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About ale522
sports and financial markets enthusiast. Native San Diegan, diehard Padres, adopted Warriors and ex-Chargers fan
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ale522 has written 1566 articles so far, you can find them below.
Eric Lauer Unable To Build Off Opening Day Gem
San Diego Padres starter Eric Lauer took the loss after surrendering four earned runs in five innings Tuesday against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Unable to build off a brilliant Opening Day performance, Lauer allowed nine hits, a walk and fanned two on the evening. Lauer lacks overpowering stuff and if he’s not commanding his pitches on... Read More
Matt Strahm Pummeled By Diamondbacks
San Diego Padres starter Matt Strahm was rocked for five earned runs in 2 2/3 innings Monday against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Strahm served up a leadoff home run to D-backs outfielder Adam Jones and it was downhill from there. He was rattled the entire outing, allowing eight hits and three walks while striking out two.... Read More
Wil Myers Off To Excellent Start
San Diego Padres outfielder Wil Myers concluded a strong opening series on Sunday, collecting two singles and a walk in four plate appearances. Myers homered on Opening Day and proceeded to amass six hits, two steals and five runs-plus-RBI in the first four games of the year. With the spotlight on new third baseman Manny... Read More
Kirby Yates Notches Three Saves In Opening Series
San Diego Padres closer Kirby Yates collected saves in all three of the Padres victories over the opening series against the San Francisco Giants. Yates was perfect in two of his outings and has permitted just one hit and one walk through his first three appearances. He’s struck out five batters in the process. Yates... Read More
Chris Paddack Good As Advertised In Debut
San Diego Padres starter Chris Paddack was excellent in a no-decision Sunday against the San Francisco Giants, completing five innings of one-run ball. In his first career big league start, Paddack was perfect through 3 1/3 frames and didn’t allow a hit until the fifth inning. He ended up surrendering two hits, a walk and... Read More
Points Leagues Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 1
It’s here, it’s finally here! Happy baseball season to all our diamond-dwelling RotoBallers. For the past five months, we’ve settled for touchdowns, goals and brackets but now it’s time to bust out our stirrups for summer’s pastime. With Opening Day in the books, it’s only reasonable to look ahead to the waiver wire for rest-of-season... Read More
Fernando Tatis Jr. Tallies Two Knocks In Debut
San Diego Padres shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. went 2-for-3 in his major league debut Thursday against the San Francisco Giants. Tatis made history as the second-youngest player to record a hit in his first at-bat on Opening Day in the past 110 years, squeezing a grounder into left field. He also laid down a bunt... Read More
Eric Lauer Breezes Past Giants
San Diego Padres starter Eric Lauer cruised for six innings in Thursday’s victory against the San Francisco Giants. After receiving the surprise nod for Opening Day, the 23-year-old fired a gem, allowing zero runs, four hits and a walk while striking out three. Lauer was in control all game as he outdueled Giants starter Madison... Read More
Wil Myers Powers Padres Offense
San Diego Padres outfielder Wil Myers went 2-for-2 with a home run and walk on Opening Day against the San Francisco Giants. Myers accounted for the entirety of the Friars offense, adding an RBI single to his solo long ball. Expected to be a permanent fixture in the outfield this season after shuffling around positions... Read More
Bryan Mitchell Cut By Padres
The San Diego Padres designated starter Bryan Mitchell for assignment in their final round of transactions before Opening Day. The Friars acquired Mitchell last season via trade but he quickly fell out of favor with a horrendous 5.42 ERA and major control issues. Given an opportunity to regain a starting job this spring, Mitchell was... Read More
Fernando Tatis Jr. Slots Sixth In Major League Debut
San Diego Padres shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. will bat sixth on Opening Day in his major league debut. The Padres surprised the league earlier this week by adding Tatis to the major league roster to begin the season. He'll face San Francisco Giants left-handed ace Madison Bumgarner. The 20-year-old will likely get regular starts if... Read More
Logan Allen, Cal Quantrill Squander Starting Opportunity
With the fifth starting spot for the San Diego Padres rotation wide open, pitchers Logan Allen and Cal Quantrill were both unable to capitalize. The two youngsters allowed 13 runs combined Sunday, leaving the backend of the Friars pitching staff in question. The 21-year-old Allen and 24-year-old Quantrill entered spring training as the Padres No.... Read More
Franchy Cordero Stuffing Stat Sheet This Spring
Fighting for playing time this season, San Diego Padres outfielder Franchy Cordero has contributed a bit of everything on offense this spring, smacking two homers, stealing five bases and recording 19 runs-plus-RBI. The Friars 24-year-old prospect showed promise in 2018, cranking seven dingers and swiping five bags before midseason elbow surgery prematurely ended his season... Read More
Manuel Margot Falling Out Of Favor
It’s becoming probable that San Diego Padres outfielder Manuel Margot won’t be given an everyday job in 2019. After a disappointing .245/.292/.384 slash with just eight homers and 11 steals (53 percent success rate) last year, Margot needs to showcase his offensive worth to remain in the lineup. Despite his excellent defense and a promising... Read More
Manny Machado Launches First Spring Homer
San Diego Padres third baseman Manny Machado cracked a two-run home run Wednesday, his first of spring training. Machado is hitting just .176 in 34 at-bats this March but it shouldn’t be a concern for the $300-million-man. Machado will likely bat second or third and should test 30 homers along with 180 runs-plus-RBI in 2019.... Read More
Matt Strahm Destined For Starting Rotation
San Diego Padres starter/reliever Matt Strahm is on track to be the team’s fourth starter to begin the regular season. Strahm fired five innings of scoreless ball and recorded four strikeouts Wednesday to bring his spring resume to a 2.65 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 10.1 K/9 across 17 frames. Strahm’s strong performance and injuries to... Read More
Jacob Nix Has Strained UCL; Padres Rotation Getting Clearer
San Diego Padres starter Jacob Nix (elbow) is reported to have a strained ulnar collateral ligament. The current treatment is a rest period of six to eight weeks before planning next steps. Tommy John surgery is a real possibility. This is a major setback for Nix, who was positioned to compete for a starting job... Read More
Franmil Reyes Could Bat Cleanup
San Diego Padres outfielder Franmil Reyes is in pole position as the team’s cleanup hitter come Opening Day. Reyes emerged from relative anonymity to be the Padres best hitter in the second half of 2018, highlighted by 10 homers and a .920 OPS. Despite his early struggles, Reyes adapted, lowering his strikeouts to a respectable... Read More
Kirby Yates Extends Lights Out Spring Training
San Diego Padres closer Kirby Yates continued his strong spring on Sunday, firing a scoreless inning and striking out two. Through five innings, Yates has yet to allow a run. Yates will start his age-32 season as the Padres undisputed closer after inheriting the role in the second half of last season. Yates posted a... Read More
Jacob Nix Out Indefinitely With Arm Soreness
San Diego Padres starter Jacob Nix (arm) has been shut down indefinitely due to arm soreness after tossing four frames last Tuesday. Further tests revealed no structural damage. Padres manager Andy Green postulates Nix could miss anywhere from a few days to a “considerable period of time”. The Padres No. 19 prospect was competing for... Read More
Austin Hedges' Job Security Appears Safe For Now
San Diego Padres catcher Austin Hedges launched two home runs Wednesday against the Los Angeles Angels, giving him three dingers and a 1.159 OPS in 19 spring plate appearances. The 26-year-old is set to begin his third full season as the Padres primary backstop and one of baseball’s premier defensive catchers. While he’s demonstrated pop... Read More
Chris Paddack Almost A Lock For Rotation
San Diego Padres starter Chris Paddack continued to impress on Wednesday, recording six strikeouts across four innings against the mostly big-league Los Angeles Angels lineup. He gave up just one run, five hits and zero walks. With 20 strikeouts and a 14.2 K/9, Paddack leads all spring training pitchers in strikeouts. Baseball’s No. 34 prospect... Read More
Five Hitters Whose Barrels Rate Makes Them Undervalued
Baseball is back! The nostalgic diamond traditions of cracker jacks, oat sodas and intricately-designed grass patterns have finally returned. Most importantly, the boys of summer are once again fine-tuning their five tools for the upcoming season. In 2016, Major League Baseball expanded its research on exit velocity and launch angle by introducing Barrels. Barrels not... Read More
Francisco Mejia Raking Through 10 Spring Contests
San Diego Padres catcher Francisco Mejia has wasted no time staking his worth during spring training, cracking three homers with a 1.275 OPS through 10 games. As MLB’s No. 26 prospect, the 23-year-old Mejia hopes to get meaningful big league experience in 2019. While his offensive capabilities are highly regarded, Mejia’s registered a sub-.200 average... Read More
Hunter Renfroe, Franmil Reyes Destined To Split Playing Time
Two San Diego Padres outfielders with uncertain roles in 2019 are Hunter Renfroe and Franmil Reyes. With Manuel Margot and Franchy Cordero competing in center field and Wil Myers manning a corner spot, the outlook for Renfroe and Reyes remains cloudy. With both being right-handed power hitters, their skill sets appear redundant. Renfroe ended 2018... Read More
Matt Strahm's Growing Sleeper Appeal
San Diego Padres reliever Matt Strahm continued his dominant spring training on Sunday, fanning eight batters in four frames. Through three appearances and nine innings, Strahm holds a 0.67 WHIP and has not allowed a run. After returning from major knee surgery in 2017, Strahm worked almost exclusively as a reliever in 2018 with an... Read More
Logan Allen Drilled In Third Spring Outing
San Diego Padres starter Logan Allen was roughed up for six earned runs in 1 2/3 innings Sunday in his third spring training appearance. Considered a longshot to make the roster, the 21-year-old Allen hadn’t allowed an earned run in his prior 3 2/3 frames. The Padres No. 9 prospect is one of nine pitchers... Read More
Ian Kinsler Settling In At Leadoff Spot
Signed as a veteran to anchor a young squad, San Diego Padres second baseman Ian Kinsler is on track to bat leadoff for the Friars in 2019. Despite offensive numbers that have dipped in three consecutive seasons, Kinsler owns a career .339 on-base percentage and can still play defense at a high level. Despite the... Read More
Joey Lucchesi Sharp Through Two Appearances
Through two spring training appearances and five innings, San Diego Padres starter Joey Lucchesi holds a 1.80 ERA and 0.80 WHIP. The Friars projected Opening Day starter has been sharp and likely furthered his lead as the team’s top starter. While the rest of the rotation is uncertain, Lucchesi aims to improve on a 4.08... Read More
Travis Jankowski Out For Three Months
San Diego Padres outfielder Travis Jankowski (wrist) will undergo surgery and is expected to miss three months. Jankowski suffered a scaphoid fracture in his right wrist while diving for a fly ball last Sunday. The 27-year-old was expected to platoon in a crowded Padres outfield while contributing excellent defense and speed on the basepaths. Despite... Read More
