IGD: Padres @ Cubs (17 Apr 07)
Tue, Apr 17, 2007
by Geoff Young
first pitch: 11:20 a.m. PT
television: none WGN
matchup: Greg Maddux (1-1, 3.18 ERA) vs Wade Miller (0-1, 13.50 ERA)
previews: Padres.com | SI.com
What a bizarre schedule. Night game in LA, followed by two in Chicago, followed by another back home. Seems like there should be an off-day somewhere — Monday would have been a good time for that.
Ex-Cub Greg Maddux goes for win #335 Tuesday afternoon at Wrigley. After what Jason Marquis did to the Padres last night, I’m reluctant to say anything negative about this afternoon’s starter, Wade Miller.
Here’s to better times. 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.
April 17, 2007 at 10:36 am
Alright, I’ll go first. Need to see some life today. I hate losing streaks not just for what they do to your record but for what they do to your mental outlook for the team. This is just a two-gamer but feels like longer due to the 3 blowout losses in 4 games thing.
Last night’s IGD got out of hand due to one loser with nothing better to do than to ruin someone else’s good thing. Is there a way for the DS community to self-police? I’m thinking about the nights Geoff is actually at the games or is otherwise living his non-DS life. In other words, Geoff can’t always be watching…maybe some of the DS-lifers who’ve been around longer than me (probably folks with their own blogs who know how it works) could be “on-call” for those nights and have the keys to the site to take care of stuff like that. Maybe drastic measures aren’t really necessary, but it’s just top of mind after last night. Other option could be to make this a pay-to-post site, but that probably stop the random newbies who find the site and have something meaningful to say and end up sticking around.
Whatever, I’m probably over-reacting to a one-time thing anyway.
April 17, 2007 at 10:54 am
A slightly disturbing comment from Randy Ready (Missions MGR) as quoted from the SA Express:
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sp.....5bea9.html
“Change up: With the exception of closer Neil Jamison, Ready plans to give his pitching staff experience in a variety of roles.
“We’re going to give them an opportunity to have a little time in different situations.” ”
I surely hope this doesn’t screw with the minds of the rising young starters (esp Thompson and Ekstrom) on the team.
These guys can get whacked out by some seemingly little things. Look at what happened to Stauffer. The guy seems like he has no business in organized ball (let alone AAA) yet look where he was 1-2 years ago.
April 17, 2007 at 11:24 am
Looks like the game is on WGN
April 17, 2007 at 11:29 am
Good catch, Anthony. Same cannot be said of Murton’s effort there. We’ll take it.
April 17, 2007 at 11:32 am
Better start than yesterday already. C’mon Greeney.
By the way, if I’m a little behind, I’m listening on XM at work.
April 17, 2007 at 11:39 am
Damn, that was a really nice play by Kouz.
April 17, 2007 at 11:39 am
Yeah it was
April 17, 2007 at 11:42 am
Kouz is one of 4 NL third basemen without an error so far this season (among qualified players)
April 17, 2007 at 11:44 am
1t Jose Bautista Pit 1.000 ( 36/36 )
1t Scott Rolen StL 1.000 ( 25/25 )
1t Wilson Betemit LAD 1.000 ( 20/20 )
1t Kevin Kouzmanoff SD 1.000 ( 16/16 )
5 Chad Tracy Ari .975 ( 39/40 )
6 David Wright NYM .969 ( 31/32 )
7 Edwin Encarnacion Cin .966 ( 28/29 )
8 Pedro Feliz SF .963 ( 26/27 )
9 Miguel Cabrera Fla .962 ( 25/26 )
10 Aramis Ramirez ChC .950 ( 19/20 )
April 17, 2007 at 11:50 am
Maddux looks good so far. They got a run but only one ball was hit hard.
April 17, 2007 at 11:55 am
Liking what Marcus is doing in the leadoff spot. 2 knocks already.
April 17, 2007 at 11:58 am
NOG with 7 game hit streak … and 10 of 11 … 4 BBs is a bit low …
April 17, 2007 at 11:59 am
chyronbob…the problem is that he has missed some balls that he “should” have gotten…granted, he has also made some nice plays, but overall he has looked like an average 3 Bagger…
Sounds/looks like I missed some fireworks in last night’s IGD…that is what I get for traveling.
April 17, 2007 at 12:01 pm
Average is better than what we were led to believe.
April 17, 2007 at 12:04 pm
Kouz looks a lot better on D then we were led to believe-I don’t doubt that he is going to be average defensively.
Now if we’re talking about a league average starting pitcher-those seem to be awfully tough to come by
April 17, 2007 at 12:06 pm
on NOG-if he is going to hit .310+ then I won’t complain much about the lack of BB.
April 17, 2007 at 12:08 pm
Wow Cameron with a hit
April 17, 2007 at 12:08 pm
13 - not so much fireworks as random juvenile deciding to post offensive stuff
April 17, 2007 at 12:10 pm
Cameron has looked so bad at the plate this season…I hope last night off helps….he has been dipping his shoulder and dropping his hands way to much.
Love his speed tagging up on that fly…
April 17, 2007 at 12:11 pm
If Kouz can give us a .975-.980ish pct at 3B, I’d be satisfied.
April 17, 2007 at 12:11 pm
Wow, a Padre hitter getting the runner to third with less than 2 outs! Haven’t seen enough of that this young season…
April 17, 2007 at 12:11 pm
I am watching the game on MLB TV…I think it is the WGN feed, but Mud Grant is doing some color for them…is that right?
April 17, 2007 at 12:13 pm
Yep, Grant’s sitting in with the WGN crew, reminiscing with Bob Brenly
April 17, 2007 at 12:13 pm
Yep, I can see Mud in the booth.
April 17, 2007 at 12:16 pm
2 out hit would be nice about now.
April 17, 2007 at 12:18 pm
Bowen - 3 for 6 career with bases loaded. Come on now!
April 17, 2007 at 12:19 pm
Is Miller just way off or getting squeezed? (watching the gamecast, hard to tell)
April 17, 2007 at 12:19 pm
for those not watching, or who don’t know Mud is from Chicago
April 17, 2007 at 12:20 pm
He’s all over the place-and the Cubs fans/announcers seem to think that he should get every border line call
April 17, 2007 at 12:22 pm
I can’t believe he caught that ball. I thought Bowen had 2 ribbies there.
April 17, 2007 at 12:23 pm
A shame. Bowen did everything right in that ab.
April 17, 2007 at 12:24 pm
Bowen has had a couple hits taken away by outfield dives this road trip.
Pads are 1 for 9 with bases loaded this season - gotta do better than that when runs are at a premium.
April 17, 2007 at 12:24 pm
Padres showed a lot of patience and Bowen hit the ball on the screws. Definitely an improvement over what we’ve seen lately.
April 17, 2007 at 12:27 pm
Miller is overreacting to pitches off the plate…
I really thought Bowen had the RBI’s coming…
I love watching Mad Dog pitch…
April 17, 2007 at 12:27 pm
Whoops…boot job by NOG
April 17, 2007 at 12:29 pm
Man…I am sorry, but we cannot throw a runner out…
April 17, 2007 at 12:31 pm
Allowed 17 SB in 18 attempts now.
April 17, 2007 at 12:31 pm
Did the staff just collectively decide they’re not going to bother holding runners? It seems like they run on everybody.
April 17, 2007 at 12:31 pm
We have to prove we can hold guys on and throw them out or it’s going to be one long track meet all season.
April 17, 2007 at 12:35 pm
He may have reason to complain about that last pitch to OG
April 17, 2007 at 12:37 pm
Maddux - 50 pitches entering the 4th. Need quick outs to get him past the 6th inning
April 17, 2007 at 12:39 pm
Thru 3 1/2 innings …
Pitches-strikes - G Maddux 50-30; W Miller 81-43.
Ground balls-fly balls - G Maddux 5-4; W Miller 4-6.
Batters faced - G Maddux 13; W Miller 20.
April 17, 2007 at 12:41 pm
Not sure that holding runners on being a problem is much of a surprise….Maddux and Young are both notoriously easy to run on and its not like we have a decent defensive catcher in the organization at this point
April 17, 2007 at 12:42 pm
6 straight ground balls for Maddux - good stuff.
April 17, 2007 at 12:44 pm
Thru 4 full …
Pitches-strikes - G Maddux 64-38; W Miller 81-43.
Ground balls-fly balls - G Maddux 8-4; W Miller 4-6.
Batters faced - G Maddux 16; W Miller 20.
April 17, 2007 at 12:45 pm
Looking good for 6IP from Maddux and then Meredith, Linebrink and Hoffman
April 17, 2007 at 12:48 pm
Two on. Like to cash in here and get some more runs.
April 17, 2007 at 12:49 pm
Khalil drew a walk!
April 17, 2007 at 12:50 pm
That’s a very generous inside corner.
April 17, 2007 at 12:50 pm
Nice to see the Cubs announcers make the point that the strike 3 pitch to Sledge hasn’t been called a strike for anyone all game
April 17, 2007 at 12:50 pm
Was that Khalil’s first walk of the year? Amazing.
April 17, 2007 at 12:51 pm
2 walks for Greenie this season
April 17, 2007 at 12:51 pm
First one was intentional
April 17, 2007 at 12:53 pm
52: yep, just checked that, must have missed that BB against the Giants
April 17, 2007 at 12:53 pm
Again with Cameron? Oy.
April 17, 2007 at 12:54 pm
Cameron’s looking like an $ss-clown out there thus far… come-on, position your body so the ball is out of the sun - this isn’t that TOUGH!
April 17, 2007 at 12:54 pm
I think it would be helpful if Cameron at least played good D if he is going to hit .150-losing fly balls is getting kind of old
April 17, 2007 at 12:55 pm
Hope losing the fly ball doesn’t cost them a 2nd game this year
April 17, 2007 at 12:55 pm
That run can be charged to Cameron.
April 17, 2007 at 12:56 pm
I know that Cameron is going to come around, but seriously - WTF?
April 17, 2007 at 12:58 pm
Guys. Pujols is still hitting well under .200. Cameron was our best player last year. Let’s not run him out of town over fewer than 15 games.
April 17, 2007 at 1:00 pm
Honestly, the game shouldn’t even be close. Can’t give a big-league team this many opportunities.
April 17, 2007 at 1:00 pm
I don’t think anyone said anything about running him out of town, or even benching him…..but come on he’s got to be able to play some basic baseball, like catching fly balls and advancing a base on a wild pitch
April 17, 2007 at 1:01 pm
That was a pretty bad pitch that Lee hit. Almost down the middle on 1-2. And Maddux again not interested in holding runners.
April 17, 2007 at 1:01 pm
We’re at that point with Maddux
2006
Pitches 61-75 .307 avg
Pitches 76-90 .366 avg
April 17, 2007 at 1:02 pm
two SB’s for DLee today…
April 17, 2007 at 1:04 pm
we should see some more pitch-outs and throw overs in the coming games
April 17, 2007 at 1:04 pm
After 5 full …
Pitches-strikes - G Maddux 83-51; W Miller 98-54.
Ground balls-fly balls - G Maddux 9-6; W Miller 4-8.
Batters faced - G Maddux 23; W Miller 25.
April 17, 2007 at 1:05 pm
Agreed, it’s too early to panic. That said, I’m noticing a couple real disturbing trends on defense. First, Cameron has not been getting the kinds of jumps we’re used to seeing him get. Second, I’m tired of watching opponents steal bases at will against our pitchers. I think Cameron will come around; not so sure about the pitchers.
April 17, 2007 at 1:07 pm
C’mon, let’s make them pay for their mistakes.
April 17, 2007 at 1:09 pm
Or not.
April 17, 2007 at 1:09 pm
Nice to watch us try to throw this game away. Blown bunt and GIDP.
Wow.
April 17, 2007 at 1:09 pm
Hindsight and all that, by why would you bunt there and have Brian Giles hitting against a lefty needing a well hit ball to score him?
April 17, 2007 at 1:10 pm
I don’t have to reaffirm my Padres allegience, but Felix Pie is an exciting player. It is no wonder so many people are so high on him. And I won’t lie, I wasn’t one of them. I thought he had a better chance to be Ruben Rivera than the future all star he looks like today.
April 17, 2007 at 1:11 pm
I think you bunt because Marcus has done it successfully this year and it avoids the DP.
Brian had been swinging the bat well this year, so it’s not too much to expect him to be able to hit a deep fly.
The Claw in now?
April 17, 2007 at 1:12 pm
Looks like Black is looking for 2 IP from Meredith-he is so much more aggresive with his bullpen usage then Bochy ever was
April 17, 2007 at 1:15 pm
wow. kouz flashing some leather. nice to see
April 17, 2007 at 1:16 pm
Two more nice plays by Kouz.
April 17, 2007 at 1:18 pm
I hope Cammy has a good sense of humor. Not his week.
April 17, 2007 at 1:22 pm
More runners in scoring position. Opportunity knocks again.
April 17, 2007 at 1:22 pm
Is it just me or does Cotts look an awful lot like Clay Hensley (at least in his picture on the Padres website).
April 17, 2007 at 1:22 pm
Khalil walks again!
Wierd game.
April 17, 2007 at 1:22 pm
Wooo! Another walk for Greene.
April 17, 2007 at 1:23 pm
Cotts’ picture also has him looking a lot like Johnney Depp
April 17, 2007 at 1:25 pm
PF4L…just wondering…have you ever seen Johnny Depp and Neil Cotts in the same place at the same time?
April 17, 2007 at 1:26 pm
2 walks for Greenie - last time: June 5, 2006 at Milwaukee
April 17, 2007 at 1:29 pm
CM, I think we may have just stumbled onto the most intriguing conspiracy in the 21st century! I knew something was going on the minute I woke up this morning!
April 17, 2007 at 1:30 pm
Is it just me or does Kouz seem to have a good eye for balls just off the outside corner of the plate?
And, as I am typing, he goes ahead and K’s…fitting.
April 17, 2007 at 1:30 pm
13 base runners in 7 innings! And three runs. Very frustrating.
April 17, 2007 at 1:31 pm
15 LOB today? ouch!
April 17, 2007 at 1:34 pm
any time you have to advertise the new movie that you’re in by soliciting hits to a “myspace” page, well, your career’s pretty much done…
April 17, 2007 at 1:34 pm
Some of the hitters have just looked atrocious. Slow bats, bad pitch recognition. Did they all eat at the same bad restaurant in Chicago?
April 17, 2007 at 1:36 pm
92: must be the deep dish. that stuff can slow down anyone, but it’s just too good to stop eating!
April 17, 2007 at 1:46 pm
Well, is Lee off to the races again?
April 17, 2007 at 1:47 pm
Stupid lead-off walks…please, give me a GIDP
April 17, 2007 at 1:48 pm
I don’t know if it was mentioned yet, but B-Law is about to be waived byt eh Rox according to a report on MLBTR. Apparently he got creamed in AAA rehab. I actually liked him while he was here but it always seemd like he was on the cusp of being pretty good but never quite getting there. I hope the Pad’s don’t look at him.
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/
April 17, 2007 at 1:48 pm
CM, you got what you asked for!
April 17, 2007 at 1:48 pm
Ask and you shall receive, CM!
April 17, 2007 at 1:48 pm
Anything else you would like to request, Mike?
April 17, 2007 at 1:48 pm
4-6-3
Thank you Waiter.
April 17, 2007 at 1:50 pm
All our frustrations can be salved here with a run and Trevor Time. To the ninth!
April 17, 2007 at 1:55 pm
Could that bounce have been any better for the Cubbies?
April 17, 2007 at 1:55 pm
Ball. In Air. Medium Deep.
April 17, 2007 at 1:56 pm
Okay KG - prove to me that I was wrong last year - you can be clutch…
April 17, 2007 at 1:57 pm
How many times are we going to miss that cement roller slider?
April 17, 2007 at 1:57 pm
UGH!
April 17, 2007 at 1:57 pm
C’mon Sledge.
April 17, 2007 at 1:58 pm
C’mon Kouz!
April 17, 2007 at 1:58 pm
Seriously. Wertz has thrown that pitch 75% of the time and almost every time when he’s got 2 strikes. What are these guys doing on the bench, having bubble blowing contests?
The offense sure looks better under Merv the Wonder Dog.