On Friar, A San Diego Sports Wrap Podcast

Monday's deadline appeared to be a promising one for the Padres, but the immediate returns have not been great. Casey Mize got roughed up. Will Robbie Ray have a steadier hand on Friday? The bats go hot and cold during their most crucial series yet. Joe seems to be getting closer. What is happening with Pivetta?

The Padres addressed their biggest need by adding a familiar face. Robbie Ray just shoved at Petco Park, and has been red hot. Then just before the buzzer A.J. Preller brought Casey Mize to town. Both are having strong seasons, and join a rotation in dire need of reinforcements. Derek and Darnay discuss the additions, who it cost to get them - as well as the players who are sticking around for a playoff push.

The Padres have won five straight games and suddenly the Wild Card landscape looks a lot more gettable. So what will A.J. Preller pull off this time? Derek and Darnay discuss what we've seen from the team the last five games. How big of a buyer could they be? The rotation is the most glaring need, but where else could they upgrade? And what does the team have to offer in a trade? What potential trade targets could be in the Padres' price range? And what is the club's potential if they plug the necessary holes on the roster?

For all intents and purposes the playoffs start now for the Padres. If they don't turn it on to start the second half, they probably won't buy and might just sell at the deadline. If they prove they're a postseason team AJ Preller will load up for a run at the Wild Card. With the All-Star break winding down Derek and Darnay discuss the make or break road trip and give predictions for the Padres' second half.

Is the worst behind the Padres? Sure hope so. A dreadful eight days left them with a lot of work to do in the Wild Card race. This week the club appears to have shaken off the slump. And they need that to continue into and beyond the All-Star break. Jake Cronenworth and Luis Campusano are back and have provided some impactful swings. The lineup erupted Wednesday against Arizona. Starting pitching remains an issue, but a few arms have turned in stellar performances. Are they moving in the right direction? Derek and Darnay discuss that and implications heading ahead of the Trade Deadline.

Suddenly things have gotten bleak. The Cubs handed the Padres an embarrassing beatdown, pushing their losing streak to five games. And now they visit the Dodgers. Where have things gone so terribly wrong? And is there anything they can really do about it? What does this mean for the trade deadline? And what would that mean for a playoff push? Derek joins Darnay from Dodger Stadium to discuss.

Are the Padres back? The offense has been more consistent and the stars are showing up, as they did on the way to becoming the first team to sweep the Braves. The rotation still has its questions. JP Sears had an impressive debut. Michael King resembled Michael King. And Walker Buehler has been rock solid. Can he keep it going against his old club? The guys look ahead to another visit from the Dodgers.

For the second straight week the Padres got swept by the Phillies. Manny and Merrill homered in the finale, but that won't distract anyone from the club's continued struggles at the plate. What hope is there for this group to get it going again? And at what point is it time to consider some serious changes? Derek and Darnay assess the damage, try to make sense of the slump, and ponder some fixes.

The Padres got swept for the first time, capping a homestand where they were straight up miserable at the plate with runners in scoring position. How down bad is this club right now? And who are they really? Merrill did get a couple hits, Tatis has produced and Manny has gone deep - are they coming around? Steven Sousa Jr. is facing criticism - fair or not?

The Padres took some steps in Seattle, then battled the Dodgers. But Wednesday's series finale came with a familiar twinge of disappointment. Derek and Darnay look back at the last week and weigh the good and the bad. Tatis is still struggling. The supporting cast continues to come up big. Manny homered! But the stars are still finding their way. Michael King shoved and Griffin Canning sorta bounced back. And Lucas Giolito performed. Mason Miller is human. How're we feeling?

If not for a couple game changing swings from Nick Castellanos and Gavin Sheets the Padres would really be having a lousy week. They went out with a whimper Thursday in Milwaukee, in a game that saw Griffin Canning get shelled. Matt Waldron is headed to the bullpen, with Lucas Giolito on his way. The guys discuss the evolving rotation, and the struggling lineup. What's going wrong? And does anyone have any clue how to fix it? Plus - postgame coverage of M's-Padres is coming Sunday night on NBC 7! 

After dropping consecutive series Craig Stammen and the Padres seemed to right the ship in San Francisco. Are we confident that their offensive lull is over, for now at least? Jackson Merrill has come alove. And Bogey keeps going boom. Jake Cronenworth is out, Sung Mun-Song made a strong first impression. Luis Campusano is out, hello Rodolfo Duran. Griffin Canning arrived and twirled a gem in his debut. Matt Waldron answered with his best performance of the year. Fernando Tatis is still searching for a homer, and finds himself in a an unusual spot in the order.

The Padres dropped their first series in a long time, and the wait continues for Fernando Tatis Jr.'s breakout. How are the Padres getting it done despite slow starts from most of their stars? And what on earth will it take for Tatis to get going? How does this slump compare to the rough patch he had in 2025? What will the rotation look like in a week or two ? With Canning and Giolito on the way, who will be left on the outside? Plus, this bench is legit.

The bidding war for the Padres has reportedly been won by Jose E. Feliciano and his wife Kwanza Jones. At the price of $3.9 billion! Derek and Darnay discuss the news, what it means for the club and the city and what we know about the billionaire Chelsea owner.

The Padres had to leave home to find themselves. Or at least to figure out how to win some games. What clicked for the Friars in a successful first road trip? Derek and Darnay talk about who emerged, and some star power we're still waiting to show up. What do we hope to see in their return to Petco? And will anyone score a run off Mason Miller again? Plus, the new City Connects dropped! The guys share their thoughts on the Dia de los Muertos inspired threads that will debut Friday night.

Okay so it wasn't smooth sailing for the Padres out of the gates. But Wednesday was fun! They faced some tough arms, but is that entirely to blame for a sluggish offense? How alarmed should we be about the early returns at the plate? It wasn't a shock to see the rotation scuffle. How soon could we see changes? Ramon Laureano is awesome. What about everyone else? And what did we learn about Craig Stammen in his first week doing the job?

The Padres have typically given fans reason to celebrate on Opening Day, but 2026 did not start on a positive note. Detroit took the air out of the building in the first inning, and Tarik Skubal kept the Friars in check for six frames. Darnay and Todd recap the 8-2 loss in an Opening Day edition of Sports Night in San Diego. Hear from Craig Stammen, Nick Pivetta and more after the loss. The guys share their thoughts on the lineup, an early test for Stammen's pitching staff, and big picture impressions of the club, and a touching tribute to Randy Jones. Plus, some new features we'll be seeing around Petco Park this season.

The WBC is over, the stars are back in Peoria and there is one week left before Opening Day. Darnay is joined by Sports Illustrated's Ryan Phillips to hit on the top storylines as the 2026 season approaches. How did we feel about Mason Miller and the end of the WBC? What should we expect from Tatis after a strong performance? The rotation is limping to the start line. How should we feel with Game 1 right around the corner?

Suddenly there are a lot more games on to keep Padre fans entertained. Sammy Levitt joins Darnay from Peoria to discuss developments with the big league club and the arrival of WBC action. How did Walker Buehler look in his Padres spring debut? Joe Musgrove finally returned to the mound - the guys examine his first performance post Tommy John. The bats erupted Thursday. Who has impressed while the stars are representing their countries in the WBC? And who should hit leadoff? Meanwhile, the games have begun - and they started with an explosive performance from Tatis, Manny and the Dominican Republic.

Initial bids are in for the Padres, and they include an ownership group headed up by a Hall of Fame QB. Drew Brees has teamed up with the CEO of Vuori to make a run at the Friars. Darnay discusses the surprising development with Sports Illustrated MLB Writer Ryan Phillips. He explains why fans should feel really good about the direction the sale is headed. What bidder is he most interested in at this point? The WBC arrives next week and Manny Machado looks ready. Should we be worried about how the Padres will start this season because of what happened after the 2023 WBC? Have we discovered one clear difference between Craig Stammen and Mike Shildt? The new skipper is experimenting with the Padres lineup. Darnay and Ryan discuss one possible starting point.

Preller! Seidler! The sale! Castellanos! Manny! Pitching! France! So much is happening! Derek was in Peoria for all of it. The guys discuss.

The first Spring Training under Craig Stammen has begun. Derek is about to head to Peoria to catch up with the club. What are the biggest questions facing the new skipper? What's going on with A.J. Preller's future? Would Nick Castellanos be a good fit? What is the state of the rotation? How good can the bullpen be? Will the offensive approach change under new hitting coach Steven Souza Jr? The guys discuss the big storylines and early impressions of Stammen as the man in charge.

Spring training arrives in less than a week! The Padres added a bat. How will Miguel Andujar fit in? There have been developments on the ownership front. What do we know about the new billionaires that have entered the chat? Who seems like the best fit to take over the club? The guys agree on one of the potential owners. FanFest is in the books - Derek was there and shares his takeaways after catching up with most of the Padres' stars.

Our old friend John Conniff returns to offer his unique perspective on the Padres. What's the state of the roster, and is there anyone in the Minor League system equipped to help out in 2026? How's Ethan Salas doing? Luis Campusano? Is this the year? And will the Padres give him an actual shot? Who should we keep an eye on this spring? An old friend just got dealt. 

Spring Training is less than a month away. The last week brought more rumors, but once again little to no action. Will a trade to clear salary open the floodgates? Would it make sense to deal Nick Pivetta? Sounds like the Brewers want to move Freddy Peralta - should the Padres get involved? Apparently they checked in on Nolan Arenado. We heard from Craig Stammen - who is still leaning on Mike Shildt, and thinks highly of Luis Arraez. Where we might see Sung-Mun Song play, and could his versatility open up trade options? A couple beloved figures are back in the organization. And a column in Forbes sparked that frustrating conversation about the future of the franchise.

After an eventful few days in December things quieted down on the Padres front. The New Year is here and Spring Training is only about a month away - so what on earth is going on? Derek and Darnay discuss the state of the team and the possible avenue for rounding out the roster. Preller is no stranger to making moves during Spring Training, are we going to have to be really patient? Is a reunion with Arraez coming? How do we feel about the current state of the roster? One MLB Insider says they've moved backwards.

Padres closer Mason Miller explains why he wants to remain in the bullpen and talks about his excitement in joining Team USA for the World Baseball Classic.

The Padres didn't make many moves during the Winter Meetings, but they did make tons of noise. Is A.J. Preller cooking up another blockbuster deal? What players would even be involved to make such a thing possible? Should Fernando Tatis Jr. be untouchable? Is Mason Miller on the block? And would that just be a way to get out of a bad contract? The Padres don't plan on moving a top reliever to the rotation, but might they move some to fill needs? The Mets had a rough week, could they look to San Diego for some star power? Suddenly there are some very interesting possibilities - the guys discuss on the 400th episode of On Friar!

Baseball's rumor season now includes a new wrinkle for the Padres: ownership buzz! Joe Lacob? A report from the Bay Area suggests the NBA Championship owner might have interest. How good of a fit would he be? In more conventional December chatter, is Jake Cronenworth on the trade block? Dylan Cease has a new home. The Blue Jays also scooped up another attractive starter. How is A.J. Preller going to address this rotation? The guys discuss.

The stove is starting to heat up, and A.J. Preller has his work cut out for him. Michael King and Dylan Cease are officially free agents. How will the Padres round out the rotation? Wonder what Mason Miller is up to these days...What needs to be done for us to feel good about the Padres' roster going into 2026? Craig Stammen spoke with ESPN, and a couple comments jumped out. Plus, the guys discuss the passing of San Diego legend and 1976 Cy Young winner Randy Jones.

We probably should've seen this day coming. Almost two years to the day of Peter Seidler's passing, the Seidler family announced that they have begun exploring their options for the franchise, including a potential sale. This has layers, from Peter's legacy, to Sheel's stake and the continuing legal unrest. What does it mean for the baseball product in the near and long term? A.J. Preller's contract limbo makes more sense. Could this benefit the club in the long run? In the meantime we bemoan how things have gone since Peter passed.

Craig Stammen put the Padres uniform on again Monday morning, this time as San Diego's manager. Darnay and Todd discuss what we heard, why A.J. Preller felt comfortable handing the clubhouse to the former reliever, and what big questions remain. Stammen admitted a learning curve is ahead. He says he'll keep the club on the path set by Mike Shildt. What role will Ruben Niebla have going forward? And is there any clarity on Preller's future?

The Padres have a new manager, and it's a familiar name, and friend of the podcast! In a surprise decision A.J. Preller passed on Niebla, Pujols and company in favor of former Padres reliever Craig Stammen. He'll have the respect of the clubhouse, will that translate to his new role? He doesn't have any experience as a manager, how concerned should we be? It sounds like Ruben Niebla is coming back. There is an important coaching spot to fill. Albert Pujols as hitting coach? Plus, Michael King and Dylan Cease get qualifying offers. And Yu Darvish is on the shelf until 2027.

The Padres are down to the finalists in their search for a new manager. Albert Pujols headlines the list, along with Ruben Niebla and Nick Hundley. How much longer will we have to wait before a decision is made? Derek has settled on an arrangement that could please all parties. Could there be a surprise candidate? Ryan Flaherty?! And will it be a hard sell if they choose someone who doesn't have the familiarity or name recognition of Pujols or Niebla? And still nothing on the future of A.J. Preller...

The wheels of another Padres managerial search are turning. Albert Pujols interviewed Wednesday. How soon should we expect a hire to be made? And what is the most important quality the club needs to find in a new skipper? We think A.J. Preller will eventually get an extension, what's the hold up? The guys discuss those and other early offseason topics.

Things got ugly again with a Padres manager. Mike Shildt delivered two stellar seasons, but left on an ugly note. Was health the reason for his exit, or was it simply a cover for a contentious clubhouse he needed to get out of? What do we make of this type of exit for the 'Grit Squad' and 'Winners Find Solutions' guy? Are we surprised, given the nature of his interactions with reporters? How much blame falls on the shoulders of A.J. Preller? Will they ever keep the peace for more than a couple seasons? And where do the Padres go from here? We have ideas.

A.J. Preller is once again looking for a new manager. The surprising Mike Shildt news broke Monday. The Padres' General Manager discussed the decision and provided an outlook on the search and the offseason ahead. What led to Shildt's decision, and how specific were his struggles to the Padres? New reports suggest conflict with others around the club led to his departure. Do we think he's actually done managing for good? Death threats factored into Shildt's retirement and continue to be a stain on sports fandom. What is Preller looking for in a new manager, and do internal candidates have a leg up? He also shared his thoughts on the team's needs and other big questions facing the club this winter.

We've had a week to digest the Padres' early postseason exit. Derek and Darnay assess the 2025 season, and the factors in their Wild Card loss. John Seidler issued a letter to fans, will he speak to reporters about his vision for the club moving forward? When will we hear from A.J. Preller? What do the Padres need to do to take a step forward in October? And some early thoughts on who might be staying and who might be going.

That was a bummer. Former Padre Greg Garcia joins Darnay to discuss the season ending loss. Game 3 of the Wild Card Series resulted in another low-scoring loss, perhaps a fitting ending to what was at points a frustrating season. The stars at the top of the order didn't deliver, and the Padres couldn't hit with runners in scoring position. There was a regrettable moment for Luis Arraez, and an unbelievable strike three call against Xander Bogaerts. The bullpen was great, but Dansby Swanson played out of his mind.

The Padres aren't done. A shutout of the Cubs forced a Game 3 Thursday at Wrigley. Dylan Cease stepped up. Manny Machado had the swing of his Padres postseason career. And the bullpen. Ohhhh that bullpen. Mike Shildt pushed all the right buttons with their backs against the wall. The guys discuss the win and look ahead to Game 3.

We've seen losses like that before. Nick Pivetta was sharp early, but two homers were too much for the Padres to overcome. After striking first they failed to add on, before going quiet in the back half of Game 1. Jackson Merrill bunted. His fault or a product of the environment? Stars didn't show up. How confident are we that they will on Wednesday? Did wind and shadows at Wrigley impact the Padres? Can they reverse MLB postseason history? Pressure is on Dylan Cease.

The Padres got cozy at Wrigley Monday, and Game 1 is fast approaching. Darnay and Todd look ahead to their Wild Card Series against the Cubs. Nick Pivetta has a chance to set the tone. How are we feeling about Dylan Cease in a crucial start? What did Pivetta, Mike Shildt and Manny Machado have to say? Shildt has been preparing his team for playoff baseball all season. Can the Padres overcome their struggles on the road? And how will the next three days help define the 2025 season?

Mike Shildt made what he viewed as an easy call and it backfired in the finale against the Mets. Once again the Padres dropped a road series against a playoff caliber team. Will they be able to flip the script in October? This year September feels way different from last. We consider the playoff picture. Manny, Merrill and Tatis have shown life. Michael King had the worst outing of his career. Mason Miller is incredible. The guys look ahead to the final nine games.

The Padres are spinning their wheels. After a promising couple games in Colorado they returned home and dropped their series against the Reds. The lineup isn't producing, the rotation and bullpen are spotty, Manny Machado looks worn down and they're losing ground in the playoff race. Fortunately Fernando Tatis Jr. and Jackson Merrill have perked up over the last week. How concerned are we? The guys discuss.

Even Mike Shildt and the Padres can admit - things aren't great right now. Eno Sarris of The Athletic returns to the pod to share his thoughts on the club's struggles. Starters have been unreliable. Was one particular deadline deal a mistake? Tatis and Machado homered, but what's to blame for their dips in production? Mason Miller threw an immaculate inning! What are realistic expectations for this team? And what should give us hope for the home stretch?

It was an entertaining series in Seattle. But it was not a good few days for the Padres. After a pair of losses and a Dodgers sweep, San Diego is now looking up at Los Angeles again. The guys assess their division hopes and the Wild Card outlook. It was not a good few days for Padres starters. Michael King should be back soon. Fernando Tatis Jr. finally homered again. Ramon Laureano moved up in the lineup with Luis Arraez out, will it stay that way? Are changes coming? Winnable games are ahead.