Friday, December 18, 2020

Uncustomed Heroes of 2020: Padres (Part Two)

 

Everyone in this post showed up for the Padres after Opening Day. Adrian Morejon is the sole player here who wasn't traded to the Padres this year.

Morejon, after some good starts last year, was plugged into the rotation this year due to some injuries, and posted a 4.66 ERA in 9 games, including 25 Ks. I am guessing that 2021 will finally be the year that Morejon gets an extended run in the rotation, and then we'll all see what he's really made of.

2021 Prediction: Doesn't start the season in the rotation, but won't leave it for a few years after he joins.


So. Mike Clevinger was the biggest deal the Padres made at the deadline. I wonder aloud if Clevinger would have needed Tommy John surgery if he stayed in Cleveland and didn't break quarantine to go to a party in Chicago. And maybe in that universe he pitches fine for the rest of the year, doesn't have to miss the 2021 season and won't be met with pissed off fans when he returns in 2022. Imagine that universe.

Anyway, Clevinger had a 2.84 ERA in 4 starts, including 2 wins and 19 Ks, but of course that dreaded injury stopped him from making any further impact.

2021 Prediction: Well, at least he won't have to break quarantine, or even leave his house, to get hammered next year. 

At least Trevor Rosenthal didn't get injured after landing in SD. I'm still blown away that this guy made a comeback this year, after shitting away the closer gig in St Louis a few years back, does well for the Royals AND the Padres, and makes his presence as a prime closer known again. We love to see it. Rosenthal had 4 saves and 17 Ks in 9 appearances, none of which featured an earned run.

2021 Prediction: Some team spends too much money on him and he doesn't have half the season he had this year. Probably the Phillies, knowing my luck. 
Speaking of the Phillies, their ace's brother was hot in Seattle, and got traded to the Padres where he had a unilateral starting catching gig. He hit .222 with 9 RBIs, but it was better than any of the catching options they had before.

2021 Prediction: A more traditional Nola season, with more homers and more contact hitting. 
Mitch Moreland has sort of filled out as a hitter, and is mostly a source of power hitting and not much else. Moreland was traded by Boston to the Padres, and...yeah, kept doing that. 8 RBIs and 2 homers in 20 games, but a .203 average. Good news is he batted .500 in the postseason with 4 hits and an RBI. 

2021 Prediction: He'll get signed to a minor league deal, have some time in the majors and sort of fade off after next season.

As phase two of the Padres' quest for catching, Jason Castro quickly became a backup option as Nola arrived, and he was still a sturdy defensive catcher. He's just...not exactly the hitter he was, and only hit .179 in 9 games.

2021 Prediction: Will be signed as a backup somewhere, and get some playing time upon an injury to the starting catcher. Hell, maybe the Yanks take a chance.


Coming Tomorrow- This Phillies team couldn't get it done either..

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