Quote from WindsorUK on March 12, 2024, 2:13 pm

Bogaerts looking in mid season form: watched 3 balls, then 3 strikes, never lifting the bat off his shoulder.

I sure as hell hope we get April/ September Xander, not the other 4 months Xander.

 

Quote from fenn68 on March 13, 2024, 2:59 am

Watched the game yesterday. Thorpe started and went 4 shutout innings but it is going to be really interesting to see how (if) he succeeds in the long run.

Now the national types have him a Top 100 prospect … he was dominant in his first full season in the minors so clearly the scouting folks see him succeeding .

However, it sure did not look as though he had much in his arsenal. First, his FB is maybe only around 90 and looks pretty straight. Did not see much beyond heavy use of his change up. However, his delivery coupled with the change and very good command seemed to dominate the hitters. His command on both pitches was there and he consistently dropped the ball around the knees and more often than not on the outside corner at the knees to RHH.

I wonder once ML hitters see him a few times whether they can start hitting his stuff … especially the 2nd/3rd time through the line-up.

On the other hand, Padres had this guy named Hoffman who survived with a career based on a dominant change up … as a closer.

Thorpe, dominant change up … outstanding command … keeps the ball at the knees, does sound like a recipe for a an end of game RP.

Quote from fenn68 on March 13, 2024, 3:18 am

Most here would see Tatis as the lead-off man (speed and the ability to disrupt the game from the start) or middle of the order for his 40+ HR power.

So expect to see him hitting second.

Did hear a discussion that the growing trend in modern baseball is to put a team’s best POWER HITTER 2nd the line-up … we have seen that with Trout, Judge, others at various points. I guess to maximize AB … just don’t really see it but I guess it depends a bit on the others in the line-up.

Bogaerts / Kim have the better OBP that may be suited best for lead-off … so at least Tatis comes up with someone on base over a third of the time. Kim dominates LHP so lead-off vs LHP and Bogaerts leads-off vs RHP?

 

Quote from Randy Manese on March 13, 2024, 9:04 am

I don't see it at the beginning of the season, but Merrill has been at the top of the line-up for many of his minor league games.  Likely he'll continue to hit 9th, but if he does relatively well and shows more patience to draw some walks, he could move to the top spot against RH pitchers by mid-season.  He's not going to be a .400 OBP like Marsee, but if he can get to .335-.340 that would be very good for someone so young and relatively inexperienced.  Until then, Bogaerts is probably our best option.

Quote from Randy Manese on March 13, 2024, 9:31 am

Don't know if this hints at who goes to Korea, but the fact that Eguy is in the starting line-up at 3b versus a RHP may be an indication that Pauley is not going to make the trip.   Wade started there yesterday and both he and Eguy are better defensively than Pauley at 3b and 2b.  With the Dodgers, you don't want to give them extra outs, so have to put your best defense on the field.  Besides, going against Glasgow and Yamamoto, even though a LH hitter, is quite a challenge for an inexperienced batter.  For these reasons, I believe Pauley will be reassigned to minor league camp/El Paso or San Antonio before the plane departs for Korea.

Quote from Jeremy Hill on March 13, 2024, 10:23 am

https://twitter.com/sdutSanders/status/1767951145392320747

Quote from Randy Manese on March 13, 2024, 10:39 am

Happy for him, although he might be in that limbo 5 man taxi squad and not get into any games against the Dodgers.

Quote from Jeremy Hill on March 13, 2024, 11:53 am

Based on some comments Shildt made earlier this spring about not wanting to call prospects up if they weren't going to have a regular role I expect Pauley will be in the starting lineup.

Quote from JasonE135 on March 13, 2024, 1:35 pm

Quote from fenn68 on March 13, 2024, 2:59 am

Watched the game yesterday. Thorpe started and went 4 shutout innings but it is going to be really interesting to see how (if) he succeeds in the long run.

Now the national types have him a Top 100 prospect … he was dominant in his first full season in the minors so clearly the scouting folks see him succeeding .

However, it sure did not look as though he had much in his arsenal. First, his FB is maybe only around 90 and looks pretty straight. Did not see much beyond heavy use of his change up. However, his delivery coupled with the change and very good command seemed to dominate the hitters. His command on both pitches was there and he consistently dropped the ball around the knees and more often than not on the outside corner at the knees to RHH.

I wonder once ML hitters see him a few times whether they can start hitting his stuff … especially the 2nd/3rd time through the line-up.

On the other hand, Padres had this guy named Hoffman who survived with a career based on a dominant change up … as a closer.

Thorpe, dominant change up … outstanding command … keeps the ball at the knees, does sound like a recipe for a an end of game RP.

Thorpe actually has 4 pitches: sinking FB, cutter, slider and changeup. He appears to tunnel these pitches exceptionally well. His FB and cutter look the same until the cutter makes a little cut and drop at the last second. His breaking balls drop and either sweep in or cut away from from RH batters. He throws a lot of sliders. He has 4 pitches and it appears that the hitter never knows which one is coming until after it has been caught. He looks more like Greg Maddux than Trevor Hoffman to me.