I hear you on Slater and Tauchman. Curious what you think of the fit with the Duran rumors (or Robert Jr). AJ always seems like more of a 'big swing' guy.
Cost likely to be very high for either. And roster would remain very flawed. Always suspicious of Fenway hitters, concerned about Duran’s batted ball profile in Petco and platoon splits, but he would be an enormous upgrade even if he didn’t improve on his year to date averages. Robert Jr looks like a lock to rake against lefties, play good defense, and probably benefits from change of scenery. Ultimately a little reluctant to move a top 3 organizational prospect or major league talent for either.
I worry a bit about Duran’s splits vs LHP. But he’d certainly be an upgrade. I don’t think we’d need to trade Leo or Salas either. Robert’s struggles vs RHP is a big concern too, but I could also see him being a bounce back candidate in a new space. I think Robert would be quite a bit cheaper than Duran as well given less years and a more expensive contract.
Pretty compelling analysis on Tatis. Just the timing of the injury to the shift in numbers seems more than coincidental. If so, wondering what changes that. A month seems a long time for contusion to still be hampering him, given they let him play. Whatever the cause, I want my old Tatis back.
We dodged a bullet last year in LF with Profar's career season. That bullet now lodged in our abdomen with more coming. Preller found Solano and Peralta last year, but maybe too much to ask for catching lightening in a bottle again, but need serviceable LF. The types you describe seem a reasonable solution but not sure what our system can support, even for aging, mediocre talent.
Great insights as always! I wonder too, how much of Tatis’s struggles have been mental? He made a comment a couple weeks ago that was something to the effect of sometimes he enjoys playing and brings his energy and sometimes the game feels like an energy sucking vampire to him. Obviously we’re speculating here as we can’t see the conversation in the dugout and clubhouse, but on TV Tatis often has this “pouty” look to him. I can understand the frustration with the strike zone as he’s had so many borderline calls go against him, but at some point you gotta just put that in the rear view mirror and control what you can control. Seems like the game has gotten in his head a little bit.
Always enjoy your articles Archi. Would you consider breaking down Bogaerts in a similar way? He's become my least favorite and most frustrating Padre (although Cease is close behind). I'm guessing a combination of age and loss of power due to his upper limb injuries are the biggest change between his time in Boston and SD. It often looks like he's not trying very hard either, but this is hard to evaluate on TV.
I'm old enough to remember when teams would "protect" their stars. If an opposing pitcher threw at, say, Nate Colbert, a Padres pitcher would retaliate. For the past few years, though, it has seemed like it's open season on Tatis & Co. Other teams know Padres pitchers are not going to retaliate. There is absolutely no negative consequence of throwing at Padres hitters. No wonder why Tatis has been photographed sitting alone in the dugout.
I hear you on Slater and Tauchman. Curious what you think of the fit with the Duran rumors (or Robert Jr). AJ always seems like more of a 'big swing' guy.
Cost likely to be very high for either. And roster would remain very flawed. Always suspicious of Fenway hitters, concerned about Duran’s batted ball profile in Petco and platoon splits, but he would be an enormous upgrade even if he didn’t improve on his year to date averages. Robert Jr looks like a lock to rake against lefties, play good defense, and probably benefits from change of scenery. Ultimately a little reluctant to move a top 3 organizational prospect or major league talent for either.
I worry a bit about Duran’s splits vs LHP. But he’d certainly be an upgrade. I don’t think we’d need to trade Leo or Salas either. Robert’s struggles vs RHP is a big concern too, but I could also see him being a bounce back candidate in a new space. I think Robert would be quite a bit cheaper than Duran as well given less years and a more expensive contract.
Pretty compelling analysis on Tatis. Just the timing of the injury to the shift in numbers seems more than coincidental. If so, wondering what changes that. A month seems a long time for contusion to still be hampering him, given they let him play. Whatever the cause, I want my old Tatis back.
We dodged a bullet last year in LF with Profar's career season. That bullet now lodged in our abdomen with more coming. Preller found Solano and Peralta last year, but maybe too much to ask for catching lightening in a bottle again, but need serviceable LF. The types you describe seem a reasonable solution but not sure what our system can support, even for aging, mediocre talent.
Maybe Frenando just needs to poop. That certainly throws me off my game sometimes.
Great effort and detail with this post. Best of luck with your posts!
Great insights as always! I wonder too, how much of Tatis’s struggles have been mental? He made a comment a couple weeks ago that was something to the effect of sometimes he enjoys playing and brings his energy and sometimes the game feels like an energy sucking vampire to him. Obviously we’re speculating here as we can’t see the conversation in the dugout and clubhouse, but on TV Tatis often has this “pouty” look to him. I can understand the frustration with the strike zone as he’s had so many borderline calls go against him, but at some point you gotta just put that in the rear view mirror and control what you can control. Seems like the game has gotten in his head a little bit.
Always enjoy your articles Archi. Would you consider breaking down Bogaerts in a similar way? He's become my least favorite and most frustrating Padre (although Cease is close behind). I'm guessing a combination of age and loss of power due to his upper limb injuries are the biggest change between his time in Boston and SD. It often looks like he's not trying very hard either, but this is hard to evaluate on TV.
I'm old enough to remember when teams would "protect" their stars. If an opposing pitcher threw at, say, Nate Colbert, a Padres pitcher would retaliate. For the past few years, though, it has seemed like it's open season on Tatis & Co. Other teams know Padres pitchers are not going to retaliate. There is absolutely no negative consequence of throwing at Padres hitters. No wonder why Tatis has been photographed sitting alone in the dugout.