Quote from BoosterSD on July 17, 2023, 12:46 pm

I was as big of an advocate for brining in Soto as anyone, I think we can say that experiment has not played out well. I dont know why Soto has regressed as much as he has here in SD, and we really dont need to discuss that anymore, he needs to go. He does nothing to lengthen the line up, and he has probably cost us as many games with his glove, as he has won us with his bat.

 

 

Quote from BoosterSD on July 17, 2023, 1:04 pm

Lets start with the positives. We are fine at 3B, RF, CF, and the making of a decent part of a starting rotation.

Machado seems to be bouncing back, maybe the World Baseball Classic and the pitch clock messed with him more than we thought. Tatis is a fantastic RFer, and that bat is where it needs to be, leave him there. Grisham is OK, his bat is up and down, but the defense is there, and there are more important places that need to be fixed first. SP we have a very good #2 in Musgrove, Darvish is a fine #3, and I still think that Weathers can be a #5. RP, is always in flex from season to season, so worry about that in the offseason.

Now the negatives. We have the wrong pieces at SS, 2B, 1B, and LF.

IF Bogaerts is not batting .300 and driving in runs, while he is very adequate defensively at SS, Kim is the better option. Crone is underwhelming offensively as a 1B, and Soto is simply the wrong piece.

Since this season is going nowhere, and we should trade Soto, Snell, Hader, Lugo, Wacha, and Martinez. Then, introduce Bogaerts to the 1B flipper glove, since his days at SS are numbered anyway. That would let Kim and Crone go back to where they are best suited and better for the team. Sign Kim to an extension, since he is really good defensively, a fan favorite, and seems to do well in the clutch.

Finally C, this has to be the bleakest part of SD line up. And even though I am not a Campusano fan, got to see what he can do. Ride out the season with Campusano and Sanchez.

 

 

Quote from WindsorUK on July 17, 2023, 1:49 pm

Totally with you on the infield reshuffle. It's fairly obvious who the best gloves are for each position. Just need to convince those in charge to have the balls to TELL our new $250 million man he ain't a big league SS going forward.

Quote from fenn68 on July 17, 2023, 2:42 pm

Quote from BoosterSD on July 17, 2023, 1:04 pm

Lets start with the positives. We are fine at 3B, RF, CF, and the making of a decent part of a starting rotation.

Machado seems to be bouncing back, maybe the World Baseball Classic and the pitch clock messed with him more than we thought. Tatis is a fantastic RFer, and that bat is where it needs to be, leave him there. Grisham is OK, his bat is up and down, but the defense is there, and there are more important places that need to be fixed first. SP we have a very good #2 in Musgrove, Darvish is a fine #3, and I still think that Weathers can be a #5. RP, is always in flex from season to season, so worry about that in the offseason.

Now the negatives. We have the wrong pieces at SS, 2B, 1B, and LF.

IF Bogaerts is not batting .300 and driving in runs, while he is very adequate defensively at SS, Kim is the better option. Crone is underwhelming offensively as a 1B, and Soto is simply the wrong piece.

Since this season is going nowhere, and we should trade Soto, Snell, Hader, Lugo, Wacha, and Martinez. Then, introduce Bogaerts to the 1B flipper glove, since his days at SS are numbered anyway. That would let Kim and Crone go back to where they are best suited and better for the team. Sign Kim to an extension, since he is really good defensively, a fan favorite, and seems to do well in the clutch.

Finally C, this has to be the bleakest part of SD line up. And even though I am not a Campusano fan, got to see what he can do. Ride out the season with Campusano and Sanchez.

 

 

I can buy into the INF reshuffle and holding on Grisham with Tatis in RF. I can buy into a Kim extension (if his 2023 has not priced him out of the market). The only real choice at C is give a long test of Campusano ... Nola sure seem done and Sanchez is a FA and adding two new C as upgrades seems improbable.

That sets up adding a LF and a 9th hitter who can play both a field position and DH ... to fill out the offense and, on paper, that should be a good offense with the incumbents returning to their "norms" ... if they don't a whole different problem.

SP becomes an issue with only Musgrove and Darvish locks to return. Snell and Lugo locks to be FA. So that puts Wacha a debate issue. Adding three SP (better than Wacha) is unlikely ... would have to be very lucky on some gambles. So, a bit depends on the trade offer vs retaining Wacha for $32MM/2 years consider not much coming in system over that period (but can trade him later) and his injury history. Leaning towards taking the club option on Wacha and reduce the search for SP to two.

Hope fully the trades yield some support for those offensive needs (unlikely to get quality ML SP prospects from teams trying to add SP). Then the focus needs to be on SP ... and they will have cleared a LOT of payroll via the FA / trades (need to spend that smartly and fill multiple blanks).

A lot of moving parts and hard to get everything the want.

Quote from fenn68 on July 17, 2023, 2:47 pm

One thought that if the Padres are not getting the mix of prospects they want for one of the trade chips ... might they be better off passing on a mid-range prospect and instead have them take Carpenter (and his 2024 contract). Opens another $5MM next season to use for real upgrades.

Do a linkage with Cronenworth has been suggested but doubt any team will take that contract based on getting any of the FA to be.

 

Quote from fenn68 on July 17, 2023, 2:55 pm

I have been going back and forth on pursing an extension with Snell (will not be before FA with Boras his agent).

I have fallen on the NO side. In part is that he will demand and probably get a big deal and Padres can't keep rolling out those.

More important is that although he is CY Young level over the past few months ... he still is a 5 inning pitcher and that is not enough and hurting the pen. Hearing the discussions about his start on SAT ... apparently he told the Padres he was only ready to go 5 innings (80 some pitches) because he was sore. What was he doing during the break? Is he protecting himself for FA? Not what you want in a #1 SP when you are in critical games to make the playoffs. Basically he is (and has been) a "special handling" inconsistent player that can't really build a winner around. TB saw that ...

Same thought on Hader.

Quote from BoosterSD on July 17, 2023, 3:29 pm

I guess when I look at the series over the weekend against PHI, the big difference I saw was grit and "red ass" as we put it here in AZ. I fully feel the problem here is SD is too many stars and not enough gritty/red ass players. And that blame squarely lands on Preller. To me, Kim and Crone seem like those grinder/red ass guys, and Tatis and Machado is really enough star power for a team. Now we need more guys like Schwarber and Marsh, with Schwarber seeming very clutch, and Marsh that dirty uni every game type of guy. Seems missing on SD.

Those guys, especially a Marsh are not overly expensive (compared to a Soto type), just seems that Preller does not like those type of guys IMO, or cant find them??

Quote from fenn68 on July 17, 2023, 4:39 pm

Quote from BoosterSD on July 17, 2023, 3:29 pm

I guess when I look at the series over the weekend against PHI, the big difference I saw was grit and "red ass" as we put it here in AZ. I fully feel the problem here is SD is too many stars and not enough gritty/red ass players. And that blame squarely lands on Preller. To me, Kim and Crone seem like those grinder/red ass guys, and Tatis and Machado is really enough star power for a team. Now we need more guys like Schwarber and Marsh, with Schwarber seeming very clutch, and Marsh that dirty uni every game type of guy. Seems missing on SD.

Those guys, especially a Marsh are not overly expensive (compared to a Soto type), just seems that Preller does not like those type of guys IMO, or cant find them??

A fault in the ML player evaluation process by the Padres? Wrong criteria?

Preller seems to be strong on amateurs and minor leaguers (in general) but seems weak when it comes to established ML players. Maybe overweighs stats / reputation and not enough on that gritty max effort attitude (or just can't evaluate that well).

Also, seems not to be able to step back and build a 40 man roster that can compete over a full season and focuses on the few headliners and the rest is just filler.

Quote from BoosterSD on July 17, 2023, 5:43 pm

So to take a turn from what most of us on here know is reality, and the Padres are done this season, there was a "fluff" piece on the Padres website about them still thinking about being buyers.

If Preller/Seidler do chase good money after bad money, who do we need to improve this squad.

We could use at least one more SP, preferably towards the front line pushing everyone down one spot. The return of Suarez will help the bullpen, although another bullpen arm would be another smart add. And a true DH/1B would make sense.

Bowden (I think) believed that Burnes would be available and SD would get him. Not going to happen now.

Does Preller go crazy and call CHC for Stroman and Bellinger.

Call across town to CWS, and try for Giolito, Luis Robert Jr, and Keynan Middleton.

Would Adam Duvall and/or Justin Turner help with the grit aspect at DH/1B.

Candelario from WAS and Barlow from KC.