Friday Open Thread (29 Sep 06)
Fri, Sep 29, 2006
by Geoff Young
I had a few links gathered up but ran out of time to assemble them. Maybe you have some of your own to share. Or maybe you just want to bask in the glow of Thursday night’s victory over the Diamondbacks.
Anyone going to Phoenix to watch the games in person this weekend? Or even out to Petco Park to watch them on the giant screen? I’m planning to head downtown for the Sunday afternoon contest.
But enough about me. What’s on your mind?
Picking up where last year's version left off, the Ducksnorts 2008 Baseball Annual provides in-depth analysis of and commentary on the San Diego Padres. Get your copy today.
September 29, 2006 at 6:16 am
The best thing about last night was that SD finally, finally got a rout, meaning Bochy didn’t have to use the “trinity” (Cla, Hoffman or Linebrink) I was really hoping for a game like that.
September 29, 2006 at 6:31 am
Me too. Good to see Bochy finally rested those guys.
Everyone see Dave Roberts’ comments?
http://sandiego.padres.mlb.com.....mp;c_id=sd
Good stuff.
Magic number is one, and we’re in the playoffs!!
September 29, 2006 at 6:47 am
But I really want the Pads to win the West — magic number for that is three.
September 29, 2006 at 6:50 am
Hoping we can win today and make it official…it would be nice to get a breather for some of our regulars, especially if the Dodgers lose.
Nice to see Klesko unload. Hopefully Khalil is really healthy and we can leave Bellhorn home IF we make it in.
Also good to see everyone playing so well when it counts. The local media here in NY is really dogging the Mets right now, saying they’re down for the count and that the Astros are the favorite to win it IF they can get in. Big if still…
September 29, 2006 at 6:54 am
Also, the Padres clinched at least a playoff game for the wildcard…so we’ve kinda clinched a “post-season” appearance if that counts.
September 29, 2006 at 7:00 am
I gotta admit, although it’s not great for the faint-of-heart, this is a pretty damn exciting end of the season.
September 29, 2006 at 7:02 am
Mets pitching — in trouble. Although, I’m pretty sure El Dookie is going to step up.
Mets hitting — NOT in trouble. Reyes, Beltran, LoDuca, Delgado, Wright, pretty nasty lineup.
September 29, 2006 at 7:03 am
BPs playoff odds report makes it real clear now that the Phils coming back into this race is highly improbable.
but the scenario stands tonight if I got this right
a Padre win eliminates the Phillies, or
a Padre win and a dodger loss clinches a tie for the division that SD wins by virtue of kicking the Dodgers tails in the season series
September 29, 2006 at 7:04 am
6: This is awesome, no doubt about it. Made “awesomer” by the fact that the Pads are playing very well.
Regardless of what happened on Wednesday, the Cardinals are in deep do-do. They have some major issues.
September 29, 2006 at 7:07 am
Yeah but Nick G, if you’ve looked at how even the starters in the Met offense have done in sept it hasn’t been pretty
this is from a month ago at Baseball Musings:
“… the Mets have potential problems in the post season. New York, especially at home, is a low batting average/high on-base average team. Offenses like that can be stopped by good pitching staffs, ones that don’t allow many walks. Teams like the Dodgers, Twins and Tigers could take advantage of that Mets weakness.”
September 29, 2006 at 7:09 am
Also today at Baseball Musings
http://www.baseballmusings.com/
“The Padres win and the Phillies loss means the three-way West/Wild Card tie is teetering on the brink of destruction. We’re down to just one scenario in which the Phillies, Dodgers and Padres end up tied at the end of the season. Philadelphia needs to win all three games from the Marlins, the Dodgers need to win just one of three from the Giants, and the Padres need to lose all three against the Diamondbacks. If you believe each game is a 50/50 proposition, then the odds of that happening are 1 in 512. Since the odds of the Padres beating the Diamondbacks and the Dodgers beating the Giants are better than 50/50, the odds are probably longer.”
September 29, 2006 at 7:23 am
Lets just win tonight with our “ace” (Hensley) and seal the deal.
September 29, 2006 at 7:24 am
#3, the magic number for the West is really 2, the Padres will win the division if they tie, because they own the season series with the Dodgers
September 29, 2006 at 7:24 am
10:
I know about the slump the Mets starters have been in, but I think they’re a team that can turn it on offensively in the playoffs. They were probably on cruise control in Sept. They’ve got a few things in their favor:
Reyes is fantastic. All year, he’s been great.
Beltran’s past playoff performance
LoDuca has also been very consistent all year.
Those three guys at the top really set the table for the rest of the lineup.
September 29, 2006 at 7:25 am
Jess Passan at Yahoo sports has Trevor Hoffman at #3 for NL CY. A little love there, not bad.
September 29, 2006 at 7:27 am
Nice, nice win. I mean twice having our heart ripped out of our chests and eaten in front of us, and twice we respond by winning the next game. A few threads ago we got into a Bochy discussion and some of you made the point about what a manager does. Some of it is strategy, which we see, and, with Bochy, often makes us cringe. But there is the other part: are the guys motivated and focused. Do we ever hear about “clubhouse problems”? Rarely. Do we ever see guys kind of mailing it in? Never. We don’t see that part of Bochy’s job, but I have to assume his job of managing the team helped us bounce back from two horrid losses. In the movie version, these were supposed to be major momentum shifts. After the LA Hell Bomb (LAHB), 8-2. LA does seem to have gotten a bounce from the Nomar’s second HR, the one vs. the D-Backs. Or else the Rox do not match up well with the Dodgers (15-4 for the Dogs). Then last night’s romp after The Arrogantly Watched Bomb (TAWB).
I was skeptical about the division tie-breaking, thinking that we would have to play for the title, but, once again, you guys are on it:
If two clubs from the same division are tied but both are assured of participating in the postseason, then the first tie-breaker to determine which club is the Division Champion and which club is the Wild Card would be their 2006 season-series record.
Some additional thoughts about last night:
As mentioned thoroughly, that ump was horrific. It seemed to favor the Dbacks, but there were bad calls both ways. Not an easy job, but what is going on?
Peavy getting through the first was huge. He was probably pumped up, over-throwing. We put nothing up. He gets out of it, then we get some runs, and then roll. Credit Jake and Bard for getting through that, and credit that throw out at 2B. Won’t show up on the highlights, but any out to get Jake out of that inning was huge.
I watched this very late on Tivo, so kind of reading over the board as we go, this is a very funny board.
Finally, not to talk trash because I love BP and love that Sheehan was down here in SD for the Pizza Feed, but his love affair with the bombs we gave up is understandable but annoying.
About the STL:
We’re a lot more certain this morning of the other race in the NL. After it looked like the Cardinals were going to lose another game in which they had been tied in the seventh—on a Scott Rolen throwing error and a wild pitch–Albert Pujols ended the NL MVP discussion with a homer that will be replayed during every Cardinals’ postseason game. This team desperately needed a win, and its best player delivered it. Credit Anthony Reyes for a good start against a team that is tough to beat, and both So Taguchi and Aaron Miles for working the walks that set up Pujols’ blast.
The drama should be over now. The Cardinals needed one win to get back on track, and with the Brewers coming into Busch this weekend, they should have themselves straightened out. I won’t say this often, but I’m fairly sure that the streak was building on itself, especially given the way in which the losses were happening. Clearing the deck with a W should relieve a lot of the pressure and enable the Cardinals to put away the division.
No one told the Brewers.
And, of course, the LA Hell Bomb (LAHB):
With one…OK, five…swings of the bat, the Dodgers had retaken first place, played the Padres to a draw over the weekend, and re-established a two-game cushion for a playoff spot. What the Dodgers did was amazing, but the importance of the turnaround in the context of the season made it that much more so. The Dodgers now get to play three games against a terrible road team–the Pirates–while the Padres have to go to Phoenix for three against the frisky Diamondbacks, while scoreboard-watching the Phillies, who are playing the Derrek Lee-free Cubs at home.
No one told the Padres or Pirates.
Need to stay focused, and I may have used up all most the Web with this post, but nice win and props to Bochy and players to get a crucial win.
September 29, 2006 at 7:28 am
Sorry, fat fingers, Jeff Passan
September 29, 2006 at 7:32 am
re: 6,9
No doubt - this has been a fantastic ride.
Love how we bounced back (AGAIN) from a tough loss with a big W. We’ve been doing that like clockwork the last month or so.
To me, the best indicator of how we’ve turned the corner is series openers. After losing (what seemed like) EVERY series opener in the second half, we’ve won the opener in the last 4.
If I were an Astro fan, I’d be ecstatic right now. I wouldn’t be able to work. Not only would my team be coming back literally from the dead to threaten for the division title, but with my pitching and the Met’s woes, I could be making a case for a deep PS run.
I’m ready for this whole “Cards collapse” thing to end. It’s been fun to watch them go down a peg, but enough is enough and no one wants Houston in the playoffs.
September 29, 2006 at 7:34 am
Huh? ust win baby, just win. Be nice for the giants to step up tonight and play tough. This thing ain’t over yet.
September 29, 2006 at 7:37 am
In case there is any server space left over, another note. I have been one of the biggest Bochy bashers on this blog, so my comments reflecting what others have written is something of a conversion. I hope I am not condemning us to three games of horridly inexplicable moves and sloppy ball, but our poise in this stretch run has been simply amazing.
September 29, 2006 at 7:38 am
Not over, not over. Stay on target…
September 29, 2006 at 7:39 am
I’m telling you, the NY media is ready to hand the WS title to Houston.
Strange that with 5 teams clinched “the favorite” in their eyes is a team that isn’t even “in” if the season ended right now.
September 29, 2006 at 7:43 am
Now it’s time for the finishing move. Phillies are clinging to a hope that we or the Dodgers basically lose 3. Let’s sweep the leg tonight and put this sucker to bed.
September 29, 2006 at 7:47 am
Checking the record…we were 5-14 (!) in series openers in the second half until this recent run of 4 straight series opening wins.
September 29, 2006 at 7:51 am
#16
great thoughts, jay, but
“Do we ever hear about ‘clubhouse problems’? Rarely. Do we ever see guys kind of mailing it in? Never.”
I remember quite a bit of that talk around here when the Dodgers past us in August.
September 29, 2006 at 8:06 am
I’ll be at Saturday and Sunday’s game in Phoenix. I’ll be proudly wearing my “Ducksnorts” pin on my jersey, if not my “Ducksnorts’” shirt.
It’s time for the Cardinals to snap out of this. It’s been fun, watching them slowly sinking in the bog, but enough is enough. I’d rather not see Houston, IF we make the playoffs. While I think our pitching staff matches up, I’d just soon see the Dodgers again, since we beat them like a drum, or St. Louis, so we can put one in Albert’s ear for his showboating off Cla. (Ignoring Klesko’s admiring his own “double” last night.)
September 29, 2006 at 8:08 am
Anyone know what players are eligible for the postseason roster?
I think it’s anyone who was active or disabled as of 8/31, and then the disabled guys can be replaced by someone else that was in the organization at that time.
September 29, 2006 at 8:12 am
I was listening to TL on XX this morning. He was saying the biggest questions were whether Klesko makes the post-season roster (if so, who gets left off) and whether Khalil is sharp enough to beat out Manny or Bellhorn for the infield utility man spot.
September 29, 2006 at 8:14 am
28: I can’t bring myself to talk postseason roster yet. But I will say this:
There is NO WAY Bellhorn should be on the roster. He hasn’t played in a month and he’s basically been terrible when he has played.
September 29, 2006 at 8:15 am
Bring on St. Louis, Houston, or whoever, I don’t care. I’d love to see a Piazza/Clemens matchup.
September 29, 2006 at 8:18 am
Did someone say earlier that we sorta clinched as in only lighting and weekend sweeps by team will knock us out, or are we still hanging and gotta win, baby? Could someone explain the various scenarios?
September 29, 2006 at 8:23 am
with the tiebreaker rule, does that mean they will celebrate when they clinch a tie with LA? Technically, that’s when they clinch the division, but it seems kinda weird to celebrate a tie.
September 29, 2006 at 8:29 am
We have not won yet. I know it is very close, but a loss today with an LA win, makes the title look very far away. The Phillies would have to win three in a row to force a tie against us, but we have not clinched this. Odds look good, but nothing certain.
September 29, 2006 at 8:34 am
We absoutely, 100%, do NOT want to be rolling into Sunday facing Webb in a must-win.
Must TCOB tonight vs Livan. I hope he tosses another of those silly 55 mph curves up there and someone puts it in the pool.
September 29, 2006 at 8:48 am
Gotta win tonight. I’m glad Clay is on the mound.
September 29, 2006 at 8:57 am
#31 This article spells out the scenarios pretty good…
http://sandiego.padres.mlb.com.....mp;c_id=sd
September 29, 2006 at 9:02 am
Right. Magic number to clinch at least a wildcard is 1, and to clinch the divison is 3. Contrary to what was stated earlier, division magic number is not 2 because:
If we lose all three, the Dodgers lose two and the Phillies win all three, we’d have to play off with the Dodgers for the division as part of the 3 way tie.
September 29, 2006 at 9:37 am
http://www.baseballprospectus......d=5570#SDN link… hoping klesko-williamson-park arent on the postseason roster. I’m not sure Bellhorn can be there either
September 29, 2006 at 9:48 am
Well, at this point, if we loose three (worst possible case) and Phillies win three in a row (certainly possible), we would play for the WC in Philly on Monday. A Philly loss or Padre win tonight would clinch at least a playoff spot for the Padres. Combo of 3 Padre wins and Dawg loses wins the NL West. Tonight is a big game because a win ensures the Padres post season play.
The interesting question is who do we want to play in the first round. Possible teams are the Mets, Cards/Astros and Phillys (reds are a real long shot). We can’t play the Dodgers. The best record (Mets) play the wildcard winner (I think). So would we rather play the Mets or the Cards/Astros? Of all teams, I would rather play the Cards, then the Mets, then the Astros. But if we win the NLW, it could be the Astros. If we win the WC, we know we play a somewhat weakened Mets.
Hmmmmm. Win tonight, relax Sat and Sunday, play the Mets. Win NLW and we might play a Blazing hot Stros team or a struggling cards.
I think the Padres are just going to play hard and win and see what happens. But a win tonight, ensuring a playoff spot, would allow Bochy to rest guys sat, sun, mon, guys like Giles (ankle), AG (thigh), Wells (gout). You could also rest the bully a bit. If you win with your scubs, fine and you play the cards/stros. Lose with your scrubs, fine, you play the Mets as the WC winner. I would love to see the Astros play the Dodgers but that would only happen if we win just the WC.
But I want to see a second NLW flag flying at Petco too. What a pickle. but a fun pickle indeed.
September 29, 2006 at 9:56 am
I think if ‘96 is any indication Bochy will have his squad playing hard to win the division one even if playoffs are assured way or the other.
So lets hope for a win tonight coupled with an LA loss. THEN we can rest.
Maybe we can see Ryno at 1B one more time if that’s the case. What the hell, ya know?
September 29, 2006 at 9:56 am
Using Dayne Perry’s criteria in “Winners” for picking successful teams in the playoffs, AOL’s stat blogger at
http://journals.aol.com/deskbl.....glory/1064
ranks the potential playoff teams according to that matrix. The Padres, ranked 5th, are described as:
5. Padres: .154 IsoP, 4.9 Speed Score, 3.01 K:BB, .714 DER
The Padres are Minnesota’s NL sister, a team with great pitching, and one of only two on this list with a K:BB above 3. So why did I rank them ahead of the Twins? For starters, the rotation is a whole lot deeper than the injury-depleted version the Twins are sporting right now. Their offense, while not good by any means, does have more power up and down the order than the Twins. Perhaps the biggest reason for giving them an edge over Minnesota is that the Friars defense is an asset behind a tremendous pitching staff instead of a detriment. With Mike Cameron in center and Dave Roberts in left, San Diego has two plus outfielders on a fly-ball heavy staff. If I had to tab a sleeper, I’d pick the Padres.
September 29, 2006 at 9:58 am
From the article in #36:
“A tie for the West title is good enough for the Padres. That can happen if they win and the Dodgers lose on Friday night. By virtue of their 13-5 advantage over the Dodgers this season, the Padres would then secure first place and a first-round playoff series against the winners of the Central, while the Wild Card-winning Dodgers would go to New York to face the Mets. If they win the West, the Padres have home-field advantage in their Division Series. It would begin in San Diego on Tuesday night.”
Huh? Maybe we will be celbrating tonight. I jsut wanna know when to pop the champaign, thats all.
September 29, 2006 at 10:03 am
What happens if Stl and Hou have to play the extra game on Tuesday after Stl plays the rain make-up game against SF on Monday? Does the series start on Wednesday or do they give them a day off and start the division series on Thursday?
September 29, 2006 at 10:05 am
BTW, Padre PO tickets will go on sale tomorrow according to the UT. $15 for the Park at the Park. gee, I guess this is a business.
September 29, 2006 at 10:06 am
Here’s a fun philosophical question: are we (the fans) having more/less fun than Mets fans right now (ignore their injury news for the moment, that’s not the point)? Point being - while I know everyone would rather be on a 100-win pace and have locked up the division weeks ago, isn’t it more fun to be right where we are right now? I guess I’d feel differently if I a Cards/Phils fan, who are also right in the think of things but with some BAD mojo.
September 29, 2006 at 10:08 am
It’s pretty simple math: If we win once we’re in the playoffs. If we win twice we win the division. If we win once and the dodgers lose once we win the division. So let’s root for one win. One day at a time. We can talk about playoff rosters when and if we make the playoffs.
Yes I’m superstitious.
September 29, 2006 at 10:11 am
43 - if StL had to play the two extra games the series would start Wednesday in SD.
Anyone catch clips of our old buddy Nevin celebrating when the Twins clinched? Nice to see him make it finally, his first post-season appearance.
September 29, 2006 at 10:12 am
To edit my own post (#47) - the Central winner would be at the West winner (not necessarily us, yet) on Wednesday.
September 29, 2006 at 10:18 am
The Padres want to win the division so that they open a playoff series at HOME for the first time in franchise history.
September 29, 2006 at 10:20 am
#44 If I’m not mistaken…it’s not the Padres who set the price for playoff tickets…it’s mlb. At least that was the case in 1998 when I had season tickets…I remember the Padres making it very clear that they had no control over the price of the tickets. Anyways…$15 to be inside the park for a playoff game isn’t that bad. If I lived closer, I’d probably consider it…
September 29, 2006 at 10:23 am
After that game the other night a series against the Cards might make for a crazy couple of games. I could definitely see some bad blood after Pujols sat there and watched his shot for like 13 minutes. Also just kinda something to keep in mind if the right things happen… How nuts would a Padres VS. Dodgers NL championship series be? After “The Game” and the race going on right now for the division I think that one would have the possibility to go down as an all time great one.
September 29, 2006 at 10:30 am
I never have posted my thoughts on the Pujols homer/game - too disgusted - but look, objectively, if you had been told before that series that the Pads were going to walk into St Louis and win two out of three you’d be happy with that, right? It was a shame to lose that last game, but we really didn’t do much to win - our go-ahead run came on a wild pitch, and everybody knew Pujols was goping to do something there. I was surprised about Pujols’ reaction, too - he doesn’t seem like that type of player. But it was a pretty big shot. Too bad they lost again last night.
September 29, 2006 at 10:30 am
GO FRIGGIN PADRES!!!!
that’s all.
September 29, 2006 at 10:57 am
There is a symetry to say, Padres v Dawgs and Yanks v Twins. NM would love Dodger and Yanks. Lets root for the Cards because I want to see that second NLW flag at Petco, but I don’t like the stros.
September 29, 2006 at 11:00 am
Astros = F-ing SCARY
September 29, 2006 at 11:10 am
55
Astros are scary.
On the other hand . . . do you really want to face Peavy and Young right now?
September 29, 2006 at 11:13 am
I’ll go ahead and answer my own question for every other NL team:
Nope.
September 29, 2006 at 11:16 am
http://www.sportsline.com/mlb/story/9692246
Scott Miller gives some love to Trevor for the Cy Young, KT for Exec of the Year, and Bochy for Manager of the Year.
September 29, 2006 at 11:19 am
56.
NO! HELL NO! But since they are on our team I more worried about the guys we would have to face.
But with the Padres on again off again offense Clemens, Oswalt and Pettite (as the 3rd option) scare the crap out of me! I mean we’re playing well right now and the offense is fine but with that team winning like 9 or 10 in a row now at this point in the season. A red hot team heading into the playoffs that has those guys toeing the rubber seems like a wrecking ball waiting to happen. Carpenter, Marquis, and Suppan look a lot less intimidating in my book. Now if only that Pujols guy could throw his back out sneezing or trip and fall when he’s carrying his deer meat up the stairs or something.
September 29, 2006 at 11:23 am
OT … http://sports.espn.go.com/espn.....eel/060929 … funny, ’cause it’s true!
September 29, 2006 at 11:25 am
Any Ducksnorters @ UCSD? I’m at the Geisel Library … thinking about walking over to Price Center for a fish taco …
September 29, 2006 at 11:35 am
re: 22
I don’t know what the NY media is saying, but even if one made the Astros the NL favorite — which is believable — there is a vast difference between the National League and the American League. If an NL team won the World Series, it would be a significant upset. But if the Padres did so, it would be a nice upset.
September 29, 2006 at 11:48 am
“a Padre win and a dodger loss clinches a tie for the division that SD wins by virtue of kicking the Dodgers tails in the season series”
Yes. I haven’t really seen it reported, but the Padres can clinch the NL West TONIGHT if we win and the Giants beat the Dodgers. Yes, we may still end up with the same record as the Dodgers, but there will be no playoff, and we will win by virtue of H2H record. This is the same circumstance under which the Yankees won the division last year.
September 29, 2006 at 11:52 am
re: 63 … that’s only true if Philly is out of the picture (ie. if both the Padres and Dodgers are in the playoffs) …
September 29, 2006 at 11:53 am
re: 64 … and I s’pose a Padres win knocks Philly out of the picture … hmmm … that’s a good thing!
September 29, 2006 at 11:55 am
LM, welcome back to town.
September 29, 2006 at 12:06 pm
One other thought though on the Astros…I know they’re red hot right now, but could it be possible that they’ve used everything they’ve got to get into the playoffs and are going to have nothing left once they get in?
Just a thought…
September 29, 2006 at 12:17 pm
67 - that’s not my perception of the ’stros … but they do have a problem with #4 & #5 spots in rotation … here’s a BP perspective …
Houston Astros @ Atlanta Braves
One of the problems with our sports culture is that its language does not contain enough hyperbole. For instance, the next three days should be widely billed as “The Weekend of Death.” Instead, it doesn’t have a name at all. The World Cup always has a “Group of Death.” I understand that baseball and death are usually not found in the same thought process, but still: don’t wipe the hype, people.
Whether it’s a Weekend of Death or merely a Weekend of Mild Coronary Thrombosis, you hate having to face it with Matt Albers as one of your pitchers, as the Astros are doing. Of course, nobody has stepped into the four-five breach in the “Oswalt/Clemens/Pettitte/the rest don’t get it” rotation, so what is to be done? Wandy Rodriguez? Albers had an impressive 2.17 ERA at Double-A Corpus Christi this year, but it is a bit illusory–his RA was about a run higher. He strikes some people out, though, and hasn’t given up many homers as a pro. Conveniently, the Braves are countering with Lance Cormier in the second game.
It’s a miracle of circumstance that the Astros are still in it at the end of a season in which they’ve had to expend 52 starts on Rodriguez, Taylor Buchholz and the mostly ineffective (so far) Jason Hirsh.
http://www.baseballprospectus......cleid=5569
September 29, 2006 at 12:28 pm
Rob Neyer’s chat on ESPN had this to say:
Chad(Madison, WI): With Pedro out, who do you got winning the NL pennant?
Rob Neyer: I’ve recently become a Padres convert, after realizing that Peavy’s still the great pitcher we thought he was a year ago.
September 29, 2006 at 12:34 pm
Lynch, check your e-mail…
September 29, 2006 at 12:34 pm
69 - another reason I really like Rob Neyer!
September 29, 2006 at 1:13 pm
Wait . . . wait . . . am I sensing the beginnings of a “Padre bandwagon?”
One of my buddies who is a big Sox fan pledged allegiance to the Pads in this year’s playoff chase.
September 29, 2006 at 1:20 pm
I like Rob Neyer. He’s probably the least bias of the ESPN writer.
Of course, being a Royals fan would make looking at other teams easier.
I popped the 96 Padres’s season tape last night and boy, were the team good that year. Also, with the drive of sweeping the Dodgers in the last series of the season just reminded me of how the team was taking of business even though, the Padres were assured a playoff spot going into that series. This current team is showing a similar drive at the end of this season.
I’m just feeling the team is gelling at the right time. Win, baby, just win.
Probably will pop in the ‘98 season tape over this weekend just getting ready for the playoff.
Go PADRES! Go.
September 29, 2006 at 1:23 pm
LynchMob, are you in town for the playoff?
Welcome back to SD, man. And congrats on winning the fantasy league.
September 29, 2006 at 1:25 pm
Sports Illustrated has this article on Cla.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.c......meredith/
September 29, 2006 at 1:30 pm
Yeah but, yeah but, in 96 we got our clock cleaned by the Cardnals in the first around, did we even win a game. I like the 98 team better. Kevin Brown’s best year. He’s probably counting his money now. Does he still get free jet rides?
September 29, 2006 at 1:38 pm
We came close in game 1 against St.Louis in ‘96…game 2 I don’t remember. Game 3 back at Qualcomm was a close game with Caminiti hitting a HR to tie it in the 8th or 9th and then I am pretty sure we lost in the 10th..
I do have the season of heroes video from the ‘98 team and that is still fun to watch…What a team that was…Hopefully this years team can win 4 more games than the ‘98 team did…
September 29, 2006 at 1:39 pm
PM: please, don’t remind me of that drubbing. I like the Padres’ chances this time around. Yes, it’s not the ‘98 team but it’s playing pretty well right now.
Win tonight, Padres. GO! GO!
September 29, 2006 at 1:45 pm
I like the 98 team too. That video is great, although they really should have not had the really, really bad “highlight music” playing throughout.
I was watching that video a couple of weeks ago: remember that throw Vanderwal made in the Braves series? I forget who he nailed at the plate, but who cares?
Also, something they didn’t cover in the video . . . remember Hitchock plunking Greg Maddux in Game 3? THAT was the best. I was loving that!
September 29, 2006 at 1:54 pm
With lynch in town and Geoff going to Petco for the game on Sunday, we should have a Ducksnorts gathering. Anyone up for getting together down at the Park on Sunday and watching the game? Or maybe getting together after the game for refreshments?
September 29, 2006 at 2:01 pm
What makes this year even more special is the chance to win the NLW for a second time in a row. Pads have always been a team that get there occasionally (better then the cubs or KC). 84, 96, 98, 05. But there is a lot of space between appearances in the big dance, until this year. Now we have the chance to be Da Player in the NLW, the team everyone guns for. I can only dream of Atl status or yankee status someday (probably never due to market forces), but two in a row is a start.
Come on boys win!!!
BTW, how bout the atl missing the playoffs for the first time in what 13 years. Welcome to reality Atl fan. I remember when Atl was the doormat of the NL and had a terrible infield to boot. ah happy times.
September 29, 2006 at 2:07 pm
Re: the story in #75, Cla referenced a “piss-rod” near the end of the story. Anyone have any idea what that is? I have not heard it before, and am coming up with with some “colorful” thoughts
September 29, 2006 at 2:14 pm
The piss-rod had me laughing as well. No idea what that means.
September 29, 2006 at 2:22 pm
#82 - never heard it before, but in context is sounds like a ball hit hard right at somebody; kind of like a ball on a “frozen rope”
September 29, 2006 at 2:35 pm
Hmmm, I wonder if “piss-rod” is synonymous with “ducksnort”???
http://www.whitesoxinteractive.....59106.html … then search for “piss” … kinda a dangerous subject to research …
September 29, 2006 at 2:43 pm
That 98 run had a number of crazy moments. I remember Leyritz hitting an oppo shot off the Unit, also throwing out somebody at home (at the Q), T Gwynn and Vaughns homers in Game 1 in Yankee Stadium. Wally Joyner and VanderWal’s homers at home. Remember how loud the Q was? I was paying off my credit card bills for those playoff games for years. Oh baby, I cannot wait to get this going.
September 29, 2006 at 2:46 pm
I will never forget how loud the Q was for the playoff games. I was at game 3 vs. Houston (the only win i got to see in person), I’ll never forget how loud it was when Micelli struck out I think Alou with the bases loaded in the 6th or 7th of that game. I also never forget how quiet it got after Trevor gave up the homers to the Braves in game 4 and the one to Brosius in game 3 of the world series…
September 29, 2006 at 2:49 pm
I still have the entire ‘98 run on VHS…it sounds about time to pull it out.
Hey, one east coast benefit of Padres playoff ball - I may finally get to see the games!!!
September 29, 2006 at 3:00 pm
#80: Excellent idea, Pat. Anyone interested, leave a note in the comments or drop me a line and we’ll work out the details.
#86: FF, it’s been a while and my mind isn’t what it used to be, but wasn’t the Leyritz homer off Wagner?
September 29, 2006 at 3:01 pm
re. 81: And next year’s team will likely be even better! We could be in the middle of a 3 (or more) year run of divisional championships…
Not to get ahead of ourselves, but we’re potentially losing our leadoff LF and we may lose Piazza (though both the Padres and Mike have talked about trying to work something out).
We have a chance to upgrade our rotation:
We all love Woody, we just don’t know if he’ll be back (I bet he is and does well again though not this well)… Anyway, the following Pitchers made a combined 66 starts for us:
Chan Ho Park (21)
David Wells (4)
D. Brazelton (2)
Mike Thompson (16)
Woody Williams (23)
In those 66 starts the Padres went 22-21 (not bad!), but those pitchers (as starting pitchers) combined for a 4.70 ERA in 388.2 IP w/ 430 H & 56 HR allowed and 115 BB compared to only 211 SO (if we remove Woody’s contributions that ERA balloons to 5.33.
We all expect Peavy, Young, and Hensley to be back to perform solidly Peavy better, one of the other 2 worse and the other the same… We could improve mightily if we get another above average innings eater (after working through that, I’m changing my tune, maybe Zito isn’t such a bad idea)…
Not just this week, not just this year, it is a REAL GOOD time to be Padres fan!!!
September 29, 2006 at 3:02 pm