first pitch: 4:05 p.m., PT
television: Channel 4SD
matchup: Woody Williams (3-1, 3.04 ERA) vs Ramon Ortiz (6-6, 4.90 ERA)
preview: Padres.com | SI.com | ESPN
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Too bad there isn’t anyone named “Smith” on the Padres. Then we could say something witty about Mr. Smith going to Washington. Man, that would be great.
Anyway.
The bad news is, the Nationals have won 5 of their last 6 games. The good news is, they’re still the third worst team in the NL and their starting pitchers have failed to escape the second inning in each of the team’s last two games.
Tonight’s starter for the Nats, Ramon Ortiz, can be hit — and hit hard — particularly as the game moves into the later innings. In the first three innings this year, opponents are batting just .222/.290/.328 against Ortiz. In frames 4 through 6, they’re hitting him to the tune of .343/.390/.547, with similar results in a very limited sample from the seventh inning on.
Offensively, Washington is led by “left fielder” Alfonso Soriano, who already has 26 homers and 20 stolen bases; third baseman Ryan Zimmerman, who is hitting .285/.348/.480 as a 21-year-old rookie; and first baseman Nick Johnson, who is finally showing what he can do (.298/.422/.535) when fully healthy.
On the Padres’ side, Woody Williams makes his second start since returning from the DL. He worked six strong innings in his first, last Saturday against the Giants at Petco Park. Interestingly, Williams has destroyed left-handed hitters this year, holding them to a .202/.250/.298 line. He’s also faced more of them than right-handers, who are hitting .295/.361/.523 against Williams. Strange.
On offense, we should start calling Josh Barfield the “Road Warrior.” After Thursday night’s 4-for-4 performance at Philadelphia, the rookie second baseman is hitting .362/.385/.531 away from Petco. Only Joe Mauer and Scott Rolen have higher batting averages on the road this season.
There it is. Go Padres!
Padre pitching has been good this year. They lead the NL in SNLVAR, PK_RA, and VORP. Oh and the bullpen is second in WXRL.
Gesundheit.
SNLVAR = Support Neutral Lineup-adjusted Value Added above Replacement = Wins Added Above Replacement, adjusted for lineup
PK_RA = Park adjusted Run Average
VORP = Value Over Replacement Player
WXRL = Win eXpectation above Replacement, Lineup-adjusted
While not getting runs, glad to see that the Padres are getting some pitches off of Ortiz. 50 through 3. Given that the Nationals bullpen has been worked, it would be nice to get the count up there, even if the hits don’t come.
2-0 pitch, with a tired bullpen, AGon has to take. Unless he goes yard. That is OK, then. But, seriously, his OBP has to get up.
Love AGon, fearing the GIDP…
D Roberts for MVP! Another steal and run scored . ..
I think we will be seeing that Nationals bullpen pretty soon . . .
Nothing to fear…; innings 4-6, just as Geoff highlighted, have not been kind to Ortiz thus far.
Maybe Vinny will take a couple of pitches here . . .
Or not.
Do we have to have Vinny playing? If he GIDP’s, someone has to shake Bochy awake.
No GIDP, just a comebacker to the pitcher. Great way to use all the available talent.
Gee, thanks, Mr. RBI Castilla. Does he not think that other teams have scouting reports? I can tell you what Vinny’s says right now: Throw a first-pitch slider or change-up anywhere near the strike zone, don’t hang it, and he’s out.
Or, simplified, don’t throw him BP. How long has it been since he put wood on a good fastball?
He’s still murder on chewing gum, though.
There’s a lot of things I don’t understand about the Castilla situation, but one of them is why he refuses to even slightly change his approach. Gosh, I’ve stunk for 3 months swinging at the first pitch, maybe I should start taking a few. It’s not like he has to worry about Bochy pulling him out of the lineup, Castilla won’t lose his job unless he’s caught in bed with a live boy or a dead girl.
From Ken Rosenthal’s latest:
Buy or sell: Buy, but the Padres are informing clubs that they can add no more than $1 million in payroll.
I’m all for fiscal responsibility but with all that money coming off the books next year can’t we add a little payroll if it gets us a league average 3B? Even a below average 3B would be an improvement. How can you be a buyer and not be willing to add payroll?
Anthony, you can. It just takes a directive from the front office to the accounting department. It’s laughable to say we can’t account for possible playoff income or increased ticket sales with a more competitive team and thereby lift our debt service ceiling. That’s not even Enron accounting, it’s totally legal.
Well, not laughable. More like one of those clown pictures where the clown is smiling but there’s a tear rolling down his cheek.
What I’d really like is finding a young 3b who could do the job for the next 2-3 years, minimum, and that would mean payroll isn’t an issue. But it might also mean trading one of our contributing major leaguers instead of prospects.
What about Hillenbrand or Hinske from Toronto?
Woody not looking as good tonight. Does Bochy have anyone warming up in the ‘pen?
Forget Hillenbrand, he’s probably too pricey.
Wow, Boch came out to the mound but Woody is staying in. Meredith warming up.
Here we go again. Vinny up, 2 men in scoring position. Hmmmmm. They’re taking out Ortiz. Must be afraid he’ll throw a strike on the first pitch.
Well at least he battled!
Trouble is — 4 pitches is a “battle” where Vinny is concerned.
Good to see Fick and Damian playing. Like Pad’s 2005 bench, revisited.
I’ll never forget Matty V’s line last year when Fick was playing catcher. “First time Fick has caught Woody in the major leagues.” Classic.
Interesting ending to the top of the 8th….is it just the Washington broadcast, or does it look like all of the lights aren’t on at the stadium?