first pitch: 7:15 p.m., PT
television: Channel 4
matchup: Adam Eaton (2-1, 2.91 ERA) vs Jason Schmidt (2-1, 3.24 ERA)
game previews: ESPN | CBS SportsLine | SI
Featuring two righthanders who throw gas, this has the potential to be an exciting matchup.
AB BA OBP SLG
Eaton vs current Giants 142 .246 .318 .465
Schmidt vs current Padres 269 .238 .321 .372
For Eaton, it looks worse than it is; most of the damage has been done by Barry Bonds (.316/.435/.842, 19 AB) and Moises Alou (.462/.500/1.000, 13 AB). Bonds is on the DL and Alou just came off it, so with luck he’s still a little rusty. Ray Durham (.214/.353/.643, 14 AB) and Edgardo Alfonzo (.278/.350/.556, 18 AB) have also had success against Eaton; Marquis Grissom (.120/.185/.120, 25 AB) not so much.
On the flip side, Ramon Hernandez (.417/.533/.750, 12 AB) and Mark Sweeney (.294/.429/.588, 17 AB) have had success against Schmidt, as has Mark Loretta (.308/.326/.538, 39 AB). The heart of the order – Ryan Klesko (.158/.267/.289, 38 AB), Brian Giles (.040/.273/.160, 25 AB), and Phil Nevin (.200/.261/.250, 20 AB) – has struggled miserably against Schmidt. This might be a good time for Sweeney’s first spot start of the year. (Just checked, he’s spelling Nevin and batting #7.)
Nevin out of the lineup. Sweeney in. Who’s watching?
Hey. I’m watching/chatting.
I’d like to see Dave force the pitcher to throw more than four pitches.
Snow just let that one by. Gilly smoked it, but wow.
That guy should be throw out. If you interfere with the fair balls, you should be out. Period.
Mark Grant mentioned that Schmidt’s velocity on his fastball is down…
Hernandez strands 2.
Padres now 0-1, with RISP & 2 Outs. That’s always a fun stat to watch with this team.
Good evening, all. Two questions:
1) Did anyone else think Roberts should have caught Snow’s fly ball? Looked like he turned the wrong way.
2) Does it seem like Eaton is throwing that loopy 12-to-6 curve he was supposed to have tightened up?
I don’t know if Dave should have caught it, but I do know he should have been closer. He played it badly.
Moises Alou couldn’t hit it. We’ll see if he tightens it up or not.
Sweeney freakin’ rocks!
Burroughs weak fly to left. Aargh.
Some of you may know this or may have even pointed this out, but the Pythagorean standings on Rob Neyer’s page says the Dodgers and Padres closer than meets the eye: http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/neyer/index
Yeah, Eaton is hanging those curves.
Whenever a team gets out of the box like the Dodgers did, their Pythagorean will look worse than the standings. Likewise, when a team seems to be looking for new ways to lose (eg: our Pads), their Pythagorean tends to be better than the real record.
Base hit Roberts! He’d still make a damn fine fifth outfielder/pinch runner.
Gotta love that double by Roberts. Smacks it hard off the dirt about two feet in front of the plate. Ball bounce over Snow’s head and Roberts just keeps running.
Oddly enough, Leitner says this is the best stuff Eaton has had this year. Since I am listening on the radio at the office, and since Leitner’s a dolt, I’ll go with the Ducksnorts party line.
Coleman just said a called ball, “looks strikey to me.” I love that senile old fart.
Padres are 1.5 back in the RS^2/(RS^2+RA^2) standings. It’s a shame they don’t count.
Bad news: Pads have left 4 on base through 3 innings
Good news: Schmidt is up to 60 pitches
Who’s listning to the Giants feed? Is this Kuiper and the other guy who are supposed to be so good? I am underwhelmed.
I’m kind of curious to know whether people like Leitner or not. Personally, I really like him as he is understated and doesn’t take the game too seriously. Vasgersian, on the other hand, is horrible. Grant’s OK but kind of a doofus. What are your opinions?
I like Vasjkl;sen, but he tries too hard. I can’t stand Grant. I don’t like Coleman much either. Where have you gone, Joe Garagiola?
I’m okay with Leitner. I actually really like Vasgersian, except for his occasional rants about the 1996 Marlins – let it go already. I didn’t really appreciate Grant until Vasgersian came on; they work well together.
Here are the standings if you use the 1.85 exponent (see http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=342):
LA: 12-7 -
SD: 11-9 1.5
Ari: 9-11 3.5
SF: 9-11 3.5
Col: 8-10 3.5
They threw at Sean’s feet again.
Again, throwing at Burroughs’ feet.
What is the deal with the pitches at Burroughs legs? What are they afraid of, more singles to left?
I dunno, but I like Burroughs’ response: line shot back through the box. Heh.
I say we start throwing at their No. 8 hitter.
Yeah, Mike Krukow and Duane Kuiper. That’s who it is. Not that anyone cares.
Okay, so the difference between the 1.85 and the 2 exponents this early is miniscule. Guess I should’ve checked that first, huh?
OMG, they’re arguing the case for Vizquel as a HOFer. Hello, Alan Trammell?
Trammell was better than most of the HoF shortstops. Barry Larkin, who was even better than Tram, might get screwed, as well.
Speaking of screwed, how sad is it that Lou Whitaker, a better player than MANY HoFers, was wiped from the ballot after one year?
He’s not a HOFer. But seven steals for an old man is good. That was a good hit by Snow, but do all of our outfielder look lost?
I think Vizquel has an argument, but not a good enough argument. If they elected him, I wouldn’t cry about it. He’s been a hell of a player, offensively and defensively.
Ramon’s a hell of a player, too!
Finally, a nice play from the outfield.
You don’t see IBB next to Matheny’s name too often.
Lance: Good call on Whitaker and especially Larkin.
Kevin: Yeah, they look lost. Klesko’s diving catch of a routine fly ball was great.
Leitner is a very good play-by-play guy (baseball & basketball). Coleman is great. Vasgersian is decent. Mud gets on my nerves, but is still good at what he does.
Vizquel actually has a pretty decent argument as a HOFer.
Roberts’ approach at the plate vexes me…
Richard: Vizquel wouldn’t be the worst choice but there’s no way he’s in there if Trammell isn’t.
Trammell: http://www.baseball-reference.com/t/trammal01.shtml
Vizquel:
http://www.baseball-reference.com/v/vizquom01.shtml
“Vex” is a great word, BTW.
The models for Vizquel would be Ozzie and Aparicio. Don’t know how he compares to those right off hand.
Then there are veterans committee guys like Reese and Rizzuto. The former is deserving, the latter is not.
Oh man, that was a great relay. I didn’t think they had a chance to get Giles. Just got in there.
Good bit of baserunning by Giles.
Half of Vizquel’s Top 10 comps through age 37 are in: Ozzie, Rabbit Maranville, Aparicio, Reese, and Dave Bancroft.
Schmidt has thrown 125 pitches.
Schmidt up to 128 pitches.