IGD: Padres @ Dodgers (15 Apr 07)
Sun, Apr 15, 2007
by Geoff Young
first pitch: 5:05 p.m. PT
television: ESPN
matchup: Chris Young (1-0, 2.13 ERA) vs Randy Wolf (1-1, 3.75 ERA)
preview: Padres.com
Major League Baseball is branding this as the “Jackie Robinson Game.” As such, it will be televised on ESPN at a time that makes no sense whatsoever. Every member of the Dodgers will be wearing #42 in Robinson’s honor.
Others have pointed out the absurdity of “unretiring” a number that was retired in perpetuity (unless that word doesn’t mean what I think it means). Robinson deserves every possible accolade we can give him, and then some. That said, there are probably better ways to celebrate one of the game’s true pioneers. None, of course, will generate as much revenue as this — think of the uniform sales.
Anyway, you may want to find an alternate feed today if possible. There’s a real good chance the ESPN broadcasters won’t even acknowledge the 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 15, 2007 at 12:32 pm
The ESPN announcers won’t be worse than listening to Vin Scully the last 2 nights.
April 15, 2007 at 12:50 pm
I have to agree with you Mark. Normally I love listening to Vin because he has a great voice and is usually very impartial, but I just could not stand all the stories this weekend. Although I disagree that the ESPN announcers won’t be worse. They will be.
April 15, 2007 at 1:02 pm
They won’t be much worse was my point…
April 15, 2007 at 1:33 pm
I may have to mute the game and turn on the radio tonight.
April 15, 2007 at 2:16 pm
I don’t think the ESPN announcers will be so bad. Jon Miller does a good job, and remember he’s a Giants lifer. I’d expect no love for the Dodgers. And you can do far worse than Joe Morgan…
April 15, 2007 at 2:22 pm
Re: 5, you can do worse, but his vendetta against any quantitative analysis is baseball drives me a bit crazy.
One “analysis” he cited how stats could be deceiving was saying that two hitters could have averages of .280 vs. .300, but saying that the .280 hitter could be a better player. I think, sure, he easily could have a much higher OPS, but Joe’s logic was that it if the .280 hitter did better with guys on base he was much more valuable, and the .300 hitter had an “empty” average. So he does not speak to the commentary I like to hear, but his perspective as a player, and a good one, seems to entertain enough folks to keep him there.
April 15, 2007 at 2:26 pm
I was listening on XM last night. I didn’t think Vin did a bad job but I think he repeated a lot of the Padre stories. I liked the one with Chris Young though, had a law firm negotiate his contract extension saving a lot of $$…
April 15, 2007 at 3:01 pm
BZ? You sure? I don’t think you can do ANY worse than Morgan… The guy’s an intellectual mullet.
April 15, 2007 at 3:42 pm
Joe Morgan is the most annoying announcer ESPN has. If the Giants are the team on team playing that night, he can’t stop talking about Barry Bonds. If the Giants haven’t won a game in a week and Barry Bonds is on the DL and they aren’t even playing that night, all Joe Morgan has to talk about is Barry Bonds.
Joe Buck is a smug *******, but I’d much rather hear him and the fox crew than the guys with ESPN.
April 15, 2007 at 3:45 pm
7: He has turned into a complete Dodger homer. Saying Friday night that the game was between the 2 NL West Champions. Saying the Padres were lucky to get 1 run after having the ba ses loaded etc…
April 15, 2007 at 3:48 pm
Hate hate hate Joe Morgan and Joe Miller. I was reading the first posts talking about “The bad ESPN guys” thinking “please not it be those two guys please please please.”
What I want in broadcasters are dudes that I’d want to sit down with and watch a baseball game. The Padres announcers are perfect in that regard. They know what they’re talking about, but they are also legitimately fun guys that I’d really have a blast hanging out with. Vin Scully has his great moments because it’s like watching a game with your dear ol’ grandpa. But when your grandpa keeps forgetting that he’s told you the same stories over and over it can get annoying.
Those ESPN guys might know their stuff. But they’re creepy boring old men!!!! Imagine hanging out with those two in your living room. And they won’t shut up about the significance of the poster on your wall and keep telling bad jokes about their respective weight problems. And then your buddy walks in and he’s looking at you like, “Dude, why the **** are you watching a baseball game with a couple of MBTA workers?” and you feel all awkward and stuff.
No thanks man. No thanks.
April 15, 2007 at 3:55 pm
It could be worse, they could have Chris Berman do the game.
Why is it that the wider the audience, the worse the announcers? I’ll still take ESPN over Fox though, at least they have fewer annoying sound effects and cartoony graphics.
April 15, 2007 at 4:04 pm
Anyone else feel that earthquake a few minutes ago?
April 15, 2007 at 4:09 pm
excuse me…
April 15, 2007 at 4:27 pm
anyone hear Gammons?
Supposedly one of the reasons Pierre signed with the Dodgers was b/c of Jackie Robinson…
Hmmm… I can think of 55 million reasons why he signed with the Dodgers & Robinson isn’t one of them.
April 15, 2007 at 4:56 pm
RE #8, These things are a matter of taste, of course, but in my book Tim McCarver is a few rungs below. A debate for the ages…
April 15, 2007 at 5:00 pm
10: No, being a complete homer is when the announcers yell at a fly ball to get out, as the Padres announcers did a couple of days ago.
April 15, 2007 at 5:10 pm
Nothing like seeing Chavez Ravine so empty for a huge occassion.
April 15, 2007 at 5:12 pm
11 — you hit the nose on the head. Well said.
I don’t mind Miller. Joe Morgan annoys the cap out of me.
What are the odds of anyone on the Pads getting some props tonight?
I guess it doesn’t matter — anything honoring Jackie can’t go too far in my opinion. I was at the Mets game in ‘97 when they did the ceremony there, it was pretty cool.
April 15, 2007 at 5:13 pm
Selig and Aaron were just laughing together. No doubt chuckling about how neither one is going to show up when Barry breaks the record.
HA HA!
April 15, 2007 at 5:14 pm
CY got some brief love for his thesis on Jackie.
It’s still a little shocking that on this day of all games, Dodger fans can’t show up on time.
April 15, 2007 at 5:16 pm
Joe Morgan is one of the worst analysts in any sport. Have you guys ever read one of his chats on ESPN? It’s incredible just how bad he is. Anyone who says otherwise just isn’t paying enough attention.
April 15, 2007 at 5:16 pm
I think it’s incredible that Robinson stole home 19 times. That’s unbelievable.
April 15, 2007 at 5:17 pm
23: How many times did he try to steal home? Anybody know?
April 15, 2007 at 5:19 pm
Tell me I didn’t just see Jesse Jackson.
April 15, 2007 at 5:21 pm
what time is first pitch — anyone know?
25 — did they even keep track of caught stealing back then?
April 15, 2007 at 5:21 pm
What changed that people don’t steal home as much anymore? Surely back then an out was still one third of an inning, a run still was worth one point, and the bag was 90 feet away. Was it the pitchers? Did they shorten up their delivery to prevent that kind of thing? We players leaner and faster?
April 15, 2007 at 5:22 pm
please, please tell me that we wont end up having to hear from Jessie Jackson….
April 15, 2007 at 5:26 pm
Nice job J-Hud!
April 15, 2007 at 5:27 pm
I kind of prefer when an announcer is a homer. I like watching a game and hearing the announcers root for a ball to get out while I do the same. Though of course it’s annoying when you’re not rooting for the same team a la Vin Scully.
April 15, 2007 at 5:27 pm
Mike Cameron with the 42 and the high pants…very cool…
April 15, 2007 at 5:28 pm
Let’s play ball!!
April 15, 2007 at 5:29 pm
30: exactly. I expect it from the Padres announcers and the other teams…but to hear everyone go on and on about how great Vin Scully is at announcing a game, I expect better from him. And hearing some of the things he said over the last two games makes him no different from any other home team announcer.
April 15, 2007 at 5:31 pm
“Rod Carew stole home 17 times, which is a testimony to Rod’s instincts and quickness, but pitchers at that time worked more from the windup than they do now,” Henderson noted in his autobiography Off Base. “Now they keep runners closer to third base by working from the stretch.
April 15, 2007 at 5:33 pm
Cameron still in the 3-hole???
April 15, 2007 at 5:33 pm
I agree that anything honoring Jackie is worthwhile… He didn’t just help change baseball, he helped change America. I love that my son knows all about him.
April 15, 2007 at 5:34 pm
Robinson was caught stealing home 12 times. I think that’s probably a net negative.
April 15, 2007 at 5:35 pm
33: I usually like Vin Scully, but his repetition was getting really annoying last night. Someone hit the nail on the head when they said it was like watching the game with your grandpa who’s starting to go senile
April 15, 2007 at 5:35 pm
I remember in the 80’s it was still fairly common to use a full windup with a man on third. At some point managers had to realize the risk greatly outweighed the benefits of stealing home. If you have a good baserunner on third and a pitcher up with two outs it might be worth a shot.
April 15, 2007 at 5:36 pm
Was that an Efus (sp?) pitch? a 65 mph curve?? what pitcher throws the slowest pitch?
April 15, 2007 at 5:36 pm
NOG with a walk? Oh boy, this is gonna be a weird game, I can feel it.
April 15, 2007 at 5:36 pm
In one of Morgan’s recent chats he was asked if Felix Hernandez was ready to compete for a Cy Young Award or if he was a few years away still. Morgan responded that Dwight Gooden was the best young pitcher he’d ever seen.
April 15, 2007 at 5:38 pm
42: Do you disagree?
April 15, 2007 at 5:40 pm
That was all he said in response to the question.
April 15, 2007 at 5:41 pm
Joe was playing the “old man” card, where you pretty much just say whatever you want, regardless of the question…
April 15, 2007 at 5:43 pm
What the hell was that????
April 15, 2007 at 5:43 pm
Thanks Martin.
April 15, 2007 at 5:44 pm
Alright Adrian!!!!!!!!
April 15, 2007 at 5:44 pm
one more big hit here….c’mon KG
April 15, 2007 at 5:46 pm
the good thing is Wolf threw 24 pitches that inning…
April 15, 2007 at 5:46 pm
The sad thing about Morgan is he does have a good insight once in a while, like his remark about watching the catcher to see what the pitch will be. If he stuck to stuff like that he wouldn’t be so irritating.
April 15, 2007 at 5:47 pm
51: He’d actually be good if he could stick to that kind of stuff. Sadly, he can’t.
April 15, 2007 at 5:49 pm
Catcher’s Interference?
April 15, 2007 at 5:50 pm
Maybe they’re trying to give this game to the Dodgers because they’re honoring Jackie Robinson.
April 15, 2007 at 5:50 pm
Give ‘em hell Bud! That’s B.S.!!!
April 15, 2007 at 5:51 pm
interesting call….didn’t look like he hit the glove..but way too hard to notice..
April 15, 2007 at 5:52 pm
I like to see the Umpires start ******** us early in the game so it’s not a surprise later.
April 15, 2007 at 5:53 pm
I can’t imagine an umpire calling that if he didn’t have a good reason. It’s not like a ball and strike call, you have to have some kind of indication there was contact.
April 15, 2007 at 5:53 pm
ball did come off weird to Kouz, so I’ll assume the ump is right
April 15, 2007 at 5:54 pm
58: I completely agree. And as Morgan said, Furcal didn’t even act like there was catcher’s inteference.
April 15, 2007 at 5:54 pm
56. Umps call that based on sound. I’ve had my hand get absolutely smacked and it wasn’t called, I’ve had my glove barely ticked and it was…
April 15, 2007 at 5:54 pm
I think its like Morgan said….the umpire hears two sounds and figures he must have hit the glove..
April 15, 2007 at 5:55 pm
How much are they paying Pierre? Isn’t it like $10 million a year?
April 15, 2007 at 5:56 pm
Chris is taking a long time between pitches here…Furcal is really doing a job. Might actually be better for us if he was actually already on second in some ways…
April 15, 2007 at 5:57 pm
April 15, 2007 at 5:59 pm
65: I guess I was on mute. LOL
April 15, 2007 at 6:01 pm
He got him a little late. One run in.
April 15, 2007 at 6:02 pm
That run can be charged to the home plate umpire.
April 15, 2007 at 6:04 pm
Is that a bad tuppe on Vin Sculley or just my imagination?
April 15, 2007 at 6:05 pm
Crudge!
April 15, 2007 at 6:05 pm
Drug test for Juan Pierre?
April 15, 2007 at 6:07 pm
Good try by CY
April 15, 2007 at 6:11 pm
Morgon explaining that the ball got by Pierre because of the lines of perspective in the grass was the last straw. Soon as this interview is over I’m putting this on mute and letting Sigur Ros’s Takk call the game.
April 15, 2007 at 6:15 pm
Howdy, folks; just got back from Elsinore.
April 15, 2007 at 6:17 pm
Mrs. Robinson doesn’t look a day over 60. She is absolutly beautiful.
April 15, 2007 at 6:18 pm
Welcome back Geoff.
April 15, 2007 at 6:20 pm
75. agreed
C.Y.’ s still working very slow. He does not look at all comfortable.
April 15, 2007 at 6:21 pm
Great work by Bowen on that curve in the dirt..
April 15, 2007 at 6:22 pm
This does not bode well. We need to get the bats going.
April 15, 2007 at 6:25 pm
79: shoot, i’m just worried that this inning might not ever end…
April 15, 2007 at 6:26 pm
Yeah, this is not so fun so far.
April 15, 2007 at 6:27 pm
Good job Rob.
April 15, 2007 at 6:27 pm
I think he was actually safe…
April 15, 2007 at 6:27 pm
Great play by Rob. Blocked him off before he had the ball.
April 15, 2007 at 6:28 pm
83: He didn’t touch the plate.
April 15, 2007 at 6:28 pm
83: agreed. replay looked like he brushed the plate….though it wasn’t clear.
April 15, 2007 at 6:28 pm
This is not pretty. I don’t remember CY laboring this much — ever. We’ll be lucky to get out of this inning with only 2 runs. He doesn’t seem able to control his fast ball consistently.
April 15, 2007 at 6:29 pm
I watched the replay agian in slo mo, his foot got the edge of the plate. It might have been above it, not actually touching it. Ump had a clear look so I will defer to him
April 15, 2007 at 6:30 pm
3 walks this inning! CY is not looking good at all.
April 15, 2007 at 6:30 pm
Try stealing a base now SUCKAS!!!
April 15, 2007 at 6:30 pm
Isn’t that two walks to Nomar?
April 15, 2007 at 6:32 pm
WHEW!
April 15, 2007 at 6:32 pm
Squeeked out of that one.
April 15, 2007 at 6:32 pm
Nice recovery by Chris…but there are three runs across…
April 15, 2007 at 6:32 pm
That could have been a lot worse
April 15, 2007 at 6:33 pm
94 & 95: Agreed.
April 15, 2007 at 6:33 pm
How did we only give up three runs? It seemed a lot worse than that.
April 15, 2007 at 6:36 pm
It’s like Marcus didn’t really double to left.
April 15, 2007 at 6:37 pm
One run is a start.
April 15, 2007 at 6:37 pm
Rachel Robinson is one big class act.
April 15, 2007 at 6:38 pm
Two out solo homer time Adrian.
April 15, 2007 at 6:39 pm
For those of us who are new to the glory of Ducksnorts, could anyone explain what OG and NOG mean?
April 15, 2007 at 6:39 pm
102: Orange & Non-Orange Giles
April 15, 2007 at 6:40 pm
OG=Old Giles
NOG=New Old Giles
April 15, 2007 at 6:40 pm
If the phrase “Behind every successful man is a good woman” is accurate, Jackie Robinson had his. His wife is incredibly well spoken, passionate about the foundation and, unfortunately, is a Dodger fan.
April 15, 2007 at 6:40 pm
LOL
April 15, 2007 at 6:40 pm
103: Thanks for the info. I’ve been trying to figure that one out for a while.
One run is a start. I hope CY can figure it out.
April 15, 2007 at 6:44 pm
OMG. I remember watching Hank Aaron play on our b/w TV with the rabbit ear antenea. I even had one of his cards.
April 15, 2007 at 6:44 pm
Hank Aaron is the greatest living hitter? Is Morgan just being nice because Aaron is there?
April 15, 2007 at 6:44 pm
Has every leadoff batter gotten on base so far?
April 15, 2007 at 6:47 pm
young’s at 72 pitches. Not good
April 15, 2007 at 6:47 pm
Two bad defensive plays and it’s 1st & 3rd with none out.
April 15, 2007 at 6:47 pm
I think karma is just on the Dodger side tonight
April 15, 2007 at 6:48 pm
Another stolen base. That’s getting annoying.
April 15, 2007 at 6:48 pm
Russel Martin with an infield hit and SB. Not good
April 15, 2007 at 6:49 pm
This isn’t faring too well for CY. Buddy needs to pull him.
April 15, 2007 at 6:50 pm
who was that in the ‘pen?
April 15, 2007 at 6:50 pm
cameron?
April 15, 2007 at 6:51 pm
yes, cameron
April 15, 2007 at 6:52 pm
109: I don’t think that’s an unreasonable statement. The man has a career OPS 200 points higher than league average over 23 seasons. He at least has to be in the running.
April 15, 2007 at 6:53 pm
“Bout time…
April 15, 2007 at 6:53 pm
120: It is unreasonable. Aaron was very good, but there is no way he’s the best living hitter.
April 15, 2007 at 6:57 pm
Hey Anthony - great stuff over at Friarwatch.com. the pitch charts were fascinating. one thing that stood out to me was how consistent the umpire was. everything that was called a strike was in a clear band and it was free of any “balls”… cool stuff.
April 15, 2007 at 6:58 pm