first pitch: 1:05 p.m., PT
television: Channel 4
matchup: Tim Stauffer (3-4, 4.55 ERA) vs Brad Halsey (5-7, 4.26 ERA)
previews: ESPN | Padres.com
Comic-Con was great Saturday, as it always is. We went there mainly to see the Serenity panel. For those of us who find the new Star Wars movies a little–how shall I say this–irritating, Serenity is the space movie to see. It’ll be out at the end of September, and nobody’s paying me to say this.
We also got to catch a little of Kevin Smith, which was plenty for me. He’s a funny guy who is best experienced in limited doses.
The real highlight, though, was getting to see the legendary Gary Owens (from Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In, Space Ghost, and much more). The guy knows absolutely everyone who’s been a part of Hollywood over the past 40 or so years, and he has great stories to tell. If you ever have a chance to see Gary Owens speak, do yourself a favor and go. He is a very funny and gracious man.
The Game, The Game
Pads won Saturday night thanks to some strong pitching from Jake Peavy and a rare power display by the hitters. Khalil Greene‘s bomb to dead center was most impressive. Both he and Damian Jackson (who dropped one onto the second deck of the Western Metal Supply Co. building) are swinging the bat real well right now. Very short stroke, quick to the ball. Nice to watch.
Peavy looked good, not great. The final line was vintage Peavy, but he battled more than dominated.
Sean Burroughs went 0-for-3 to drop his season totals to .257/.330/.304, which is entirely unacceptable for a big-league third baseman. Seems to me that if Xavier Nady can come in to finish up games in left for Ryan Klesko, then Burroughs could just as easily come into finish at third for Nady. Another possibility would be to send Burroughs down to Portland when Mark Loretta returns on Tuesday, and let Jackson and Nady split time at the hot corner. I’m not giving up on Burroughs, but he needs to get it together and maybe Triple-A is a better place for him to do it?
Other Stuff
- Sweeney’s two sides (Padres.com). I didn’t read the stuff about Mark Sweeney; the important thing here comes toward the bottom where it says that Nady is expected to start today against the lefty. Quoth teammate Greene: “For me to hit it out here, I generally need to pull it. Xavier can hit it out anywhere in the park.” Yes, but it helps if he’s in the lineup.
- Petco fences could be moved in next year
(NC Times). That’s great, but for the love of Dustan Mohr, can you do something about the visitors’ bullpen?
Okay, I’ll be back out at Comic-Con this morning, then at the game (today I already have tickets, woo-hoo!). Let’s hope Stauffer can limit the first-inning damage this afternoon and the bats carry the Friars to a series victory. Going up by 7 1/2 games would be sweet. Go Pads!
Lets hope that X gets the start at 1b and Johnson gets some pt in right.
Young 2b, Jackson 3b, giles cf, nady 1b, klesko lf, hernandez c, Johnson rf and greene ss
that would give us six rightys against Halsey.
it will be a real deliemma when Loretta and Nevin come back. A nice problem to have but a problem never the less.
Hey Geoff,
With all the talk of the weak NL West this year, do you have any idea where the Padres current record would put them in years past? In other words, where would today’s 50-42 record place them in 2004, 2003, 2002, etc. (as far back as you want to take it) after 92 games played?
I realize that the ‘weak’ talk focuses more on the other four teams than it does on San Diego but it does get a little wearying to hear repeated. Thanks for any insight.
I would say our options are:(listed in order of personal preference)
when Nevin and Loretta come back Ben Johnson is one of two that will be trimmed. The other should be:
Dennys Reyes(will be certainly lost)
Geoff Blum(will be certainly lost)
Sean Burroughs(i think he still has an option that we can send him down without passing through waivers) despite this, I think we need his glove on the club, not in portland.
actually, last season(2004) we were exactly 50-42 after 92 games.
baseball reference
I see, this doesnt allow html..
http://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/SDP/2004_sched.shtml
I think we were in second at the time but the dodgers had won 8 straight and were 54-38 after 92 games..
Great question, Brian. After the Padres’ 92nd game (apologies for the formatting):
2004
LA 53-38 -
SF 52-42 2.5
SD 50-42 3.5
*SD’05 50-42 3.5*
Col 38-54 15.5
Ari 31-63 23.5
Would have been in third place.
2003
SF 55-35 -
Ari 51-39 4.0
*SD’05 50-42 6.0*
LA 47-42 7.5
Col 47-46 9.5
SD 34-58 22.0
Would have been in third place.
2002
LA 55-38 -
Ari 54-38 0.5
SF 53-39 1.5
*SD’05 50-42 4.5*
Col 44-49 11.0
SD 36-56 18.5
Would have been in fourth place.
2001
Ari 53-38 -
LA 50-42 3.5
*SD’05 50-42 3.5*
SF 48-44 5.5
SD 44-48 9.5
Col 40-51 13.0
Would have been in third place.
2000
Ari 53-40 -
SF 50-40 1.5
*SD’05 50-42 2.5*
LA 47-44 5.0
Col 46-44 5.5
SD 41-51 11.5
Would have been in third place.
Notes:
–* represents where this year’s team would have placed in years past.
–Prior to this year, the Padres had been an average of 13 games out of first place for the decade after game 92.
–This year’s record after game 92 would be good for no higher than third place in any year this decade.
–Also, this year’s squad is 9 games back of the 1998 team (59-33); 2 games ahead of the 1996 team (48-44); and 3 games behind the 1984 team (54-39).
Okay, I really have to leave now. Enjoy the game!
Most importantly, this year’s squad is 6-1/2 games ahead of the D-Backs.
OK, who’s here? Let’s here some chatter out there.
Stauffer gives up just one in a shaky first. He has had tougher beginnings, so let’s hope he can do his usual settling-down act.
Damian Jackson in July: .386/.460/.455. The average is the ninth-highest in the majors.
Thank you for doing the research on behalf of my lazy ass.
As you’ve no doubt surmised by now, the reason I asked at all was that I doubted that 50-42 was/is THAT awful a record to have at this point. You have demonstrated it isn’t — only once in six seasons (including 2005) would 50-42 have been more than 4.5 games out of first with 70 games to go.
I realize that some of that record is due to the rest of the division being down this year but, hey, SOMEBODY’S gotta come in first, why not the Padres?
Thanks again.
We missed you in the ninth inning last night, Kevin.
Thanks, man. I saw “Wedding Crashers.” I recommend it.
Stauffer settled down in the second, thanks to the bottom of Arizona’s lineup swinging at some bad pitches.
Chris Carpenter becomes the major’s first 14-game winner with a 3-hit shutout vs. Clemens.
Great defensive play by Nady. He dives for it to his right and throws to Stauffer for the out. The Arizona announcers were tough on him earlier: has no position … used to be a prospect … strikes out a lot.
Rich-freakin’-Campbell! dangit!
What does that mean, Peter?
Young lays down the perfect bunt for a hit. How many bunt hits do you see from 38-year-olds?
Then he get picks off. Dammit!
Correction to earlier post: Garland also won his 14th today.
1 run in for the Padres on the sac fly. 2-1, Arizona.
Hammond proves mortal and gives up Tracy’s second homer of the day. 4-1, Arizona.
Klesko gets picked off first, the second player to get picked off today. What a nightmare.
8th inning rally went nowhere. 4-1, arizona.
Disgusting…
Good defensive play by Nady to get force at home. He had to wait for Astacio to duck, and he still got the guy at home.
6-1, really disgusting.
Final: 6-1. This game sucked. Even our strength, the bullpen, sucked.
Chad Tracy is Rich Campbell’s long, lost twin brother.