Quote from Henry Silvestre on February 2, 2023, 7:30 am

Quote from Henry Silvestre on February 1, 2023, 9:41 pm

Anyone else thinks Salas C a CactusbLeague game and plays with the MLB boys for a week or so..before joining the minor league camp?

I just have this feeling he will.. been hanging out at the Pool with Joe and them and been working out with the big boys..usually we don't ever see the Intl players anywhere near the USA til later on.. but Salas is different..m

On that note.. last year we had 2 20 yr olds in A ball or below see action in ST.. Angeles (traded to Oak) and Robert Hassell (traded to Wash in Soto deal)..

Quote from Henry Silvestre on February 3, 2023, 10:33 am

https://twitter.com/sdutSanders/status/1621569920415969280?t=4MuTkcW3xZ-1m6JZQ7idXQ&s=19

1st casualty of Spring Eguy.. 60 IL likely so 1 spot open.. time for Howell 2B/SS/CF to show what he has along with Batten and the many ST invites as Xander/Kim/Manny will be in WBC

Quote from Randy Manese on February 3, 2023, 1:28 pm

There will likely be a number of MLB team cuts during spring training that could take the last seat on the Padres' bench.  Internally, I believe Eguy was behind Dixon and ahead of Batten with Schrock as a darkhorse.  Just have to get through the first 20 games and then we'll have another body to put in the infield should any of the starters get hurt but with Kim and Cronenworth, pretty much have the middle and left side of the infield covered.  Carpenter has played a lot of 3b as well as 2b and 1b. Dixon can play the infield corners if he has to but don't think we'll ever get that desperate for him to be at 3b.  Not worried about the middle infield depth but it's too bad Eguy didn't get to show what he can do this spring training.  Maybe we'll see Merrill a little longer in the major league camp than they had initially planned.

Quote from Henry Silvestre on February 3, 2023, 3:29 pm

Quote from Randy Manese on February 3, 2023, 1:28 pm

There will likely be a number of MLB team cuts during spring training that could take the last seat on the Padres' bench.  Internally, I believe Eguy was behind Dixon and ahead of Batten with Schrock as a darkhorse.  Just have to get through the first 20 games and then we'll have another body to put in the infield should any of the starters get hurt but with Kim and Cronenworth, pretty much have the middle and left side of the infield covered.  Carpenter has played a lot of 3b as well as 2b and 1b. Dixon can play the infield corners if he has to but don't think we'll ever get that desperate for him to be at 3b.  Not worried about the middle infield depth but it's too bad Eguy didn't get to show what he can do this spring training.  Maybe we'll see Merrill a little longer in the major league camp than they had initially planned.

do you see Salas getting some playing time with the MLB club in ST? He sure seems to be hanging around the Big Boys and working out with them even more than Merrill so far... even today he and Merrill were the only 2 non MLB Padres going around San Diego visiting schools and businesses etc...

 

https://twitter.com/WillHolder9/status/1621582931734196225?t=o2AVG9PojH1FXqsb30rq3w&s=19

Quote from fenn68 on February 3, 2023, 5:39 pm

The Rosario injury should make ST and the AAA season more competitive for all the non-roster position players positioning themselves for call-up.

Since I had already concluded that Dixon would be that 26th man until Tatis returns … the injury probably does little to change my thoughts on the opening day roster but may impact a call-up early in the season.

The added flexibility by using the 60 day IL (if needed) is helpful not only for position player needs but even pitching needs. However, expect other 40 man open slots from weeding through the RP without options. Basically we should see the Padres with a lot of 40 man roster room to start the season.

Need to think of the first 20 before Tatis returns then call-up strategy. To that end and with the 40 man flexibility, I could see Dahl (LHH) making the push to make the 26 man and cover a corner OF slot with Engel / Azocar out of the blocks … and if does well Azocar optioned when Tatis returns setting up a LHH/RHH OF bench. The ability of Cronenewoth / Carpenter to cover INF moves makes that a better possibility.

Meanwhile in AAA could see a real competition among non-roster Schrock (28, LHH, some ML time with a .256 BA), Lopes (28, RHH, some ML time with a .246 BA), then even some surprise options if they do well early in the season in Hollis (28 who hit .329 in AAA … not a major prospect but just hits), Howell (on the prospect lists),  and Fernandez (23 who hit well in AA as a part time catcher / 3B / other). All with Dixon (on the roster) still in the mix.

The longer the time in AAA the better chance Hollis, Howell, and Fernandez can show enough in AAA to take the lead in the call-up race. I guess without much OF back-up a good early AAA by Ornelas should add him to the mix if the need is LHH OF and Dahl fails.

Quote from fenn68 on February 3, 2023, 6:03 pm

Watching the news … it looked like Lizarraga was also in the mix of players today visiting the various sites around the city.

Nice to see him in the same vein as Salas and Merrill.

Quote from BoosterSD on February 3, 2023, 6:19 pm

Read an article on The Athletic and they mention Soto as a bounce back candidate. In the article they mention that Soto had a calf injury in May after crashing into the wall to make a catch, leading to a decline in his defense and foot speed. Also mentioned since Soto has a great all fields approach, that the new ball could have more of an effect on Soto since opposite field homers went down 2 times compared to pulled homers.

Quote from Henry Silvestre on February 5, 2023, 8:16 am

Many of the Boyz driving to AZ today.. Xander = 1 of them.. he said in an interview yesterday he is going early to work with Kim and Manny on their fielding since he will be joining team Netherlands on March 3rd for WBC... and would like as many reps as possible with his new wingmen in the IF..

Quote from Henry Silvestre on February 6, 2023, 9:30 am

Looking at Merril's path and fit.. he looks like one of the best #2 (lineup) hitters in baseball if he continues his development path and his OBP ways...