first pitch: 7:05 p.m., PT
television: Channel 4
matchup: Woody Williams (6-10, 5.14 ERA) vs Russ Ortiz (4-8, 6.95 ERA)
previews: ESPN | Padres.com
Padres averted a sweep at home by the Rockies Sunday afternoon. And a collective sigh of relief with news that Brian Giles suffered only a bruised right knee (article contains Monty Python reference) after colliding with Dave Roberts. Both players are considered “day-to-day,” with Roberts spraining his right thumb on the play.
Meantime, the Diamondbacks are in town and the showdown in the West begins. Sorry, let me try that again without laughing. Ah, never mind.
Two veteran pitchers having subpar years go at it Monday night. Both have had success against the other teams’ hitters, though:
| AB | BA | OBP | SLG | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Williams vs current Diamondbacks | 214 | .234 | .302 | .416 |
| Ortiz vs current Padres | 176 | .239 | .348 | .352 |
For Arizona, Shawn Green (.371/.405/.600 in 35 AB), Quinton “Scottish Therapist” McCracken (.308/.400/.769 in 13 AB), and Royce Clayton (.385/.429/.615 in 13 AB) have had the most success. Williams has pretty well neutralized the two batters he’s faced most, Luis Gonzalez (.171/.261/.293 in 41 AB) and Craig Counsell (.139/.184/.250 in 36 AB).
On the other side, it’s been Brian Giles (.389/.577/.444 in 18 AB) and Mark Loretta (.400/.455/.700 in 10 AB). It’ll be interesting to see who gets the start in center tonight. Neither Dave Roberts (.160/.222/.240 in 25 AB) nor Eric Young (0-for-11, 4 walks) has done much against Ortiz.
Other Stuff
Some of these have been sitting on the shelf for a few days, but better late than never.
- Greene’s return nearing (Padres.com). Kevin mentioned this in comments over the weekend, but good news bears repeating. The Padres are targeting a September 1 return for shortstop Khalil Greene. “At this point, it feels virtually pain free in everything I do,” Greene said. “There’s a little stiffness here and there, but I think that’s natural.”
- Stretch run is at hand for NL West contenders (NC Times). Greene and outfielder Ben Johnson look to rejoin the club Wednesday. Right-hander Andy Ashby is expected to be activated when rosters expand on Thursday.
- Johnson playing way into likely job in outfield at Petco (U-T). Speaking of Johnson, he’s mentioned as a candidate for the left field job next year if Ryan Klesko moves back to first base. Also, there is talk that right-hander Cesar Carrillo could make the big-league rotation out of spring training next year.
- Catcher Miguel Olivo tries to live up to his potential with the Padres (NC Times). John Maffei profiles the Pads’ new backstop. Quoth manager Bruce Bochy: “I always liked him when he was with the White Sox. He’s playing like we thought he could. He plays with energy. he has some pop in his bat, and he’s a good receiver.”
- Ross sent down, but spirits up (U-T). The other new catcher is now the other old catcher.
- 2005 MLB Standings Since All-Star Break (via Baseball Musings).
- Padres prospect mailbag: Conniff edition (Scout.com). John Conniff looks at Chris Kolkhorst, Daryl Jones, and Matt Lauderdale.
- Hank recaps Sunday’s games in the Pads farm system. Jonathan provides more details of the Beavers’ victory behind Chris Oxpsring.
- Congrats to the kids from Ewa Beach and Rancho Buena Vista for winning and finishing third, respectively, in the Little League World Series. Primer thread on Ewa Beach’s victory.
That’s all for now. Time to take care of business. Go Padres!
Damn, I didn’t know about Astacio.
Geez, this is ridiculous. Bases loaded, one out. Sweeney hits a shot to Clayton, who short hops the ball. Runners freeze, thinking he’s caught it. Clayton throws home, Stinnett throws to third for the good ol’ 6-2-5 DP. Can’t fault the runners. That was just another great play by Clayton. Damn.
We need to get into their bullpen. Now.
well, again its ugly ball. But I don’t care, I’ve got Luciano Pavarotti singing Nessum Dorma!
What a cresendo! Magnificant!
This should be the new game in Ducksnort IGD:
What are you doing that is more fun then watching Padre ugly ball?
Now I’m on to Thousands are Sailing by the Pogues, great band! Going through the MP3 collection.
Soon I’ll be doing the dishes! Hurray.
I’m having a root canal. That’s better than listening to Mark Grace.
I’m flipping back and forth between “Antique Road Show” and “Sam the Cooking Guy.”
Did you see Klesko cooking? That swing was so beautifully violent that Tarantino directed it.
Maybe I ought to try that, Kevin. I sure could use the laughing gas.
Anything has to be better then getting spanked by the AZ including two errors.
Lets see, there is cleaning the dog doo in the backyard…in the dark!
Guess I better get to those dishes. My wife keeps eye-balling me.
Goff, you are a better man then I if you can continue to blog on the Dogres.
Sam made a peach cobbler on his show tonight:
http://www.thecookingguy.com/cookbook/recipe.php?id=232
Yum…
well check these second half numbers:
Peavy 2.64, Astacio 3.82, Lawrence 5.68, Williams 6.95, Park 7.03, Stauffer 8.62 and Eaton 9.00
dbacks:
Vargas 3.77, Webb 4.05, Vasquez 4.69, Halsey 4.86, Gosling 4.34, Ortiz 13.50
and here we are getting our butts kicked by their worst starter
It’s 6-3 now. I don’t know if that’s a butt-kicking.
Diamondbacks bullpen has a 6.18 ERA this year.
Nice catch by Johnson going into the visitors bullpen.
That was sweet.
Dishes are done and so are the Padres.
I guess its down to 4.5 games. God the sooner, somebody catches us the better, put us out of our misery.
Now watch, the Worsters will take the next to and tease us all again.
That’s it for me, gotta clean the rest of the toilets in the house, for the third time tonight.
Their bullpen is making this interesting.
Giles pinch-hitting. Represents the tying run. C’mon, guys; we need this one.
Glaus can’t find the pop foul. New life for Giles.
Dammit, Giles almost put that onto the porch. EY pinch hitting. Olivo at third, one out.
Okay, the Snakes came away with the win, but that bullpen is terrible. We are going to get to them before this series is over. And I’m still more concerned about the Dodgers than the Diamondbacks.
So close, so close. Giles just missed hitting that pitch out.
Damn.