IGD: Padres @ Cardinals (26 Sep 06)
Tue, Sep 26, 2006
by Geoff Young
first pitch: 5:10 p.m., PT
television: Channel 4SD
matchup: Woody Williams (10-5, 3.53 ERA) vs Chris Carpenter (15-7, 2.93 ERA)
previews: Padres.com | SI.com
buy tickets
Chris Carpenter continues his unlikely transformation from mid-rotation starter to perennial Cy Young Award contender via 1 1/2 years of inactivity due to injury. His is not the recommended career path for pitchers, but it’s hard to argue with success.
Looking for chinks in Carpenter’s armor? Good luck with that. Lefties hit him better than righties, which works in the Padres’ favor until you realize that lefties don’t hit him all that well (.254/.302/.406). His ERA since the All-Star break is a whopping 2.78. Carpenter has been remarkably consistent in 2006. In April his ERA was 1.80, and the following month 3.96. Just calibrating the instruments. In the four months that followed, Carpenter’s ERA has fluctuated mildly between 2.82 and 3.27.
Oh here, I think I found a weakness: Carpenter’s ERA on the road is 4.70. Too bad he’s pitching at home tonight, where it’s 1.46 over 117 innings. Opponents are hitting just .201/.245/.279 against Carpenter at Busch Stadium.
Incidentally, this is why you want home-field advantage in the playoffs if it comes down to Padres vs Cardinals: Carpenter’s road ERA of 4.70 is actually the best among St. Louis starters. As a team, the Cards are 34-47 away from Busch, with a 5.19 ERA. At home, they are much too comfortable, going 46-28 with a 3.86 ERA. As we learned last October, the less you have to face them in their house, the better.
Individual performances against Carpenter? Not much. Current Padres are hitting .200/.271/.369 against him. Mike Cameron (.211/.304/.579 in 19 AB) and Brian Giles (.313/.353/.500 in 16 AB) have had the most success. Russell Branyan and Mike Piazza have each homered off Carpenter and enjoyed some success in limited appearances. Todd Walker has the only other home run, but you can bet he won’t be in the lineup: his overall line against Carpenter is .063/.091/.156 in 32 at-bats. Is that even legal?
On the Padres’ side, Woody Williams hasn’t fared quite as well against his old uniform. Current Cardinals are batting .268/.322/.514 against the veteran. Damage is coming from the weirdest places, too. Williams has manhandled the likes of Scott Rolen (.118/.158/.118 in 17 AB) and Jim Edmonds (.158/.200/.158 in 19 AB) but is getting pummeled by Scott Spiezio (.273/.333/1.091 in 11 AB), Preston Wilson (.353/.450/.882 in 17 AB), Ronnie Belliard (.385/.471/.846 in 13 AB), and Juan Encarnacion (.417/.417/.667 in 13 AB). Williams has faced Albert Pujols just three times, allowing one hit — yes, a home run.
It’s scoreboard watching time, too. Other games of note today include the Phillies at Nationals, Astros at Pirates, and Dodgers at Rockies. I’ve highlighted all of those matchups over at Knuckle Curve for those interested.
Good to take that first one in St. Louis. Good to see Scott Linebrink close out the game while Trevor Hoffman got the night off after his record-setting performance on Sunday.
Today is another day. I know in this division, a 2-game lead seems huge, but the Dodgers aren’t going to go away quietly, so it’s back to taking care of business. Today’s matchup doesn’t necessarily work in the Padres’ favor, but if there’s one thing we’ve learned about the club from San Diego this season, it’s that they battle. If Williams can keep the game close for six innings or so and give his bullpen a shot against the Cardinals’ bullpen, the Padres have a chance.
And right now, a chance is all we need. Go Padres!
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September 26, 2006 at 7:43 am
Scary match-up today…good breakdown Geoff.
Carpenter is the reason I am worried about facing the Cardinals in teh 1st round of the playoffs.
But when we break it down, if we end up making it, the Cardinals record is very mediocre. Pick your poison, right?!
Anyway, it was good to see the Phils lose yesterday. With us having a 2-game lead, we are in a good spot, but as we found out 8 days ago, anything can happen.
September 26, 2006 at 7:56 am
I would rather face Carpenter and 2 other cards pitchers in the playoffs then Osalt, Pettitte and the rocket!
September 26, 2006 at 8:05 am
Can the Twins really be 30 games above 500 and only a wildcard contender? I guess the Tigers are up to their old tricks of 84.
The way we are playing now, we can beat any team and be in any game, no matter the pitcher. So step up Mr. Carpender, lets see what you got.
Happy to see the Doctor warmup a bit, that will be a big help.
My fear is the Rockies rolling over as the golf course beckens, while we are battling teams hungry for the playoffs.
September 26, 2006 at 8:09 am
PM, Re #3 the Rockies are a young team who have yet to hit the big paycheck. They are still playing for roster spots next year as well as arbitration #’s, SF is the team I’m worried about hitting the golf courses and rolling over for the dodgers in the last series of the year.
September 26, 2006 at 8:17 am
Giants rolling over for Dodgers? With their rivalry predating both clubs’ moves to California, I don’t see that happening. I honestly can’t think of a team I’d rather see the Dodgers face in the final series of the year. And I’m hoping that their bullpen will be exhausted from three games at Coors Field leading up to that series.
September 26, 2006 at 8:23 am
Agreed. I think if you read comments from teams out-of-contention this time of year, the universal sentiment is that they like being spoilers, and they don’t want to see anybody clinch on their turf. See ESPN.com’s game recap of last nights SEA-OAK game for just one of many examples.
These are professionals, playing for money. I don’t think anyone rolls over any time of year. Okay, maybe the 1919 White Sox….but I digress.
And the bitterness of the Giants-Dodgers rivalry is so intense that there’s no way they’re not pulling out everything in that series.
September 26, 2006 at 8:25 am
Concur GY, my sister lives in SF and has season tickets. She was explaining that the Giants and thier fans are looking to wack the Dodgers the last weekend as a way to salvage something from the season. We can only hope.
September 26, 2006 at 8:25 am
Whassup with Hoffy’s shoulder? 2 articles at foxsports.com mention it … for example …
Third baseman Russ Branyan is day-to-day with a hand injury, but the Padres have plenty of depth at the position. Closer Trevor Hoffman has a sore shoulder, but he hasn’t allowed a hit since that blowup in Los Angeles last week.
… also didn’t know Branyan was day-to-day … ah, that was from the HBP the other day? Now I remember …
September 26, 2006 at 8:28 am
I agree with Geoff. I believe a lot of the Giants’ team is up for free agency next year: Bonds, Schmidt, Durham, Alou (?), etc, so, especially with Bonds, this could be the last year in SF for some of their core players, so I think there will be some emotion. And the Giants fans hate the Dodgers, almost as much as I hate the Giants. Though, it would be in keeping with the Giants’ conspiracy to defeat the Padres by sticking it to the Padres in close games and crazy BA with RISP vs. the Padres and rolling over for the Dodgers, as they have done all season. I am hoping the emotion of the last games of the season are enough to stir some fire.
This is going to come down to the last few games. I would love to see the Padres pull away via some wins and Dodgers faltering, but my gut, which is used to being in knots this season, tells me that would be too easy. Like the feeling of a 9-5 lead, with a chance to win 3 of 4 and take a 1.5 game lead; it seems like it is right there, within our grasp only to have it vanish. That said, after the vanishing, this team has shown resilience and come back to play tough. That seems to be the path: Padres falter and Dodgers surge over the next four games, but then play tight, solid games the last couple and hopefully that gets us in.
Go Pads!
September 26, 2006 at 8:28 am
Great news about Kahlil:
http://www.signonsandiego.com/.....notes.html
September 26, 2006 at 8:47 am
we may not be able to beat Carpenter, but if we can outlast him, that ‘pen is hittable.
September 26, 2006 at 9:18 am
Nick, thanks for the note. I admire Blum doing what he can, and have come to appreciate his arm. His joke about being a one tool guy is dead-on. He can throw, and is doing a good job of playing within himself instead of trying to do too much (on the field).
Some have said on this site that Blum for KG is not that big of deal. I disagree, even from an offensive standpoint (KG obviously way ahead on D)
Player: OPS/Home/Away
Blum: 657/575/736
Greene: 750/628/873
These splits bring up an interesting trend with KG. OPS over the last few years:
Year: OPS/Home/Away
2005: 727/684/772
2004: 795/683/895
So KG’s “drop” from earlier years (from ‘04, improved on ‘05) is driven by his home numbers. KG is exactly the type of hitter that gets hurt by Petco. Solid RH power, but not overwhelming power. Reminds me a bit of Barfield: 756/640/876.
Both these guys have roughly 230-240 OPS penalty from Petco; roughly 70 points is from OBP and the rest from slugging.
I don’t want to keep ranting, but that kind of power drop, consistent across players and years, shows one of the defining factors of Petco. I have ranted enough, but I like KG and Barfield a lot, but we are crushing their usefulness with Petco’s dimensions and thick air. Tell them to hit different at home? I think an unrealistic solution. Hitting well seems to involve having a consistent approach, not trying to do too much. Telling players to do one thing at home and another on the road seems like disaster. Get rid of them to get the “line-drive” hitters we need? KG and Barfield are rare players: young, athletic, cheap, good D and good pop. These do not come by often. OK, started to rant again, but it is great news that KG may be back.
September 26, 2006 at 9:23 am
Anyone else get the feeling the that every other game the Padres play goes extra innings? Well I just checked the standings, and the Padres have the most extra-inning wins, and the most extra-inning losses in the majors…So I guess I wasn’t that off.
And how about facing the Phillies in the first round? It’s looking more likely by the day…
September 26, 2006 at 9:28 am
Re 9: Thanks for the reminder, you are precisely right. I keep hoping to pull away from the dodgers so this last week will be easy, but that is not the way the Padres way this year. Thier motto should be “Never the easy way.” They make things tough and then battle through, so we can expect this to go through the weekend. Not sure my heart or finger nails can take it, but it beats being a Rocky fan.
September 26, 2006 at 9:34 am
Blum has done a very good job filling in. And it’s great the Pads are winning without KG, but . . .
KG’s bat in the lineup gives us another weapon. His defense is very good. He’s got cajones when it comes to clutch situations. Up until the time he got hurt, he was having a very good year.
With KG back at full strength . . . WE COULD DO SOME DAMAGE. Think about that for a minute. That’s what I’m talkin’ bout right there . . .
RE 13:
I don’t know about everyone else here, but as much as I am DYING to talk playoffs (matchups, roster, etc) — I just can’t bring myself to do it until the Pads clinch.
September 26, 2006 at 10:02 am
I’m with you Nick; I am afraid of jinxing the team by talking about the playoffs. Let’s get lots and lots and lots of pitches off of Carpenter early and get to the bullpen. I assume that has to be a strategy today when you have such a discrepancy between starting and relief pitching?
September 26, 2006 at 10:12 am
Edmonds back in the line up; bad, bad, though let’s hope GY’s research holds up and we see performance consistent with a lifetime of 358 OPS vs Williams. Let’s NOT see Spezio, Encarnacion and Wilson live up to lifetime stats.
September 26, 2006 at 10:24 am
Two things…
1. Jay, KG’s defense is overrated. While there are very few reliable numbers to rank D, almost all of them show that he is not much better with the glove than Chris Gomez was. Sure he is flashy and has surfer hair (both leading to a SD love affair), but the reality is his defense is average at best. Oh yea, he is older than Sean Burroughs.
2. Saw this quote in the paper today…“It’s fun. It’s nerveracking, too,” said Linebrink, whose domain is usually the eighth inning. “I don’t know how Hoffy has done it almost 500 times. I think I’d have a few more gray hairs. That’s a little different, to go out there and not have the safety net.” Do you think this potentially punches his ticket out of town in the off-season? Can’t imagine a guy with that attitude being our closer any time soon.
September 26, 2006 at 10:29 am
“The Claw” is the closer of the future, methinks.
September 26, 2006 at 10:45 am
I keep saying it and I’ll reiterate here: this team should come with a American Heart Association warning label! A volatile cocktail of: barely adequate offense, good starting pitching and good defense to keep you in games, and a great bullpen. This equation leads to lots of games that are close in the late innings. Add to that the accelerator of PENNANT CHASE BASEBALL, and you start losing years off of your life just watching this stuff.
Glad to hear KG’s almost back to healthy, though I hope he takes a few “pinch hit and late inning D” appearances before returning to the starting lineup. I don’t like messing with Karma, and despite Blum’s much-noted inadequacies, you can’t argue much with the team’s record since Greene officially went down on Aug 17 (24-10 by my count). Good to know the MySpace crowd will be tuning in to the broadcasts again though.
Houston is playing like a team possessed, and they scare me a ton with their starting pitching. Wish we could just ’sic’ them on the Dodgers or some more games vs the Phils.
Any update on Woody this morning? Did he catch Bubonic Plague overnight or anything?
September 26, 2006 at 10:47 am
CM
I’m the one that said KG’s defense is very good. I guess I don’t care about his range factor (which is actually lower than Blummer’s) — he’s fun to watch. He’s like a flashy Cal Ripken out there.
September 26, 2006 at 10:47 am
The Claw kicks major ass, but his splits are so lopsided, he is better for situations.
Claw: WHIP / ERA /BAA / BB /K
RHB: 0.39 / 1.03 / .103 / 2 / 27
LHB: 1.30 / 0.00 / .267 / 4 / 8
Those numbers against RHB are surreal.
September 26, 2006 at 10:53 am
CM
I totally disagree with you on KG’s defense. I don’t know what numbers or whatever you are talking about and I honestly can’t remember back to the days of Chris Gomez to give a real comparison but coming from someone who played baseball all his life into high school KG is definitely above average in my mind. I am not claiming to be some MLB advanced scout or anything but I played a lot of SS and mostly 3rd base but watching what that guy does on some plays is RETARDED! I am not a KG fanatic by any stretch in fact I am just about done with him based on his offense but I love his defense. When I watch other teams rarely am I impressed by their SS anymore. KG makes plays most guys couldn’t make look easy. Like I said I don’t have any numbers or anything to compare his fielding to anyone but from someone who has played that position (at a much less advanced level of course) I think KG is great in the field.
September 26, 2006 at 10:55 am
I love that these are his “bad” numbers:
LHB: 1.30 / 0.00 / .267 / 4 / 8
September 26, 2006 at 10:58 am
As someone who owns a Chris Gomez replica jersey, let me tell you just from a casual fan standpoint, KG dives for and picks balls that Chris Gomez wouldn’t give “phony hustle” for. (for those that don’t remember, phony hustle was the term he gave to shortstops who would dive for balls they couldn’t get to). Although I guess I’m biased cuz I just smoked Khalil’s Greenes.
September 26, 2006 at 11:07 am
I cannot say KG is gold glove or not, but he sure seems good. I just want JB/KG back up the middle again soon.
September 26, 2006 at 11:25 am
Scott Linebrink — Only 477 saves to go to pass Trevor.
September 26, 2006 at 11:53 am
Why would you own a Chris Gomez replica jersey? Is it supposed to be ironic?
September 26, 2006 at 12:05 pm
I think that Greene is an average defensive shortstop at best. All the numbers that matter bear this out. He seems to dive a lot for stops, but that’s either a)an illusion based on TV highlights or B) a very real phenomenon based on his substandard range and speed. Offensively, since he hits everything in the air Petco hurts him a lot, but if he could learn a little better plate discipline he could be like Mike Cameron. But I think San Diego should kill two birds with one stone and move Greene to Third. His lack of range won’t hurt him there as much, he hopefully won’t get injured as often, and there’s no “heir apparent” at third base in the Pads immediate fututre (although I think they will bring back Branyan for another season). Considering that Barfield might develop into a 20 HR/80 RBI guy with speed and defense, Greenes offensive shortcomings as a third baseman would be offset. And the Padres could focus on developing a defensive whiz at short, or moving Antonelli there.
September 26, 2006 at 12:18 pm
I think they should find another SS and trade KG while his perceived value is higher than his actual value…
September 26, 2006 at 12:26 pm
agree w/ pf.
centerpiece in a deal for tejada?
September 26, 2006 at 12:33 pm
RE: 28
yeah…kind of a joke gift from my brother (and not quite a real jersey…a t-shirt with Gomez and #10 on the back)
September 26, 2006 at 12:34 pm
One thing to remember about Cla, if he were a closer he’d see more lefties. One nice thing about the role he’s in now is he’s often in the game when it’s too early to start pinch hitting. In the 9th inning managers will be more apt to throw every lefty they have against him until he proves he can get them out. However, I think he’s actually better against lefties than those numbers. It seems like he’s learned how to pitch to them over the course of the year.
Greene might dive for more balls than the average shortstop, maybe it’s because of his 3B background. I don’t think he dives excessively though. Personally I think he’s slightly above average defensively. Range isn’t the whole story; he’s good on the DP, has a strong arm, usually makes the right play.
Regardless of his perceived shortcomings it’s great news that his finger is getting better. Even if he’s limited to pinch hitting it gives us another bat with some pop off the bench.
September 26, 2006 at 12:36 pm
Khalil Greene is a very solid shortsop, but he lacks range.
September 26, 2006 at 3:06 pm
Peter, I am with you…I think we need to revisit a conversation with the Astros centered around KG/Liney and Ensberg/Everett…but that is just me. I actually would even be all for him being moved to 3b if we can’t pull off a trade for an Ensberg or Crede.
KG is fun to watch. I root for the guy and enjoy seeing Padres on highlight reels, but the reality is thatPads need to find another SS that has a better OBP, higher AVE, and the ability to hit 15 bombs. Oh yea, their defense would be better. Yes they exist…yes, they are available. As Padres fans we just need to realize that KG is not as good as the hype.
Now, do I get extra credit b/c I played Baseball beyond HS and still play baseball (not softball) today?
September 26, 2006 at 3:11 pm
Greene makes the right first move which makes up for range. There are less then a handfull of SS in MLB that are the hitter and defender that KG is. Give him some love, I hope to see him back on the field soon!
September 26, 2006 at 3:27 pm
I think 87-75 punches a ticket to the postseason in the NL. Assuming the Dodgers and the Phillies each win their next to series 2-1, they would each finish with a record of 86-76. If the Padres split their remaining in St. Louis and in Arizona, they would finish 87-75. The loser of the NL Central race is not a factor in the NL Wild Card.
Assuming this is how things play out, who would be the home team in the 1-game playoff between LA and Philly? If LA wins, then we get the NL Central in the first round. If Philly wins, then we get the Phillies because the team with the best record is in their division. I would rather face the Cardinals, not the Phillies (or the Astros), in the first round of the playoffs.
Guess I’m a Nationals and a Marlins fan over the next week (and a Cardinals fan starting Thursday).
September 26, 2006 at 3:28 pm
I sure hope they don’t end up with someone like Adam Everett instead of KG next year. If they can move Linebrink for Ensberg that would probably work out really well.
Mark
September 26, 2006 at 3:37 pm
CM,
Where do you play baseball? I have been looking for some kind of league to play in for a while. I just have not really found anything that isn’t softball and doesn’t revolve around beer. I’m also a little weary of stepping to the plate against some 35 year old dude with a 90mph heater that still thinks he can be the next ROCKET just because he goes home and watches “The Rookie” every night and is just there until he can gain some more “Control”. If you know of any let me know.
September 26, 2006 at 4:31 pm
Kevin Towers Recap:
Barfield: .285/.323/.433 13HR 32doubles 57RBI
Loretta: .288/.347/.359 4HR 32doubles 58RBI
Loretta traded for Cla Meredith and Josh Bard
Todd Walker as a Padre .291/.378/.436
Russell Branyan as a Padres .291/.420/.582
Chris Young 11-5 3.55ERA 1.15WHIP (under contract thru 08)
Adrian Gonzalez .300/.357/.503 24HR 37 2B
Terrmel Sledge - has had some big hits
for
Adam Eaton (FA after this season) 12 games 7-4 4.40ERA
Aki Ohtska 32-36 saves (34yrs old)
Mike Cameron .268/.356/.482 21 HR 33 2B superior CF Defense
for
X Nady .277/.338/.439 17 HR 282B
Mike Piazza for $2mil: .278/.337/.497 22HR 66RBI
Adkins, Embree, Cassidy, Brocail - all on the cheap
Woody (as bad as last year was, stuck with him and he’s having a great year)
Acquiring Wells - morale boost
Chan Ho Park - while healthy, was pretty decent
for
Phil Nevin .242/.322/.443 22 HR 68RBI (anyone else surprised by these numbers?) - Phil’s in the post season, too w/ MINN
September 26, 2006 at 4:32 pm
While I agree his defense is not as good as advertised (or as a rookie) and yes, his bat hasn’t developed quite like everyone though, let’s also remember that:
1. We have no shortstops in the system. None. Manny Alexander is next on the depth chart.
2. Khalil is going to be cheap through his age 27-29 seasons as we control him.
3. He’s been hit with some rather freak injuries. Now, maybe he’s prone…
but I think that yes, move him if there is something better, but I also think we could be sitting on three pretty good years of Khalil.
September 26, 2006 at 4:39 pm
Khalil is arbitration eligible THIS offseason.
September 26, 2006 at 4:42 pm
35: Where is this shortstop of which you speak? (and Khalil has hit 15 homers for 3 straight years now, so if he could avoid these freak injuries we would be talking about 20+ homer power. Oh yeah, and he hits in Petco.)
On a possible trade with Houston: Khalil for Everett is a downgrade (and Everett is older by 3 years - Greene still hasn’t hit his age 27 season when the breakout is supposed to come). As for Ensberg, his BABIP this year is significantly down from his career average, so he should bounce back there, but he has some crazy home/away splits. Losing those 81 games in Houston and having them played in Petco instead could be devastating to his stats.
September 26, 2006 at 4:44 pm
tonight’s lineups
Roberts
Giles
Gonzalez
Bard
Branyan
Cameron
Blum
Barfield
Williams
Miles
Duncan
Pujols
Encarnacion
rolen
Edmonds
Belliard
Molina
Carpenter
September 26, 2006 at 4:50 pm
Bard
Branyan
Blum
Barfield
The new killer bees.
September 26, 2006 at 4:51 pm
For my money, I’m more comfortable chasing this season’s penant with Blum. Kalil had a nice “re-emergence” with the hiring of Merv “The Price is Right” Griffin-Rettemund, but in the topsy turvy times that he was a part of this season, he always seemed to be a pretty big rally killer. As a matter of fact, I ran into him in the parking lot the other day and he handed me his business card. No sh*t, it reads “Kalil Greene: Killing Rallies like its my job”. Seriously, I thought having a catch phrase was about as cheesy as Giles’ hair, but what do I know….
September 26, 2006 at 4:51 pm
Phillies are all over Ramon Ortiz tonight in D.C. 8 hits through 2.1 innings, but only 2 runs across.
September 26, 2006 at 4:54 pm
Geoff Blum is hitting .252/.287/.370 this season. He has played well recently, but I cannot wait for Khalil to be back in there. Geoff Blum is a horrible hitter.
September 26, 2006 at 4:54 pm
Wierd how Khalil’s name is misspelled on his own business cards, eh?
September 26, 2006 at 4:55 pm
yeah, seriously, he should get a better secretary. Truthfully, I was just shocked to know that he has business cards….
September 26, 2006 at 4:56 pm
Do you guys (and girls…Tara!) realize that Ryan Howard has almost 2X the number of RBI as our team leader? 146 to 79 (Adrian Gonzalez)
September 26, 2006 at 5:05 pm
Well, the bad guys are winning in both games in progress right now: Astros up 4-3 on the Pirates, and Phillies up 2-1 on the Nats. I lumped Astros in with the bad guys since no one wants to face them in the playoffs.
September 26, 2006 at 5:05 pm
…and more strikeouts than RBI…
September 26, 2006 at 5:06 pm
I just wrote up a recap on the Pujols strikeout from last night.
That was just sick!
September 26, 2006 at 5:10 pm
Ooh, after three the Nationals go ahead 3-2 on a Zimmerman double.
September 26, 2006 at 5:11 pm
Nice start. Don’t see Edmonds get a jump like that too often.
September 26, 2006 at 5:12 pm
Allright! Just what the Doctor ordered.
September 26, 2006 at 5:13 pm
Maybe a grounder to second now will score the run.
September 26, 2006 at 5:24 pm
Walking Juan Encarnacion to get to Scott Rolen?
September 26, 2006 at 5:25 pm
Just kidding. Great strategy Woody.
September 26, 2006 at 5:32 pm
Barfield gives a clinic on how not to approach Carpenter.
September 26, 2006 at 5:32 pm
Wow. You cannot ground into a double play like that Barfield. On the first pitch. Looking horrible on the swing. If he stays out of the double play, Woody can hit this inning, the top of the order starts the next, and Carpenter throws 5 more pitches. Horrible, horrible at bat.
September 26, 2006 at 5:35 pm
Woody strikes out Edmonds twice, once looking and once swinging.
September 26, 2006 at 5:35 pm
Howdy everyone….was about to say nice start so far from Woody and then something called ronnie belliard just hit a HR to left field…
September 26, 2006 at 5:36 pm
When do the dojers start, 6:05?
September 26, 2006 at 5:36 pm
Belliard. See, it’s the craziest guys doing the damage against Woody.
September 26, 2006 at 5:37 pm
#65: They just started — here’s the link.
September 26, 2006 at 5:38 pm
Hmm. Call me crazy but I think it would be bad if Woody keeps giving up a long extra base hit every inning.
September 26, 2006 at 5:39 pm
BTW, does anybody sit with barfield and talk to him about that lousy AB? I thought the strategy was to make Carpender work, so we get his pitch count up and get him out the game. Yet Barfield is doing his wn thing to the detriment of the team. If it were a football team, he’d be sitting down.
September 26, 2006 at 5:46 pm
Carpenter at 47 pitches through 3.
September 26, 2006 at 5:50 pm
Good positioning by Roberts on both Miles’ hits. Perfect depth.
September 26, 2006 at 6:03 pm
Rough night for Barfield…but nice to see us take the lead…
September 26, 2006 at 6:05 pm
we’re off the 800+ posts-pace, but more than 70 for 2.5 innings… nice
September 26, 2006 at 6:05 pm
Barfield killing us tonight. Thats at least 3 runner personally in all his athletic glory has stradded. Why does Josh hate America?
September 26, 2006 at 6:06 pm
And then Barfield takes the same approach the next AB, only he survives a few more pitches. One of his strengths is supposed to be in-game adjustments.
He’s come up big recently, but the book on him has to be get it there in the air first pitch and he’ll hack.
September 26, 2006 at 6:09 pm
Now a bad flip to short right? That should have been 2?
September 26, 2006 at 6:09 pm
Ok..let me ask the question…who in the hell is Ronnie Belliard?
September 26, 2006 at 6:09 pm
Sigh. Guess turning the DP would’ve helped.
September 26, 2006 at 6:09 pm
Belliard killing us. Who woulda thunk?
September 26, 2006 at 6:10 pm
Maybe Woody should try something other then fastball down the middle
September 26, 2006 at 6:10 pm
#77: He’s a guy who now has 3 homers in 15 at-bats against Woody.
September 26, 2006 at 6:10 pm
Come on Ben, way to jinx us w/ #68…
September 26, 2006 at 6:10 pm
#81 I really don’t like him…
September 26, 2006 at 6:11 pm
Friar Fan,
Even in arbitration, Khalil is going to be affordable. What is he going to get this off-season? Like $1.5MM?
September 26, 2006 at 6:11 pm
who the f’ is Ronny Belliard? didn’t he use to play 2nd base for the Braves??? ugh.
September 26, 2006 at 6:14 pm
Yeah on KG, you can’t have it both ways….he can’t be too expensive his 1st year in arbitration….after having a bad year.
If they trade KG and his age 27-29 seasons which only will cost them around 12M on the high end, they better get something better then Everett to play ss in the near term.
September 26, 2006 at 6:19 pm
The Cardinals feed on extra innings has gotten progressively louder and louder as the game has gone on…. really annoying
September 26, 2006 at 6:20 pm
Yikes, Carpenter only at 74 pitches through 5. He’ll go at least 2 more now.
September 26, 2006 at 6:22 pm
What were the ump and Woody talking about?
September 26, 2006 at 6:22 pm
I had forgotten how small the strike zone gets when Pujols hits
September 26, 2006 at 6:24 pm
Damn, Bard’s got to make a better throw there.
September 26, 2006 at 6:25 pm
Or Blum’s gotta scoop that.