first pitch: 12:35 p.m., PT
television: none
matchup: Adam Eaton (8-1, 3.48 ERA) vs Jake Westbrook (2-8, 5.30 ERA)
previews: ESPN | CBS | SI | Padres.com
The Padres, who are now 1-6 in May June, try to avoid being swept by the Indians this afternoon. It’s hardly panic time, but with the Dodgers surging, the Friars need to get back to their winning ways. Jake Peavy turned in his second straight subpar performance Wednesday night, serving up three homers in a game for the first time since August 14, 2003, at Atlanta. Peavy has allowed three homers or more in just 5 of his 88 big league starts, and he’s generally come back very strong the following game (courtesy David Pinto’s Day By Day Database):
IP H R ER HR BB SO
23 Aug 2002 v Fla 7.0 7 2 2 0 0 8
27 May 2003 v Mil 8.1 5 2 2 0 2 5
21 Jul 2003 v StL 6.1 5 4 3 0 6 3
20 Aug 2003 v NYN 7.0 6 0 0 0 1 7
We can only hope that trend continues with his next start. Meantime, this afternoon’s contest sees two first-round picks from the 1996 draft square off against each other. Eaton was taken 11th overall by the Phillies, out of Snohomish HS in Washington; Westbrook was nabbed with the 21st pick by Colorado, out of Madison County HS in Georgia.
Shortstop Matt Halloran was the Padres first pick (#15 overall) in 1996. Another Padre, Brian Falkenborg, was the Orioles first pick (second round, #51 overall). Like Eaton, he hailed from the state of Washington. I wonder if those two ever faced each other in high school? Geez, what a horrible draft for the Padres that year. I believe Jason Middlebrook (ninth round) is the only guy who ever sniffed the big leagues.
How did we get on this tangent anyway? Let’s move on to the head-to-heads:
AB BA OBP SLG
Eaton vs current Indians 80 .225 .311 .388
Westbrook vs current Padres 27 .185 .207 .259
Jose Hernandez (.385/.429/.846 in 13 AB) has handled Eaton well over the years. Alex Cora (.194/.310/.278 in 36 AB) not so much, though no doubt he’s fouled off a ton of pitches. On the other side, Robert Fick (.333/.364/.444 in 9 AB) is the only Padre who’s seen Westbrook much.
Friars need some good Eaton today. With the best team in baseball on its way into town, now would be a good time to start winning.
On ESPN.com, the second story under headlines is “Eaton looks for win No. 9 vs. Indians LIVE!” Maybe Eaton has really made it.
I suppose it would look that way.
Since Peavy is often compard to Maddux, I think Eaton is pitching like Glavine today. Nothing spectacular, but you better get to him early, before he gets in a rhythm.
Through six innings, Adam has thrown 98 pitches, allowed six hits, one walk and no runs. He’s also struck out six. It’s nice to see him put up numbers that look like they should result in scoreless innings.
No earned runs in this game. And I don’t think there were any in the Greene error game. Just shows you how the little things matter in this park.
Home run, Brian Giles. Over the 396 sign. Where’s Lance?
Giles: breathing-room homer.
Westbrook thinks he’s a goalie or something.
The old 1-5-3 play for one out. That’s good stuff.
A thought: I’m fairly certain that Giles has better stats relative to NL Outfielders than does Hernandez relative to NL Catchers.
Interesting call sending Adam back out having already thrown 98 pitches (103 already).
3-0 count? Comes back to strike him out. Believe it.
Giles is the more valuable player. But the catching ranks are kind of thin, I think.
I’ll have to look at the stats later tonight, but I think Giles may be in the top 3 and I’m fairly certain Ramon is no longer the top catcher statistically speaking.
Hernandez is third in wins shares, but just a hair behind Estrada and Matheny.
Strikes out the side to finish the seventh. I believe we earlier discussed how he hasn’t been dominant. Well, he was today. 7 IP, 9 K, 1 BB, 6 H, 0 HR, 0 R. (117 pitches, though)
Giles is No. 2 among outfielders (in the NL) behind Abreu. So you’re right.
I was actually thinking in terms of VORPr (which fails to capture defense).
I’m not saying this game is over. But I need to go to the gym. Richard, take care of Hoffman for me.
What’s the site that tracks win shares?
http://www.hardballtimes.com/winshares/index.php
I’ll be gone, too.
Richard, who are your three NL All Star OF’ers?
I had Abreu, Giles and to be honest I can’t remember my third.
Eaton looked great today. Best game of the year for him.
It was Miguel Cabrera based on VORPr.
3-1, Padres. This Crisp guy is good.
I previously had Cabrera/A. Jones/Dunn – Now I’d have throw Abreu & Giles into the mix. I try not to decide on 1/2 seasons since players are forever referred to as “All Star [position name]” and I don’t want guys with hot starts to be All Stars… But none of those guys are solely fast start guys…
To my mind, Abreu and Giles are both deserving future hall of famers (assuming they maintain reasonable production a few more years).
Well, I need to get out of here. I need to be in Alpine by 3 o’clock.
Somebody handle Kevin’s Hoffman call.
Giles got kind of a late start to his career, but his rate-stats merrit consideration… But the same (Future HOF) could be said of A. Jones. And Dunn is a prolific HR hitter…
got nervous for a sec. there…