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Padres vs Dodgers March 20-21
#41 · March 21, 2024, 8:29 am
What a difference a day makes. Pitchers on both sides were struggling with their command. That's probably to be expected given the circumstances. It was nice to see the boys win a back and forth slugfest. They answered every punch from the Dodgers after grabbing the early lead. That was the type of game we lost too often last season. I think I'm already sold on Merrill. He looks comfortable and confident. It should be a happy flight home for our guys.
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fenn68
#42 · March 21, 2024, 8:47 am
Quote from LynchMob on March 21, 2024, 8:27 amQuote from MrPadre19 on March 21, 2024, 7:22 amMuncy is a butcher at 3B.
Imagine this...the dodgers could have signed Chapman,Snell and Hader instead of Yamamoto and saved about $100 million.
Glad they didn't
And ... I still think Yam will get some rings with the Dogs ...
And ... it seems like Lux will be a butcher at 2B ... and as amazing as Betts is, if he was a great SS, then he'd been playing there all along ... so ... will be interesting ... hopefully fun (for us) ...
I think these two games exposed some real holes in “the greatest team ever” LAD.
Top four bats may be great but then? INF defense? Pitching? A long way to go but a crack may have been opened in the LAD juggernaut.
#43 · March 21, 2024, 10:33 am
Like what I saw again of Campy - both behind the plate and at the plate. With he and Merrill at the bottom of the line-up, it won't be a black hole like it has for so many years; both put strong swings on the ball and seldom strike out.
Although the middle of the line-up didn't do as much as we hoped during the series, still like the overall construction. I can see why Bogaerts is batting lead-off and I like Kim following Machado. Kim is a good RBI guy should they pitch around Machado and/or can start rallies by getting on base and stealing a base, especially with Profar after him. Profar is a pest at the plate and always works the count - this will give Kim ample opportunity to steal a base. This sets up the bottom of the line-up which then flips over to two big hitters at the top.
Cronenworth seems to have found (or re-found) a good approach at the plate. Not chasing as much as last year and he appears more line-drive than lazy fly ball/pop up; hope it continues. Superior glove to possibly be the best defensive first baseman in the league even though he is right-handed.
#44 · March 21, 2024, 10:52 am
I only watched highlights today but my concern with Campusano's two doubles is they were right down the line, is he pull happy? Not really recalling his ABs last season at this point.
If so, that could end up being an issue as other teams start throwing him on the outside of the plate and rolling over pitches to the 3B. Not all 3B are as adept with the glove as Muncy!😉😂😂
#45 · March 21, 2024, 12:30 pm
That could happen but he seems a much better hitter this year, with a better load, modified open stance and quicker to the ball; not sure if it is because he seems to have lost maybe 10-15 pounds but seems confident at the plate. Historically, it looks like he's around 45/35/20 for Pull/Center/Oppo. My concern is that if he plays too many games in a row at catcher, he'll start hitting more ground balls that won't get thru despite how strong he is. (Hitting the ball down the line in the air at PETCO would be very good for the Padres! ) For that reason, once Manny can play 3b, I'd like to see Campy in the DH slot for the 40% of the time he is not catching. So I'm sticking to my prediction that Sullivan will be brought up as the 3rd catcher around the same time Manny takes the field and either Pauley (needs regular playing time) or Eguy (has an option remaining while Wade does not), will be sent down.
#46 · March 21, 2024, 12:46 pm
Quote from Randy Manese on March 21, 2024, 10:33 amLike what I saw again of Campy - both behind the plate and at the plate. With he and Merrill at the bottom of the line-up, it won't be a black hole like it has for so many years; both put strong swings on the ball and seldom strike out.
Although the middle of the line-up didn't do as much as we hoped during the series, still like the overall construction. I can see why Bogaerts is batting lead-off and I like Kim following Machado. Kim is a good RBI guy should they pitch around Machado and/or can start rallies by getting on base and stealing a base, especially with Profar after him. Profar is a pest at the plate and always works the count - this will give Kim ample opportunity to steal a base. This sets up the bottom of the line-up which then flips over to two big hitters at the top.
Cronenworth seems to have found (or re-found) a good approach at the plate. Not chasing as much as last year and he appears more line-drive than lazy fly ball/pop up; hope it continues. Superior glove to possibly be the best defensive first baseman in the league even though he is right-handed.
Looking at Cronenworth’s July-Aug last year … he was already showing signs of regaining some hitting form. Not a major bat but at least some ability to contribute around “average”. July .253 (wRC+ 103) and Aug .277 (wRC+ 108).
With the rest of the line-up … and Cronenworth’s defense … he just has to not be a black hole offensively to contribute to a playoff team.
#47 · March 21, 2024, 12:54 pm
Quote from BoosterSD on March 21, 2024, 10:52 amI only watched highlights today but my concern with Campusano's two doubles is they were right down the line, is he pull happy? Not really recalling his ABs last season at this point.
If so, that could end up being an issue as other teams start throwing him on the outside of the plate and rolling over pitches to the 3B. Not all 3B are as adept with the glove as Muncy!😉😂😂
From what I saw from Campusano in the spring and last season … he has no problem going up the middle or opposite field if the pitch leads him that way.
Not sure if at every AB but Campusano was choking up a bit for better bat control the times I saw him.
We will see over the course of a season but I expect a strong bat focused on hard contact to all parts of the field. Of course there will be a few swing from the heals AB … just part of the game.
#48 · March 21, 2024, 1:01 pm
Quote from fenn68 on March 21, 2024, 12:54 pmQuote from BoosterSD on March 21, 2024, 10:52 amI only watched highlights today but my concern with Campusano's two doubles is they were right down the line, is he pull happy? Not really recalling his ABs last season at this point.
If so, that could end up being an issue as other teams start throwing him on the outside of the plate and rolling over pitches to the 3B. Not all 3B are as adept with the glove as Muncy!😉😂😂
From what I saw from Campusano in the spring and last season … he has no problem going up the middle or opposite field if the pitch leads him that way.
Not sure if at every AB but Campusano was choking up a bit for better bat control the times I saw him.
We will see over the course of a season but I expect a strong bat focused on hard contact to all parts of the field. Of course there will be a few swing from the heals AB … just part of the game.
Both Campusano and Cronenworth are hitting well and looking good so far. I am not worried about either of them until they give me a reason to. I am currently concerned about FTJ getting his slugging % back up to the .571-.611 range that it was in before last year. Once it does, this team will take off.