Quote from Brian Connelly on May 29, 2019, 2:29 pm

Good points all Booster:   Padres will be >.500 and right in the thick of the wildcard race on June 1st!   I think we all would have taken THAT at beginning of year!

The offensive inconsistency is maddening, but it is a really young team overall.  ALL of the problem areas have bright spots:

SP-  Margevicius "winning" 5th spot by default seems a long time ago (what if 1 of those 5 had gone on Inj List first month 🙁 ) as both Quantrill & seemingly inevitable Logan Allen have rebounded nicely, now giving Pads SOME legit SP depth, with Lamet starting his rehab today.  Nowhere near as dire as beginning of year before Paddack & Strahm's excellence were known.  However, I still feel a vet top of rotation 200+ IP capable SP is team's biggest need in 2019 & 20.

RP- "Slant" of pen towards long guys due to extreme innings limited SP's,  Jose Castillo's injury, and Robert Stock's loss of control all contributing to making "whole" look worse than it is... imagine a late '19 or 20 pen of: Yates, Stammen (re-sign?  He feels indispensable!), Wingenter, Castillo (L), & Munoz.  In short term, Injured list shrinking increasing depth in AAA like M. Diaz does help too.  Can always add/improve in pen, but not dire like many teams.  Shouldn't need the extreme "length" next year; more 1 inning guys like Munoz & Wingenter.

C-  Article today highlights Hedges' hard to measure extreme defensive worth.  He has been hitting a little better lately; just seems like same thing every year... sub .200 then "comes on" to wind up .210 or whatever for year.  Mejia going off with regular playing time in AAA.  I do think Pads are going to maybe have to think outside the box... what about Mejia starting 2/3 - 3/4 of games & working with the SP's & getting 3 AB and subbing in Hedges defensively to protect leads/work with pen?  Obviously easier with a 3rd C on 25-man, but at some point they have to try SOMEthing to unlock some offense at the position.  Pointless for Hedges to call a "phenomenal game"... and we lose 4-1.  "The answer" likely on roster/in system, but pattern 1st month+ did not work.

2B/SS-  Urias & Tatis profile about as good as everyday position players could

OF -  Reyes has been something of a revelation, but needs to get more regular time off or he'll get hurt; especially coming off torn meniscus this Winter.  Not a 155 game a year guy.  Margot has been the biggest disappointment, IMO.  Just brings nothing to the table with little power, utter inability to take a BB, and then way below where his basestealing should be with his speed.  BUT 2 words:  Cordero & Jankowski.   Their being out acutally has the silver lining of more playing time to both Renfroe and Myers.  Pads desparately need Myers to get hot so they can salvage some value out of him in a trade.   It's not beyond the pale to suggest that Michael Gettys with his great defense, superior: arm, speed, & especially power DESPITE his worse (?) bat might actually be a better short side of a platoon (vs LHP that he's hit well) & defensive replacement than Margot.  Think the Pads live with what they've got this year, maybe look to "solve"/plug the CF hole in offseason.  Renfroe + Cordero + Naylor give encouragement about LF.

For maybe the first time ever since I've been a Padres fan, there's not a position/s that is not only a disaster, but with  no potential solution on roster/minors... not saying there won't be holes at years end, but it's at least possible we'll be mostly "set" everywhere.

Quote from MrPadre19 on May 29, 2019, 3:23 pm

I like the idea of a Hedges/Allen Catching situation.

IMO it would be ideal if Mejia kicks ass in AAA and can be used in a trade for a TOR starter or CF  who can lead off.

I just don’t see the Padres giving Mejia enough AB’s with Hedges on the roster for him to be worth more to us on the roster than in a trade.

Quote from WindsorUK on May 29, 2019, 3:58 pm

Whilst I'd be happy with Tatis towards the top of the lineup, Urias should be in the 8 hole until he shows he's comfortable with MLB pitching. He's been GREATLY overmatched to this point. Let him find his comfort zone, if he can, before putting the onus of table setter on his plate.

Quote from WindsorUK on May 29, 2019, 4:07 pm

Are Yankee hitters REALLY as good as their OBP suggest? Or is the American League, or Yankee Stadium, that much better of a hitters park? Their 2nd level guys( hell, 1/2 their front line players are injured!) are all between .320-.380!

Quote from 84padres on May 29, 2019, 9:44 pm

Quote from WindsorUK on May 29, 2019, 4:07 pm

Are Yankee hitters REALLY as good as their OBP suggest? Or is the American League, or Yankee Stadium, that much better of a hitters park? Their 2nd level guys( hell, 1/2 their front line players are injured!) are all between .320-.380!

The thing that scares me most is that teams like Yankees and Dodgers used to trade prospects and give out foolish contracts. Now they are being run much better. They seem to take other teams rejects : Voit ,Lemahieu , and Urshela for the Yanks. Munsey , Turner Freese and Taylor for the Duds. They come out of nowhere and have very nice seasons for almost no salary. As long as they can do that they will be hard to beat.

Quote from WindsorUK on May 30, 2019, 12:20 pm

I find it amazing what the Dodgers have done with so many castoffs. It's quite rare when one teams rubbish turns into another's treasure but the Dodgers have done it with Turner, Muncy, Taylor, Hernandez, Barnes. They get LOADS of production at a small cost.

Scary indeed .

Quote from Brian Connelly on May 30, 2019, 6:44 pm

Quote from David Nevin on May 29, 2019, 3:23 pm

I like the idea of a Hedges/Allen Catching situation.

IMO it would be ideal if Mejia kicks ass in AAA and can be used in a trade for a TOR starter or CF  who can lead off.

I just don’t see the Padres giving Mejia enough AB’s with Hedges on the roster for him to be worth more to us on the roster than in a trade.

Very interesting point!  Good value analysis.

Quote from Brian Connelly on May 30, 2019, 6:47 pm

Quote from 84padres on May 29, 2019, 9:44 pm

Quote from WindsorUK on May 29, 2019, 4:07 pm

Are Yankee hitters REALLY as good as their OBP suggest? Or is the American League, or Yankee Stadium, that much better of a hitters park? Their 2nd level guys( hell, 1/2 their front line players are injured!) are all between .320-.380!

The thing that scares me most is that teams like Yankees and Dodgers used to trade prospects and give out foolish contracts. Now they are being run much better. They seem to take other teams rejects : Voit ,Lemahieu , and Urshela for the Yanks. Munsey , Turner Freese and Taylor for the Duds. They come out of nowhere and have very nice seasons for almost no salary. As long as they can do that they will be hard to beat.

Great point you guys.  Preller's done a pretty good job both turning coal to diamonds (huge kudos to Balsley), and pickpocketing elite future guys in trade... but it's hard to keep up if LAD are doing same thing AND have twice the $ resources!

Quote from Commie on June 1, 2019, 5:35 pm

Mejia activated and optioned to AAA. Stewart opts out.  Does Preller look for an MLB catcher or ride with Allen in SD for now and let Mejia start with Kennedy backing him?  Guessing the latter.