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.)
This is a great battle between Ramon and Schmidt.
Those are good comps. If he is viewed as the Ozzie or Aparicio of his generation, then he may get in. Unfortunately for Trammell, he got lost in the Ozzie-Yount-Ripken love-in. He did everything well, but wasn’t exceptional at anything.
I agree that Trammell is more deserving, I hadn’t really noticed that was the debate. I was just saying Vizquel is a candidate in my eyes. Ramon did a great job laying off that slider…
Vizquel will lose in the A-Rod, Jeter, Nomar love-in. They might still be active when he appears on the ballot, but they (as well as Miggy) will have set a standard beyond him.
I’d call Omar a poor man’s Ozzie, and a Looie in faded colors. And that ain’t bad. But we ain’t puttin’ Bobby Bonds in the Hall of Fame just because he reminded folks of Willie Mays.
That said, I’m heading home to WATCH the rest of the game. Enjoy, boys.
BTW, any of you guys going to Monday’s game?
Damn.
I repeat: Damn.
Sweeney can’t catch, Sweeney can’t throw, Roberts can’t throw. Can anyone play defense?
Nady’s got a good arm…
What a waste of some great pitching by Eaton.
The defense of this Padre club is atrocious.
Can’t anybody here play this game?
Sandy’s gonna have some work to do.
Nevin is the Padres’ leader in HR at PacBell (with 4).
“What do you want me to do, Bruce?” – the ump
This team should be built with pitching and defense because of their home park. Just like when Mariners had 100 wins under Pinella.
They have the pitching.
.100/.100/.200/.300
Phil’s numbers against Benitez.
Uh, they’re a little better now.
.182/.182/.545/.727
Just like that!
You know what’s great? Benitez still needs to get six more outs.
Exactly what I was thinking, Geoff.
Vasgersian is right to praise Bochy’s managing of the lineup tonight.
Roberts squares around to bunt every at-bat.
That was almost comical looking.
It almost feels like the Giants want to lose more than the Padres.
I agree that the have pitching. I was just being specific.
Loretta gave that one a ride. We can get to this guy. Benitez only needed 13 pitches. Would’ve been nice to work the count more. But we’ll take the runs.
I know, Kev. My point was that they didn’t have the defense more than that they had the pitching. heh
Hell yes, we’ll take the runs.
It disturbs me somewhat that X is the last player Boch would put into the game.
This Snow at-bat has me worried.
Damn.
I shouldn’t have said anything.
You just can’t trust Linebrink and Otsuka with leads like you used to.
Aki hasn’t fooled anyone that I’ve seen this season.
Some of what they did last year was statistically anomalous.
If the Padres don’t score in the 9th, it can’t be said that Aki doesn’t deserve the loss.
Why is Hyzdu hitting?
Okay, now he only needs two outs.
Because he was due, LOL.
I’m not impressed.
Surprised he didn’t call the second pitch a strike, too.
How did they let Hyzdu steal second?
This is a huge AB for Ramon. He has to come through.
Benitez missed badly and Ramon popped it up.
Giant fan is nervous.
What the hell was that?!
The umpire has just killed them in this inning. Surprised he didn’t ring him up. That one was closer.
You guys leave?
That was awful.