In a move that’ll come as a surprise to many, the Padres announced that they have optioned right-hander Chris Paddack to Class-A Lake Elsinore. USA Today’s Bob Nightengale first reported the move (via Twitter), noting that the Friars are looking for ways to manage Paddack’s workload after he threw just 90 innings in 2018 — his first season back from Tommy John surgery.
Dennis Lin of The Athletic tweets that Paddack isn’t expected to be in the minors long. Assuming he’s back up in fewer than 20 days, the move won’t impact Paddack’s timeline to free agency, Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union Tribune points out (Twitter links). Acee adds that Paddack is going down merely to rest and is expected to return in 10 days or so (the minimum required length of an optional assignment, barring recall in the event of an injury).
While workload surely was surely the driving force in the decision, Paddack has also fallen into somewhat of a slump after his brilliant start to his rookie campaign. In the past month, the 23-year-old has pitched to a 5.76 ERA with 30 hits and eight home runs allowed in 25 innings. He’s still sporting a stellar 26-to-3 K/BB ratio in that time, but the long ball has been problematic of late.
Paddack’s 65 2/3 innings are already within striking distance of last year’s total, so the brief trip to the minors will give him some downtime without forcing the Padres to carry a pitcher they’re trying to deploy minimally for a week or two. Right-hander Robert Stock is up from Triple-A to take his spot on the active roster and will give the Padres a fresh arm in the bullpen. He’s pitched to a 2.79 ERA in 19 1/3 Triple-A innings and collected 27 strikeouts in that time — albeit against 15 walks and three hit batters.
Wow. Expected them to shut him down at some point but didn’t think it would come so soon. He was pitching pretty well up until his last couple starts. Oh well; he’ll be back soon.
Hmmm…why would 21 days not shock me? Or maybe 11 here & one more option later in the season. Then poof…mischief…er…I mean innings managed.
I know its been beaten like a dead horse but the MLBPA negotiated and agreed to this and the teams have seen arbitration numbers pop up where ‘Team Controlled’ guys are making 10-15MM a year in arbitration.
If the organization has a win-win opportunity where they can not only rest a player who they dont want to overwork, reset him from a slump, and perhaps end up squeezing in an extra year all in one easy effort of a couple 10 day rests throughout the year, why would they not?
Not with this front office. When have they ever shown any interest in manipulating players’ service times
Like this move. Give him a little rest, work on some things. Develop a better change up. Hes getting shelled because he throws his heater straight down the shute. His breaking pitches are up. Hope he focuses on some secondary pitches.
Change up isn’t the issue. When his fb and change are on there are money. His curve needs work.
Develop a better change up? The pitch he is known for? The only 70 grade change up on the prospect rankings? I think you mean curveball
He’s known for his change up and it has looked incredible at times. But it’s all about location.The Yankees hit a few of those a long way. What I think he needs is a slider. He’s also dropped several mph off the fastball. Hopefully he comes back mentally and physically capable of performances closer to what we saw in his first 6 starts.
His changeup is his best pitch. Its a breaking ball he needs to work on.
Curveall, yes my bad. It always hangs in the zone. Seems to be even when he is ahead in the count and tries to put hitters away on it he gets into trouble.
The Padres are really using LE Storm for a lot of players, Robbie Erlin was down there earlier. They are treating the team like the NHL minor league affiliate that they can calll a player up quick and have him drive down the freeway.
It’s only an hour and change drive from San Diego. The Padres have been using their A-ball team for this for years.
For a second i read that the Padres have been an A-ball team for years. On second thought, maybe that’s not too far from the truth.
Not fair, more like a AAAA team.
Makes sense
Keep him down for a bit to keep his innings low
He and boras were totally cool with this. It was mentioned not long ago.
triggered.gif
He’s too good to be down long. Much like the article states, prob just a creative way to rest him.
I’m surprised they didnt just move him to the bullpen
Teams have started teeing off on him because he does not have a breaking ball he can throw for strikes. Major league games count. A ball games do not. He will go down for a few weeks and work on his curve.
So what team in Class A can he manufacture a controversy with?
What team “has” he manufactured a controversy with?
Cause it’s the Mets that manufactured the only one I know of
mrpadre19
You’re engaging in revisionist history.
It was Paddock who manufactured a controversy jealous of Pete Alonso’s April player of the month and legitimate Rookie of the Year candidacy.
Paddock should have just kept his mouth shut rather than assume he’s God’s gift as pitcher and deserving of rookie of the year. Not to mention talking over his own teammate Tatis Jr who is also candidate. Paddock displayed a lot of immaturity talking up personal awards.. Alonso’s now tied for second in the majors in homers and Paddock’s back in A-Ball needing to take it easy and figure out how to not get shelled.
Surely you can’t be serious
I am. And don’t call my surely.
Love the Airplane reference!
Paddack has given up 12 runs in his last 14.1 IP over 3 games. I think its more than just a rest for 10 days. Its to work on a curveball in an environment that the games don’t count. He may be down until after the All Star break.
He won’t be pitching at all in the minors.
There is no reason to send him down and then not allow him to pitch. In fact, its detrimental to a pitchers development to have them shut down completely. Even when a pitcher is “shut down” for the season, they either throw bullpens or go to extended spring training and pitch every 5th or 6th day. Its not in games so that adrenaline is not going and you are not throwing 100%.
He needs to work on his curve in game situations and A ball is a great place because the win loss record doesn’t matter. He may only throw 2-3 innings, but he will make starts for Lake Elsinore.
Yeah he isnt being shut down. He will take the ball on regular schedule, and most likely pitch some abbreviated outings where he will work 3Innings/50 pitches just to let him freshen up, try to dial in the breaking ball, and sort of reset himself.
bring him back after the minimum or when his scheduled start is after the minimum.
I read somewhere that theres a small clause where short options dont hit the service clock but im not sure. Regardless i imagine he isnt worried about it. He knew he had a innings limit and it would be tough to stay active all year. Primary focus is pitch well and dont blow out your arm. Hes more than good enough to get a big payday when he gets to the end of Arbitration/FA.
10 days. Misses one start.
Or 2 starts missed. Depends on how his starts would line up.
He could be down 21 days or more depending on how he responds and how he progresses in throwing a curve. Padres are not going to call him back up to get pounded and that is what will happen unless his curve gets much better.
I would not be surprised if he is down only 10 days and I would not be surprised if he was down until after the All Star break.
If he develops that curve into a plus pitch he could be a top of the rotation starter and that extra year of team control would be worth him staying in the minors for a month.
You found an impressive number of ways to be wrong in relatively few words.
Will he actually show up in Lake Elsinore?
Why wouldn’t he Boras not giving the go ahead?
Yes, IN the actual lake.
They have two openings in their 6 man rotation now. Assuming they bullpen one I wonder what guy gets the next turn. Logan Allen maybe?
Nevermind – Strahm coming back
Allen got hammered in his last start. Maybe the Padres are getting close to finally making that deal for an experienced starter with a couple of years of control left. You know, the one this site has been taking about since December. haha
He didn’t get hammered.
He threw 4 quality innings and then allowed some around ball singles and a couple walks.
Big difference
5.76 ERA over his last 25 innings, 30 hits in those 25 innings, 8 HR (most in national league)…. kid needs some work. This is likely just a rest move. But there have been some troubling signs here. Fastball/changeup isn’t fooling anybody, especially since his curveball is so unreliable, nobody has to even worry about it in the batters box. I said it at the beginning of the year when he was doing well, I’ll say it again now…. he needs to get a better third offering or you are looking at a bullpen arm.
The curve isn’t the problem.
You’re right. It’s the lack of a curve. I should have been more specific. His location has been off and hitters have literally been able to sit on a leaking fastball or changeup…. because the lack of a third pitch…. leaves nothing else for them to worry about. My bad. Lack of curveball, that’s the issue.
No. Not the lack of curve, either. Problem has been fastball command and lack of conviction on his pitches. He’s not hitting the quadrants that he was earlier in the season. Read Dennis Lin. The curve is coming along fine.
Instead of reading what someone else has to say about how his curve is coming along, just look at the charting of his pitches. Then you do not have to rely on anyone’s opinion, you have exactly what he did laid out in front of you. So much more reliable a source of information.
His curve is a problem. He is not throwing it for strikes consistently and when its off, he misses his location by feet not inches.
Batters do not have to worry about his curve. They have started to sit on his FB and changeup and when he misses his location up in the zone with one they are hitting it hard.
The lack of a consistent curve, one he has good command of and is hitting his spots with, is the problem.
Sorry spack, just gonna have to disagree on this one… just like I had to disagree on the whole “top farm system makes the playoffs in two seasons”…. that isn’t looking so good right now
He is throwing 7% of his curves for strikes and they are up and not close to the strike zone when he misses. His lack of a quality curve is the problem.
His lack of a quality curve wasn’t a problem for two months.
If he was still placing his fastball and change up as he was in April and May he would be fine.
So yeah…..his curve,or lack of,isn’t the problem.
It’s location
Wrong.
can’t you regain an extra year of control for leaving him off the 25-man for a bit?
Yes but it’s pretty clear that the Padres aren’t interested in doing that
If he spends 3 X 10 day to 2-week stints in the minors, the Padres will get another year of control. It’s possible.
He will not be back until aa least 2 weeks to a month if at all.
Any pitcher that loses to the Giants should probably be sent down. Probably a good move to give him some rest so we can have him down the stretch if this team has any sort of run in it.
He didn’t lose.
Weird…did you watch the game? By your logic, they should be sending Wingenter down since he gave up the 3 runs in the 7th. Paddack left the game with a lead after 5. There will be no run this year, but you are right about him needing rest part…
OVERRATED!!
How is he overrated? He is a rookie who needs to adjust to the league. Not a Padres fan, but way to early to call him a bust
came from low A never work threw problems. He may never get over this poor period.
there are a lot of things that “may” happen. the question is always how likely.
shouldnt be surprising. he has an innings limit, and he’ll obviously be back soon.
Yes, his curve needs work but, oddly enough it’s his changeup that’s been the problem since his start in the Bronx.
He’s been leaving it up in the zone and it isn’t dropping much,so it’s been getting hammered out of the park.
I’m hoping it’s just a minor case of arm fatigue.
The problem is that he has not been able to hit his spots with the curve, so players are sitting on his FB and change up.
Against the Yankees 2 HR were on the change up, 1 up in the zone and one down, and 1 on a high FB.
A change up that is up in the zone is not a problem, only having 2 pitches that a pitcher can spot for a strike is the problem for a starter.
Watch his last five starts, his command is gone and his changeup isn’t moving the way it should.
I like looking at the charting instead of trusting my eyes exclusively.
The movement on his changeup was actually more both on the x and y axis in his last 3 starts than his previous 3. That may be part of the problem. He was throwing changeups up and out of the zone that were sinking into the zone and getting pounded and changeups low that were in the dirt.
He threw strikes with his FB at just about the same percentage in his last 3 starts as in his previous 3 starts. A higher percentage of strikes with the FB were on the corners of the zone. Now did he miss the catcher’s glove? On a few. On a few badly and those were mostly up in the zone so some got pounded. Does that mean his command is gone? Not at all.
The problem is that his command of the curve is way off. He is not only missing his spots, he is missing by 2-3 feet in many cases. He just cannot throw it where he wants it consistently and rarely for strikes. His command of the curve is so bad that batters can ignore it completely and just focus on the few mistakes he made with the FB or the changeup.
Major League Baseball’s Quality of Pitch average
Fastball: 5.03 QOPA (Top 10% MLB)
Change 4.70 QOPA (Top 20% MLB)
Curve 4.68 (Top 24% MLB)
Source: https://twitter.com/qopbaseball/status/1139182603708186625
Why post some bs stat when you can just look at the chart of his actual pitches?
BS stat … supplied by Major League Baseball?. OK. Sure.
They were sitting in his fastball and change up from day one
His lack of a curve was know from the start.
The issue is even when sitting on his two best pitches they still couldn’t hit them…..until recently when locating them became an issue.
THE issue
Good, Paddack looks tired or like he has dead-arm. He needs a break. I am guessing 2 weeks.
Paddack has averaged 93.8 MPH on his FB this season and 94.1 the last 3 games and 94.2 in his last outing against the Giants. Not sure why you would say he looks tired. There was no drop in velocity.
No velocity loss doesn’t always mean not tired. It’s not uncommon for pitchers to overthrow to maintain velocity when something isn’t right – causing dreaded mechanical issues.
Do a little more than lazy research before you form an opinion.
His FB is hitting the zone at almost the same percentage as early in the season and even more strikes were on the corners his last 3 starts, so he is not overthrowing. His command of the pitch most affected by dead arm is good. He is not exhibiting any mechanical flaws (except on his curve).
His velocity is basically the same, even up a tiny bit, so he is not showing that he is tired.
I played in 2 organizations all the way up to a couple of cups of coffee in the majors. I experienced my share of dead arm. Paddack is not exhibiting any of the signs.
Instead of trying to hurl insults, try actually learning what those signs of dead arm are.
I played in the Majors too. Even won a couple of Cy Youngs in my day.
Its WCR. I like your new name. How long until they ban you on this one too.
Using multiple accounts is your game junior. It’s been proven.
If you can’t shutout the Giants you might as well pack your suitcase for the minors. lol
Kershaw didn’t.
I hope I don’t have to take Chris Paddock off my Rookie All Star team:
1-ATL-Mike Soroka, 2-BAL-John Means, 3-DET-Spencer Turnbull,
4-SDP-Chris Paddock, 5-STL-Dakota Hudson, 6-LAA-Griffin Canning
Can’t get “Rookie of the Month” honors playing in the minors.
Why wouldn’t they put him in the pen? His stuff is major league level, make him the 8th inning guy
they can better manage his workload where the games dont really matter. they can keep him in regular rest, but give him starts of ~1 inning perhaps, while they can otherwise use his roster spot.
If he cannot gain command on his curve he may end up being a reliever.
This is all about controlling his innings (he will be shut down entirely at some point) and having him work on that third pitch in an environment where wins and losses aren’t important (or at least not as important). The Padres don’t care one bit about the extra year of control.
He’s not throwing in minors? It’s not “all about controlling innings it’s also performance
The Cardinals should do the same thing with Jordan Hicks