On Friar, A San Diego Sportswrap Podcast

After 31 games in 31 days the Padres got to catch their breath Monday. Derek and Darnay assess what they've seen as the club nears the midway point. Why last year's struggles appear to be a thing of the past. Bob Melvin has made it easy to shrug off a mini-slump. The guys wonder if the national narrative around Manny Machado has started to shift. They look ahead to an important week, and why there's a bit more weight on this meeting with the Dodgers than the last. Plus, thoughts on Gore, Snell and a few guys coming off a rough week at the dish.To join the #OnFriar conversation, tweet your Padres or San Diego sports thoughts and questions to Darnay (@DarnayTripp) and Derek (@DerekNBCSD).Catch NBC 7's San Diego Padres analysis at NBC7.com/OnFriar and all sports coverage at NBC7.com/SportsWrap. SportsWrap's weekly TV show airs Sunday night on NBC 7 San Diego at 11:35pm.

The video of Manny Machado's ankle injury was terrifying. But, elite athletes are built differently than us mortals. Machado avoided a broken leg but he'll still miss time. Just how much? The OnFriar Podcast went to Petco Park to find out. In this bonus episode, we update Manny's health status and find out how the Padres play on getting by while their MVP is out.

Jake Peavy is, simply put, one of the greatest Padres of all time. He's an All-Star, a Cy Young winner, and one of the most fiery competitors ever to toe the rubber in San Diego. Amazingly, it's been six years since Jake was in America's Finest City. In this special edition of the OnFriar Podcast, we catch up with Jake to see what he's up to now, how he's finally getting back into baseball, and why he thinks this year (finally) the Padres have a real chance to win a World Series.

For the first time since 2010 the Padres sit alone in first place in the month of June. Derek and Darnay recap an explosive series sweep at Wrigley. Manny Machado made history and continues his MVP pace (3:25). And now he has help (9:51). Joe Musgrove is a starter of the finest quality (15:10). The hit parade against Chicago featured standout performances from Jake Cronenworth and Nomar Mazara (24:31). And they're doing it all without Fernando Tatis Jr. The guys discuss this week's update on the star shortstop's status (30:58). Plus, a notable trade target from the Cubs (33:57), and a home run of a promotional idea that the Padres should definitely steal this year (47:13).To join the #OnFriar conversation, tweet your Padres or San Diego sports thoughts and questions to Darnay (@DarnayTripp) and Derek (@DerekNBCSD).Catch NBC 7's San Diego Padres analysis at NBC7.com/OnFriar and all sports coverage at NBC7.com/SportsWrap. SportsWrap's weekly TV show airs Sunday night on NBC 7 San Diego at 11:35pm.

They snapped out of their slump and came away with two very impressive series wins. Derek and Darnay discuss the team's rebound, and how the lineup could look when Fernando Tatis Jr. gets healthy. What do the coming weeks look like for El Nino? Plus, Snell struggles and Gore just keeps shoving. The guys get into some trade talk, and point out a few potential targets for outfield help. But that's assuming any of us have any clue what A.J. Preller will do next. To join the #OnFriar conversation, tweet your Padres or San Diego sports thoughts and questions to Darnay (@DarnayTripp) and Derek (@DerekNBCSD).Catch NBC 7's San Diego Padres analysis at NBC7.com/OnFriar and all sports coverage at NBC7.com/SportsWrap. SportsWrap's weekly TV show airs Sunday night on NBC 7 San Diego at 11:35pm.

The Padres went to St. Louis and lost three straight games for the first time all season. So, the OnFriar Podcast hosts solicited ideas from social media on how to fix the punchless offense and actually got some good ones. Plus, how should Bob Melvin be handling this skid, what a new outfielder might be able to contribute, and another chapter in the adventures of former Padres outfielder Tommy Pham.

The Padres slumped again at the plate in their series loss to Milwaukee - but what's at the root of their offensive inconsistency? Derek and Darnay look at some stats and trends, including spots in the lineup that aren't producing (1:06). How bad have their leadoff guys been? Real bad (13:08). They look at a few scoring splits that stand out (15:32), and take a stab at Luke Voit and Jake Cronenworth's slow starts (26:11). To swing or not to swing at the first pitch? Swing (31:47). The guys then turn their attention to pitching, including optimism for the bullpen (42:02), and Blake Snell (49:47). And in the words of Manny Machado: Pay That Man (55:29).To join the #OnFriar conversation, tweet your Padres or San Diego sports thoughts and questions to Darnay (@DarnayTripp) and Derek (@DerekNBCSD).Catch NBC 7's San Diego Padres analysis at NBC7.com/OnFriar and all sports coverage at NBC7.com/SportsWrap. SportsWrap's weekly TV show airs Sunday night on NBC 7 San Diego at 11:35pm.

It doesn't take long for the guys to get sidetracked by the possibility of a trade for Nats' superstar Juan Soto. After discussing Blake Snell's debut and the rhythm of the Padres rotation (1:01), Derek and Darnay imagine what it would take to land Soto (8:16). They get back to the Philly series - piggybacking, Luke Voit's struggles and more (22:43). Plus, Yu tosses a gem (32:27). And a Padres' affiliate throws two no-hitters in three games (41:36).To join the #OnFriar conversation, tweet your Padres or San Diego sports thoughts and questions to Darnay (@DarnayTripp) and Derek (@DerekNBCSD).Catch NBC 7's San Diego Padres analysis at NBC7.com/OnFriar and all sports coverage at NBC7.com/SportsWrap. SportsWrap's weekly TV show airs Sunday night on NBC 7 San Diego at 11:35pm.

He is an esteemed baseball writer and broadcaster, and now he's a member of the NBC Sports team. Jon Morosi makes his debut appearance with On Friar. The guys talk about his new role with NBC (5:35) before getting into his early impressions of the Padres. Could their outfield struggles and pitching depth lead to a trade? Jon sees one potential fit (14:36). They discuss Gore's arrival (22:20), Hosmer's improvement (25:56), and Melvin's magic (28:52). Then they shift their focus to NL MVP frontrunner Manny Machado, and why he's somehow overlooked (32:13). Plus, Jon thinks the Padres have a real chance to win the NL West (43:18).To join the #OnFriar conversation, tweet your Padres or San Diego sports thoughts and questions to Darnay (@DarnayTripp) and Derek (@DerekNBCSD).Catch NBC 7's San Diego Padres analysis at NBC7.com/OnFriar and all sports coverage at NBC7.com/SportsWrap. SportsWrap's weekly TV show airs Sunday night on NBC 7 San Diego at 11:35pm.

Derek and Darnay hit on a handful of notable topics following another successful series on the road. Joe Musgrove could be having a Cy Young season. The guys discuss his continued growth and his contract uncertainty (0:31). With some fun pitching matchups coming in Cleveland they take a look at a rotation that's getting crowded (15:46). How will it shake out, and what players could end up off the roster - and...Robinson Cano? Manny Machado had an unreal month, but got snubbed in favor of a familiar name (33:50). Plus, more good signs from the Pittsburgh series (43:09).To join the #OnFriar conversation, tweet your Padres or San Diego sports thoughts and questions to Darnay (@DarnayTripp) and Derek (@DerekNBCSD).Catch NBC 7's San Diego Padres analysis at NBC7.com/OnFriar and all sports coverage at NBC7.com/SportsWrap. SportsWrap's weekly TV show airs Sunday night on NBC 7 San Diego at 11:35pm.

The Padres swept the Reds again, begging the question: is this team really good or just beating up on other awful clubs? Manny Machado and MacKenzie Gore look like All-Stars, but has Eric Hosmer found the fountain of youth and how long is all this sustainable? The OnFriar Podcast looks at all the possibilities at the season's 20-game mark.

The Padres have a winning record but just about all the credit can go to their history-making defense and some solid pitching because their offense has been ... let's go with underwhelming. Why are the bats struggling early in the season and, more importantly, is this a blip or a serious problem? The OnFriar Podcast got down and dirty in the StatCast world looking for the answers.

For the third straight day the Padres mustered just two runs, but it was enough Sunday thanks to Yu Darvish. Darnay and Todd button up the first home series of 2022 with thoughts on Darvish's bounce-back outing, and a lineup with a lot of holes in the absence of Fernando Tatis Jr. Eric Hosmer was been one of their most consistent bats, and he received a strong endorsement Thursday. MacKenzie Gore looked good, the guys discuss his big league debut. Plus - why series against the Reds will tell us a lot more about the Padres than this weekend's visit from the Dodgers.To join the #OnFriar conversation, tweet your Padres or San Diego sports thoughts and questions to Darnay (@DarnayTripp) and Derek (@DerekNBCSD).Catch NBC 7's San Diego Padres analysis at NBC7.com/OnFriar and all sports coverage at NBC7.com/SportsWrap. SportsWrap's weekly TV show airs Sunday night on NBC 7 San Diego at 11:35pm.

Three straight wins, fantastic efforts from their starters, an early visit from Slam Diego, and one strange absence. It was a mostly good opening weekend for the Padres that also included a couple strange twists. Derek and Darnay share their takeaways from four games in Arizona. Is MacKenzie Gore on the way? Who has stood out at the plate and out of the pen? And what did we learn about how Bob Melvin will handle certain key positions? The guys take a look at those topics and more.To join the #OnFriar conversation, tweet your Padres or San Diego sports thoughts and questions to Darnay (@DarnayTripp) and Derek (@DerekNBCSD).Catch NBC 7's San Diego Padres analysis at NBC7.com/OnFriar and all sports coverage at NBC7.com/SportsWrap. SportsWrap's weekly TV show airs Sunday night on NBC 7 San Diego at 11:35pm.

A new Padres season is on our doorstep. So - how's everyone feeling? Derek and Darnay take another look at a crowded rotation and how it might shake out (2:20). It looked a couple days ago like Eric Hosmer might be on the move, the guys discuss his presence and the team's latest attempt to ship the first baseman (12:05). Then they take a big picture look at the club (20:26), its offseason, managing expectations, and why we should care a lot less about what happens when they play the Dodgers.To join the #OnFriar conversation, tweet your Padres or San Diego sports thoughts and questions to Darnay (@DarnayTripp) and Derek (@DerekNBCSD).Catch NBC 7's San Diego Padres analysis at NBC7.com/OnFriar and all sports coverage at NBC7.com/SportsWrap. SportsWrap's weekly TV show airs Sunday night on NBC 7 San Diego at 11:35pm.

Jesse Agler is the radio voice of the San Diego Padres for 97.3 The Fan, and he was kind enough to share his takeaways from Spring Training. What impact will the short runway have on the club early in the season, especially the rotation? Jesse shares his thoughts on how Bob Melvin manages his team and manages the media, and why Ruben Niebla is so highly thought of. Who does he get most excited to see on the lineup card? The guys discuss Luke Voit and try to put a positive spin on Fernando Tatis Jr.'s absence. They get all of that out of the way before tackling the hard-hitting questions that have had Padres Twitter buzzing the last couple weeks.To join the #OnFriar conversation, tweet your Padres or San Diego sports thoughts and questions to Darnay (@DarnayTripp) and Derek (@DerekNBCSD).Catch NBC 7's San Diego Padres analysis at NBC7.com/OnFriar and all sports coverage at NBC7.com/SportsWrap. SportsWrap's weekly TV show airs Sunday night on NBC 7 San Diego at 11:35pm.

Who's playing in left field? Will MacKenzie Gore be the fifth starter? Which catcher will be the odd man out? Who's the closer? Opening Day starter duties belong to who? Derek and Darnay dig into the major questions facing Bob Melvin and the Padres with game one fast approaching.To join the #OnFriar conversation, tweet your Padres or San Diego sports thoughts and questions to Darnay (@DarnayTripp) and Derek (@DerekNBCSD).Catch NBC 7's San Diego Padres analysis at NBC7.com/OnFriar and all sports coverage at NBC7.com/SportsWrap. SportsWrap's weekly TV show airs Sunday night on NBC 7 San Diego at 11:35pm.

Week one of Spring Training featured impressive performances from MacKenzie Gore and C.J. Abrams. It also included the addition of a slugger and set up a competition in the rotation. Derek and Darnay discuss those topics, as well as questions in the outfield. Why wasn't A.J. Preller able to land one of the big names on the market, and is this what the roster will look like on April 7? To join the #OnFriar conversation, tweet your Padres or San Diego sports thoughts and questions to Darnay (@DarnayTripp) and Derek (@DerekNBCSD).Catch NBC 7's San Diego Padres analysis at NBC7.com/OnFriar and all sports coverage at NBC7.com/SportsWrap. SportsWrap's weekly TV show airs Sunday night on NBC 7 San Diego at 11:35pm.

Padres' Spring Training could not have possibly gotten off to a worse start. After taking in day one from Peoria Derek lets us know what he saw and heard. He and Darnay discuss Fernando Tatis Jr.'s broken wrist, and the questions it raises about surgery and life outside of baseball. Who will fill in? How serious is Jake Cronenworth's injury? And what do the guys think of Bob Melvin? The guys also talk about the absence of Machado and Hosmer on day one, the Seiya Suzuki situation and more.To join the #OnFriar conversation, tweet your Padres or San Diego sports thoughts and questions to Darnay (@DarnayTripp) and Derek (@DerekNBCSD).Catch NBC 7's San Diego Padres analysis at NBC7.com/OnFriar and all sports coverage at NBC7.com/SportsWrap. SportsWrap's weekly TV show airs Sunday night on NBC 7 San Diego at 11:35pm.

Padres pitcher and player representative Craig Stammen shared a few minutes of his time to discuss the new CBA and the return of baseball. The long time big leaguer shed light on his responsibilities during negotiations, and what the rollercoaster was like from his perspective. Plus, why this round of talks was so critical, why they're happy with what they accomplished, and more.To join the #OnFriar conversation, tweet your Padres or San Diego sports thoughts and questions to Darnay (@DarnayTripp) and Derek (@DerekNBCSD).Catch NBC 7's San Diego Padres analysis at NBC7.com/OnFriar and all sports coverage at NBC7.com/SportsWrap. SportsWrap's weekly TV show airs Sunday night on NBC 7 San Diego at 11:35pm.