Runs Would Be Nice
Thu, Apr 21, 2005
by Geoff Young
Now that was an irritating way to lose a game (box score). Quick bullet points, because I simply don’t have the time to launch into the full-on assault I’d prefer.
- Derek Lowe is a good pitcher, but he’s not as good as the Padres are making him look. This is not Kevin Brown, okay?
- Difference in the game: Their homer went fair, ours stayed foul. Blum crushed a ball in the seventh that just hooked wide of the right-field foul pole. He keeps that fair, it’s a 4-0 game when the bullpen takes over. Heck, a little less loft on the ball he hit a few pitches later and he finds the gap in right-center to make it 3-0. What do they say: It’s a game of inches?
- I’m beginning to take a disliking to J.D. Drew. First it was that Nintendo play last year where he threw out Mark Loretta at the plate to end a game. Now a game-tying homer in the eighth. Oh, and his first name is David? Memo to no-one in particular: There is no “J” in David (yes, I know his middle name is Jonathan; please don’t bother me with facts when I’m being snide).
- Don’t let the two errors fool you, the Dodgers defense is real good. Those guys can get to some balls. That left side of the infield is outstanding. And oh, to have outfielders like those roam Petco.
- Speaking of Dodgers outfielders, what’s up with Milton Bradley? Does he glare at the opposing pitcher every time a pitch moves him off the plate? It’s an interesting strategy for getting on base; he’ll be a perrenial favorite to lead the league in HBP if he keeps doing that.
- Yeah, the bullpen blew the lead, but a pitching staff really needs more than one run. And I see they’ve re-reversed the call on Linebrink’s play in the 10th. Drew is now credited with an infield hit, adding two earned runs to Linebrink’s line. Don’t believe the box score; there were two errors on the play - the first came when Linebrink mishandled Drew’s grounder, the second came when he proceeded to throw the ball down the right field line.
And now we move to the tabular portion of our show. Bear in mind that it’s very early still (i.e., the usual small sample disclaimer applies)…
Heart of the Order: Brian Giles/Phil Nevin/Ryan Klesko
AB H 2B 3B HR BB SO BA OBP SLG BB/PA ISO XB/H 163 34 9 1 7 30 31 .209 .327 .405 .153 .196 .500
- Good news: They’re drawing walks and hitting the ball with authority when they make contact.
- Bad news: They’re not making a lot of contact. That’s not what you want for $26M.
Say it with once more, with feeling: It’s very early still.
Home/Road Splits: Can They Turn This to Their Advantage?
At Petco
AB H 2B 3B HR BB SO BA OBP SLG
Padres 236 59 10 4 3 35 33 .250 .349 .364
Opponents 249 54 7 2 2 24 51 .217 .292 .285
Away from Petco
AB H 2B 3B HR BB SO BA OBP SLG
Padres 270 62 13 0 10 35 55 .230 .318 .389
Opponents 276 84 17 1 12 20 58 .304 .351 .504
Here’s the condensed version:
Petco OPS Non-Petco OPS
Padres 713 707
Opponents 578 855
Looks like the hitters are ahead of the pitchers in adjusting to Petco this year. Here are Padres pitching home/road splits:
IP ERA H/9 HR/9 BB/9 SO/9
Home 67.0 1.88 7.25 0.27 3.22 6.85
Road 67.2 5.59 11.17 1.60 2.66 7.71
Hmmm, that’s not good. Granted, three of the eight road games have been at Coors, but still. Here’s hoping this is a small-sample anomaly.
Tunes: Jeff Buckley, Elliott Smith, Pinback, Was (Not Was), Poi Dog Pondering, Thingy, Israel Kamakawiwo’ole, This Mortal Coil, Keali’i Reichel
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April 21, 2005 at 8:56 am
Geoff gettin’ a bit spicy up in this piece. I like it.
Your usual respectful, peaceable, tone is great, but every once and a while, this is too.
April 21, 2005 at 11:23 am
Yeah, usually you get the cool, reserved German side of me. But push hard enough and the Wild Welshman emerges from hiding.
April 21, 2005 at 3:42 pm
Interesting splits on Petco, almost a complete reverse from last year. They had one of the best road OPS last year, and the dead, dead last home OPS of any team. They had a sizeable differential in OPS vs. opponents at home, which is sliding.
I still think we have the best pitching in the West, even if our hitters are making the opposing pitchers look like Cy Young winners. Who knew Tim Redmond, Josh Fogg, Scott Erickson and Derek Lowe were so good? Our core 3 are in that part of their career where were seeing serious decline is far from rare.
But I remain hopeful. Klesko had an OPS of .945 in the second half last year, suggesting his season dip was related to the surgery and is now done. Giles decline I think will be slow; not worth what we gave up, but still solid. Nevin is an unknown; his swings have been looking a lot better lately. Lots of outs seem on solid smacks, so getting a bit unlucky.
April 21, 2005 at 4:49 pm
It would seem to me that the Home/Road splits look the way they do (in part) because they’ve played more games against LA on the Road…
April 21, 2005 at 5:00 pm
We want MORE wild Welshman! Patience is a virtue and all that but this franchise has used up more patience and excuses than it’s due.
Welcome Sandy Alderson!! Maybe at long last this tolerance, perhaps even acceptance of, mediocrity will at long last end!
April 21, 2005 at 7:25 pm
Dave Roberts is very fast…
April 21, 2005 at 7:30 pm
Nevin gave that one a ride, but it was only good for one run.
April 21, 2005 at 7:32 pm
2 RBI’s from our 3-4-5 hitters in the first inning.
April 21, 2005 at 7:38 pm
Nice grab by Giles. Eaton’s scaring me a bit early on…
April 21, 2005 at 7:41 pm
Sean’s 4th error of the year. Wow.
April 21, 2005 at 10:19 pm
Lake Elsinore pounded High Desert tonight 12-2 … lead by 3-run HR for Mike Johnson and Fernando Jr going 4-for-5 (now up to .390)… also Kottaras went 2-for-4 (now up to .341) … Sean Thompson 3-0 with ERA = 1.62 … box @ http://www.minorleaguebaseball.....x_lesafx_1
April 21, 2005 at 10:20 pm
One more note … Matt Bush hit his first HR of the year for Ft. Wayne … http://www.minorleaguebaseball.....x_ftwafx_1
April 21, 2005 at 10:23 pm
I just saw this interesting note @ BA’s “Daily Dish” column …
The Brewers’ plan was to slow down Anthony Gwynn’s development track, and the 22-year-old outfielder is responding positively early this season. A second-round pick out of San Diego State in 2003, Gwynn was grouped together with first baseman Prince Fielder and second baseman Rickie Weeks since they were together at Rookie-level Beloit. But Gwynn struggled last season, hitting .243/.318/.311 at Double-A Huntsville after all three prospects skipped high Class A. Gwynn is back in Huntsville while Weeks and Fielder have moved on to Triple-A, and in his first 45 at-bats, he’s hitting .311/.392/.333.
April 22, 2005 at 2:21 pm
Bush has shown decent power with 33% of his hits being for extra bases. However, he’s shown poor control with only 3 walks to his 12 strikeouts in (I want to say) 57 at-bats.
He could still play another year at Low-A ball without really falling behind where he’s supposed to be. Time will tell, I suppose.