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
buy tickets
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.
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.
Barfield is batting third tonight. Nice reward.
I guess. But I don’t think batting him third makes any sense.
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.
Bronson Arroyo pitched his first career shutout for the Reds.
#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.
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?
re: 6 How about in the order that you listed them? It would be different…
The neck of the National league West, meet my foot.
#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.
Whoa, where did that breaking ball come from?
Young is spinning some nice breaking balls early. Who is this guy and when did he start mixing his pitches?
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
It’s a nice night to be a Padres fan … and have Corey Hart on your roto team
Wow, 91mph on the fastball and he’s throwing the big hook early. Could be another dominating performance for Young.
I like “September” because my birthday is the 21st night of September.
As for the lineup order, good question.
numbers are just numbers? Once again joe hits it on the nail. i hate joe morgan.
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.
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.
As long as we get one run I think we’ll be ok tonight.
Aside from Johnson or Barfield leading off Bochy’s lineup is the only lineup I could see.
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.
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
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.”
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.
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.
Shouldn’t Manny Alexander’s starts be saved for when we have a pitcher where his fielding abilities will be utilized?
anyone else noticing that the strike zone seems a little tight tonight?
Yes, I did know. They are both Hall of Famers.
Of course, we could us Green Day’s, Wake Me Up When September Ends, but only if they go on a losing streak.
The Liger is pretty much Jeff Francis’ favorite animal
Yikes. 46 pitches through 2.
Barfield is 3-for-9 with a homer vs. Francis coming in.
Piazza is strong like bull.
wow. wasn’t that pitch on the outside corner?
I would have gone with:
Cameron
Johnson
Piazza (.598 slugging vs. LHP)
Barfield
Branyan
Bellhorn
Giles (.310 slugging vs. LHP)
Alexander
I like Piazza hitting in the 4-slot … 1-0 Padres
Final. Brewers 9, Dogs 0. Time to get the Dodger’s lead down to one.
I just like Piazza…especially at this moment… I’d have his kids if i could…
#27: Blum has been brutal against lefties the last two years: .197/.248/.291 in 117 AB.
#31: That is solid.
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).
It’s a final in Milw … 9-0 … Dogs go down!
bellhorn got a hit? does boch know something we dont?
Yeah, not sure why that 1B decision was made. But I was just ordering what Bochy threw out there.
Aha, thanks for the explanation Geoff. Wow, a hit from Bellhorn. I would have preferred Piazza hitting sixth, after Johnson and Bellhorn, apparently.
Sac fly Alexander. That’s Manny being Manny.
I’m still in awe of Piazza’s outside pitch homer to center
and we’re back to even
Was Barfield’s AB a “rookie mistake”? (ie. not getting runner home from 3rd with 1 out)
Hmmm, Piazza getting the Bonds-treatment? (ie. IW)