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!
come on Doc! use the flux capacitor!
These umpires have been brutal. That third strike to Khalil was not even close.
Love to see a bunt here!
C’mon Dave…one more hit.
better swing at anything close…because it’s gonna be called a strike…
352 – I agree with you.
did he do that on purpose?
Suntan Superman on deck…
Doc has to get on.. it is seems like fate for Giles to make our final out..
Mets in four, no doubt.
F***
Bogus.
that’s the season…
Oh well, so much for that. Go Mets.
Definitely rooting for the Mets now.
That royally sucked. The plate umpiring in the series was horrendous.
Still, no excuse for our batters taking a massive dump all over themselves.
Looks like that’s the end for Wells too.
nobody’s going to carry LaRusa off on their shoulders….
this team really picked a bad time to play like crap, and a crappy team picked a good time to act like a good team.
a lot of this core will be back but someone (Yankees overreacted) but someone has to get the blame for this one
poignant to see the shots of Ryno and Boomer…both in their final games for the Padres in all likelihood.
This was my first year at Ducksnorts. I just wanted to thank everyone for the hospitality. I’ve told many people how this is the most knowledgeable baseball crowd that I’ve been around. Thanks. “WAIT ‘TIL NEXT YEAR!”
Well..that’s really disappointing…but…it’s been a great season and it’s been a BLAST to hang out with you guys during the games this season…
How many days till opening day?
Well, that’s too bad. I wish I could say we lost to a better team, but I just don’t believe that. Still, we didn’t do ourselves any favors in this series…situational hitting was just atrocious.
Somewhat lucky for me here since my wife is due to be induced for our first child (a son…no, I’m not naming him Khalil) Tuesday morning, so I would have been trying to watch Game 5 from the hospital – not good times.
OK, let’s fire up the hot stove!
Geoff, not sure how lively DS is in the offseason, but I’m hooked. You do a great job, and I’ll keep on coming…
Goodnight everyone, we’ve got a team to be proud of, and we can improve between now and April!
My first year at Ducksnorts… Looking forward to many more. Geoff, thanks for your hard work and dedication… Clayton – call me if you have your kid tonight.
Chris Carpenter just gave a great “pitch around” on the fact thathe was pissed when LaRussa sat him on the final day of the regular season…
370 Congratulations…..there’s nothing like being a father….Our first was born two days after the end of the ’98 world series..I guess he knew to not come out until after the Padres were eliminated..
Definitely want to jump on the bandwagon and thank Geoff for the hospitality and for making things happen here. Great writing, great discussions.
2007 – Padres go for their unprecedented 3rd consecutive NL West title. I like the sound of that!
Good season. A lot of positives with our young players. We’ll be right in the mix again next year.
Great to have this board to air and share our thoughts. Thanks, Geoff.
so…can I start watching the Bolt game? or are they still playing?
still playing…6:00 left in the 4th….the score is ## to **
20-13 Chargers, 6 mins left. McCree just picked Big Ben.
informal poll; which series is more dissatisfying? this one or last years?
I really think it was this one cause the offense just s- the bed. Something has to be done about this offense, maybe something drastic. You’re also forgetting that the Padres have something the Yankees might want; some kind of ace pitcher… just saying.
They’re both dissatisfying…we lost both series. But at least this one I felt like we had a chance to beat St. Louis. Last year we were totally outclassed in every game.
It was a another good season! Here’s to a great season next year!!
I think this years was more disappointing. For the first time ever, I heard “experts” say the Padres were faves to win a series. Out of the 30 or so predictions I read, only one person picked the Cardinals. Top it off with the fact that we were playing strong and the Cards limped in…
I don’t think the offense was so bad — near the top on the road in hitting. It was more situational hitting and our approach at the plate. I’d like to see more patience, like the ’98 team had. One big bat in the 5 hole can make a huge amount of difference. Branyan helped a little. With some left and right field power, and our pitching, we could become the Braves of the NL WEST.
Anyone think Piazza will be back?
I’d bring Piazza back…but I’d try to renogotiate his deal….I think I heard he’s due like 8 million next year…
385 – Agreed
As long as we don’t see Bellhorn ever again!
384 Piazza: maybe but not at the option price
383: The Padres are 1/7th of the way there, 14 straight division championships would be great and I’d take it because it means you’d have a shot in every playoff game.
Bottom line, the Padres need at least one more quality arm this offseason and one big bat and they might need to replace a big bat like Piazza
I’d say it’s up to Mike. If he’s willing to play another year for the same pay as this year, he’s back. If he wants anything near the option money — is it 7, 8 million? — no way Sandy and KT keep him.
Looks like we all agree on Piazza. Who’s drafting the e-mail to KT?
sucks to think about this right now…but anyone gonna be around here chatting during the rest of the playoff games?
Mets in 4, Tigers in 6; tigers in 5
sums it all up now Mark o, time to talk offseason I’m thinking.
I agree…just have to say that i’m gonna miss chatting with everyone during the playoff games…even though we aren’t playing..
Sure things:
1st base — AGon
2nd— Josh
CF-Cameron
Cather—Bard
Pitchers — Peavy, Clay, CY, Cla, Hoffman
Everywhere else is a ?, possible trade. We’ll see a few moves this offseason. I think Khalil is safe, but you never know. Also, Branyan for 1 million is a steal. He’ll be back. Bowen ought to be, too.
Love to have Doc back. His speed will be hard to replace.
393 the only thing I’d change is that I don’t think that they’d trade Khalil..but I think that we shouldn’t just dismiss any offer that includes Peavy…It has to be considered…
I heard SA say that they were going to keep Branyan. I think Rettenmund goes to bat, so to speak, for Khalil. Everything I’ve seen says that Merv thinks Khalil can hit. Whether he was saying that to give Khalil confidence, I’m not sure, but he definitely has been saying it.
Khalil is 90% to come back — Pads still have him for two more years at a good price — but not a lock if a great offer comes along.
Alderson and KT are both enamored of Jake, so I don’t see anything happening there. Despite not coming up big in game 1, he’s still our ace. And isn’t it nice to have CYoung as our 2nd ace? Didn’t we get a 1st baseman in that deal, too? What a brilliant trade.
I still think that we’re going to have two spots potentially open at the every day positions. Alderson also implied in this morning’s paper that Cameron is back.
1st, 2nd, ss, rf and cf are all locked, I think. That leaves c, and I think Piazza comes back and, even if he doesn’t, we play Bard and Bowen. LF, I’m afraid is open, since I think they’ll trade Roberts’ speed for power. The other opening is 3b, which unfortunately has a horrible free agent market absent Aramis Ramirez, if he opts out of his contract. I wouldn’t be surprised that we sign Nomar to that position, if he can make the throw.
The only way we trade one of the solids or one of our starting pitchers, is to get a young 3b.
370: Congratulations! Being a dad is the best thing in the world — I just had twins in June.
The difference between this year and last is that the entire roster doesn’t have to be overhauled.
They still played like crap in the DS, and I’m not really sure what the answer is to that problem.
I’d love to see Branyan back, I think that was a pretty solid pickup by KT. He’d be great coming off the bench to spell anyone at the corners.
It’d be nice to get a full season from Kahlil someday. I thought he did a pretty good job being more selective this season.
Thanks, guys. Without y’all, Ducksnorts doesn’t happen. As for the Padres, it’s a disappointing finish but this truly was a great season that exceeded my expectations. I know the experts picked us to win the series but those are the same folks who picked the Dodgers or Giants to win the division, so what do they know. There’s a lot to be done and we’ll be talking about it over the winter for sure. I’ll be posting a rough Ducksnorts off-season schedule later this week.
As for the IGDs, I’m more than happy to fire ‘em up for the remainder of the playoffs and WS if anyone’s interested. I may not be as active a participant in all of those, but it’s no trouble for me to set them up if you’d like.
Thanks again for everything (and congrats to Clayton). You guys rock!