first pitch: 1:40 p.m., PT
television: Channel 4
matchup: Woody Williams (8-12, 5.07 ERA) vs Javier Vazquez (11-15, 4.57 ERA)
preview: ESPN | Padres.com
You know what would be a ballsy move that won’t happen? Stick Clay Hensley in the playoff rotation behind Jake Peavy and Pedro Astacio. Here’s how Hensley and the guys who will get actual consideration have fared since the All-Star break:
| Pitcher | IP | ERA | H/9 | HR/9 | BB/9 | SO/9 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clay Hensley | 40.1 | 2.01 | 6.92 | 0.00 | 3.12 | 5.58 |
| Adam Eaton | 36.2 | 5.89 | 10.31 | 1.47 | 3.93 | 5.89 |
| Woody Williams | 68.1 | 6.19 | 10.80 | 1.71 | 3.42 | 6.72 |
| Chan Ho Park | 39.1 | 6.41 | 10.07 | 0.46 | 5.03 | 6.86 |
| Brian Lawrence | 69.1 | 6.62 | 11.55 | 0.91 | 3.63 | 6.10 |
Sometimes being “unproven” is a good thing.
After Saturday night’s bullpen implosion, the Pads try to bounce back and take the series at Arizona on Sunday. They’ll have to do it without leadoff hitter Dave Roberts, who strained his left quad and is expected to be out 7-10 days.
Having the Rockies shut down the Giants again would be nice also. I could live with a magic number of 2 and the final seven games at home.
Other Stuff
- Padres could be first division winner with losing record (AP). Wow, they’re really on top of things. How come I haven’t heard about this before?
- Astacio’s effort earns praise (Padres.com). Did anyone see this coming? Joe Randa got all the attention, but the acquisition of Astacio has been huge.
- Giles leads club by example (Padres.com). Kind of a fluff piece. I love this quote from Xavier Nady, about Giles: “He’s the best.” Don’t we know it.
- Greene’s play earns raves (Padres.com). More fluff, but again there’s a great quote, this one from Greene: “Acclaim and media attention aren’t much of a concern to me. As long as the guys I’m playing with respect me, that’s what really matters.” Not that anyone who has watched Greene play has ever doubted his focus, but I love the first part of that quote.
- Otsuka can’t get any relief in desert (U-T). It’s not only the rotation that has to be settled going into the playoffs. Personally I’d give Scott Linebrink the eighth and possibly the seventh depending on situation, and let Aki, Rudy Seanez, and Hensley (if he doesn’t start, which he won’t) take the sixth and seventh. Please, no more Chris Hammond. Does anyone else miss Paul Quantrill? Maybe just a little?
- Phillies, Padres, Red Sox win coin tosses (Yahoo). Not that anyone wants to think about such a possibility, but if there were to be a one-game playoff between the Pads and Giants, it would be at Petco.
- Padres Prospect Interview: Greg Sain (Scout.com). John Conniff catches up with USD alum Sain, who finished the 2005 season at Triple-A Portland.
Technorati tags: Padres, San Diego Padres, baseball
22 Comments
I like the Hensley idea. Exactly the kind of bold thinking the Padres could use, but don’t have. They are going into the playoffs as the weakest team, with extremely low expectations from all but themselves and we who bleed Padre brown, so are in the perfect position to think, and act, boldly. Not that I’d get my hopes up for anything like that.
But on your chart, those HR/9 rates look whacky.
Damn, screwed up the column heads. Thanks for the catch; those have been fixed.
If ever there were a time to throw caution to the wind in a playoff situation, now would be it. Seriously, everybody already thinks you suck; why not just go for it?
Rox down 2-1 after five. Why have your #8 hitter lay down a sacrifice so that the pitcher can try to drive in the run from second? Thanks a lot, guys.
Nice to finally say goodbye to LA, though it would have been nicer to eliminate AZ last night as well. Speaking of AZ, Geoff – did you see the rumors that KT is on the hot seat and may be going to AZ in the offseason?
Here’s the article: http://www.nj.com/columns/ledger/graziano/index.ssf?/base/columns-0/1127629830183950.xml&coll=1&thispage=2
There was another article in another paper (I think it was Texas) but I couldn’t access it without registration. The front office could be in for some changes this offseason.
Yeah, I’ve heard about the KT rumors. I’m not sure what to make of those. Here’s the Ft. Worth Star-Telegram article:
http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/sports/baseball/12738555.htm
Rox have tied it in the seventh. Runner at third, one out.
Damn, Woody is breaking everybody’s bats but balls keep dropping in for hits.
I thought Woody had himself a homer there.
Gonzo couldn’t catch that one. Nice job, Randa!
Rox get out of a jam in the eighth. Holliday, Atkins, Hawpe to start the bottom half.
Randa comes through with a 3-run homer.
Rox “closer” has coughed up three in the ninth. Runner on third, one out. Giants won’t go away.
Giles makes a great sliding catch on a sinking liner to center off the bat of Alex Cintron. And he replaces his divot.
Rox are down 6-2 in the bottom of the ninth. I only like Brian Fuentes when he’s pitching against us. On the bright side, Armando Benitez is now pitching for SF.
Benitez doesn’t return the favor, Giants win.
Seanez does a great job against Gonzalez and Tracy to get out of the sixth. His stuff is filthy. He should be part three of the three-headed monster in the playoffs.
We have two hits, one walk (Vasquez with 12K) to their 9 hits, 2 walks…and we lead 3-2. Reversal of fortune. Let’s hope it holds.
In comes Linebrink. Third time he’s been used three days in a row. How he’s done on Day 3 this year:
May 9 @ Cin: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 SO
Sep 1 @ Mil: 1, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0
Go get ‘em, Scotty.
Snakes tie, but Linebrink fans pinch-hitter Glaus on some high heat to strand runners at second and third.
Hensley comes back down 3-0 to Shawn Green to escape the eighth without any damage. Assist to the plate umpire, who called the 3-0 pitch a strike.
Great battle between Jose Valverde and Manny Alexander. Nothing but fastballs, 96-97. Valverde gets ahead 0-2. Manny works the count full, then jerks one out but just foul. He and Valverde stare at each other as Manny comes back to home plate. Another foul ball, then finally the strikeout. Valverde’s mouth is a-flappin’ as he comes off the mound and returns to the dugout. Kid thinks he’s won the World Series.
Who’s the one guy you don’t bring in to pitch at the ex-BOB? Aki. Bases loaded, no out. Hammond warming in the ‘pen?
I’ve got things to do. There’s no way we’re coming back from this one.