In-Game Discussion: Padres @ Reds (9 May 2005)
Mon, May 9, 2005
by Geoff Young
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.
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May 9, 2005 at 8:40 am
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 …
May 9, 2005 at 2:42 pm
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.
May 9, 2005 at 2:45 pm
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.
May 9, 2005 at 2:47 pm
Rickey’s back!
http://www.sportsnetwork.com/d.....887712.htm
May 9, 2005 at 2:54 pm
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).
May 9, 2005 at 3:29 pm
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.
May 9, 2005 at 3:49 pm
I wasn’t trying to be contrary. I’m really just trying to temper my own enthusiasm.
May 9, 2005 at 4:00 pm
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.
May 9, 2005 at 4:01 pm
Isn’t the name the Great American Ballpark a little pretentious?
May 9, 2005 at 4:03 pm
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.
May 9, 2005 at 4:05 pm
It’s the first time. Isn’t “Great American” a brand name or something?
May 9, 2005 at 4:06 pm
It’s “Great American Insurance.”
May 9, 2005 at 4:06 pm
It probably is. But I just hate hearing it for some reason.
May 9, 2005 at 4:07 pm
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).
May 9, 2005 at 4:08 pm
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.
May 9, 2005 at 4:09 pm
It is the first time (according to the Mighty 1090 and my own piss-poor memory).
May 9, 2005 at 4:10 pm
Matt Vasgersian on Channel Four just confirmed it.
May 9, 2005 at 4:11 pm
Does Dave Roberts ever have an at-bat where he doesn’t square up to bunt?
May 9, 2005 at 4:13 pm
Harang should just bury one low and inside…
May 9, 2005 at 4:13 pm
That was hit sharply but right at Casey… meh
May 9, 2005 at 4:15 pm
Harang has been ahead of both hitters 0-2, now.
May 9, 2005 at 4:16 pm
All three now.
May 9, 2005 at 4:17 pm
3 up & 3 down. 2 Ks. Harang can’t keep that up, can he?
May 9, 2005 at 4:20 pm
One pitch & one out. Nice.
May 9, 2005 at 4:21 pm
The low strike already looks a little inconsistent.
May 9, 2005 at 4:21 pm
Nothing like getting that first ball hit to you after being out a month.
May 9, 2005 at 4:22 pm
Pretty nice play by Burroughs following the deflection.
May 9, 2005 at 4:23 pm
The ball finds you (or so they say).
May 9, 2005 at 4:23 pm
Damn. Junior Griffey smashed that ball.
May 9, 2005 at 4:24 pm
Peavy just made a bad pitch and Junior took advantage.
May 9, 2005 at 4:25 pm
Peavy’s not getting that low strike.
May 9, 2005 at 4:27 pm
Randa v. Peavy: .500/.500/2.000/2.500
2 AB, though.
May 9, 2005 at 4:28 pm
What the hell, Jake?
May 9, 2005 at 4:28 pm
This is not going well.
May 9, 2005 at 4:29 pm
Damnit Giles!
May 9, 2005 at 4:29 pm
Peavy made a good pitch to get out of the inning and Giles - damnit!
May 9, 2005 at 4:32 pm
About time. The offense needs to respond now.
May 9, 2005 at 4:36 pm
That wasn’t much of an AB by Nevin.
May 9, 2005 at 4:37 pm
Harang seems to be getting the low strike…
May 9, 2005 at 4:37 pm
They give you such a crappy angle. Base-hit by Giles.
May 9, 2005 at 4:38 pm
Way to swing at ball one, Ramon.
May 9, 2005 at 4:39 pm
Ramon tried to ground into a double play, but Aurilia had other ideas.
May 9, 2005 at 4:40 pm
Damn.
May 9, 2005 at 4:43 pm
That was a real nice play by Loretta.
May 9, 2005 at 4:48 pm
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.
May 9, 2005 at 4:48 pm
What the hell is wrong with Giles?
May 9, 2005 at 4:49 pm
Two BAD plays by Giles, now. Both contributed a run to the Reds’ cause.
May 9, 2005 at 4:50 pm
Peavy is missing and missing badly.
May 9, 2005 at 4:51 pm
Peavy does not look sharp tonight. It’s a good time to go eat dinner
May 9, 2005 at 4:52 pm
It’s too early to eat dinner. A sixth run would disagree with that.
May 9, 2005 at 4:52 pm
I’m in Louisiana, it’s a perfect time to eat.
May 9, 2005 at 4:53 pm
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.
May 9, 2005 at 4:58 pm
It’s always a good time to eat in Louisiana.
May 9, 2005 at 5:00 pm
.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
May 9, 2005 at 5:03 pm
The Reds announcers said Nevin is one of the best leaders in baseball. What are they smoking?
May 9, 2005 at 5:06 pm
Nevin is one of the leaders of the Padres, but he is no Loretta or Hoffman.
May 9, 2005 at 5:08 pm
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-***, then you are not one of the best leaders in baseball.
May 9, 2005 at 5:09 pm
I agree. I was just pointing out that their statement (although wrong) had some basis in reality.
May 9, 2005 at 5:11 pm
I’ve never thought of him as a leader, even a little bit, but OK.
May 9, 2005 at 5:17 pm
.500 BABIP against Jake after the fourth.
May 9, 2005 at 5:23 pm
Back-to-back doubles in the top of the fifth inning. Still down by four runs.
May 9, 2005 at 5:25 pm
What was Greene doing swinging at that? ack
May 9, 2005 at 5:28 pm
I think I’d be inclined to remove Jake for a Pinch-Hitter at this point…
May 9, 2005 at 5:28 pm
I guess Bochy isn’t, though.
May 9, 2005 at 5:29 pm
Back-to-back doubles to lead off the inning result in one stinking run. That’s just awful.
May 9, 2005 at 5:30 pm
True to form, the first double came on pitch #51. Time to pounce on him.
May 9, 2005 at 5:31 pm
That was some pretty weak-*** pouncing, Geoff.
May 9, 2005 at 5:31 pm
Heh, guess we know who *isn’t* watching the game.
May 9, 2005 at 5:32 pm
Geoff - huh?
May 9, 2005 at 5:39 pm
The strike zone tonight has been inconsistent.
May 9, 2005 at 5:47 pm
What the hell were Giles and Nevin doing?
May 9, 2005 at 6:00 pm
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.
May 9, 2005 at 6:22 pm
Oh, okay.
May 9, 2005 at 6:23 pm
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.
May 9, 2005 at 6:37 pm
I see that it is not 6-5. Here’s hoping Ramon can hit a 3 run bomb.
May 9, 2005 at 6:40 pm
Graves doesn’t exactly scare me. But then again the Pads have not swung the bats well tonight.
May 9, 2005 at 6:40 pm
They’re at least making a game of it in the 9th.
May 9, 2005 at 6:42 pm
Pitching substitution, Pinch runner & pinch hitter all at the same time. Fun, fun.
May 9, 2005 at 6:43 pm
Clutch!! Nice going Bob!
May 9, 2005 at 6:44 pm
That’s what I’m talking about!
May 9, 2005 at 6:44 pm
I turned off the game after the 8th to watch season one of 24 on DVD. My watching is apparently bad luck….
May 9, 2005 at 6:46 pm
Fick, great running.
May 9, 2005 at 6:47 pm
Reds can’t even record an out when we attempt a sacrifice.
May 9, 2005 at 6:48 pm
Was it a Fielder’s Choice that Sean reached on?
May 9, 2005 at 6:49 pm
Yes, they went to third to try and get Fick, so that’s a fielder’s choice.
May 9, 2005 at 6:50 pm
Intentionally walking Mr. I try to get myself out Roberts to get to Loretta? They don’t want to win.
May 9, 2005 at 6:50 pm
They walked Roberts to get to Loretta. I like that for us.
May 9, 2005 at 6:50 pm
I can’t see the game and GameDay just says Sean laid down a sacrifice and was not out.
May 9, 2005 at 6:51 pm
Guess not. Damned Loretta.
May 9, 2005 at 6:52 pm
Room service double-play ball. Our bullpen is plenty better than theirs though.
May 9, 2005 at 6:56 pm
I see Falkenborg had a nice outing. I was gone for awhile.
May 9, 2005 at 7:02 pm
They should put in Hammond.
May 9, 2005 at 7:03 pm
This is gut-wrenching.
May 9, 2005 at 7:04 pm
Giles finally caught a tough one. Heart must beat slower.
May 9, 2005 at 7:05 pm
We needed that catch from Giles earlier, but we’ll take that one.
May 9, 2005 at 7:05 pm
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.
May 9, 2005 at 7:07 pm
Guess I was wrong. Still, that made me nervous as hell.
May 9, 2005 at 7:07 pm
Klesko was first-pitch swinging. Why?
May 9, 2005 at 7:08 pm
Yeah this game would be over if Giles had caught that one in the first.
May 9, 2005 at 7:09 pm
Nevin is battling.
May 9, 2005 at 7:10 pm
And then swings at ball 4.
May 9, 2005 at 7:10 pm
Nevin swung at a bad pitch there (according to GameDay).
May 9, 2005 at 7:13 pm
Giles is 2-3, 2 BB. Not a bad game at all.
May 9, 2005 at 7:14 pm
Mercker seems to be struggling with control. They need to make him work for outs.
May 9, 2005 at 7:14 pm
Giles is clearly swinging the bat better.
May 9, 2005 at 7:15 pm
Great, DJ popped out…
May 9, 2005 at 7:16 pm
Yeah, Nevin reached away and low to put his bat on that one.
May 9, 2005 at 7:17 pm
Nevin has hardly walked at all this year. It’s beginning to bug me.
May 9, 2005 at 7:18 pm
A rookie and May don’t pitch the next two. It’s Lawrence and May.
May 9, 2005 at 7:19 pm
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.
May 9, 2005 at 7:20 pm
Nady, Burroughs & Ojeda up next inning if Linebrink holds the Reds scoreless here.
May 9, 2005 at 7:20 pm
Apparently Stauffer will start Wednesday according to the Pads’ website.
May 9, 2005 at 7:21 pm
ESPN.com and the Reds announces both say Lawrence, but maybe we should go with the Pads site for now.
May 9, 2005 at 7:21 pm
And Jessie Garcia was outrighted and Randy Williams was DFA’ed as someone said earlier.
May 9, 2005 at 7:24 pm
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?
May 9, 2005 at 7:25 pm
Good work by Linebrink.
May 9, 2005 at 7:25 pm
I heard it. They could be right, but they said a lot of stuff tonight, much of which didn’t make sense.
May 9, 2005 at 7:27 pm
Alright, good start with Nady, let’s see if Burroughs can bunt again.
May 9, 2005 at 7:27 pm
Nady’s on. All of the position players have played.
May 9, 2005 at 7:27 pm
Nope. He just can’t get it out far enough.
May 9, 2005 at 7:28 pm
I see what you said now, Bruce. I guess it’s Lawrence, then Stauffer.
May 9, 2005 at 7:30 pm
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.
May 9, 2005 at 7:32 pm
The ump has lost the strikezone again.
May 9, 2005 at 7:40 pm
I think that is as well as Linebrink has pitched all season.
May 9, 2005 at 7:45 pm
Nevin up now: six walks on the year.
May 9, 2005 at 7:46 pm
Eaton pinch-hitting.