first pitch: 4:05 p.m., PT
television: Channel 4SD
matchup: Jake Peavy (5-11, 4.69 ERA) vs Jason Hirsh (MLB debut)
previews: Padres.com | SI.com | ESPN
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This team and its horrendous pitching since the All-Star break are giving me a headache. Stunningly, the third base situation has gotten even worse since Vinny Castilla was released. The Padres sport a .219/.271/.308 line at the position. Not including pitchers, that is the lowest team OPS for any position this season. In fact, through August 11, only three teams have positions with an aggregate OPS below 600:
- Padres third basemen: .219/.271/.308
- Cardinals catchers: .215/.273/.309
- Blue Jays second basemen: .227/.286/.307
Remember how bad third base was last year? We’re down 100 OPS points from that. Enzo Hernandez had a higher OPS in 1976. Rey Ordonez had a higher OPS four times in his career.
Yesterday’s strategy was to try and talk folks down from the ledge. A day later, after another lackluster performance from the Padres and another win by the new and improved Dodgers, I’m no longer sure that “don’t jump” is such good advice.
Still. Give me this over 2002.
It’s a beautiful day out this morning. I’m heading down to Tony Gwynn Stadium in a few to see if I can score tickets to the Aflac All-American Baseball Classic.
Then it’s off to Lake Elsinore by way of San Juan Capistrano for a good head-clearing drive and some minor league baseball. That may be a stupid way to get from here to there but at least I’ll be in a three-dimensional environment instead of staring at a laptop screen, wondering why my team can’t pick itself up off the ground and do something positive.
Enjoy the drive, GY. Padres are falling hard, but it a beautiful day. get to he beach, get out on your bike, go for a swim at the cove and enjoy SD. The Padres are way down on the list of things to do in this town. Get out and enjoy life!!!
The ‘dres suck nationwide…what do you do if you don’t have beautiful SD weather to escape to?
‘suck’ being a VERY relative term…
Peavy has allowed nothing but groundballs so far.
Everett caught stealing by Piazza. Looked safe to me.
Peavy is looking very good so far.
3 fewer pitches in the second than in the first. (33 total)
How was the Everett double hit?
*Scott double. sorry ’bout that.
Sharply hit groundball off a glove.
Piazza hit that ball quite hard.
All of a sudden, the strike zone expanded.
That was unfortunate.
Cameron popped up a pitch down the middle of the plate, Piazza hit a very hard liner that was caught and Gonzalez wasn’t able to lay off ball four and finally ended up striking out.
Strikeout #4 for Jake. Still nothing hit in the air against him.
Followed by a very low line drive for an out.
Ouch. So, our luck hasn’t been very good thus far? Of course, the K doesn’t help.
Hey, at least it’s not as bad as the Phillies’ luck right now. The Reds scored their 4 runs on a slow infield hit to third, a slow grounder through the 5.5 hole, and a bloop hit to right.
Thanks for the comments, Richard, I’m following online so it’s nice to hear commentary.
All right, 1-2-3 inning with only 11 pitches thrown.
Walker’s home run was a no doubter.
The Padres came out swinging early in the count in the 4th. Looked like a definite change in approach.
Wow. That barely got out. Off the bat I was sure it was gone and then it was almost off the wall.
Big inning. Nice to see some runs for Peavy to work with.
Peavy through 3… 86% GB% and 4/1 K/BB.
3 homers in the inning… How often has that happened this season?
First three-homer inning for the Padres this season.
Thanks Kevin.. I knew someone would know the answer…
Anyone think its a coincidence that Roberts is 2-3 in the game and that we have 4 runs scored already?
Yes, since 3 of the runs scored directly via HR. Or do you think Roberts’ presence in the lineup inspires other hitters to go deep?
111 pitches over 7 IP for Jake. 67% GB% and 9/2 K/BB.
I guess he’s done, right? I can’t see the game anymore. MLBtv is screwy.
He’s done.
In case anyone wants an idea of how good 67% GB% is, Brandon Webb’s seaon-line of just under 66% leads the Majors.
One run int he Mets series (Giles-Bard back to back double) was the only run that was not scored on a homer. And if we have this kind of HR gunning lineup, Giles should be at the bottom because he’s afraid to swing the bat.
The Padres hit three homers in the same inning for the first time since a 7-5 win over Kansas City on July 2, 2004. .
No, if we have this kind of homer gunning lineup, Giles should bat 2nd behind Roberts so we have some guys on when the home run hitters come up.