first pitch: 12:35 p.m., PT
television: none
matchup: Jake Peavy (4-8, 4.50 ERA) vs Dan Haren (6-6, 3.56 ERA)
preview: Padres.com
Quasi-random observations from Wednesday night’s 8-1 victory over the A’s:
- Mike Cameron is on fire. After hitting just one homer in his first 142 at-bats with the Padres, he’s knocked eight in his last 91 at-bats. And unlike some of his teammates, Cameron seems to have no trouble hitting at Petco Park, with six of his home runs coming there.
- Adrian Gonzalez has quickly become one of my favorite players to watch. I love his instincts and footwork at first base. He is so smooth and almost always exactly in the right position. On the other side, I like the way he’s made adjustments throughout the season as opposing pitchers start to figure him out. Gonzalez started the season hitting everything into the gaps, particularly left-center. Pitchers began busting him with fastballs inside. Gonzalez responded by turning on said fastballs and sending several of them into the seats. Now they’re mixing it up a little more and his answer is to spray balls all over the field, to the tune of four singles Wednesday night. Gonzalez is not a guy who will blow you away with any one aspect of his game, but the more you watch him, the more you realize that the kid really knows what he’s doing out there.
- When is the last time the Padres had a guy who runs the bases as aggressively as Josh Barfield? I’m thinking maybe Eric Owens. Yeah, probably Owens. That play in the fourth where Barfield scored from second on a wild pitch was just awesome. He puts so much pressure on the defense. Seems like he is always ready to take the extra base if needed. Barfield also put on a clinic at second base on Wednesday. I remember watching him at Elsinore a few years ago and thinking that he had terrific atheticism but looked a little stiff at times in the field. I still see the athleticism but the stiffness appears to be gone. Barfield is a legit big-league second baseman. It’s not even a question anymore.
- The ball Mike Piazza hit out in the fifth was just crushed. His follow through on the swing is beautiful. I love what he brings to this ballclub. And I love the way Bruce Bochy pulls him out of games whenever he can — that should pay dividends come September. Of course, having not one but two capable understudies makes it easier for Bochy to rest the veteran. No, Piazza isn’t the player he once was, but who cares?
- Clay Hensley needed a strong game. The one run in seven innings is great, but what I like are the zero walks and the 99 pitches thrown.
- Good to see Brian Sweeney and Scott Cassidy get some solid work in. Cassidy was so strong in the early going before contracting a nasty case of gopheritis; it’d be great if he could straighten himself out in low-leverage situations and become a viable setup option again.
- Speaking of Sweeney, he fanned the first batter he faced on Wednesday, striking out pinch-hitter Mike Rouse to open the eighth inning. That was Sweeney’s first punchout in over a month, since he struck out Atlanta’s Matt Diaz to end the fourth inning in a May 24 loss.
- Speaking of pinch-hitters, when Doug Clark singled on an 0-2 offering from Hensley in the fifth, it marked the first pinch hit of the season for the A’s. They had been 0-for-17, with three walks, prior to Clark’s single.
- I still can’t get used to seeing Mark Kotsay in an A’s uniform. Cameron’s presence this year has helped ease the pain. A lot.
- Bottom of the eighth was brought to you by Rod Serling. First, A’s reliever Chad Gaudin balked Geoff Blum to second. Gaudin tried a pickoff move to first but nobody was covering the bag and so he had to abort. I can’t imagine why first baseman Dan Johnson wasn’t holding Blum on, unless it had something to do with the fact that Blum hasn’t attempted a steal all year and the Padres were leading by seven runs. Isn’t there an “unwritten rule book” somewhere that’s supposed to cover stuff like that?
- The other great moment in the eighth came when lefty Scott Sauerbeck replaced Gaudin with two out and Brian Giles stepping to the plate. Hey, anything to keep that ninth run from scoring. Tony LaRussa left Oakland when? Then again, that might help explain why Gaudin was trying to hold Blum close at first. I dunno. My head hurts.
Pads go for the sweep Thursday afternoon. No television for this one — too bad, should be a great pitching matchup. Go Padres!
who knows im all for the padres going after Zito, Mulder I dont care that much for, but it has to be within reason no more than a 3 year deal and no more than 8-10 Mil a year. Its not the big money its the Big Money for a long time that kills a team.
do they pinch hit for peavy this inning or no?
I dunno. Peavy’s at 90 or so pitches. We still only have one hit, for cryin’ out loud. Friggin’ getaway day lineups that Boch runs out there. Do we really need to concede games when we’ve won the 1st 2?
Anyway, the above argument is why I think guys like Chan Ho and even Woody will be pretty affordable. Smoltz, Mulder (if he can somehow demonstate his health, he’s definitely a candidate from a 1 yr. deal like DWells got from the Friars), Zito are all gonna demand top dollar
Peavy’s “hitting”
They are keeping Peavy in. It kills me that when the pads are up 2-0 in a series that take the 3rd day off.
Barfield…working the 0-2 to get a walk, then stealing second. Big second half from him. I can sense it.
I would be all for the padres trying to get a deal done with chan ho by the end of the year.
For the love of God! Pinch hit for EY!
Haren 91 pitches, 52 strikes
Peavy 92 pitches, 58 strikes
Why we’re down 3-0? We can’t hit balls or strikes. Damn the ban! We need some greenies…stat!
EY at .233 .300 .344 … yup, that looks like a good place to insert a PH’er … but given that he’s in the lineup, that’s a real root-cause contributor to the current game situation …
Peavy’s averaging 4.34 pitches per plate appearance. Chris Young like.
Why do all ex padres kill us when they come into town?
Maybe when Woody come back they will put Peavy on the DL for 15 days.
Jake’s done.
Steve: Agreed with LM on Kaanapali. My wife and I stayed in a condo there on our honeymoon and first anniversary (coughs) years ago. We’ve also stayed in Makena down on the southern tip of Maui. Apparently it’s known for its golf courses. We were at a luxury resort that was pretty well beyond our means (someone at my old company scheduled a business conference there and then found that nobody could afford the place so they offered insane discounts to folks who could get out there). Anyway, it was nice, but I prefer Kaanapali.
Jake’s at 114 thru 6 … enough …
Dong!
Dong!
Back to Back!
GY thanks for the info, I think we are going to look staying in Kaanapali or Lahina.
I have actually been to Maui but it was about 12 years ago and I was 12 at the time so I really didn’t pay much attention to many of the logistical things, so I appreciate the help. Any suggestions on Activities while we are there?
So whose going down when the Wood returns sat? Hope its not my Johnson, but it probably will be.
Nah that would put 13 pitchers on the roster, Im sure it will be Thompson.
Steve,
I stayed in Kaanapali this past October. Lahaina felt very touisty to me. Looking forward to going back.
Definitely Thompson, especially after last night’s performance by Clay.
BIG MIKE!!!
Puh- leaaaase PH for EY
Wow … EY walks … this is *good news*!
If they bring in a lefty, to PH for Giles with BJ, because he’s awesome! Trade him for Prior after the game, too!
Thanks Jesse! Ill start to look at places in Kaanapali
Is Piazza going to PH for Bard. God, I hope not. He’s a DP machine.
jesse – LOL
Ah DP kills the inning but not before the Padres tie it up
You have got to be kidding me. 3-0 swing into a double play.
See what I’m saying though, about Giles? He’s feeling the heat to drive in runs and just hit the ball in general. He takes that pitch 99 times out of 100 last year.
BP STAT OF THE DAY
Top 5 2006 NL Right Fielders, by VORP
Player, Team, EqA, VORP
Bobby Abreu, PHI, .316, 24.8
Bradley Hawpe, COL, .291, 19.7
J.D. Drew, LAN, .289, 11.7
Austin Kearns, CIN, .276, 11.3
Brian Giles, SDN, .288, 11.0
Why not release EY, keep johnson and 13 ptichers. Are we not in a four-man rotation right now. Maybe Jake needs a five man rotation.
“Bradley” Hawpe, huh? That’s cool.
PM…huh? Peavy, Young, Hensley, The Ho, Vanilla Mike. 5 man rotation. I’m all for releasing EY, though. Bochy and his grizzled vets…oye.
PM 12 Pitchers is alot i think 13 would kill our bench. If anything release EY and bring up P Mac or Cust.
Linebrink just lost it, 2 Run home run to Payton.
Freaking Linebrink. What a terd.
Linebrink is giving up a HR every 4.5 innings
Well i guess Resigning of Trevor is that much more important with Linebrink not his normal self this year.
How come Payton couldn’t hit one out at Petco while he played for us?
Belhorn struck out again, but thats not a surprise he does strike out once ever 2.5 AB’s this season.
GY,
LOL – had to look, but you’re absolutely right… 235 ABs at Petco, 0 HR… ’til today. Career OPS at Petco = 606.
Payton probably never had the good fortune of a Linebrink meatball to hit before.
I think I’d rather see Vinny play over EY, even in LF
Don’t even think about that, Jesse.
Let’s go Bard.
Yahoo! says Johnson out at first on Cameron’s grounder, Cameron caught stealing, and EY struck out swinging. Yet Giles is at bat? Explain.