In-Game Discussion: Padres vs Braves (17 May 2005)
Tue, May 17, 2005
by Geoff Young
first pitch: 7:05 p.m., PT
television: Channel 4
matchup: Darrell May (0-0, 5.19 ERA) vs John Smoltz (3-3, 3.10)
previews: ESPN | CBS | SI | Padres.com
Once upon a time, May was a Braves pitching prospect. From John Sickels’ 1996 Minor League Scouting Notebook, where he was given a grade of B minus:
May has a decent arm: his fastball has average velocity but good movement, and his change-up is an excellent pitch. Although May has good command of his fastball/change combination, he has struggled to develop a consistent breaking pitch, and this will hurt him if the Braves intend to use him as a starter at the major league level.
AB BA OBP SLG
May vs current Braves 22 .227 .261 .273
Smoltz vs current Padres 81 .284 .315 .370
The injured Eric Young is the only batter who has had as many as 10 at-bats against either pitcher, so not much to go on here. May seeks to become the first #5 starter to win for the Pads since the current #1 starter Tim Stauffer was credited as being the first #5 to win for the Pads in a very long time. For the Braves, starter-turned-closer Smoltz has returned the rotation and, except for an Opening Day disaster at Florida, been his dominant self. The good news, if you want to call it that, is that he hasn’t been real effective after the sixth inning:
Inn AB BA OBP SLG 1-3 84 .226 .275 .321 4-6 78 .256 .314 .346 7-9 29 .379 .387 .621
The other good news is that Dan Kolb, and not Smoltz, is now closing games for Atlanta. Kolb isn’t bad, but his ERA is over 5.00 and he has walked more than he’s struck out so far. Let’s just say he strikes a little less fear than did Smoltz. Of course, there’s still the matter of getting to Smoltz in the first six, so don’t get too excited.
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May 17, 2005 at 7:41 pm
just tuned in. how’s May look so far?
May 17, 2005 at 7:42 pm
the 1.5 hitters I’ve seen him face so far seem to be kept off balance.
May 17, 2005 at 7:48 pm
He’s been okay. Marcus Giles took him to the warning track in right-center in the first, that’s about it.
Great play by Roberts to bail out Khalil.
May 17, 2005 at 8:02 pm
Giles has 5 putouts in RF through 4 innings.
May 17, 2005 at 8:07 pm
Hit-and-run with Nevin up and Giles on first? Well, so much for this inning.
May 17, 2005 at 8:09 pm
Hey the Snakes lost. Pads in first for the next couple hours. Let’s see if it lasts
May 17, 2005 at 8:14 pm
Looks pretty quiet around here tonight. Of course the game could have just put everyone to sleep.
May 17, 2005 at 8:21 pm
It’s the excitement of Darrell May. Actually, May did a nice job. Five innings, one run. Couldn’t ask for much more.
May 17, 2005 at 8:22 pm
I didn’t expect 5 innings of one run-ball from May, but I will certainly take it.
May 17, 2005 at 8:35 pm
Braves announcers are saying the umpires blew both calls on Jordan–the 3-2 pitch and the stolen base.
May 17, 2005 at 8:40 pm
I just got here. Is May still pitching?!?! Couldn’t be, right? If he were still in there, the Braves would’ve scored at LEAST 10 runs.
May 17, 2005 at 8:44 pm
Smoltz K’s Roberts! No surprise there. I suspect Jackson will be overmatched, as well, although he’s probably a better hitter than Roberts.
May 17, 2005 at 8:44 pm
That was a typical BS Braves strike call. That pitch to Roberts was both high and outside.
May 17, 2005 at 8:44 pm
They did blow both calls against Jordan. They also blew the last pitch to Roberts. Should’ve been a leadoff walk. Guy behind the plate has been a little shaky tonight.
May 17, 2005 at 8:45 pm
Seems like Klesko’s been swinging for the fences a lot lately. Maybe overconfident from his recent hot streak? I see a slump on the horizon.
May 17, 2005 at 8:46 pm
That sort of umpiring is more and more of the norm. Is Questech still around?
May 17, 2005 at 8:46 pm
You know, Jackson’s probably a better CF’er than Roberts, as well. We could just release Roberts, and somebody in need of a fifth outfielder would probably pick him up.
We could use Jackson and Nady until we got a real centerfielder.
May 17, 2005 at 8:50 pm
Klesko NEEDS to swing for the fences. You can beat people with walks, and you can beat ‘em with dingers, but you’ll seldom beat them with singles.
May 17, 2005 at 8:51 pm
Can you guys tell my opinion on Roberts???
May 17, 2005 at 8:52 pm
Jerry Coleman thinks that Larry Young has squeezed both pitchers, supporting many of the posts.
May 17, 2005 at 8:53 pm
And that’ll be my last post. Enjoy the rest of the game while I head home from the office.
No Richard tonight, I noticed.
Anyway, GO PADRES!!!
May 17, 2005 at 8:58 pm
It isn’t only that Young is squeezing, it’s that he is being very inconsistent.
May 17, 2005 at 9:02 pm
Lance - Roberts doesn’t make a lot of money; why don’t you just use him until we got a “real centerfielder?”
May 17, 2005 at 9:02 pm
Heckuva play by Betemit on that slow roller to get Ramon by a step at first.
May 17, 2005 at 9:03 pm
Smoltz isn’t happy with the strike zone.
May 17, 2005 at 9:05 pm
That low “ball” to Sean was more of a strike than the pitch that Roberts K’d on.
May 17, 2005 at 9:10 pm
Word on the Braves’ broadcast is that Loretta has a sprained left thumb.
May 17, 2005 at 9:10 pm
Loretta left the game a few innings ago. They’re saying he has a sprained left thumb.
May 17, 2005 at 9:12 pm
Geez, that thing left the yard?
May 17, 2005 at 9:12 pm
That could prove to be a huge run. I hope not.
May 17, 2005 at 9:13 pm
Bad location from Aki. Left that breaking ball up in Andruw’s eyes. Let’s stop it right here.
May 17, 2005 at 9:15 pm
Time’s running out on the patented comeback.
May 17, 2005 at 9:16 pm
That’s a good start from Greene. Leadoff double in the 8th.
May 17, 2005 at 9:17 pm
Khalil is swinging the bat so well right now. Need a hit from Sweeney here.
May 17, 2005 at 9:17 pm
Ditto that on Sweeney.
May 17, 2005 at 9:19 pm
I miss Loretta already.
May 17, 2005 at 9:21 pm
That homer by Andruw is looking large.
May 17, 2005 at 9:21 pm
Sac Fly from Roberts. 2-1 Braves. That HR obviously now looms very large.
May 17, 2005 at 9:36 pm
We could really use a rare big-fly from one of Klesko/Giles/Nevin.
May 17, 2005 at 9:37 pm
Klesko, Giles, Nevin due up in 9th. Here’s how they’re doing from the 7th inning on this year:
Klesko: .238/.373/.643
Giles: .242/.481/.303
Nevin: .348/.396/.543
Go get ‘em, boys.
May 17, 2005 at 9:39 pm
Leadoff walk. C’mon Giles.
May 17, 2005 at 9:39 pm
Klesko draws a walk to get the inning started and not one of Kolb’s pitches were close.
May 17, 2005 at 9:40 pm
Kolb can’t find the plate…let’s go!
May 17, 2005 at 9:40 pm
That was a good pitch to swing at if you are Giles.
May 17, 2005 at 9:41 pm
Base knock. Runners at corners, nobody out.
May 17, 2005 at 9:42 pm
Nice piece of hitting by Giles. Come on Nev, put one in the air.
May 17, 2005 at 9:42 pm
Damn, that was the pitch. C’mon Phil.
May 17, 2005 at 9:43 pm
Giles has walked 11 times and struck out only ONCE this month. wow.
May 17, 2005 at 9:44 pm
Not pretty, but it’s a tie game. Nevin hits a chopper off the plate. Giles on second, Ramon up.
May 17, 2005 at 9:44 pm
Ugly from Nevin, but like his hit the other day. It worked! Tie game. Even better Giles is in scoring position.
May 17, 2005 at 9:45 pm
I’m feeling good about Ramon’s chances to lay into a fastball here.
May 17, 2005 at 9:45 pm
Grant is working the shillelagh.
May 17, 2005 at 9:46 pm
Here comes his pitch.
May 17, 2005 at 9:46 pm
Kolb has no clue tonight.
May 17, 2005 at 9:47 pm
Geez, gotta do better than that 3-0 swinging.
May 17, 2005 at 9:47 pm
Base hit to left. Giles can’t score. Had to wait for the ball to get through the infield.
May 17, 2005 at 9:48 pm
Single. Up to Burroughs. I am fearful of a DP.
May 17, 2005 at 9:48 pm
They’re walking Burroughs to get to Greene.
May 17, 2005 at 9:49 pm
Walk Sean? I find that surprising, unless they fear his ability to flip into left that much. (partial sarcasm)
May 17, 2005 at 9:49 pm
As you said, Greene’s been swinging well.
May 17, 2005 at 9:50 pm
That second pitch was dubious.
May 17, 2005 at 9:51 pm
Sweet Khalil. Can you believe this team?
May 17, 2005 at 9:52 pm
amazing. That was a pretty good pitch too.
May 17, 2005 at 9:52 pm
Whoo HOO!!! Pads win! Thanks Greenie for making them pay for their mistake of walking Burroughs. After a crummy April, May has been great.
May 17, 2005 at 9:53 pm
I am starting to believe that the stars have aligned for them.
May 17, 2005 at 9:54 pm
That was a good pitch. Khalil just went down and got it. They’re talking to him on the post-game. Could he sound any less excited, LOL?
May 17, 2005 at 9:57 pm
Khalil has never sounded excited. But I am OK with that.
May 17, 2005 at 10:06 pm
yeah, it was kinda funny to watch the team maul Khalil in celebration, rubbing his yellow mophead to oblivion, only to see him emerge from it with an almost pissed-off-looking face.
May 17, 2005 at 10:08 pm
This is an amazing team.. Starting to feel like ‘98 again..
May 17, 2005 at 10:42 pm
Tip of the hat from a Braves fan. I’ve been at both games and while I can’t say I’ve enjoyed the final couple of innings both nights, I’ve been highly impressed w/ the way the Padres hang in there. Of course, a big helping of Dan Kolb will make any team look good, and Raul Mondesi makes me long for the days of Keith Lockhart.
Geoff, you sure you don’t want to go to the game with me tomorrow? If you do, dig out that shirt you wore to last year’s game. I need at least a win out of this series.
May 17, 2005 at 10:54 pm
got to spend some time Sat. with a bunch of other season ticket holders talking to some players in a kind of informal panel. I think Khalil is just very low-key. The other guys up there with him kind of made light of his demeanor and I would not be surprised if he opens up a bit away from the public eye. But I also think he is very, very mellow. I don’t think he pisses off easily.
May 17, 2005 at 10:56 pm
Rich and I were at the game - amazing. What a comeback!
I’ll get involved in one of these sooner or later…
May 17, 2005 at 11:08 pm
That was awesome! I just got home from the game.
May 17, 2005 at 11:09 pm
“And that’ll be my last post. Enjoy the rest of the game while I head home from the office.
No Richard tonight, I noticed.
Anyway, GO PADRES!!!”
That’s because I was at the game.
May 17, 2005 at 11:11 pm
Jeff: Thanks for the invite, but my shirt and I will politely decline.
Oh, and I’m really glad Smoltz isn’t your closer anymore.
Rich: I think you’re right about Khalil. His low-key demeanor is actually one of my favorite things about him.
Peter: What a comeback is right! I look forward to reading your and Rich’s thoughts on the game.
Sole possession of first place. Sounds nice, don’t it?
May 17, 2005 at 11:13 pm
Down on the Farm …
2 HRs for Knott, McCleary tosses 5-hit Shutout for AAA Portland … http://www.minorleaguebaseball.....a_rreaaa_1
Tagg goes 0-for-4, McAnulty hits 3rd HR for AA Mobile … http://www.minorleaguebaseball.....x_monaax_1
Blum with another HR for the Storm … http://www.minorleaguebaseball.....x_lesafx_1
Matt Bush with 2 hits BUT also his 13th (!) error @ Ft Wayne … http://www.minorleaguebaseball.....x_wmiafx_1
Side note: I got in my car at 9:48pm tonight … thought I’d see if 1090 was coming in on the radio (I’m in Corvallis, OR) … yup, Teddy’s calling the bottom o’ 9th … Greene in hole 0-1 … goes down 0-2 … then BOOM GOES THE DYNOMITE!!!
Fun stuff, huh?
May 17, 2005 at 11:34 pm
Jeff, what section were you in?