first pitch: 7:05 p.m., PT
television: Channel 4SD
matchup: Chan Ho Park (5-4, 4.15 ERA) vs Jamie Moyer (4-6, 3.58 ERA)
previews: Padres.com | SI.com | ESPN
Padres won the homestand opener Friday night, 2-1, in 10 innings. Jake Peavy looked like his old, dominant self, but Seattle’s Gil Meche pretty well matched him despite falling behind just about everyone and working a ton of deep counts.
After both teams failed to capitalize on several opportunities throughout the contest, the Mariners threatened in the ninth against Trevor Hoffman. But two great defensive plays kept Seattle off the board: First, Khalil Greene made a fantastic diving stop of a grounder off the bat of Richie Sexson, forcing a very slow Raul Ibanez out at second base.
Then, with Sexson on second courtesy of a Hoffman wild pitch, Kenji Johjima singled to right. Brian Giles got to the ball quickly and fired a strike home. Rob Bowen, ball secured, planted himself between Sexson and the plate. Despite being run over by the 6’8″, 237 lb. Sexson, Bowen held onto the ball, showing it to home plate umpire Greg Gibson before trotting off the field with his team.
In that situation you can’t think about who’s running, you just have to hold on to the ball.
Do I hear an amen? Amen.
Then, in the bottom of the 10th, Giles won it with a bases-loaded single back through the middle. But the key at-bat of the inning was Ben Johnson’s walk. After working the count full, Johnson fouled off some tough pitches before laying off a slider down and away to draw the base on balls, setting up Giles for the winner.
Today is another day, and Chan Ho Park gets the call for San Diego. Park continues to heat up with the weather. After posting a 5.34 ERA in April and a 4.05 ERA in May, he is 3-0 with a 2.84 ERA in June. Park has pitched particularly well at home (3.18 ERA in 45.1 IP).
On the other side, Jamie Moyer broke into the big leagues with the Cubs back in 1986. His teammates from that club included Hall of Famers Ryne Sandberg and Dennis Eckersley, future Hall of Famers Greg Maddux and Lee Smith, Red Sox manager Terry Francona, ex-Padres Keith Moreland and Jerry Mumphrey, former Padres coach Davey Lopes, broadcaster/motivational speaker Rick Sutcliffe, former Cubs GM Ed Lynch, and Gary Matthews Sr.
In other words, dude is old.
So. Who’s catching pennant fever?
I got pennant fever! Let’s go!
On the other hand, here’s BP’s “reality” look at the NL West …
You can usually look past the records—potentially deceptive even 11 weeks into a season—and discern which teams’ status is real and which is just the product of some good fortune. In the West, for example, the Dodgers have by far the best run differential at +48. The other four teams combined are at +29. The Dodgers lead the NL in runs scored—a tremendous feat in their home park—and have done so while dealing with a significant spate of injuries.
You can go deeper than run differential by using the Adjusted Standings Report, developed by Clay Davenport. The ASR goes past win-loss to look at the elements that went into the record, specifically the underlying run elements, the context in which those were produced, and the opposition the team has faced. A team’s adjusted record is generally a better indicator of how the team has played to date than its actual record is, and as such is a better predictor of what they’ll do in the future, assuming the same personnel.
Here, side-by-side, are the NL West standings in your newspaper and the ASR version (records rounded to nearest whole number):
Padres 37-33 .529 — Dodgers 38-32 .543 –
Dodgers 36-34 .514 1 Padres 36-34 .514 2
Diamondbacks 36-35 .507 1.5 Rockies 36-35 .507 2.5
Rockies 36-35 .507 1.5 Giants 35-36 .493 3.5
Giants 36-35 .507 1.5 Diamondbacks 34-37 .479 4.5
Hey guys — haven’t posted in a few days — my wife had our twins on Monday 6/19.
Boy: Miles Joseph, 5 lbs, born at 5:44 pm EST
Girl: Emma Olivia, 4 lbs 9 oz, born at 5:41 EST
They were born a month early, but both are doing well.
Speaking of doing well, the Pads have been great. Pitching and defense — I love it. And DR has been out, too.
B Johnson has ben terrific. It seems like every night he does something that makes a difference — scores the winning run, gets a big hit, has a great at bat, etc. In my mind, he’s proved that he belongs in the show. Hopefully, he’s up to stay.
Dude, what kind of weak excuse is that for not posting here?
Seriously, big congrats to you and your wife! Very cool…
Congratulations Nick… Very cool..
Also..don’t know if we’re voting on this or not…but I like having the full articles on the main page. But that is just my humble opinion…
Nice going, Nick! Or more specifically, Mrs. Nick!
Anyone else here think that Jamie Moyer is an intriguing candidate for a deadline pickup?
DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!407 for Piazza…
Congrats nick..
Thats something worth really celebrating.
DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!Now we just need four more…
And hearty congrats to Nick G. Apparently the “G” stands for Gfertile.
Thanks guys! Gfertile. . .. ha!
Missed the game — how did Park look?
I don’t think I’ve ever been as tired as I was yesterday morning — and only one (Miles) is home with us. Emma should be coming home pretty soon.
Two is going to be nuts . . . and a lot of fun at the same time.
I love the full articles on the front page if you are taking votes. I lurk here often, but I check it every day. I love reading all the links and opinions you all put in.
Nick G, congratulations. You’re life has just become inextricably bound with the little ones forever. You’re a lucky guy.
Congrats Nick!
Mark, Matt: Thanks for the opinions on the full article thing. Nobody seemed to like the excerpts so it’s back to the way it was.