IGD: Padres @ Dodgers (18 Sep 06)
Mon, Sep 18, 2006
by Geoff Young
first pitch: 7:10 p.m., PT
television: Channel 4SD
matchup: Jake Peavy (9-14, 4.17 ERA) vs Brad Penny (16-8, 4.04 ERA)
previews: Padres.com | SI.com
buy tickets
Brad Penny was an All-Star this year but he hasn’t pitched like one since the break. He owns a 5.81 ERA over 12 second-half starts, and opponents are hitting .305 against the power right-hander. Penny has struggled against the Padres this year, sporting a 9.00 ERA in 15 innings against them. That said, he’s won 16 games so he must be doing something right.
For the Pads, Jake Peavy has a 3.77 ERA in the second half of the season. Perhaps more importantly, he’s cut his homers way down, allowing just 7 in 76 1/3 innings. His run support still isn’t the greatest (his 5-6 record since the All-Star break is worse than Penny’s despite having an ERA that is lower by two full points), but at least he’s a lot closer to “vintage Peavy” than what we saw earlier in the year.
Padres have taken two out of the first three at Chavez Ravine to reclaim the NL West lead. Worst case, they leave LA with a split and just a half game back in the division. But nobody is thinking about a split right now.
Wild card is a nice Plan B, but the division is the real prize. Time to go get it. As we like to say around here, winning starts with beginning.
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 18, 2006 at 6:17 pm
Winning starts with beginning, but what were the lucky numbers on the fortune cookie? 14 is now our magic number for elimination of the Dodgers. Too soon to think magic numbers? I don’t think so.
September 18, 2006 at 6:52 pm
Agree completely. The Padres held first for most of the year, yet the national media seems to think the Dodgers are the team to beat. What the heck? (as my kids like to say) This is a statement game, a game that says, the Padres are the team to beat, not the Dodgers. Hell anybody can trade there way to a pennant collecting future hall of famers at the trading deadline. But the pads are earning their way to the playoffs. WSWB!!!
September 18, 2006 at 7:03 pm
Phils losing big, Giants losing big. This could be a big night.
September 18, 2006 at 7:04 pm
Got my Aki shirt on and a mug full of Black Butte Porter. Matty V. is back in the booth tonight. We’re good to go.
September 18, 2006 at 7:08 pm
Cubs 11, Phils 6, Final. Phils use 8 pitchers, none pitches more than 2.1 innings
September 18, 2006 at 7:09 pm
From the “where are they now” file, one of the Phils pitchers was Clay Condrey
September 18, 2006 at 7:12 pm
Padres hitters need to be patient against Penny. Anything close that’s not called a strike will send him into a childish rage.
September 18, 2006 at 7:16 pm
seems to be getting the calls early on
September 18, 2006 at 7:17 pm
Not that I mind, but why do the Dodgers keep sticking Marlon Anderson out in left field instead of Andre Ethier?
September 18, 2006 at 7:19 pm
From what I remember, Ethier’s been in a horrible slump. Can’t get out of a slump unless they let you hit, though.
September 18, 2006 at 7:20 pm
Nice rip, Mike, nice RIP!
September 18, 2006 at 7:20 pm
1-0. Mike Piazza crushes it.
September 18, 2006 at 7:20 pm
1-0, Padres. Piazza: 4 RBIs vs. Dodgers this season.
September 18, 2006 at 7:21 pm
That ball was smoked…holy crap.. vin scully says that Lofton made a good effort…that ball was played horribly by Lofton..
September 18, 2006 at 7:21 pm
Penny has thrown one pitch that wasn’t a fastball thus far (curveball to Piazza). Looks like he should have mixed it up a bit more.
September 18, 2006 at 7:22 pm
25 pitches and counting
September 18, 2006 at 7:22 pm
GY, remember the discussion you had on Piazza’s HR’s vs runs scored? Same discussion was on ESPN today. You beat them by a month or so.
September 18, 2006 at 7:22 pm
Yesterday, Scully said Little was sitting Ethier to let him get his head straightened out or something. No one needs five games to get their head right.
September 18, 2006 at 7:23 pm
Lofton played Piazza’s double horribly. And is it me, or does Penny not appear to have a plan when he’s pitching? Every time I’ve seen him this year he’s pretty much just throwing.
September 18, 2006 at 7:24 pm
Attaboy, Mikey. Got the crowd booing. Is Penny going crazy yet?
September 18, 2006 at 7:24 pm
Stand back! Penny’s going to blow!
September 18, 2006 at 7:25 pm
The Padres should always play the Dodgers.
September 18, 2006 at 7:25 pm
Cameron: 15 RBIs vs. Dodgers this season.
September 18, 2006 at 7:25 pm
Penny’s plan is throw it hard and mix in a few curves. He’s going to blow up any minute now.
September 18, 2006 at 7:25 pm
JD Drew just played that ball from Cameron as poorly as Lofton…
September 18, 2006 at 7:25 pm
Brad Penny is our friend. Serious hanger to Blum on 0-2. Man, if I were a Dodgers fan I’d be mighty pissed about that pitch.
September 18, 2006 at 7:26 pm
Can I get an amen?
September 18, 2006 at 7:26 pm
Sele is warming up in the ‘pen.
September 18, 2006 at 7:26 pm
Has Vin Scully said, “The rout is on.” yet?
September 18, 2006 at 7:26 pm
Rockies 15 Giants 4, top of the 5th.
September 18, 2006 at 7:26 pm
If you take away 2004, there is no reason to think Brad Penny is a good pitcher. And he’s pitched in Florida and LA, two pitcher’s parks.
September 18, 2006 at 7:27 pm
No..not yet…but he’s close…Penny might kill someone in the dugout..
September 18, 2006 at 7:29 pm
The Mets won their first division title since 1988.
September 18, 2006 at 7:30 pm
If we averaged 10 runs per game for Jake, he’d be at least 14-9 now rather than 9-14.
Does anyone care that CY didn’t get the win last night throwing 6 shutout? Makes no sense. May as well bring back the GWRBI statistic.
Nice 1st inning, though.
September 18, 2006 at 7:31 pm
Penny has 7 more wins than Jake this year. Doesn’t that mean he’s twice he’s good?
September 18, 2006 at 7:32 pm
Hey Jake, no need to make this interesting.
September 18, 2006 at 7:32 pm
GY, the quote from Stark on ESPN Insider about Piazza was:
“22 home runs this year — and 34 runs scored.
Yes, this man has driven himself in nearly twice as many times as his Padres teammates have driven him in. And yes, this man has come to the plate 404 times this season, reached base in 113 of them if you don’t count homers — and scored 12 times. ”
September 18, 2006 at 7:33 pm
If the Padres would have averaged 10 runs a game for Peavy, how would he have nine losses? He wouldn’t have ANY losses. He hasn’t given up 11 runs in a game this season.
September 18, 2006 at 7:33 pm
Jake’s pissed….and great DP…
September 18, 2006 at 7:34 pm
Thanks, LaMar. It’d be interesting to go through the box scores and see if Bowen has scored more runs as a pinch-runner for Piazza than Piazza has when he doesn’t go yard.
September 18, 2006 at 7:34 pm
That may mean that Piazza has been pinch-run for fairly often. I don’t know if that’s true.
September 18, 2006 at 7:35 pm
Making a joke about the silly way wins and losses are decided, Kevin. Of course Jake wouldn ‘t be 14-9 if we averaged 10 runs; he’d be 16-7.
September 18, 2006 at 7:35 pm
Damn, I thought Cameron had that one.
September 18, 2006 at 7:36 pm
37: Stark didn’t mention that Piazza’s legs are located in a different dimension, where gravity is 2x what it is “here.” He needs a double to drive him in from third.
And what the hell, Jake? Kent kills us, but dang.
September 18, 2006 at 7:37 pm
In 1983, Kennedy had a similar season: 17 HRs, 98 RBIs and 47 runs. Much of his problem was he was a poor baserunner, slow as hell.
September 18, 2006 at 7:37 pm
Certainly looked like he caught it….too bad…..nice finish to the inning…
September 18, 2006 at 7:37 pm
Drew doesn’t like the strike zone. Save the drama for your mama.
September 18, 2006 at 7:38 pm
That was a good pitch by Jake. He really didn’t make any mistakes that inning, Kent went down and got a tough pitch.
September 18, 2006 at 7:38 pm
There ya go, Jake.
I only peeked at the computer after putting my daughter to bed, just to see the score, that’s all. I need to sleep like the Democratic Party needs a coherent platform. But if I go to bed and they lose, I’ll blame myself.
September 18, 2006 at 7:39 pm
Not sure what he’s complaining about but the last pitch was right over the middle of the plate…
September 18, 2006 at 7:40 pm
What the hell is Mariano Duncan’s problem that he’s trying to pick a fight with Jake as he’s coming off the field? Talk about bush league.
September 18, 2006 at 7:40 pm
Piazza has had 100-RBI seasons and scored 100 runs just twice. Some of that, like Kennedy, is because he doesn’t walk that much, like Kennedy. He has walked more than 69 times just once. The people who are on base the most, score the most. See Rickey Henderson.
September 18, 2006 at 7:40 pm
wait - what happened between innings??
September 18, 2006 at 7:40 pm
I missed it? What happened?
September 18, 2006 at 7:41 pm
Jake workin’ the count. Can we get Penny to 50 pitches this inning?
September 18, 2006 at 7:42 pm
Wow, Jake is some kind of fired up tonight. Mariano Duncan (1B coach) said something to Jake on his way off the field. Jake turned around and started jawing at him, the ump grabbed Jake by the collar and pulled him away.
September 18, 2006 at 7:42 pm
Scully made it sound like Jake went after Duncan while coming off the field at the end of the 1st. One of the umps “pulled Peavy away by his shirt”. No idea as to why or what was said.
September 18, 2006 at 7:42 pm
Here’s that convo:
Duncan: Blah blah blah Peavy
Peavy: Yeah, we’ll you couldn’t hit me either.
September 18, 2006 at 7:42 pm
Jake is really good at this whole working the opposing pitcher in his at bat thing.
September 18, 2006 at 7:43 pm
Could it have been a plan to get him tossed from the game?
September 18, 2006 at 7:44 pm
re: #6 … From the “where are they now” file … Travis Chick with 5 BBs in 1.2 IP for the M’s … http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/boxscore?gid=260918113 …
September 18, 2006 at 7:44 pm
#60: I think you may be right. They might be sick of seeing us get into Penny’s head every time out.
September 18, 2006 at 7:46 pm
Yes we can get it to 50. Go for 60! And runs, more runs, sweet juicy runs, please.
September 18, 2006 at 7:46 pm
#62 knowing how intense Jake is…it wouldn’t be a bad plan to try and piss him off….
September 18, 2006 at 7:47 pm
Wow, humidor must be broken in Denver … http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/boxscore?gid=260918127 … 16-6 after just 5 innings!
September 18, 2006 at 7:50 pm
how many pitches so far for Penny? seems like it should be around 50 or so…
September 18, 2006 at 7:50 pm
Bummer about the lack of runs, but 57 pitches through 2 innings is nice.
September 18, 2006 at 7:51 pm
So he’s on pace for about 260 for 9 innings?
September 18, 2006 at 7:56 pm
So much for catching a break with Anderson.
September 18, 2006 at 7:56 pm
Marlon Anderson? Jake, come on. Are you telling them what pitches you’re going to throw?
September 18, 2006 at 7:57 pm
Vin Scully just criticized Mike Piazza’s skills at blocking the plate, saying he’s never been smooth and almost every ball in the dirt gets away from him. This is quite wrong, as research done by baseball prospectus actually indicated that Piazza has been one of the best catchers at blocking the plate over the past 10ish years.
September 18, 2006 at 7:58 pm
Vin Scully is usually very fair and unbiased…however, he’s in full go Dodger mode tonight…
September 18, 2006 at 7:59 pm
#71: I love Scully, but the only problem Piazza has behind the plate is throwing out runners. He does everything else pretty well.
September 18, 2006 at 7:59 pm
Scully’s getting a little tense as the season closes. The first two games of the series he was regular classic Vin, although he forgets more than he used to. Yesterday he started getting chippy.
September 18, 2006 at 7:59 pm
Thru 2 …
Pitches-strikes - J Peavy 31-22; B Penny 57-37.
Ground balls-fly balls - J Peavy 4-0; B Penny 1-1.
Batters faced - J Peavy 9; B Penny 12.
September 18, 2006 at 7:59 pm
438 feet for Anderson’s HR, according to Scully (who is being his usual smooth, slightly homerish self)
September 18, 2006 at 8:00 pm
Rox up on SF, 18-6. No out, runner orn second in the bottom of the sixth inning. Colorado has scored at least one run in each of the first six innings, and at least two in five of those.
September 18, 2006 at 8:00 pm
#76 “slightly homerish”??? He’s doing everything but openly rooting for the Dodgers at this point…I wouldn’t be shocked if he has a dodger hat on while he’s doing the game.
September 18, 2006 at 8:01 pm
It’s now 18-6 in Denver … still bottom of 6th … the only Rox hitter without a hit or a walk is … Vinny!
September 18, 2006 at 8:04 pm
78: He’s passive-aggressive in his Dodger homerishness, which is funny since the Dodgers are losing, but will get annoying if the Padres lose this lead.
September 18, 2006 at 8:04 pm
What’s with the Dodger 1st base coach mouthing off?
September 18, 2006 at 8:04 pm
I’m not really a fan of Scully…but he is generally very unbiased when calling the game…but tonight he’s been extremely biased..
September 18, 2006 at 8:06 pm
We need some more runs - we can’t let them keep chipping away at that lead. Get something started Cameron….
September 18, 2006 at 8:08 pm
I’ve got Penny at 75 pitches? Wow.
September 18, 2006 at 8:08 pm
Hey, uh, Padres, hits before you get 2 outs generally work better when trying to score runs.
And apparently Blum gives people other than Padres fans headaches, as Scully just described him as a headache to Penny.
September 18, 2006 at 8:09 pm
I’d like to see that play at second again. I think Cameron may have beaten the tag.
September 18, 2006 at 8:09 pm
Yep…76 now after the pitchout… I thought Cameron was safe..but the replay showed the tag just beat his foot to the bag..
September 18, 2006 at 8:10 pm
Re: 76. Scully always has a little bit of bias for the Dodgers; I hadn’t noticed anything out of the ordinary tonight. He’s definitely more of a homer than Chick Hearn (R.I.P.) who would tear the Lakers a new one if they deserved it. But he’s nowhere near as bad as some of the chumps who work back East. Ken Harrelson in Chicago and pretty much all the Yankees announcers come to mind.
September 18, 2006 at 8:11 pm
#88 true enough…the ones in Chicago are horrible…I just usually notice that Vin doesn’t seem biased but tonight he seems to be more openly rooting for the Dodgers…
September 18, 2006 at 8:12 pm
Peavy doesn’t have the great stuff tonight. He’s giving it all back.
September 18, 2006 at 8:13 pm
Yeah, I usually really like Scully, but tonight he is rooting for the Dodgers pretty clearly.
September 18, 2006 at 8:13 pm
Jesus Christ, Jake. Is this a return to the early days of a season when he couldn’t put guys away?
Every once in a while it’s okay to throw a two-strike pitch where they can’t get good wood on it.
September 18, 2006 at 8:13 pm
For some reason I am thinking of “The Tortoise and the Hare” right now.
September 18, 2006 at 8:13 pm
This is definitely not “Lights Out” Jake tonight.
September 18, 2006 at 8:13 pm
Good news is that Penny’s arm has to be close to falling off and I like our chances against the bullpen..
September 18, 2006 at 8:14 pm
89 - yeah. I think a previous post said he’s feeling the end-of-season pressure. I’d have to agree, and I’d bet he’s pulling for the Dodgers on the inside.
cmon Jake.
September 18, 2006 at 8:16 pm
I loved pulling Jake early in Cincinnati, but is there too much in his arm tonight? Or is it all adrenaline?
September 18, 2006 at 8:16 pm
From the TV guys: Last time Jake gave up more than two runs in a game against LA was Sep 13, 2003.
September 18, 2006 at 8:17 pm
Bad pitch, but again, how does Cameron miss that ball?
September 18, 2006 at 8:18 pm
Over/under on the bill for the damage Peavy is going to inflict on the visitors’ clubhouse, when he gets pulled: $500.
September 18, 2006 at 8:19 pm
Perhaps Kent’s next AB should start with one at his hip, something to make him slightly less comfy.
That’s sad. Third inning after a 4 run first and we’re a Drew HR away from trailing.
September 18, 2006 at 8:20 pm
That pitch was screaming hit me the whole way to the plate…
September 18, 2006 at 8:20 pm
That sure looked like strike three. Oh well, it’s not like it was followed up with an RBI double.
September 18, 2006 at 8:21 pm
I am guessing Jake’s a little too fired up. His pitches look like they did earlier in the year, very little life on them. I think he’s trying too hard.
September 18, 2006 at 8:21 pm
That was a pretty weak breaking pitch from Jake, after grooving the fastball to Kent. He’s made some bad pitches the last couple of innings.
September 18, 2006 at 8:21 pm
Jake trying to catch Penny in the pitch count, too.
September 18, 2006 at 8:22 pm