On Friar, A San Diego Sports Wrap Podcast

How would you grade the Padres after the first half? And how are we feeling about the outlook for the coming months? Who better to ask than former Friar Greg Garcia? What would he tell Jackson Merrill during his slump? He discusses Manny Machado's pursuit of history and Fernando Tatis Jr.'s missing power. And how important is it to start the second half on a strong note? Derek and Darnay also talk about Dylan Cease's struggles, the catcher conundrum and a couple rumors that have gained traction.  

The Padres continue to spin their wheels, heading into the final homestand of the first half. With four weeks to go until the Trade Deadline, both Derek and Darnay have the same idea for the Friars. Is it time to move on from Dylan Cease? Robert Suarez? A swap of catchers makes a ton of sense, maybe involving a former fan favorite (or two?). Plus, Xander Bogaerts continues to produce. Manny is an All-Star starter. And Fernando Tatis Jr. is still floundering.

The Padres won back-to-back series to finish .500 over a 26 game in 27 day stretch. Perfectly mid feels about right! Mike Shildt loves his team even more after the last our weeks, Derek and Darnay assess the stretch. Shildt toyed with the lineup. Xander Bogaerts is dinged up, while Michael King and Yu Darvish are making progress. Plus, some thoughts on potential trade targets as the deadline approaches.

The Padres have gotten reacquainted with the Dodgers and it's not too hard to see what separates the two clubs. Darnay chats with SI's Ryan Phillips about the big picture takeaways from the teams' meetings, before diving into the numbers. There are some stats that tell the story of this up-and-down Friars' campaign. They highlight a promising, up inconsistent pitching staff as well as a lineup that lacks depth. Manny is once again carrying the team, while Xander Bogaerts can't get it going. Some numbers are good, some are bad, and others are baffling. But they all help explain why the Padres are where they are.

Advantage Dodgers in 2025's first installment of baseball's best rivalry. One blowout win was sandwiched between a pair of disappointing losses. What did we learn from their first meeting of the season? Is anyone clicking besides Manny? What's wrong with the lineup right now? It's time to make some deals - the guys speculate about a few bats, and Derek says bullpen additions could make sense. Who knows when we'll see Michael King again? And things could go sideways fast for the Padres if they don't get clicking.

Fresh off a split in San Francisco that was either frustrating or fortuitous, Darnay welcomes Annie Heilbrunn to the pod! How should we feel about the Giants series? Should we be concerned or hopeful about the team finding ways to win? Manny is raking. Tatis has signs of life. Xander and Arraez are dinged up. A series with the Dodgers is finally around the corner. Darnay asks Annie about a more affable Mike Shildt, and the key to asking good questions and getting useful answers.

The Padres had a successful week to build some momentum heading into what should be their most difficult month of the season.  The On Friar Podcast hosts break down the looming gauntlet and discuss the health of the pitching staff … including the chances it will soon include Pirates ace Paul Skenes, who is suddenly the subject of trade rumors because of social media.

The Padres just had one of their worst weeks in a long time. Back-to-back sweeps, which included one of the ugliest performances you'll see. Gavin Sheets nearly saved them against the Jays. Manny hasn't looked like himself and Tatis looks defeated. Luis Arraez is confusing. The guys discuss the damage, wonder about shaking up the lineup and are getting worried about Yu Darvish.

After a surprising stumble on Monday the Padres showed resilience with a couple big swings leading to a series win over the Halos. Fernando Tatis Jr. continues to have a special season. Xander Bogaerts has had big moments, even if the numbers leave something to be desired. Manny Machado is in a groove. Jackson Merrill is doing everything. And Yu Darvish is getting closer! Heidi Watney joins Derek for her thoughts on the club.

A series of plot twists resulted in a lost series in New York. Jackson Merrill hit the ground running in his return. Unfortunately the bullpen faltered the last two nights in New York. Derek and Darnay discuss the highs and lows against the Yankees. Fernando Tatis Jr.is slumping for the first time in 2025, and he's searching for answers. Dylan Cease went from no-hit bid to an injury exit. And Jake Cronenworth is on his way back.

After a breath of fresh air in the form of a two-game sweep of San Francisco, Darnay catches up with Greg Garcia to get his thoughts on the club's stellar start. Arraez and Heyward are back, and it sounds like Jackson Merrill isn't far behind. Is this the best version of Fernando Tatis Jr.? Fans are glad the Padres won't see Paul Skenes, would players agree? And Mike Shildt's relentless positivity continues to pay off. Garcia shows love for his former skipper, discusses sign stealing and the living between the bigs and Triple-A.

The Padres have dropped back-to-back series for the first time this season. But, there's no need for alarm. The On Friar Podcast host puts the current subpar stretch in context and explains why this could actually be a sign of great things to come for the Padres.

It's early, but the San Diego Padres are the best team in baseball? We'll see what stands out about the club's first few weeks with friend of the pod, John Conniff of MadFriars. Jackson Merrill's scorching start is slowed by injury. The club's depth is already on display with contributions from guys who started the year in El Paso. What will happen with Campy after his hot start? Speaking of the minors - John will give us the lowdown on who's where and what to watch for from the affiliates. And what is going on with Leo De Vries?

The Padres got out of Sacramento with a series win. But some injury concerns will follow them back to Petco Park? Mike Shildt said Jake Cronenworth and Fernando Tatis Jr. are moving in the right direction. Hard not to worry about Tatis, right? Plus, Merrill's balky hamstring. Bogaerts is doing some good things. Robert Suarez is a stud. The 2025 Padres look a lot like the 2024 Padres. Highs and lows from the first road trip of the season with a sneaky important week ahead.

The San Diego Padres have had a perfect week. Still undefeated, how far can they take this? Plus, breaking down Jackson Merrill's 9-year, $135 million deal. And what is up with the torpedo bats? We'll talk to a Padre outfielder who has used them before.

A big inning and a comeback win, where have we heard this before? Gavin Sheets woke up Petco Park and the Padres' lineup in an Opening Day win that felt like something we saw a lot of in 2024. Darnay and Todd recap game one. Todd lets us know what the guys had to say in the clubhouse. Jackson Merrill is still awesome. Tatis and Manny are menaces on the base path. Michael King wasn't sharp, but the team found a way.

It's almost here. Unfortunately there was a bit of concerning news in the leadup to Opening Day. Yu Darvish might not be ready for the start of the season. So who will take his spot in the rotation? What players are making the strongest final push for roster spots? How will the bullpen mix shake out? The guys share their biggest questions for the 2025 Padres.

After months of uncertainty there's clarity atop the Padres - at least for now. Derek and Darnay discuss John Seidler's ascent to club Chairman. Gavin Sheets went on a heater. How do we expect the Opening Day roster to take shape? With injuries around the league could Dylan Cease be on the move? And what on earth is happening at catcher?

After spending some time with the Padres in Peoria Marty Caswell joins Darnay to share her impressions on the 2025 club. Who has the best chance to make a splash for this year's team? Marty caught up with Ruben Niebla - who has a leg up for the final spot in the rotation? What kind of years should we expect from Manny and Tatis? If Marty had one question for John Seidler what would it be? And is it safe to expect the good vibes from Mike Shildt's first season to carry over?

Derek is back from Peoria and Cactus League games are going full swing. Manny wasted no time going yard, Salas and De Vries showed flashes, Tatis is under the weather, and some exciting young players have impressed. The guys discuss what we've seen. Derek shares his takeaways from an eventful few days in Arizona.

Day one of Padres Spring Training ended with a surprise - they have money to spend! A.J. Preller added a key piece to the rotation with the addition of Nick Pivetta. Sammy Levitt joins to discuss the righty and what he brings to the table. Will he be the next arm to benefit from Ruben Niebla's genius? Will they keep Dylan Cease and go for it in 2025? They have left fielders now too! But A.J. isn't done! Sammy shares his early impressions from Peoria.

Thursday morning brought an important piece of housekeeping. John Seidler was approved by MLB owners as the Padres control person. A mere formality or should we take more from the unanimous vote? Will anything change from how the team operated in the past year? How was FanFest? Derek was there and shares his thoughts. What's the national outlook on the Padres? And big roster questions remains as Spring Training approaches.

The Padres offseason has been almost disconcertingly quiet but now the rumor mill is churning for what might be all the wrong reasons. What gives? What's happening next? And does any of it matter with what the Dodgers have done? Ben Fletcher joins Derek Togerson to discuss it all.

So are they ever going to do anything? The guys turn to MLB Network's Jon Morosi in search of answers. The Padres missed out on Roki Sasaki. Are moves finally on the horizon? Morosi shares his thoughts on a stagnant winter, the ownership power struggle. Last time he joined us he gave an optimistic outlook heading into 2024. We need him to do that again. They guys recorded a few hours before the Profar-Braves news broke. 

The Roki Sasaki dream is dashed. The Dodgers added a top reliever and former Padre in Tanner Scott. And the Padres remain mostly quiet. Darren Smith joins Darnay to discuss the challenging path forward for A.J. Preller. Is it time to sell off parts and rebuild? Can they keep everyone in place for another run in 2025? The Dodgers' big offseason has been a source of frustration, but where should our ire really be directed? And how does the uncertainty in 2025 compare to how we were feeling about the Padres a year ago?

The wait continues! Roki Sasaki's window to sign opened Wednesday morning, and we have heard little to nothing in the day and a half since. Derek and Darnay weigh in on the ongoing sweepstakes. Will it go all the way to January 23? Plus, the Padres landed a catcher. Has the market for Jurickson Profar gotten any clearer? And will they go to arbitration with Michael King?

We expected to be talking about Roki Sasaki and Luis Arraez rumors. A bombshell Monday morning changed that. Sheel Seidler has filed a lawsuit in hopes of gaining control of the Padres franchise from her late husband's brothers. Derek and Darnay discuss the main points of her complaint, the two sides' differing visions for the franchise, and the impact of the power struggle on the organization and its fans.

'Tis the season! Derek and Darnay share what's on their Padres Holiday Wish List. We all know what (or rather, who) is at the very top. Everyone wants Roki Sasaki this season. What about a new deal for Jurickson Profar? Some extra pop in the lineup? Another Preller masterclass featuring Dylan Cease? How about Fernando Tatis Jr. having an MVP season or Xander looking like Xander. The guys dream of a bountiful Holiday haul, and discuss rumblings around the team.

Sammy Levitt returns to share what he learned in Dallas at Winter Meetings. We finally heard from Roki Sasaki's camp - was there any news of substance amongst all the noise? The Padres might need to deal Dylan Cease. And are teams hitting up A.J. Preller about Xander Bogaerts?! Plus - Juan Soto signs a massive contract. Pitchers are moving at a high price. And we can finally stop fantasizing about Garrett Crochet, thank goodness.

The Padres haven't made any noise yet this offseason, but that could very well change at next week's Winter Meetings. Derek and Darnay discuss what moves could be ahead, and what the Padres should prioritize when the baseball world comes together in Dallas. Sadly it makes sense to deal Dylan Cease, the guys explain why. Anything new on Roki Sasaki? Higgy is headed to Texas. Snell is a Dodger and Soto is about to get a bag. Plus, what do we think about the Golden At-Bat?

A.J. Preller was busy swinging key deals throughout the 2024 that turned the Padres into a contender, and left few familiar names on the farm. So who will we need to know in 2025? Our friend John Conniff from MadFriars returns, stocked with scouting reports on the biggest names in the system. Ethan Salas and Leo De Vries are the gems, who are the most promising prospects behind them? And who has a shot at helping out at the big league level in 2025? Plus some thoughts on the Padres' place in the Roki Sasaki sweepstakes.

Everyone's talking about Roki Sasaki! Kyle Glaser returns to give us the lowdown on the young Japanese star. What makes him so good, and what are the Padres' chances of landing him? Plus, Salas and De Vries are getting their fall hacks in - what should we take from their performance? Kyle also weighs in on the key roster questions facing A.J. Preller. And Jackson Merrill for Rookie of the Year?

The offseason is truly underway! Mike Shildt and A.J. Preller were all smiles when they announced Shildt's two-year extension. Has the Padres' GM finally found his skipper? Derek and Darnay share their thoughts on the news we expected. Do they have any chance of keeping Ha-Seong Kim? What's the forecast for Jurickson Profar? Preller spoke at GM meetings. The guys share some early targets on the free agent market.

Greg Garcia is back! How did he feel seeing the Dodgers win the World Series? He shares his professional breakdown of the Yankees' meltdown. Greg was right about Mike Shildt! How does he evaluate the Padres' season? What was his favorite part of 2024? He shares his thoughts on Jackson Merrill and Jurickson Profar, and offers an outlook on the 2025 Padres.

A.J. Preller seemed to push all the right buttons in 2024, and it got the Padres back to the postseason. Now can they make it back to back trips to the playoffs? Preller wrapped up their bounce back season and began to look ahead to 2025 in a lengthy chat with reporters. Will they extend Mike Shildt? What about Arraez, Cease, King and Merrill? Where do things stand with Ha-Seong Kim and what does he expect from Xander Bogaerts? And how much dough will he have to spend? Derek and Darnay discuss the big talking points.On Friar is available on YouTube! Watch new episodes here.To join the conversation, tweet your Padres or San Diego sports thoughts and questions to Darnay (@DarnayTripp), Derek (@DerekNBCSD) and Todd (@TODDSTRAINNBCSD).Catch NBC 7's Padres analysis and more San Diego sports coverage at NBC7.com/SportsWrap. Sports Wrap's weekly TV show airs Sunday night on NBC 7 San Diego at 11:35pm.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We've all had time to digest a tough finish to a really, really good campaign. Derek and Darnay put a bow on 2024 - a season that saw the franchise take important strides, despite a disappointing ending. Things are looking good for 2025, but as always there are tough questions that need to be answered. Profar? Higgy? Kim? Scott? Niebla! The guys set the table for the offseason.On Friar is available on YouTube! Watch new episodes here.To join the conversation, tweet your Padres or San Diego sports thoughts and questions to Darnay (@DarnayTripp), Derek (@DerekNBCSD) and Todd (@TODDSTRAINNBCSD).Catch NBC 7's Padres analysis and more San Diego sports coverage at NBC7.com/SportsWrap. Sports Wrap's weekly TV show airs Sunday night on NBC 7 San Diego at 11:35pm.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

That one will sting all offseason. With the exception of two pitches Yu Darvish was masterful. But for the second straight game the Padres' offense never showed up. The Dodgers ended one of the best seasons San Diego has ever had, with a Game 5 shutout. What went wrong the last couple games? Should Shildt have pulled Darvish after six? Would it have even mattered? And how do we process a painful end to a terrific season?On Friar is available on YouTube! Watch new episodes here.To join the conversation, tweet your Padres or San Diego sports thoughts and questions to Darnay (@DarnayTripp), Derek (@DerekNBCSD) and Todd (@TODDSTRAINNBCSD).Catch NBC 7's Padres analysis and more San Diego sports coverage at NBC7.com/SportsWrap. Sports Wrap's weekly TV show airs Sunday night on NBC 7 San Diego at 11:35pm.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

That was a bummer. Dylan Cease didn't have it and the Dodgers piled it on to force a series deciding fifth game Friday at Dodger Stadium. Mookie Betts had another home run swing. Will Smith and Gavin Lux also went yard on a night that the Padres' bats went down without a fight. What happened to Mike Shildt's offense? Yu Darvish will be on the mound with the season on the line. How should we feel after this series' second major momentum swing?On Friar is available on YouTube! Watch new episodes here.To join the conversation, tweet your Padres or San Diego sports thoughts and questions to Darnay (@DarnayTripp), Derek (@DerekNBCSD) and Todd (@TODDSTRAINNBCSD).Catch NBC 7's Padres analysis and more San Diego sports coverage at NBC7.com/SportsWrap. Sports Wrap's weekly TV show airs Sunday night on NBC 7 San Diego at 11:35pm.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What. A. Game. The Padres exploded for six runs in the second inning, and that was enough to beat the Dodgers in Game 3 and take a 2-1 series lead. Once again they've got a chance to clinch a spot in the NLCS at Petco Park! Fernando Tatis Jr. went deep! Freight train! Suarez for four outs! The bullpen! Plus plenty of intrigue leading into Tuesday night. Scenes!On Friar is available on YouTube! Watch new episodes here.To join the conversation, tweet your Padres or San Diego sports thoughts and questions to Darnay (@DarnayTripp), Derek (@DerekNBCSD) and Todd (@TODDSTRAINNBCSD).Catch NBC 7's Padres analysis and more San Diego sports coverage at NBC7.com/SportsWrap. Sports Wrap's weekly TV show airs Sunday night on NBC 7 San Diego at 11:35pm.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Despite a hot start from the Padres at the plate, the Dodgers came out of a high stress NLDS opener with a 7-5 win. Manny homered and Xander Bogaerts came to life. But Dylan Cease struggled, especially against a portion of the L.A. lineup where you can't afford to struggle. There were massive missed opportunities in the 8th. Machado had a costly error. Jackson Merrill had a rare misplay in the outfield. Mike Shildt walked Mookie Betts with two strikes. Darnay and Fernando digest the loss.On Friar is available on YouTube! Watch new episodes here.To join the conversation, tweet your Padres or San Diego sports thoughts and questions to Darnay (@DarnayTripp), Derek (@DerekNBCSD) and Todd (@TODDSTRAINNBCSD).Catch NBC 7's Padres analysis and more San Diego sports coverage at NBC7.com/SportsWrap. Sports Wrap's weekly TV show airs Sunday night on NBC 7 San Diego at 11:35pm.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It's the series everyone was hoping for. Padres and Dodgers for the NLDS once again! Darnay has Jim Russell in to look ahead to the rematch of the 2022 classic. Any news on Joe Musgrove? Dodgers make a pitching switch. Higgy has heated up. What do we take from the season series? What did we learn from their last meeting? And what on earth is gonna happen?On Friar is available on YouTube! Watch new episodes here.To join the conversation, tweet your Padres or San Diego sports thoughts and questions to Darnay (@DarnayTripp), Derek (@DerekNBCSD) and Todd (@TODDSTRAINNBCSD).Catch NBC 7's Padres analysis and more San Diego sports coverage at NBC7.com/SportsWrap. Sports Wrap's weekly TV show airs Sunday night on NBC 7 San Diego at 11:35pm.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Padres are NLDS bound for the second time in three years! An explosive second inning ended Max Fried's day and put them in control of Game 2 and the series against Atlanta. But the vibes took a hit when Joe Musgrove exited early with an elbow ailment. Higgy homered again. Jackson Barrel did Rookie of the year things. Suarez and the bullpen got tested against a resilient Braves club.On Friar is available on YouTube! Watch new episodes here.To join the conversation, tweet your Padres or San Diego sports thoughts and questions to Darnay (@DarnayTripp), Derek (@DerekNBCSD) and Todd (@TODDSTRAINNBCSD).Catch NBC 7's Padres analysis and more San Diego sports coverage at NBC7.com/SportsWrap. Sports Wrap's weekly TV show airs Sunday night on NBC 7 San Diego at 11:35pm.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

That was fun! Padres blanked the Braves on an electric night at Petco Park. Michael King shoved, and Fernando Tatis Jr. hit a very Fernando Tatis Jr. homer in the 4-0 win. Darnay relives the Padres' return to the postseason - from the atmosphere, King's historic outing, two loud swings and a very promising start to October. Hear what the club had to say after the win.On Friar is available on YouTube! Watch new episodes here.To join the conversation, tweet your Padres or San Diego sports thoughts and questions to Darnay (@DarnayTripp), Derek (@DerekNBCSD) and Todd (@TODDSTRAINNBCSD).Catch NBC 7's Padres analysis and more San Diego sports coverage at NBC7.com/SportsWrap. Sports Wrap's weekly TV show airs Sunday night on NBC 7 San Diego at 11:35pm.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

After a hectic bonus day of regular season baseball the Padres landed a visit from Atlanta in the Wild Card series. Darnay previews the series with Kyle Glaser. What impact will Monday's doubleheader have on the series? What is Chris Sale's status? What did we learn from their regular season meetings? Michael King gets the opener, while Yu Darvish gets bullpen duty. And who might play hero for the Padres at Petco Park?On Friar is available on YouTube! Watch new episodes here.To join the conversation, tweet your Padres or San Diego sports thoughts and questions to Darnay (@DarnayTripp), Derek (@DerekNBCSD) and Todd (@TODDSTRAINNBCSD).Catch NBC 7's Padres analysis and more San Diego sports coverage at NBC7.com/SportsWrap. Sports Wrap's weekly TV show airs Sunday night on NBC 7 San Diego at 11:35pm.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Tuesday at Dodger Stadium was fun. The last two nights? Not so much. Los Angeles pummeled the Padres in Thursday's finale, and in doing so secured the NL West crown. The bullpen was spotty and the lineup is slumping. Now the Friars have work to do to secure homefield advantage at Petco Park. What does the playoff picture look like, and how worried should we be after the last couple days? Starting pitching is still rock solid, but some key bats have cooled off. Darnay and Todd discuss.On Friar is available on YouTube! Watch new episodes here.To join the conversation, tweet your Padres or San Diego sports thoughts and questions to Darnay (@DarnayTripp), Derek (@DerekNBCSD) and Todd (@TODDSTRAINNBCSD).Catch NBC 7's Padres analysis and more San Diego sports coverage at NBC7.com/SportsWrap. Sports Wrap's weekly TV show airs Sunday night on NBC 7 San Diego at 11:35pm.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Padres didn't pop bottles at Petco Park, but they handled business on their end - and now have one of their biggest weeks ahead of them. At the very least they could be a Wild Card team. At most - the NL's top seed is still in play (even if it's a longshot). Fernando Tatis Jr. had another walk off, Jurickson Profar is getting toasty again, starters have been sharp, and the Faithful has come out in record numbers. The guys discuss the final home series of the regular season, and the possibilities ahead.On Friar is available on YouTube! Watch new episodes here.To join the conversation, tweet your Padres or San Diego sports thoughts and questions to Darnay (@DarnayTripp), Derek (@DerekNBCSD) and Todd (@TODDSTRAINNBCSD).Catch NBC 7's Padres analysis and more San Diego sports coverage at NBC7.com/SportsWrap. Sports Wrap's weekly TV show airs Sunday night on NBC 7 San Diego at 11:35pm.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.