first pitch: 7:05 p.m., PT
television: Channel 4
matchup: Brian Lawrence (2-4, 5.24 ERA) vs Gil Meche (3-2, 5.25 ERA)
previews: ESPN | CBS | SI | Padres.com
Jake Peavy dominated as usual Friday night, holding the Mariners to three singles over seven innings in the Pads’ 6-1 victory at Safeco. Friars have won eight in a row and 17 of 20. Tonight Brian Lawrence tries to conquer his road demons. In four starts away from Petco this year, opponents are hitting him to the tune of .382/.449/.632. He’ll face right-hander Gil Meche, whose season stats look eerily similar to those of Lawrence. The Padres once again will be without the services of second baseman Mark Loretta, whose status remains uncertain for now.
AB BA OBP SLG
Lawrence vs current Mariners 91 .264 .302 .396
Franklin vs current Padres 31 .290 .371 .355
Not a lot of at-bats against Lawrence. Only Adrian Beltre (.171/.216/.314 in 35 AB) and Dave Hansen (.385/.429/.385 in 13 AB) have faced him more than 10 times. Richie Sexson and Scott Spiezio have the lone jacks.
I can’t think of anything to say about Meche. Okay, how about this: In 93 career starts, opponents are just 16 for 32 in stolen base attempts against him. So if Dave Roberts (.328 OBP) can reach base, we’ll have to keep an eye on that. Which reminds me, FREE XAVIER NADY!
Here are the May stats of some guys who play the same positions as Nady:
AB BA OBP SLG XB/H ISO
Sean Burroughs 60 .217 .288 .217 .000 .000
Phil Nevin 66 .288 .310 .348 .105 .060
Dave Roberts 61 .213 .315 .361 .385 .148
How is Roberts the power option out of that group? Anyway, the point is, the Padres have played 18 games this month and Nady has just 17 at-bats. That ain’t right.
Don’t free Nady. Sure, he’s not getting the ABs, but we’re winning with the mixture we’re using. Why change it? Roberts brings something to the table that no other Padre can. He brings speed, a good bat, great base-running and great range. The only things that Nady brings that Roberts doesnt is a better arm and power.
The Mariners open their half of the first with four consecutive hits for three runs. Still no outs. Lawrence still struggling on the road, but this time, it’s a pitchers’ park.
BLaw is our Achilles heal on the road. We need for him to settle down and get some outs.
I agree. I don’t think getting at-bats for Nady is the answer to anything, especially when he can’t field like Roberts and Burroughs, and the Padres don’t really need any answers the way they are playing.
I dont mind Nady getting the nod with a Lefty, but otherwise, dont just give ABs for no reason. I wouldn’t mind seeing him as DH this year, but I have NO problem with Sweeney in there. He’s hot this year.
That hit by Randy Winn was a gift of the highest quality. I just started watching the game but before that I caught the replay on Baseball Tonight and Geoff Blum had the slow roller go right under his glove as he was moving to his left. It was a routine out IMO.
DJ should be at 2B…Blum should be on the bench. Defense is key.
He had to dive. I guess that’s why it was a hit. But Loretta would have had it.
We need this game bad. AZ already lost, so its our chance to make our move and put some room between us and the rest. Plus, the ‘gers also lost AGAIN. Nice they finally are becoming the team I thought they’d be.
As I look at Lawrence’s game log, his bad road stats are because of two really bad starts, at Chicago and at Arizona. At Cincinnati and St. Louis, his ERA went down.
The other question I have about Blum, was why the heck was he playing so close to 2B? Ichiro was already there. Was he trying to keep him close or something? That was definitely routine.
Mariners announcers just quoted Burroughs as saying, “well, my dad may have had more power, but I’ll stil get my hits.” I also remember, after his homer, reading somewhere a quote from him that was something to the effect of, “this isn’t gonna change anything, I’m not gonna start swinging for the fences now.” I wonder if he’s becoming stubbornly content with the singles hitter he has become.
That was an egly dive from Blum though.
From the Mariners announcers: Greene eats a bowl of oatmeal every morning and a can of tuna every night.
er ugly even.
BLaw is up and down. Some games he looks masterful, others he doesnt. I know its raining in Seattle. I wonder if that’s affected his movement a little.
Eric if that is representative of Sean’s opinion, he will find himself out of a job quick. 2 extra base hits for the season so far is horrible, and the double was off someone’s glove!
I really like Sweeney as the DH in the No. 2 hole.
I love the way our lineup works up these high pitch counts, though…even when they’re not scoring.
The Mariners’ announcers are about to put me to sleep.
Yeah, I heard the oatmeal comment. I wonder if they’re trying to be Vin Scully.
That third strike call was generous.
Too close to take Khalil
meche: 5 outs, 41 pitches
Greene WANTED to show some emotion, there. I saw it. Head down, nostril flared for just a second.
10-pitch at-bat from Greene. The Mariners announcers are not bringing it. In the first, they kept saying how the Mariners had to score runs to win. Gee, really, I smell Moneyball II.
If we don’t score a ton of runs off Meche, we dont deserve to win. All we have to do is take and he’ll walk 2 out of 3 batters. He’s all over the place.
Nice rope Blum
We should be able to wear down Meche. I would like to think that we can come back without too much trouble and what do you know, Blum just doubles in Burroughs as I write. 3-1.
Bad luck for us
Nevermind. Ground rule double. Hit the foul poll. Burroughs goes back to third.
SAhweet!
Who wants Nady? lol
CLUTCH by DR. CLUTCH
that’s DR, short for Dave Roberts. I’m not calling him, “Doctor Clutch”
Come on Sweeney…stroke a two bagger
Great AB so far for Sweeney
Great AB so far for Sweeney
even when K’ing, they’re having good ABs today.
Sorry for the double post…froze up
Meche: 2 IP, 59 pitches. This lineup is a pleasure to watch.
10-pitch at-bat for Greene and 9-pitch at-bat for Sweeney. Both were outs. Those won’t show up in the boxscore, but that was nice work that helps wear Meche down.
Nice pitch count indeed on Meche. 3 LOB though through 2. They will get their chances if they keep this up.
Looks like the ump is extending the zone a bit on the outside for BLaw…hope that sticks
Nice inning from Lawrence.
Damnit
Damn Ichiro! Nice catch, Ryno was robbed.
These Mariner announcers both sound like they are in their 70s and need glasses. They need replays to verify everything!
why isnt Ichiro in CF!! Argh
Robbed HRs should be a stats. My guess is Tori Hunter and Jim Edmonds would league the majors.
dang…but Ryno’s swing on that sure looked violently beautiful