Playoff IGD: Padres @ Cardinals (8 Oct 06)

first pitch: 5:05 p.m., PT
television: FOX
matchup: Woody Williams (12-5, 3.65 ERA) vs Chris Carpenter (15-8, 3.09 ERA)
previews: Padres.com | SI.com | ESPN
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Do I like the Padres chances in this one? Depends on the context, I suppose. I like them better than, say, the Dodgers’ or the Yankees’ chances. Maybe not quite as good as the Cardinals’ chances. Then again…

The Padres have won eight of Woody Williams’ last nine starts dating back to August 13, the lone exception being a 7-4 loss at Arizona on August 28. And the last time Chris Carpenter faced the Padres in St. Louis, on September 26, he coughed up six runs en route to a 7-5 loss at the hands of the Friars.

Grasping at straws? Maybe. A little. But there’s still a game on the schedule, which in my book means anything is possible.

As for Game 3, I haven’t had much to say. To call Saturday’s victory “great” is an understatement, as without it, the season would be over for San Diego. Chris Young’s abuse of Albert Pujols was particularly impressive (although apparently not to Pujols). That said, the club’s lack of timely hitting remains problematic and is a topic that demands serious evaluation over the winter. Hitting 1-for-25 with runners in scoring position over a three-game series isn’t a solution to anything worth solving.

I guess the most that I can say about Game 3 is that the Padres survived it, and as long as they keep doing that, they’ve got a chance. For more detailed coverage of the game, I’d point you to my colleagues, Rich Campbell, Peter Friberg, and Vinay Kumar.

Speaking of Rich, thanks to the Dodgers and Yankees both being eliminated from the playoffs on Saturday, tonight’s Game 4 coincides with the Chargers game, which is being played here in San Diego. This doesn’t bother me, as football tends not to cross my radar until Thanksgiving, but for those torn, or even just looking for a good Chargers blog, I encourage you to visit Rich’s excellent Chargers Confidential.

Otherwise, feel free to hang out with us here at Ducksnorts as we watch what we hope won’t be the Friars’ final game of 2006. Go Padres!

401 Responses »

  1. #48 I guess that’s the positive to take from this inning no matter what happens here…

  2. definitely not talking about what just happened Rich… definitely not talking…..

  3. It’s not hot here in the midwest…yet CC’s cap is soaked through already

  4. Please oh please oh please…..

  5. Damn… Damn… Damn… needed the big inning

  6. Damn. Oh well, two runs is good and Carpenter threw a ton of pitches. Plus the crowd is in a bit of shock.

  7. Hey, 2 runs after 1/2 inning. I’ll take that. Now Woody has to hold them.

  8. It would be HUGE for WW to come out and go 1-2-3

  9. Yeah, 1-2-3 would be HUGE

  10. Did anyone notice the Dogs were trying to get steal our record yesterday evening: Team LOB: SD: 14 LA: 13

  11. great composure by Barfield..

  12. Way to sacrifice the body, Josh!

  13. Ok, I can only watch when the padres are up, when the cards are up, its over to channel 8 for the Chargers. I have a weak heart.

  14. 60 – those ba$tards – never original!

  15. Ooh – lucky that was foul. ESPN Insider scouting report today said Wilson was susceptible to WW’s high FB – not that time!

  16. When did Wilson learn to take the outside pitch the other way?

  17. first encouter with the big gun…

  18. time for prince pompous the arrogant… what a jackass..

  19. did anyone get a good look at Pujol’s grip there? this sounds dumb, but was he overlapping his top hand over his bottom hand (a la golf?)? seems impossible…

  20. Get your big butt back in the box…good god he’s arrogant..

  21. okay, got a second look.. I’m dumb..

  22. Man, what a jacka$$. Way to go get him, Woody!

  23. Nice hustle running down the line there, too.

  24. Gonzo rocks….it means so much to the fielders to know they just have to get it close….

  25. #69 I tried to go back and look…but I couldn’t get a good look at it…

  26. that’s right Woody! demand the inside half!

  27. that’s crap….he leaned into that pitch… but I do like seeing someone pitch inside, just like CY yesterday..

  28. Is it just GameDay or is Woody getting squeezed….

  29. was ball 4 anyway, might as well take a chunk of flesh

  30. C’mon Woody…you’re killing me here…

  31. 76: thanks.. he definitely has an odd grip, but from another angle, it didn’t appear that the hands were overlapped… I think he just has ridiculously large hands…

  32. Yikes. Don’t want to face Belliard here, who had a field day against Woody a few weeks ago.

  33. Falling behind so much is un-Woody-like. Is he just missing? Aiming the ball?

  34. Woody with 29 pitches…. ugh.

  35. Woody’s getting squeezed

  36. topic for the mound visit…how much time did the Fox announcers have to spend learning the Padres team and coaches today?

  37. I don’t worry about pitch count w/ Woody. we need 5 good ones from him, then Hensley, etc.

  38. Gameday is showing pitch 2 and 5 to Encarnacion were strikes….

  39. Well, so much for the lead.

  40. great, tie game. #$%#%!!!

  41. crap…well…we’re right back to 0-0…

  42. effing Belliard!!!

    That guy has been freaking KILLING US!!!

  43. lets get another one, Carpenter doesn’t have his best stuff but neither does Woody. Maybe we see Hensley at teh next sign of trouble, it’s good to see Boch will have a quick hook.

  44. I guess the bright side is this could have been a lot worse, but it also could have been a lot better.

    Lets keep the pressure on Carpenter now.

  45. that wasn’t a bad pitch by Woody….just bad luck..broken bat single….we’re still ok here…

  46. I think we have reason to wonder at the strike zone…but I suspect Cardinal fan feels the same way…

  47. Quick Chargers tangent….San Diego is going to find out tonight what kind of QB Rivers is tonight…

  48. RISP – SD: 0-2 SL: 1-1

  49. Walk and hit-by-pitch after your team gives you a lead. Wouldn’t want to talk to Bochy right now.