first pitch: 1:05 p.m., PT
television: Channel 4
matchup: Adam Eaton (7-1, 3.49 ERA) vs Jason Schmidt (3-1, 4.79 ERA)
previews: ESPN | CBS | SI | Padres.com
Just got in from Vegas; thanks to Jay for posting the key pitcher-batter matchups in yesterday’s comments. Here they are:
Good: (AB/BA/OBP/SLG/OPS) Sweeney: 20/.350/.458/.750/1.208 Hernandez: 15/.400/.526/.867/1.393 Jackson: 13/.308/.438/.615/1.053 Blum: 13/.231/.286/.538/.824
Ugly: Nevin: 20/.200/.261/.250/.511 Klesko: 41/.171/.286/.317/.603 Giles: 27/.074/.324/.222/.547
Good: Bonds (who cares, but his OPS is 1.227) Alou 16/.375/.412/.813/1.224 Tucker 8/.500/.500/.625/1.125 Durham 16/.250/.400/.688/1.088 Alfonzo 20/.300/.391/.600/.991 Snow 21/.286/.348/.524/.872
Ugly: Vizquel OPS with 6 AB .250; Marquis Grissom (out) has an OPS .274 in 28 AB's
Jay also had this commentary to offer, and I think it’s spot on: “I know it is asking for way, way too much, but today looks like a day to see Nady, Sweeney in there (I say give Nady a go if your big guns are so bad against Schmidt).”
The good news is, Sweeney and Jackson in are in today’s lineup. The bad news? Giles and Klesko play, Nady sits.
X Factor
Xavier Nady started in left field Saturday. Batting seventh, he singled in four at-bats. He also drove in the tying run in the seventh on what should have been an infield hit; unfortunately first base umpire C.B. Bucknor missed the call at first, so it was just an RBI ground out. Nady had one other nice at-bat; in the fourth, after falling behind 0-2, he worked the count full before flying to the warning track in left.
Pads have already clinched their second straight series win on the road against a division rival and a winning record on the road trip. Today they go for the sweep against one of the tougher right-handers in baseball.
Didn’t Nevin hit a pinch-hit HR against the Giants earlier this year?
Hammond just broke 80. Wow.
Damian!
That was some pitching. And another nice play by DJ.
I’m happy to see Feliz PH for Snow …
April 26, he had the PH HR. We lost that one, though.
Tie game.
The umpire broke up that meeting quickly. Hey, give us a break.
Why a first-pitch strike to Alou? Why!
Alou does like to swing at that first pitch.
Padres need to take the lead right back.
Starting all over again, with the middle of the order coming up. I agree Richard, there is no better time than now to get the lead right back. This is another one of those games that we shouldn’t let slip away.
If it makes anyone feel better, our PH options at this point are Nady and Nevin from the right side, and Fick from the left. The Giants are down to Deivi Cruz, Dallimore, and Torrealba.
We also have the better bullpen, but that hasn’t really helped today.
What are Klesko’s numbers vs. this guy?
2-for-4, double and homer
Giles is .455/.538/.818 in 11 AB. He’s on deck.
That ball was off the plate. Plate umpire is having a bad day. He had a bad day at 1B yesterday.
Momentum is shifting. Not the way to end the trip.
Apparently Boch is going to let Hammond continue. One out with Tucker up.
Lefties are now 1-for-22 against Hammond this year.
This description of bottom of 8th makes Hammond look tough …
- E. Alfonzo flied out to deep left
- M. Tucker grounded out to second
- M. Matheny grounded out to shortstop
“good bullpen” > momentum
Attaboy, Ramon. Let’s get something started.
Man, I thought Khalil hit that one out, too. Runners at second and third with one out.
Any chance we PH for DJ … then move Blum to 2B and Nady @ 3B in bottom of 9th?
Nope. DJ stays in and singles home two. Sweet!
Yeah, that’s what I’m talking about.
Heh, I would’ve sent Nady up there. What do I know.
Who’s on-deck?
LM: Fick is batting for Hammond.
And I assume Hoffy is up in the pen?
Bochy just told Nady to hit the showers.
Is the camera focusing on Trevor or the girl in the orange Giants shirt?
Trevor is 5-for-5 in save opportunities this year on 0 days rest. Base hit Fick, Jackson scores. Crowd is booing again.
If we score another run, it won’t be a save situation, then some reliever will come in and make it a save situation.
I like Fick!
If that were really the goal, I vote Reyes.
That’s the the goal, but the fear.
Alou is making another pitching change. That bullpen has been worked hard this series. And they paid way too much for LaTroy Hawkins. What did they get for Felix Rodriguez last year: Ricky Ledee?
Not the goal, I meant. I wearing down.
Torrealba is in the game for SF. Their only PH are Deivi Cruz and Dallimore. Aki is warming up just in case we score another run.
Turns out Ricky Ledee is good … but the Giants didn’t hang on to him … and now he’s having a VERY solid year for the Dodgers … sigh.
Those 240 comment games will do that to you.
Seven pitches so far to Roberts. He is such a pest!
Giants guys just said it seems like every Padres hitter has gone to a 3-2 count. Untrue, but a nice compliment.
This is the second time Bucknor has called time while a pitcher is releasing the ball.
yeah, I think I may have Carlos Zambrano’s syndrome.
Fick gets picked off first base. Nitpicky, but we need to be a little smarter on the basepaths.
Roberts walks. Nice AB.
Fick looked like he was running under water.
That’s not a nitpick, Geoff, that’s thinking about what it’s going to take to win enough games to make the post-season … and to win games if the Padres get there … LOTs of little things go into winning in the post-season!
I’ve got to get ready for work. Maybe someone else can do the Hoffman thing.