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Padres vs Dodgers
#31 · August 5, 2019, 2:43 pm
Quote from Commie on August 4, 2019, 5:37 pmQuote from 3fingersplit on August 4, 2019, 5:22 pmMejia cannot frame a pitch to save his life.....he closes his eyes on any pitch that gets swung at
He is not a catcher and he cost all of the pitchers calls today......Thanks for that Andy...try to spin this garbage excuse of being a Manager
Mejia was very rough today on defense. Flip side is he was in the middle of the scoring all game. He has caught some well pitched games this year.
I see the concerns and am looking down the road for Campusano, but I think Mejia gets 500+ more ABs of a leash. What do you do if he is hitting .287/345/497 at that point?
Well 2 things are clear re: Mejia... 1) Indians really hurt his development and 2) ... they had a reason for doing so!
I didn't see yesterday's game, but in Mejia's defense (pun intended), when the team's other C is ranked by some outlet as THE best defensive player (not just C) in the game; you're never going to live up to that guy. The comparison is almost unfair, because every other C in MLB would look worse then Hedges defensively too. And of course all the P's prefer Hedges.
I'd like to see Andy/Pads get way more aggressive/analytical here just like the rest of baseball has (shifting, matchups, etc...):
- IF going with a short bench anyway, why not double or straight switch Hedges into games in 6-7-8 inning to help protect a lead, and vice versa in games we're losing? I think it's WAY too conservative in this day of 4-man benches to "never" be able to use your backup C. If the backup gets hurt & it goes to emergency 3rd guy so what? Likely lose that game, an injury replacement is up the next day... and it's very unlikely.
- Another even safer variation would be to use this same tactic with Austin Allen on Active roster. So maybe we see it in Sept or even next year too if AA's LH bat is enough to warrant the spot... > Kinsler!
#32 · August 5, 2019, 4:30 pm
Not a fan of (or really understand defensive metics for catchers) but looking at one for catchers with at least 300 innings caught ... Mejia is 30th out of 45, so below average (but surprisingly there are 15 rated worse). Yes, Hedges is #1 by a good margin.
Going to 2020, not sure what the Padres really think of Allen ... always had been a question of his defense (but is it worse than Mejia? ... and is his offense ML quality (he would bring a LHH complement to Hedges).
IF they think he can be serviceable as a back-up for Hedges (and with Torrens and Campusano closing in) .... maybe they do use Mejia (if he is hitting) in a winter deal package ... really the offense out of catchers is poor across the board and in this era team need basically two productive catchers (only 4 are Qualified at this point in 2019).
The roster goes to 13 position players next season so one more bench option. So, a 3rd catcher is an option especially if they choose to give Mejia OF time. Doubt it though, carrying two catcher behind Hedges sits two young players on the bench ... losing trade value ... by the day. Better to move one or the other.
The extra bench player will be one of more versatility ... as it stands that maybe be Jankowski with France being another option if they want bat first for PH duties. Both if Naylor is sent down (dealt) or Kinsler is moved.
If the Padres can put together a 2B/OF that has more offensive productivity ... Hedges back to the lead catcher should be inevitable (at least for 120-130 starts).
#33 · August 26, 2019, 8:24 am
So here come the Dodgers again and it would be awesome if the were more Padre fans than Dodger fans at Petco. The good news is that we miss Kershaw this time around
#34 · August 26, 2019, 10:06 pm
Whoo Whoo......Nice way to finish the game....Justin Turner didn't even realize he got rung up on strikes for the third and final out
I love it.....Pads Win !!!!
4-3
#35 · August 27, 2019, 1:21 am
well we have to keep Lauer just to face the Dodgers a few times a year
#36 · August 27, 2019, 9:03 am
Not a fan of (or really understand defensive metics for catchers) but looking at one for catchers with at least 300 innings caught ... Mejia is 30th out of 45, so below average (but surprisingly there are 15 rated worse). Yes, Hedges is #1 by a good margin. .....
If the Padres can put together a 2B/OF that has more offensive productivity ... Hedges back to the lead catcher should be inevitable (at least for 120-130 starts).
??? Not understanding the thought process here.
Regarding the C combos for next year... the ones that make the most sense are: Mejia / Hedges = Offense / Defense Elite, or Hedges / L. Allen = RH (Defense) / LH (Offense).
The one that makes the least sense is Mejia / Allen, because both are below average Defensively, and Allen's value as a LH hitter isn't as high with Mejia being SH... BUT that might be what we see, because I think the days of Hedges being the 70% starter are over, and it doesn't feel / sound like he's ready to accept the 30-35% role on a potentially very good team over the 65-70% role on a team he's contributing heavily to being mediocre with his <.250 OBP. Has to be viewed as a trade candidate.
As above, I think the Mejia / Hedges combo is extremely potent & valuable if employed to emphasize their strengths better, which they can experiment with now with the luxury of 3rd C on 25-man. I love this idea going into next year with expanded rosters; they've gone all year with a 4-guy bench anyway; why not have the 5th be a LH PH/C that frees you up to sub Hedges/Mejia into more games situationally?
Preller has done a sensational job with C depth: to have Hedges, Mejia, A. Allen, Torrens, Campusano, & Hunt lined up and then draft a guy in Competitive balance 2nd round shows the CORRECT emphasis of never having enough C depth. Obviously Preller is going to field calls to trade any of the top 4, but my opinion is trading any of these guys is playing with fire: Think their value is higher to the Padres than what they get in return (i.e. don't trade just "because" we're deep on 40-man).
Mejia - Could maybe get Great return; but need very specific MLB pieces like elite SP & setup RP; perfect match unlikely. Loss would hurt the team, so would more than have to make it up. A. Allen profiles as an offense first backup MLB C; don't see him starting 65% of games.
Hedges - Return would be way less than the potential value; I REALLY think Hedges could be a "Closer" where he double switches into the P spot in lineup in the 6th - 7th inning to help protect a lead with his defense/framing; which should increasingly be the case as core of a good team is forming now. Just not going to get enough in return for him to offset this lost value.
A. Allen & Torrens - Buried in current situation; could move up depth charts in other orgs, but likely in Pads plans even with Campusano coming. NICE luxury to have your 3rd C you're going to need at some point on the 40-man be a real prospect, not just a guy you have to have there like a 15 year MLB vet. Will have to make decisions in 2021 with Torrens then out of options. If nothing else, have parlayed a Rule 5 pick into at least a good prospect in return
#37 · August 28, 2019, 9:07 pm
Good game tonight until the ball found Naylor more than once......just not a good defensive outfielder and the only reason he is up is because he swings left handed and he isn't all that as a hitter either
#38 · August 28, 2019, 9:37 pm
TIED UP!!!!
#39 · August 28, 2019, 10:03 pm
I wonder what is the W-L record and ERA of Padres closers in tie games, pretty ugly is my guess
#40 · August 31, 2019, 8:21 am
I was wondering if anything would come of the HBP Earhole to Margot by Buehler in the first game and then come to find out that Max Muncey has a broken wrist from the HBP from Strahm.
Never has been any love lost between these two teams
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