first pitch: 12:05 p.m., PT
television: none
matchup: Adam Eaton (10-4, 4.10 ERA) vs Aaron Cook (5-1, 3.39 ERA)
preview: Padres.com
Wednesday Recap
How clutch was Jake Peavy Wednesday night? Pads seriously needed innings out of their ace, and that’s precisely what they got. Their lead in the NL West remains at 5, with 11 games to play. The buzz around the country surrounding the Padres’ pursuit of the division title is deafening. Or it would be, if anyone cared.
Day Game Alert
Noon start for folks on the West Coast. No television. Ah yes, pennant fever.
Cook averages 3.28 K/9 IP over his career. This year, that number is even lower, 2.77. Despite the alarming lack of dominance, Cook has fared well in 2005. He may have hit upon a recipe for success at Coors: no walks and lots of ground balls (3.27 GB/FB ratio this year).
Eaton sports a 5.93 ERA since the All-Star break. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Padres really need a second starter to step up going into the playoffs. Right now it’s looking like that might be ― gasp ― Pedro Astacio. I’d sure feel a lot better if Eaton started pitching well again.
Division Winners with Negative Run Differentials
Padres current run differential is -52. Fueled by comments from Eric and Brian G. in Tuesday night’s IGD and thanks to the indispensable Lahman database, I found that four teams since division play began in 1969 have won their division with a negative differential:
1994 Rangers: -84 (strike, no playoffs)
1987 Twins: -20 (World Series champs, beating Cards in 7)
1984 Royals: -13 (swept in division series by eventual WS champ Tigers)
1997 Giants: -9 (swept in division series by eventual WS champ Marlins)
So if history is any guide, the Pads will win it all or lose to the team that does (or there will be a labor dispute). Similarities? Forget the Twins. They had four guys hit 28+ homers; barring a minor miracle, the Pads won’t have anyone hit 20.
This team probably most closely resembles the 1984 Royals squad, which had a stud (Bud Black) at the head of the rotation and a strong bullpen anchored by the late, great Dan Quisenberry (remember when a closer could work 129 innings?). The rest of the starting staff was pretty pedestrian, with guys like Larry Gura and Charlie Liebrandt playing the roles currently occupied by Woody Williams and Brian Lawrence.
The offense was a haphazard collection of veteran bats (Frank White, Hal McRae, Jorge Orta, George Brett), role players (Darryl Motley, Pat Sheridan, Dane Iorg), a competent leadoff hitter (Willie Wilson), and one real power threat (Steve Balboni). Okay, it’s not a perfect match, but there are some definite similarities between that team and the 2005 Padres.
Enough of my slapdash analysis. Time to take the series and wrap this thing up.
7.7 IP by Jake allowing only two runs at Coors Field while throwing no sinkers and only one slider (the home run) is rather amazing.
Scoreless through two…
We need to address our pitching this winter. Our offense is mediocre and we may lose Giles, which’ll hurt. But right now I’d pay millions for a third base coach who realizes:
1. Where the game is being played
2. Who’s running
Does Klesko ever hit the ball hard anymore?
Two on, none out, no runs.
I’ve backed Klesko for years, but it’s worth asking if he’s finished for this season. He’s been awful since June. Maybe I’m piling on now, but it’s hard to recall the last time he even hit a scary fly ball.
He can apparenty still hit when healthy, but he’s just rarely healthy anymore.
Cook has thrown 54 pitches through 5 innings? Damn, that’s impressive at Coors.
That’s what I’m getting at. Helping him get back on-track is a great idea if he’s on-trackable. If he’s not, because he’s hurt, then he’s doing us no good.
Has Eaton progressed at all since being called up as a 21-year-old?
Hey, back from Yoga, looks like padre hitters are boinking again, just to many hits (of something) over the last three days. can’t understand our offense this year.
Klesko, stick a fork in him, he’s done. Apparently, a nice guy but hes supposed to be protecting and that ain’t happening.
What are the odds we get shut out twice in one season at Coors? Will writing that take the jinx off or lock it down tighter?
Cook 65-39 pitches in 6IP.
Can the Padres batters not take a pitch?
Klesko OPS:
April 855
May 878
June 843
& then…
July 734
Aug 610
Sept 477
Maybe Klesko needs slump buster. Where’s Gracey these days?
Cook’s sinker is good, but not shutout good–the defense behind him has preserved the shutout.
fate owes us a clutch hit.
F you fate
What the heck?
Double play at 3B. Shoot. What’s going on?
It looks like either Cook is lucky because the Padres are having short ABs against him or the hitters are just too agressive in making outs.
Previous killed rallies can be credited to poor clutch hitting, but this one was just luck.
Are they just mailing it in today or what. Christ, they look lethargic. What more can Eaton do. I hate these teams offense. I wonder if playing at Petco Mall messes with their hitting on the road. Whatever.
They don’t look lethargic to me…minus a couple defensive gems and this game could be 5-2 Pads.
I just can’t wait to be done with the Rockies. Those pesky bats.
Still can’t believe the Padres were at the losing end of a 1-0 game in Mile High.
wow…that was a nasty slider down and away–how did Helton hit it that far? He must have been guessing the pitch and location.
Lucky Helton. Lucky enough to be playing in Mile High in his whole career.
Double switch time. Take a drink.
Another shutout by the Rockies?
I think it’s the making of another Khalil propelled comeback win.
The Rockies announcers said the Nationals have only one regular in the lineup against the Giants today.
Reach for them rally caps.
Didi, you’re a prophet
I believe in the healing power of simple Greene!
Shoot. We didn’t get the win.
Why Ben Johnson sent up rather than Nady?
Well at least they put up a fight in the end. Showin’ that swagger. Watching this game closely, I say chalk up the weak offensive showing to bad luck and great (lucky?) defense. Eaton’s un-dominance is worth a grunt of frustration, but that’s nothing new.
Bruce, why not Nady?
Bochy: I found out that he’s been again getting involved something untowardly that’s detrimental to the clubhouse…my clubhouse.
And Cordero doesn’t blow the game today. Nats win 2-0, magic number down to 6.
Vintage Maddux today … http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/boxscore?gid=250922108 … won’t be too many more of these, me thinks!
Someone mentioned that there was a significant problem with the offense… they are third in the NL in EQA (which has the highest correlation with run scoring of any offensive rate stat).
Hey GY, et al … here’s a pretty intense site for “scouting reports” … http://www.calleaguers.com/KottarasGeorge05.html … and it also has some video! WAY COOL!
As Richard alluded to, our offense is much better than our pitching.
If anyone wants to look at the road stats on espn.com, our road offense is among the league leaders. Our pitching is in the middle of the league of just below.
Petco Park is what makes our pitching seem pretty good and our hitting seem weak. But that is not the case.
Other than signing Giles, which is probably not going to happen, no matter what — the offseason priorities need to be starting pitching, starting pitching and starting pitcing.