In-Game Discussion: Padres @ Diamondbacks (26 May 2005)
Thu, May 26, 2005
by Geoff Young
first pitch: 6:40 p.m., PT
television: Channel 4
matchup: Jake Peavy (4-0, 2.29 ERA) vs Brandon Webb (6-0, 3.32 ERA)
previews: ESPN | CBS | SI | Padres.com
Now that was an ugly game. Nobody really deserved to win it, but the Snakes hung on to reclaim first place in the NL West.
Who do you blame in a 12-11 loss? Well, this was pretty much a team effort. Poor starting pitching, poor relief pitching, overaggressiveness at the plate where a baserunner or even a ball hit solidly into play could have made a difference, questionable bench substitutions. This one had it all.
One interesting outcome of the loss is Akinori Otsuka has been bumped from the primary setup role. The reason I say “interesting” is that we’ve talked in numerous In-Game Discussions about the slavish obssession with a set bullpen pecking order. (This is less a complaint with Bruce Bochy than with what has become the status quo in MLB, for those wondering.) The fact that Scott Linebrink will assume what had been Otsuka’s role shouldn’t really be much of an issue. Nor should it preclude the likes of Chris Hammond and Rudy Seanez from working the eighth if needed.
But I digress. Thursday night sees the staff aces square off against each other yet again. Their previous matchups this season:
23 Apr @ Ari
IP H R ER HR BB SO
Peavy 7.0 4 1 1 0 1 8
Webb 8.0 5 1 1 0 1 5
29 Apr @ SD
IP H R ER HR BB SO
Peavy 8.0 6 3 3 1 1 7
Webb 6.0 12 4 4 1 2 3
With luck, Peavy can stay true to form and give the Pads 7+ innings to help rest an overworked bullpen.
AB BA OBP SLG
Peavy vs current Diamondbacks 148 .257 .309 .480
Webb vs current Padres 156 .224 .267 .295
Luis Gonzalez (.458/.519/1.000 in 24 AB) absolutely owns Peavy. Alex Cintron (.286/.412/.643 in 14 AB) and Craig Counsell (.308/.438/.615 in 13 AB) have done very well also. What’s up with Counsell this year, anyway? He’s always been a pest, but now he’s almost impossible to get out.
You know the story with Webb; he abuses most everyone in the lineup. He also is much tougher earlier in games than late:
Inn. 1-3: .151/.225/.194 Inn. 4-6: .327/.365/.495 Inn. 7-9: .359/.372/.590
Padres batters lead the NL with 173 unintentional walks; they’re second with 31 stolen bases (at a respectable 74% rate).
X Factor
Xavier Nady started in center field Wednesday night. Batting seventh, he went 2 for 3 with 2 RBI before being removed for Damian Jackson as part of a double switch in the fifth. The decision to remove a key hitter in the middle innings of a tie game was “interesting” and was one of the many reasons this loss was a true team effort. I keep expecting to see Kerry Robinson called up from Portland any moment.
And in the awkward segue department, I’ll be in Vegas tonight and for the next few days, so chat away without me. I’ll check in when I can (i.e., when I’m not downing Heinekens at the Golden Nugget Sports Book).
Let’s take this series, shall we?
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 26, 2005 at 9:38 am
I would have “demoted” Aki several weeks ago, but last night there was really no better option. Reyes is worse, Hammond was unavailable, and though Falkenborg looked great last night, but who coulda predicted that? I would have put in Hoffy for two innings.
May 26, 2005 at 10:10 am
Hoffy for two is an interesting idea, but it’s worth noting that he’s worked a second inning just twice in 82 appearances since his surgery (both coming last September):
http://tinyurl.com/azyrx
To go back even further, he’s done it just 17 times since 2001 (and most of those were *in* 2001):
http://tinyurl.com/duwcy
2001: 11 times/62 appearances
2002: 5/61
2003+: 2/82
Not since June 25, 2002, had Hoffman come in to start a second inning of work the day after he had pitched. In fact, as best I can tell, he’s only done that three times since 2001 (May 21, 2001; April 22, 2001).
Apologies if this is getting overly esoteric but David Pinto’s database rocks and I can’t help myself!
May 26, 2005 at 11:58 am
Not to nitpick what is another great matchup, but we D-Back fans wouldn’t call Brandon Webb our “ace” — Javier Vazquez is. Webb’s had a really good season thus far, but Vazquez has been every bit as good. Webb-Peavy is the better storyline, but Vazquez-Peavy would be the matchup of the two best pitchers in the NL West this year thus far.
May 26, 2005 at 12:19 pm
Snake alert!
May 26, 2005 at 12:47 pm
There are definitely macro-arguments against using Hoffman for 2 innings. He may not have the longevity to break the save record if he were used for 2 innings more often throughout his career. Even though we acknowledge that the save stat is mostly bogus, statistical milestones have PR benefits that arguably outweigh the benefits of beating the D’backs in a given day. Hoffy in the Hall would be a major coup.
May 26, 2005 at 1:08 pm
I still don’t understand how Hammond can be unavailable after throwing ten pitches last night. Is warming up in the bullpen really that taxing for him?
May 26, 2005 at 1:39 pm
Geoff’s helpful post shows that Hoffman is no longer a two inning pitcher - he is not conditioned to do it regularly, and Hoffy himself acknowledges that he has only so many bullets left in his gun.
On Hammond, he is an older pitcher nursing a hamstring issue. He doesn’t fit the profile of a pitcher than can pitch back-to-back-to-back games on a regular basis.
Also, sometimes, people with more information (than the stats that Richard and most of us like to use), such as the trainers, the pitching coach, and the manager, have to make availability decisions based on things we cannot find in statistics. In Hammond’s case, this is almost certainly why he was not available yesterday.
May 26, 2005 at 1:46 pm
I’m with you regarding Aki’s “demotion”…..when you don’t record an out and you’ve faced several batters the night before, Boch has to be questioning whether Aki has the hot hand right now. He obviously doesn’t after last night’s showing. So, forget the set bullpen lineup….go with the guy who is pitching well. Give Aki the spots where he has less pressure and build his confidence back up.
May 26, 2005 at 1:47 pm
I’m with you regarding Aki’s “demotion”…..when you don’t record an out and you’ve faced several batters the night before, Boch has to be questioning whether Aki has the hot hand right now. He obviously doesn’t after last night’s showing. So, forget the set bullpen lineup….go with the guy who is pitching well. Give Aki the spots where he has less pressure and build his confidence back up.
May 26, 2005 at 5:12 pm
From today’s Daily Dish …
Lake Elsinore first baseman Michael Johnson had surgery Tuesday to remove the hook of the hamate bone in his right hand. “(The doctor) said it went really good,” Johnson told the North County Times. “It was everything he expected, which is good.” Johnson, the Padres’ second-rounder out of Clemson in 2002, is expected to miss four-to-six weeks. He was having his best season as a pro, batting .308-.381-.624 with eight home runs and 34 RBIs.
May 26, 2005 at 6:53 pm
That’s too bad about Michael Johnson. He had gotten off to such a good start (even by Cal League standards) that I was looking forward to seeing him promoted finally to Mobile. Now he will get passed by Valenzuela Jr most likely.
May 26, 2005 at 7:07 pm
What a surprise. Nevin over-matched by a RHP. Like to U2 Sunday Bloody Sunday, “How long must we make this post?” (instead “sing this song”). And, OK, give Burroughs a rest, but Blum? Yes, Nady is RHP, but his splits are actually higher against RHP. So you have Damian in at second base, RHP, against a RHP
May 26, 2005 at 7:09 pm
RHB, that is Damian, not a RHP. Nice BB, though.
May 26, 2005 at 7:13 pm
Roberts is big time
May 26, 2005 at 7:13 pm
DRob got a good result on a bad decision to hack away.
May 26, 2005 at 7:15 pm
Nice rope by Blum…too bad right at Green
May 26, 2005 at 7:16 pm
I agree about Roberts…it paid off but why the hell was he swinging 2-0??
May 26, 2005 at 7:18 pm
Nice rope by Blum…too bad right at Green
May 26, 2005 at 7:21 pm
Blum swung 2-0 also…ultimately his result wasn’t bad either.
May 26, 2005 at 7:25 pm
Alright Giles, HR, 3-0 Pads. I like the way this one has started.
May 26, 2005 at 7:25 pm
nice sweet swing Brian Giles
May 26, 2005 at 7:28 pm
Crack-a-toa!
May 26, 2005 at 7:29 pm
nice start to the 3rd inning…lets see us put this one away early..
May 26, 2005 at 7:30 pm
sorry..4th inning..
May 26, 2005 at 7:30 pm
Royce Clayton reminds me of Prince from Chappelle’s show
May 26, 2005 at 7:33 pm
Hernandez hitting streak: 13 games. 43 to go.
May 26, 2005 at 7:34 pm
I’m impressed by DJ’s AB’s against Webb today.
May 26, 2005 at 7:40 pm
nice look for the clown in the pool with the leather hat..
May 26, 2005 at 7:43 pm
Peavy is SUHWEEET. pleasure to watch.
May 26, 2005 at 7:45 pm
Eric…you aren’t kidding…the guy just brings it every time out.
May 26, 2005 at 7:47 pm
I agree Eric. Other than Kevin Brown, I can’t recall a pitcher like Peavy ever pitching for the team. I hope they lock him up LOOOONG term, but that is going to be costly at some point if he keeps this up. Tonight he’s just rolling and doesn’t even need the strikeouts. Hopefully the DHacks will keep pounding into the ground.
May 26, 2005 at 7:53 pm
It doesn’t matter what he costs…he needs to be signed long term. Pitchers like this don’t come around that often.
May 26, 2005 at 7:55 pm
5 innings, 51 pitches. I smell complete game.
May 26, 2005 at 7:56 pm
we need to pile up some insurance runs so that Bochy won’t be tempted to give Hoffman the 9th.
May 26, 2005 at 7:56 pm
ah, I don’t care either way, really, as long as we win.
May 26, 2005 at 7:56 pm
Jake is locked up through 2008 with a club option for 2009.
May 26, 2005 at 7:59 pm
Jake Peavy has never had a complete game.
May 26, 2005 at 8:01 pm
http://www.padresnation.com/players/jakepeavy.html — this page has Peavy’s contract info and the article on his extension from March 4.
May 26, 2005 at 8:04 pm
Sean Burroughs has a sore quadriceps and will sit out two to five games.
May 26, 2005 at 8:05 pm
a 6-pitch inning. SSUUUHHHWWWWEeeeeeeeeeeeet
May 26, 2005 at 8:05 pm
10 groundball outs for Peavy through 5 2/3… I think it will do some good for Sean to take a break. Might allow Nady to get a start or two at third. Although the way he’s playing tonight, Blum will probably start every game Sean sits.
May 26, 2005 at 8:06 pm
I think that’s 56 pitches through six, right?
May 26, 2005 at 8:07 pm
Here are the latest Padres notes from The Associated Press: Akinori Otsuka is out as the setup man for the time being. The 33-year-old former Japanese League closer went 7-2 in relief for San Diego last year, but his 2005 record dipped to 1-3 after blowing a save in the eighth inning Wednesday night — his second straight appearance in Phoenix in which he failed to get an out. Manager Bruce Bochy said Otsuka will see action in the sixth or seventh innings. “He’ll come out of this and get back to where he was,” Bochy said. “His stuff is as good as it ever was. He’s throwing 92 (mph). His problem is location right now.” Akinori said he looks on his recent scuffles as a growth experience. … 3B Sean Burroughs has a sore quadriceps and will sit out two to five games. Geoff Blum, who started the last two games at second after Mark Loretta went on the DL, replaced him at third. … RHP Woody Williams, out with a strained left oblique since May 2, threw 40 pitches for the second time in three days, using his fastball and changeup, and felt good afterward. Bochy said Williams would throw 50 pitches Saturday at San Francisco, another 50 during a simulated game Tuesday, do side work June 2 and make a minor league rehabilitation start June 5.
May 26, 2005 at 8:17 pm
57 pitches Kevin.
May 26, 2005 at 8:18 pm
CRUSHED IT. A towering HR from Ryno. 6-0 Pads. Good morning, good afternoon, and good night (hopefully).
May 26, 2005 at 8:18 pm
We have officially dominated Brandon Webb. That was very satisfying.
May 26, 2005 at 8:18 pm
Hot Bat!
May 26, 2005 at 8:19 pm
Did Ryno get all of that one or what?
May 26, 2005 at 8:21 pm
I think that ball is still going. This game is indeed most satisfying to watch.
May 26, 2005 at 8:22 pm
actually, he did not do his “hot bat” release on that…why? that had to feel as good as it sounded. I wonder if he worried about it going foul?
May 26, 2005 at 8:22 pm
Anything traveling that fast ought to have a (bleepin’) stewardess on it!
May 26, 2005 at 8:22 pm
I think it was a titelist…
May 26, 2005 at 8:24 pm
Yeah I miss the old bat flick. Maybe he’s not so flamboyant anymore in his old age.
May 26, 2005 at 8:27 pm
The Arizona broadcast just showed the Ben Davis bunt off Curt Schilling to break up the no-no.
May 26, 2005 at 8:29 pm
Peavy has now faced the minimum through seven.
May 26, 2005 at 8:29 pm
That is the greatest thing Ben Davis has done in his whole life.
May 26, 2005 at 8:30 pm
The Padres have never thrown a no-hitter. I don’t know about one-hitters.
May 26, 2005 at 8:31 pm
.947 DER for the Pads tonight. (unless I made a mistake)
May 26, 2005 at 8:33 pm
Yeah, I always was anti-Schilling after that because he whined so much about it.
May 26, 2005 at 8:34 pm
7 innings, 64 pitches. this guy.
May 26, 2005 at 8:36 pm
I know pitch counts were not kept for a long time, but I wonder what the record is …
May 26, 2005 at 8:38 pm
Didn’t Ashby have the record for a while? he pitched a 75-pitch complete game to break Maddux’s record of 76, IIRC.
May 26, 2005 at 8:40 pm
I don’t know about one-hitters, but I know Bruce Hearst had a two hitter once. Maybe Andy Benes too.
May 26, 2005 at 8:42 pm
Roberts’ on-base was .358 coming into the game, and he’s gone 3-for-4. He hasn’t stolen as many bases as I thought he would, but he finishes with an on-base of .350+, I will be plesantly surprised because of his career numbers coming in.
May 26, 2005 at 8:50 pm
and the hits just keep on comin. Mercy.
May 26, 2005 at 8:51 pm
I haven’t seen a WP like that one in well, forever.
May 26, 2005 at 8:52 pm
The Diamondbacks were just playing the infield halfway in a 9-0 ballgame.
May 26, 2005 at 8:55 pm
Royce Clayton wants to get DeBarge back together.
May 26, 2005 at 8:55 pm
I generally like Thom Brennanman when he does Fox games, but his homer antics there in the top of the ninth were a bit much. He was praising the plays of Clayton and Green. Green had a nice catch, but Clayton’s play looked rather routine, but Thom keep describing them as “big-league” plays, and how you don’t see many players give that type of effort in a 8,9-0 ballgame. Give me a frickin’ break, but I guess you need to talk about something when you see the writing on the wall.
May 26, 2005 at 8:57 pm
He could have talked about Clayton’s hair.
May 26, 2005 at 8:57 pm
Yeah, but I am sure he has already done that earlier in the season.
May 26, 2005 at 9:02 pm
That was a beautiful game by Peavy. Just beautiful.
May 26, 2005 at 9:03 pm
Masterful performance from Peavy. 94 pitch two-hit complete game shutout. He looked like he wanted the ball, and got the message that the bullpen could use a rest. He almost looked like he had taken a page from the Marlin’s pitching philosophy by inducing hitters to swing at their pitch early in the count so he could go a longer distance. Hence the low strikeout numbers.
May 26, 2005 at 9:10 pm
A well-earned respite for the tired warriors in the pen. Peavy rules
May 26, 2005 at 9:16 pm
.567 DER for the Snakes tonight.
.923 DER for the Friars.
That’s certainly something.
May 26, 2005 at 9:17 pm
It’s somewhat amazing that this was Peavy’s first complete game. I say that because he seems capable of going nine every time he pitches.
May 26, 2005 at 9:23 pm
The icing on the cake? Jake’s even getting love on Baseball Tonight.
May 26, 2005 at 10:05 pm
Remind me again what “DER” is?
May 26, 2005 at 10:08 pm
Final pitching stats …
Pitches-strikes - J Peavy 94-65; B Webb 115-71; J Lopez 11-6; K Ligtenberg 18-14; M Koplove 10-8.
Ground balls-fly balls - J Peavy 14-11; B Webb 11-2; J Lopez 0-0; K Ligtenberg 1-1; M Koplove 2-1.
Batters faced - J Peavy 28; B Webb 30; J Lopez 2; K Ligtenberg 6; M Koplove 5.
May 26, 2005 at 11:28 pm
Oh, oh my that was pretty. Peavy was great. Brought strikes, the guys swung, got a few nice drives but generally allowed him to cruise. So sweet. Nice offense as well, excepting, of course, Nevin. He even looked bad against the leftie reliever. What does it take to have sit a game or two against a RHP and let Sweeney or Nady play a game or two?
Roberts is fun. I still think he should never see an AB against a LHP, but he is fun.
May 27, 2005 at 11:32 am
I suppose it should be written DEF_EFF instead of DER. Defensive Efficiency (Rating). It’s the rate at which balls put into play are converted into outs by a team’s defense.
From BaseballProspectus, of course.
May 27, 2005 at 9:41 pm
what happened to today’s posts?