Quote from BoosterSD on May 18, 2022, 10:22 am

Well, SD has a 126 games left in the regular season, so that is 1,130± innings to cover between starters and bull pens. Then consider, Gore has not pitched more than 50 innings in a season since 2019. Clevinger is coming off TJ surgery #2, and Snell has only averaged 113 innings a season. Plus Martinez, looks like he is only good for twice through a line up.

So IMO, a piggyback situation for the balance of the season makes perfect sense. If both Snell and Clevinger stay healthy and make all their starts to the end of the season, and go 5 innings each game, that is 126 innings each. With both Snell and Clevinger both having at times, top of the rotation stuff, having them both fresh for the play off run makes sense to me. And according to an interview with AJ Cassevel, it makes sense to Clevinger as well. Plus, it keeps all 7 on a five day schedule.

I would look to keep Clevinger and Gore together, with Clevinger going 5, and Gore going 3, just like last night. Then I would let Snell go 4, with Martinez going 3 or 4 depending on effectiveness in the game.

Going into the playoffs with the choice of Darvish, Musgrove, Manaea, Clevinger, and Snell all fairly fresh and healthy, could be a very exciting situation for SD.

Quote from Randy Manese on May 18, 2022, 1:26 pm

I've been an advocate of piggybacking rehabbing, aging or inconsistent pitchers since it was apparent that we would have more than the minimal of healthy and potentially effective arms available for the rotation.  The question then becomes who comprises the bullpen.  With 7 starters there will only be room for 6 RPs from late May to September - Rogers will be one of them, then, if healthy, you have Stammen, Johnson, Suarez and Garcia without options to be joined possibly by Pomeranz and Adams, who are also without options.  Those RPs with options who are currently on the 40 man and have a realistic chance to continue to be there are Crismatt, Wilson, Hill, Kerr, and Lamet to be joined by Baez and Morejon, when healthy.  Lastly, you have Jose Castillo, who has been very good, and Yusmeiro Petit, who hasn't, but who is a veteran than Melvin has some faith in, who need 40 man roster spots in order to be brought up.

Of those currently the roster, Garcia, Crismatt and Stammen have been the most effective recently.  That makes 4 of 6.  Suarez is like Pagan, gives up HR's at an alarming rate, but is otherwise effective.  Wilson started strong but has faltered lately in high leverage situation, also giving up HR's in crucial situations; he may need a time-out in the minors to get himself back in synch.  Kerr has had 2 good and 1 bad outing, also giving up a big bomb.  Suarez can't be traded or released until June, so of these is 7 we need to minus one by the end of the month - likely Kerr.

However, Castillo and Baez are really knocking on the door and I believe Castillo will have options once restored to the 40 man.  We hopefully will see Pomeranz and Johnson sometime in mid-summer, so this is a very fluid situation.  Petit could surprise; Wilson should be back if sent down and Kerr may also return.  I don't see Adams, Hill or Lamet coming back soon and of those without options, Suarez could be the one who loses out because of him giving up the long ball too often.

What happens if the piggyback falls apart?  That's another story!

 

Quote from lafnboy13 on May 18, 2022, 1:54 pm

Quote from fenn68 on May 18, 2022, 9:33 am

An aside on utilization of the SP for the regular season and then for the playoffs.

Would think keeping all the SP fresh (not over worked) makes a lot of sense in the regular season especially for a September push for the playoffs ... quality of the starters is making this easier so far.

However, in the playoffs probably going with the 4 best in a set of short series.

So, would that suggest a 6 man rotation (keep total innings down) while at the same time building the SP to go deep into games during the playoffs. Conditioning the SP to get pulled early for a "piggyback" may not be functional in the playoffs. Generally there are enough off days during a series to not have to bring pitchers back on short rest if the 4th and 5th option are good.

I guess that plan would also provide some coverage against a series of injuries to SP in SEP/OCT and still leave at least 4 viable starters in place.

Musgrove - Clevinger - Snell (L) - Manaea (L) - Darvish - Gore (L) - Martinez ... should get to the playoffs with at least 4 upper rotation quality SP and some impact in the pen.

Realistically, I doubt Clevinger or Gore will be available for the playoffs due to innings limits.

Quote from fenn68 on May 18, 2022, 2:09 pm

Kerr optioned to AAA to make room for Snell. So we are at 7 starters and 6 RP.

Given the current mix … have to think Gore and Martinez will be used more than just piggyback for Clevinger and Snell and go only 3 innings every 5 days. That spells a formula for really burning out the remaining 6 RP.

Preller will have a challenge with the pen … clearly wanting to keep the best options on the 26 man but somewhat handcuffed with the players that cannot be optioned which will get worse when (if) Pomeranz, Johnson, and Adams return.

At the same time the 40 man will be challenged with the returns from the 60 day (requiring players dropped) … 5 pitchers in Morejon - Baez (already in rehab) and Pomeranz (throwing bullpen), Johnson, and Adams.

Put those all together and Preller may be forced into some trades just to clear out of option arms. Should not that (I think) Suarez, Martinez, and Garcia cannot be traded until after Jun 15 since they were signed last winter as FA. So that timing does fit if they were candidates for deals. Hard to see any of the injured arms being dealt before the prove healthy at the ML level … so another issue for Preller.

Keep the good - trade the bad is alway a good objective. Might want to add in cost given the payroll. If two player are “close” in quality and one carries a higher AAV (maybe the better one) he my yield a better return AND open some payroll space for a separate add in an area of need. Complex decision tree.

Sould be fun.

Quote from MrPadre19 on May 18, 2022, 4:35 pm

Gonna have to start nicknaming Blake  “HPC” Snell.

For…….obviously……High pitch count.

So frustrating.

I just hope he has a great last two months this year like last season.

That’s when we will need him the most……hopefully.

 

 

Quote from MrPadre19 on May 18, 2022, 4:56 pm

Swing!!!

Ugh!

Kim watches three pitches never swings and walks back to the dugout down by 2 runs.

 

Quote from MrPadre19 on May 18, 2022, 5:42 pm

Wheeler is good….but this offense is so frustrating sometimes.

I really wish we could some day have an offense that’s not at the bottom of the league in K’s.

It seems like every hitter we have K’s at a HUGE rate……every year.

 

 

 

Quote from WindsorUK on May 19, 2022, 1:12 am

Quote from MrPadre19 on May 18, 2022, 4:35 pm

Gonna have to start nicknaming Blake  “HPC” Snell.

For…….obviously……High pitch count.

So frustrating.

I just hope he has a great last two months this year like last season.

That’s when we will need him the most……hopefully.

 

 

Snell just doesn't even give himself a chance!

84 pitches in 3 and 2/3? By comparison,  Martinez throws 50 in 4.

I know he's got great stuff but we never really seem to see it( short of 6 games last year)

He needs to step up.

 

Quote from LynchMob on May 19, 2022, 6:57 am

Quote from fenn68 on May 18, 2022, 2:09 pm

Kerr optioned to AAA to make room for Snell. So we are at 7 starters and 6 RP.

Given the current mix … have to think Gore and Martinez will be used more than just piggyback for Clevinger and Snell and go only 3 innings every 5 days. That spells a formula for really burning out the remaining 6 RP.

What's the problem if Gore/Martinez go 3 IP every 5 days?  That's a pace for 96 IPs for a full season ... that's seems OK ...