first pitch: 7:05 p.m., PT
television: Channel 4
matchup: Tim Redding (0-4, 7.94 ERA) vs Jamey Wright (1-2, 6.85 ERA)
game previews: ESPN | CBS SportsLine
Damian Jackson, recalled to replace last night’s hero Adam Hyzdu, who has been DFA’d, gets the start at shortstop. Call it the Ducksnorts curse. I’ll try not to put Jake Peavy‘s name in a headline anytime soon.
Speaking of curses, I can deny it no more. And so I appeal to the man himself:
A Humble Request to the Grand Wizard Valdezmort to Remove His Wicked Curse
Izzy, Izzy – oh how we long for thee;
Izzy, Izzy – oh what mystery lies beneath your curse?
Who foresaw that all who followed you would be worse?
Izzy, is he – Valdes or Valdez?
Who knew the loss of mediocrity
Would lead to such great travesty?
We have suffered through Sterling, Justin, Tank, and now Redding;
Where in Hades is our fifth starter heading?
Come what May, you’ve made us pay
In ways we’re all regretting.
Izzy, Izzy – who would have guessed
That among all others you were the best,
Blessed as you were with run support
And a curious reluctance to pitch inside?
From this truth we cannot hide:
Despite an ERA well over five,
The Padres’ bats did come alive
When each fifth day you toed the slab
And saved us from our drab existence,
Rewarding us with your persistence
At winning games despite our insistence
That it was all just smoke and mirrors.
Izzy, Izzy – with you we tripped the light craptastic,
But since you left, we’ve gone quite spastic;
So now we implore thee, in truly awful verse,
Please remove your wicked curse
That has our fifth starter in reverse.
We beg of thee, please set us free
And we shall speak no further ill of you
Than if you’d pitched like Vida Blue.
We knew when we got Redding that he had the ability. He just wasn’t performing.
Welcome, Lance.
16% based on what? The ERT says 27% per inning … right?
That woke up the crowd.
LM: Redding was a very highly regarded prospect in the Houston system coming up alongside Roy Oswalt and Wade Miller, and he’s still only 27. There is some upside here. At the very least, I think he’s earned himself another start.
16% with one out and none on, unless I mis-read the chart.
At 27, Geoff, these are his peak years.
Hey Lance, nice home run call!
Redding had a 3.68 ERA for the Astros over 32 starts in 2003. That’s his upside. I don’t mean he’ll be an ace but he could be a solid guy at the back end.
Oh, I thought you were implying 16% for the rest of the game … my mistake …
Agree with Geoff … nice home run call, Lance … can you do it again soon?
Didn’t Nevin steal a base earlier?
I wasn’t disagreeing. I was just saying that he’s entering his prime years.
But what about the tar & feathers? Is that “all in the past now”??? His incoming ERA was 7.94 … I can’t forget about that … this is Todd & the Todd’lers we’re talking about at the plate, don’t forget!
Batter – Before – After
Nevin – 0.49 – 0.26
Klesko – 0.26 – 1.26
Hernandez – 1.26 – 1.10
Burroughs – 1.10 – 1.23
Jackson – 1.23 – 1.00
That was one long AB to Jackson…
Yahoo says “S. Burroughs singled to left” … is that redundant? Man, sorry about being so negative tonight … Redding has had that effect on me for a while now
What’s wrong with singling to left?
Wright’s now at 89 pitches … due up 4th … if Redding doesn’t mow ‘em down 1-2-3, I’ll bet we see a PH …
… and I’m hoping we see a PH for Padres to lead off the bottom of the 7th … I’ll take 7 IP to the bank …
Gotcha Richard, on the upside.
Mr. Snappy, oh my!
Todd and the Toddlers have been hitting pretty well this year. Two years ago, Redding had a 3.68 ERA over an entire season.
Nothing wrong with singling to left … but isn’t that all he can do now? Well, he did HR the other day … how about a double into the RCF gap once in a while?
Okay, that ball was well hit. Wrong part of the park.
Yes, Nevin did steal a base. Uncontested.
Getting on-base 40% of the time is good enough for me, LM.
I think Redding’s gotta come out, now. His pitch-count is up and there’s no reason to potentially ruin what was a very solid night.
Burroughs is currently hitting .338. If he keeps that up (a *monumental* if), it’s Ichiro at 3B.
Did you see that guy catch the ball while holding a child in his other arm? Nice.
Batter – Before – After
Holliday – 0.49 – 0.26
Greene – 0.26 – 0.10
Gonzalez – 0.10 – 0.00
Wow, did you see that catch by the fan? Kid cradled under his right arm, snags the ball with his left hand.
I’m not impressed with 6 walks in 83 PAs … dude has 1 double in 83 PAs … .377 SLG … yikes!
Don’t get me wrong, I’m rootin’ for him BIG TIME! The Padres NEED him to HIT … more than a few “single to left”s …
I’ll do my part, guys, if one of our Pads will cooperate.
Good to be back, BTW. Been in New Orleans for Jazzfest. Then again, it’s our ninth New Orleans trip in the last sixteen months, so maybe we don’t need Jazzfest as an excuse!
I don’t buy into the 27-28 peak, at least for pitchers. They’re much more random than hitters.
Redding is done. His line: 7 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 K. 95 pitches, 67 strikes. That works.
Wright’s breaking ball is giving Roberts fits tonight.
Too bad Wright wasn’t forced to come up to bat last half inning.
Ichiro??? Ichiro! has 5 doubles + 2 triples + 2 HRs … no, SB != Ichiro! @ 3B … I/we wish …
Leave Sweeney to pitch?
Geez, they’re abusing Todd Greene tonight
If Burroughs hits .338, he’ll stay in the line-up. He still won’t have Ichiro!’s speed or throwing arm (which is astounding! Little bastard thinks he’s the Japanese Billy Wagner.).
The doubles have to come, followed by the dingers.
I think they will. Remember, he’s still younger than most rookies.
And Mark Sweeney makes yet another stride toward Rickey’s SB record!
I hear ya, LM. Just remember:
Burroughs: 0.65 BB/PA, .083 ISO
Ichiro: 0.65 BB/PA, .105 ISO
The difference is batting average. If Burroughs can seriously keep his average even in the .315-.320 range, he’ll be a factor.
Why is Brian still batting third? I just realized he’s still there.
136 comments.
Granted, they’re all from just a few guys, but it’s a start.
One of these days we’ll all watch a game in the same room.
Nevin and Sweeney stealing a base in the same game? That’s not something you want on your resume if you’re the opposing catcher.
Chuck E. Cheese is pitching. 2-0 to Giles.
I don’t want to see Giles swing…
Damnit.
Ug, Dog’s put up another 2-spot … now up 4-2 on ‘Nats …
Those are not good 3-1 hacks.
He hit that ball pretty hard, Geoff.
Stupid Washington.
Nevin singled in his only at-bat against Witasick. Nevin vs Fuentes would have been fun: .800/.889/1.600 in 9 PA.
Yeah, I guess that last one wasn’t so bad.
Batter – Before – After
Sweeney – 0.49 – 0.88
Roberts – 0.88 – 0.52
Running: Sweeney 0.69
Loretta – 0.69 – 0.92
Giles – 0.92 – 0.44
Nevin – 0.44 – 0.00
That was crap.