IGD: Padres vs Rockies (5 Sep 06)
Tue, Sep 5, 2006
by Geoff Young
first pitch: 7:05 p.m., PT
television: Channel 4SD
matchup: Chris Young (10-5, 3.66 ERA) vs Jeff Francis (11-10, 3.64 ERA)
previews: Padres.com | SI.com | ESPN
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The White Sox used Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’” as their rallying cry down en route to a World Series title in 2005. Maybe the Padres need a song from the ’70s to help them down the stretch. Any ideas? Please, no Seals and Crofts.
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September 5, 2006 at 6:27 pm
SAN DIEGO (AP) — The San Diego Padres called up four players from Triple-A Portland, including right-handed pitcher Mike Thompson and outfielder Ben Johnson.
In addition to recalling Thompson and Johnson, the Padres also recalled infielder-outfielder Paul McNulty and purchased the contract of outfielder Jack Cust.
San Diego also assigned the contract of Portland catcher George Kottaras to the Boston Red Sox to complete last week’s deal for left-handed pitcher David Wells. San Diego had committed to sending the Red Sox either cash or a player to be named later in exchange for Wells.
Thompson, who has been called up from Portland six times this season, is 4-5 with a 4.86 ERA in 16 games, including 15 starts, as the Padres’ emergency starter.
Johnson has batted .252 with four homers and 10 RBI in 47 games with San Diego.
September 5, 2006 at 6:47 pm
Barfield is batting third tonight. Nice reward.
September 5, 2006 at 6:48 pm
I guess. But I don’t think batting him third makes any sense.
September 5, 2006 at 6:48 pm
Reds beat the Giants 3-0. DBacks beat the Marlins 4-0 and Dodgers down to the Brewers 6-0 in the 6th. If the Brewers’ score holds, we can get the division down to one game and extend the lead in the wild card, with the Philly’s rain out.
September 5, 2006 at 6:50 pm
Bronson Arroyo pitched his first career shutout for the Reds.
September 5, 2006 at 6:54 pm
#3: How do you order this lineup?
Piazza c
Bellhorn 1b
Barfield 2b
Branyan 3b
Alexander ss
Johnson lf
Cameron cf
Giles rf
LHP on the mound.
September 5, 2006 at 6:58 pm
Ok, I have 3 songs, spanning the musical pallette.
“September” by Earth, Wind and Fire
– It’s groovy, man. And, its…September. Works for me.
“Faithfully” by Journey
–If it has to be Journey, this could work. You know, “Keep The Faith” and all. Actually, this song kinda blows…I’m not a big power ballad guy.
“September Morn” by Neil Diamond
–Dude, don’t laugh. Check these lyrics out:
“And look how far we’ve come
So far from where we used to be
But not so far that we’ve forgotten
How it was before”
That’s like, a great recap of the past 8 years. Kinda.
Hmm, actually, none of these songs will really get you fired up. Any one have some better choices?
September 5, 2006 at 7:00 pm
re: 6 How about in the order that you listed them? It would be different…
September 5, 2006 at 7:04 pm
The neck of the National league West, meet my foot.
September 5, 2006 at 7:06 pm
#7: Yeah, no power ballads. I’ve lived through ‘em all. “September” is a nice choice. Appropriate and, as you say, a groovy tune.
#8: LOL, I’m liking Piazza as leadoff hitter.
September 5, 2006 at 7:08 pm
Whoa, where did that breaking ball come from?
September 5, 2006 at 7:10 pm
Young is spinning some nice breaking balls early. Who is this guy and when did he start mixing his pitches?
September 5, 2006 at 7:11 pm
Thought I’d pass on this comment from Joe Morgan in a chat today on ESPN:
Todd (Irvine, CA): Joe, Trevor Hoffman is just 7 away from breaking Lee Smith’s All Time Saves Record, yet he’s been given little to no attention by ESPN. If Mariano was this close to the record, would he be ignored like this?
Joe Morgan: For one thing, Mariano pitches in NY so he would get more publicity. Nobody thinks Hoffman is as good as Mariano. Numbers are just numbers. Nobody gave Smith credit and he had the record. Lee Smith isn’t in the Hall of Fame. Guys with lesser numbers of saves are in. So the numbers alone aren’t a big deal to some.
I hated Morgan when he played with the Reds. Still do. BTW, Brewers up 8-0
September 5, 2006 at 7:12 pm
It’s a nice night to be a Padres fan … and have Corey Hart on your roto team
September 5, 2006 at 7:12 pm
Wow, 91mph on the fastball and he’s throwing the big hook early. Could be another dominating performance for Young.
September 5, 2006 at 7:14 pm
I like “September” because my birthday is the 21st night of September.
As for the lineup order, good question.
September 5, 2006 at 7:14 pm
numbers are just numbers? Once again joe hits it on the nail. i hate joe morgan.
September 5, 2006 at 7:17 pm
Morgan didn’t really rip Hoffman.
Saves are an overrated stat. Hoffman and Rivera are Hall of Famers, but not necessarily because they will be the all-time saves leaders.
Fingers should not be in the Hall. Neither should Sutter.
Gossage should.
September 5, 2006 at 7:17 pm
well I really think this starting lineup wasn’t meant to win. Mark Bellhorn at first. what the heck, Manny Alexander 5th and Todd Walker not playing. interesting.
September 5, 2006 at 7:20 pm
As long as we get one run I think we’ll be ok tonight.
September 5, 2006 at 7:21 pm
Aside from Johnson or Barfield leading off Bochy’s lineup is the only lineup I could see.
September 5, 2006 at 7:21 pm
Barfield slugs .590 vs. lefties. I take back what I said. But if he’s that good against them, he shouldn’t ever hit eighth against one of them again.
September 5, 2006 at 7:22 pm
Walkers splits against lefties arent particularly good i think… meanwhile whatever marginal good bellhorn has done has been mainly against lefties. I dont get the manny thing at all though
September 5, 2006 at 7:23 pm
BTW, given this team’s hot and cold streaks and knack for late inning rallies, maybe the theme song, at least for the health of the fans, should be Greenday’s “Wake Me Up When September Ends.”
September 5, 2006 at 7:25 pm
Well, I think that the Royals and Cubs should be making it to the World Series this year, because, hey, numbers are just numbers. Oh, wait, Joe hasn’t seen the Royals or Cubs this year, so maybe not them. How about the Giants and A’s in the World Series, since Joe sees them because he lives in the Bay Area.
I do agree saves are overrated, but did you know that Hoffman has more K/IP than Rivera and a better K/BB ratio?
That was a ridiculously easy first inning by Francis.
September 5, 2006 at 7:28 pm
For one thing, Mariano pitches in NY so he would get more publicity.
For one thing, Joe Whiteguy wouldn’t have been beaten like Rodney King, because he is white.
September 5, 2006 at 7:30 pm
Shouldn’t Manny Alexander’s starts be saved for when we have a pitcher where his fielding abilities will be utilized?
September 5, 2006 at 7:31 pm
anyone else noticing that the strike zone seems a little tight tonight?
September 5, 2006 at 7:31 pm
Yes, I did know. They are both Hall of Famers.
September 5, 2006 at 7:33 pm
Of course, we could us Green Day’s, Wake Me Up When September Ends, but only if they go on a losing streak.
September 5, 2006 at 7:34 pm
The Liger is pretty much Jeff Francis’ favorite animal
September 5, 2006 at 7:34 pm
Yikes. 46 pitches through 2.
September 5, 2006 at 7:34 pm
Barfield is 3-for-9 with a homer vs. Francis coming in.
September 5, 2006 at 7:37 pm
Piazza is strong like bull.
September 5, 2006 at 7:37 pm
wow. wasn’t that pitch on the outside corner?
September 5, 2006 at 7:37 pm
I would have gone with:
Cameron
Johnson
Piazza (.598 slugging vs. LHP)
Barfield
Branyan
Bellhorn
Giles (.310 slugging vs. LHP)
Alexander
September 5, 2006 at 7:39 pm
I like Piazza hitting in the 4-slot … 1-0 Padres
September 5, 2006 at 7:39 pm
Final. Brewers 9, Dogs 0. Time to get the Dodger’s lead down to one.
September 5, 2006 at 7:40 pm
I just like Piazza…especially at this moment… I’d have his kids if i could…
September 5, 2006 at 7:40 pm
#27: Blum has been brutal against lefties the last two years: .197/.248/.291 in 117 AB.
#31: That is solid.
September 5, 2006 at 7:40 pm
Gonzalez hits lefties just as well as righties, though maybe not as hard (286 average against both, but 750 OPS vs 850 OPS).
Bellhorn just sucks (217 or 177 and 695 OPS vs. 580 OPS).
September 5, 2006 at 7:40 pm
It’s a final in Milw … 9-0 … Dogs go down!
September 5, 2006 at 7:41 pm
bellhorn got a hit? does boch know something we dont?
September 5, 2006 at 7:42 pm
Yeah, not sure why that 1B decision was made. But I was just ordering what Bochy threw out there.
September 5, 2006 at 7:42 pm
Aha, thanks for the explanation Geoff. Wow, a hit from Bellhorn. I would have preferred Piazza hitting sixth, after Johnson and Bellhorn, apparently.
September 5, 2006 at 7:46 pm
Sac fly Alexander. That’s Manny being Manny.
September 5, 2006 at 7:48 pm
I’m still in awe of Piazza’s outside pitch homer to center
September 5, 2006 at 7:55 pm
and we’re back to even
September 5, 2006 at 8:05 pm
Was Barfield’s AB a “rookie mistake”? (ie. not getting runner home from 3rd with 1 out)
September 5, 2006 at 8:06 pm
Hmmm, Piazza getting the Bonds-treatment? (ie. IW)
September 5, 2006 at 8:07 pm
Well, back to the 8 spot for Josh.
I think it was more of a discipline mistake, which is probably more common among rookies, of swinging at balls, especially that first curve. Maybe pitchers are learning that he really, really likes to swing at the first pitch and can be fooled.
September 5, 2006 at 8:12 pm
Nice plug to Ducksnorts by Matty V on the broadcast.
September 5, 2006 at 8:12 pm
Wow, thanks to Matty V. for the shout-out on TV.
September 5, 2006 at 8:13 pm
Sweet shout out
September 5, 2006 at 8:13 pm
nice.
September 5, 2006 at 8:14 pm
Gotta get Ducksnorts some love when we can Geoff.
September 5, 2006 at 8:15 pm
Wish i could’ve heard it…what did he say?
September 5, 2006 at 8:15 pm
Much appreciated, Ed!
September 5, 2006 at 8:17 pm
Nifty play there. Francis hits a soft liner to Barfield, who flips to Alexander to pick Spilborghs off second. Alexander does a real nice job getting to the bag; I’m not sure Blum makes that play.
September 5, 2006 at 8:18 pm
It’s not obvious to me that Ben Johnson is a better choice for LF and the #5 spot in the lineup than Jon Knott …
September 5, 2006 at 8:20 pm
the Rockies announcers are saying that if Alexander had looked to first base…the Pads could’ve turned a triple play on that line out to Barfield…
September 5, 2006 at 8:20 pm
Rough 2nd / 3rd / 4th innings for CY …
Pitches-strikes - J Francis 51-28; C Young 80-48.
Ground balls-fly balls - J Francis 6-1; C Young 0-6.
Batters faced - J Francis 14; C Young 19.
… he needs to throw more strikes!
September 5, 2006 at 8:21 pm
Holy traffic spike, Batman; thanks again to the folks at Channel 4 for the plug! On another note, way to get out of that bases-loaded nobody out situation unscathed.
September 5, 2006 at 8:21 pm
Matty was talking about the Loretta trade and how great Barfield has been. He said a lot of reaction on the blogs was negative but the move worked out. Then he specifically mentioned Ducksnorts and Gaslamp Ball as two great Padres blogs.
To be fair I think most people’s objection to the Loretta trade was that we could have gotten more in return, not that we didn’t think Barfield could do the job. As it turned out, Meredith and Bard for Loretta was a hell of a lot better than the original deal.
September 5, 2006 at 8:21 pm
#61: They may be right; Alexander was watching Torrealba at third.
September 5, 2006 at 8:26 pm
57: Matty and Tony were talking about sports blogs in the prior inning. In this inning, Matty said something to the effect, “Speaking of blogs and ones that we follow, Ducksnorts.com is a good one.” He also gave a prop to Gaslamp Ball, even though they give the Channel 4 announcers a hard time.
September 5, 2006 at 8:27 pm
Sweet Geoff, love that you got the plug along with Gaslamp Ball. BTW, I have zero problem with Manny being more concerned with the runner on third at that point. A triple play would be nice, of course…but the runner who should draw the most attention is the one on third.
September 5, 2006 at 8:30 pm
Thanks, Rich. And I agree about Alexander. He did the right thing. Runner at first can’t score if someone falls asleep.
September 5, 2006 at 8:30 pm
Re: Barfield vs. Loretta…I loved that Tony was playing with a full deck there by talking about all of the business and not just on the field too…like it or hate it, money is always a factor.
September 5, 2006 at 8:40 pm
So whassup with the talk about Kottaras needing to clear waivers and so being a PTBNL?
Since he’s gone to the Red Sox already (he’s going to get play on one their minor league teams that made the playoffs!), it doesn’t seem like “waivers” was an issue … yet another example of how confusing the waiver rules are, I s’pose …
September 5, 2006 at 8:43 pm
CY with 100 pitches thru 5 …
Pitches-strikes - J Francis 67-38; C Young 100-59.
Ground balls-fly balls - J Francis 6-4; C Young 0-7.
Batters faced - J Francis 19; C Young 23.
… seems a bit lucky to have only give up 2 runs … send him out for 6th? I s’pose … unless, obviously, there’s an op to PH here in the bottom of 5th …
September 5, 2006 at 8:43 pm
Haven’t they learned to not throw a fastball first pitch to Barfield yet? Oh well, works for me.
September 5, 2006 at 8:45 pm
Yeah, maybe all the teams just agreed said, hey, this isn’t one of the top 10 prospects in baseball and just agreed to let him go to the Red Sox. To make them wait until the offseason would have been semantics.
September 5, 2006 at 8:48 pm
Great hustle by Johnson allows the run to score. Also, Francis is lucky Piazza didn’t take him yard again.
September 5, 2006 at 8:49 pm
Rockies catcher is right. They should have come home. But we’ll take it.
September 5, 2006 at 8:54 pm
Meredith was warming up. Time for the bullpen to close it out.
September 5, 2006 at 8:55 pm
I’m with you, Kevin … but CY’s back out there!
September 5, 2006 at 8:57 pm
OT - Eaton was doing OK for the Rangers tonight … until The Big Hurt took him deep for 3 in the bottom of the 6th …
September 5, 2006 at 8:57 pm
Oops. One hitter too late.
September 5, 2006 at 8:58 pm
Now bring in Meredith? 3-3 tie …
September 5, 2006 at 9:03 pm
On the bright side, CY getting yanked in the sixth means that Bellhorn’s out of the game.
September 5, 2006 at 9:04 pm
Wow … Cla looks so good on paper …
Pitches-strikes - J Francis 86-52; C Young 105-61; C Meredith 7-6.
Ground balls-fly balls - J Francis 7-5; C Young 0-7; C Meredith 2-0.
Batters faced - J Francis 24; C Young 24; C Meredith 3.
September 5, 2006 at 9:08 pm
PH for Manny here? Why not?
September 5, 2006 at 9:08 pm
You cannot stop Manny Alexander, you can only hope to contain him!
September 5, 2006 at 9:09 pm
I ******* LOVE IT
September 5, 2006 at 9:09 pm
An RBI triple’s why not
September 5, 2006 at 9:09 pm
re: 81 … coulda yank’d CY and Bellhorn with a 1-run lead!
September 5, 2006 at 9:10 pm
Attaboy, Gonzo. Rockies tie the game? No problem, we’ll get that run right back and add another.
September 5, 2006 at 9:10 pm
See previous comment.
September 5, 2006 at 9:11 pm
… never mind
September 5, 2006 at 9:11 pm
If Bochy gets the heat for a strange lineup or starting guys we think should be on the bench then he deserves some credit when the moves work out. Nice to see the boys showing some heart now that we’re in September.
September 5, 2006 at 9:12 pm
re: 87… it wouldn’t be the Padres if we did that!
September 5, 2006 at 9:12 pm
Like Vasgersian said, Bochy earned it tonight. Meredith cruises thru the 6th and Gonzalez comes on to knock in a run. I love the double switch; it’s one of the best things about National League baseball.
Except, of course, when the manager screws it up…I remember Benito Santiago playing left field (!) in a game in Montreal, I think, many many moons ago.
September 5, 2006 at 9:13 pm
Boy, you have to give Bochy credit tonight, well, except for Bellhorn starting at first. But, it turned out great to do the double switch, bring in AG who singles in the next run. Can’t complain about starting Manny at short either. Now we’ll see if KT’s right about the bullpen being “the decider.” (Stealing the prez’s self-imposed title.)
September 5, 2006 at 9:13 pm
I would have let CY work the sixth, I think.
September 5, 2006 at 9:13 pm
re: 92 … LOL! … in the final analysis, we’re hook’d, ain’t we!
September 5, 2006 at 9:28 pm
Meredith is 28th in baseball in Runs Prevented Above Average. Six other relievers are in the top 30: Papelbon (5), Nathan (9), Ryan (10), Saito (12), Putz (13) and Zumaya (21).
7 through 28 are within one standard deviation of each other.
September 5, 2006 at 9:28 pm
For those not watching, Sledge had a real nice at-bat to end the inning. He worked the count full, fouled a couple pitches off, and hit the ball to the warning track in left. Almost broke the game wide open.
September 5, 2006 at 9:31 pm
They’re scoring that a hit? Again, for those not watching, Helton hit a line drive right at Barfield that somehow got past the glove.
September 5, 2006 at 9:32 pm
Great play by Giles.
September 5, 2006 at 9:33 pm
After that inning, he’s 27th (passed Matt Cain).
September 5, 2006 at 9:35 pm
P-Mac is back!
September 5, 2006 at 9:37 pm
Among the 404 pitchers to have faced at least as many batters as Meredith (123), Meredith has allowed the lowest wOBA (.165). wOBA for those unfamiliar is (.72*UBB+.75*HBP+.9*1B+.92*ROE+1.24*2B+1.56*3B+1.95*HR)/PA and the league average is .338 (it basically models OBA).
The second lowest wOBA? Papelbon at .205 which would be just over 4 runs worse than Meredith over Cla’s 123 PA.
September 5, 2006 at 9:39 pm
One could actually expand that group to the 583 pitchers to have faced at least 29 batters and Cla still tops it.
September 5, 2006 at 9:43 pm
Adkins and Brocail have both been better than Linebrink this year.
September 5, 2006 at 9:44 pm
Actually, so have Sweeney and Embree.
September 5, 2006 at 9:45 pm
Scotty scares me now, where he used to be automatic.
September 5, 2006 at 9:48 pm
Well, he’s still the seventh best reliever on the team. Oh and who throws Castilla something hittable on the first pitch? Letting Vinny get a hit is a HUGE failure for any pitcher.
September 5, 2006 at 9:48 pm
Why would you throw anything resembling a strike to Vinny on the first pitch?
September 5, 2006 at 9:49 pm
Who among us wouldn’t use their 7th best reliever in the 8th inning with a two run lead?
September 5, 2006 at 9:49 pm
Vinny Castilla continues to kill us, this time while wearing the opposition’s uniform.
September 5, 2006 at 9:50 pm
Matty V makes the point that Scotty wasn’t trying to throw a strike, he just doesn’t have good control.
September 5, 2006 at 9:52 pm
Linebrink might be having the seventh best season, but he’s not the seventh best reliever on this team.
That said, he’s gotten a bit scary of late.
September 5, 2006 at 9:53 pm
Linebrink does an excellent job of setting up the Rockies there, as now there four best hitters are the next four hitters to bat in the ninth.
September 5, 2006 at 9:53 pm
Richard (112), That’s comforting.
September 5, 2006 at 9:54 pm
Gonzo almost goes yard opposite field.
September 5, 2006 at 10:04 pm
One game out of first.