In-Game Discussion: Padres vs Diamondbacks (30 Apr 2005)
Sat, Apr 30, 2005
by Geoff Young
first pitch: 7:05 p.m., PT
television: Channel 4
matchup: Brian Lawrence (1-3, 7.65 ERA) vs Shawn Estes (2-1, 3.96 ERA)
game previews: ESPN | CBS SportsLine | SI | Padres.com
AB BA OBP SLG
Lawrence vs current Diamondbacks 196 .255 .308 .398
Estes vs current Padres 224 .259 .356 .379
Lawrence has done a good job of neutralizing some of the key guys: Craig Counsell (.231/.259/.269 in 26 AB), Luis Gonzalez (.216/.256/.324 in 37 AB), Shawn Green (.235/.304/.373 in 51 AB). Green has two homers against Lawrence; Tony Clark and Chad Tracy are the only other players on the active roster to take him yard.
Of the Padres regulars, Ryan Klesko (.364/.440/.636 in 22 AB) has had the most success against Estes; Xavier Nady (.364/.364/.636 in 11 AB) and Jesse Garcia (.571/.625/1.000 in 7 AB) have done well in limited time. Ramon Hernandez (.063/.167/.063 in 16 AB) has struggled against Estes; after catching all 15 innings Friday night, tonight rather than the traditional Sunday afternoon might be a good time to start Miguel Ojeda.
Padres are 6-3 at Petco this year, outscoring the opposition 41-24 in the process. Last night was the first time an opponent had scored as many as four runs in a 2005 Padres home game. The Friars (.284/.368/.387) are outhitting the opposition (.205/.275/.290) at Petco. The pitchers have an ERA of 1.88.
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April 30, 2005 at 4:04 pm
Is it just me, or is Bochy’s Klesko for Hyzdu antics driving anyone else crazy? This is twice in three games where Bochy pulled Klesko only to Hyzdu have to hit with the game tied or with Padres in their final at bat. Klesko is our best hitter. Until I see a late inning fielding disaster by Klesko, I remain convinced Bochy is just making the odds higher that we will substitute our best hitter for one of our worst in a tight spot.
Ironically, in both cases, Hyzdu got a hit, but that is just luck. I hope he starts to learn, though unlikely.
Split-related gripes about Bochy:
1/4 of Roberts at bats are against lefties, though he has .120 OPS difference; not crazy different, but I see no reason not to substitute Nady whenever a leftie comes in to face Roberts. Nady’s splits are fine in case this triggered a pitching change.
Time to consider platooning Nevin with Sweeney or Nady? Nevin has a staggering .400 OPS split; crushing lefties, ugly against righties. Sweeney’s OPS against righties is .853. Given our offense is a bit sluggish, I vote for squeezing every good match up out of the AB’s that we can.
April 30, 2005 at 7:01 pm
Speaking of gripes, if Klesko is sitting this one out for a reason other than being injured/ill, I have one.
April 30, 2005 at 7:46 pm
anybody watching on MLBtv?
April 30, 2005 at 7:55 pm
Richard: Radio guys said Klesko is a little banged up from last night’s collision with Blum.
April 30, 2005 at 7:57 pm
Kotsay wins game in the 10th for Athletics.
April 30, 2005 at 8:04 pm
Hey, Geoff, I put up a picture of Anna on Padres Nation.
April 30, 2005 at 8:09 pm
Lawrence is looking very solid. Good movement.
April 30, 2005 at 8:12 pm
Sean Burroughs hits a bomb. Sweet!
April 30, 2005 at 8:12 pm
Sweet. That’s Burroughs’ first. He just tied Ken Griffey.
April 30, 2005 at 8:20 pm
Jay: I think it’s a little early to think about platooning Nevin. He’s still one of our best hitters and he’s been very hot of late (.320/.346/.720 over last seven days). Nevin also got off to a horrible start against RHP this year (.045/.087/.045); since then he’s hitting .308/.341/.538 against them. I do agree that Nady needs to get as many PAs as possible.
April 30, 2005 at 8:20 pm
11 consecutive shutout innings vs. D-backs.
April 30, 2005 at 8:22 pm
Kevin: Nice photo! No disrespect to Alderson, but this is much better.
April 30, 2005 at 8:25 pm
Thanks. Beauty over brains, in this case.
April 30, 2005 at 8:29 pm
What is Lawrence’s pitch count? I wonder if he gets to finish this after Hoffman’s performance last night. …
April 30, 2005 at 8:32 pm
12 consecutive scoreless innings.
April 30, 2005 at 8:34 pm
First real trouble of the night for Lawrence. First and second, nobody out. Green swings at the first pitch and grounds into a 4-6-3 DP. Tracy hits a line smash back at Lawrence, who snags it to end the inning.
ESPN has Lawrence at 87 pitches. Seanez and Reyes were throwing that inning.
April 30, 2005 at 8:37 pm
Damn, Ramon crushed that pitch. Wrong part of the park.
April 30, 2005 at 8:41 pm
Burroughs: .324/.397/.382 ($1.7M)
Griffey: .244/.315/.366 ($10.4M)
April 30, 2005 at 8:44 pm
13 consecutive shutout innings.
April 30, 2005 at 8:47 pm
Lawrence is at 97 pitches. Trevor’s warming up.
April 30, 2005 at 8:48 pm
Brace yourselves.
April 30, 2005 at 8:49 pm
Hoffman was, of course, the last Padres pitcher to give up a run.
April 30, 2005 at 8:51 pm
The Arizona broadcasters said the Padres might have the best bullpen in the majors. I sure wish they would start pitching like it.
April 30, 2005 at 8:51 pm
I think with only 99 pitches thrown, B-Law should be allowed to finish this game himself. I have faith in Trevor, but I think it’s still Lawrence’s game.
April 30, 2005 at 8:53 pm
Hoffman also has *never* blown back-to-back saves. Hyzdu draws a walk.
April 30, 2005 at 8:54 pm
Lawrence’s line: 8 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 7 SO.
April 30, 2005 at 8:55 pm
I would agree. Hoffman is the man. But the D-backs are dying to get rid of Lawrence, so why pull him?
April 30, 2005 at 8:56 pm
due up vs Trevor in the 9th:
Counsell: .143/.200/.214 (14 AB)
Cintron: 0 for 3
Gonzalez: .273/.360/.500 (22 AB)
April 30, 2005 at 9:00 pm
Hell’s Bells.
April 30, 2005 at 9:00 pm
Loretta is so clutch. Great job by Roberts to avoid being tagged until after Hyzdu crossed the plate. Trevor has two runs to work with now.
April 30, 2005 at 9:02 pm
One out. (Death)
April 30, 2005 at 9:04 pm
Two outs. (Taxes)
April 30, 2005 at 9:04 pm
Trevor is dealing. That change he threw to strike out Cintron was filthy.
April 30, 2005 at 9:05 pm
Three outs. (Hoffman)
April 30, 2005 at 9:05 pm
And there it is. Tomorrow we go for the sweep. Great way to finish up April.
Game time: 1:58. Wow!
April 30, 2005 at 9:06 pm
What a short game.
April 30, 2005 at 9:13 pm
They’re talking to Lawrence. He altered the grip on his breaking ball, getting better movement. Grant always asks good questions.
Pads finish April with a better record than the Yankees.
April 30, 2005 at 9:51 pm
2-0. Outstanding performance by Lawrence tonight. Nice to see Trevor bounce back and shut up the critics.
May 1, 2005 at 7:57 am
This one was not on MLB Extra Innings, so missed it, but B Law seems amazing. Nice bounce back. Geoff, thanks for the update on Nevin. The recent numbers do suggest his OPS splits will return to his historical .300 or so, which is OK I guess (last 3 years: LHP: 1.032; RHP: .732).