In-Game Discussion: Padres @ Diamondbacks (25 May 2005)
Wed, May 25, 2005
by Geoff Young
first pitch: 6:40 7:10 p.m., PT
television: Channel 4
matchup: Darrell May (0-0, 4.24 ERA) vs Brad Halsey (3-2, 3.54 ERA)
The Friars beat Arizona in Tuesday night’s opener at the BOB. The final score was 9-5, but it shouldn’t have been that close. The Snakes’ starter, Russ Ortiz, worked behind in the count all night and was bailed out several times by inexplicably overanxious Padres hitters. (To give one example: In the third inning alone, Ortiz threw 15 balls and 4 strikes, but didn’t surrender a single run; he walked the bases loaded with two outs and then induced Khalil Greene to hit a weak foul popup to Troy Glaus on a 1-0 pitch to end the inning. Before the popup, 13 of Ortiz’ previous 14 pitches had missed the mark; why is Greene hacking?)
The good news is, the Padres got some timely hitting from Phil Nevin, Dave Roberts, and Robert Fick, and hung on to get Adam Eaton his sixth straight victory. Trevor Hoffman capped an “interesting” ninth inning by retiring Craig Counsell on a deep fly ball to right for a one-pitch save. With the win, the Friars move back into first place in the NL West, a half game ahead of Arizona.
Wednesday night features two left-handers.
AB BA OBP SLG
May vs current Diamondbacks 68 .309 .364 .485
Glaus (.545/.583/.727 in 11 AB) is the only batter who has double-digit at-bats against May. Tony Clark and Quinton McCracken have the homers. For whatever reason, the spot in the lineup giving May the most trouble so far this year is the #8 hole (.538/.571/.923 in 13 AB). That’s a real small sample, though, so it could be a fluke. Again, with limited data points, May has been very tough with RISP (.200/.250/.267 in 30 AB); those numbers are pretty far out of line with what he’s done over the past several years, so it’s probably a fluke. It’s also helps explain the respectable ERA despite weak supporting numbers. Eventually those guys May puts on base are going to start scoring. Every time he gets the start, you just hope he can keep it close until the bullpen arrives. It has the potential to be ugly sometimes, but how is that any worse than what the Pads had at #5 for much of 2004?
For the Snakes, Halsey makes his 16th big league start and second against San Diego. His first game against the Pads last month was pretty darned good, although Nevin and Ramon Hernandez did take him deep.
X Factor
Xavier Nady did not play in Tuesday night’s contest and remains well rested. He has sat out 4 games in a row, and 8 of the last 11.
G AB BA OBP SLG
thru Apr 13 8 34 .412 .459 .824
since Apr 13 24 52 .154 .279 .250
(Thanks to David Pinto’s Day by Day Database for those numbers.)
I’m beginning to think the bench may not be the best place for Nady. I wonder if anyone else could use his services.
Pizza Feed
In the comments to yesterday’s In-Game Discussion LynchMob alerted us to the Baseball Prospectus Pizza Feed that is happening at Petco Friday, June 24. Padres GM Kevin Towers will be speaking. More info is available over at Prospectus. Maybe we can get a bunch of Ducksnorters out there.
Picking up where last year's version left off, the Ducksnorts 2008 Baseball Annual provides in-depth analysis of and commentary on the San Diego Padres. Get your copy today.
May 25, 2005 at 2:10 am
Hey, we didn’t have a GM at the BP Pizza Feed in the Bay Area! What gives?!
May 25, 2005 at 8:37 am
Woo hoo!!! The Pizza Feed was great last year. Towers doesn’t hold back with his thoughts, to say the least.
I’ll be there again, thanks for the info, Geoff.
May 25, 2005 at 9:55 am
So what did that one pitch save do for Trevor’s average pitch per save-o-meter? (APP-SOM)
May 25, 2005 at 10:24 am
I’d trade him to Atlanta. Send Nady and Falkenborg (they need bullpen help) for Kelly Johnson & a low-level pitching prospect…
KJ is hitting (.299/.429/.558) in his first taste of AAA (& the International Lg. is more of a pitchers’ haven). He has more BB than SO (32/22), he has hit 12 2B and 8 HR and has solid athleticism (he came up as a SS but his build and error-prone ways led to a move to the OF).
May 25, 2005 at 10:31 am
I do like Peter’s suggestion there. Anything to stop Bochy from using Falkenborg would make me happy, though.
May 25, 2005 at 10:43 am
You will be assimilated, Richard.
May 25, 2005 at 10:48 am
To answer my own question, Trevor’s current APP-SOM is as follows:
It’s taken Trevor 113 pitches in May to get those 9 saves, an average of 12.55 P/SV.
On the season, he’s currently averaging 15.93 pitches per save.
So yeah.
May 25, 2005 at 11:28 am
BP’s calling Eaton LUCKy …
STAT OF THE DAY
Top 5 Luckiest NL Starters, by LUCK
Player, Team, W, L, E(W), E(L), LUCK
Brandon Webb, ARI, 6, 0, 3.4, 2.9, 5.5
Mark Mulder, SLN, 6, 1, 3.1, 3.3, 5.2
Chris Carpenter, SLN, 7, 2, 4.0, 3.6, 4.6
Adam Eaton, SDN, 6, 1, 3.3, 2.8, 4.6
Livan Hernandez, WAS, 7, 2, 4.5, 3.1, 3.6
Eh, it’s nice to be lucky AND good
May 25, 2005 at 11:38 am
He has been lucky.
May 25, 2005 at 11:39 am
This from the Tribune: Towers again shot down rumors that the Padres are looking to trade for Mets center fielder Mike Cameron. Phil Nevin’s name has surfaced in trade rumors – but Nevin can veto a trade to the Mets.
May 25, 2005 at 11:42 am
Also, from CBS SportsLine: Padres GM Kevin Towers isn’t going to make a panic move to replace all-star 2B Mark Loretta, who is on the DL for two months, but if he wants to make a deal, Philadelphia’s Placido Polanco or Kaz Matsui would be readily available, says the San Diego Union Tribune.
May 25, 2005 at 11:55 am
http://www.signonsandiego.com/.....livan.html
This is the link to the Tim Sullivan article about possible trades to replace Loretta. This is the upshot from Towers: “There have been a lot of rumors out there that we’re talking to clubs. We’re not. We’re going to go with Blum and Damian (Jackson).”
May 25, 2005 at 5:29 pm
Geoff-
If the Padres were looking to deal Nady, shouldn’t they showcase him a little by giving him an at-bat more than once a month?
This goes back to an in-game discussion we had during one of the weekend games: Do you think the A’s would deal Zito straight up for Nady? If not, what else would it take? By the by, Zito’s 2005 contract is for $5.6MM, with a club option for 2006. I know you had reservations about Kevin Millwood, what other ideas did you have about a Nady deal when you said “I wonder if anyone else could use his services”?
PS: Stat du jour - Padre pitching has allowed 2.85 runs/game at home, 5.46 runs/game on the road.
May 25, 2005 at 5:37 pm
An interesting article about lack of HRs in big leagues … http://tinyurl.com/cxrsl … which starts off with this line …
What in the name of Enzo Hernandez is going on this season?
May 25, 2005 at 6:16 pm
Brian, I don’t have any specific ideas about what Nady might fetch. I haven’t thought it through real carefully because I still think the better option is to find him a place in the Padres lineup. I guess I wish they would play him or trade him, and I’d rather they play him.
If the Pads are set on not giving Nady a shot, Millwood isn’t the worst option. We’d at least get draft picks if he chose not to re-sign.
May 25, 2005 at 7:03 pm
I heard Bochy on the radio a while back talking about Nady being someone that they weren’t willing to trade..for whatever that is worth
May 25, 2005 at 7:04 pm
Is Nady a FA next year or is he only eligible for arbitration?
May 25, 2005 at 7:13 pm
Free agency requires 6 years in the bigs. Arbitration requires three, if I’m not mistaken. I don’t think Nady’s approaching either.
May 25, 2005 at 7:13 pm
I think Zito may be a hired gun this year…and he love Ramon Hernandez
May 25, 2005 at 7:15 pm
Pads score first!
May 25, 2005 at 7:17 pm
That was the first time I saw that HR from Phil last night…we’ll see if he can step it up…usually a good thing when he starts going there…
May 25, 2005 at 7:24 pm
Hey Rich, good to see you here.
May 25, 2005 at 7:24 pm
Regarding Nady: I believe he signed a Major League contract straight out of college so I also believe that makes him arbitration-eligible at the end of this year. I think.
I could hedge more on that statement if you like.
May 25, 2005 at 7:26 pm
May’s Dilemma: Can’t afford to miss, can’t afford to throw too many strikes.
May 25, 2005 at 7:27 pm
Nady went straight to the show as a condition of his contract.
May 25, 2005 at 7:27 pm
thx for the welcome Geoff
May 25, 2005 at 7:29 pm
bye bye lead
May 25, 2005 at 7:29 pm
Miguel Ojeda is the emergency pitcher, right? I have a feeling we may see him tonight.
May 25, 2005 at 7:30 pm
What the hell is wrong with Darrell May? How do you throw a guy a pitch like that when you have him 0-2?
May 25, 2005 at 7:32 pm
I think Rich is a jinx.
May 25, 2005 at 7:32 pm
Yuck. Defense has to be absolutely perfect behind a guy like May.
May 25, 2005 at 7:32 pm
I think May is a jinx.
May 25, 2005 at 7:38 pm
I think May is a flyball pitcher in the second highest elevation in baseball…
May 25, 2005 at 7:40 pm
If being buried at the end of the bench is bothering Nady, he sure isn’t letting it show.
May 25, 2005 at 7:42 pm
Giants post four in the first.
They will tie LA, be a game over .500 and get back to four games out of first with a win tonight.
May 25, 2005 at 7:46 pm
Hey everyone what have a I missed if anything?
May 25, 2005 at 7:48 pm
May is a bum…I say designate him…I’d rather see Germano out there than him. He’s absolutely horrible and fools no one.
May 25, 2005 at 7:49 pm
no one except Counsel
May 25, 2005 at 8:00 pm
Clank. Thank you, Royce Clayton.
They’re calling it a hit. Hilarious.
May 25, 2005 at 8:00 pm
that could be big! …but it is not a hit!
May 25, 2005 at 8:02 pm
damn it Phil!
May 25, 2005 at 8:02 pm
Nevin strikes out. So much for that.
May 25, 2005 at 8:09 pm
Great Job by Mark Grant…catches a foul in the booth, finds a kid to throw it to, then chews out a guy who tries to take it instead of giving it to the kid! “Hey you clown!”
May 25, 2005 at 8:09 pm
Grant catches a foul ball in the booth. Vasgersian is going nuts. Grant throws the ball to a fan but someone else grabs it; Grant starts yelling at the guy, who finally gives it to a little girl Grant was trying to throw it to. Beautiful.
May 25, 2005 at 8:29 pm
Khalil is just hot, hot, hot!
May 25, 2005 at 8:30 pm
How’s May looked, I got pulled away from the game right after I sat down to watch?
May 25, 2005 at 8:32 pm
He wants Nevin, not Ryan.
May 25, 2005 at 8:34 pm
May has settled some…Ump got fooled by the way the foot flailed…then Nevin lucks out…tie ball game
May 25, 2005 at 8:35 pm
This is goofy. Umpire blows the call on Klesko’s grounder and calls him safe. Nevin hits a weak popup on the first pitch with bases loaded but gets bailed out when Cruz drops the ball. Tie game.
May 25, 2005 at 8:36 pm
Why did Nevin and Giles both swing at the first pitch with the bases full?
May 25, 2005 at 8:37 pm
What was with both Nevin and Giles swinging at the first pitch?
May 25, 2005 at 8:40 pm
That inning was like a death by papercuts. But I will take the runs any way you can get ‘em.
May 25, 2005 at 8:41 pm
That was a “give-back”…ump can call interference when you hook a foot like that…Clayton’s foot got in between nady and second and when Clayton fell back he pulled X up & off…
May 25, 2005 at 8:41 pm
What a weird inning. But it’s 6-3; we’ll take it.
May 25, 2005 at 8:42 pm
Hrbek-like…great comparison. like I said…
May 25, 2005 at 8:43 pm
Insult to injury: They charged Halsey with an error on the Klesko grounder. Halsey actually made a nice play to get to the bag and get the out. Harsh.
May 25, 2005 at 8:45 pm
Not the call you would expect from the home town scorer.
May 25, 2005 at 8:50 pm
May is reaching the end of his effectiveness…they had him on a 75 pitch watch. They will try to qualify him for the W.
May 25, 2005 at 8:55 pm
Double switch - Dj to center
May 25, 2005 at 8:56 pm
Nady’s night is done. Home run Tony Clark. You can’t really expect to win the games May starts.
May 25, 2005 at 8:57 pm
There is no way that we should be letting the likes of Tony Clark and Royce Clayton beating us.
May 25, 2005 at 8:59 pm
Geoff, we had won them both…May is no worse than Tank or Germano or Hitch was…and he was gassed, remember he had adapted to bullpen work…May hasn’t given them the lead, Rudy has…
May 25, 2005 at 8:59 pm
Welcome to batting practice.
May 25, 2005 at 9:00 pm
That lead was nice while it lasted.
May 25, 2005 at 9:01 pm
Sure, Seanez coughed up the lead. But you’re not going to win many when the starter gives up six.
May 25, 2005 at 9:01 pm
All of those homers were crushed, especially Torrero’s.
May 25, 2005 at 9:02 pm
On the bright side, DJ is in the lineup to help mount a comeback. Sigh.
May 25, 2005 at 9:04 pm
Beware that third time through the lineup when May pitches.
May 25, 2005 at 9:05 pm
Bochy just wanted to strategically place Seanez in the order so he could get a couple innings out of him *sarcasm off*.
May 25, 2005 at 9:05 pm
Damn. Can’t blame DJ for that. Nice play by Glaus.
May 25, 2005 at 9:06 pm
” But you’re not going to win many when the starter gives up six.”
granted, no doubt about that…
May 25, 2005 at 9:06 pm
DJ could have just pitch here anyway if Bochy wanted the speedster to get on base. Either that or Bochy all of a sudden decided he needed a “superior” defender in center.
May 25, 2005 at 9:29 pm
Anybody wanna tell me why we haven’t locked him up yet?
May 25, 2005 at 9:29 pm
And thank you, Bob Melvin, for having Lopez pitch to Ramon right there. Tied up again.
May 25, 2005 at 9:33 pm
Has Burroughs hit a ball out of the infield yet (besides the one that trickled out there after the error)?
May 25, 2005 at 9:37 pm
SAN DIEGO CATCHER RAMON HERNANDEZ DOUBLED IN THE SEVENTH INNING TO EXTEND HIS HITTING STREAK TO 12 GAMES.
May 25, 2005 at 9:43 pm
I wonder what our record is when not trailing after 7 full innings … I gotta like our chances this evening! We know one thing … May won’t pitch any more this game
May 25, 2005 at 9:47 pm
I’m interested in any opinions on how Valverde is looking … I’ve got him on my roto team … thanks … but haven’t seen him yet this season.
May 25, 2005 at 9:51 pm
Valverde on your roto team? Come on Lynch! Drop it like its hot!
That’s why I’m in an AL only roto team. I don’t have to root against the Padres to win.
May 25, 2005 at 9:53 pm
It looks like our hope that Nevin had broken out of his slump was a bit premature.
May 25, 2005 at 9:57 pm
Rich Campbell at the plate…
May 25, 2005 at 9:58 pm
Hey Peter … AL roto? What is the AL? Why do you think they call it the “junior circuit”?
I just make sure that I have a good enough roto team that I don’t have to root against the Padres
BTW, in general, I don’t acquire Padres … I can’t stand the double-whammy when they lose
May 25, 2005 at 10:00 pm
Aki and Seanez both are struggling in this series.
May 25, 2005 at 10:00 pm
Aki’s in trouble again … 2 on, 0 out …
May 25, 2005 at 10:02 pm
LOL - touche’ AL works better for Roto anyway, you don’t have to worry about pitchers hitting…
Padres vs. LynchMob Propellerheads
It’s a lose-lose situation. Either you’re upset about your roto team, or upset about our Padres…
May 25, 2005 at 10:02 pm
OMG, it’s Reyes.
May 25, 2005 at 10:02 pm
If they get out of this with only giving up the tying run, it will be a miracle. Nevermind, Reyes is coming in. I give up all hope.
May 25, 2005 at 10:04 pm
Bruce, what’s amazing is that we’re even in this one at all. It’s the exact reverse of last night’s game: they’ve had numerous chances to put us away but haven’t been able to do it.
May 25, 2005 at 10:05 pm
I agree. Without those gifts in the fifth we are done.
May 25, 2005 at 10:05 pm
Ironic if Denny’s Reyes bails Aki out with a couple K’s
May 25, 2005 at 10:06 pm
I want to punch Bochy in his enormous face.
May 25, 2005 at 10:07 pm
This is gonna get ugly real quick.
May 25, 2005 at 10:07 pm
Council should pay me & I should have turned the TV off. When I watch him, he hits.
May 25, 2005 at 10:07 pm
How do you put Aki in to pitch the 8th after what he did last night? How do you not put Hammond in after what he did last night?
May 25, 2005 at 10:08 pm
Arizona and the umps tried to give this one to us, but Bochy wasn’t having it. Managers don’t win games, but they do lose them for you.
May 25, 2005 at 10:08 pm
I don’t know why Hernandez didn’t go down on his knees for that one.
May 25, 2005 at 10:09 pm
Why didn’t Hammond open the 8th? Why?
May 25, 2005 at 10:09 pm
If Hoffy were really a lights-out closer, wouldn’t/shouldn’t he have been brought in instead of Reyes?
May 25, 2005 at 10:10 pm
Hey, we got an out.
May 25, 2005 at 10:10 pm
Who wouldn’t you bring in over Reyes?
May 25, 2005 at 10:10 pm
Much less I don’t know how you put in Reyes after his last two outings into such a high leverage situation. If your best relief pitcher can only pitch three outs, are these three outs no more important than those in the ninth? Of course they aren’t, but that is what happens when most managers manage their bullpen by rote.
May 25, 2005 at 10:12 pm