to make solid contact, especially on the drive to RF.  Seen too many failures in previous 2 years but hope he continues to see positive results from his hard work and maintains this kind of discipline in 2020.  Maybe he was helped by not having the home crowd boo him?  It has to have been brutal at times these past two years.

Quote from Randy Manese on July 25, 2020, 9:28 am

Like Ben Davey, I think I've become a Guerra homer also.  He faced the heart of the Arizona line-up and brought "easy cheese" as the Padres announcers called it, hitting 100 or close to 100 with an effortless delivery.  That mix of 88 MPH slider and 98+ FB is going to play and we might see him evolve into more than just a late-inning filler in the future.  Another good story in a Padres clubhouse that is full of good stories and guys with character.

Quote from Brian Connelly on July 25, 2020, 12:47 pm

Only one game but liked what I saw. Hitters dug themselves out of 1-2/0-2 counts to draw walks and get hits; 7 walks by Padres is something rarely seen (actually should have been 8 since Machado was robbed by HP umpire)

+1.  I thought the good long AB by Machado, Profar, Myers walked twice, set the table.  Profar going from looking like a bad little leaguer pirouetting "away" from 2 87 MPH strikes up & "in"twice in a row to go 0-2, then getting HBP on the feet which was reversed, to staying alive fouling stuff off, & eventually drawing a walk and then scoring was one of the best AB of the game.

Ray is the type of P who has KILLED us in past:  He's going to get a lot of K's, but make him WORK for them and he'll give up some BB too.  Patient AB can get him out an inning sooner, which can make all the difference.  Even though Hedges is 1-18 vs Ray, guessing he starts due to Lamet's slider constantly in dirt.  I'd like to see him 8 & Olivares starting CF batting 9th.  Would leave 1-7 alone after yesterday!

Quote from Randy Manese on July 25, 2020, 1:48 pm

I like what Grisham did last night but Ray might be too much for him.  Agree there's a chance for Olivares to bat in that spot, but might not see any changes after last night.  Mejia didn't hurt the offense or the defense, so he might play ahead of Hedges.  I still like Hedges as the "closer" catcher.  Hedges probably starts game 3 or 4 against Arizona's lesser-skilled pitchers.

 

 

 

 

 

Quote from fenn68 on July 25, 2020, 3:50 pm

Line-up 1-6 the same except Myers goes to DH.

#7 Olivares (RF)

#8 Hedges (C)

#9 Grisham

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Think they are going to try to keep Grisham as the regular CF for as long as the can.

Second, did hear the comment that the Mejia / Hedges decision may have a lot to do with how difficult the pitcher is to catch rather than the opposing pitcher. Paddack is "easy to catch" since he is around the plate ... go with Mejia. Lamet can be hard to catch with balls in the dirt, etc. ... go with Hedges. Not the only factor ... but a factor.

Quote from Brian Connelly on July 25, 2020, 4:27 pm

They're nursing Myers' thigh/quad.  Thought he looked good in RF last night.  Like that Olivares is getting the start.  Just takes France's spot in 7-hole.

Think Tingler might be making the right call; could easily be a low scoring 1 run game.  Ray's total domination of Hedges (1-18) hurts, if it was a different P starting, likely go with Mejia, but Hedges simply better at handling Lamet's stuff.

Quote from 3fingersplit on July 25, 2020, 5:12 pm

People tend to think that this pitcher is "easier" to catch than that pitcher but having dealt with pitching staffs for years if you don't have a "nails" catcher that can get down and dirty for their pitcher then the pitcher can't really throw their game which includes the "wipe out" in the dirt breaking stuff

Hedges does that as well as anybody in baseball and the pitchers have confidence in him....Mejia...not so much. Will Mejia improve ?

sure but at what cost ?

Mejia for a game with the ball never touching the dirt or Hedges letting the staff throw their game

Paddack isn't throwing a "in the dirt curve ball"yet but he will - Mejia works

Lamet - Hedges

Luchessi - Hedges

Richard - 50/50

Davies - 50/50

Why was it that Preller was able to get Mejia away from Cleveland if he was such a valuable catching prospect?

Cleveland played that well. Has to be the bat because he really isn't anything to write home about as a catcher.....season is early and I hope that the bat Mejia has flashed can overcome his learning on the job position play

59 to go before the Pads go to the playoffs 🙂

Is it to early to predict a winning record ?

Go Pads !!!

Quote from fenn68 on July 25, 2020, 5:36 pm

Not going to propose Mejia will be an elite catcher but at 22 still a lot of room to be serviceable defensively with a plus bat (which always was his calling card).

Indians traded him  (at age 20) in 2018 near the deadline of a playoff run ... for a guy named Hand (pretty good RP as I recall) and Cimber. Have to pay the price to get Hand for a playoff run.

From a player asset standpoint ... better if he can catch but if the bat plays he is athletic enough for OF/1B/DH that that is still good value.

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Paddack and Davies are the easy to catch options with good command while Lamet and Lucchesi are the big breaking ball in the dirt types and all over the map. Hopefully Richards is in the Paddack / Davies group not even considering who catches. No one is going to catch every game so maybe to start a 50/50 split makes some sense and let their play on the field shift the balance either way ... would expect the rest of the offense will play a role in need for more offense or better defense.

Just buying time until Torrens takes over in 2021 and Campusano in 2022.