first pitch: 4:10 p.m., PT
television: Channel 4
matchup: Jake Peavy (2-0, 2.32 ERA) vs Aaron Harang (1-2, 3.96 ERA)
game preview: CBS
The bad news is, the Padres are coming off a 15-5 shellacking at the hands of the Cardinals. The good news is, the Friars still managed to take three of four in St. Louis, where they hadn’t won any games prior to this week since 2001. Even in the loss, it was basically an 11-run first that did them in. One bad inning in four games against what had been the best team in the NL to that point? I’ll take it.
Up next, the Cincinnati Reds, who are currently 11-19, 8 games behind the aforementioned Cardinals in the NL Central. The first game features Padres ace Peavy against San Diego product Harang. It also marks the return of Khalil Greene, who has been out with a broken finger since April 16.
AB BA OBP SLG
Peavy vs current Reds 49 .224 .309 .306
Harang vs current Padres 40 .300 .364 .375
Not much to go on here for either pitcher. Joe Randa has the lone homer against Peavy. As for Harang, historically he has been easier to hit as the game goes on. Three-year splits by inning (courtesy ESPN):
Inn AB BA OBP SLG AB/HR ISO 1-3 659 .266 .324 .403 36.6 .137 4-6 507 .304 .361 .546 19.5 .242
And by number of pitches (courtesy ESPN):
#Pit AB BA OBP SLG AB/HR ISO 1-15 150 .260 .343 .420 30.0 .160 16-30 190 .274 .333 .405 38.0 .131 31-45 220 .256 .297 .379 55.0 .123 46-60 203 .271 .320 .438 25.4 .167 61-75 191 .288 .350 .476 38.2 .188 76-90 163 .350 .406 .632 14.8 .282 91-105 92 .261 .324 .543 15.3 .282
The strategy would seem to be make him throw a lot of pitches early, then jump on him when he starts leaving them up in the zone the second and third times through the lineup. That’s actually not a bad approach against most pitchers. We’ll see how well the Padres can execute.
151 Comments
I saw in yesterday’s box that Fick got some time behind the plate … did Ramon come out just to save a few innings on his knees? And a little flash of power … albeit off an almost-minor-league pitcher …
Hello Tim Stauffer! It’s official … http://www.katu.com/stories/77008.html …
And so long, Randy Williams … we hardly knew ya … DFA, as Geoff says … “designated for assignment” … does that have some “no recall” connotations?
In his place, let’s welcome right-handed reliever Brian Falkenborg. In 13 relief appearances with Portland, Falkenborg, 27, was 3-1 with a 1.98 ERA.
From the Yahoo preview to today’s game come this fun fact …
The Padres continue to get outstanding work from their setup men. Chris Hammond, Rudy Seanez, Akinori Otsuka, Scott Linebrink and Dennys Reyes have combined for a 2.50 ERA over 79 1-3 innings this season.
Rickey’s back!
http://www.sportsnetwork.com/default.asp?c=sportsnetwork&page=/mlb/news/AAN3887712.htm
It’s certainly arguable that the Cardinals were the best team in the NL. They play in the weakest division and were only 2-4 outside their division prior to this past weekend’s games (obviously, they are now 3-7).
Dave: I’m psyched that Rickey’s playing down here. A buddy of mine at work brought in a Surf Dawgs schedule. I’ll definitely be down at the T for some games.
Richard: Point taken. OTOH, this is a team that won 105 games last year and went to the WS, that has won their division four of the past five seasons, that has *averaged* 95 wins a year during those seasons. And they added Mark Mulder to their already solid rotation.
You could make a case for Atlanta, maybe Florida or LA. But I’m pretty sure there’s still no team in the NL I’d rather not face than the Cards – especially at Busch Stadium.
I wasn’t trying to be contrary. I’m really just trying to temper my own enthusiasm.
CF Dave Roberts
2B Mark Loretta
LF Ryan Klesko
1B Phil Nevin
RF Brian Giles
C Ramon Hernandez
SS Khalil Greene
3B Sean Burroughs
P Jake Peavy
That is outstanding.
Isn’t the name the Great American Ballpark a little pretentious?
Yeah, it’s nice to see that lineup together. Is that the first time? All the roster moves from today were nice too. Good to see Stauffer and Falkenbourg.
It’s the first time. Isn’t “Great American” a brand name or something?
It’s “Great American Insurance.”
It probably is. But I just hate hearing it for some reason.
Richard,
You beat me to the punch. Is this the first game all year that the Padres have started what was expected to be their #1 lineup?
Geoff,
Since I am now the Man of Curses, I must point out the the Sunday curse remains alive and well after yesterday’s demolition. The Padres are 1-5 on Sunday, having been outscored 18-40.
Other notes after 1/5th of the season: San Diego has allowed 2.93 runs/home game (14 games) and 6.17 runs/away game (18 games). 8-3 in one-run games (thank you, bullpen) but only 10-11 vs. NL West opponents (2-9 on the road).
I seem to remember commentary to the effect that in Cincinnati, the papers always shorten the name or that commentators call it something different and that it was upsetting Great American Insurance.
It is the first time (according to the Mighty 1090 and my own piss-poor memory).
Matt Vasgersian on Channel Four just confirmed it.
Does Dave Roberts ever have an at-bat where he doesn’t square up to bunt?
Harang should just bury one low and inside…
That was hit sharply but right at Casey… meh
Harang has been ahead of both hitters 0-2, now.
All three now.
3 up & 3 down. 2 Ks. Harang can’t keep that up, can he?
One pitch & one out. Nice.
The low strike already looks a little inconsistent.
Nothing like getting that first ball hit to you after being out a month.
Pretty nice play by Burroughs following the deflection.
The ball finds you (or so they say).
Damn. Junior Griffey smashed that ball.
Peavy just made a bad pitch and Junior took advantage.
Peavy’s not getting that low strike.
Randa v. Peavy: .500/.500/2.000/2.500
2 AB, though.
What the hell, Jake?
This is not going well.
Damnit Giles!
Peavy made a good pitch to get out of the inning and Giles – damnit!
About time. The offense needs to respond now.
That wasn’t much of an AB by Nevin.
Harang seems to be getting the low strike…
They give you such a crappy angle. Base-hit by Giles.
Way to swing at ball one, Ramon.
Ramon tried to ground into a double play, but Aurilia had other ideas.
Damn.
That was a real nice play by Loretta.
D’Angelo Jimenez had a VORP of 35.3 last season, which was good enough for 6th best in the NL. They’re talking about him like he sucked and does nothing but whine.
What the hell is wrong with Giles?
Two BAD plays by Giles, now. Both contributed a run to the Reds’ cause.
Peavy is missing and missing badly.
Peavy does not look sharp tonight. It’s a good time to go eat dinner
It’s too early to eat dinner. A sixth run would disagree with that.
I’m in Louisiana, it’s a perfect time to eat.
I am in one of those moods where it seems like they can’t do anything right while I am watching. Here’s hoping that when I get back in an hour or so it will be 6-5 Pads.
It’s always a good time to eat in Louisiana.
.545
That’s the Reds’ BABIP tonight.
It’s .636 if you count the error as a hit, which you might as well.
Padres: .143
The Reds announcers said Nevin is one of the best leaders in baseball. What are they smoking?
Nevin is one of the leaders of the Padres, but he is no Loretta or Hoffman.
Usually, if you are the No. 3 leader on your team and have often been the subject of trade rumors because you are a red-ass, then you are not one of the best leaders in baseball.
I agree. I was just pointing out that their statement (although wrong) had some basis in reality.
I’ve never thought of him as a leader, even a little bit, but OK.
.500 BABIP against Jake after the fourth.
Back-to-back doubles in the top of the fifth inning. Still down by four runs.
What was Greene doing swinging at that? ack
I think I’d be inclined to remove Jake for a Pinch-Hitter at this point…
I guess Bochy isn’t, though.
Back-to-back doubles to lead off the inning result in one stinking run. That’s just awful.
True to form, the first double came on pitch #51. Time to pounce on him.
That was some pretty weak-ass pouncing, Geoff.
Heh, guess we know who *isn’t* watching the game.
Geoff – huh?
The strike zone tonight has been inconsistent.
What the hell were Giles and Nevin doing?
Richard: When I wrote my “pounce” comment, ESPN.com had just showed the doubles, hence my excitement. Didn’t see your comment till after I’d posted mine.
Oh, okay.
The team has looked bad tonight. Getting in bad counts. Swinging at bad pitches. Putting bad swings on hit-me pitches. The defense has been poor. Jake wasn’t hitting his spots. Ugly.
I see that it is not 6-5. Here’s hoping Ramon can hit a 3 run bomb.
Graves doesn’t exactly scare me. But then again the Pads have not swung the bats well tonight.
They’re at least making a game of it in the 9th.
Pitching substitution, Pinch runner & pinch hitter all at the same time. Fun, fun.
Clutch!! Nice going Bob!
That’s what I’m talking about!
I turned off the game after the 8th to watch season one of 24 on DVD. My watching is apparently bad luck….
Fick, great running.
Reds can’t even record an out when we attempt a sacrifice.
Was it a Fielder’s Choice that Sean reached on?
Yes, they went to third to try and get Fick, so that’s a fielder’s choice.
Intentionally walking Mr. I try to get myself out Roberts to get to Loretta? They don’t want to win.
They walked Roberts to get to Loretta. I like that for us.
I can’t see the game and GameDay just says Sean laid down a sacrifice and was not out.
Guess not. Damned Loretta.
Room service double-play ball. Our bullpen is plenty better than theirs though.
I see Falkenborg had a nice outing. I was gone for awhile.
They should put in Hammond.
This is gut-wrenching.
Giles finally caught a tough one. Heart must beat slower.
We needed that catch from Giles earlier, but we’ll take that one.
Now that they have come back, they need to win this one. I hate to ask a rookie and May to win the next two, no matter who the Reds throw out there on the mound.
Guess I was wrong. Still, that made me nervous as hell.
Klesko was first-pitch swinging. Why?
Yeah this game would be over if Giles had caught that one in the first.
Nevin is battling.
And then swings at ball 4.
Nevin swung at a bad pitch there (according to GameDay).
Giles is 2-3, 2 BB. Not a bad game at all.
Mercker seems to be struggling with control. They need to make him work for outs.
Giles is clearly swinging the bat better.
Great, DJ popped out…
Yeah, Nevin reached away and low to put his bat on that one.
Nevin has hardly walked at all this year. It’s beginning to bug me.
A rookie and May don’t pitch the next two. It’s Lawrence and May.
Stauffer is slated to start tomorrow’s game. Although there is some question of who will pitch on Wednesday. Lawrence has not had good starts at the Great American if I recall.
Nady, Burroughs & Ojeda up next inning if Linebrink holds the Reds scoreless here.
Apparently Stauffer will start Wednesday according to the Pads’ website.
ESPN.com and the Reds announces both say Lawrence, but maybe we should go with the Pads site for now.
And Jessie Garcia was outrighted and Randy Williams was DFA’ed as someone said earlier.
Speaking of the Reds’ annoucers, they earlier said that Peavy had been pitching with a “stiff” shoulder the past few outings and that there was some concern with it. I have not seen any news of this in the media. Anyone else hear anything about this?
Good work by Linebrink.
I heard it. They could be right, but they said a lot of stuff tonight, much of which didn’t make sense.
Alright, good start with Nady, let’s see if Burroughs can bunt again.
Nady’s on. All of the position players have played.
Nope. He just can’t get it out far enough.
I see what you said now, Bruce. I guess it’s Lawrence, then Stauffer.
That’s what I am thinking. If they do that, I don’t think they will need a 5th starter (i.e May) for a while. Which is a plus.
The ump has lost the strikezone again.
I think that is as well as Linebrink has pitched all season.
Nevin up now: six walks on the year.
Eaton pinch-hitting.
Klesko ran through the stop sign. Not a smooth move.
Klesko just ran through a stop sign. Not even close. Stupid!
Klesko single-handedly blew that inning. *SIGH* Let’s see if the bullpen can hold the line some more.
Now, I’m guessing we score on that Jackson ground out, if Klesko doesn’t run through the sign and there are is only one out.
We beat Griffey with wiffle ball.
Nice outing from Linebrink, as you said. His ERA went from 4.05 to 3.52.
Yeah it didn’t look like they would have been able to go home on that groundout.
I’m fascinated by Hammond. He wins with interstate-legal pitches. I wouldn’t mind seeing him start, if May keeps stinking out loud.
I love that Hammond ephus pitch.
Nice job X! Let’s try this bunting thing again with Burroughs. Or at least hit it to the right side.
Burroughs is really struggling at the plate during this road trip.
Good job Roberts. Let’s put this one to bed with Trevor.
What’s our record in 1-run games?
espn.com says 8-3. All three of our wins against the Rocks last week were by one run.
that called third strike on Ryno was BS btw. I was afraid that he might get tossed and we would have had to put a pitcher out in left!
Trevor Hoffman, with his 89 percent save percentage is in.
Caught him looking. One out. (Death)
Two outs. (Taxes)
Hoffman with the assist. Three outs. (Hoffman)
Of course my Real player decided to start stuttering when THoff came in. For some reason I have not had smooth video for his last three apprearances. Great comeback. They stole a game that they on paper had no business losing.
Yeah, it wasn’t pretty, especially Giles in the field, but the Padres made it a long game, and the bullpen carried us. 9-3 in one-run games now.
That was a most unexpected and satisfying win. I did not think there would be anything left to watch by the time I got home.
I’m a late entry to this discussion, but that was one hell of a win. The Pads are rolling, and I expect that to continue.
Why do you expect it to continue, Lance? Just the “law that things in motion will stay in motion”?
Lawrence vs Claussen … sure, I can see that match up giving us the edge … but that’s not because of BLaw’s 5.19 ERA … http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/6700 … it’s because Claussen’s @ 5.60!!!
It is nice to have our starting 8 on the field … and bench players Nady, Sweeney, Fick and DJ are all playing well … and I’m a BIG fan of DEPTH … an undervalued component of winning teams … and these guys, and our bullpen, make us DEEP …
And then Stauffer vs Paul Wilson … well, Wilson’s ERA is 7.25 … edge to Staffer? That’s a bit hard to imagine, but 7.25 is 7.25 … yikes!
OK, my expectations are that we win the next 2
150 (+1) comments. Is that a Ducksnorts record?