first pitch: 6:40 p.m., PT
television: Channel 4SD
matchup: Jake Peavy (10-14, 4.13 ERA) vs Miguel Batista (11-7, 4.36 ERA)
preview: Padres.com
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Unfortunately the Padres couldn’t hold off the Cardinals on Wednesday, and the Rockies couldn’t hold off the Dodgers, so the Pads’ lead in the NL West is back down to 1 game. And the Phillies, who needed 14 innings to beat the Nationals, aren’t letting go of their wild card dreams just yet.
So, this is our season. Four games in Phoenix.
Nobody said it would be easy.
Jake Peavy goes for the Padres in the opener, and he’s gotten hot at just the right time. Peavy has a 2.61 ERA over 72 1/3 innings since the beginning of August, and his peripheral numbers are strong as well.
Miguel Batista gets the call for the Diamondbacks. His ERA is a very respectable 3.59 since the All-Star break, but the other numbers don’t necessarily support it. He’s been stingy with the long ball in the second half, but walking and striking out four batters apiece per game isn’t exactly a recipe for sustainable success. Batista also has posted a much higher ERA at home than away, and his extreme lefty/righty splits play into the Padres’ favor. Lefties are hitting .318/.403/.486 against Batista this year, while righties are at .255/.309/.363.
The Snakes might appear to be vulnerable, but they always play the Padres tough. And I don’t buy that non-contenders are just mailing it in at this point of the season. They’ve got professional ballplayers on their team, too. Everyone wants to win; that’s why they play the games.
Nobody said it would be easy. But it sure will be fun. Go Padres!
interesting question on Padres.com
What was the best KT move this offseason?
-Acquiring Mike Cameron from the Mets
-Acquiring Adrian Gonzalez, Terrmel Sledge and Chris Young from the Rangers
-Acquiring Josh Bard and Cla Meredith from the Red Sox
-Signing Mike Piazza as a free agent
Okay, why did it take Ed Hickox that long to determine whether or not the pitch was a strike?
#50: LOL. I get a check? Sweet!
Bard / Meredith. It’s close w/ Young and Agon, but Meredith has saved this team too many times to not be the pick, plus throw in Bard (who, as the D’backs announcers just pointed out, has gotten over 225 AB’s now with the BA still over .340)
If he’s concluded that it is a strike, I’ll gladly sacrifice Blum to get that strike for Peavy.
nifty play by Jake there
I think Jake has always wanted to be a shortstop.
Damn, Jake couldn’t put Counsell away. A healthy Giles catches that ball.
Counsell breaks up the chance at the no hitter.
I’ll say this for Hickox: his strike zone is inconsistent for both teams.
Great pitch..despite the snakes announcers saying it looked like ball 4..
Peavy got the Branyan strike.
3rd strike looked good to me, not sure what announcers are bitching at
wow..just got Jake at first…and i’m not sure if they did get him..
Montero officially cannot throw.
Geoff (or anyone else), when was the last time you can remember not noticing the umpiring? It’s been consistently inconsistent for at least the last week-plus as much as I can remember…
That play couldn’t have been any closer….Jake was out barely out…
I think the umpires(especially in St. Louis) do get intimidated by the large crowds, see Yankee Stadium circa World Series 1998….not sure how that works in Arizona tonight….I can only assume the home plate umpire simply sucks
Roberts didn’t like the call..but it’s in about the same spot as the 3rrd strike that Jake got in the previous inning…
Wow, more weird strike three calls.
Ankle feels pretty good after that shot. Another two-out knock.
I think Batista’s just about done.
Big Fly to right for Mr. Brian Giles…
Sprain the other one!
Those are some amazingly fast hands. I was sure he was jammed and was going to pop it up to left.
Hopefully this means Meredith, Linebrink and Hoffman can hit the showers
I’d like to thank Colorado for such an outstanding effort these past 3 days-at least we don’t have to worry about the Giants quitting
Why are the Diamondbacks announcers so excited about Minnesota?
who knows…
What sucks is going to have to listen to the Luis Gonzalez memorial tribute for the next 4 days on the Arizona broadcasts..
As long as I get to enjoy it with the Padres comfortably ahead, todo es bueno.
If we had a guy who made the game winning, clutch hit in the WS, I’d be making a huge deal about his last series with the team too.
(off of Mariano Rivera, of all people)
#81..true enough..it’s easier to watch with a 7-0 lead
#82…I understand it’s a big deal..but he isn’t retiring..he’s going to play for someone else and to make a big deal out of it for 4 days???
I’m a big fan of Eric Byrnes’ plate discipline.
And I can get behind anyone victimizing the Yankees and Rivera.
It couldn’t have been off Rivera though, ESPN has told us all so many times that Rivera is automatic in close games, especially in the playoffs, especially in the world series.
Since I’ve been a Padre fan my entire conscious life, I don’t know you feel about the guy who got the clutch hit to make all your dreams come true. I’ve gotta believe it’s a pretty special thing.
Umm, Jake, falling behind people is not how you pitch with a 7 run lead.
I agree…I guess it bothers me that a team that has been in existance for as short a time as the D-backs have WS win and we’re still searching…..the fans of teams like AZ and Florida have no idea what it’s like to want something so bad…
This isn’t looking like a 8IP effort from peavy tonight
Nope, we need more runs so Bochy can use the guys he doesn’t trust.
This is barely looking like a 6 IP night for Peavy.
Branyan strikes again.
Hey Geoff,
Ready to add picking up Branyan for the proverbial bag of bats to your list in 51?
Is there any new news on Khalil now? I heard his finger improved suddenly, but how close is he to actually hitting again? Will he be on the postseason roster?
I heard that Mark Grant threw BP to Grene yesterday…so they were saying on the pregame show that his confidence has to be really high right now..
rest jake, get ready for game 1
re 87: garvey, Craig Lefferts against the Alt, in 98, Gwynns brother in 96, having to win all three in la in 96. Bad call against the yabks in 98, forget the pitcher but it was against bernie Williams and he crushed the next ptich in the identical place and crushed the Padre WS dreams that year.
RE 98,
I think we are talking about Mark Langston pitching to Tino Martinez?
PM, facts are a bit off. It was Tino Martinez and the pitcher was Mark Langston in the 98 WS. craig lefferts in 98?