Friar Territory: a San Diego Padres podcast

Manny Machado says it can't get any worse for the Padres. Oh, yes it can. 

Darren Smith and Marty Caswell discuss why it's a crucial homestand amid a five-game losing streak, why the disappointing Padres and Mets are mirror images of each other, and why the Padres are running out of time to figure things out.

The two discuss how Craig Stammen's constant positive demeanor has gone over with Padres fans, how it's going over in the clubhouse, and the heat that's on the entire coaching staff.

Marty and Darren then answer additional o...

The San Diego Padres are a wretched baseball team right now.

Marty Caswell and Darren Smith discuss the Padres five-game losing streak after being swept by the Phillies. How much was Manny Machado affected by the decision to cut Nick Castellanos? The two discuss Machado's close relationship with Castellanos, his comments on the release and why on earth it makes zero sense to go with two unproven rookies in Samad Taylor and Jase Bowen. 

Yes, Padres fans want and need to vent. The show answers some questions from extremely frustrated fans on the poor offense, M...

Good riddance May, hello June.

Darren Smith and Marty Caswell break down the Padres alarming numbers from May, Fernando Tatis' staggering numbers and the relief of him hitting his first home run.

The two break down the Padres lowest scoring month since 2015, and discuss Ken Rosenthal's thoughts on A.J. Preller lining up prospect capital to trade for Tarik Skubal.

The show then welcomes in Kyle Glaser, who breaks down Jase Bowen and why shouldn't be perceived as the Padres offensive savior. Glaser reveals the Padres staggering offensive numbers, why it's currently a...

Are the Padres the best worst team in MLB or the worst best team? Shout-out to the Athletic's Dennis Lin.

Darren Smith and Marty Caswell jump into the numbers from the Padres 3-6 homestand, the familiar defense of the Padres hitting coach and if this last stretch will be remembered as a. missed opportunity.

The duo then welcomes in former Padres All-Star closer Heath Bell, who shares what stood out from the recent homestand and why the manager usually takes the fall when the team underperforms.

What's been the biggest difference in this...

The Padres are swept by the Phillies, completing a dismal 3-6 home stand.

Darren Smith and Marty Caswell discuss the Padres 3-0 loss to the Phillies and the continued, woeful shutout with runners in scoring position. Who is to blame for the Padres offensive struggles? Manager Craig Stammen says the blame lies with him when asked about the scrutiny around hitting coach Steven Souza.

We hear from Padres third baseman Manny Machado on why he says the blame lies with the hitters. Marty and Darren discuss the gathering the players had after the game on...

What do we make of the San Diego Padres at the one-third mark of the season after their latest shutout by the Philadelphia Phillies?

Darren Smith and Marty Caswell discuss the RISP disaster, Manny Machado's candor about the blame falling on him, and manager Craig Stammen's comments on looking for answers.

How patient will A.J. Preller as the the offensive woes of the 31-22 Padres continue? Darren points out the success the Phillies have had after firing Rob Thompson and promoting Don Mattingly, and wonders if the Padres could make internal changes.

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What did we learn about the San Diego Padres after their series loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers?

Darren Smith and Marty Caswell discuss the shutout by Shohei Ohtani and the Dodgers, the heavy continued scrutiny circling around Fernando Tatis and comments from manager Craig Stammen.

The two then discuss Jackson Merrill's exit from the game after he injured his back trying to catch Ohtani's home run. The show then welcomes in former Padres All-Star. closer Heath Bell, who discusses what he's seeing from Tatis, if he has too many voices in his head and...

Another Padres and Dodgers game, another intense, one-run thriller.

Marty Caswell and Darren Smith discuss the Padres 5-4 loss to the Dodgers, Mason Miller's costly error and how another ABS challenge affected the outcome.

The duo break down Manny Machado's exchange with a reporter on his offensive struggles and his comments on Gavin Sheets and Miguel Andujar carrying the Padres offense.

The show then welcomes in ESPN's Alden Gonzalez, who discusses how the Padres and Dodgers match up, why he believes Manny Machado and Jackson Merrill will hit, and the concerns over Fernando...

Who's ready for Padres versus the Dodgers?

Marty Caswell and Darren Smith break down the biggest takeaways from the Padres sweep of the Seattle Mariners, the sizzling Gavin Sheets and the impact of Lucas Giolito's strong debut on the Padres rotation.

While Sheets was a one-man wrecking crew on the Mariners, a lot of the same questions still remain about the Padres offense. Darren and Marty discuss the scrutiny around hitting coach Steven Souza, and how his players are defending the information he gives them. The duo discuss Craig Stammen's defense of his hitting coach...

How do you fix this terrible Padres offense?

Darren Smith and Marty Caswell discuss the Padres bad offensive series versus the Miwaukee Brewers, the team's dead-last batting average, underwhelming slug, OPS and and runs scored.

The two discuss the career- worst offensive starts for Manny Machado, Fernando Tatis, and Jackson Merrill,and address how much scrutiny needs to be put on Craig Stammen's hand-picked hitting coach, Steven Souza.

The Padres have had no shortage of hitting coaches during their Petco Park era. Is it time for another one?

Marty and Darren...

Was this Matt Waldron's last start for the Padres?

Darren Smith and Marty Caswell discussed Lucas Giolito's impending arrival to the Padres rotation and what decisions are ahead.

The two then welcome in Padres closer Mason Miller, who details how he became involved in filming an epic Star Wars commercial for the upcoming "Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu" movie.

Mason discussed how he got involved, how many takes it took, why it was almost canceled when Grogu was late and did he just call Marty and Darren Stars Wars nerds??

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The Padres have been able to take advantage of the second easiest strength of schedule in baseball but it's about to change.

Marty Caswell and Darren Smith look ahead at the upcoming road trip versus the Milwaukee Brewers and Seattle Mariners and the pressure on the offense to finally get going. The duo break down Manny Machado's comments on the offense, his visible frustration and candor and why it's a different tone than years past.

Darren and Marty then welcome in Wall Street Journal's Jared Diamond, who just wrote about the biggest mystery in baseball...

Michael King was brilliant in his start versus the Cardinals but the Padres offense fell victim again to yet another quality start.

Darren Smith and Marty Caswell discussed Craig Stammen's decisions in the 2-1 loss, why Nick Castellanos was starting in right field and how much defense he's willing to sacrifice. We hear from Craig Stammen on the lineup decisions and why he wanted Castellanos' bat in later innings.

Why did Fernando Tatis and Manny Machado take private batting practice on the field before the game? The two discuss the the scene before the game...

The San Diego Padres are shaking things up.

Darren Smith and Marty Caswell break down Craig Stammen shaking up the Padres lineup, the message it sends to Fernando Tatis and why they're not waiting for guys to. just figure it out.

The duo then discuss Sung-Mun Song's instant spark to the Padres, the concussion symptoms that forced Jake Cronenworth to the injured list. Was the apparent injury the reason for the worst start of Cronenworth's career? Time will tell.

Darren then reveals the profane message the San Francisco Giants posted about the Padres...

The San Diego Padres have finally snapped a four-game skid, thanks to an impressive debut from Griffin Canning and the "Bogey special."

Darren Smith and Marty Caswell break down the biggest takeaways from the disappointing 2-4 homestand versus the Chicago White Sox and Cubs. Why would the Padres give Fernando Tatis an off-day during the team's skid?

The duo listen to comments from Manny Machado on whether the trip to the altitude in Mexico City affected the hitters. And yes, the Padres are struggling offensively but luckily for them, so is the entire National League...

The San Diego Padres start May baseball by welcoming in a familiar face, White Sox manager Will Venable.

Darren Smith, Marty Caswell, and Heath Bell discuss the intangibles that Venable displayed when he played for the Padres and why he appears to be an up and manager on the rise in Major League Baseball. Heath describes the kind of leadership and thirst for learning while they were teammates and how he showed he was a student of the game.

Are the Padres good? Well their 19-11 record says they are, but for how much longer...

The new Padres owners were seen in a suite in Mexico City during the series versus the Arizona Diamondbacks. When can we expect to see them at Petco Park?

Darren Smith and Marty Caswell are joined by The Athletic's Dennis Lin from the press box at Petco Park to discuss the vibe in Mexico City, what we know about Jose E. Feliciano and Kwanza Jones, and how close they are to adding more partners to their ownership group.

Could Drew Brees, who was recently in the box seats at Petco Park, be part of that...

What did we learn about the Padres after their roadtrip to Colorado and Mexico City? Darren Smith and Marty Caswell discuss a wild series in Mexico City, some good signs from Manny Machado, a rare meltdown by the Padres bullpen, and if any roster changes could be ahead when the team returns home.

The two also discuss the first public sighting of the new ownership group led by Jose E. Feliciano and Kwanza Jones in Mexico City. Marty details her quick trip to Lake Elsinore to watch Lucas Giolito make his first rehab start as well as f...

Another Padres series win, another incredible Padres comeback. Darren Smith and Marty Caswell discuss the latest heroics by Gavin Sheets versus the Rockies, and why Xander Bogaerts is the one guy they want at the plate during a rally.

What's the buzz going to be like in Mexico City, and will we perhaps see or hear from someone in Padres ownership? Marty and Darren are joined by The Wall Street Journal's Jared Diamond, who first broke the story of Jose Feliciano and Kwanza Jones buying the team.

Jared details why the new owners have already...

How much better are the Padres after the surprising signing of Lucas Giolito?

Darren Smith and Marty Caswell are joined by former All-Star closer Heath Bell to discuss Giolito's signing, how long it will take him to get caught up to speed, and how he fits the team's rotation. There are plenty of teams that were looking for starting pitching so why were the Padres right fit? Heath discusses what goes on behind the scenes when free agents choose a team and what would have happened if he had walked away from a $19 million dollar option when...

Darren Smith and Marty Caswell discuss the biggest storylines of the week ahead of the Padres series at the Colorado Rockies and Mexico City.

The duo discuss the Padres incredible offensive numbers at Coors Field and Mexico City, what it means for the team's offense and the wear it puts on the pitching staff. Marty and Darren address the concerns to the already thin rotation, Walker Buehler's numbers at Denver and Matt Waldron's second start after a rough outing versus the Angels,

The show is then joined by Padres infielder Jake Cronenworth from Colorado. Jake...

Darren Smith and Marty Caswell discuss billionaire Jose Feliciano's agreement to buy the Padres for a record $3.9 billion dollars.

Darren breaks down what we know about the owner of Chelsea, if he'll be a hands-on owner and the timing of the news coming out.

The show welcomes in Kyle Glaser to discuss the pending ownership change, why the Padres are receiving such a sum and how it'll be perceived by MLB and the MLBPA ahead of CBA discussions and a possible strike. Did we mention the Padres have won eight games in a row?
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The San Diego Padres have now won six straight games but the news is tempered by ace pitcher Nick Pivetta landing on the injured list with elbow inflammation.

Marty Caswell, Darren Smith and Heath Bell discuss Craig Stammen's comments on his injury. Heath explains why Pivetta is going to miss at least 4-6 weeks, if not more. The show then discusses how much Pivetta's possible opt-out at the end of the season could affect his course of action.

The Padres now have the third best record in baseball without getting real production from Manny Machado...

What a newsy weekend it was for the San Diego Padres following their four-game sweep over the Colorado Rockies.

From the Padres slugging nine home runs in the series, Luis Campusano's five-game hitting streak, Ramon Laureano surging in the leadoff role to losing Jeremiah Estrada with elbow tendonitis, there was no shortage of topics.

Marty Caswell and Darren Smith discuss the concerns over Nick Pivetta exiting the game with elbow stiffness, and the best options to replace him in the rotation. We hear from Pivetta on his injury and why he's not putting any sort...

Does Xander Bogaerts have his swag back?

Darren Smith and Marty Caswell discuss Xander Bogaerts walk-off grand slam versus the Colorado Rockies, and the type of confidence he's playing with.

13 games in, 13 different lineups for Padres manager Craig Stammen. Marty and Darren discuss the Padres offensive identity and how Manny Machado, who didn't get a day off in 2025 until September, reacted to a day off in April.

Walk-off aside, the biggest story at Petco Park on Thursday night was the Padres unveiling their new City Connect uniforms. Marty and Darren hear from Manny...

The San Diego Padres are back to .500 after an encouraging 4-2 road trip at the Red Sox and Pirates, but the biggest question hovering over the team continues to be who the next owner of the team will be.

Darren Smith and Marty Caswell are joined by The Athletic's Dennis Lin with the latest on the timeline for a sale, if there's a clear frontrunner and how prospective owners are evaluating the franchise.

Marty and Darren discuss some encouraging signs from the roadie, how long Craig Stammen had planned to give Manny Machado his first...

Are the Padres starting to figure out who they really are? Darren Smith and Marty Caswell discussed the biggest takeaways from the Padres first winning series versus the Red Sox, and German Marquez's promising outing versus the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Are we starting to see some good signs from the heart of the Padres offense? From Manny Machado's first home run to Fernando Tatis overcoming a terrible four-strikeout performance versus the Red Sox, the offense has finally shown some signs of life despite the black hole at the leadoff spot.

Darren and Marty also discuss the...

What have we learned about the Padres after the first homestand of the season? Darren Smith and Marty Caswell discuss the 2-4 home stand and the team preparing for their first road trip.

Xander Bogaerts will play in front of his former Boston Red Sox fans for the first time since he signed his stunning contract with the Padres. Darren points out that the Padres will see the Pirates top rookie, 19-year-old Connor Griffin, in the second leg of the trip. Do the Padres have any top prospects left that would spark some serious buzz?

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The San Diego Padres avoided a home sweep by the San Francisco Giants but questions still remain about the lineup.

Darren Smith and Marty Caswell discussed Craig Stammen's lineup construction and why all the credit goes to bench coach Randy Knorr.

The duo then discuss a strong start by Nick Pivetta after a disastrous opening day start, using Mason Miller for a four-out save and why Ramon Laureano needs to stay in the fifth spot.

We hear from Craig Stammen on his lineup decisions, and outfielder Gavin Sheets discusses if the Padres were...

What did we learn about the San Diego Padres after their 1-2 opening series versus the Detroit Tigers? Marty Caswell and Darren Smith discuss what they liked about ABS , Luis Campusano's big advantage and a terrific performance by Randy Vasquez.

The duo then discussed Craig Stammen's bullpen decisions on Friday night versus the Tigers, and why he decided before the game not to use Mason Miller in the eighth inning. Speaking of Mason Miller, what an electric new entry song! Walker Buehler makes his Padres debut on Monday night, and Marty and Darren discuss how much he...

What did we learn about the San Diego Padres after an 8-2 opening pummeling by the Detroit Tigers? Darren Smith and Marty Caswell discussed a rough outing by Nick Pivetta, if there's more to his arm fatigue and whether or not he can duplicate his terrific 2025 season.

We hear from Xander Bogaerts on why Pivetta just didn't have "it" and moving on from a rough opening day loss. The more things change, the more they stay the same. Fernando Tatis is back in the leadoff spot. Darren and Marty break down the Padres starting lineup versus the...

Marty Caswell and Darren Smith are joined by two San Diego legends to preview the start of the Padres 2026 season.

First, Hall of Famer Trevor Hoffman joins the show to discuss the team's rotation, the lights-out bullpen, how players are responding to Craig Stammen, a fresh start for Walker Buehler and how much Germán Márquez will benefit pitching away from Coors Field.

The trio then jump into Stammen's comments on getting Manny Machado off his feet and the importance of keeping him fresh at this point of his career.

Friar Territory th...

How optimistic are we about the Padres heading into 2026? Darren Smith and Marty Caswell discuss the end of spring training, and Nick Pivetta finally being named the opening day starter versus the Tigers.

The two discuss what to make of Fernando Tatis being back in the leadoff spot and Walker Buehler's rough outing.

The show then welcomes back a familiar face! Kyle Glaser joins Friar Territory to talk Padres season outlook, the rotation depth with Buehler and German Marquez and the excellent bullpen. The trio discuss the upgraded roster under financial constraints, and the best...

Darren Smith and Marty Caswell kick off the show by talking to Padres special assistant and former MLB catcher A.J. Ellis.

Ellis discusses the challenges of the upcoming season with ABS, working with catchers and why he's so excited for what's to come with Luis Campusano. The trio also discuss the Padres pitching staff, the incredible growth of Randy Vasquez and how much he's gained by working with Yu Darvish.

Ellis also discusses the role of a special assistant and why first-time manager Craig Stammen checks every box. Manny Machado and Fernando Tatis have...

Padres opening day is in one week! Darren Smith and Marty Caswell discuss the biggest storylines with a handful of games left as Manny Machado and Fernando Tatis return to Peoria.

What are we looking for in the Spring Breakout game? Darren and Marty are joined by David Jay of Mad Friars on the state of the Padres farm system, realistic expectations for Ethan Salas, and the top pitching prospects led by Kruz Schoolcraft and Miguel Mendez. The trio then discuss when players are most likely to be dealt should A.J. Preller trade for a big...

How spectacular has the 2026 World Baseball Classic been? Marty Caswell and Darren Smith are joined by Fox lead MLB studio host Kevin Burkhardt from Miami ahead of the finale between Team USA and Venezuela. T

The trio discuss the incredible growth of the WBC, why superstars like Aaron Judge and Manny Machado feel the games have been more electric and meaningful than the World Series atmosphere, the pressure Mark DeRosa has in managing players , and if Padres closer Mason Miller will be available to pitch in the finale.

Burkhardt also discussed preparing to call the...

Darren Smith and Marty Caswell discuss the latest news from Padres spring training, including reliever Bryan Hoeing having season-ending surgery and progress for Yuki Matsui, Matt Waldron and Sung-Mun Song.

Joe Musgrove's chances of starting the season on the active roster remain highly unlikely ,with no clear timeline for when he'll throw next. What does this mean for Walker Buehler and German Marquez?

Fan Graphs gives the Padres a 22.6% chance of making the playoffs? What??! 

The duo are a bit unsettled by Ramon Laureano waking up with general soreness after a night of s...

Should the San Diego Padres be considered legitimate playoff contenders?

Marty Caswell and Darren Smith are joined by the superb Tim Kurkjian, ESPN's long-time baseball guru and the latest addition to Foul Territory TV, alongside his son Jeff. 

Tim discusses why he wasn't shocked by the Padres hiring first-time manager Craig Stammen, and how much the game has changed in the past decade.

Fernando Tatis was his own harshest critic in 2026. Tim, Darren and Marty discuss how they viewed his season and why he's capable of so much more. The trio then discuss w...

How concerned should the Padres be with Nick Pivetta's arm fatigue and what does it mean for his projected opening-day start?

Darren Smith and Marty Caswell discuss the latest news from Padres spring training, an update on Sung-Mun Song, infield options if he's not ready for opening day and when Yuki Matsui is expected to pitch again.

The duo break down Craig Stammen's comments on competition for the back end of the bullpen, Kyle Hart's best spring and Matt Waldron's options.

Watching the Padres players shine in the WBC is easily a lot...

How concerned should the Padres be with Nick Pivetta's arm fatigue and what does it mean for his projected opening-day start?

Darren Smith and Marty Caswell discuss the latest news from Padres spring training, an update on Sung-Mun Song, infield options if he's not ready for opening day and when Yuki Matsui is expected to pitch again.

The duo break down Craig Stammen's comments on competition for the back end of the bullpen, Kyle Hart's best spring and Matt Waldron's options.

Watching the Padres players shine in the WBC is easily a lot...