Padres keep driving us crazy, but we love ‘em. It’s been so darned long, I had forgotten how stressful a pennant race can be.
A few thoughts after Wednesday’s sequence of infinitely improbable events:
- Scott Linebrink can pitch for my team anytime. Coming back down 3-0 to Mike Matheny to get out of a bases-loaded jam in the sixth was huge.
- Great battle between Akinori Otsuka and Barry Bonds in the eighth. Yeah, Aki eventually coughed up the lead but he sure did a number against Bonds. After jumping ahead in the count, Aki kept challenging Bonds, who kept fouling balls off before being called out on a slider at the knees.
- I’d all but given up on Ramon Hernandez. He went 8-for-14 in San Francisco and was instrumental in helping the Pads avoid the sweep. Very solid.
- How did Sean Burroughs drive an 0-2 offering from Armando Benitez for a two-run double with two out in the ninth? Burroughs looked overmatched on the first couple of pitches but just managed to slap one into a good spot. Hey, we’ll take it.
- Speaking of Benitez, it seems to me he’d be better served by making quality pitches than glaring at the umpire after every offering. Not that I’m looking a gift horse in the mouth, mind you.
- While we’re thanking Giants, I should also give a shout out to Mike Matheny for boxing the throw from Todd Linden that would have nailed Mark Loretta by 20 feet to end the 10th. Much appreciated.
- The deflated silence by the home crowd after raucous anticipation of a sweep was beautiful. This is a loss that will haunt the Giants and their fans for a long time. They came back late in the game, the momentum was starting to turn, and then they gave it right back. Actually, it looked suspiciously like a Padres game. Irresistable forces. Immovable objects.
- And how about the Dodgers taking a 5-0 lead against the Rox into the top of the 5th in Los Angeles? All I can say is, it’s about time Cory Sullivan beat someone other than the Pads.
Great way to end the road trip. Magic number is 12. Off-day Thursday, then back home for three against the Nats. Maybe, just maybe…
Thanks for the observations. I agree. A couple more:
Right before the play at the plate with Loretta, I was sitting with a friend (a Giants fan). The Hawkins vs. Giles match up looked in the Padres favor, so, as solace, I was about to say: “If it is any consolation, Loretta has a penchant for getting thrown out at home.” Something distracted me before the pitch, then the play happened. I felt clever, but I did start to think that I cannot think of any other Padre I have seen rung up at home more than Loretta. Remember the JD Drew play last year? Wasn’t that Loretta nailed at home? I vaguely recall other times, but if I had the stats I am sure it would hold up.
I wonder why? On base a lot plus slow foot speed ahead of guys who hit well enough to get guys toward the plate?
The other thing I need to say is a big props for Bochy on putting Hernandez 3rd. It is nice that 7 of our 8 hits were clustered together, behind guys taking walks. If Randa didn’t have such a miserable day, we would have scored a lot more.
Correction: If Randa wasn’t the washed up shell of his first half, our offense would be a lot better.