On Friar, An NBC 7 Padres Podcast

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 lowdo...

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 s...

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.

📺 On Friar is a...

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.

📺 On Friar is available on YouTube! Watch new episodes here.

To join the ...

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?

📺 On Friar is available on YouTube! Watch new episodes here.

To join the conversation, tweet yo...

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 fro...

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.

📺 On Friar is available on YouTube! Watch new episodes here.

To join the conversation, tweet your Padres or San Diego sp...

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 impre...

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.

📺 On Fr...

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.

📺 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 Da...

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. 

📺 On Fria...

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 do...

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?

📺 On Friar is available on YouTube! Watch new episodes here.

...

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.

📺 On Friar is available...

'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 discu...

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, wh...

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 lea...