first pitch: 1:40 p.m., PT
television: Channel 4SD
matchup: Woody Williams (11-5, 3.57 ERA) vs Brandon Webb (16-7, 2.88 ERA)
previews: Padres.com | SI.com
buy tickets
The Padres are in the playoffs, and that’s awesome. But on Sunday they have a chance to take the NL West. Regardless of post-season matchups (they’re all good teams, otherwise they wouldn’t be there — and as Peter points out, “if the Padres keep winning, they’ll win the World Series”), the division title is the goal now. To win it, the Padres will have to go through the guy who currently gets my vote for NL Cy Young (sorry, Trevor), Brandon Webb.
I’d give you the full breakdown, but as has been the case for much of the past month or so, my analytical tendencies have been pushed aside by the kid who just wants to see his team win. Honestly, who can think at a time like this?
On another note, I’ll be out at Petco Park watching this one on the big screen. I know some others of you will be out there as well. This is way last minute for a meetup, but anyone who can make it, let’s get together right around home plate of the kids’ baseball field at, say, 1:30 p.m. I’ll be wearing my Aki “Yosshaa!!” T-shirt and Ducksnorts trucker hat.
Now, let’s beat those Snakes and take this thing. Go Padres!
169 Comments
We can’t lose the division on that game we blew against the Dogs. I might kill a puppy if that happens. Yes, Pads, you heard it. Win or the puppy dies.
re 1: Terrence, nice to hear you’re out of jail! What was the deal with that codeine syrup anyway??
I am have not rigorously tracked the success of my “gut”, but I feel oddly confident. LA is putting up Eric Stultz with a big ERA but small sample. Schmidt goes for the Giants. This is probably Schmidt’s last start in SF, so I am guessing he cares, and he seems like the type that cares regardless.
The Padres may rest some guys, but I like a lot of our non-starters, so like our chances. Of course Brandon can do what he can do and we get nothing, but I still feel good about it.
We’ll see.
Sorry to hijack padres IGD for the Bolts, but Rivers to Floyd for 6 on the opening drive!
That was an impressive drive by the Chargers…
no kidding – please, keep on blitzing Rivers all day long. He carved them up with the hot reads that drive
I’m not even a Charger fan…but I don’t think this game will even be close..the Chargers are way better than the Ravens…
ok, that wasn’t so good
In the Kansas City Star this morning – on their Major Leagues wrap-up page, they have a “Person/Place/Thing” of the week. Today’s “Place”:
“Place: San Diego. The Padres get two outs away from thier first-ever no-hitter, Trevor Hoffman breaks the all time saves record, and the team prepares for the playoffs. All that and perfect weather.”
St. Louis is losing to Milwaukee and Houston is losing to Atlanta….looking like St. Louis is going to back their way into the playoffs..
Glad to see LaMar had the foresight to bring bail money with him to AZ. But beware Stockholm syndrome, LaMar. They may hate the Dodgers like we do, but they’re still ‘zonies!
Why Trevor can win the Cy Young…
http://padres.mostvaluablenetwork.com/
..as for the Bolts? We are beating this team handily, but I would feel better if we had more than a one score lead…
Both STL & HOU start rallies to overcome early deficits. Both snuffed. Still STL down 4-0; HOU down 3-0.
http://xs107.xs.to/xs107/06390/go_pads.jpg
LET’S DO THIS.
Chargers game is getting ridiculous – we’re dominating everything but the scoreboard. The Ravens are one big play from leading.
Exactly my fear Clayton…
could this game be any more frustrating?
Houston down to its final out….
And STL has backed its way into the playoffs.
15: Martyball at its most frustrating…
This is insane. No way you should call these plays with less than a TD lead.
And Scifers might be hurt, great…
Martyball freakin’ sucks! You gotta keep putting points on the board
Martyball + stupid penalties. But the penalties wouldn’t be hurting so much if we hadn’t played like we had a 3 TD lead! Going to take a miracle…in a game that may go a long way to deciding who makes the playoffs in a potential tiebreaker…
….Martyball…
This is all on Marty. You can’t seriously expect to run LT or MT into the line over and over and over when you have less than a TD lead against a defense like this. This is making me ill.
Looks like Marty is locking up our third win of the year – twice we beat our opponents and once we beat ourself.
no business losing that game, none at all
Keenan McCardell not catching a pass for the first time since like 1910 has a lot to do with losing this game. Marty has got to start trusting Rivers.
I thought the Astros were the team to FEAR. I guess not making the postseason diminshes that a little.
Dodgers goin’ with the B squad today… Garciaparra, Drew, Furcal, Martin, Kent – all sitting. They’re handing us the West, we oughtta be gracious enough to take it.
And on the other side…Alou, Durham, Alonzo sitting… and Loney takes Schmidt deep…1-0 Dodgers in the 2nd.
Well, at least I’m not alone in my opinions on that game…guys, I hesitate to put yet another URL of mine on Geoff’s site, so I won’t. But over on Charger’s Confidential, I ran basically an IGD of one through the second half. And read through it and there are two themes. 1) Get at least three more points. 2) Penalties are death. Have we really played this long in the same division with the Radiers and not learned number two? We lost that game because of Clipping.
[duplicate entry removed by request]
The U-T said that Khalil was supposed to start today, but the lineups posted on mlb.com have Blum plyaing short. Also Cameron is getting his first day-off in a real long time. Doc’s in center and Sledge is in right, with Branyan at third and Blummer at short.
Makes you wonder if Khalil will be on the roster next week.
C’mon Padres! Salvage the day for us! (and Geoff, can you delete my slipped fingers up there?)
I have noticed that Trevor is getting some love on TWIB the last couple of weeks…
No Klesko today? Is he still not ready to play in the field?
36, play where? butcher it in LF or fumble around the bag at 1B?
“the greg maddux triple has replaced the kentucky derby as the most exciting two minutes in sports”
I LOVE IT, MICHAEL.
RE: 38…Does that make Piazza’s triple the most exciting THREE minutes?
Hudson is just plain stupid, annd I mean that in the most Black-Eyed-Peas of ways…he had NO business anywhere near that ball and he almost gloved it…
OK, I’m back, plugged into the Pads on mlb.tv. After the debacle that was the Chargers 2nd half, needed to go take a nice long walk around the block.
Things are looking positive here, hopefully this washes Webb out of the CY, Kevin’s opinions notwithstanding.
3-1 Giants and 4-0 Padres! But there is a LOT of ballgame to go in both cities…
If the 5 & 6 guys can’t get the runner from third home with no outs, at least 7-8-9 can…
Webb may be pitchig himself out of a Cy Young…one swing takes his ERA over 3.00…
or, how about a bases loaded BB?
Ball four! 5 earned in four innings.
That’s got to be the end of his day. Now we just need a reliever to give up the bomb to Adrian….
7-0.
Re: 43. This one just got a lot shorter…
Fun, but where was this yesterday against two chump pitchers? Seriously, does EVERYTHING have to be done in the most terrifying, stressful way possible?
Seven! Plus Adrian will finish over a .300 BA. I know that this is one of those things that people wish were not true…but Gonzalez being over that magic mark may help him towards Gold Glove consideration…
Well..this is fun… Trevor for Cy Young…
I wonder if Trevor’s CY chances get a bump from the front-runners both being beaten by his team late in the year.
HAving missed the beginning of this…are all 7 of these runs earned for Webb?
Now all we have to do is hope that the Giants hang on. I do want the division on a tiebreaker – I want it outright.
Hopefully this year is a reverse of last: the ESPN crew will go on about how pathetic the Cardinals are this year, with just one more win then the Padres had last year and the Padres will sweep the Cardinals right out of the playoffs.
So much for the no-no. The quest continues…
Re: 57. It will be all the more satisfying when CY does it against the Cardinals in the first round….
Wow – how deep was Barfield playing there? He and Giles were practically holding hands!
The Giants continue their quest to their 6-month holiday: 3-3 tie in SF
Schmidt’s at 107 pitches, Stults at 63. The Giants’ bullpen will do us no favours.
Hope they brought pillows and blankets to Phone Co Park, cause the Giants are laying down.
Heard the Giants’ are not playing anybody today, just like yesterday. Probably already have the tee times going. Jerks. Where’s the dignity?
anyone else think they just blinked and went back to 1986?
should we leave Woody in? I know he’s not going to be starting in the playoffs unless there’s an emergency, but why spend innings here? Guess maybe they want to leave him in for 5 full so he can get the W.
The Giants have tried to help LA get the division this last series. It has been disgraceful.
65: I really don’t see any reason to remove him.
Let Woody go until he’s spent…he’ll be going on normal rest or more anyway…and it won’t hurt to rest our big three out of the pen if we can…
LOL at Tony…”He must’ve lost a bet…”
Giants continue to go through the motions – 4-3 Dogs
Quick hello to the DS crew…
I am off to a wedding…
Nice to see these middle innings…Go Pads…Go Pads…
Stupid Giants…put up a fight or something.
Looks like we should start at home…WOOHOO!!!
Dodger pitchers through 7 innings – 83 pitches. Better swing first pitch, Giants. Might miss your flight otherwise…
That’s pathetic. At least the DB’s are putting up an effort
with a 7-2 lead in the 7th…do we start clearing the bench here to make sure we don’t get anyone injured at this point?
I say yes. It would be very like the Padres to get someone hurt here.
That’s one advantage the way the Dodgers did it – their regulars are on the bench and unlikely to get hurt, but are available should the game be close in the end.
If the Padres start pulling regulars and the game suddenly gets close, we don’t have much left on the bench to seal the win….
Great, now we have a save-able situation
What a catch!!!!!!!!!!
Friggin sweeeet catch by Giles! Need to get Woody out of there. He’s giving up big flies by the bunches now.
Lucky Giles didn’t break his leg there.
What a play by Giles…
It’s time to go get Woody I’m afraid….
Yep, pull him now, but better not be Cla
I’m torn on so many levels. I want the division outright, but I also would like to see the Padres at Shea (my friend has tickets for Game 1). Also, I wanted a comfortable lead, but I’d also like to see Trevor finish the season with a save.
Why do I not feel confident, despite the fact that we have a three run lead and the Dogs only have a one run lead….
“Lucky Giles didn’t break his leg there.”
Yeah, his cleat got caught in the chain link there…
b/c the veteran Giants, blood enemies of the Dodgers (or so they say) are laying down, and the DB’s are fightin’ and scrappin’
Giants have runners on the corners with one out in the bottom of the eighth.
Sean, because the Dogs aren’t facing a team with any pride? That Giant locker room is full of discord…but when a team’s leader is equally as well-known for selfishness as for his on-field prowess, no one should be surprised…
Two outs. Niekro mails it in.
And Feliz, surprise, swings first pitch and flies out.
byrnes is a good ballplayer
klesko-once again, good ab
Ryno has already shown that he deserves a roster spot far more than Bellhorn.
We have a Klesko sighting – let’s see if we see him in the postseason.
93: no kidding. Plus, he’s a veteran guy w/ Bochy, so no reason to think he won’t be on there.
Bellhorn’s D is probably better, but if KG is healthy we have less of a pressing need for a left-side infielder
not just that he’ll be on, but that he deserves it. Guy can still hit
Please keep Bellhorn off the post-season roster, if only so not to tempt Bochy to use him…
According to the playoff broadcast schedule, if we win today we play at 4pm ET Tuesday and Thursday. Lots of fun for all, since regardless of time zone you’re probably going to have to skip work. Looks like ESPN.
Why are we using Linebrink here? Does this mean Hoffman in the 9th, or Linebrink for 2 IP?
It took Beimel five pitches to retire the side in the bottom of the ninth, only because Todd Greene couldn’t hit any of the three pitches he saw.
And the Dodgers win…
You know what you need to do, Friars.
Friggin’ Giants have rolled over and died. 4-3 LA, final.
This gesture toward departing AZ vets is a pleasure to watch
Great day for Adrian. Forget getting one knock to reach .300 and sitting — Adrian kept on going.
Khalil needs a bomb for some confidence going into the playoffs…
re: 104
It is? I think it’s ponderous. They could crap on the field right now and receive a standing ovation.
I’m sure the Dodgers appreciate the Diamondbacks taking out all those players and conceding the game.
Dodgers have nothing to complain about after the roll-over job the Giants pulled
re:107: pshaw…that looks like a rollover off the bat of Chad Tracy, don’t it?
The D’Backs have fought a lot harder than the Giants did…
Chad Tracy, killing the buzz, thanks. Cmon Trevor, 2 more outs, let’s get this over with…
107
you have a point, but, I’m a sap, I couldn’t help it.
Great, say goodbye to Trevor’s CY
Uh, what the hell is going on here?
112 – exactly. no Cy Young for Trevor.
Again, nothing the easy way. C’mon, can we please close this out??
No one in the league deserves the Cy Young Award.
nothing easy…the Cardiac Kids of the Gaslamp
smart play by KG to eat that.
Smart baseball from Khalil…
can they give 2 cy young’s in the AL instead?
Clayton, we’re sharing a brain today or something?
My god, this is nervewracking.
Rich, it’s the shared experience of that disaster in Baltimore.
wow – looked out at second!
Uh – what? Ok, yea padres?
It’s a force damn it!
Wow, what a strange ending.
GO CRAZY FOLKS! We’re division champs. We’ll be opening at home this week!
KG didn’t have foot on bag. What a cluster.
okay…okay…they got it right.
I’m not so sure that KG had his foot on the bag either…
Gee, what a way to win the division. If I were a Dodger fan, I’d be seriously pi$$ed off right now
What happened? Gameday just has “no out recorded?!?!”
Except that there’s no reason to be pissed, because it was the right call, unless they want to be pissed at that guy being a really slow runner.
um
the umpires are wrong. His foot was not on the bag
I don’t know Kevin…replay didn’t show KG’s foot on the bag. MLB.tv isn’t showing me any more replays. At real-time speed, I thought KG got him on the tag.
Groundball to second – sliding grab by barfield, quick throw takes A-gon off the bag…. runner between 1st and 2nd fell trying to dodge ground ball to barfield… throw to second from Agon – Khalil attempts to apply tag, runner safe…. but, should have been a force out… umps think that KG had his foot on the bag (replays show that he didn’t) so “out” call is overruled and game is over….. bad call, worse play by KG for not recognizing the force out….
It’s amazing how many teams tried give the division/WC away.
but the umpire at first called him safe, based on the tag…once some other umpire reminded him it’s a force, they changed it to out
That was the strangest ending to a game I’ve ever seen. I will be on pins and needles every time the bullpen throws a pitch against St. Louis.
I’d have to see it again…but, honestly, they usually are going to cal the force at second based on whether the ball beats him to the bag…it looked like Khalil had his right foot against the bag when he received the ball…which is how I was taught. You have you foot against the bag so you know where to put the tag down.
Regardless…we repeat as division champs.
Umpires are never wrong.
OK, so should I be happy here? Don’t really feel it, having watched the team blow a 7 run lead, and then win on some bs over-rule call. Bleh.
I don’t think the umpires thought he had his foot on the bag…I think the one calling the play screwed up and watched for the tag, then later realized it was a force and had no recollection of whether his foot was on the bag
the replays showed his foot was nowhere near. His legs were all spread out as he tried to dig crouch low for the tag. his butt was right above the bag, feet spread at least a foot away on either side
yeah, that’s what I thought (don’t have any more replays to watch)
only thing I couldn’t tell was whether he pulled his foot to the bag after catching it
I think you’re right Eric…but if they really called the foot on the bag consistently it would be wild how many DP’s would get overturned …hey, it fuels debate. So how big is that catch by Brian Giles now?
You know, I hope KG’s foot was off the bag, ’cause the Dodgers deserve that. Playoff time and I say, f@#$ ‘em! We’re opening at home!
BTW, incredibly heads up by AG to throw in one motion to 2nd as moving to Barfield’s bad throw pulls him off the bag. That guy is good with the bat and nothi’ short of amazing on defense.
ugh
I just feel bad and awkward
nothin’
re 150
me too. like waking up after some really bad drunk hookup
not just because of the call, but that wasn’t a very encouraging or decisive performance by Trevor
to win the division like that
and for Trevor to win the CY like that (if he does) is just…idunno…ppl will be less convinced
like having a romantic moment interrupted and then…eh…the moment has passed.
Also I just don’t wanna hear the whining from Dodger fans.
You know Eric, I felt that same way…then I looked over at my tickets for game one and thought “hmm, we’re only 11 wins away from the World Series.” So I agree with dprat. We almost blow a 6 run lead…Trevor doesn’t win the Cy Young…we win the game on a blown call…oh well. Peavy and Carpenter on Tuesday, 1 PM. Right now, that’s all that matters.
Question: LynchMob is wondering if the Dodgers get to fly the National League Western Division flag because of a tie. I say NO WAY because Padres are the Western Division Champs, not co-champs. I’m trying to find proof, but I know you all will know.
The Padres just won the division. You want to quibble over style points?
Ease up, there, Eric. I’m telling you the team doesn’t care how it stumbled into home field advantage for the first round – they are professional athletes and one thing those guys do is put things behind them quick, real quick, like the LA 4 homer 9th or the Pujols HR – they put this ugly ending behind them as soon as the ump signalled out, while we fans wring our hands for days, weeks, years. So buck up, kid, we got a home game Tuesday.
is this what being a Cardinal fan feels like?
re: 157
The Padres are considered the NL West champs, just like the Yankees were the AL East champs last season. There are no co-champs.
Sportscenter says the ball hit the runner & he was out.
In any case, I don’t have to kill the puppy locked in my basement. (see #1)
re: 157
That’s why the Padres went 14-5 or whatever it was against the Dodgers.
Padres.com has NL West Champion gear up for sale, if any of you are interested. Personally, I’m saving my money for that elusive Cla Meredith jersey t-shirt.
If Dodger fans want to moan, they should moan about how their team played against us in 13 out of 18 games.
If the ball hit the runner? End of controversy…but I must say that I did not see that…
Was watching it but had the Charger game on Tivo so did not want to blog in case someone put up a score. I won’t reveal the outcome in the unlikely case that someone else is in my shoes, but does anyone know a good Charger blog? I have checked a few, but curious.
Odd ending. I did not see that many replays, but it appears we caught a major break there. KG’s foot was nowhere near the bag. Frustrating that he was not thinking. And his AB before was horrid. He has said he is rusty, and he proved it today. I will check SportsCenter, but are you saying the ball from the nitter hit the runner or that AGon’s throw hit the runner? Obviously, the latter is not an out.
Hoffman has given up his share of HR’s in September. Makes me wonder about his shoulder and being late in the season. Man that was ugly, but I am glad we played to win and not half-win (meaning starting starters then running out subs) only to lose it.
I am sure the glad it took awhile for the Dodgers to go insane. If I am NY, I am not excited about facing them. Maybe the rule ought to be the top seed gets to chose which team they face. Fortunately not and we get to face STL.
Odd win, but I like the results if not the process.
Only 12 more seasons till we catch the Atlanta Braves.
Notes from AP:
SS Khalil Greene and 1B Ryan Klesko could be added to the Padres’ postseason roster, manager Bruce Bochy said before San Diego wrapped up the regular season Sunday at Arizona. On Saturday, Greene had his first plate appearance since Aug. 17. He has been sidelined by a strained ligament in the middle finger of his left hand. Klesko missed the first 150 games of the season with a strained left shoulder. … San Diego finished the regular season with a better record on the road (45-36) than at home (43-38). … The Padres have not lost back-to-back games since they dropped two straight at San Francisco Sept. 8-9.