Quote from fenn68 on September 8, 2022, 3:56 am

Quote from WindsorUK on September 8, 2022, 3:31 am

Quote from fenn68 on September 8, 2022, 3:12 am

Quote from WindsorUK on September 8, 2022, 2:26 am

Did Soto get removed from the game?

Yes, inning after getting hit by pitch in his right shoulder. TBD extent of issues.

God forbid it makes him less productive....

Still have zero idea why BoMel has him in the 2 slot. If he doesn't plan on taking the bat off his shoulder, bat him lead off?

Padres have their best shot of going deep into the playoffs with Soto producing at his WASH levels achieved in his first 3 years … if not, not going to matter where he bats.

Given that all or nothing view, I will stick with my thought of batting where he hit in WASH … the slots 3-5 … and delivered high BA, high SLG, hit in the clutch. Padres really are not having an issue getting on base with Profar / Cronenworth … they have had the issue of driving them in … that, I think, is why they got Soto. Bat him 4th between Machado and Bell.

I know (but disagree) with the analytics that say a team’s best hitter should bat 2nd … especially if those following are not consistently driving them in … basically pitchers just work around “the best hitter” focus on the lesser hitter behind them (and that refers to more than just one in Machado). Similar analytics say that the odds of getting multiple consecutive singles / walks is extremely difficult so hitters should swing for the HR/SLG. So that should question the value of putting your best hitter (based on history) up in the line-up … get pitched around and walked … and die more often than not with little production out of the following 3 hitters.

I just can’t justify the logic of after massive success in WASH as a middle of the order hitter … Padres trade for that offense … then after disrupting his life with a new team, coast to coast shift already putting pressure on him maintaining his hitting … and then add moving him to an unfamiliar 2nd slot where his (and opposing pitchers) approach may be different. Soto is a real person … not a computer simulation that can be seamlessly shifted around without productivity impact.

Quote from Henry Silvestre on September 8, 2022, 9:48 am

One super positive development is everyone BUT Manny and Soto heating up.. once the 2 join the party this team should go bonkers (yet to happen in 2022..and only contending team not to have a prolonged Hot Streak) as the saying says better late than never..and in baseball Later = On "perfect" Time