IGD: Padres vs Phillies (12 Aug 2005)
Fri, Aug 12, 2005
by Geoff Young
first pitch: 7:05 p.m., PT
television: Channel 4
matchup: Jake Peavy (10-4, 3.11 ERA) vs Jon Lieber (10-10, 5.00 ERA)
preview: Padres.com
Padres took the Mets series with a 2-1 victory at Pecto Park Thursday afternoon. Woody Williams worked seven strong innings, and Joe Randa paced the offense with three hits, including a game-winning RBI single to score David Ross in the seventh. Ross, batting for Williams, tripled earlier in the inning on a ball that resulted in a collision between Mets outfielders Carlos Beltran and Mike Cameron.
ESPN reports that Cameron has been placed on the DL due to a broken nose, multiple fractures of both cheekbones, and concussion. Geez, that must’ve been one heckuva crash. Here’s wishing Cameron a speedy recovery.
Next in town, the Phillies. Friday night’s starter, Lieber, is second among all big-league pitchers to the Reds’ Eric Milton in homers served. Although Lieber pitches in one of the better hitters’ parks around, he’s equally adept at giving up bombs on the road.
We covered this in the podcast, but the Phillies feature a pretty robust lineup, top to bottom. Bobby Abreu and Pat Burrell are the mainstays. Then there are the kids on the right side of the infield: Chase Utley and Ryan Howard. Both are 26 or younger, and both can flat rake. And their manager lets them play. The Phillies also have a stud reserve outfielder in Jason Michaels. Dude is an on-base machine, and he has a little pop in his bat.
Like the Mets before them, the Phillies come to San Diego with a better record than the home team. The good news, if you’re a Padres fan, is no Brett Myers this weekend.
Looking for more good news? Dave Roberts and Khalil Greene are starting to produce again:
| Mon | AB | BA | OBP | SLG |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul | 86 | .244 | .283 | .407 |
| Aug | 32 | .313 | .389 | .625 |
| Mon | AB | BA | OBP | SLG |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul | 55 | .109 | .254 | .109 |
| Aug | 30 | .367 | .424 | .600 |
With Bruce Bochy’s continued reluctance to give Xavier Nady the playing time he deserves, the Padres need help from anywhere they can get it. Speaking of which, have you noticed how well the new catchers have done (in an admittedly small sample)? Ross and Miguel Olivo are hitting a combined .333/.371/.667 over 33 at-bats.
That’s all I’ve got. You know where to go for more Padres coverage.
Looking for more Phillies coverage? Might I recommend Michael Berquist’s excellent A Citizen’s Blog. Right now he’s got a listing of how often teams in the NL employ the sacrifice bunt. Some readers of Ducksnorts may be surprised to see that the Padres rank near the bottom. In fact, only the Phillies, Pirates, and Reds sacrifice less frequently than the Friars.
Some more solid work over at Balls, Sticks, & Stuff. Former Padre outmakerfielder Shane Victorino is now in the Phillies organization. Who knew? Apparently he’s doing quite well. Good for him.
Get the dirt on the opposition. Then head out to the game tonight or hang out here. And watch the Padres win. 
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.
August 12, 2005 at 8:37 am
Couple of interviews I didn’t have time to link to:
Outfielder Dustin Delucchi (PDXBeavers.com)
http://www.pdxbeavers.com/comm......php?id=72
Shortstop Matt Bush (Scout.com)
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/ne.....type=story
August 12, 2005 at 9:29 am
I guess we could say that Beltran and Cameron went after that ball yesterday “full gorilla”:
http://www.doubletongued.org/i.....l_gorilla/
Good name for a blog or band?
August 12, 2005 at 9:42 am
I don’t know why Towers cannot call Bochy and say “Play Nady more.” Bochy might say “I don’t want to.” and then Towers could say, “I’m your boss. Do it.” That does not seem like a really complicated conversation. I don’t get it.
August 12, 2005 at 10:22 am
Video of the “full gorilla” can be found at this web page … http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/.....p;c_id=mlb … amazing!
August 12, 2005 at 10:44 am
BP’s STAT OF THE DAY
Top 5 NL Playoff Contenders
Team, Average Wins, Postseason Odds
St. Louis Cardinals, 100.4, 99.87 %
Atlanta Braves, 93.1, 89.99 %
San Diego Padres, 82.4, 81.63 %
Houston Astros, 87.5, 43.17 %
Philadelphia Phillies, 85.2, 21.33 %
August 12, 2005 at 11:02 am
Thanks, LM. Sure pays to be in the right division. Also, I like the fact that there’s a 0.13% chance that the Cards won’t make the playoffs.
August 12, 2005 at 11:22 am
Worth checking out … BP’s latest Notebook entry on the Padres … http://www.baseballprospectus......cleid=4326
August 12, 2005 at 11:39 am
A Carmelo Martinez sighting … in an article on the Braves’ Jeff Francouer yesterday @ BP (by Paul Swydan, http://www.baseballprospectus......cleid=4323, whom some of you may remember meeting at the BP Pizza Feed), this list was presented …
Check out this list of most homers in the first 100 career AB’s, courtesy of our own James Click:
Player TM YR AGE HR
Shane Spencer NYA 1998 26 14
J.D. Drew STL 98/99 22 11
Mark Quinn KCA 99/00 25 11
Daryle Ward HOU 1999 24 10
Robert Fick DET 98-00 24 9
Mike Diaz PIT 1986 26 9
Bobby Estalella PHI 96-98 21 9
Morgan Ensberg HOU 2002 26 8
Fred McGriff TOR 1987 23 8
Chili Davis SFN 1982 22 8
Ron Kittle CHA 82-83 24 8
Carmelo Martinez CHN 83-84 22 8
Jeff Francoeur ATL 2005 21 8
Fun stuff! Hey, Fick makes this list too! And I’ve already email Paul about Kevin Maas’ omission from the list (he had 12 HRs in his first 100 ABs, http://www.retrosheet.org/boxe.....011990.htm).
August 12, 2005 at 11:43 am
BTW, Geoff, THANKS for the editorial comment about Victorino … it made me chuckle … it’s part of why I read Ducksnorts EVERY DAY!
August 12, 2005 at 12:54 pm
http://www.minorleaguebaseball.....mp;did=998
Baseball Prospectus in their “Under the Knife” mentioned Eaton had a good A outing. The link above shows 3 IP, 1H, 2BB, 2SO. Anyone know anything more, like was he using his curveball a lot?
In the box is a less than stellar outing for Seanez. Anyone know much about either his or Hammond’s return?
August 12, 2005 at 1:02 pm
Sean’s current line: .302/.373/.396 in AAA. I think this guy will make it. I think he could be hold a .360-.390 OBP and eventually add .100 -.150 to his slugging to be a mid to upper 800s OPS player. He is just very slow. I would opt for a modest 3B veteran free agent in the off-season or push Nady over, but keep waiting. Maybe I am just too optimistic.
August 12, 2005 at 1:03 pm
snippett from North county Times:
“I felt a little uncomfortable on the mound, but I felt my mechanics were OK,” Eaton said. “I was able to keep the ball down. That was one of the things I wanted to focus on, throwing quality pitches and keeping the ball down in the zone. I only had a couple of balls right up in the zone and a couple of them were ‘chasers.’”
Eaton, who was on a three inning-or-45-pitch limit, was originally slated to make his first rehab start Monday with Triple-A Portland. He’s now ahead of schedule, and will be on a 60-pitch leash when he makes what will be his first of at least two starts for Portland next Monday.
“I was able to come down here and at least get three innings and get a little jump start as opposed to getting three innings or 45 pitches on Monday,” Eaton said. “Now we’re a whole start ahead.”
Just as important, Eaton was able to throw a curveball —- the pitch he’s had problems with since suffering the injury —- during warm-ups. He’ll throw a few more during a side outing Friday. He hopes to use it as necessary in his Aug. 20 start with Portland.
“It’s definitely nice to have that in my arsenal because it’s a very big pitch for me,” Eaton said.
I dont think he threw the curveball in the game, just during warmups..
August 12, 2005 at 1:06 pm
I dont think Sean will be manning 3b for the Padres in the near future. I do think that he will recapture some of his previous value by doing well at Portland and be traded. Once the organization is dissatisfied with your performance it seems that you are trade bait from then on.
August 12, 2005 at 2:47 pm
Don’t know if any of youse guyse are golfers … but I’ve had “Tiger Fever” for about 15 years now … he’s just birdied 3 of his last 5 holes to pull himself above the cut line at the PGA … even when he’s not 100%, the guy is a STUD!
August 12, 2005 at 3:49 pm
I just looked at the hitter match-ups against Leiber, and the Padres have knocked him around. The preview on ESPN said he was 8-4 vs. the Padres with decent ERA, but the against current Padres (OPS):
Team: .933
AB/OPS
Klesko: 35/1.322
Sweeney: 8/1.125
EY 32/1.110
Giles 29/1.027
Jackson 14/.804
Roberts and Olivo have both homered in 2 and 3 AB’s respectively.
Guys who should not start:
Fick: 13/.615
Loretta 26/.385
Seems like a good night to let EY or Jackson take over 2B, but I can guarantee Bochy will roll out Loretta, even put him in 2-3-4-5.
vs. Peavy
Not many AB’s to look at:
Good:
Lofton: 5/1.314
Chavez: 8/1.000
Abreu: 5/.900
Bad:
Lieberthal 6/.000
Burrell 6/.337
Bunch of other guys are o’fer in 2-3 AB’s. Looks like a lock of a match up. Go Pads.
August 12, 2005 at 4:29 pm
Is Jason Marquis the best baseball player in the world today? Not only does he play the premier defensive position in the game (ie. pitcher), but he’s hitting .359 … http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/boxscore?gid=250812116 … the guy’s a stud, to say the least!
August 12, 2005 at 4:41 pm
Wow, the Rangers have Nevin (4) hitting ahead of Hank Blalock (6) … maybe we can trade for Blalock???
August 12, 2005 at 4:42 pm
David Wells is stumbling for the BoSox tonight … http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/boxscore?gid=250812102
August 12, 2005 at 7:19 pm
Well, crap. Freakin’ Burrell.
August 12, 2005 at 7:19 pm
Geez, that sucks. 3-run homer by Burrell
August 12, 2005 at 7:23 pm
Hey, Jay, Hammond is back. He was activated when Eaton was put back on the DL.
August 12, 2005 at 7:25 pm
As for the lineup, Bochy noticed the matchups and sat Loretta and Fick. … It’s still lunacy to bat Klesko ahead of Giles.
August 12, 2005 at 7:25 pm
Freakin’ Utley. Great diving stab to take a base hit away from Roberts.
August 12, 2005 at 7:29 pm
Utley robs Klesko. Base hit Giles scores a run. We could have two runs and no out if it weren’t for Utley. Oh well, one run and two outs is okay I guess.
August 12, 2005 at 7:29 pm
Hoffman: 27 consecutive saves since April 30. I think this is the second-best streak of his career. The best was during 1998.
August 12, 2005 at 7:33 pm
I didn’t realize Sweeney’s numbers were so great. I would love to see him and Nady in a true platoon.
August 12, 2005 at 7:47 pm
Trivia question from the Phillies feed: Gwynn won 8 batting titles. Who is the only other player in club history to win one? I think I know this.
August 12, 2005 at 7:50 pm
Giles caught that on the warning track. It would have been out of another park. Peavy is letting the ball get up too much.
August 12, 2005 at 7:58 pm
RHP Adam Eaton threw 60 pitches in a simulated game and had no pain in his injured right finger, manager Bruce Bochy said. Eaton, on the disabled list with a strained middle finger on his right hand, is scheduled to make a rehab start on Sunday with Triple-A Portland. Bochy said Eaton will make one, possibly two starts in the minors before he is due off the DL on Aug. 20. … There were still strong reactions the day after the horrific collision between Mets outfielders Mike Cameron and Carlos Beltran. “That’s the worse one I’ve ever seen,” said Bochy, who said he saw the replay several times.
August 12, 2005 at 7:59 pm
Peavy has given up 3 or more runs in 10 of his first 22 starts this season. Padres are 6-4 in those games. Full numbers for Peavy when he allows 3+ runs:
GS: 10
ERA: 6.30
H/9: 10.20
HR/9: 1.65
BB/9: 2.40
SO/9: 9.15
August 12, 2005 at 8:01 pm
Interestingly, Peavy’s record is just 2-4 in those 10 starts. The bullpen has picked him up four times.
August 12, 2005 at 8:04 pm
Wow, that’s a terrific throw by Olivo to get Abreu trying to steal second.
August 12, 2005 at 8:06 pm
Yeah, Abreu slowed up there about 15 feet from the bag. But I’ll take it. That is the first player to try and steal on Olivo since joining the Padres, and he was thrown out. We may have ourselves a catcher here.
August 12, 2005 at 8:07 pm
That was an absolutely phenomenal throw by Olivo. Abreu still can’t believe it.
August 12, 2005 at 8:10 pm
It was a great throw, but it might have been a close play had Abreu not slowed up and watched the throw.
August 12, 2005 at 8:11 pm
Gary Sheffield.
About the batting title, I mean.
August 12, 2005 at 8:11 pm
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Mike Cameron was to undergo facial surgery Friday night, one day after his frightening outfield collision with New York Mets teammate Carlos Beltran.
Cameron was scheduled to be operated on in San Diego, where he is expected to remain for at least four more days. Beltran was expected to miss New York’s three-game weekend series with the Los Angeles Dodgers because of a concussion and a small fracture in his cheekbone.
August 12, 2005 at 8:12 pm
You’re right, Lance. 1992. Sheffield was chasing the Triple Crown for much of the season.
August 12, 2005 at 8:12 pm
We’re within a run, as Giles scores. Some help from Randa, please?
August 12, 2005 at 8:12 pm
I thought Sweeney hit that one out. Still, an RBI double is just fine.
August 12, 2005 at 8:13 pm
Sweeney: about the longest double you’ll ever see.
August 12, 2005 at 8:15 pm
That was a fun year, Kevin, with Sheff & McGriff bashing. Benes and Hurst were pitching well, as I recall. And Tony Fernandez was hitting and putting on a show at SS. Fun team.
August 12, 2005 at 8:15 pm
http://www.padresnation.com/ol.....field.html
August 12, 2005 at 8:17 pm
Yeah, the top four hitters — Fernandez, Gwynn, Sheff and McGriff — were called The Four Tops, and they played their songs when one of them got a hit. I think the All-Star Game was in San Diego and all four of them might have made it. Maybe not Fernandez.
August 12, 2005 at 8:18 pm
Arizona shuts out Atlanta.
August 12, 2005 at 8:18 pm
Thinking of Sheffield reminds me of Hoffman. There’s a good interview with Hoffy in the print version of BA that just came in the mail today. Among other things, Trevor credits Donnie Elliott with teaching him to throw the changeup. Elliott was one of the guys who came over in the McGriff deal. So even the one trade in the fire sale that didn’t work out (Melvin Nieves anyone?) ended up helping us.
August 12, 2005 at 8:20 pm
All four did make it + Santiago.
August 12, 2005 at 8:21 pm
Other than Hoffman, did the firesale bring anything?
August 12, 2005 at 8:23 pm
The bottom four of the 1992 lineup was awful, all slugging under .400: Santiago, Jerald Clark, Darrin Jackson and Kurt Stillwell.
August 12, 2005 at 8:25 pm
The Padres contended until the last month or so, and they traded Lefferts to the Orioles — which I never understood because he was the No. 3 starter and pitching well.
August 12, 2005 at 8:27 pm
Hurst and Greg Harris brought Ausmus and other role-players I can’t seem to recall. As Ausmus was part of the deal with Houston later, I’d say he counts for something.
I’m going home to watch Buffy the Vampire Slayer DVD’s (best show EVER!) with the wife and kids. A part of me will linger with our team.
GO FRIARS!!!!!!
August 12, 2005 at 8:34 pm
The key deals:
–Darrin Jackson for Derek Bell
–Sheffield for Hoffman, Andres Berumen, and Jose Martinez
–McGriff for Elliott, Nieves, and Vince Moore
–Harris and Hurst for Ausmus, Andy Ashby, and Doug Bochtler
I wrote about this several years ago on the old site:
http://www.ducksnorts.com/arti.....51999.html
August 12, 2005 at 8:35 pm
Lance, I’ve never seen Buffy, but I’m a huge fan of Joss Whedon’s show Firefly. Enjoy!
August 12, 2005 at 8:40 pm
Klesko with a good helmet slam.
August 12, 2005 at 9:03 pm
Giles lays out to save the day. Great catch.
August 12, 2005 at 9:11 pm
That was nice. Nice night in the field for him.
August 12, 2005 at 9:14 pm
Damian Jackson takes a page out of the Mark Sweeney school of baserunning. Just plain stupid. Bochy’s been tossed, but it’s not the umpire’s fault that Jackson had a brain fart.
August 12, 2005 at 9:15 pm
Geez, Jackson gets tagged out. What a mess. Now Bochy is throw out.
August 12, 2005 at 9:16 pm
I’m not sure he got Jackson though. Or was he saying out of the baseline, but he wasn’t, I don’t think.
August 12, 2005 at 9:19 pm
I think that’s what happened. Utley missed him, the ump said Jackson was out of the baseline, and he wasn’t, and that’s why Bochy went off.
August 12, 2005 at 9:19 pm
Umpire called DJ out of the baseline, but it looks like Utley made the tag as well.
August 12, 2005 at 9:21 pm
We weren’t robbed because Jackson was dumb, but I’m not buying any part of that call.
August 12, 2005 at 9:48 pm
Randa, Greene, Olivo to face Wagner in the ninth. Combined they are 0-for-6 with 1 walk and 4 strikeouts. Randa has the walk.
August 12, 2005 at 9:48 pm
One pitch, one out.
August 12, 2005 at 9:49 pm
Opponents against Wagner on the road are hitting .153/.206/.254. That’s sick.
August 12, 2005 at 9:52 pm
Khalil is battling. Where’s Leyritz when you need him?
August 12, 2005 at 9:56 pm
So much for that. Tonight’s loss is brought to you by Sir Not Appearing in This Game, as played by Xavier Nady. I’m sure glad we didn’t get our best right-handed bat in there to face Wagner.
August 12, 2005 at 10:11 pm
When you lose by one run and your biggest home run threat doesn’t get a single AB, you can put that one on the manager.