IGD: Padres @ Cardinals (25 Sep 06)
Mon, Sep 25, 2006
by Geoff Young
first pitch: 5:10 p.m., PT
television: Channel 4SD
matchup: David Wells (2-5, 4.80) vs Jeff Suppan (12-7, 4.07 ERA)
previews: Padres.com | SI.com | ESPN
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The Padres head to St. Louis in a matchup of the two NL division leaders that are still looking to clinch a playoff spot. The Padres’ magic number is 6, while the Cardinals’ is 5. The Friars also are up 2 1/2 games on St. Louis in the battle for home-field advantage in the first round.
But let’s not get ahead of ourselves.
David Wells remains in search of his first win since returning to the Padres. Right now he is easily the weakest link in the rotation, and it’d be nice to see him get into a groove. The good news is, he hasn’t looked terrible in his four starts for San Diego. The bad news is, “hasn’t looked terrible” doesn’t really cut it when you’re gunning for the playoffs.
Current Cardinals are batting .293/.321/.537 against Wells in 147 at-bats. Scott Rolen (.444/.444/1.222 in 9 AB), Jim Edmonds (.314/.351/.629 in 35 AB), and Juan Encarnacion (.292/.320/.583 in 24 AB) have been the chief culprits.
Meantime, Jeff Suppan continues to excel at getting the maximum out of the minimum. He allows a ton of hits, he doesn’t have impeccable control, and he doesn’t strike people out. All he does is win games and post respectable ERAs. And unfortunately for the Padres, he’s got a couple other things working for him: Suppan has a 2.97 ERA over 97 innings at home this year, and a remarkable 2.04 ERA over 83 2/3 innings since the All-Star break. Difficult to explain, but there it is.
Current Padres are batting .326/.379/.624 against Suppan in 178 at-bats. Mike Piazza (.533/.533/1.533) has five homers in 15 at-bats. Dave Roberts (.667/.700/1.111 in 9 AB), Geoff Blum (.571/.571/.714 in 14 AB), and Brian Giles (.273/.370/.545 in 24 AB) also have enjoyed success against the finesse right-hander.
Big series at Busch begins tonight. Go Padres!
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September 25, 2006 at 4:05 pm
As previously noted, Wells has been scratched in favor of rookie Mike Thompson. Wish I’d known that this morning when I was doing my research.
September 25, 2006 at 4:30 pm
Wells has missed time with gout before. I think it was about 8 yrs ago, when he was with the Yanks.
September 25, 2006 at 5:05 pm
Go Padres! Let’s go and beat those Cards.
September 25, 2006 at 5:14 pm
Giles, double play, surprising no one
September 25, 2006 at 5:17 pm
The Cardinals announcers have done their homework: they mentioned the Padres have the best rotation in the NL and that their hitting is much better on the road than at home. And now they’re showing home/road splits for Giles. Good work so far.
Not another grounder to the right side with a runner on. That is brutal. I think Giles needs to be leading off now, with the way Roberts has struggled and the way Giles is prone to hitting those routine grounders.
September 25, 2006 at 5:17 pm
Yeah I don’t think there is any doubt that Giles has given them close to nothing for the past 10 days. It’s hard to continue to win games when your #1 and #2 hitters are lucky to get on base once per game between the two of them.
September 25, 2006 at 5:20 pm
As of three pitches, Mike Thompson looks excellent.
September 25, 2006 at 5:20 pm
Super, off to a hot start tonight
September 25, 2006 at 5:20 pm
Oops. That fourth pitch was not so hot.
September 25, 2006 at 5:22 pm
Ben B - talk about how good Suppan looks, please!
September 25, 2006 at 5:23 pm
Yeah, Suppan is definitely dominating the Padres. They’ll be lucky to get any hits tonight. Actually, he did have a really good first inning with three easy ground balls, and getting ahead of every batter.
September 25, 2006 at 5:26 pm
Another easy grounder. Ouch.
September 25, 2006 at 5:27 pm
Lucky hit. We’re still doomed.
September 25, 2006 at 5:28 pm
So Wells, in all likelihood, will have been worth zero wins this (regular) season. The Padres damn well better make the World Series after giving up Kottaras.
Do you suppose that the reason the Dodgers and Diamondbacks have good farm systems is because they don’t trade their best prospects for 43-year old one month rentals?
September 25, 2006 at 5:29 pm
Another lucky hit. Here comes the routine ground ball double play.
September 25, 2006 at 5:29 pm
Keep talking, Ben B…
FYI, U2 and GreenDay absolutely ROCKING the superdome right now
September 25, 2006 at 5:30 pm
is anyone else convinced that we didn’t lose much when Kalil went down?
September 25, 2006 at 5:31 pm
Ok, now ground ball on the first pitch to Barfield, because that’s what he does. Ok, I was late there, on the second or third pitch now.
September 25, 2006 at 5:31 pm
Sweet…let’s get into that nice, soft Cards bullpen…
September 25, 2006 at 5:32 pm
Clayton/Ben B — I know what you’re doing and I LOVE IT….
September 25, 2006 at 5:32 pm
re 17: we lost the Female 13-34 demographic
September 25, 2006 at 5:33 pm
Wow, too slow on that one. And look what happened. Well, here’s the Doc to end the rally, since he has been slumping so badly recently.
September 25, 2006 at 5:34 pm
um last I checked the Dodgers traded Guzman this past season for Julio Lugo who doesn’t even start on an everyday basis for them.
September 25, 2006 at 5:34 pm
re 21: you wouldn’t know enough about that demographic to know if it was ever even there…
September 25, 2006 at 5:34 pm
Lucky break there. I’m calling it right now, with Giles up it will be like always: grounder to second.
September 25, 2006 at 5:34 pm
Atta boy BG!! make a liar out of me, I don’t care!
September 25, 2006 at 5:35 pm
REDBIRD SOUP FOR BRIAN GILES
September 25, 2006 at 5:35 pm
re 24
You either, newly-30 boy!
September 25, 2006 at 5:35 pm
It’s a good thing the Cardinals’ center fielder sucks, because that should have been out number 3. Suppan, despite the apparent results, it’s still dominating.
September 25, 2006 at 5:36 pm
wait - was that Giles? I was focusing on the 2nd baseman but I never saw the ball… did he do something other than ground out to 2nd??
September 25, 2006 at 5:37 pm
Should have been caught, seriously? I thought that looked like a line drive off the wall
September 25, 2006 at 5:37 pm
re 29: LOL! (which isn’t good becuase I’m in the middle of “quiet hours” at my grad school library…
September 25, 2006 at 5:37 pm
I’m just estimating, but I think Suppan is on pitch #100 already
September 25, 2006 at 5:38 pm
That one should have been a strikeout. The ump is just blind.
September 25, 2006 at 5:40 pm
is now to early to go to Cla Meredith? I’m thinking he could get through the next 5 innings in 45 pitches or less….
September 25, 2006 at 5:40 pm
In every other part of my life, I am a sane, completely rational person. Yet once a rally like that starts, even though it clearly has absolutely nothing to do with what I’m writing here, I just have to keep going with the reverse jinxing.
September 25, 2006 at 5:42 pm
Lovin’ it!!!
http://padresrundown.blogspot......y-off.html
September 25, 2006 at 5:43 pm
LOL @ 35
September 25, 2006 at 5:43 pm
Thompson trying to set a team record for GB to Short induced. Not that there’s anything wrong with that…
September 25, 2006 at 5:45 pm
re 23: The Dodgers got Lugo to fill in for Kent and Garciapra while they were on the DL. They’ll also get a draft pick if they lose Lugo to free agency.
When Wells retires, what will we have to show for the trade?
September 25, 2006 at 5:46 pm
re: 40 Kottaras doing well for the Red Sox
September 25, 2006 at 5:48 pm
re. 40: hopefully this shiney gold trophy thing I saw some of the White Sox players holding….
September 25, 2006 at 5:50 pm
Well if you are comparing Kotteras to Guzman I don’t think anyone values Kotteras more, Guzman has such a high upside.
That draft pick is hardly a done deal considering how Lugo has played. A .541 OPS over 131 AB’s is not a good trade for the Dodgers, especially when they turned around and still brought in Betemit to play 3B.
Lugo and Betemit were overkill for the Dodgers. Wells was a bad trade when it happened and it is a worse trade now that he is hurt.
Mark
September 25, 2006 at 5:52 pm
re: 11
Suppan is dominating. The Padres will be lucky to get anyting going tonight–just five runs on five hits through two innings.
September 25, 2006 at 5:55 pm
Saints block a punt on ATL’s first possession - TD, New Orleans. Couldn’t write a better script.
September 25, 2006 at 5:56 pm
OT: My friend was at the game on Friday night and he got me one of the player calendars that they gave out. It has next year’s schedule in it, and it looks like we don’t have a game on Opening Day. We don’t start till Tuesday, the 3rd, in San Francisco. I don’t know about anybody else, but Opening Day is BY FAR my favorite day of the year, bar none. And not having a game that day, home or away, kinda ruins it.
September 25, 2006 at 5:56 pm
re 43: yeah, after hoping to claim that Well’s stats would “tell the tale”, I am not left to believe that his acquisition was nothing more than an injection of life — a necessary injection — into the rest of the club. note the word “injection”, as I believe that Brian Giles only responds after a “cycle” of “injections”…..
September 25, 2006 at 6:02 pm
ok, could use a triple-play here
September 25, 2006 at 6:03 pm
DP works too, now make it pay off and get out of the inning w/ no more damage
September 25, 2006 at 6:09 pm
can we all make a pact here? Rudy Seanez should not be allowed anywhere near the field this evening…
September 25, 2006 at 6:10 pm
Sometimes these big early leads work against you…you stop focusing as much, meanwhile the other team just starts chipping away, gaining momentum. Need MT to keep inducing those nice ground balls…get a couple more innings and turn this thing over to the pen
September 25, 2006 at 6:12 pm
man on for Giles, but 2 outs…no DP chance here!
September 25, 2006 at 6:14 pm
Good baserunning by Doc there - ready to go as soon as that ball hopped away from the catcher
September 25, 2006 at 6:16 pm
Just got off the phone w/ Padres’ minor league 3B David Freese - I’ll have his interview up probably within 24 hours…
September 25, 2006 at 6:18 pm
Wow….LaRussa going to the ‘pen early!
Every time I see him go to the mound, I think:
“Daniel LaRusso’s gonna fight? Daniel LaRusso’s gonna fight!”
September 25, 2006 at 6:22 pm
I love Doc Roberts
September 25, 2006 at 6:22 pm
Me too. unfortunately Walker didn’t get the job done this time
September 25, 2006 at 6:26 pm
great, manny alexander, defensive specialist, with the E
September 25, 2006 at 6:27 pm
The Cardinals’ announcers just criticized Todd Walker for making that poor third, launching into the speech about how he’s had difficulties making the transition to third base with the longer throw. One problem: that was Manny Alexander.
September 25, 2006 at 6:28 pm
Bochy needs to go to the ‘pen early. Is Chan Ho available?
September 25, 2006 at 6:30 pm
Is walker hurt?
Boch said CHP is not 100%, but availble for a couple of innings if needed.
September 25, 2006 at 6:30 pm
You have got to be kidding me
September 25, 2006 at 6:30 pm
I just come home to THIS!!!!
September 25, 2006 at 6:30 pm
So much for that lead
September 25, 2006 at 6:31 pm
I curse on Edmonds. His mother was a hamster and his father smelt of elderberries.
September 25, 2006 at 6:31 pm
CRAP
September 25, 2006 at 6:31 pm
yikes..
September 25, 2006 at 6:32 pm
Well, we all know the Cards can hit . . . and there’s exhibit A
September 25, 2006 at 6:32 pm
LaRussa looking like an effing genius tonight. Takes suppan out, reliever (didn’t catch name) K’s Walker to end threat. Pinch hits with Edmonds, 3 run jack to tie the game. No way Bochy should have left Thompson in to face him in that situation.
September 25, 2006 at 6:33 pm
Adkins in for Thompson…one batter too late
September 25, 2006 at 6:33 pm
Who’s warming up? Anyone? I’m watching on GameDay
September 25, 2006 at 6:34 pm
Someone should explain to Bochy that there is only 1 week left in the season and Thompson hadn’t pitched in 2 weeks….maybe he shouldn’t have been expecting 6 IP.
September 25, 2006 at 6:34 pm
scratch #71. pretend like I never wrote that
September 25, 2006 at 6:35 pm
On the bright side, Houston has tied up Philly 4-4 in the top of the 7th.
September 25, 2006 at 6:35 pm
There was a rumor, maybe it was Olney’s blog, that St Louis might not retain Edmonds next year. Wonder if he wants to come play RF in SD?
September 25, 2006 at 6:36 pm
I can’t believe Wells has freakin’ gout.
At least they only tied. Just like 0-0 . . . just like 0-0 . . . just like 0-0 (I’m going to keep saying that until I feel better)
September 25, 2006 at 6:38 pm
Curious move putting Alexander in . .. I know Walker has had his problems, but . . .
September 25, 2006 at 6:41 pm
Was Alexander put in just for defense, or is Walker hurt? If it’s just for defense - a defensive replacement in the fourth inning with your #6 pitcher starting?
September 25, 2006 at 6:42 pm
Walker’s gotta be hurt . . .
September 25, 2006 at 6:43 pm
Stros take the lead, 5-4.
September 25, 2006 at 6:43 pm
what about branyan? any update?
September 25, 2006 at 6:49 pm
Nice play by Manny to rob pujols. Not that that makes up for the E last inning…
September 25, 2006 at 6:57 pm
Cassidy up in the pen, if we get to Adkins’ spot in the order with a man on, looks like Cassidy will pitch the 6th
September 25, 2006 at 7:01 pm
Ouch, this is brutal. Isn’t the Cardinals’ pen their huge weakness?
September 25, 2006 at 7:04 pm
supposedly. can’t believe Bochy left Thompson in there to face Edmonds. No way that should have happened. How many ridiculous, one-in-a-million HRs are we going to face during this pennant chase?
September 25, 2006 at 7:14 pm
Anybody know why Bochy hates Cassidy so much? I mean the guy has an ERA under 3 with decent peripherals.
September 25, 2006 at 7:15 pm
OT … good to see Zach Greinke back in the bigs for KC … http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/boxscore?gid=260925109
September 25, 2006 at 7:16 pm
Cassidy worked into and out of a jam there…threw about 50 pitches
September 25, 2006 at 7:17 pm
Wow, I just noticed that Preston Wilson is hitting leadoff for the Cards? That can’t be a good/right thing, can it? If Bochy did that, we’d be screaming bloody murder!
September 25, 2006 at 7:17 pm
Stark on Hoffman:
http://insider.espn.go.com/esp.....n#20060925
September 25, 2006 at 7:19 pm
It seems like we’re getting jobbed on calls on the corner. Maybe two or three pitches on the black for us called balls and two or three called strikes for them. I guess when Cassidy is throwing balls by them in those locations it doesn’t become an issue.
And, yeah, Preston Wilson leading off is a sign of the lack of depth in this Cardinal lineup. They have Pujols and Rolen, and Duncan has hit really well, but beyond that the lineup is pretty weak.
September 25, 2006 at 7:20 pm
Maybe the team could get their second hit outside of that big second inning. Naaw, too much to ask.
Oops, there it is. Even if it was really, really ugly.
September 25, 2006 at 7:22 pm
Eckstein hit a foul off his upper knee last night on a splitter from Clemens.. not sure if that is what has taken him out of the lineup or not, but happened to see it — it looked pretty f’n painful….
September 25, 2006 at 7:22 pm
Giles enables Manny to have a “productive AB” … I s’pose …
September 25, 2006 at 7:22 pm
Big CHOPPAH by Piazza to take the lead!
September 25, 2006 at 7:22 pm
Attaway Padres! Way to absolutely murder those hits. Wow.
September 25, 2006 at 7:23 pm
i swear, every time I jump on this site and start baggin’ on Giles, he starts producing…. whatever…
September 25, 2006 at 7:23 pm
Gonzalez pulls a Giles
September 25, 2006 at 7:23 pm
Bing!
- B. Giles ground rule double to left
- M. Alexander sacrificed to catcher, B. Giles to third
- M. Piazza singled to left, B. Giles scored
More! More! More!
September 25, 2006 at 7:24 pm
We’re into the 7th with a lead…let’s see if Meredith/Linebrink/Hoffman can get ‘er done
September 25, 2006 at 7:24 pm
come on Astros… come on Astros….come on Astros….
September 25, 2006 at 7:24 pm
One more inning for Cassidy? Or bring in Cla?
September 25, 2006 at 7:25 pm
Bring in Cla! Bring in Cla! Bring in Cla!
September 25, 2006 at 7:26 pm
FYI, Fantasy Football fans: Shaun Alexander out indefinitely with a broken foot. Madden cover jinx lives on…
September 25, 2006 at 7:26 pm
It’s not obvious to me to root for the Astros … I’m interested to take my chances of knockin’ them Dogs outta the picture completly
OTOH … facing the Dogs in the playoffs would be fun … especially ’cause it’d mean the NL pennant is on the line!
September 25, 2006 at 7:27 pm
I’m not as fascinated with Embree as is Bochy, but if this clears Cla for the 8th, then it’s all good
September 25, 2006 at 7:27 pm
Bochy chooses … (c) none of the above … hmmm …
September 25, 2006 at 7:28 pm
Nope, just saves Meredith for Poo-holes
September 25, 2006 at 7:28 pm
Here comes THE CLA!
September 25, 2006 at 7:28 pm
Now bring in Cla?
September 25, 2006 at 7:29 pm
Ah … OK …
September 25, 2006 at 7:29 pm
When in Rome…Bochy does his best LaRussa impersonation and opens the revolving bullpen door…
September 25, 2006 at 7:29 pm
Let’s see how “on” Cla is after 2 IP yesterday afternoon
September 25, 2006 at 7:31 pm
Embree does the LOOGY thing … one of my favorite wikipedia entries … http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LOOGY
September 25, 2006 at 7:31 pm
I’m nervous…feel like he’s “sizing” up Cla here
September 25, 2006 at 7:32 pm
never mind - retract!
September 25, 2006 at 7:32 pm
Cla! Cla! Cla! Cla!
September 25, 2006 at 7:33 pm
seriously, righties look as bad against Cla as lefties do against Mariano Rivera….
September 25, 2006 at 7:33 pm
SIT DOWN PUJOLS! Wow. How often do you see Pujols swing that badly? And even on the pitches he fouled off he just pounded them into the ground weakly.
September 25, 2006 at 7:33 pm
re: 115 … he *was* sizing him up … and that’s a dangerous thing … be wary of the Pujols … be very wary! Way to go Cla!
September 25, 2006 at 7:34 pm
Yahoo’s box shows Embree pitching the whole inning … tech ain’t perfect …
September 25, 2006 at 7:34 pm
bottom 9 in Philly, still 5-4 Hou
September 25, 2006 at 7:35 pm
That was a filthy sequence to Pujols. You just don’t see him swing like that real often.
September 25, 2006 at 7:35 pm
A better place I should go more often is http://snap.stats.com/premium/.....925124.asp
September 25, 2006 at 7:36 pm
I wish! (they just put Scott Rolen’s name up as batting for SD.)
September 25, 2006 at 7:38 pm
re 125
Did we trade Manny for him, straight up in the middle of the game? Done and done!
September 25, 2006 at 7:38 pm
2 outs, bottom 9, Phillies down 1 with nobody on… our old buddy Dan Wheeler on the hill…
September 25, 2006 at 7:40 pm
Game! Astros beat Phillies!!
September 25, 2006 at 7:41 pm
Astros win 6-5
September 25, 2006 at 7:41 pm
damn no Linebrink? Is he hurt?
September 25, 2006 at 7:41 pm
sorry, make the 5-4. right result, wrong score. my bad.
September 25, 2006 at 7:41 pm
re: 126 Geoff Blum was the real batter…sorry Geoff; love ya man, but you would be gone so fast …
Houston beats Philly 5-4!
September 25, 2006 at 7:42 pm
is it wrong to want to pitch Cla in every inning? seriously, the guy’s up there throwing like a 2nd baseman to 1st base… his arm can totally take the abuse….
September 25, 2006 at 7:42 pm
Meredith still in there…hope he’s got the Steve Austin bionic arm
RE: Astros…that puts more pressure on the Cards here, they’ve got to be feeling the heat - that was an 8.5 game lead like a week ago!
September 25, 2006 at 7:42 pm
Cla was left in through the eighth yesterday too…just a thought; are we seeing an audition?
September 25, 2006 at 7:43 pm
Linebrink might be pithcing the 9th. Trevor’s worked a lot lately.
September 25, 2006 at 7:43 pm
13 pitches, 10 strikes, 4 outs….
September 25, 2006 at 7:43 pm
Scott Linebrink has been marginalized, thank goodness. Has Bochy or anyone said anything about this.
September 25, 2006 at 7:43 pm
This could be a game where Hoffman is not available so Linebrink gets the 9th
September 25, 2006 at 7:44 pm
this may be outta a left field, but do you think they’re stretching Cla’s appearances to convert him to a possible starter?
September 25, 2006 at 7:44 pm
Khalil gets that grounder
September 25, 2006 at 7:45 pm
And Heeeeeeeeere’s Liney!
September 25, 2006 at 7:46 pm
I don’t agree with this move… Cla had thrown all of 17 pitches… Liney scares me…. of course, this Schumaker kid would only scare me if he was behind the wheel of an F1….
September 25, 2006 at 7:47 pm
The “Linebrink Run” would NOT be a good idea here
September 25, 2006 at 7:48 pm
Wow - that was a heckuva first cut!
September 25, 2006 at 7:49 pm
That was good. I did not think replacing Meredith with Linebrink was a good move, but it worked out. But on the whole, Meredith has been much better.
September 25, 2006 at 7:49 pm
what happened to liney hitting upper 90’s on his fastball?? btw - was that willy mays hays running the bases?
September 25, 2006 at 7:49 pm
Linebrink is better against lefties than righties, I think. And lefties actually have a chance against Meredith.
September 25, 2006 at 7:50 pm
Seriously…amateur hour out there
September 25, 2006 at 7:51 pm
Wow, Houston used 9 pitchers … 1 got a Win … 3 got Holds … 1 got a Save … http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/boxscore?gid=260925122 … Philly burned 7 pitchers in defeat!
September 25, 2006 at 7:52 pm
Nice piece o’ hitting, Rob Bowen! Let’s get some margin here…DR needs to hit a double so Giles can’t come up with the oh-so-tempting DP sitting there. (”Must…ground out…to second….”)
September 25, 2006 at 7:53 pm
Padres could help the Cardinals collapse in this series.
September 25, 2006 at 7:54 pm
151: It’s funny because it’s true.
September 25, 2006 at 7:55 pm
uh oh - prove me wrong Brian
September 25, 2006 at 7:55 pm
Uh oh. Dave Roberts on first base with Brian Giles coming up. Less than two outs. Here we go.
September 25, 2006 at 7:55 pm
Wikipedia:
Many still believe that gout is caused by a combination of dietary factors and “laziness”. In particular, many believe that gout develops following several years of excessive alcohol consumption combined with an ongoing lack of physical activity and a diet completely lacking in purine-neutralising foods, such as berries, as well as other specific fruit and vegetables.
September 25, 2006 at 7:56 pm
thank you doc, now the obligatory gb to 2nd doesn’t kill 2 birds
September 25, 2006 at 7:56 pm
Roberts: 45 steals
September 25, 2006 at 7:57 pm
Manny Alexander with the chance to hit into the DP… Mr. Hoffman warming up in the bullpen..
September 25, 2006 at 7:57 pm
here’s where some bench depth would be good, can’t stomach having Manny hitting third in the lineup….ahhh…there’s my man. Muscles Branyan, let’s get it on!
September 25, 2006 at 7:58 pm
That’s the most by a Padres player since Bip Roberts had 46 in 1990.
September 25, 2006 at 7:59 pm
Would be a great time to see that “freakish power” from Branyan..
September 25, 2006 at 8:00 pm
trying to work RB on the o/s corner…a good idea, unless you miss over the middle
September 25, 2006 at 8:01 pm
as far as freakish power goes, did look like he hit that a mile in the air
September 25, 2006 at 8:02 pm
dammit. how does doc get gunned out at home? really thought Liney helped himself out there
September 25, 2006 at 8:02 pm
So who plays 3B in bottom of 9th?
September 25, 2006 at 8:02 pm
Scott Linebrink, professional hitter…
dammit.
September 25, 2006 at 8:05 pm
Branyan at 3rd in the 9th..
September 25, 2006 at 8:05 pm
That makes no sense…Pinch hit for Manny Alexander and then not pinch hit Linebrink.
I understand that we want to keep Scotty in the game to close and I fully agree, but why depress your defense if you are not going to go all the way through with it?
It just seems if you are going to play for 1 run, you really should play for 1 run. Hopefully this works out, but I just wonder sometimes…
September 25, 2006 at 8:06 pm
not a good start
September 25, 2006 at 8:07 pm
Yikes. And now Pujols is going to come up.
September 25, 2006 at 8:07 pm
I was hoping we’d get to see Pujols.
September 25, 2006 at 8:07 pm
A double play ball would be quite nice right here.
September 25, 2006 at 8:08 pm
c’mon, nice easy ground ball here…
September 25, 2006 at 8:10 pm
ok - I’m going on record right now - this CANNOT happen again to us, no way no how
September 25, 2006 at 8:10 pm
(meaning some ridiculous walkoff HR)
September 25, 2006 at 8:11 pm
Can we bring Meredith back in to pitch to Pujols?
September 25, 2006 at 8:11 pm
I agree with Matty…He went.
September 25, 2006 at 8:11 pm
3-0, just give him 1B, you’ve lost this AB
September 25, 2006 at 8:12 pm
I don’t like this…not at all…Rolen may be struggling, but he deserves his rep…
September 25, 2006 at 8:13 pm
No, you can’t walk him like that. Now the run scores on a single. Although I’d have to say those first two pitches looked like strikes to me.
September 25, 2006 at 8:13 pm
prove me wrong, please!
September 25, 2006 at 8:14 pm
WoooHooo
September 25, 2006 at 8:14 pm
Phew!
September 25, 2006 at 8:14 pm
HUGE! That is a full 2 game lead folks…
September 25, 2006 at 8:14 pm
YES!!!
September 25, 2006 at 8:15 pm
And regarding my post #169…just b/c it works does not mean it was the right thing to do.
September 25, 2006 at 8:15 pm
No sweat. Easy inning.
September 25, 2006 at 8:15 pm
Whew, just got done taping a radio segment in time to see Scotty close it out. That was a little nervewracking.
September 25, 2006 at 8:16 pm
Prince Albert’s attitude when he plays the Pads reminds me of the organ that a Prince Albert also refers to…remember the sucker punch on Bennett?
September 25, 2006 at 8:16 pm
2 games with 6 to play! That’s 2 games over both Philly and LA. Good work yet again by the bullpen. And that go ahead run featured two of the luckiest hits I’ve seen, but I’ll take it.
September 25, 2006 at 8:17 pm
All I can say is I’m glad that you guys weren’t managing today! Based on the comments on the board, if Bochy heeds your advice, Pads lose 7-4.
BTW, great win! Thanks, Boch!
September 25, 2006 at 8:17 pm
Walking Pujols was the right thing to do. Every day of the week. They never “lost” that at-bat, because their intention was to walk him to the entire time. It was an unintentional intentional walk.
September 25, 2006 at 8:18 pm
Magic number: 5
September 25, 2006 at 8:19 pm
Whew…nailbiter, especially on the dialup!
September 25, 2006 at 8:20 pm
The past week in Padres baseball:
A San Diego pitcher two outs away from a no-hitter.
An all-time major league record broken.
A single from Scott Linebrink.
Which of the above is the most amazing?
September 25, 2006 at 8:21 pm
What, no love for Piazza’s triple?
September 25, 2006 at 8:22 pm
192 … well said!
September 25, 2006 at 8:22 pm
So that makes the Magic Number 5, right?
September 25, 2006 at 8:24 pm
re:194 yep, I always think I’ve done it wrong…so I’m glad you’re confirming it…
September 25, 2006 at 8:24 pm
I think the at-bat with Pujols was all based on the first pitch….if that pitch gets called a strike (which it certainly looked like it was), Linebrink pitches him more aggressively..but after he fell behind he was in trouble. Also..the difference between Pujols and Rolen….Rolen swung at the same pitch that Pujols took twice..
September 25, 2006 at 8:25 pm
Hey, GY, maybe we should have a meet up down at Petco on the big screen on a night if it looks like the Padres can clinch. What do you think?
September 25, 2006 at 8:28 pm
197: Brilliant, GY. Five stars.
I’d be so down to head down to the Park at the Park for a possible “you-know-what” type of game (my brother and I don’t say the C word, September baseball calls for superstition). Celebrating with all the Padres fans there and then down in the Gaslamp would be awesome.
September 25, 2006 at 8:45 pm
OT … Travis Chick getting another pasting for the M’s … http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/boxscore?gid=260925112
September 25, 2006 at 8:46 pm
A meetup? Oooh, I’m liking it. I can make it Friday (6:40 p.m. PT start) or Sunday (1:10 p.m. PT). Anyone else?
September 25, 2006 at 8:46 pm
Magic number is the number of Padres wins OR Dodgers losses left to win the division.
September 25, 2006 at 8:49 pm
Hmmm, I’m gonna be in town on Thursday for a wedding on Saturday … I could be talked into a trip downtown … even if we have C-word’d by then …
September 25, 2006 at 8:52 pm
re: 206 … right Kevin … and there’s also another “magic number” … you’ve described the “magic number to win the NL West” … to me, the more critical is the “magic number to get into the playoffs … which at this time is defined as … the number of Padre wins + max(LA losses, Philly losses) …
September 25, 2006 at 8:53 pm
re: 208 … and just to be clear, since LA & Philly are both 82-74, both of the magic numbers are 5 at this time …
September 25, 2006 at 8:56 pm
Here’s a reason to root against Philly … if they drop out (ie. lose enough games to be behind both Padres and Dogs), then even if we tie the Dogs, we’ll be NL West champs without a 1-game playoff … that 1-game playoff is something that’d be HUGE to avoid! I’d rather have the Dogs in the playoffs (as the wild card, of course) than have to do that 1-game play-in game.
September 25, 2006 at 8:56 pm
re: 208-209
Sure, but winning the NL West is the goal. Until that is no longer a possibility, then I don’t really acknowledge the wild card.
September 25, 2006 at 9:01 pm
211 … that’s where we disagree … I think getting into the playoffs is the goal … because that’s step #1 to winning the World Championship … it’s not old-school, but it’s the way things are.
For example, it comes down to Sunday … we’ve clinch’d the wild card, but not the NL West … do we go with #1 starter? Or save him for game 1 of playoffs? I s’pose this hypothetical also would require knowing the status of home-field advantage …
I wonder if SA + KT + BB are pondering this yet? Does that get them looking too far ahead? Or would that just be prudent?
September 25, 2006 at 9:11 pm
Our rotation here on out …
Tues … Woody (vs Carpenter)
Wed … CYoung (vs AReyes)
Thu … Jake (at AZ)
Fri … Hensley (at AZ)
Sat … Gout-man? Thompson? (at AZ)
Sun … Woody (at AZ)
The playoff schedule is at http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/...../ps_06.jsp … the non-WildCard matchup starts Tuesday … so if LA is the WC, Padres would play NL Central champs on Tuesday … if Phily is the WC and Padres the NL West champs, Padres would play Phillies on Wed … if Padres are the WC, they would play Mets on Wed …
Tuesday will be Jake’s normal rest … but it’d be CY’s turn … who goes #1? Is there any doubt?
September 25, 2006 at 9:32 pm
Count me in for at least Sunday. I’m not sure about Friday yet.
September 25, 2006 at 9:34 pm
More from Wikipedia … http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gout …
Famous people who had gout:
One of the most famous sufferers of gout was Henry VIII. Others include John Calvin, Khubilai Khan, Nostradamus, John Milton, Queen Anne, Isaac Newton, Henry Fielding, Samuel Johnson, Charles V, Pablo Neruda, Alfred Lord Tennyson, George IV, John Hancock, Thomas Jefferson, Karl Marx, William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham, Benjamin Disraeli, Kirk Reuter, David Wells, Rubens, Lennart Torstenson, Peter Gomes, Alexander Hamilton, George Mason, Benjamin Franklin, Jared Leto.
… Kirk Reuter and David Wells on the same list as John Calvin, Isaac Newton and Ben Franklin??? Just bizarre …
September 25, 2006 at 10:35 pm
re: 212
If the Padres were the wild card, they would play the Mets. I wouldn’t want to play them first. Yes, wild cards have often won the World Series, but that’s not the easy way to do it.
September 25, 2006 at 10:36 pm
A history of closing:
http://www.washtimes.com/sport.....-4264r.htm
September 25, 2006 at 10:56 pm
Nice win. I like Bochy’s moves. Even leaving in Thompson, though I disagree with Piazza on the second fastball. You sneak the one heater by him, then try something else. Two past him is like the old addage, foul me once, shame on you, foul me twice…; anyway, I also like the four out Linebrink move, though I thought he should have double switched (maybe he did). It was by necessity, but that was Linebrink of old. Made Rolen look bad. He would have gone after Pujols, but as Mark O as in 201, it was about that first pitch (which was a strike). He gets that call, different AB.
Wow. 2 up with 6 left. A tough 6, but man, just have a little fun here, just imagine what it feels like if you are the Dogs tomorrow looking at the scoreboard. Pretend, fantasy like, we have a nice lead tomorrow, you now face the Rox basically 2.5 back. You lose, you are 3 down with 5 left, very, very tight. A little pressure, no? All those dramatic jacks and still cannot make up ground. Frustrating? Well, we’ll see. We have the cornered, rapid Red Birds trying to peck our eyes out Hitchcock style, so let’s keep playing tough.
September 25, 2006 at 11:55 pm
I say if we win 4 of the next 6, we clinch.
September 26, 2006 at 7:48 am
Profound Axion…profound!!!
September 26, 2006 at 8:13 am
I feel good today. Nice win last night.