Quote from fenn68 on March 22, 2021, 8:35 pm

I too am buying the Marcano hype ... but unlike Tatis making the starting SS on a very bad Padres team in 2019 ... Marcano is not getting the starting 2B slot over Cronenworth on a very good Padres team in 2021 and just sitting him on the bench may actually make him less ready in the middle of the season if needed.

Kim may be playing his way to the minors to start the season but have noticed that the Padres early in ST had Profar and Mateo exclusively working the OF and have now begun to introducing the again to INF roles. On the other hand, the also have been putting Marcano in the OF more than I expected.

Think Marcano’s best shot to stick is if Grisham is not ready and on the IL ... Profar goes initially to CF making the bench Mateo - O’Grady (L) - Marcano (L) - Campusano (if Nola on the IL). Still would prefer him getting full time work in the minors to start 2021 (and maybe some more OF time) to be the #1 call-up if needed.

The real wild card on the entire bench is the NL DH which apparently is not totally dead (although have real doubts). IF it is a last minute move ... no PH need for the Padres ... no double switchers ... might alter to sits on the bench with greater value on defense / pinch running.

Quote from fenn68 on March 23, 2021, 6:07 am

Looked at RosterResource just to see a third party view of the opening day roster ... they had Nola, Lamet, Guerra, Strahm, and Adams starting on the IL. Plus went with the short four position player bench: Campusano, Profar, Mateo, and Kim.

All that sets-up both Altavilla and Williams on the opening day roster. Also, should note that the Padres are beginning to work Kim in LF and if he looks passable ... that makes him, Profar, and Mateo super versatile as INF/OF options.

I don't totally buy their roster ... especially in the pen. Not sold on Williams and/or Altavilla being the better option than some of the non-roster RP ... at least not based on their ML success.

Quote from Brian Connelly on March 23, 2021, 8:04 am

1.  Agree on Nola, but COULD ease him back more easily with 3 C's on roster.  Esp with a DH series in 1st 10 games.
2. I think a pretty strong argument can be made that specifically b/c of how April looks this year in the Minors:  No games, AAA in El Paso separate from the rest of the Minors players as an "alt site".  That the specific low key "camp" nature of it might actually benefit Kim.  He'd just move from Tempe to El Paso with a smaller subgroup of the same teammates he's already been around.  Get way more AB's than in actual games, and WAY better setting to work in OF.  Same true for OF work for Marcano, too I guess, but I think Profar's ATROCIOUS offensive camp so far really tips the scales for Marcano & against Kim... on opening day.  Marcano probably belongs in Minors long term in '21, but Kim REALLY does short term.
3. Bullpen.  Yeah, if Adams IL, leaves P. Johnson, Pomeranz, & T. Williams as health ?'s.  Don't need too much time to get ready.  Maybe 2 IP in game settings?  But only 7 ST games left.  I think it's an excuse to IL (or DFA hoping to retain) Williams.  All the injuries do help Altavilla & Williams as temporary depth options.  If there were no injuries at all in pen, Pads would have no choice but to DFA/trade them, since not in the top 8-9 guys.  But it doesn't make sense to do that with so many guys injured, but many hopefully returning soon.  Altavilla can be the last pen guy for now.  If the rest of the pen gets healthy, he ends up DFA then.  BUT if more injuries occur, he at least has a chance to establish himself as being worthy & could be really valuable.

I KNOW the Pads need to go 14 P's eventually in April with 24 games in 25 days.  My entire focus here is on the 1st 10 games max.

Quote from fenn68 on March 23, 2021, 9:16 am

Is it time to start worrying about Adams’ long term future. He turns 30 this season yet has had minimal ML service time despite major stuff (slider) somewhat offset by poor command. Maybe we have been over confident in his future since he was a featured piece in the Nola deal?

Now add an “elbow” injury sending him to the IL ... for how long? It is an “elbow” ... Padres have been somewhat silent on his recovery.

 

 

Quote from fenn68 on March 23, 2021, 9:32 am

I could be wrong (not an uncommon occurrence) but thought they can backdate the start of the 10 IL by 3 days (last appearance) and can even do that at the start of the season. IF true, that would only put the first 7 games “at risk”.

Quote from hoffy51 on March 23, 2021, 10:19 am

I had Paddock penciled in to go today. I was surprised to see Gore starting the game. With just a little over a week before the start of the season, is anybody surprised at this? Paddock's last outing was terrible. Just terrible. I am wondering if the Padres might consider Gore over Paddock and just trade Paddock away now. Seems unlikely, but starting Gore today so late in Spring Training makes me wonder? How about you?

Quote from fenn68 on March 23, 2021, 10:59 am

Quote from hoffy51 on March 23, 2021, 10:19 am

I had Paddock penciled in to go today. I was surprised to see Gore starting the game. With just a little over a week before the start of the season, is anybody surprised at this? Paddock's last outing was terrible. Just terrible. I am wondering if the Padres might consider Gore over Paddock and just trade Paddock away now. Seems unlikely, but starting Gore today so late in Spring Training makes me wonder? How about you?

Looks as though Paddack is doing a sim game today (sort of what they did with Darvish earlier) and are going with a string of non-roster arms (except for Hill) in the game.

Guessing that they just want to see Gore and the others vs. legit opponents in a real game before making the next moves.

Quote from BoosterSD on March 23, 2021, 11:27 am

Anyone else thinking with the health issues with Nola and Grisham, that todays line up is the opening day line up?

Quote from fenn68 on March 23, 2021, 11:34 am

Quote from BoosterSD on March 23, 2021, 11:27 am

Anyone else thinking with the health issues with Nola and Grisham, that todays line up is the opening day line up?

Nola was catching in drills today and full bore  ... so we will see but if Darvish is the opening day starter .. expect Caratini even if Nola is on the roster.

All the reports on Grisham is that he is passing all the benchmarks and is on target to get into games at some point this week .... but time will tell and we know hamstrings are tricky.

Add that Acee said Johnson had a bullpen session and Pomeranz will pitch in a game on Friday. No apparent set-backs yet.