Credit: Getty Images This past weekend, the San Diego Padres made a trade for former Marlins DH and 2023 National League batting champion Luis Arraez. Therefore, some of our Padres writers here at the East Village Times came together to examine the trade and answer a few questions about the trade.    1) Where does Arraez fit in the line-up and on the field? Loren Casuto: I would use him in the two-hole, where his hitting would be beneficial with an (admittedly not traditional) table-setter like Profar/Tatis up front. However, it appears that the Padres will use Arraez at the top of t ..read more

Credit: EVT Farm San Diego Padres affiliates went 2-3 on Thursday. Here is a recap of the day’s events.   El Paso Chihuahuas (Lost 12-8 to Alburquerque) (15-21 on the season) Tim Locastro– (2-for-5) HR, 2B, 2 Runs, RBI Brett Sullivan– (2-for-5) HR, 2B, 2 Runs, RBI, 2 K Tirso Ornelas– (2-for-4) Run, RBI Nolan Watson– 4.2 IP, 10 H, 8 ER, 2 BB, 4 K (93 pitches- 65 strikes)   The Chihuahuas fell behind early and were unable to catch the Isotopes in a 12-8 loss. Nolan Watson started the game and surrendered eight runs in 4.1 innings pitched. Sean Reynolds allowed two earned runs in two in ..read more

Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY SportsThe Padres have several multi-time All-Stars and MVP candidates in their lineup. Yet, it seems to be everyone else that is playing at an All-Star level. When the season started, the consensus was- the Padres will go as their superstars go. Those stars being Fernando Tatis Jr., Manny Machado, and Xander Bogaerts. All of whom largely underachieved last season. That led to a disappointing 82-80 season and missing the playoffs, despite preseason expectations of competing for a World Series. The lone “star” from last season who produced at a hig ..read more

Credit: EVT Farm San Diego Padres affiliates went 2-3 on Wednesday. Here is a recap of the day’s events.   Lake Elsinore Storm (Loss 6-0 to Inland Empire ) (12-15, 2nd in Cal South) *Jose Luis Reyes: 3.2 IP, 7Ks * Rosman Verdugo: (2 for 4)   The Storm lost their Wednesday night game to the Inland Empire 66ers by the final of 6-0. On the pitching end, starter Jose Luis Reyes would go 3.2 innings, allowing two runs on four hits, one walk, but seven strikeouts.  21-year-old Luis Reyes lowered his ERA to 8.68; however, the underlying numbers suggest he is better than his ERA shows ..read more

Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY SportsWrigley Field- Chicago, IL The Padres and Cubs squared off for the rubber match of the three-game set at Wrigley Field. This also marked the final time these two NL teams will face off during the regular season. The Padres needed a win to clinch the season series, which could be key for a possible tiebreaker scenario at the end of the season. Seeking that season series win, Dylan Cease took the mound for the Padres. San Diego desperately needed him to go deep into the game with a battered and bruised pitching staff. The Cubs countered with Ha ..read more

Credit: EVT Farm San Diego Padres affiliates went 2-3 on Tuesday. Here is a recap of the day’s events.   El Paso Chihuahuas (Won 15-5 over Alburquerque) (15-19 on the season) Tim Locastro– (5-for-6) 2B, 3 RBI, 4 Runs, SB Matthew Batten– (4-for-6) 2B, 2 Runs, 2 RBI Brett Sullivan– (2-for-4) HR, 2B, 2 Runs, 3 RBI, BB Gabe Mosser-4 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 4 BB, 3 K (79 pitches- 47 strikes)   The Chihuahuas broke out the sticks on Tuesday as the team banged out 15 runs on 19 hits against the Isotopes’ pitching staff. Tim Locastro led the was with a five-hit night for El Paso. The veteran doubled ..read more

Credit: AP Photo In the first of three in the friendly combines of Wrigley Field, the Padres got back to their swingin’ ways against the Chicago Cubs.  Yu Darvish took the mound for the Padres against his former team and twirled a strong outing, his second quality outing in a row. Darvish went five innings, allowing only three hits and one walk with five strikeouts. His slider was particularly sharp, and he was able to hold the Cubs scoreless, a nice bounceback from his previous outing against Chicago.  The Padres’ offense was held at bay in the early going against Cubs ace Justin St ..read more

Credit: EVT Farm San Diego Padres affiliates went 2-2 on Sunday. Here is a recap of the day’s events.   El Paso Chihuahuas (Lost 12-5 to Sugar Land) (14-19 on the season) Kevin Plawecki– (2-for-5) Run, RBI, 2 K Bryce Johnson– (2-for-3) 2 BB, 3 SB, Run, RBI, K Matthew Batten– (1-for-3) 2B, 2 RBI, Run, BB, K Jackson Wolf– 6 IP, 2 H, 2 BB, 3 K (78 pitches- 48 strikes)   The Chihuahuas blew an excellent outing by Jackson Wolf, as the bullpen simply imploded late in the game. It was a 3-1 El Paso lead into the top of the 7th, when the Space Cowboys erupted for eight runs in the inning. Ja ..read more

Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports The Padres & Diamondbacks met for the last of three games in the desert, with the Padres aiming for a sweep. Arizona, however, came out swinging early against Padres’ starter Matt Waldron, with a two-run home run by Ketel Marte setting the tone for the game early. Arizona would get two more runs in the first on an RBI single by a slumping Corbin Carroll, making the score 4-0. The Padres, however, did not just roll over. Xander Bogaerts would hit a leadoff single, and Jackson Merrill hit a 101-mile-per-hour drive to right field for his secon ..read more

Credit: USA Today Sports The San Diego Padres offense has gotten off to a solid start in the 2024 season. Through 35 games, the Friars rank inside the top 12 in baseball in wRC+, wOBA, Slug% Contact%, and OBP As some have noticed, even with the previous five-game losing streak,  the team has made notable strides in areas of concern from last season.  In 2023, with runners in scoring positions and in high-leverage situations, San Diego was 20th in MLB in wRC+ with RISP and 29th in wRC+ in high-leverage at-bats.  This season, they rank 10th and 5th in those same categories.  ..read more