Quote from fenn68 on March 20, 2024, 5:29 am

Shildt is using his pen to the max … I guess all the arms are fresh and will get a lot of rest after the series … so going with the match-ups. So far, working.

For both teams the command of the pitchers is not there plus the ump seems to have a small strike zone. A number of “clear strikes” called balls … both teams.

So for four pitch clock violations by the Padres … not an issue last year so that should get worked out in the main season.

——————-

Again … for both teams … the hitters don’t seem to be on their games yet.

Quote from WindsorUK on March 20, 2024, 5:38 am

Equipment failure???

Unbelievable.......

Quote from fenn68 on March 20, 2024, 5:41 am

Now that is pure bad luck. Easy ground ball to Cronenworth … he has it in the webbing and unbelievably the glove’s webbing breaks and the ball goes into RF … setting up a LAD rally of Morejon.

Ugh.

Quote from WindsorUK on March 20, 2024, 5:42 am

We're losing because of a pitch clock violation and the webbing of a glove breaking....

Be nice if Padres could get some hits but this is a repeat of last year.

Ugh.....

Quote from fenn68 on March 20, 2024, 6:24 am

Saw nothing good in this game (maybe Bogaerts’ two hits) … actually for either team.

So time to over react … but today focusing on Tatis. In this game (and in ST), Tatis is showing zero enthusiasm in the field or at bat … that was his calling card that contributed to him getting that early long term deal. Only being up beat when getting a hit or winning is not a good watch. Actually in ST his few moments of enthusiasm seemed “forced” just for a short moment then move back to a flat personality.

Not sure what is going on with Tatis … but he is a bad watch if not hitting well … and he is not. A long season … so we will see.

 

 

Quote from Jeremy Hill on March 20, 2024, 6:26 am

A brutal loss to start the season seems about right for our boys.

Quote from LynchMob on March 20, 2024, 6:36 am

Quote from WindsorUK on March 20, 2024, 5:19 am

Still too much swing and miss in Padre bats for my liking.

WAY too much ...

Classic way to lose ... Crone's glove breaks ... just classic ...

Good: Merrill ... Wade ... Campy (except for the GIDP) ... X ...

Bad: Tatis ... Manny ...

Quote from MrPadre19 on March 20, 2024, 7:40 am

Was there even a pitch clock visible for the pitchers?

I never saw one.

Can’t give a team like the dodgers extra base runners and/or outs.

IMO we win this game if not for the walks due to pitch clock and that “web gem” equipment failure.

Wade had two of the best AB’s of the day but his throwing error was costly.

I agree with Fenn….what’s up with Nando?

 

Quote from Randy Manese on March 20, 2024, 8:20 am

I thought Shildt managed the game masterfully until the 8th inning.  What I was hoping for was to see King go the final two or three innings to close out the game since he hadn't pitch at all in the two exhibition games.  Pretty much everyone who pitched in the first exhibition game pitched today with the exception of Kolek and Suarez - Morejon pitched in the second game.  I wonder if the strategy is not to let the Dodgers see King (and Cease) at all or is Shildt saving him to follow Musgrove in case Joe can't go more than 75 pitches, like Darvish.

Campy did a great job blocking everything that bounced up there; the SB's were off Darvish.  He also had some decent cuts/contact as did Merrill.  Wade's defensive play cost Darvish a run but he also made a great diving play to his left.  With the exception of the broken glove play, if we could have turned the double play on that ball, we would have been only 1 run down with 2 more innings to make it up - a 3 run gap was too much to overcome when we weren't hitting the ball very well.  I also like the fact that we only struck out 6 times, although 2 were from Croney.

Many of the RP's we threw out there have a history of more walks than we'd like to see from the pen but most had a very good BB/K ratio this spring so I'm hoping it was just opening day jitters - Darvish also walked more batters than he usually does.  Not really a blow-out versus the best team money can buy in the majors so I still hope we can split the series.  Go Padres!