first pitch: 12:35 p.m., PT
television: none
matchup: Woody Williams (5-8, 5.16 ERA) vs Tom Glavine (8-9, 4.50 ERA)
preview: Padres.com
Lawrence the Bad showed up Wednesday night. For the third time in 2005, he was touched for seven or more runs in a game. The eight runs he allowed matched the season high against a Padres starter (Tim Redding, May 8 at St. Louis). Brian Lawrence was fighting his command early and often, and when he does that, bad things happen.
On the bright side, the division still stinks and the Pads didn’t lose any ground. They’re still up 4 games on Arizona, which I can’t believe is still in second place. The D’backs have outplayed their Pythagorean by 7 games this year, more than any other team in either league. The only team in the NL with a worse Pythagorean record is the Rockies, and even they are only 1.5 games behind Arizona. Heck, throw in the AL and you can add Tampa Bay and Kansas City to the list of teams worse than the Snakes. So, the 27th best Pythagorean record in all of baseball is good enough for second place in the NL West.
Did I mention the division stinks?
Thursday afternoon sees the vets go at it. A matchup between two guys born in 1966. Ah, 1966. The Beatles are more popular than Jesus. Ernesto Miranda wins a court case. Martin Luther King marches in Chicago. Two future big-league pitchers are born. And today they face each other at Petco Park.
Both have seen better days. Glavine has 270 career victories under his belt, but opponents this year are hitting .315/.371/.436 against him (think Mark Kotsay in a good year). Williams has a shade fewer wins. And although his ERA in 2005 is higher than Glavine’s, the opposition isn’t hitting that much better off him: .278/.332/.459. The big difference is that Glavine allows mostly singles (75% of hits), while Williams has been much more prone to the extra base hit (just 66% of hits allowed are singles).
It’s the rubber match. It’s a day game. Let’s win the series, shall we?
Tunes: Howie Day, Dead Can Dance, Jamie Cullum, Heavy Vegetable, Keali’i Reichel, Elliott Smith, Cheb Mami.
Keali’i Reichel?
I might have to reconsider my opinion of your musical appreciation characteristics. ha ha..
He is good, but I wasnt sure about anyone on the mainland being in to him.
My wife is from Hawai’i. Keali’i Reichel, Hapa, Willie K., Brothers Cazimero. Gabby Pahinui. Anything but Jawaiian, I’ll listen to it.
You’re up early.
always, too many years of Naval training. Plus my chosen second advocation. Professional fishing captain. 430am is standard..330am is not unusual.
I am with you on the Jawaiian…
Thats terrific that your wife is from Hawaii. Learn something new everyday. LOL.
How hard is it to get tickets if I happen to be able to be in town for the last two series of the year? Do I need to get them now?
that looks promising..
1, 2, 3 first inning..
Play ball. Love that gameday. Got all the info I need and when the boss comes around I just change to other work. Actually, I keep game day at the corner of my eye. Having two monitors helps.
Go Padres!
That hurt Nady. Get the bat off your shoulder, man.
can’t take a called 3rd strike with runners in scoring position.. geeesh
We’re all so invested in Nady doing well, and his opportunities have been so few, that our expectations are pretty elevated when he does get a shot with ducks on the pond. Not really fair, but that’s baseball.
Scouting report (from STATS, Inc.)
2004 season: Sean Burroughs got off to a strong start, hitting well above .300 in April and May, but he slumped in June as rumors swirled that he would be traded to Kansas City in exchange for Carlos Beltran. Once Padres GM Kevin Towers dispelled the notion …
I’m thinking the Padres should made that trade.
Got my lunch/gameday burrito in hand…let’s play ball!
if we had traded burroughs for beltran, he would still be a met and kc would have burroughs..
beltran was in the last year of his contract and wanted to test free agency..
I just heard a cover of Nirvana’s “I Don’t Have a Gun” performed by an Elvis impersonator. Spooky and hilarious at the same time.
don’t like what i have seen of the umps. i know i am biased, but don’t remember too many times when i am thinking “man, the ump sure is giving us some good calls”
Sure, but we probably would have made the playoffs and we wouldn’t have lost anything because Burroughs has brought nothing to the table.
The Mets broadcast team just did a split-screen with Khalil and Spicoli.
Sometimes Gameday stalls. I’ve got giles on 2nd and nady at first, no outs but nothing is happening.
Was there an earthquake…heh.
Wonder what Richard would have thought about bunting there?
Great slide by Giles. He arrived the same time as the ball and shook up the catcher just enough.
The fact that KT “dispelled the notion” doesn’t mean he didn’t want to do it … based on his comments at the Pizza Feed, I’d guess that he was ready and willing to pull the trigger on that deal!
On the other hand, who would have lost ABs (an OFer) and who would have replaced Burroughs @ 3B last season?
Given the impact Beltran had on the ‘stros, it’s not unreasonable to think that he might have pushed the Padres into the playoffs … woulda been fun, wouldn’t it!
Greene singled and Giles scored on a great slide.
Maybe they would have tried Nady at third?!? I know — it’s too crazy to think about.
Tie game. Is Olivo’s bat cooling down already?
Wow. Another hit to Glavine?
Ug, got a 2 oclock that is boring as hell. Need one of those laptops with a wireless, pretend to take notes.
Come on Padres, show me that five game streak wasn’t a freak accident of fate!
Jonathan @ pdxbeavers.com had this to say yesterday …
Author: Jonathan
Date: 08-10-05 13:31
Rich Burk yesterday said that the ball he hit in the first inning, which hit the base of the wall in right-center (385 feet away), was the hardest hit ball he’s seen from Sean since he came down to Portland.
Good to see that whatever he’s working on, seems to be working.
Could be worse, Padre Mike. I’m out the door right now to a 2 pm dentist visit!
3K with a single for Woody. He’s on today.
Wow, game half over and its been an hour and 10 minutes. Sign of a couple a pros on the bump today, unlike last night, that Benston character wiping his ass after every pitcher.
Oh, no need to bring up last night.
GO PADRES!
Go Sean. 3 more weeks before the Padres get him back. Keep getting those xbh’s.
Anyone know Randa’s numbers since the trade?
dprat- Ask for the laughing gas. Could of used some of that last night. Beer was not doing the trick during that game.
Randa’s numbers? Not good.
.214/.241/.321 and a .563 OPS
If I remember correctly, the rumor was Beltran and Randa for Sean and Nady, so Randa would have filled in at 3B.
Thank you, Kevin. Burroughsesque, you might say.
Good call, Nick. I would have liked that deal.
Is Borroughs supposed to come back and play 3rd? I love the guy but was confused when Rhanda, aka Joe Montana’s lost twin, came to the pads. Are we going to carry two third basemen?
Well, when they expand the rosters, I think many folks assume Burroughs will be part of that.
Randa may look a little like Montana, but his nickname is The Joker.
Our 1st round pick from 1994 (Derrek Lee) is having a MONSTOR season … got his OPS back over 1.100 with a 3-run shot off Mulder a few minutes ago …
I think we should PH for Woody in bottom of 7th … he’s obviously pitching well, but pitch count says go to the bully.
We can’t stop Glavine. We can only hope to contain him.
How many pitches has Williams thrown?
After giving up base hits to the #8 (Castro) and #9 (Glavine) hitters in top of 7th, perhaps the decision to PH for him bottom of 7th will be easier … assuming he makes it out of the top of the 7th …
baseballdirect.com is saying Woody’s pitch count is 115 while Matsui is up …
ESPN.com has Glavine with 45 pitches through 6. Could that be right?
OK, they have Woody’s wrong then, so I assume Glavine’s is off too.
Here’s what yahoo’s showing after top of 7th …
Pitches-strikes – T Glavine 83-49; W Williams 115-78.
Ground balls-fly balls – T Glavine 8-7; W Williams 5-8.
Batters faced – T Glavine 25; W Williams 28.
… PH’ing for Woody in bottom of 7th is now a no-brainer in my book.
And while we’re bummed that the Beltran trade didn’t happen, we can be happy that this didn’t happen:
“The Mariners are likely to pursue Matsui hard — if he does make himself available. They won’t be alone. The Dodgers, Angels, Diamondbacks and Padres, among others, are expected to pursue Matsui if he’s available.” — Seattle PI 11/12/03
Thanks for the pitch counts. I would pinch-hit too. I’m going to the gym now. Let’s get some runs.
That was a nasty collision with Beltan and Cameron. Anybody else see that?
No, I have radio only today. Was is as bad as Jerry and Ted described?