first pitch: 11:15 a.m., PT
television: Channel 4
matchup: Adam Eaton (3-1, 3.48 ERA) vs Chris Carpenter (4-1, 3.86 ERA)
game preview: CBS SportsLine
AB BA OBP SLG
Eaton vs current Cardinals 97 .247 .362 .546
Carpenter vs current Padres 84 .226 .261 .298
Anybody notice the Pads have won five straight? Sure, those first three were at home against the Rockies. But now they’ve won the first two at Busch Stadium (where the Friars hadn’t won since 2001), against a Cardinals team that has the NL’s best record.
They battled in both games, including Friday night’s victory where starter Darrell May couldn’t get out of the fourth inning. The winning rally started when pinch-hitter Xavier Nady was hit on the back foot by a 1-2 pitch with two outs. When’s the last time the Friars turned something like that into three runs?
Brian Giles is out of his slump. The bullpen is getting it done. Khalil Greene is due back Monday. Things are looking up, my friends.
I’m out this morning, so chat away. And remember: Chin Waggers at Danky’s in Carlsbad tonight. The rockin’ starts at 7 p.m. Swing by and say hey. 
I know it has been discussed, but why is X getting so little playing time? All he does is come in and hit +.900 OPS while Roberts is hurt and earns…a nice cozy bench spot. Roberts is hitting for surprising power, but his OBP is like .320 or something. Both Loretta and Burroughs are reaching at near .400 clips without much power so they might be better lead-off types for now. He is a likeable player, but he should never see a left-handed pitcher and X needs more time.
I like Hyzdu as well, but am kind of glad to see him go so Bochy isn’t as tempted to substitute Klesko.
But, for all my bitching, I love the 5 in a row. Yes, 4 of them have been 1-run games (i.e. a bit of luck on our side), but I will take 1 run games at Busch any day. It also 7 of 8, including the Arizona series.
Final rant: last night, I was getting infuriated by the ump. I know I am biased, but felt he was calling the outside right of the plate way too generously, and seemingly very one-sided. Either the Pads pitchers weren’t hitting that spot, or he was not giving it to them. And, to accompany the wide right side of the zone, he was calling the inside side as well. I have Tivo so replayed most of my gripes and felt affirmed that indeed those pitches were highly questionable. And it did not seem to even out. I did not keep detailed count, but it seemed like 10-2 in generous strikes for Cards vs. Pads. But 1 of the 2 for us was the final strike that Hoffman got, so maybe it was worth it.
Any one notice Garcia’s splits? I don’t think I have seen anything like this before:
vs. RHP:
AB 19
H 0
BB 0
K 9
AVG .000
OBP .000
SLG .000
vs LHP
AB 14
H 5
BB 3
K 2
AVG .357
OBP .471
SLG .571
No there is a guy who should never, ever see a RHP; I have not seen any recently, so maybe Bochy and co have caught on.
I was playing with the splits to confirm that X’s splits against RHP are solid (.881 OPS vs. .771 vs. LHP), so he could play center against lefties (getting Roberts out vs. LHP) and spell Nevin against RHP (huge split difference). Or better yet, teach Garcia how to play center for LHP… (a joke).
Those splits for Garcia are ridiculous… Nice find.
Geoff, your mentioning the streak has doomed it to end.
What’s happened to Carpenter’s control?
“Nicely done, sir.” – Matty V.
Mark Sweeney comes through, again!
I’m a little surprised that Carpenter is still in there.
Outfield assist by Ryan Klesko? Believe it.
Dave Roberts has drawn two walks today. That’s good to see.
How’s it going, Richard? Your last two comments prove just well everything is going. I mean, we are doing everything well. Wow.
Hey, Kevin. It’s nice to see things go in our favor, isn’t it?
Linebrink has just been poor this year (ARP -2.0).
Did DJ not get the tag down? Yep. That’s what happened.
And Linebrink strands the tying run. That’s how well things are going!
I have to go meet up with my girlfriend. Later. Go Padres!
Linebrink is about the only member of the bullpen not pitching well. If he gets on track, it’s a great, great pen.
Padres win the game, win the series. Trevor’s at 401. ESPN still doesn’t care. Go Padres!
Trade Hoffman to the Cubs.
Jay-I’m not as frustrated by the DRoberts thing as much as you are…not because you aren’t absolutely correct, but, um. I’m not sure. 6 straight does that to you. Call me a casual fan.
Anybody still out there? If you saw Fick’s PH, please describe … I’m hoping that he becomes a good hitter for us off the bench … able to Catch in a pinch … seems to me that he can be a contributor of depth … a key ingredient for winning clubs …
A few gripes; like why bat Sweeney in the 9th with Nady on the bench? I don’t know Sweeney’s splits, but if hit lefties like he hit righties, he would not a bench player. And why pull Linebrink after one batter in the 7th? He’s well rested, and Aki pitched the night before. Aki made it through the inning, but he did not have his best stuff. Neither did Hoffman, but a win is a win.
6 in a row, 8 of 9. My dark fear is that 5 of the 6 have been 1 run games. Yes we have a great pen, but winning one run games has a lot of luck in it. My hope is that we start winning 2-4 run games.
But a win is still sweet, no matter the margin, statistics or whatever.