Quote from MrPadre19 on March 7, 2025, 1:27 pm

Wait….why was it cancelled?

Went outside for a minute and came back in and it’s cancelled.

Weather?

 

Quote from fenn68 on March 7, 2025, 6:46 pm

Quote from MrPadre19 on March 7, 2025, 1:25 pm

Was really looking forward to seeing Hart pitch…..and no TV coverage.

Ugh

 

He did get two scoreless innings in before the cancelation. Couple of Ks, I think.

Quote from BoosterSD on March 7, 2025, 7:22 pm

Quote from MrPadre19 on March 7, 2025, 1:27 pm

Wait….why was it cancelled?

Went outside for a minute and came back in and it’s cancelled.

Weather?

 

Yep, rain off and on all day today. We are expecting more rain Tuesday through Thursday next week as well.

Cold today too, high was 54 today.

Not what I pay for to live here during March!!

Quote from fenn68 on March 8, 2025, 10:42 pm

With two weeks to go in ST ... we should starting seeing more of the presumed final 26 players in games ... both pitchers and position players.

Key may be the players that are on the bubble for the final couple of position player slots and final couple of spots in the pen. Of course a lot of evaluation is  done during back lot games, etc but there is a benefit to see the bubble players vs other teams' "better" players to make a complete evaluation.

When it comes to the final two position players ... not seeing much excelling, so may watch out for a Preller move.

Note that Ornelas started off hot but really cooled off in the last week and Rosario just has done little in spring (really opening the door for Iglesias). None of the non-roster types have caught my eye ... just not hitting.

As I suggested before, Padres need a bat that crushes LHP given the weakness in the current roster with LHH and bench. Trade but no idea who (and what to give up other than a pen piece). Long shot worth a gamble (maybe 1 year / $8MM ish) could be J D Martinez ... the only real bat left as a FA. He does hit LHP well and is not "bad" vs RHP. Boras is the agent but Preller seems to work well with him. Total payroll may be an issue as that signing would put them past the second threshold but maybe a "two step" where the trade Suarez for a league minimum type and sign Martinez still remaining under the second tier? If the money nets ... are the Padres better off filling what appears to be a hole with Martinez at the expense of Suarez and gambling on the closer / end of game being handled by Adam, Estrada, Morejon, Matsui?

Quote from fenn68 on March 9, 2025, 5:50 am

Beginning to see the end for Eguy Rosario. Not only with the arrival of Iglesias but not hitting in ST ... then really just a 3B who can fill (but not well other INF ... and looking at this ML time (about 50 PA vs LHP and vs RHP he strikes out at a 33-35% rate vs both (Rodriguez does not like that), very weak vs RHP but hits LHP (with some power). Iglesias clearly will bump him as the INF bench.

Can he survived as a DH vs only LHP? Guessing no. So, possible one guy sort of lurking in the background is Brandon Lockridge, RHH, CF with speed. No power but in his last two minor league seasons in AA/AAA was a good OBP guy. Once on base he is a very very good base stealer (about 90% success).

Go with Lockridge ... get a legit CF if Merrill needs a break in the field and maybe a superior LF to platoon with Heyward vs LHP. Then Joe still can fill the the DH role vs LHP and maybe still be in more vs RHP. Iglesias can fill for Cronenworth / Arraez as needed.

If Lockridge can get on base he might work really well as the #9 hitter ahead of Arraez ... who is basically a singles / doubles hitter. Lockridge base stealing could get him in scoring position with a single getting him home or sprint him around on a double. Extra man on base for Tatis? Not expecting a big BA from  Lockridge just a decent OBP in the 9th slot, base stealing, and defense. Could be more valuable that some of the current alternatives.

 

Quote from MrPadre19 on March 9, 2025, 5:05 pm

Quote from BoosterSD on March 7, 2025, 7:22 pm

Quote from MrPadre19 on March 7, 2025, 1:27 pm

Wait….why was it cancelled?

Went outside for a minute and came back in and it’s cancelled.

Weather?

 

Yep, rain off and on all day today. We are expecting more rain Tuesday through Thursday next week as well.

Cold today too, high was 54 today.

Not what I pay for to live here during March!!

Hopefully no rain from the 19th-24th

😉

Quote from WindsorUK on March 13, 2025, 5:17 am

Is Sheets doing enough to make the OD roster? Obviously if Ornelas( or even Gonzales) make the cut, Sheets won't but just wondering if you guys think he'd be an asset, at least at the beginning of the season?

Quote from Randy Manese on March 13, 2025, 10:36 am

Sheets has had an impressive run lately, but that can happen in a small sample size in spring training.  While Ornelas hasn't shown the same power, he's been consistently good at getting on base and getting his hits, including extra base hits; moreover, while not a gazelle in the outfield, Ornelas is better than Sheets, who is horrible at both 1b and the corner OF spots.  I think Ornelas has the OD spot unless Sheets continues the incredible OPS streak for another week and doesn't start register a high K rate.  With Heyward and Joe being in the line-up and Iglesias likely making the team, I look for Ornelas to make the OD roster with Wade or Eguy being DFA'd.

Gonzalez will not make the OD roster but still has a chance.  Sheets, if he gets off to a hot start in El Paso, likely is the first one up replacing Ornelas or one of the vets on the bench who is not performing to the level we need.  that's my guess.

Quote from fenn68 on March 13, 2025, 10:08 pm

Should start seeing some paring of players out of ML camp in the next few days (so far on Baez and Bergert have been sent to EP) plus a bunch of non-roster types are still lurking.  With EP opening about the same time as SD, should also see just some paring of players to get EP down to their limit.

On the Padres, some of the final decisions may be based on the fit for the full 26 man roster and that could be keeping a "lesser" hitter for more defensive versatility since a good chance the last few slot will get little playing time except for injury early in the season.

I expect the core 6 plus Heyward/Joe (LF) and Diaz/Campusano (C) sealing the first 10. So 3 open slots to cover DH and bench INF/OF.

1. Iglesias ... seems like a lock to be added since he is the only legit back-up at SS and can play all 4 INF slots plus DH. His offense is good (no power) but combined with his defensive versatility makes the final two slot more debatable. So, down to 2 open slots.

Now is the debate more on who can PR/PH/cover defensively slots due to minor injuries over offense? Keeping in mind what Iglesias can do and the fact that Joe can play LF/1B/DH and hit both LHP and RHP respectively.

Lockridge over Wade? Both have the base running to PR Lockridge should be the better hitter (Wade is just poor) and can play a legit CF if Merrill needs a break. Wade's value beside PR was fill at INF and OF but with Iglesias that is diminished.  So, if go with Lockridge (OF defense/PR) and Iglesias (INF defense) ... down to one last slot.

So maybe the next point is how well you think Iglesias can play on a full time basis ... be it DH or INF ... he has been a better hitter overall than the contenders for the last slot.

So a week to filter among Rosario (out of options), Ornelas (L) on the 40 man or Gonzales, Sheets (L) non-roster. Putting the mirage of ST stats aside ... none are compelling based on their ML histories and the others that may have been in the mix early seem to be now out of the picture.

I am leaning towards Rosario ... at least to start the season. He has shown the ability to hit LHP (a pet issue with me) and would allow Iglesias to cover Cronenworth at 2B v LHP ... important. Plus he would be lost since no options remaining. Ornelas is an easy minor league option with no ML experience and a so so ST sitting on the bench of little value. Both Gonzales and Sheets have had good ST but looking at their last 3 seasons at the ML level ... nothing compelling ... so, pass.

Plus don't rule out a minor deal by Preller for a more compelling player for that 13th slot.