In-Game Discussion: Padres vs Dodgers (23 Jun 2005)
Thu, Jun 23, 2005
by Geoff Young
first pitch: 12:35 p.m., PT
television: Channel 4
matchup: Brian Lawrence (4-6, 4.57 ERA) vs Elmer Dessens (0-0, 2.40 ERA)
Baseball is a funny game. You can beat Johan Santana and lose to D.J. Houlton in the same week. Pads had numerous chances Wednesday night but didn’t capitalize on them. Frustrating. Like Xavier Nady’s recurring role of Sir Not Appearing in This Game (hey, I could have linked to this; oh, I guess I just did).
AB BA OBP SLG
Lawrence vs current Dodgers 104 .298 .333 .471
Dessens vs current Padres 193 .378 .405 .611
Ball seems to carry better during the day at Petco. That, coupled with some big numbers against the starters, means we could see some runs.
Chin Waggers has an afternoon show tomorrow, so I won’t be able to hang out and chat. If you’re in the UTC area swing on by.
Roster Moves and Other Stuff
Adam Eaton and Ramon Hernandez are on the DL, with Tim Redding being activated from the DL and Paul McAnulty being called up from Mobile. I’m excited to see McAnulty up with the big club. He’s a little redundant on a team that already has Mark Sweeney and Robert Fick, but the dude can rake. It’ll be good to see what he can do.
Oh, and manager Bruce Bochy has had his contract extended. I probably should say more about this, but it’s late and I can’t think of anything.
Pizza Feed
Finally, for those attending the Baseball Prospectus Pizza Feed this Friday evening: A bunch of us are meeting at The Field Irish Pub & Restaurant (544 Fifth Ave., between Market and Island) before the main event. Come as early as you’d like; I’m shooting for about 4 p.m. I look forward to finally meeting many of you and being able to put faces to names. See ya out there!
Picking up where last year's version left off, the Ducksnorts 2008 Baseball Annual provides in-depth analysis of and commentary on the San Diego Padres. Get your copy today.
June 23, 2005 at 7:20 am
I don’t usually post much because I don’t have the time, but I do read all of the discussions here.
My question is: Why is all this outcry about not playing Nady? He’s 26, and not likely to start postin’ a .900 OPS anytime soon. He’s had a season’s worth of ABs (576) in his career, and doesn’t look like anything special. Should he get more playing time? Most likely, but he looks like he is on pace for like 350-400 abs, and I would argue he doesn’t deserve more than that.
June 23, 2005 at 9:16 am
Just noticed that The Field has a promo going that we’ll hit … http://www.thefieldirishpub.co......1.5.4.0.3 … Miller Lite/Padres Glasses … if they have wireless LAN, we can do some bloggin’
June 23, 2005 at 9:19 am
Here’s a bizzare comment from the SDUT … http://www.signonsandiego.com/.....notes.html …
Xavier Nady has begun taking balls at first base in the absence of Nevin. He could start against a left-handed pitcher, although the Padres aren’t scheduled to face any lefties through the weekend.
… well, I guess it’s the thought that counts???
June 23, 2005 at 9:20 am
Also from that article …
“The report from Portland is that Redding has found good command of his fastball,” pitching coach Darren Balsley said.
… and I’m embarrased for “Portland”
June 23, 2005 at 9:35 am
Nady’s contract calls for bonuses based on playing time. I posted this fact here and at the fanstop board, but no one seems to consider it as an explanation for Nady’s usage (or lack thereof).
I share Clyde’s sentiment a bit, too, though not as extreme.
June 23, 2005 at 9:44 am
Clyde - Nady seems to have made a step forward this year … not a HUGE / GREAT step forward … but progress none-the-less … from ~.710ish OPS to ~.780ish OPS … and there’s a sense that he’d be .800+ if given a better opportunity (ie. more playing time … more ABs) … and I think what your seeing / reading is more frustration over who is getting those ABs … Ojeda’s OPS is .422 … Burroughs is .660 (and going DOWN) … Nevin’s at .732 … and it’s not just that those guys’ production is less now, it’s that it seems MUCH less likely that they can/will improve, as seems possible/likely with Nady …
June 23, 2005 at 9:52 am
Eric … THANKS for the reminder … I think asking KT about that tomorrow night will be interesting!
June 23, 2005 at 10:04 am
Why would Nevin be much less likely to improve? He has a track record.
June 23, 2005 at 10:32 am
And Imperial House after the game on Friday. Keep the party going.
June 23, 2005 at 10:43 am
If anyone going to the Pizza Feed is interested in magnet schedules, I’ll be bringing an extra Eugene Emeralds mag sched that I picked up at their Opening Night game … would love to trade for any Padres mag sched … and I’ll have a few Ems pocket scheds for trade also …
See you TOMORROW!
June 23, 2005 at 10:48 am
Eric … I’m not saying that Nevin can’t or won’t improve on his .732 OPS this season … I’m saying that because he’s 34 years old, he’s not likely to improve on his skills/performance in future seasons … in fact, he’s more likely to continue to perform at lower levels from here until he’s done … whereas with Nady being only 26, I think he can & will continue to improve … but only if he gets playing time & AB/PAs …
I know the “future is NOW” for the Padres … but given that Nady’s performance NOW is better … AND it’s reasonable to think he’ll improve for a few more seasons … why not play him NOW?
June 23, 2005 at 11:25 am
PECOTA doesn’t think Nevin will improve, either.
June 23, 2005 at 12:00 pm
Nevin’s not likely to improve in the long run, he is likely to improve from his current numbers over the next 3 months. It’s possible, but not definite that Nady will be better over that time span.
My preference would be for Nady to get every opportunity at 3rd, 1st, and all outfield spots, against righties and lefties, on his way to 500 ABs, but the Bochyan reality (on pace for around 300) is not the end of the world either.
June 23, 2005 at 12:36 pm
Ojeda is starting today at catcher.
Here is the lineup:
Roberts, cf
Fick, 1b
Klesko, lf
Giles, rf
Blum, 2b
Burroughs, 3b
Greene, ss
Ojeda, c
Lawrence, p
June 23, 2005 at 12:50 pm
Scully was talking about Giles’ on-base streak. He said the NL record is 15 by Bonds and Olerud. The all-time record is 16 by Ted Williams.
June 23, 2005 at 12:52 pm
Giles strikes out lookings and talks to the ump. He should have said: If I don’t swing, it’s not a strike.
June 23, 2005 at 12:58 pm
every time I see the name “scully” I think of Spinal Tap trying to remember the name of their skull prop.
Lawrence looks good so far.
June 23, 2005 at 1:00 pm
Lawrence looks good, three strikeout thru two innings.
June 23, 2005 at 1:03 pm
Giles leads the NL in walks. He is on pace for 122. His on-base is .420.
June 23, 2005 at 1:03 pm
Burroughs with a double, his sixth extra-base hit of the year.
June 23, 2005 at 1:04 pm
XBH Burroughs? Ex-cell-ent!
June 23, 2005 at 1:05 pm
I missed the double. Hard hit?
June 23, 2005 at 1:06 pm
Yeah, ripped down the right field line.
June 23, 2005 at 1:07 pm
They intentionally walk Ojeda. Why? And is Lawrence really that much easier to pitch to. I mean, come on.
June 23, 2005 at 1:10 pm
Lawrence strikes out. But if you can’t get Ojeda out, you shouldn’t be in The Show.
June 23, 2005 at 1:13 pm
OPS for spots 5 thru 8 in Pads lineup today:
684
651
682
415
June 23, 2005 at 1:14 pm
Balk by Lawrence.
June 23, 2005 at 1:23 pm
Ojeda has hit decently in the past. Hard to judge him based on 64 ABs this year. He’s not great, but he’s not .415-OPS-bad.
June 23, 2005 at 1:25 pm
HOME RUN — KLESKO!
June 23, 2005 at 1:25 pm
Clyde - The people who want to see Nady play more aren’t saying he should take the spot of Giles or Klesko, or maybe not even Nevin. But when Boch is starting OJEDA in the outfield corner over Nady, or leaving Nady as the LAST guy on the bench last night, or not giving him another shot at 3B when Blum/Burroughs stink it up at the plate…
For some reason, Bochy just does not trust Nady against any right handed pitching, or at 3B defensively… but not using him when you need late-inning power or a little offensive boost at 3B is just inexcusable. With Burroughs, Blum, and Damian Jackson starting, and somebody like Sweeney or Fick at 1st, we’re losing offensive ground big-time at 4-out-of-8 positions on the field.
The only reason Nady looks like he is on-pace for 350 AB is because he played so much the first month when Robers was out. At his recent rate, there’s no way he gets close to 350.
Also, Klesko baby!!!!! HR to oppo field!!
June 23, 2005 at 1:27 pm
Giles strikes out looking for the second time today.
June 23, 2005 at 1:29 pm
I agree on Ojeda. He has taken some deserved heat this year, but last season, he hit .256 with eight homers in 156 at-bats. Maybe he will never be that again, but …
June 23, 2005 at 1:29 pm
Agree about Ojeda… sure wish he’d snap out of whatever funk he’s in. But at the moment, the offensive numbers on alot of our Pads are downright hideous.
June 23, 2005 at 1:35 pm
On my computer, BL is looking great. How does he look to those watching?
June 23, 2005 at 1:40 pm
He looks good in reality, as well as virtually.
June 23, 2005 at 1:41 pm
Burroughs is 2-for-2. A seeing-eye single.
June 23, 2005 at 1:41 pm
to me, BL looks choppy and low-res.
June 23, 2005 at 1:41 pm
Greene loads the bases with a flair to right.
June 23, 2005 at 1:42 pm
Ojeda and Lawrence come up with the bases loaded and no outs.
June 23, 2005 at 1:45 pm
Ojeda: a weak groundout, but it’s an RBI.
June 23, 2005 at 1:48 pm
What if Bochy got a directive from upper-management to limit Nady’s appearances? That’d be questionable, but there are always a lot of considerations we could be unaware of when we are singularly-minded on something like getting Nady’s bat in the lineup.
June 23, 2005 at 1:49 pm
Lawrence does the job. He flies out to center, but it scores a run. 3-0, Padres.
June 23, 2005 at 1:49 pm
Wow, nice PA, BL.
June 23, 2005 at 1:50 pm
Lawrence really fought during that at-bat, fouling off a few pitches.
June 23, 2005 at 1:56 pm
It wasn’t pretty, but we scored two runs using the bottom of the lineup that inning.
June 23, 2005 at 1:57 pm
BL averages 3.5 pitchers-per-PA. That’s as a pitcher.
June 23, 2005 at 1:57 pm
Peavy is at 3.9, Eaton and Woody are at 3.8.
June 23, 2005 at 1:57 pm
Eric,
Far fetched that upper management would tell Bochy to give Nady limited at-bats, but he is arbitration eligable after this season. If he breaks out this year, it could cost the team a lot of money to keep him next year.
Doubtful, but let the conspiracy theories fly…
June 23, 2005 at 2:04 pm
It is far-fetched, I’m just speculating an example.
We can criticize Bochy’s decisions, but it just helps to consider the unknown inner-workings in the clubhouse and front office behind the on-field decisions, especially when we’re so confounded by them.
June 23, 2005 at 2:05 pm
Lawrence after five innings: one hit, one walk, five Ks, 54 pitches, 37 strikes.
June 23, 2005 at 2:07 pm
Yeah, for many years, the Dodgers were managed from above, at least on certain issues. Like when Offerman was playing short, that was not Lasorda’s decision. He was told Offerman is the shortstop, and he plays there unless he is hurt.
June 23, 2005 at 2:08 pm
I’m sticking with Bruce’s theory from yesterday about Nady poisoning Boch’s dog.
It would explain the known facts.
June 23, 2005 at 2:22 pm
Lawrence thru six innings: 3 hits, 1 walk, 7 Ks, 69 pitches, 49 strikes.
June 23, 2005 at 2:24 pm
Pitches-strikes - B Lawrence 70-49.
Ground balls-fly balls - B Lawrence 6-5.
Batters faced - B Lawrence 22.
June 23, 2005 at 2:25 pm
In the sixth, the Padre go down in order for the first time today.
June 23, 2005 at 2:30 pm
Lawrence gets out of the 7th with seven pitches.
June 23, 2005 at 2:31 pm
I smell complete game
June 23, 2005 at 2:34 pm
I think Pads need another run to give BLaw a shot at the CG. Otherwise, Bochy will be tempted to give Hoffy his 20th.
June 23, 2005 at 2:36 pm
I don’t mind either way.
June 23, 2005 at 2:38 pm
Why pinch-run for Klesko if you’re not going to start the runner? I know DJ will be the dreaded Late Inning Defensive Replacement next inning but why burn him now unless you’re going to take advantage of his speed?
June 23, 2005 at 2:42 pm
Plus, you’d stay out of the DP and score that fourth run…oh well.
June 23, 2005 at 2:43 pm
Lawrence is done.
June 23, 2005 at 2:52 pm
Dodgers get one run in, 3-1. bases still loaded.
June 23, 2005 at 2:55 pm
3-3. That sucks.
June 23, 2005 at 2:56 pm
Nice error, Mr. Late Inning Defensive Replacement.
June 23, 2005 at 2:56 pm
bad day for Otsuka to have a bad day.
June 23, 2005 at 3:03 pm
OK, I expressed some doubts about today’s 5-8 hitters earlier. But they’ve been more than decent today, and if they put together a run here, I’ll gladly pick up my spoon and put on a sh**-eating grin.
June 23, 2005 at 3:06 pm
Fick down to .339 …
June 23, 2005 at 3:06 pm
Burroughs is so soft …
S. Burroughs grounded into double play pitcher to shortstop to first, G. Blum out at second
June 23, 2005 at 3:08 pm
Who pitches the 9th?
June 23, 2005 at 3:10 pm
It would be nice have Klesko in the lineup now. I don’t see much difference between him and Jackson in left.
June 23, 2005 at 3:12 pm
Nice grab by Roberts.
June 23, 2005 at 3:14 pm
Who PH’s for Ojeda?
June 23, 2005 at 3:15 pm
Sweeney PH-ing for Ojeda, yes!
June 23, 2005 at 3:15 pm
McAulty will. Winning run is on.
June 23, 2005 at 3:16 pm
M. Sweeney singled to center … yes!
Now, who PH’s for Hammond? (Hello Mr. Nady?)
June 23, 2005 at 3:16 pm
Sorry, I was confused by that one. Winning run in scoring position.
June 23, 2005 at 3:16 pm
Wish we had someone on the bench with speed like Damian Jackson to run for Sweeney…
June 23, 2005 at 3:17 pm
Winning run is picked off.
June 23, 2005 at 3:17 pm
What is Sweeney doing that far off the bag? Geez.
June 23, 2005 at 3:17 pm
Successful bunt (assuming there is such a thing) … was it a good bunt (by McAnulty)?
June 23, 2005 at 3:18 pm
We have extra innings.
June 23, 2005 at 3:18 pm
At least they won’t leave another runner in scoring position.
June 23, 2005 at 3:19 pm
Wow, are Petco fans boo-ing? I think I would be …
June 23, 2005 at 3:19 pm
Good news: we still have Nady available on the bench …
June 23, 2005 at 3:20 pm
Hoffman comes in without Hell’s Bells. I guess because it’s not a save situation.
June 23, 2005 at 3:22 pm
They need to save that crap. At least until the team falls out of first.
June 23, 2005 at 3:27 pm
Hoffman, not getting it done of late.
June 23, 2005 at 3:28 pm
You’re right, Kevin, of course …
Question #2 for Towers is if he thinks Bochy over-does the “defensive substitution” … sure seems like that move hasn’t helped …
June 23, 2005 at 3:29 pm
Nady is the only guy left on the bench. Will he get in?
June 23, 2005 at 3:30 pm
They picked off Werth. The three outs Hoffman got were a sac bunt, a sac fly — two the Dodgers were giving to him — and a pick-off, credit the catcher.
June 23, 2005 at 3:32 pm
Nady should hit for Jackson.
June 23, 2005 at 3:33 pm
Tying run (Fick) is on.
June 23, 2005 at 3:35 pm
I don’t get having Jackson bunt. It’s a 1-run strategy when we need two.
June 23, 2005 at 3:37 pm
Now the winning run is on (Giles).
June 23, 2005 at 3:37 pm
Will it come down to Burroughs?
June 23, 2005 at 3:38 pm
And it took the bat out of Giles’ hand …
June 23, 2005 at 3:39 pm
It’s up to — that’s right — Sean Burroughs.
June 23, 2005 at 3:41 pm
oh, i am drowning in bitterness…
OTOH, as LynchMob might point out, at least Nady will be fresh for tomorrow’s game
June 23, 2005 at 3:41 pm
Game over. We let the last in this series slip away. Damn.
June 23, 2005 at 3:46 pm
I’ve never left a game early before, but today’s game made me do it. Bochy should have been fired not extended.
June 23, 2005 at 4:14 pm
I don’t think the question ought to be, “What do you think about Bochy’s overuse of the LIDR?” The question is, “Why do you overuse the LIDR?” Bochy is middle management and can be told what to do.
June 23, 2005 at 7:42 pm
But what’s LIDR?
June 23, 2005 at 7:57 pm
Late inning defensive replacement.