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Spring Training 2021
#41 · March 3, 2021, 7:06 am
I think the delay to AAA season is the perogative for having a temporary "alternate site" in MLB home city. If you don't, you at a bare minimum have a "stranded" taxi squad of 5 guys when the team is at home. Is there any reason they couldn't just use PETCO AS the alternate site, but run those practices/workouts either before or after Home MLB games? I'm assuming there's already no events scheduled at PETCO during team road trips? Putting 25 guys up at a hotel for 1 month could probably be absorbed by the Pads.
The whole impetus of not having the lower levels minors guys "mix" with the upper levels guys was to limit the total # of players in Peoria at one time. If the "AAA" team just stays there, it's every single guy in the minors there at once. Now that they're all on the same schedule re: season starting, maybe you're right, but then should had a "normal" Majors/Minors ST overlapping.
#42 · March 3, 2021, 7:37 am
I am still unsure how the “taxi squad” will be implemented. The rules don’t mandate a 5 person taxi squad (just limit) as I understand. Also, since it is an emergency only protection for same day coverage ...not sure if it will be stocked with anyone of significance. If a “mass COVID situation” the game will get cancelled. IF a one / two player event ... a more permanent replacement would be called up from the minors and the emergency fill will return to the taxi squad. 26 man roster ... teams function with players not on the IL but cannot play because of day to day injuries. Actually catcher really is the only position needing emergency protection.
On using PETCO ... IF the priority is keeping the ML roster healthy (not the minor league players) ... may be worse doubling the bodies at PETCO putting ML players at greater risk than keeping the minor leaguers in AZ with the other 125+. Also, not sure that MLB would approve any “home park” as an alternate site for health reasons ... clearly they did not last year.
Follow the money and that is keeping the ML players healthy and playing ... the money generator of MLB.
#43 · March 3, 2021, 8:12 am
Just saw that the alternate site IS being deployed in 2021. Padres are considering Lake Elsinore if USD is not available. (Note LAA are using San Bernardino).
No idea how many players will end up there and if there are openings that will be filled with players not ML call-up options or even AAA options given ST site will be active at the same time. Likely to see some players not in ML camp added and some in ML camp ticket for lower minors removed and aligned with there future teammates in AZ.
#44 · March 3, 2021, 10:35 am
Quote from Brian Connelly on March 2, 2021, 7:32 pmQuote from hoffy51 on March 2, 2021, 5:21 pmI fully agree on Diaz. It's really good to see Abrams and Hassell III getting triples and doubles. Placement? I am hoping they can both start the season at Fort Wayne. When the finally get sent down, where do they go Peoria?
... they're already there! This year will be different. Since can't overlap with Minors ST, no one gets "sent down to Minors camp" until MLB camp is over. But will start to see less & less of the young guys in games later in ST I'm sure. When Pads set their roster, it sounds like about 25 of the 40+/- remaining guys will also "head out" FROM Peoria... TO the Alternate Site; presumably in San Diego. So the remaining 15 +/- I guess will remain behind in Peoria to join the "AA & lower" Spring Training when it starts; probably including Hassell, Abrams, & other really young guys slated for A-ball.
The April Alt site will be the equivalent of the "AAA team".... for the most part. Now that all the full season Minors teams are slated to start near same time, some of the older clearly AAA guys like Lake Bachar, Brett Kennedy, some OF, etc that are NOT in MLB camp will likely join the majority of the Alt site to compose the AAA team.
Better for placement IMO for all the levels to start same time, so don't have 19 y.o. in AAA for a month. But still curious to see how they handle the taxi squad after all the Minors teams start playing. Seems like eventually they might just get rid of it & revert back to "normal" rules? Maybe by All star Break?
Yes, I already knew they were in Peoria. Ha. What I meant to say, was, I wonder where the alternative site will be? Peoria, or somewhere else.
#45 · March 3, 2021, 1:06 pm
Watching the game today on FSSD.
Pitchers look to be going on 1 inning today ... so far: Snell, Melancon, Stammen and all looked fine.
Position players are being worked at different slots. Cronenworth (1B) ... Castillo (2B) ... Abrams (SS) ... Kim (3B) ... Mateo (LF) ... Profar (CF) ... Grisham (RF).
Not much going on offensively yet ... but Cronenworth made a spectacular leaping / diving stab of a line drive to his right. He may be the best 1B defensively I have seen in some time.
#46 · March 3, 2021, 1:30 pm
Quote from fenn68 on March 3, 2021, 1:06 pmWatching the game today on FSSD.
Pitchers look to be going on 1 inning today ... so far: Snell, Melancon, Stammen and all looked fine.
Position players are being worked at different slots. Cronenworth (1B) ... Castillo (2B) ... Abrams (SS) ... Kim (3B) ... Mateo (LF) ... Profar (CF) ... Grisham (RF).
Not much going on offensively yet ... but Cronenworth made a spectacular leaping / diving stab of a line drive to his right. He may be the best 1B defensively I have seen in some time.
That's because he is a SS playing at 1B.
#47 · March 3, 2021, 2:32 pm
Quote from BoosterSD on March 3, 2021, 1:30 pmQuote from fenn68 on March 3, 2021, 1:06 pmWatching the game today on FSSD.
Pitchers look to be going on 1 inning today ... so far: Snell, Melancon, Stammen and all looked fine.
Position players are being worked at different slots. Cronenworth (1B) ... Castillo (2B) ... Abrams (SS) ... Kim (3B) ... Mateo (LF) ... Profar (CF) ... Grisham (RF).
Not much going on offensively yet ... but Cronenworth made a spectacular leaping / diving stab of a line drive to his right. He may be the best 1B defensively I have seen in some time.
That's because he is a SS playing at 1B.
If you saw it .... it was a spectacular play if it was at SS or 2B or 3B ... not just because it was at 1B. Kid is a just flat out good defensively and when at 1B ... ahead of the class.
#48 · March 3, 2021, 3:07 pm
Random thought ... Mears is going to be a big guy.
Listed at 6’3” / 230 and just turned 20 last month. However, his lower body (notably his legs) looks like they already could carry another 20-30 pounds. At the same time his upper body looks to have a lot of room for added muscle.
Basically a tight end lower body with a wide receiver upper body.
#49 · March 3, 2021, 10:14 pm
Quote from hoffy51 on March 3, 2021, 10:35 amQuote from Brian Connelly on March 2, 2021, 7:32 pmQuote from hoffy51 on March 2, 2021, 5:21 pmI fully agree on Diaz. It's really good to see Abrams and Hassell III getting triples and doubles. Placement? I am hoping they can both start the season at Fort Wayne. When the finally get sent down, where do they go Peoria?
... they're already there! This year will be different. Since can't overlap with Minors ST, no one gets "sent down to Minors camp" until MLB camp is over. But will start to see less & less of the young guys in games later in ST I'm sure. When Pads set their roster, it sounds like about 25 of the 40+/- remaining guys will also "head out" FROM Peoria... TO the Alternate Site; presumably in San Diego. So the remaining 15 +/- I guess will remain behind in Peoria to join the "AA & lower" Spring Training when it starts; probably including Hassell, Abrams, & other really young guys slated for A-ball.
The April Alt site will be the equivalent of the "AAA team".... for the most part. Now that all the full season Minors teams are slated to start near same time, some of the older clearly AAA guys like Lake Bachar, Brett Kennedy, some OF, etc that are NOT in MLB camp will likely join the majority of the Alt site to compose the AAA team.
Better for placement IMO for all the levels to start same time, so don't have 19 y.o. in AAA for a month. But still curious to see how they handle the taxi squad after all the Minors teams start playing. Seems like eventually they might just get rid of it & revert back to "normal" rules? Maybe by All star Break?
Yes, I already knew they were in Peoria. Ha. What I meant to say, was, I wonder where the alternative site will be? Peoria, or somewhere else.
Report today said possibly Lake Elsinore since games would not have started there yet.
#50 · March 7, 2021, 6:51 am
Anyone heard what is up with Austin Adams who seemed destined to be a key bullpen factor in 2021. A week in ... a lot of pitchers made appearances ... no Adams. No minor league options. Injured?
On the positive side, Kela made his debut yesterday and 3 up / 3 down all be strikeout. Seems healthy for now.