first pitch: 1:05 p.m., PT
television: Channel 4
matchup: Woody Williams (2-1, 4.85 ERA) vs Javier Vazquez (2-2, 6.11 ERA)
game previews: ESPN | CBS SportsLine | SI
After finishing April with two impressive wins against the Diamondbacks that may have helped allay some concerns (strong outings from Brian Lawrence and Trevor Hoffman, homer by Sean Burroughs), the Padres look to sweep Arizona in Sunday afternoon’s finale.
AB BA OBP SLG
Williams vs current Diamondbacks 171 .234 .284 .439
Vazquez vs current Padres 165 .218 .244 .388
Who’s doing the damage against Woody? Would you believe Quinton McCracken (.364/.417/.909 in 11 AB)? Tony Clark (.263/.300/.579 in 19 AB) has posted solid numbers as well. The guys Woody has faced the most also are the ones he’s had the most success against: Craig Counsell (.125/.125/.250 in 32 AB), Luis Gonzalez (.171/.275/.286 in 35 AB), and Shawn Green (.300/.323/.400 in 30 AB).
Most of the Padres regulars who have faced Vazquez a decent amount of times are doing reasonably well against him. The one exception is Ryan Klesko (.111/.138/.259 in 27 AB). This might be a good day to give Xavier Nady or Mark Sweeney the start in left.
I’ll be down at the Park today, so talk it up while I’m gone. I’ll check back in tonight. Go Pads!
How many times has Woody thrown over to first?
The shutout innings streak is over.
Is now a good time to point out that Counsell struck out looking, but it was called ball four?
I don’t know. That didn’t stick out to me.
Son of a…
Maybe I’m begging, but Woody doesn’t seem real pleased with the zone.
At this rate, Woody will be lucky to make it through four innings.
He got that called strike. All you can ask is that it’s consistent.
Where are you at? What are you watching the game on?
Watching without the sound. Did seem like a tight zone for Woody, but generally it looked like he was just missing. Better not give the calls to Dbacks.
Looks like a line drive in the box score!
Right. But where and what feed? I’m just wondering.
He seems to be getting the outside corner, but not the inside. I won’t lie to you I’m not paying a ton of attention to the zone. I’m watching in HD at home.
That’s what Woody needed out of Gonzalez. I hope Giles starts hitting soon.
right, but where is home?
Cox Channel 4.
I assume you’re in San Diego. That’s what I mean. I’m in North Carolina, watching on MLBtv with the Arizona broadcasters.
Home is in Jamul. Says so here: http://sdpf.blogspot.com/
It must be true.
cool, I do padresnation.com — Is there a way to move that right rail to the top of the page?
Vasquez has hardly thrown any pitches…
Nasty 3-4-5. GIDP, K, K. How about another bomb from Sean?
I noticed that it isn’t at the top when opened in Explorer. I’m trying to figure out why.
Oh, OK. Do you guys think the Giles trade was a bad one? We could have Bay and Perez right now.
That’s awful.
From the Arizona schills: Williams didn’t like the zone in the first, talked to the ump about it and it has opened up some since then.
Counsell is one lucky dude.
I’d rather have Giles in right field than Bay.
Counsell struck out, but got a walk. Then, he popped up, but got a single. That’s quite lucky.
I love the way Garcia is calling for the ball. He must be afraid of Ryno.
He’s getting the outside strike, not the inside one.
So we’re seeing the same thing then? Good.
That was a heck of a pitch to call for there.
Yeah, plus I’m repeating what the Arizona guys are saying. They said inside is how you have to pitch Gonzo and Green.
Kevin, what’s the quality like on MLBtv?
It’s good, really good, depending on your computer. My monitor is brand new, but my computer is not so great. For $15 a month, it’s been worth it. I watch every day.
Giles trade was horrid, but you cannot really fault Towers; Bay was still kind of unknown, and Perez could have gone may directions. And Towers got Perez and Bay for nothing. I actually hate the Dbacks for that trade. Bay came up early in 2003 season; had a good game then got hit on the wrist by Dessens (pitching for Arizona), breaking his wrist and he is more or less out for bulk of the season. Played a little late in the season, but if he had gotten a lot of AB’s in 2003 and he had played well, I doubt they would have put him in the trade.
Roberts misses the cut-off man. I will bet our outfield finishes last in assists this season.
I wouldn’t doubt that.
Good play by Nevin. Bad throw by Garcia.
Channel four trivia: Who drafted Royce Clayton.
Answer (I think): San Francisco.
Every time a ball goes in the outfield, especially right and left, it seems like they get to it when they can, throw it in when they get around to it and when they do, it’s off target.
I think they were booing Giles.
He got the inside call vs. Gonzo.
Funny you guys are discussing the Giles trade. Just in case anyone noticed.
Giles last HR at Petco – Aug 18th 2004 vs. ATL
Giles last RBI at Petco – Sept 30th 2004 vs. SF
Not that it makes the trade as good or bad but he just seems like a shell of the player he used to be.
To be fair, April has been Giles worst month over the course of his career but still. Not exactly an encouraging start.
Right, you don’t want your No. 3 hitter to go HR-less and RBI-less at home for the first month of the season.
I haven’t looked into it, but it would seem that Brian’s numbers would logically decline simply because he’s in the NL West instead of the NL Central.
Williams: 120 pitches.
Didn’t get the inside that time.
I hate to see umpires influence a game at all.
Rudy…Rudy…Rudy. Nice change or curve or whatever that was. Still in it…