Quote from fenn68 on August 16, 2020, 7:01 am

Saw Pham struck out to open the game ... now for August in 48 AB: 167/259/229. He is looking lost at the plate and that is not what a playoff team needs from a player planned as a middle of the order force. Given his history, really surprised the depth of his struggles.

Not sure moving him to lead off made sense ... maybe 9th would have been better or just a couple of days off. Not sure why .... of all the players ... he is DHing as much as he is in favor of Profar.

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Does seem the Profar is moving closer to his norm. In August in 41 AB: 220/304/293 is not great but better than his start and his fielding has been good.

Quote from fenn68 on August 16, 2020, 7:13 am

I see Mejia did another Ofer. With the team’s hitting struggles ... Padres have to be really considering calling up Torrens since neither Mejia nor Hedges is providing any real offensive contribution.

However, in a bit of a head scratcher .... and putting some question in the defensive debate ... Mejia (a “bad” defensive catcher) has been catching Lamet (1.59 ERA), Davies (2.78 ERA), and now Quantrill (2.92 ERA) while Hedges (an “elite” defensive catcher) has been catching Richards (3.74 ERA) and Paddack (4.91 ERA).

I guess this can be spun a number of ways but at the very least suggest that Hedges defensive superiority is maybe not that critical if the pitcher is good. Probably not an issue for any upcoming move but maybe in the future. Mejia has one last option year that could be use now.

Quote from Randy Manese on August 16, 2020, 7:24 am

Was an exciting finish, but again many opportunities to take the lead after the D-backs tied it at 1.  Johnson didn't have it yesterday and Bednar showed his rust - that's what cost us the game beside lack of timely hitting early.  Quantrill did fine early but started to lose it in the 4th - he did miss on his location to lefties early but that lack of command didn't hurt him until the 4th.  Wish Strahm could have pitched another inning, but we were going to get Johnson and Bednar last night at some point and they were not ready for high leverage situations.  Hurt by Pham and Myers coming out of the lineup early in the game.  Mejia could have made a difference if any of his in play batted balls fell in but all were easy outs and didn't seem to be with much hard contact; he wasn't the only one not to produce with RISP, however.  Based on what I saw of Quantrill last night, he deserves another shot at starting but needs to better his location on all his pitches - showed good velocity (I think up to 96/97?) and when he had location with slider/changeup, he got the K's.  Showed our resiliency but still one or two experienced consistent players away, both at the plate and in relief (now that Yates is out) to be more than a .500 team.

Quote from WindsorUK on August 16, 2020, 9:04 am

I mentioned it a while back, and I think it's even more true today: Pham just doesn't look right. The way he's been moving.... I don't know....I suggested he NOT be in the field. I was all for moving him to DH but even now that looks in jeopardy.

We need Myers back though ASAP!

He and Grisham are our only outfielders with any production. Without Wil, our OF is........??? Grisham in CF, Profar and Olivares in the corners? Do we recall Naylor if either goes on the IL? Trammell?

Interesting decisions ahead.

 

Quote from Randy Manese on August 16, 2020, 9:24 am

Hard to believe anyone calling for Myers to be on the field as one of our most important contributors after all the negativity he's received over the last 3-4 years.  He does look a lot better in his approach at the plate, despite his strikeouts, but what has really impressed me is his outfield play.  He's cutting the ball off well, taking good routes and making good throws from the OF - I don't think he's hurt us there all year, however, I still wouldn't put him in CF and with Grisham, I don't think you have to.  Hosmer and Myers as fan favorites - shows what a weird year 2020 truly is!

I agree we definitely need an experienced professional OF, a corner OF will do, who can give Pham and Myers a breather when they need it.  Naylor is a stretch as an OF but so are Profar and Mateo.  Olivares can field better than all 3, but either the league has already caught up with him or he has lengthened his stroke too much and also let too many hittable pitches go by.  Don't see much of an upgrade with Almonte and Trammell is not ready - he'd probably fare more poorly than either Naylor or Olivares at the plate at his current state of development.  I'm hoping for a trade here and at C - sorry, I like Torrens but not convinced his body of work would be better overall than Mejia or Hedges.

Quote from fenn68 on August 16, 2020, 9:26 am

Have to think a recall of Naylor is the follow-up step ... don't worry about the defense for the offense .... and he actually has hit some at the ML level. Trammell has not shown that he is ML ready and in a playoff hunt .... not the gamble to take.

In absence of a IL move ... time to send down Olivares (who I like for the future) ... his bat has just faded in August. Adding a LHH in Naylor should be better to balance the line-up vs. RHP.

In the short run .... just expect a lot of Profar in LF.

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Sort of highlighting again the dilemma in a playoff hunt / short season of sticking with a player with a proven track record while in a prolonged slump. Time is short and it is about winning not the player ... but do have to have a better option for replacement (debatable) and I guess have to consider the impact on the attitude of the player (I know shouldn't be a factor but could have longer term consequence if that player remains a key for the future).

I know this is jumping ahead but if Pham does not pull out of his slump this season ... does he become a non-tender candidate next winter (currently at $7.9MM)? Yeh, eat the "bad trade" comments and take that payroll opening to pursue a different OF option (FA or trade). In next winter's market .... $8MM+ might get them something more impactful.

Quote from fenn68 on August 16, 2020, 9:36 am

On Myers ... yes small sample but giving Tingler (front office) some credit for the better play of Myers.

A number of reports suggested that Green and Myers were ... let's say ... not on the same page. Then add my thought for the past few seasons ... place Myers in one position (OF) in the field and one spot in the batting order and let him play. Tingler seems to be doing that with RF and 6th in the line-up (note not the middle of the line-up pressure).

Always thought the Padres abused their key young asset but forcing him to bounce all over the field / batting order just because he was athletic and they wanted the next Ben Zobrist. Some players just don't fit that role ... not really that common to do that successfully. Myers (and most players) benefit of simplifying the game with focus on limited variables / one role.

Hopefully can sustain the improvement.

Quote from fenn68 on August 16, 2020, 9:49 am

On Torrens, think you have to take a look at this point of the season ... both Hedges and Mejia are proving totally ineffective offensively (near the bottom of MLB) as catchers on a team that needs some offensive help from that position. Padres are currently 29th out of 30 teams in OPS ... slash line 090/129/194 ... that is ugly.

Seems the Padres are comfortable with Torrens defense ... so the open question his the hitting but the current Padre threshold is not that difficult to surpass.

Outside chance of a trade for a catcher ... but at a loss of any team wanting to deal a catcher of any quality unless is is for a major return piece ... probably way over value.

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Quote from fenn68 on August 16, 2020, 11:21 am

Not many would have thought the Padres would have a starting OF of Mateo - Grisham - Olivares in the heat of a playoff race. Pham DH again ... Myers out.