Gap Dirt
Thu, Aug 24, 2006
by Geoff Young
Fans in the left field bleachers are chanting “Beat LA.” Cla Meredith comes on to work the ninth. As Meredith puts the finishing touches on a three-game sweep, a drunk Dodgers fan in front of me is chanting “Second Place” (you can do a lot with three syllables — I went with “What’s the Score?”). Between chants, he’s yelling at anyone who will listen — something about real fans, blah blah blah, look at me I’m drunk, woo-hoo!
He’s like a very angry David Spade. A cross between Gap Girl and Joe Dirt. He’s looking for a fight. Actually, he’s looking for someone to hold him back. Did I mention this guy has a friend? Well, maybe not a friend, but a companion.
Companion dude is having none of Gap Dirt’s act. Like, I don’t know this guy. Yeah, I came here with him but he’s on his own.
It’s equal parts hilarious and pathetic.
But Gap Dirt is on a roll. He can’t stop. Even after the final out, he’s still running smack. And he’s frustrated that nobody will pay attention to him because everyone is delirious from completing the sweep and seeing the Padres get back into the race.
I’ve got no gripe with Dodgers fans in general — I grew up in Monterey Park and Culver City, bled Dodger Blue for the first 20 years of my life. But this guy is out of control.
He’s acting like a Giants fan.
So I make some smart-ass comment like “Good try, Dodgers; you’ll get ‘em next time.” Gap Dirt is ecstatic. Someone has acknowledged his existence. He glares at me and says — wait for it — “I’m not even a Dodgers fan, you idiot.”
What a coincidence; I’m not even an idiot, you Dodgers fan.
I don’t say that, of course. He’s free to have the last word because all anyone has to do is point to the scoreboard. I turn and walk away with a smile, leaving Gap Dirt to contemplate his place in the universe and the fact that he’s out of beer.
Sucks to be him.
* * *
That was some terrible officiating Wednesday night. The strike zone was inconsistent, Julio Lugo was tossed from the game for no apparent reason, Joe Beimel committed a balk that wasn’t called, and the fifth inning was just plain bizarre. There’s some good discussion at Dodger Thoughts on the latter. It was baffling to watch in person, and whatever the outcome, there shouldn’t have been that long of a delay to resolve it. Either rules were transgressed or they weren’t; if anyone should know whether or not they were, it would be the umpires.
Or, in this case, Padres manager Bruce Bochy.
* * *
Chan Ho Park is out at least a month following intestinal surgery. The good news is, doctors were able to identify and correct the problem. Here’s wishing Park a speedy and full recovery.
* * *
Off-day Thursday, then three over the weekend at El Humidor. Padres are a game back in the NL West and in the wild card race. Trevor Hoffman needs 10 more saves to pass Lee Smith as the all-time leader. Life is good, folks.
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August 24, 2006 at 8:32 am
Being a former bartender, I hate drunks. If your gonna drink, keep you mouth shut. Strange game indeed. Matty V was getting a little crazy in the booth as the umps where doing their thing in the 5th. Just call the damned game, please. Your opinion doesn’t matter. I see Bochy is a detail guy, calling over the ump to complain about Little visiting the mound twice, technically. You could see Ump Reed knew Boch was right and he knew Little and Penny where going to get cranky. And they did. But who cares if we can’t learn to beat the Rockies, a lesson that has eluded us all year. Get better, CHP.
August 24, 2006 at 8:42 am
From Buster Olney’s blog today (check out the last sentence, by the way):
Runs have not been easy to come by for the Padres since they moved into Petco Park. Whether it’s mental, or environmental (with the damp waterfront air that hangs around the stadium), or just because the Padres don’t have a lot of great hitters, San Diego struggles for offense.
The pitching has kept San Diego in the race: In the month of August, the Padres have a 3.11 ERA, second-best in the majors. Chatted with Darren Balsley, the San Diego pitching coach, about some members of the staff; here’s some of his insight.
Jake Peavy: He had piled up a lot of strikeouts, and not many walks, but his pitch efficiency had been terrible; he has thrown a ton of pitches and had to come out in the middle innings repeatedly. So the Padres made an adjustment with Peavy for his start on Tuesday, moving him from one side of the pitching rubber to the other, in an effort to give his fastball a better chance of staying longer in the strike zone. The adjustment worked, apparently, because Peavy had a dominating outing, throwing seven scoreless innings and striking out seven.
Cla Meredith: The Padres got the reliever from Boston in the Doug Mirabelli trade, and the right-handed slinger has been tremendous, using his heavy sinking fastball with great efficiency. He’s averaged only 13.2 pitches per inning, or about three pitches fewer than the major league average. Think about this — he’s gone 18 consecutive appearances without allowing a run, a streak that dates back to July 17.
Mike Thompson: He has taken over for Chan Ho Park in the rotation, and has worked steadily. He does not have dominant stuff, but has been steady. What most teams hope for from their No. 5 starter is that the guy doesn’t kill their bullpen by getting knocked out in the second or third inning. Thompson has been excellent in this regard — in each of his last nine starts, he’s pitched at least five innings.
“Overall, we’ve been making a lot of quality pitches, down in the zone,” Balsley said.
And it’s showing. San Diego has won four straight, and counting.
The Padres, by the way, are looking at adding Russell Branyan in a deal with the Devil Rays.
August 24, 2006 at 8:48 am
Why does the combo of Francis, Jennings and Cook sound so scary? And then away at Arizona — where they never seem to win. Now’s the time for the Pads to play their best baseball of the year.
Any thoughts on the Pads going after David Wells? Any chance it’ll happen?
August 24, 2006 at 8:57 am
#3: I don’t think the Padres really need another pitcher with how well the rotation has been throwing. If we get him cheap and don’t have any obligation to him after this season, ok, but I don’t think the Red Sox are looking to just give away players, especially pitchers.
Funny how life can go from miserable to good in the space of a three day sweep of the Dodgers (ok, and a series win against the D-backs too).
August 24, 2006 at 8:59 am
I didn’t catch the 5th inning so I didn’t hear it but I have to say I love Matt V.’s opinions pretty much all the time and think he is a lot more fun to listen to then basically any other broadcaster in baseball that I’ve heard. But then again im 23 and it seems like the younger crowd like him and Mud and the older crowd not so much but whatever.
I heard the largest goofball this side of the mississippi Coach Kentera bring up a good point last night. He said that if Chan Ho is out for 4 or 5 weeks as expected he may be done for the year. Since most of the minor leagues will be pretty much done he may not be able to get rehab starts and may just get burried in the bullpen if Thompson or Stauffer or Sweeny or whoever is up here pitches well.
Seriously how good does it feel this morning? I could care less if we win another game this season because sweeping the Dodgers and killing them like we have all year is almost as gratifying as a World Series trip.
August 24, 2006 at 9:00 am
Padres.com is reporting that CHP is probably done for the year.
August 24, 2006 at 9:05 am
I think Wells would be a distraction, given his out-sized personality. That said, if he were willing to sublimate that ego for the team down the stretch, we do seem to be lacking LHPs. Plus, he’s got to be better at getting out NL batters than AL batters.
What about going after one of KC’s 3B’s this offseason? Teahen has turned into a beast finally, and he’s blocking Alex Gordon (though the word is one of the two will get a new position). I bet we can get one of them, KC has NO pitching in their org. Both are young, play good D and hit for power and average. Both have question marks - Teahen has only just now started to show why he was in the Beltran deal; Gordon hasn’t had many MLB AB’s…
August 24, 2006 at 9:05 am
Odd that the UT and Padres.com game recaps don’t really get into what happened in the 5th but the LA Times has some details. Watching the replay last night it was clear that Rick Reed instigated the whole thing. Little went to the mound to calm down Penny, they were minding their own business when all of a sudden Penny looked at Reed with kind of a surprised look and Little turned around to see what the problem was. The Times says it was because Kent was jawing at Reed and Reed started chewing him out. Little went over to calm down Reed and then went back to the mound. The only reason Little left the mound was Reed’s behavior, it wasn’t like he was on his way back to the dugout and then came back to the mound. If the ump had denied Bochy’s claim I don’t think anyone would have been upset but at that point I think the umps had it in for the Dodgers thanks to Penny’s constant griping.
That Cameron pick-off was brutal. I don’t recall ever seeing a player pleading his case on the balk while he’s being run down. It was so clearly a balk I don’t understand how all the umpires missed it.
On a lighter note, the 1090 morning crew said one of the umpires tried to pick up their producer Marty by giving her an autographed ball with his phone number. Classy.
August 24, 2006 at 9:27 am
KRS1-I like matty v as well. We are lucky to have the guy. Its was in the forth when lugo got kicked out and one of the umps was getting in the face of a dodger, sorta of challenging him. Matty was actually yelling at the ump to walk away and then lectured that umps shouldn’t take offense, which I thought was over the top for an announcer. No, I agree, Mr. Las Vegas is a good announcer.
August 24, 2006 at 10:15 am
Heard a clip from Penny this morning and he said that the home plate umpire told Kent “F - You”. Penny thought it was directed towards him and that is what Penny and Little were reacting to when Little left the mound the first time.
August 24, 2006 at 11:29 am
Hey, if we (mankind) can fix a wrong and boot Pluto out of the class of planet-hood (http://www.cnn.com/2006/TECH/space/08/24/pluto.ap/index.html), then the Padres can fix a wrong and boot #6 off their outfield wall
Now, to be clear, I’m not actually advocating the Padre give the #6 the boot … that would be unclassy … I’ve got an idea for how it can be done that’s classy … win-win for SG and the Padres … timed with the 25th anniversary of the Padres 1st NL Pennant (1984) … so I’ve got until 2009 to pull things together! You’ve been warned!
August 24, 2006 at 12:20 pm
I’m also a Matty V fan. Matt and Mud are more interesting than most of the baseball announcer drones IMHO. The guys that do Braves ball put me to sleep. And the Chicago guys are for the “older” (read AARP elgible) crowd. I really really hope Cox can secure Matt at the end of this season. Or Sut’s drunken ramblings could prove to be foreshadowing.
I could do without the new “Santa Maria” exclamation that Matt has added to his arsenal this season. But their pop culture references are the best! If you can quote Animal House or The Breakfast Club while announcing a baseball game, you are great in my book.
August 24, 2006 at 12:29 pm
According to the Dodger Thoughts site that Geoff mentioned, Bochy only knew about the rule becasue it happened to him against the Dodgers some years ago. Also, the ump was supposed to eject the manager only after he warned him about the restriction which most people over there say he clearly didn’t do. Anybody that recorded the game see any evidence of Reed warning Little? If not, then I would be extremely torqued if were a Dodger. None-the-less, I love the outcome of the game. Go Pad’s
August 24, 2006 at 1:15 pm
Clayton, with all due respect, the only question about Alex Gordon is whether he’ll merely be an All-Star regular, or if he’ll be an HOFer…
Teahan may be available b/c of Gordon’s presence, but there’s talk of moving one of them to an OF slot…
Padre Gal, I LOVE the “Santa Maria” call!
August 24, 2006 at 1:37 pm
My $.56 (adjusted for increased fuel cost):
I also love Matty V. I actually prefer Tony to Mud, though. I think T and Matt have really amazing chemistry, as there’s a respect thing there that isn’t really there with Mud. Mud’s hilarious, too, don’t get me wrong. I’m just glad Mr. “He just needs to make an adjustment” Sutcliffe is gonzo.
Yeah, that fifth inning was crazy! I have no problem with Matt offering his opinion. It’s pretty clear it was his opinion. I dunno about Russell Branyon. Has some pop, but man, dude can swing and miss. Is he really an option at 3B, anyway?
August 24, 2006 at 1:42 pm
Re: #14
Yeah, I just didn’t want to over-hype him, but living in KC I hear all the buzz. No chance of the Royals trading him, but I still bet Teahen could be had for some pitching. I’m sure Dayton Moore would love to keep both somehow, but top to bottom that organization has almost no pitching, so keeping both is probably a luxury he doesn’t have. This would be a very Towers-esque move in my mind (much cheaper than a FA), sort of like w/ A-Gon though Teahen has actually broken out already whereas Adrian hadn’t had the chance yet.
August 24, 2006 at 2:27 pm
There are some AMAZING young third-basemen in the Majors right now:
David Wright
Miguel Cabrera
Ryan Zimmerman
Alex Gordon is the next guy in the that group and he’ll challenge the first 2 as the best 3B of the generation.
I agree with you on Teahan. But I don’t know if I’d give up much more than Hensley to get Teahan. I like what KC has mentioned as a potential solution: moving Gordon to RF. Gordon is the superior 3B, but he’s also the superior athlete and would be head and shoulders better than Teahan in the OF whereas he’d only be a bit better at the hot corner.
KC could have a nice young lineup next year:
1B Huber/Shealy
2B German
3B Teahan
SS Berroa
LF Butler
CF DeJesus
RF Gordon
C Buck
DH Sweeney
August 24, 2006 at 2:49 pm
Come on folks, there is no way the Royals are giving up Teahen for anybody that the Padres currently have on the roster.
I think Geoff touched upon it earlier, and I hope it doesn’t manifest itself into being a problem but: Manny Alexander?
KG has shown a penchant for getting hurt every season (my prediction for his HR total in 2007: 15) and the best Towers can do is Manny Effing Alexander?
Also—Poor Sean Burroughs. I hope he gets a chance to turn his career around.
August 24, 2006 at 2:52 pm
Why…oh why does it not surprise me that the Pads are looking at Russel Branyan? Could be b/c I was talking about him on Monday as a guy that Towers has loved for years. Sitting at the game and talking about how Branyan is the perfect example of a guy that Towers wants to have love children with, but who is impotent with the bat.
Please, oh please, someone get me a co-GM that can handle hitting like KT handles pitching. That way we could have the best of both worlds…but since we can’t do that and since our minor leagues are barren (except to the most myopic Padres fans…of which I usually lead the pack), Branyan would be the move that gets me calling for KT”s head.
And Matty V is one of the best in the business…There is a reason the Dodgers, Cubs, and Braves are all interested in hiring him. Fat Tony is a good fill in for Mud…but I enjoy both. Glad that the drunk Big Red is gone…hoping that the door hits Flannery out the door as well. What a nice guy he is, but he is the worst PBP/Color guy I have ever heard…Steve Quiss is better than Flan…
August 24, 2006 at 2:55 pm
C-Mike, EXCELLENT post, recognizing KT’s stregths & weaknesses. BTW, I think we have that co-GM, Paul DePodesta.
August 24, 2006 at 3:07 pm
Russ Branyan?
August 24, 2006 at 3:08 pm
Flan is beter than Quiss, Quiss is a hack, Every time I hear him do the game I wonder if its the first baseball game he has been to.
August 24, 2006 at 3:10 pm
granted I think Flan should only be doing color and let Teddy do the rest.
August 24, 2006 at 3:12 pm
Chris Young for Teahan?
It would be a big loss, but with this year’s free agent class maybe one we could fill in free agency? While we definitely won’t be able to fill 3B with anything worthwhile unless aramis ramirez opts out…
Then sign two premium pitching free agents
i mean, alderson says we have 30 million to play with and looking at the free agency class the only place to sink that kinda money at market value is pitching.
August 24, 2006 at 3:14 pm
I just hope that Quis is not the heir apparent if Matty does leave us. My spidey-sense is tingling that that is why Quis gets Matty’s spot when Matty is out. They’re trying him out and kicking the tires to see if he can replace Matty if he leaves.
I’ll go to listening to the radio with the TV on mute.
Please Matty! Take the San Diego discount that everyone expects the players to take.
August 24, 2006 at 3:36 pm
Pad Gal, I unfortunately jumped to the same regrettable conclusion… I seriously hope Quis is NOT our future announcer.
August 24, 2006 at 3:41 pm
Listening to all the Dodger talk on ESPN710 this afternoon.
My 15 month old son doesn’t wine this much.
August 24, 2006 at 3:49 pm
about the umps Farquaad?
August 24, 2006 at 4:09 pm
Yep.
They are on to Gumbel’s comments now.
August 24, 2006 at 4:32 pm
Does anyone think John Wiesbarth could be better than Quis?
August 24, 2006 at 4:56 pm
Nevin with #11 … http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/boxscore?gid=260824116 … just fyi.
August 24, 2006 at 4:58 pm
Wiesbarth is a little too goofy to listen to for 3 hours. Quis never shuts up, he has to describe every shot as if we can’t see what’s on the screen. I’m sure he’s the heir apparent to Matty V, Channel 4 management probably views him as similar in style but a lot cheaper because no other clubs are after him.
August 24, 2006 at 4:59 pm
Dog fans “wine” and “whine” … but I don’t think it’s related …
August 24, 2006 at 5:36 pm
In 4’s defense, how many of would really watch or not watch the game because of who’s on the air?
August 24, 2006 at 5:41 pm
There have been times where I ran errands on the way home from work or went to the gym when I learned Quis was on. I’ve also tuned out early if the game isn’t close. Not that I’m in love with Matty V but I’m less likely to do that when he’s on.
August 24, 2006 at 5:42 pm
Solution to the Pads’ run-scoring and hitting woes:
Get Branyan and platoon him with Bellhorn, bring up Cust in September, and get on the phone with Dave Kingman to have him call Rob Deer to find out if Carmelo Martinez can still fit on his uniform.
And you doubt the master planning of KT! It’s all under control.
August 24, 2006 at 5:43 pm
Or IN his uniform, too.
August 24, 2006 at 6:22 pm
As an AARP-eligible ducksnorter (or am I? can you join at 50? or is it 55? I’m in between, I think - damn aluminum cookware), anyway, I find Matt V & Mud considerably more juvenile than Beavis & that other fellow. Really insufferable in the extreme. Soon Mud will be lighting his farts in the booth. Maybe he already has.
When Mud’s gone, I often actually like Matt V, especially when he’s with Tony. But Matt seems to sink or rise to the level of the guy sitting next to him.
Coleman was worthless, even 20 years ago; Teddy puts Narcissus to shame; Flan’s tolerable.
But, as noted, I’m old and, as you’ve noticed, crotchety. For me, it all begins and ends with Vin Scully, the voice of my youth. Never, ever, a Dodger fan, but listening to Vin was (he has lost a little off his fastball, I’ll admit) always a lyrical experience, often enough even magical. As for slightly younger ones, I like Bob Costas - but I know he, too, is an old man’s choice. So it goes.
August 24, 2006 at 8:17 pm
Pads officially get Branyan…The Devil Rays received minor league righthander Evan Meek.
Coronado Mike officially on the FIRE KT bandwagon…If we somehow end up with Jeremy Burnitz, I will be driving the bus!!
August 24, 2006 at 8:28 pm
Mission accomplished. And there were those who doubted we wouldn’t pull off a coup for a slugging 3rd baseman this year!
Although Branyan might be nice to have for the Rockies series, even a big KT fan is not so sure about this move. So who goes off the roster for the next week or so to make room for Branyan?
http://www.signonsandiego.com/.....anyan.html
August 24, 2006 at 8:29 pm
::: Breaking News :::: Padres trade for mark Belhorn AKA Russel Branyan
August 24, 2006 at 8:34 pm
you cant kill the move because the pads gave up nothing to get him, as long as he is a bench player i think its ok.
August 24, 2006 at 9:09 pm
Walker’s actually been playing solid D lately, they better not bench him for Branyan…
August 24, 2006 at 9:24 pm
Steve - it’s not totally true that “the pads gave up nothing to get him” … I understand what you mean, and it’s certainly true … *BUT* … *AND* … BKTF’s point is RIGHT ON … he takes up a roster spot! So, who is Branyan better than? Bellhorn? He might be better than Blum, be he can’t take Blum’s spot on the roster.
August 24, 2006 at 9:53 pm
Branyan will take over for Alexander, greene wont be back to sept when the roster extend.
August 24, 2006 at 10:43 pm
Two questions for Geoff:
1. The name Evan Meek popped into my head yesterday. No idea why. And today, he is traded away! In the grand scheme of things, what does this mean?
2. Have you ever thought about doing a one-hour radio show during the season about the Pads and MLB, in general? Like something on Shoutcast. Not that this site doesn’t take up enough of your time…. Might be cool, though, to have some callers, do a recap of the week, answer e-mails, give us your insights. Maybe you could even get Leitner to call in to ask you what you did today.
August 24, 2006 at 11:52 pm
BKTF:
1. Not sure, but I’m hoping my name doesn’t pop into your head anytime soon.
2. Interesting idea. I did a couple podcasts last year — they were fun but a lot of work. Never say never, but right now I’m content to write and occasionally be a guest on other folks’ radio shows.
August 25, 2006 at 8:45 am
BTKF - I like your idea … perhaps not “radio” … but internet-based? Can Skype do something like that? I’m not sure what Skype is … but I think it’s some kind of VOIP / Internet-telephone service … wouldn’t seem like a big leap to turn that into a conference call where a host controls which of the listeners he’s tied too …