first pitch: 7:05 p.m., PT
television: Channel 4
matchup: Adam Eaton (9-3, 3.90 ERA) vs Jeff Francis (12-10, 5.87 ERA)
preview: ESPN | Padres.com
The Giants are now in second place. Thanks to Jeff Kent’s heroics for the Dodgers Tuesday night, San Francisco remains 5 back of the Padres, who literally threw away another game against the Rockies.
Ten walks to Colorado hitters? Miguel Olivo flipping a ball into the dugout while it’s still in play, allowing Todd Helton to score what proved to be the winning run from first on a routine fly out to left? Manny Alexander at first base (if only for two batters, before Bruce Bochy made yet another double switch)?
Wake up, folks; there’s a division to be won here. Padres still have to stink less than everyone else for that to happen. Now would be an excellent time to stop making stupid mistakes and start playing good baseball.
Other Stuff
- Batted Balls and DIPS (Hardball Times). The quest for reliable predictors of future pitching performance continues. Pretty heady stuff here. Chad Cordero’s numbers are particularly interesting.
- Whatever Happened to Ichiro? (Hardball Times). David Gassko examines Ichiro Suzuki’s decline and finds that it is, in fact, a decline. I guess plans for him to become the player people think Tony Gwynn was are on hold for now.
- And Here’s the Pitch … (Hardball Times). Are these guys writing all the good stuff? So it seems. I am fascinated by the fact that Dave Roberts has hit the fewest number of foul balls per plate appearance among big leaguers over the past five years. Anectodally it seems like he battles at the plate.
- Padres’ scouting guru ga-ga over top picks (NC Times). John Maffei takes a look at the Padres system.
- Rockies no pushovers: Last in NL West is best recently (NC Times). Brian Hiro notes that the Pads are 5 games worse than the Rox since June 1.
- Padres take no chances, examine Peavy’s shoulder
(NC Times). From the article: “Padres trainer Todd Hutcheson described Peavy’s problem as an impingement of the rotator cuff.” Peavy is expected to make his next start this Saturday at Los Angeles. - Pulling A Lenny: Evolution, Prevolution & Lenny Harris’ Deboning of the Marlins (Management by Baseball). Don’t let the unwieldy title scare you away; this is a good read. I’d try to summarize it but I always have trouble putting Jeff Angus’ work into neat little boxes. You’ll have to read it for yourself.
10 Comments
Wow, not good news about Peavy … I see that BP’s UTK (Will Carrol) article has a Peavy mention … can somebody with a BP subscription read and comment? Thanks!
Also in that article was this comment about Ramon …
Ramon Hernandez is two or three days away from being able to start, according to Bochy, who put his catcher through drills to test his surgically repaired left wrist before the game. Hernandez fired 12 throws from behind the plate to second base and also fielded bunts.
“I wanted him to do some throwing,” Bochy said. “He looked good.”
Playoffs start today @ Ft.Wayne … http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/app/milb/stats/stats.jsp?t=l_sco&lid=118
Lake Elsinore starts on the 10th …
BP’s STAT OF THE DAY
Top 5 NL Playoff Contenders
Team, Average Wins, Postseason Odds
St. Louis Cardinals, 101.8, 100.00%
Atlanta Braves, 91.6, 95.94%
San Diego Padres, 82.4, 93.46%
Houston Astros, 86.0, 37.83%
Philadelphia Phillies, 85.4, 29.23%
LM… from WC at BP:
“‘I don’t want to alarm anybody,’ Jake Peavy said, promptly alarming everybody. Peavy has been on anti-inflammatories for the past couple weeks, trying to overcome some swelling and stiffness in his pitching shoulder. While Peavy is on pace to come close to his peak innings, he’s been much more efficient this year, perhaps in response to his own frailty. With the Padres ahead in the NL West, the plan is to get Peavy a couple extra days’ rest or even have him skip some starts. They’ll have to hold serve to have this happen. A Pads team without its ace would be…well, it would be worse than it is now, playoffs or not.”
Looks like Johnson can rack, at least for now. Eaton has his stuff, gotta win, baby, just win.
A hit-and-run on a 1-2 pitch with the pitcher up. Bochy needs to get over his doubleplayophobia.
Before that steal attempt or whatever it was — where Johnson was thrown out — the Rockies broadcasters said, if Bochy sends him here, he’s managing blindfolded.
Johnson was clearly not trying to get a great jump–was a hit and run.
speaking of BJ, anyone have an opinion on him in CF?
Thanks, dprat!