PHNX Arizona Diamondbacks Podcast - The San Diego Padres' Best Hitter Is WHO!? | On the Record with Sam Levitt

Episode Date: May 3, 2024

In another edition of On the Record, Padres radio pre/postgame host Sam Levitt joins the show to discuss slow starts for Manny Machado and Xander Bogaerts, Jurickson Profar knocking the car off the ball on a $1 million contract, and early impressions of newcomer starting pitchers Michael King and Dylan Cease, and more. An ALLCITY Network ProductionSUBSCRIBE to our YouTube: https://bit.ly/phnx_youtubeALL THINGS PHNX: http://linktr.ee/phnxsports PHNX Events: Get your tickets to Suns Takeovers, Coyotes & Suns Watch Parties at BetMGM, and MORE here: https://gophnx.com/events/Factor Mealkits: Use code PHNXDBACKS50 to get 50% OFF your first Factor box and free wellness shots for life with any active subscription at https://factormeals.com/phnxdbacks50Desert Financial Credit Union: Open a free checking account online with Desert Financial Credit Union and get $200 in bonuses https://www.desertfinancial.com/200Gametime: Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code PHNX for $20 off your first purchase.Circle K:  Join Inner Circle for free by downloading the Circle K app today! Head to https://www.circlek.com/store-locator to find Circle Ks near you!OGeez!: OGeez! is not your average cannabis-infused gummy. Head over to https://www.ogeezbrands.com to find where you can purchase. Must be 21+. Enjoy responsibly. Four Peaks: Follow on social @fourpeaksbrew & @fourpeakspub! Must be 21+. Enjoy responsibly. When you shop through links in the description, we may earn affiliate commissions. Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Welcome back in to another edition of On the Record where we talk with people in the know about upcoming opponents for the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Diamondbacks this weekend opening a three game series with the San Diego Padres. And who better to talk about San Diego Padres than Sam Levitt, who does their pre and post game coverage over on the radio side on 973. The fan. Sam, thanks for hopping on. Really appreciate it. Jesse, great to be with you and excited to watch the Diamond Bay. And Padres play once again in 2024, starting this weekend. Padres, D-backs pretty much in the same spot early in the season.

Padres have a game on Arizona right now coming in at 15 and 17. The Diamondbacks at 14 and 18. It doesn't seem like things have been great for San Diego recently. They did just win a series over the Cincinnati Reds, but they got swept over the weekend last weekend against the Phillies. They split a series with the Rockies, which is never something. that you're looking to do or probably satisfied with. What are the vibes here early on with the Padres in 2024?

Yeah, I think things were going pretty well until the final game of that series in Colorado, the series you alluded to where they had a chance to take three or four from a Rockies team that obviously hasn't been very good so far this season. They had a 9-4 lead heading into the eighth inning in that series finale, chance to take three out of four, a chance to stay a couple of games above 500. So all in all, at that point, things had not gone perfectly,

but I think had gone pretty well considering what the record was. And the really tough schedule, the Padres have played to start the year. But then they end up not winning that game at all comes crashing down in the eighth inning. In Colorado, Rockies have a six-run eighth inning. They win that game 10 to 9. And that was the start of a five-game losing skid that carried into the beginning of this week. before the Padres won a game against the Reds, and then ultimately one on Tuesday, one on Wednesday,

and won that series against Cincinnati. So I think things here today are looking better than they were at the start of the week, certainly after Monday night where the Padres at one point against Reds left hand or Nicodolo, they had 18 in a row retired, 23 in a row retired at one point in that game in total. It was, you know, things were kind of ugly on Monday night when it was a five game losing skid and the offense did what it did so quiet on Monday and really outplayed by the Phillies during the weekend before that game on Monday. So a five game skid after Monday, four games below 500. Things were not looking great. But to their credit, they have bounced back a little bit this week, won a couple in a row.

And I think the vibes are a little bit higher than they were on Sunday and Monday because I think. think, you know, the feeling I got from the fan base after Monday was not a great one. You know, things were looking kind of bleak. And all of a sudden, I think there was a feeling that there was a real danger for this to maybe get out of hand, considering the tough schedule, considering the fact that they just weren't playing very good baseball and were in the midst of a five-game losing skid. So I think all in all, when I go back and I describe where they were that final game of the series in Colorado, the five-game losing skid, now winning two in a row, beating what I think is a pretty good Reds team. You know, I think it's been up and down so far.

I think there have been, you know, signs of encouragement, good indicators that this team is a different one than the team that the Padres had in 2023. But there have also been some tough stretches so far and some things that I think could definitely be improved. So I think all in all, look, you'd like the record, you know, an early May to be better than two games. below 500. There's no doubt about that. Every fan. Yeah. Without that for their team. But, you know, I think there's been some, some ups, some downs, and we'll see what the next few weeks hold because the Padres do have a really tough schedule the first couple of months going into really early June.

When I think about the Padres, I, of course, think about Tatis and Machado and Bogart's coming into this season. It seemed like even with Juan Soto no longer being there, there was still quite a bit of star power in this lineup and a chance to be in the mix in the playoff race and in the National League looking at some of the numbers with those guys. None of them have started especially well. It doesn't look like Bogart's a 571 OPS. Fernando Tatis is 750 OPS, which we've certainly seen him do far better than that in years past.

Manny Machado, a 685 OPS here to start the season. I imagine for the Padres, Sam, I mean, they need those guys to produce, right? I mean, everything sort of has to start with that trio being as good as it can possibly be. Yeah, you hit the nail right on the head. It is all about those three guys. And that's not all that dissimilar than what it was last year, right? Except last year we added Juan Soto into that mix. So it went from being a big four to a big three of Bogart's, Detis, and Machado.

I think each has a little bit of a different case, although I'll first start with the Macquar, of those three, to your point, Jesse, they need those guys to play like absolute stars. And they need those guys to carry this team and this lineup on a day in, day out basis. That's what they were brought here to do. And they need to do it because I think that's, that's obviously a huge key to the Padre success in 2024. So, you know, with each of the guys, I think the cases are a little bit different. In Bogart's case, it's been a really slow start.

There has not been much in the way of slug as far as extra bases. You know, he had an up and down first season in San Diego, had a great start to his season, start to his Padre career last year, at a great finish. But there were a few months in the middle that were not great. And he was also dealing with a wrist issue that contributed to some of that. But it has not been a great start for Xander Bogart's. He was batting lead off for a while. They've dropped him down out of the number five spot. He got a day off on Wednesday.

day. So he's still trying to find his stroke. But I think there is belief throughout the organization that he'll be able to find it. As far as Fernando, it's a little bit different. He's hit the ball pretty hard and doesn't have a whole lot to show for it. If you go look at some of his advanced metrics, just go look at his baseball savant page. You'll see a lot of red and white red. Yeah, I understand that. Yeah. I mean, I think for him it's been a little bit unlucky. The at bats, as of late, haven't been great. He's doing a lot of chasing. And just the last couple of weeks, the numbers have not been great, right?

But I think with Fernando, I think to me, he's just going through a slump. And I think he's still hitting the ball for the most part pretty hard. And hopefully he can break out of it here quickly. And then for Machado, it's been up and down. He had a stretch where he was swinging it really well after a stretch where he wasn't. Now he's cooled off a little bit again. For man, you remember, he's coming off the elbow. surgery last fall. He just started playing third base again. He was D-Hing exclusively for a while as he

as he went through his drawing program and got back to playing third base. So each of them has a bit of a different situation when you look at the numbers and some of the early season struggles. And I think Mani's had a couple of really good stretches as well. And I think with Mani Machado, we've learned that, I don't know, somehow you look up at the end of the year and the numbers are there, right? And, you know, you know, you know, in 2022 in particular, he carried that team for months. And we know with Manny, he can turn that on at any time. And it can be pretty impressive what he'll do on a really hot stretch.

So I think the bigger picture, though, Jesse is, like I said, the start of the answer, they need those guys to play like stars. You know, it still is kind of a top heavy lineup, even without Juan Soto. And they need those guys to carry the way. And if those guys play like they're capable of playing, I think it makes an enormous difference when you talk about the ceiling of this team. It's really important, though, that the big three plays like the big three. There's no doubt about it.

I guess maybe we should be talking about a big four in San Diego, given the way the jerks and pro far has started this 2024 season, looking at the numbers. He's been, it looks to me far and away, the best position player on the team so far with an OPS well over 900. What's going on with Juerkson Profar, Sam? How is this happening? He's been terrific. I mean, Jurexen is somebody who loves playing in San Diego.

He loves being a San Diego Padre. You know, I think when he was in Colorado, I think it's pretty clear that he missed it in San Diego. And for whatever reason, it's just a place that feels like home to Jirkson Profar. And, you know, that's not just by what he says or the impact the ads in the clubhouse, which I think is significant. He is a big impact on that clubhouse, and this is going back to 2022 and before that. So he certainly is a great clubhouse presence,

and he's very close with a lot of the guys in there. But for whatever reason, he seems to play his best baseball when he's a San Diego Padre. And it has been to another level to start this season. I mean, you know, look, in the grand scheme of a baseball season, is 30-plus games, a huge sample size? No, but it's also not. the smallest of sample sizes when you're 100 plus at bats in and he's hitting 342 i think it is

entering today he's got a lot of base percentage above 400 he's got an oPS above 900 uh he was 4 for 4 on wednesday i mean ever since being moved to the lead off spot he's been tremendous and that's coming off what was really good baseball before being moved to the lead off spot so hopefully he's able to keep it up i mean he he's been to your point, the team's best overall hitter so far in this lineup. So pretty good deal for a guy you signed for a base of $1 million. So he's been great. And he just, he loves playing in San Diego.

And it shows with the way he plays on the field. And he has been terrific. I think now the question is, you know, how long does it last, you know, and is there a struggle at some point? But look, to his credit, he has not slowed down at all. He's only got better over the course of the last couple of weeks. So I think for Padres fans, they're just hoping the ride continues. And who knows?

I mean, I tweeted it the other day. I mean, right now, Jerks and Pro Far legitimately he's playing at an all-star level. If there was All-Star voting right now, I think Jerks and ProFar is one of the starters. That's how good he's been. So let's see what happens over the course of the next month or two. But yeah, to this point, he has been a, you know, not a surprise. in which the way he carries himself in the clubhouse and what he means to the soul of the Padres.

But yeah, as far as the numbers on the field, I don't think any of us could have expected him to perform at this kind of level for now a month. It's been pretty cool to see. Looking at the pitching matchups for this weekend, we have Slade Sikoni against Dylan cease tonight. Of course, Dylan's biggest acquisition of the Padres over the offseason, no doubt about that. He's been spectacular so far.

on Saturday we get Michael King, who's the headliner of that of that Juan Soto trade as far as what was coming back to San Diego. He goes against Brandon Fott. Pretty exciting matchup there of a couple of young, good starting pitchers. And then we get Matt Waldron, the knuckleballer for the Padres going on Sunday against the Diamondbacks Ryan Nelson who figures to be brought back from the injured list to make that start. From the Padres side of this, Sam, what are kind of the early season storylines with those three guys? Well, we'll start with Dylan C's.

He's been great. I mean, he had a bit of a tougher outing against what's a great Phillies lineup over the weekend. You know, all the damage, all the runs scored and that start came with two out. So it really could have been a very different outing for Dylan C's. Had he been able to get out of, let's just say, one of those innings before giving up any runs. But look, with the way the Phillies are playing right now, I don't put a ton of stock into anybody that's struggling against them. because I think they're that good and their lineups that deep. But aside from that start and his first start of the season, Dylan's been as advertised.

He's absolutely been the guy the Padres thought they were getting when they traded for him. He's been really, really, really good and came into that Philly start with a sub two ERA. So he's been exactly what they thought they were getting when they made the trade. So we'll see how he bounces back today against the doctor. and backs after what was a tougher start against the Phillies. But to this point, I think there's no question. Cease has been their best starter. And that trade has worked really well so far.

As far as Michael King, you know, he was the centerpiece of the Soto deal. He was somebody who was, you know, getting an opportunity in San Diego to do something he had never done, which is be a starting pitcher from the very outset of the season. And sorry if my deal keeps going off here. not sure what's going on. But hopefully you can still hear me. When, so for Michael King,

he, you know, just to put it in context for your viewers, he was obviously a really effective reliever in New York and then had an opportunity to start at the very end of last year and made it was either nine or ten starts at the end of the season with the Yankees and was really,

really good. And I think from a self-respective, when the trade happened, everybody said, Michael King has these stuff to be a really, really good starting pitcher. There's no question about this stuff. Now it's getting an opportunity and learning how to be a starter for the course of a full season. So Michael's doing something he's never done with the Padres this season, which is from the start of a season, be a starting pitcher and throw every five days and also have the understanding is going to have to do that throughout the course of 162.

I think with King, we've seen flashes of what he can be. He's at a couple of starts that have been dominant. He had a start in Milwaukee that was outstanding. He had another one that was outstanding. The problem for King has been the home run ball. He's given up a lot of home runs. You know, the most, at least after his last start, it was the most home runs.

Him and Musk were over one and two in Major League. baseball and home runs allowed. So he's given up a lot of home runs. That's been by far and away the biggest issue. And quite frankly, I think if he can just figure out a way to limit those home runs, I think he's going to be totally fine because I think what everybody said about him is definitely true. And we've seen it. The stuff is there.

And we've seen a couple of outings where it's on and he's not giving up home runs. And teams don't hit them. You know, the home runs have been the major issue. So that's right now, I think, his mission. is figuring out how to limit those home runs. And if he can do that, I'm pretty confident that Michael's going to be able to put it together in a really big way here throughout the course of the season because the stuff is there. And he's a heart worker.

And again, I think also it's just learning, you know, a lot of different things because he's doing something truly for the first time, you know, coming out of spring training and being a starter. As far as Matt Walter, and I think he's given the Padres what they could have expected out of a number five starter. There's been some ups, some downs. There's been some outings where he's given up some early runs, but has found a way to settle in to give you five innings, six innings. And I think for the most part, has done a good job considering he's the number five.

Sure. And he's been pretty solid. And he's a little bit unique because he's got this knuckleball, but he's not a traditional knuckleballer because he's not, it's not like he throws it 80% of the time. Yeah. And then throws a fastball and that's it. It's one of his pitches. He throws it 35, 36% of the time entering his. last start. So it's part of his pitch mix, but it's not everything he does. So I think,

you know, almost in a similar way to King, it's different, but similarity in this sense that I think with Matt Waldron, he only started throwing that knuckleball a few years ago, I think he's still trying to figure out how to use it on any given night and, you know, is still a relatively young starting pitcher, and I think he's still learning about himself as a pitcher and is still a bit work in progress. So, but overall, I think Matt Waldron has done a, you know, has done a nice job out of the number five spot. I think he's been fine. So, and when I look at quite honestly, you know, some of the issues with the starting pitching as of late for the Padres, I don't include really Waldron in that conversation because I think he's given you what you could have probably,

you know, wanted as far as, you know, out of a number five starter that that is as young as he is. So, you know he's been all right and yeah the starting pitching for the Padres as a whole the last you know trip or two through the rotation it's been tougher but i i do think between darvish and musgrove and yeah see se and king i i put it this way i don't think we've seen nearly the best out of that group yet this season and i think you know we talk about the big three offensively you know that big four, quote on quote, in the rotation, if they can all get it rolling, I think that is as important as anything to this team. And again, I think really adjust the ceiling of this team in a major way if they can all get it rolling at once. Well, Sam, Diamondbacks Padres should be fun to see what happens over the next three days.

These divisional games are always very important. Certainly expect that both the Diamondbacks and the Padres are going to be in the playoff mix by the end. of the season. So yeah, we'll see what happens this weekend. And thanks once again for for hopping on. Absolutely, Jesse. My pleasure. I enjoy chatting with you. And I got to see, I got to get a studio like yours. You got snacks behind there. You've got bubbleheads, a backdrop. I got to figure out something here in our Odyssey 973, the fan studios here. But thank you for having me on. And appreciate it. And hopefully we have a good series.