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“PADRES-MID SEASON REPORT CARD”
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A Mid-season look at the Padres…who still believe they are a pennant contender, but with the baseball standings showing them to be 7-games behind the lst place Dodgers.

PADRES:  Have gone from a half game back to seven games out with half a season to go.  The roster shortcomings they started with are still there, a left field by committee approach, struggling starters not getting to the 5th inning, a heavy workload on the bullpen, light hitting catchers, and a shortened bench.  Still no timeframe on Yu Darvish and Michael King.  Grade (B) at best.

SEIDLER OWNERSHIP:  Obviously they have made Padres baseball and Petco Park a destination point in the community.  The growth of Gallagher Square popularity, the Salute to Military-Sundays, and so much more are special.  It’s also obvious they have put a lid on AJ Preller’s spending spree.  Grade (A)

ERIC GREUPNER:  Unique job growing and marketing the product, and the upgrades at the Stadium.  But he has raised ticket prices 50% in four years. Love the ‘Slay the Dragon’ approach to marketing with the Dodgers.. Grade (B)

AJ PRELLER:  A fun run over a 4-year span of wheeling-dealing, trades, signings, but alas the window to get to the World Series seems growing smaller and smaller with a lid on spending.  The upper farm system is bare.  The extended contracts means he cannot deal away any of the marketable names he might use as trade bait.  Ethan Salas’ growth has stalled with the back fracture.  Leo DeVries looks exceptional, but a long way away.  There hasn’t been a World Series game at Petco Park under this regime.  Do you realize there is only 1-Padres home grown player contributing after nearly a decade of leadership…Of course a bunch of them are with the Washington Nationals…Love ‘Boots on Ground’ scouting philosophy-always searching for next find-steal-gem….Grade (B) but the window is closing

MIKE SHILDT:  A thinking man’s manager where old school baseball guys used to rule.  Protects his players to the hilt from criticism, can be a hot head in their defense, but has not been able to solve the mystery slumps some of his top stars struggle thru.  None-the-less, right guy, right situation.  Grade (A)

DYLAN CEASE..Unlock the mystery of his mechanics which has led to him becoming very inconsistent, rather than the ace of a large chunk of last season.  Soon to be a free agent, but hot and cold.  They need him to be vintage 2024, not what we see in 2025.  Woudl have thought he’d be established ace by this stage of solid career-not so…Grade (C)

NICK PIVETTA..A solid addition, pitching really well at home, a bit erratic on the road, but with 8-wins-he has saved the first half of the season.  Grade (A)

YU DARVISH..Alot of innings, alot of age, and you worry if this is the beginning of the end, with years still left on the contract.  Grade (C).

MICHAEL KING..An ace, headed to free agency, but battling the mystery of this shoulder impingement.  Need him, his toughness, grit, skill and trustworthiness.  But not ready to rejoin the rotation.  Grade (A) when healthy.

RANDY VASQUEZ..Has grown in his second year, but a bad inning every start means he is limited in length.  Still there is upside there.  Grade (C)

STEPHEN KOLEK..A real surprise in terms of growth and consistency and tenacity.  Grade (B)

RYAN BERGERT..Limited starts-impressive outings-nice composure..potential upside.  Grade (A)

KYLE HART..Not all the rentals from abroad work out.  Gives up way too many home runs, but a junk ball pitcher.  See if he grows this year.  Grade (D)

JASON ADAM…Workhorse reliever-a real warrior.  On pace for 90-appearances.  Grade (A)

ROBERT SUAREZ..Dominant, though he has staggered some since June 1st.  What a find from Japan.  Grade (A)

JEREMIAH  ESTRADA..Has grown as a setup man with velocity..some hot-some cold outings..A ceiling to get too also…..Grade (B)

ADRIAN MOREJON…Big time role guy as first key guy out of bullpen..has become better pitcher rather than thrower…Took awhile but has arrived in role..Grade (A)

YUKI MATSUI..Always takes ball but sometime erratic, but  trustworthy more than not…Grade (B)

WANDY PERALTA…Trusted veteran, used lots of different ways, but has been shelled in some bad innings…Piles up lots of appearances…Grade (C)

ALEC JACOB..Got here quick, gave ground this year-quicker..buried in El Paso getting bombed right now..Grade (D)

SEAN REYNOLDS..Still trying to find role as long reliever..there is potential..Grade (C)

DAVID MORGAN..You root for self-made guys..Fearless with his stuff..unique mindset..Grade (B) for his limited role

BRYAN HOEING…We saw last year what he could do after trade here-then sidetracked with shoulder…see if he can be it again…Grade (C)

MATT WALDREN..Saved them first half last year..faded after that..now back after missing months with oblique..Can he give them value second half this year..Grade (C)
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MANNY MACHADO…Big time star-big time payday…real baller-who never comes out…Body language sometimes weird…Grade (A)

FERNANDO TATIS…He must be hurt..from MVP numbers to start year-to getting beaned…to hitting (.188) and then (.202)…still plays hard..something really wrong that consistency is gone…Grade (B)

LUIS ARRAEZ…Wish there was more to his game, but he is wild swinging singles hitter..works hard to play defense..not great on base paths..but sprays ball foul line to foul line..headed to free agency…Grade (A)

XANDER BOGAERTS…Fear he has an Albert Pujols contract-long years-returns are dwindling…Plays hard..Solid defense..runs hard..but at bats are painful…need to be more than (.220-to-240) hitter..Good guy..Grade (C)

JACKSON MERRILL..Star in making..solid in every way just a year and a half into career..Tough year being banged up..Grade (A)

JAKE CRONEWORTH..has never returned to what he was early on..Guess you have to accept the Crone-Zone is in the (.240) batting range..A real pro..but..for this price?  Grade (B)

GAVIN SHEETS..This year’s Jurickson Profar without the glove..Good acquisition on one year rental..Grade (A)

JOSE IGLESIAS..Multi dimension with glove-arm-attitude..not hitting much..but good first guy off bench like last year’s Solano-Peralta…Grade (B)

ELIAS DIAZ..Grinder behind home plate..Solid but not All Star he was with Rockies..Grade (C)

MARTIN MALDONADO..Very good glove, intangibile helping pitching, not much offense..Grade (C)

TYLER WADE..Popular-everyone needs a 25th man on the roster..Grade (C)

BRANDON LOCKRIDGE..Read above…Glove-speed-base stealer..Grade (C)

TRENTON BROOKS…Latest version of ‘let’s take a look at him’..Grade (C)

JASON HEYWARD..Hoped it would workout-such a strong clubhouse leader but Father Time collected tolls on him quickly…Grade (D)

YULI GURRIEL..Take a gamble-some work-some don’t…Grade (F)

LUIS CAMPUSANO…Gone from Can’t Miss prospect to Can’t Make it..Probably trade bait..Have waited a long time-has not come together…Maybe a lifetime ‘4A’ player…Grade (C)

CONNOR JOE…Just like era with Rockies-Pirates..didn’t show much and moved out..Thought there was potential but did not get much of a chance…Grade (F)

BRYCE JOHNSON…Just a guy…Grade (D)

OSCAR GONZALEZ…PCL Player with 3rd different team..Grade (D)

TIRSO ORNELAS..Good spring training but that’s all..Grade (C)

MASON MC COY..Like many of utility man, up and down..nice glove..Grade (D)
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