Playoff IGD: Padres vs Cardinals (5 Oct 06)
Thu, Oct 5, 2006
by Geoff Young
first pitch: 1:09 p.m., PT
television: ESPN
matchup: David Wells (3-5, 4.42 ERA) vs Jeff Weaver (8-14, 5.76 ERA)
previews: Padres.com | ESPN
buy tickets
Two in-season acquisitions hook up this afternoon at Petco Park, as fans of both teams try to figure out how to accommodate MLB’s decision to schedule NLDS games during the middle of the day. I’m fortunate enough to have tickets to Thursday’s contest and an understanding boss. Others have to follow along on radio or the Internet at work, or watch the game on TiVo when they get home. Face it, the scheduling stinks. And so does losing the opener on Tuesday.
But you know what? Those are things we cannot control, and today is a new day. And if you need justification for your optimism, look no further than today’s starter for the Cardinals, Jeff Weaver.
Aside from the fact that Weaver is about as volatile a pitcher as you’ll find in the playoffs this side of Brad Penny, he also plays into the strength of the Padres lineup:
| vs LHB | vs RHB | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | AB | BA | OBP | SLG | AB | BA | OBP | SLG |
| 2006 | 350 | .340 | .396 | .609 | 352 | .267 | .310 | .438 |
| 2003-05 | 1219 | .308 | .371 | .526 | 1183 | .234 | .271 | .368 |
| Stats courtesy ESPN. | ||||||||
Heck, Weaver’s been getting knocked around by lefties since his days at Fresno State.
So, what does this mean for the Padres? We’ll probably see Todd Walker at second (actually, we’ll definitely be seeing Walker — dude is hitting .381/.409/.667 against Weaver in 21 career at-bats). And, with Friday being a travel day, it wouldn’t be shocking to see Josh Bard behind the plate.
On the other side, David Wells has no appreciable lefty/righty splits, but a few Cardinals have had success against him in the past, namely Jim Edmonds (.314/.351/.629 in 35 AB), Juan Encarnacion (.292/.320/.583 in 24 AB), and Scott Rolen (.444/.444/1.222 in 9 AB).
And how about Wells’ famous post-season experience? I have to admit, he’s got a pretty impressive line (120 IP, 109 H, 25 BB, 81 SO, 3.15 ERA, 10-4 W-L). The usual disclaimers about past performance apply, of course, but I’m liking what I’m seeing.
I’ll be out at the ballpark today so you’re on your own for this one. Talk it up and be good to one another. When I come home, I’ll post photos, hopefully of San Diego’s first playoff victory in 8 years. Go Padres!
Picking up where last year's version left off, the Ducksnorts 2008 Baseball Annual provides in-depth analysis of and commentary on the San Diego Padres. Get your copy today.
October 5, 2006 at 9:46 am
GY, I’ll see you down there, only a section further down left field than my usual seats.
It’s a great day. Boomer pitching for his home team. Chance to even the series.
I fully expect a big game from Boomer. Best thing about Boomer is that he believes he is meant to pitch and pitch well in games like this. I expect the offense to be there today, as well. Jeff Weaver? Isn’t he the guy soon to be known as “Jerod’s older brother?”
October 5, 2006 at 10:08 am
Test. Are the comments working.
October 5, 2006 at 10:11 am
#1…I completely agree..this is the reason we brought him here and he expects to be successful in situations like this. I see him hanging some nice round zeros for about 6+ innings today.
October 5, 2006 at 10:11 am
Just thought about how today could have been Weaver vs Weaver. Oh well, lets go get ‘em Boomer!
October 5, 2006 at 10:12 am
4
I hate you for reminding me! But look on the bright side… at least we have Matt Bush.
October 5, 2006 at 10:14 am
Doc Roberts is fired up about today’s game. I love that he’s blogging the playoffs.
October 5, 2006 at 10:25 am
5
As I’ve said before, I hope the first Padre jersey I see with “Bush” on the back of it is handed out in the Rose Garden after the season…
October 5, 2006 at 10:40 am
How about Weaver vs Verlander?
Thank for putting me in a great mood before I walk over to the park, Matt Bush geez, I thought KT and Billy Beane were friends-couldn’t he have said something?
October 5, 2006 at 10:43 am
I guess Bard may be starting, but I’d like to see Piazza since having lefty Wells on the mount partially negates his biggest flaw (throwing).
Any word on Khalil/Blum?
October 5, 2006 at 10:44 am
Great article on espn.com espnabout the Padres clubhouse. Pretty cool.
October 5, 2006 at 10:46 am
RE: Geoff’s comment about the NLDS and day games; I am listening to the Yankees broadcast on XM and the guy is patting Yankees fans on the back for showing up for a day game after last nights “rain out”. He made the commet “people do work, you know”.
How about we give you guys a medal.
October 5, 2006 at 10:48 am
11 - Especially since it’s only the DS. I mean, everyone knows the Yankees are winning the whole thing, so why skip work for the DS?
October 5, 2006 at 10:49 am
I just realized how much this playoff scheduling sucks. The last four years I was in high school and we always had this part of the year off due to year-round scheduling. But now that I’m in college and I have midterms at 12:30 and the game starts at 1:09, it really blows. I had to ditch my last class on Tuesday and go through the test as fast as I could just to drive downtown and get to the ballpark, and then spend three innings looking for parking. It was not fun at all. Especially considering that when I left my car it was 0-0 and when I got to the ballpark it was 3-0.
October 5, 2006 at 10:54 am
Love Well’s but hope his bravado doesn’t get the most of him… here’s a quote he gave about intentionally walking Pujols, taken from his interview yesterday:
—-
“I would fight Bruce on the situation,” Wells said. “I love pitching to guys like Albert. I get a big thrill out of it. And get the opportunity to get them out, then you got bragging rights. But then again he can change a game with one swing. And that’s what you don’t want to happen, especially if it’s a situation like that.”
—-
Um… scary….
October 5, 2006 at 10:56 am
yankee site has no gameday. Interesting. Is that because George doesn’t want it? Wonder why?
Do the dawgs play the mets again? Why are the Pads/cards stuck playing every other day. Oh, that’s right, we are only the red-headed step child of MLB/ESPN East Coast baseball cartel. Surprised the Yankees didn’t demand that God stop the rain last night. Maybe its like football, only two challenges allowed. Oh wait, only the Astros have a direct link to God. My bad.
October 5, 2006 at 10:59 am
Verlander = Houdini today.
October 5, 2006 at 11:02 am
13
Dude, you’re in college in San Diego. You have a life 99% of us on this board would kill to go back to. Pardon me if I don’t express a lot of sympathy!!
October 5, 2006 at 11:03 am
Any snorters know of a good place in the north county to catch the game? I went to Hennessey’s in Carlsbad for Tuesday’s game and they wouldn’t turn the sound on. Jerkoffs. I left after 2 innings and went back to work.
I am in San Marcos.
October 5, 2006 at 11:05 am
PM - we’re complaining because we’re getting extra days of rest? Especially given how over worked out pen was down the stretch, why is this a bad thing?
October 5, 2006 at 11:08 am
#18 I moved from North County last fall, but a decent place to watch the games was always Rookies in Carlsbad/Oceanside It’s on the north side of 78 at the El Camino off ramp. There’s also a new Hooters right there at that same exit, I haven’t been there, but I would bet either of those places would be a decent choice to catch the game.
October 5, 2006 at 11:11 am
#18
Oggi’s in Vista (off of Melrose just past the courthouse) is my favorite hang-out. Lots of screens, good food, and great beer (brewed on-site). My second choice would be Rookies in Oceanside on east side of El Camino Real north of the 78.
October 5, 2006 at 11:13 am
#21 Oggi’s is another good choice…can’t believe I forgot about them, I used to go there all the time…bad mistake on my part. Oggi’s has much better food than Rookies, at least that’s the way I remember it.
October 5, 2006 at 11:14 am
Had missed this, found it in the Washington Post (sorry Kevin)’s NL Notebook this morning.
“With all the attention focused on Orlando Hernandez’s torn calf muscle and the need to replace him on the Mets’ playoff roster, a Dodgers’ roster change was overlooked.
Los Angeles added pitcher Chad Billingsley to replace left-hander Joe Beimel.
“Joe cut a finger on his left hand on a piece of glass,” Manager Grady Little said. “It’s unfortunate. He was a big contributor to our club all season. We’ll miss him.”
Beimel was 2-1 in 62 games with a 2.96 ERA.”
October 5, 2006 at 11:17 am
Dude, how freaking good is Justin Verlander? Man oh man! Once again thank god we have Matt Bush.
October 5, 2006 at 11:17 am
#22
The food at Oggi’s rocks, and there are a lot of choices. They also have a good lunch-time specials…plus the beer is cheaper (and tastier) than that at Rookies.
October 5, 2006 at 11:22 am
And Philly Billy is Oggi’s spokesperson…so….yeah!
October 5, 2006 at 11:22 am
#19 I’ve heard ballplayers talk about Mo a lot and playing every other day kills the Mo, especially after a loss, players want to get back out there and make it right. Besides, all the other teams play two in a row, then a travel day. Pads/cards get stuck with every other day, plus travel days because we are the team furtherest from the MBL/ESPN East Coast Baseball Cartel. Even the Twins and As get to play consecutive games. Its a conspraicy agaist the Pads. Is Richie Garcia making the playoff schedule?
Actaully, I’m just killing time before the game starts.
October 5, 2006 at 11:25 am
What also sucks is that games 3, 4, and 5 are scheduled on consecutive days…no travel day between 4 and 5. Off-hand, I’d say that favors the Padres, being the west-coast team.
October 5, 2006 at 11:25 am
good lord. I feel bad for ARod. No matter what the Yanks do in this series, if he hits .167 he is a villain. Oy, it’s great.
October 5, 2006 at 11:29 am
haha, I don’t feel sorry for anyone making $25 million a year. I’d put up with all that **** for a measly $1 million!
October 5, 2006 at 11:35 am
Padres need a 3rd basemen and we promise to be nice. There is that pesky SD discount though.
October 5, 2006 at 11:38 am
Thanks all. Found a Reds fan friend in San Diego that is willing to meet me 1/2 way in Encinitas at Oggis.
I found this website by blind luck about 3 months ago and it is now in my top 2. Thanks Geoff.
October 5, 2006 at 11:39 am
Everyone talks about A-Rod going somewhere and playing 3rd but I bet if he waived his no-trade he would want to play SS again. I mean he was the best SS on the planet and isn’t exactly Brooks Robinson at the hot corner!
October 5, 2006 at 11:45 am
Okay, fine, I’ll play 3B for $750K/yr if that will make everyone happy.
October 5, 2006 at 11:51 am
How bout 125K with a gold Glove incentive?
October 5, 2006 at 11:57 am
Sweet. Anyhoo, where’s a good place in SD to get flaxseed oil?
October 5, 2006 at 11:58 am
#32
If you’re in Encinitas, you might want to consider meeting at Yogi’s in Cardiff (near the intersectio of Birmingham and San Elijo)…Yogi’s has more screens than the Oggi’s in Encinitas.
October 5, 2006 at 11:59 am
Anyone want to take odds on Poo-holes getting drilled today?
October 5, 2006 at 11:59 am
What’s the reasoning with Bard playing because we have a travel day tomorrow?
October 5, 2006 at 12:00 pm
Re: 38
I think Boomer’s the one Padre who will drill him. So…no bet.
October 5, 2006 at 12:00 pm
Tigers have tied it up @ 3.
October 5, 2006 at 12:19 pm
Man, can the Yankees hit. This team my be near the juggernaut we played in 98, which was one of the best Yankee teams ever. How come SD sports teams always play cindarella to elite teams at their peak. Guess it beats being a cubs fan.
October 5, 2006 at 12:20 pm
Today’s lineups
Eskstein
Wilson
Poo holes
Rolen
Encarnacion
Edmonds
Belliard
Molina
Weaver
Roberts
Giles
Walker
Gonzalez
Bard
Cameron
Branyan
Blum
Wells
Wish Khalil was starting. I like this lineup otherwise.
October 5, 2006 at 12:20 pm
Cameron’s our only righty in the lineup.
October 5, 2006 at 12:21 pm
Tigers re-take the lead in the seventh off Mussina. 4-3. Granderson triples in Thames. Still just one out.
October 5, 2006 at 12:28 pm
#32 I would also go to Yogi’s over Oggis if you’re going to be in Encinitas.
#29 I don’t feel sorry for him either…he’s making a ton of money and he is not worth squat in the playoffs..
October 5, 2006 at 12:29 pm
I wonder what Bochy would do if LaRussa removed Weaver after 1 inning for a LHP.
October 5, 2006 at 12:30 pm
42
Was Matsui ever an all-star? If so they have an all-star at every position. That’s so stupid!
October 5, 2006 at 12:35 pm
Dude, stop w/ the VerlanderBush comments. Woulda/coulda/shoulda support those who are Padres.
October 5, 2006 at 12:39 pm
This could be the most vagrant lineup ever.
October 5, 2006 at 12:43 pm
#47…I was thinking the same thing. And I wouldn’t put it past TLR, but I’m hoping we’re up 6-0 at that point.
October 5, 2006 at 12:46 pm
Does he only have the one LHP at his disposal?
If so, he can’t go that long anyway…it’s like a war of attrition.
October 5, 2006 at 12:49 pm
Didn’t this happen recently against the Dodgers, where we had like 7 lefties in and hit the starter hard? And then Hendrickson or someone was brought in and we scored another 4 runs off the lefty?
October 5, 2006 at 12:54 pm
I feel fairly confident of our ability to knock Suppan around, but a bigger question mark, is what will we get out of Boomer:
Postseason: 10-4, 3.15 ERA in 120 IP w/ a 6.08 K/9
…or will he be this pitcher:
Career: 230-148 with a 4.07 ERA and a 5.81 K/9
…this one…
2006: 3-5, 4.42 ERA in 75.1 IP with a 4.54 K/9
…or this one…
2 healthy SD starts:
1-0, 0.75 ERA, in 12 IP w/ a 3.75 K/9…???
This start is a HUGE question-mark in my mind…
October 5, 2006 at 12:56 pm
PF, how do you like our chances against Weaver?
October 5, 2006 at 12:58 pm
So this enhanced Gameday thing is pretty cool. It shows the speed each pitch when it leaves the pitchers hand and when it crosses the plate. Interesting…Verlander had a # of pitches today leave his hand at over 100mph, whereas Mussina rarely topped 93. The 100 mph pitch crosses home plate at about 90.
Crazy stuff this technology.
October 5, 2006 at 12:59 pm
Here comes another A-rod out to end the inning…
October 5, 2006 at 12:59 pm
Zumaya: pitches 102.5, is 93.4 at home plate.
October 5, 2006 at 1:01 pm
0-4, 3K for ARod.
October 5, 2006 at 1:01 pm
Matsui is a two-time All-Star.
The 1998 are one of the best teams of all time, because they were so well-rounded.
This season’s Yankees have the best lineup of all time, I think.
October 5, 2006 at 1:05 pm
Cardinals’ post-season hopes: “Carpenter and pray for rain”
If we can score 4-5 it could be close, if we score 6, we win… I don’t think Wells will flop and if he does, Hensley will be up quick. We should score at least 4 today.
October 5, 2006 at 1:05 pm
Hey, can this game be heard on streaming radio (outside of MLB radio you have to pay for)?
October 5, 2006 at 1:06 pm
#62 I don’t think it can…but I don’t really know..
October 5, 2006 at 1:08 pm
56 - Friarfan, how do you get the enhanced gameday?
What site?
October 5, 2006 at 1:08 pm
Without drafting Bush, we don’t have Alderson, DePo, Fuson and the very solid drafts that followed Alderson’s arrival.
October 5, 2006 at 1:09 pm
baseball-reference.com has 2006 stats up
October 5, 2006 at 1:09 pm
http://viidoo.com/en/index.php
check here for streaming ESPN…my video’s not working (audio is better than nothing), but it is on my coworker’s comp
October 5, 2006 at 1:10 pm
Well said Richard (#65)
October 5, 2006 at 1:12 pm
Odd beginning to the game.
October 5, 2006 at 1:13 pm
Didn’t look like it hit Eckstein.
October 5, 2006 at 1:13 pm
Much ado about nothing, he did enough to try to avoid the pitch.
A strong wind blowing out to left should favor our lefty lineup.
October 5, 2006 at 1:14 pm
71: I thought the argument was that it didn’t hit him.
October 5, 2006 at 1:14 pm
I think he did just fine trying ot avoid the pitch..i don’t think it hit him…and can he get first base if it bounces before it hits him?
October 5, 2006 at 1:14 pm
49
Oh I do support those that are Padres. But come on can I not get a little teary eyed and heartbroken from time to time when I see Verlander go out and pitch a good game against an all-star team? Just wait till he wins the ROY I’ll be crying my eyes out. Trust me Peter this is only the beginning. With Weaver, Verlander, Drew, Street and with Fields, Hughes coming, you’re going to hear about Matt Bush for a while. But look on the bright side… Maybe someday he’ll make it to Double A.
GO PADRES!!!
October 5, 2006 at 1:14 pm
71: Out to right I mean
October 5, 2006 at 1:15 pm
enhanced version is on mlb.com gameday. click in upper left corner.
October 5, 2006 at 1:17 pm
Atta baby! Bust him up inside!
October 5, 2006 at 1:17 pm
Nice start for boomer…now lets score 4 or 5 here in the first…
October 5, 2006 at 1:20 pm
I think Bochy should have batted Bard 4th and Gonzo 5th… now a LHP can go 1-4 and face left-handed hitters only… Mmmm…
October 5, 2006 at 1:22 pm
79
Good call!
October 5, 2006 at 1:22 pm
The lefthanded pitchers in the Cards BP are no good except against bellhorn
October 5, 2006 at 1:22 pm
Although if it gets late in the game, they can pinch hit Barfield for Walker to get a righty
October 5, 2006 at 1:23 pm
81, I agree, but TLR will burn 3 pitchers in the late part of the game if we can force him to go L-R-L
October 5, 2006 at 1:24 pm
good lord…that was weird…never seen someone misjudge it so badly and still catch it easily…
October 5, 2006 at 1:24 pm
come on Gonzo!
October 5, 2006 at 1:25 pm
HUH!?! Defensively challenged? Just b/c Walker made a couple errors… LED MLB in DE
October 5, 2006 at 1:26 pm
This umpire has been pretty lousy already.
October 5, 2006 at 1:27 pm
Story of our late-season push Richard
October 5, 2006 at 1:28 pm
88: No kidding.
October 5, 2006 at 1:29 pm
86: I think a big part of the reason our infield has been solid is Adrian, though. Perhaps without him, the numbers would suggest they were worse.
October 5, 2006 at 1:29 pm
Here at work we have the TVs on mute but Berman is still annoying on the captioning.
October 5, 2006 at 1:30 pm
I hate to go conspiracy-theory on the umps, but I’m beginning to think MLB is suggesting it is baseball’s best interest for us not to advance (ratings)…
October 5, 2006 at 1:30 pm
anyone know if I buy the mlb radio thing will it be blacked out here?
October 5, 2006 at 1:30 pm
dammit…we just can’t get a hit when we need one…
October 5, 2006 at 1:31 pm
Perhaps diving into first when Pujols is running straight at you is not a good idea. Bard is lucky he didn’t get kicked in the face.
October 5, 2006 at 1:31 pm
I’m not all the way there, but it’s crossed my mind - dang!
24 pitches… All things considered, not a bad 1st inning - some runs would have been better, but a success none-the-less
October 5, 2006 at 1:32 pm
94: It’s particularly infuriating because strike one was f***ing ball 4.
October 5, 2006 at 1:33 pm
Wells better get that same extra 6 inches of plate.
October 5, 2006 at 1:33 pm
ata-boy!
October 5, 2006 at 1:33 pm
98: He didn’t get it in the first inning…
Great catch by Adrian.
October 5, 2006 at 1:35 pm
Why the hell isn’t Wells getting the same strike zone as Weaver?
October 5, 2006 at 1:35 pm
what the hell’s going on here with the strike zone?
October 5, 2006 at 1:35 pm
I’m in Del Mar listening to MLB radio online (no AM reception in this part of the building). It’s not blacked out locally as far as I can tell.
October 5, 2006 at 1:36 pm
102: I’m starting to lean towards Peter’s conspiracy theory. This is an absolute joke.
October 5, 2006 at 1:36 pm
#102 Who the hell knows…but he’s clearly not getting the same strike zone…
October 5, 2006 at 1:38 pm
playing devil’s advocate here, could it be the difference between viewing the strike zone out of a LHP’s hand vs. a RHP’s hand?
October 5, 2006