Forum
Forum Navigation
San Diego Padres at Chicago Cubs: April 4-6
#11 · April 5, 2025, 1:05 pm
Padres pitching does not look good giving up 9 hits and 6 walks. The walks are killing the Padres.
#12 · April 5, 2025, 1:23 pm
Quote from ultratvfan on April 5, 2025, 1:05 pmPadres pitching dies not look good giving up 9 hits and 6 walks. The walks are killing the Padres.
And yet, until now, both games have been within range, the problem Is the offense vs soft left handers, let's see how they do tomorrow vs a RHP.
#13 · April 5, 2025, 1:30 pm
Also, Shildt kept one of the Padres hottest hitters on the bench--Sheets. Take Gurriel, who is doing nothing, out and put Sheets in.
#14 · April 5, 2025, 1:38 pm
Quote from ultratvfan on April 5, 2025, 1:30 pmAlso, Shildt kept one of the Padres hottest hitters on the bench--Sheets. Take Gurriel, who is doing nothing, out and put Sheets in.
Apparently he Is going strictly with the righty-lefty at the DH spot, but If Gurriel doesn't pick It up, we might see a change in about what, two weeks?
#15 · April 5, 2025, 2:09 pm
The Padres need to win tomorrow.
#16 · April 5, 2025, 2:12 pm
Crank up the excuse machine ... this series is the first of the season on the road and the first series that is "cold". So COULD suggest that the pitchers could not adjust the feel and just lost their command ... but agree that they looked well off.
Additionally (not weather) the defense seems to be struggling ... expecially Machado and Cronenworth ... so non-enforced errors ... from two plus defenders.
Agree hitting vs soft tossing LHP is an issue ... and was last season. Was hoping Machado - Tatis - Bogaerts (along with good pitching) could handle that issue. That did not happen in Chicago. I was worried about this in the off-season after they added Heyward and Sheets ... both had histories of NOT hitting LHP (usually benched). That put pressure on the Gurriel - Iglesias - Lockridge ... was not confident. What to do?
Would guess they wait for at least 30 games (if they keep winning overall) to see a better array of games / AB. Lockridge seems safe (is doing the best and is a plus OF defensively), Iglesias is the only real reserve INF so seems safe, and Gurriel seems most at risk (not hitting and not useful in the field).
If Gurriel does not turn it around soon MIGHT see Iglesias get some DH time (or in the field and one of the regulars to DH). Just saw Sheets bat vs a LHP ... not pretty.
Looking at EP ... Joe seems like the candidate to replace Gurriel UNLESS Preller works a trade for a strong RHH or (and this is just long shot idea) sign J.D. Martinez. Preller will do something.
I guess if Heyward does not start hitting he too could be at risk with Sheets being the platoon in LF with Lockridge. The go with DH rotating and/or a new mix of LHH/RHH.
#17 · April 5, 2025, 2:37 pm
My guess Gurriel gets 2 more weeks…..Heyward 4
Bring up Joe and then Tirso.
#18 · April 5, 2025, 3:52 pm
The Padres also did have a tough tome playing at Wrigly Field.
#19 · April 5, 2025, 4:04 pm
Quote from MrPadre19 on April 5, 2025, 2:37 pmMy guess Gurriel gets 2 more weeks…..Heyward 4
Bring up Joe and then Tirso.
Given what is going on in EP ... sounds about right for Joe to replace Gurriel this month.
When (if) they drop Heyward ... may choose to replace him with a RHH to further offset LHP. Joe is decent v both LHP and RHP so could be in more than just vs LHP and give more options to bench Cronenworth and Arraez vs LHP (not their strengths).
Picking on Arraez here but for his career he has only a 73 wRC+ vs LHP as opposed to a 109 vs RHP.
Could see a stronger line-up vs LHP with Lockridge (LF) - Joe (1B) - Iglesias (2B) - and a RHH PTNL (DH) ... and when the RHP comes in they have Cronenworth, Sheets, and Arraez to come in off the bench.
That PTNL ... RHH ... may not exist in EP (not sold on Gonzales or any of the others ... yet). Back to Preller dumpster diving to upgrade.
#20 · April 5, 2025, 5:57 pm
Another thing is why Shildt did not keep Merrill in the 4th spot where he hits a lot better (.444 avg, 1.14 OPS) than in the 5th spot(.286 avg, .884 OPS). He needs to keep him in the 4th spot.