first pitch: 5:05 p.m., PT
television: Channel 4SD
matchup: Jake Peavy (4-5, 4.15 ERA) vs Dave Bush (3-5, 4.95 ERA)
previews: Padres.com | SI.com
Dave Bush has been nearly invincible at home this year (2.50 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, .188 BAA in 5 starts). Bush was part of the package that sent Lyle Overbay to Toronto this past winter. Overbay, in turn, was part of the package that sent Richie “The Gift That Keeps Giving” Sexson to Arizona. The Diamondbacks got 90 at-bats out of Sexson. The Brewers, meanwhile, picked up short-term solutions on the infield (Overbay, Junior Spivey, Craig Counsell) until the big three of Prince Fielder, Rickie Weeks, and J.J. Hardy were ready, and now have Chris Capuano, Bush, and outfielder Gabe Gross to show for their efforts. That, folks, is how to make a deal.
On the other side, Jake Peavy makes his first start since May 28, when he led the Padres to a wild victory over St. Louis despite being knocked around a bit. Peavy had been given a few days extra rest due to shoulder tendinitis. Nobody seems overly concerned about Peavy’s health, although I always shudder a little when I see “pitcher” and “shoulder tendinitis” in the same sentence (hello, Ben Sheets).
So pick up that glass of whatever it is you’re drinking and join me in a toast: To Jake’s health! Go get ‘em, boys.
Bowen 4th, Bellhorn 2nd, Cameron 6th.. interesting.
BrianG – re: “Spalding’s World Tour†… I haven’t read it … but I remember reading a very favorable review of it about a month ago … I don’t recall where … it just left me with a favorable impression, ie. something I’d read “later, if/when the opporunity arises” …
Peter, Geoff, et al – THANKS for the comments (200+, WOW!) on the draft today! I got buried here at work and missed all the fun … hey, there’s a lot folks here that know their amatuers! You need to pitch in on the Mock Draft over at minorleagueball.com next year!
GY – re: “Do you think Fuson is a little amused by Oakland’s selection of the HS pitcher?” … comments like this perpetuate (even if untentional) that Oakland (and “Moneyball”) are all about drafting college players … what Oakland (and “Moneyball”) are is about is drafting “value” … and in the year of “the Moneyball draft” (2002?), the value was in college players … and I think it’s partial prooff of the Moneyball-concept that now the pendulum of value has swung back to HS players and so that’s where Oakland is now drafting.
Thank you, Lynch. Looks like Pop’s gift this year. Your thoughts on Stamfurd in the SuperReg?
LM: Couldn’t agree more (Peter and I actually had that discussion last night on the phone), and I try to explain this very concept to folks every chance I get. However, wasn’t there a point in the book where Billy Beane threw a chair because Fuson drafted Jeremy Bonderman?
If I were Fuson, I think I’d be a little amused.
BG – I just bought my tix today … I thought they were starting on Friday and I can’t go Friday, but series will be Sat/Sun/Mon … so I’m *IN* … and now I’m *ultra* stoked! I feel I can’t lose … I’m a Stanford alum, living in Corvallis, OR, who has Beaver-fever
Game #1 features the guy taken #2 overall in today’s draft, Greg Reynolds … who beat pre-Regional #3 U Texas last week … versus the Beaver’s ace of the past-3-seasons Dallas Buck (who was taken #86 overall = 3rd round, by the D-Backs) … so that will be an awesome matchup … reminisent of Game #1 in the SR last year which featured Buck vs USC’s Ian Kennedy (who went #21 today to the Yanks), and that was an AWESOME game.
I s’pose I really hope the Beaver’s win because I genuinely think they are the better team … they won the Pac-10 outright by wide margin … Stanford barely made to the Regional … I’d like to see OSU get back to Omaha and do better than last year (when they went 2-and-out, but both games were close woulda/coulda/shoulda’s) …
OSU has 2 *very* good starters and a decent #3 and even a #4 who was their #3 last year … and a closer who is likely to be drafted also … so pitching depth is a strength … they also have Cole Gillespie who was Pac-10 Player of the Year (and got drafted today at #92 (to Milw) and they are very solid up the middle defensively (SS is last year’s Pac-10 frosh of year) … so clearly I like they boys … they’ve been fun to follow for the past couple of years …
But my heart will be happy if Stanford wins … and I’ll enjoy seeing Greg Reynolds on the national stage … they proved @ Austin that they can beat anyone, anywhere … I didn’t believe that to be true going into the Regional …
Hey, I kinda like this June Madness
GY – ah yes, the chair-throwing when Bonderman got drafted … yes, that probably will give Grady a chuckle! BTW, what an awesome pick that was by Fuson, huh?
Whassup with Jake gettin’ knocked around?
3-0 Brew-has in bottom of 4th
BTW, in case you hadn’t noticed, but catcher David Ross is on fire for the Reds … http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/6956
Wow, in bottom of 4th, Jake walks #8 hitter (Clark) and goes to full count on #9 (Bush-P) before given up an RBI double!!!
… that doesn’t seem like a good sign
Now 4-0 Brewers …
Jake looks like absolute hell. Can’t put anybody away, missing constantly.
Competing this season is not worth risking that arm for the next two seasons when we could be much better.
I agree wholeheartedly with Tom. Something has to be wrong in that arm. He is not missing bats at all, and really hasn’t seemed to since the 16K game earlier this year. I’d like to have someone look at his arm. I haven’t seen a pitch at more than 90 mph, anybody else notice a drop in velocity?
Seanez pitching (and failing) in a clutch situation for the Bosox … http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/boxscore?gid=260606110
Whassup with double-switch out KG?
The last few weeks when they’ve talked about Jake’s tendinitis, they have reported that they didn’t do an MRI, since the soreness tends to go away after he warms up. Sorry, that’s not enough for me. If I’m building my franchise around one guy, I’m going to get that guy checked out by the best diagnostic equipment available. Especially when he’s not throwing like we’re used to Jake throwing.
BTW, wasn’t that a rub on the Nats for not having BLaw get a MRI before the trade?
Switching back to the draft because the game sucks. Hank mentioned it earlier, but look at those arms Detroit has piled up. Bonderman could be the best #5 in the game in 2008. If they can avoid the temptation to make Zoom a closer, damn.
Tigers also drafted Oregon St’s #2 starter Jonah Nickerson in 7th round … Jonah’s stats were better than Dallas Buck’s this season (and Buck went in 3rd round … probably due to the fastball he had last year) … agree with TW that Detroit’s pitching depth is getting impressive …
With the exception of the 16 K game, Jake has not looked like Jake all year by and large. Since he has a history of hiding his injuries, I think we should shut him down, put him on the 15 day DL and have him take an MRI. Possible causes, he injured his shoulder last season, his builking up over the offseason, the WBC, etc. His velocity is down somewhat and he can’t put guys away. If his shouider is indeed hurt, I don’t want to mess around with it. TJ, no problem, but I fear for a shoulder injury. If he has a severe shoulder injury, we can kiss the Peavy we all knew and loved good bye. Hate to be a downer, but I agree, this season is not worth throwing him away.
I agree here, Jake needs to be looked at.
Here’s an interesting perspective … Cole Hamels (starting today for Phillies) was the #17 pick in the 2002 draft (http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/7509) … so that’s the kind of talent that can be available @ #17 …
Time for some good news … Carillo is starting for Portland Beavers tonight! http://tinyurl.com/jhda3 …
PM has had kidney stone since Sat night and I am highly grumpy. So I just want to say, the padres suck, are lousy hitters, and not even worth my time laying on the couch waiting for the stone to pass. Simply pathetic. I’m switching over to Wheel of Fortune.
Padres down in flames. Even if Peavy was pitching good, we only scored one run and that makes it hard to win.
On a seperate note, Carrillo started for Portland and is getting cuffed around a bit. Seems to me like his command is off. Probably a bit nervous.
BG & LM: I actually reviewed Spalding’s World Tour in April:
http://ducksnorts.com/blog/2006/04/spaldings-world-tour.html
Full disclosure: If you buy the book via the advertisement, I get a cut. That said, I enjoyed it very much.
GY – LOL … see, I do read your posts sometimes … I just don’t remember all the details
PM – wow, I hope everything comes out OK for you … hang in there buddy!
FWIW, in today’s paper, Peavy says he is feeling fine, that his shoulder loosened up fine, and he appeared to blame his lack of control on the absence of a bullpen session. Let’s see how he responds his next time out.
I still agree with others that he still should at least be given a precautionary MRI.
That’s what I feared from Peavy, but maybe he’s feeling “fine.” However he’s a stubborn Alabama boy, and if this is what we see from Peavy when forced off his normal routine, then he needs to sit until he really is better. What I am really afraid of is a cascade injury, if he isn’t already hurt. If his shoulder hurts in between starts so that he cannot handle his normal workload, then I am afraid his mechanics will get out of whack leading to a greater likelihood of a serious injury. He basically admits that his mechanics were out of sync last night. I agree with TF, give him an MRI when he gets home, or is the team too cheap to give their franchise player an MRI?