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#111 · April 2, 2022, 2:46 pm
Padres
• Emilio Pagán is working on going back to his old mechanics and adding a splitter.
And then of years past, college through the minor leagues. And it was glaringly obvious that my [Emilio Pagan] mechanics last year were different. So I’m just trying to get back to a delivery that felt like me, felt athletic and allowed me to drive the ball to the top of the zone instead of just letting it get there.
…I started throwing pretty quickly this offseason. I had a lot of goals that I wanted to accomplish, the splitter being one of them, so I knew I probably needed a little bit more time than I’d given myself in the past. So I would throw the splitter probably five or six times a day in catch play for the first few weeks, and then I graduated to, like, 10 to 12. And then it was 10 to 12 times on flat ground, a couple times off the mound. Just ease into the process. It was early January when I started facing hitters, and the first few times I faced hitters, I threw it probably three or four times. And then I’ve just thrown it more and more over time to try and make my arm comfortable with what it feels like bouncing back after outings. I’m excited with where it’s at, and I hope it continues to progress.
• Emilio Pagán and Robert Suarez are the front runners for the closer’s job.
As it stands, Emilio Pagán and Robert Suarez look like their readiest options at closer. Ideally, perhaps, those two would serve as setup men, of which the Padres have plenty. And they could trade from this collection to help address another need.
#112 · April 3, 2022, 1:51 pm
Man, the more I see of Voit, the less I WANT to see! Striking out at a 50%+ rate is pretty demoralising.
Did anyone watch him in 2020? Does he look as if he's doing something different?
#113 · April 3, 2022, 2:29 pm
Quote from WindsorUK on April 3, 2022, 1:51 pmMan, the more I see of Voit, the less I WANT to see! Striking out at a 50%+ rate is pretty demoralising.
Did anyone watch him in 2020? Does he look as if he's doing something different?
Not a worry after only 24 AB in Spring Training for a 6'3" / 255 player whose calling card in OBP/SLG (both of which are fine this spring). It usually takes a while to get that much mass in sync.
I would rather focus on his career line of 1270 PA: 267/357/510 with a 27% K-rate. That .867 OPS is pretty appealing.
#114 · April 4, 2022, 1:10 am
Although Gore gave up a granny today, the first two innings he pitched were very good - I'm not worried about him fitting into a starter/piggy-back spot. On the other hand, Lamet was brought back in after having pitched last Thursday and couldn't find the plate - he was awful. So did he get too much rest or is there an underlying problem with his arm? An occasional long man or an every other day RP? How will that fragile arm respond? Could he be a surprise option to El Paso to get him used to being a RP?
The bullpen composition is going to be very interesting. It could be very good or it could be awful - it seems there is no in-between with a number of these pitchers. Hopefully, Niebla has them coming together at the right time and at this moment, there seems to be a number of other options down in El Paso who might see a lot or work from those RP who open the season.
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#115 · April 4, 2022, 6:42 am
Darvish - Musgrove - Manaea - Martinez all seem healthy and all look to be 6 inning guys quickly after the season starts … so no “piggyback” is really needed, just the normal relief rotation (now with an extra 2 RP for April)
Snell on the other hand looks to need a piggyback approach and Paddack is set-up for that role.
So, how do the Padres handle Gore … clearly impressive in ST with his control and stuff worthy of starting with the Padres now. Not sure putting Gore in the pen for short relief roles at random does much for keeping Gore stretched out to step in as a starter when (if) needed. Gore is the future and needs to be developed properly. What do they do?
Add in that have to assume Clevinger’s knee is not a long term issue and he will return late April at about the same time Snell will have built up to (for him) 5 innings. Most still see Paddack as a SP. So, if 1-4 is set … on May 1 when two pitchers are removed from the roster as it drops to 26 … that “cluster” of Snell, Clevinger, Paddack, and Gore for #5 and little need for a piggyback creates high cost insurance policy for SP and a real issue for the 8 RP slots.
Preller has to look at the May 1 expected ‘best mix” and who can be insurance in AAA … then look at the “excess” from players that cannot be optioned and seek trades.
Setting up for trade rumors to continue through April.
#116 · April 4, 2022, 9:53 am
In order for Musgrove to pitch the home opener, he would have to go on 3rd game of the Arizona series, so the first starting rotation looks like Darvish-Manaea-Musgrove-Martinez-Snell/Paddack (this opens the SF series). Although no official piggy-back with Clevinger out, it seems likely that Gore will get some long relief innings early with either Darvish or Manaea, basically for health reasons. Darvish had multiple injuries from early June last year and was very ineffective afterward - want to keep that older body healthy. Manaea jumped from 54 innings in 2020 to almost 180 innings last year. The impact of that increased workload may be felt this year, if pushed to pitch too many innings early. Therefore, my theory is that Gore is "scheduled" as the long man after either Darvish or Manaea early in the season unless or until either Snell or Paddack fail and he has to be slotted there. Musgrove and Martinez are most likely the least fragile and can go 6 early on.
When Clevinger returns, he too will be "scheduled" as a long man, allowing Lamet, Crismatt and Stammen to take shorter turns on the mound. By that time we'll have a good read on Darvish, Manaea, and others. Since that will probably be in mid-April, that gives plenty of time to evaluate who the best and healthiest arms are going forward.
#117 · April 4, 2022, 10:24 am
I guess Melvin has to have some innings parameters for using “piggyback” starters vs. normal RP with an expanded bullpen.
If Snell is a 3 inning guy to start … clearly a piggyback starter for at least another 3 innings seems logical … getting to the real pen for the 7-8-9th. So, seems the Snell / Paddack duo for the 5th spot works.
However, if the others are going at least 5 (which seems to be the minimum Melvin is shooting for) … not sure a long man is needed (unless in a blowout or they hit a very high pitch count and get pulled early). To keep the others fresh (healthier) for the long run probably will not push them to 6 innings unless really efficient in pitch count.
The question becomes when Snell is up to speed and not needing a piggyback and Clevinger returns with no starting spot is he in the pen as long relief? What does that do for Paddack and another long relief? What does that do for Gore as long relief? All that while the pen drops from 10 to 8. Plus don’t forget Garcia should come off the IL by May 1.
So, potentially four of the opening day pitchers have to be moved by May 1 to accommodate the drop in the roster plus the return of Clevinger and Garcia. Preller has a lot of strategic thinking here as to how to hold on to the best options when they get to May 1 and who may be expendable in a trade / DFA and the best timing of that move (somewhat dependent on the other team’s timetable for a trade). All that while being confident that none are exhibiting long term injury issues.
Expect movement in April with pitchers.
#118 · April 5, 2022, 3:21 pm
If today's game was an audition for one of the last reliever spots, then Guerra won and Krol lost. Snell and Paddack performed as anticipated and actually both were a little bit better, despite giving up HRs. Krol will probably start the season in El Paso and be brought up should one of the other RP's falter or get injured. He needs a roster spot to open up for him.
Game also showed that Victor Acosta is far away from the majors. Guess he starts in the Arizona Rookie (Complex) league. Still saw a number of players who should be in El Paso, so it looks like a reduced squad tonight in terms of position players - should have enough pitchers down there to take care of tonight's game, which is less than 2 hours away!