IGD: Padres @ Giants (4 Apr 07)
Wed, Apr 4, 2007
by Geoff Young
first pitch: 7:15 p.m. PT
television: Channel 4SD
matchup: Chris Young (11-5, 3.46 ERA) vs Matt Cain (13-12, 4.15 ERA)
previews: Padres.com | SI.com
Not to bring anyone down after that excellent Opening Day shutout, but it was only one game. We’ve got a long way to go, and I, for one, will be loving every minute of it.
The Padres and Giants hook up again tonight in San Francisco. This promises to be one gem of a pitching matchup. Chris Young enjoyed some serious success in his first National League season, finishing sixth in the league in ERA. His 2.41 ERA on the road was best in the NL last year. Young also destroyed left-handed batters to the tune of .176/.259/.309, which is fascinating for a guy who doesn’t change speeds much.
As for Matt Cain, he’s young and he’s real good. His overall numbers as a rookie last year were pretty solid, but he pitched especially well after the All-Star break:
| GS | IP | ERA | H/9 | HR/9 | BB/9 | SO/9 | BA | OBP | SLG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 | 99.1 | 3.26 | 6.98 | 0.72 | 3.62 | 8.97 | .214 | .296 | .357 |
That’s sick. Honestly, if there’s one pitcher in the NL West that I think could be another Jake Peavy, Cain is the guy. There aren’t many chinks in his armor. About the only thing I could find is his performance with a runner on first base. In that situation, opponents hit .262/.358/.551 last season. It’s only 130 plate appearances, so who can say if this is legit. Still…
Should be a good one. Go Padres!
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April 4, 2007 at 6:27 pm
Hey here’s a question… what happened to the Padres’ (and everyone else’s) new fangled hats? You know, the one with the fancy racing stripe down the side?
I spent quite some time in deep meditation convincing myself that those ridiculous looking hats were just the way things were gonna be from now on and I needed to accept it.
Was that extended self brainwashing session all for naught?
April 4, 2007 at 6:35 pm
1: I thought those were specifically for spring training or something like that.
April 4, 2007 at 6:53 pm
1: Steve: I seriously laughed out loud on that one. Good stuff.
April 4, 2007 at 7:00 pm
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/boxscore?gid=270404118 … Woody pitched for the ’stros tonight … and not well …
April 4, 2007 at 7:04 pm
4: hooray
April 4, 2007 at 7:14 pm
A couple of other teams had those stupid racing stripes as well during spring training
April 4, 2007 at 7:17 pm
It took all of five at bats, but I have officially soured on NOG as a leadoff hitter.
April 4, 2007 at 7:18 pm
OG picking up bad habits from NOG?
April 4, 2007 at 7:18 pm
At least OG drove the ball to the warning track.
April 4, 2007 at 7:19 pm
seriously, Agon’s “el hombre”
April 4, 2007 at 7:23 pm
not a good looking at bat from Shakespeare - really appeared to be guessing, and therefore, really late on the fastball…
April 4, 2007 at 7:23 pm
Matt Cain’s stuff looks so hittable. It’s straight fastballs, mainly down the middle, and he’s not throwing 100.
Signed, the guy that can’t touch 85 mph fastballs from a pitching machine.
April 4, 2007 at 7:25 pm
12 … last time I was in a cage, I couldn’t touch the 70mph fastballs … bummer … then a 14-year-old kid step’d in after me and RAKE’d … ouch …
April 4, 2007 at 7:27 pm
Crap! Young got hosed on that 1-2 pitch….
April 4, 2007 at 7:28 pm
Ouch.
April 4, 2007 at 7:29 pm
cheater.
April 4, 2007 at 7:29 pm
After 1 inning …
Pitches-strikes - C Young 15-10; M Cain 13-10.
Ground balls-fly balls - C Young 0-2; M Cain 0-2.
Batters faced - C Young 4; M Cain 4.
April 4, 2007 at 7:31 pm
Why is everyone swinging at the first pitch?
April 4, 2007 at 7:33 pm
And Khalil of all people lays off the first pitch.
April 4, 2007 at 7:33 pm
That was an incredibly hanging pitch. Why can’t we hit these?
April 4, 2007 at 7:34 pm
Hey what’s the deal with all this swinging?
Alright Kouz, let’s get the tone of this thing set.
April 4, 2007 at 7:37 pm
Whats up with not taking pitches?!?
April 4, 2007 at 7:38 pm
Not taking pitches is ok if the guys can drive the ones they swing at, but not a single one of those has been hit hard.
April 4, 2007 at 7:42 pm
Hey GY have you dont a a poll on who like MN and MV as broadcasters…just curious For the record I love um
April 4, 2007 at 7:42 pm
**MG and MV**
April 4, 2007 at 7:46 pm
24: I love ‘em too. Us MLB.tv people are stuck watching the stupid Giant announcers. (And have to watch that Bonds home run 500 times from every angle) I can’t wait till I get my announcers back.
I really can’t stand any other announcing team out there. The only other announcer that I enjoy is - you guessed it good ol’ Vinny.
April 4, 2007 at 7:46 pm
Thru 2 …
Pitches-strikes - C Young 31-19; M Cain 27-19.
Ground balls-fly balls - C Young 0-3; M Cain 1-2.
Batters faced - C Young 8; M Cain 7.
April 4, 2007 at 7:51 pm
NOG! Stop swinging at the first pitch! Or, stop fouling it off! Or stop not crushing it fair!
Ok, that hit is acceptable.
April 4, 2007 at 7:51 pm
2 out Rally Caps!!!!
April 4, 2007 at 7:51 pm
NOG!
April 4, 2007 at 7:52 pm
Hey Steve - What’s with the snow here in Boston? It’s April, right????!?!?
April 4, 2007 at 7:52 pm
NOG’s got a nice quick swing
April 4, 2007 at 7:53 pm
Anyone else see Bonds knees failing?
April 4, 2007 at 7:53 pm
Right down the middle. Right down the middle. Does Cain have an awesome offspeed pitch everyone is sitting on?
April 4, 2007 at 7:54 pm
Oh, like we’re supposed to be impressed by that catch? Good work grandpa, you managed to run over to the ball in time.
31: My classic quote regarding New England weather: “What if New England doesn’t have unpredictable weather? What if we’re just notoriously bad at recruiting talented meteorologists?”
April 4, 2007 at 7:54 pm
#33 Looked that way to me
April 4, 2007 at 7:55 pm
i love OG’s plate discipline and all, but he seems to let a lot of first pitch fastballs go right down the gutter without swinging
April 4, 2007 at 7:56 pm
haha i am so happy flan man is outta the radio booth
April 4, 2007 at 7:57 pm
Damnit Doc!
April 4, 2007 at 7:58 pm
Bonds is limping through the dugout. Announcers said he went back into the tunnel between innings. Bonds is standing on deck now though.
April 4, 2007 at 8:01 pm
4 - just noticed that Woody HBP’d X today … it was after Nady hit 2B in first AB … prolly didn’t hurt him …
April 4, 2007 at 8:04 pm
young’s getting squeezed….
April 4, 2007 at 8:05 pm
Oh now that outside strike gets called. And the Giants announcers agree: “if you’re not Barry Bonds, that’s a strike.”
April 4, 2007 at 8:05 pm
Young got squeezed with Bonds and then Durham shakes his head when he doesn’t get the 0-1 call. I really hate the Giants.
April 4, 2007 at 8:07 pm
26:
I completely agree.
April 4, 2007 at 8:08 pm
Pitching coach is out to tell Young that everyone else in the Giants order sucks, so just throw strikes.
April 4, 2007 at 8:09 pm
43:
That reminds me of the old story about Ted Williams strike-zone judgement.
The pitcher argued that the pitch was a strike, after it was called a ball.
The umpire said: “When Mr. Williams swings, then it’s a strike.”
April 4, 2007 at 8:11 pm
What an ugly inning. Giants had chances to blow the game wide open there.
April 4, 2007 at 8:12 pm
47: Great story. You really think it’s true, though?
Glad to get out of that inning alive. Yikes.
April 4, 2007 at 8:13 pm
I hate to bash Bochy because I actually like the guy but that sure felt like Bochy ball. First pitch swinging killed the inning.
April 4, 2007 at 8:14 pm
I understand why everyone’s swinging at first pitch strikes. They’re fastballs down the middle. Not understanding why those pitches haven’t been crushed by people swinging at them.
April 4, 2007 at 8:15 pm
thru 3 …
Pitches-strikes - C Young 62-37; M Cain 46-31.
Ground balls-fly balls - C Young 1-5; M Cain 2-4.
Batters faced - C Young 15; M Cain 11.
April 4, 2007 at 8:15 pm
49:
I guess one umpire might have said it once in Williams’ career.
April 4, 2007 at 8:16 pm
There’s another one right down the middle fouled off.
April 4, 2007 at 8:17 pm
CY looks like he’s trying mix it up, throwing breaking balls and change ups, but he’s still racking up the pitch count. The command hasn’t been there, especially on that curve.
April 4, 2007 at 8:21 pm
He can field!!! He can field!!!
April 4, 2007 at 8:22 pm
Great play by Kouz to field Winn’s bunt and throw him out.
April 4, 2007 at 8:23 pm
There we go. That’s the Giants lineup we know and love.
April 4, 2007 at 8:24 pm
Who says Kouz can’t play third base?
April 4, 2007 at 8:25 pm
And Khalil goes yard. Nice.
April 4, 2007 at 8:25 pm
Greene is on pace for 81 home runs this season.
April 4, 2007 at 8:27 pm
My money is on 15.
April 4, 2007 at 8:27 pm
61: More than that. This is one every 1 and 5/9 games. So he is actually on pace to hit 104.1429.
April 4, 2007 at 8:29 pm
I’ll just take the under on 81.
April 4, 2007 at 8:30 pm
Did anyone else catch that article that mentioned Khalil leaves the donut on the bat when he swings against the pitching machine? No wonder he can get around on those inside fastballs.
April 4, 2007 at 8:31 pm
This is what they should have been doing the whole game
April 4, 2007 at 8:31 pm
Okay, maybe NOG can stay.
April 4, 2007 at 8:31 pm
thru 4 …
Pitches-strikes - C Young 74-46; M Cain 57-39.
Ground balls-fly balls - C Young 2-6; M Cain 2-6.
Batters faced - C Young 18; M Cain 14.
April 4, 2007 at 8:31 pm
NOG!
April 4, 2007 at 8:32 pm
Great lead-off man.
April 4, 2007 at 8:32 pm
NOG DONG! NOG DONG!
April 4, 2007 at 8:32 pm
Wahaaaaaaaaa!!! NOG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
April 4, 2007 at 8:32 pm
NOGNOGNOGNOGNOGNOGNOG!!!!!!!! Launched!!!!
April 4, 2007 at 8:32 pm
how about that! the two “non-performers” from last night pull us ahead!
April 4, 2007 at 8:32 pm
I knew there was a reason I pulled on my NOG shirt when I got home!
April 4, 2007 at 8:33 pm
Top o’ cap to Sledge for taking the BB … and being on-base ahead of the big fly!
April 4, 2007 at 8:34 pm
I think you have to be wary that with Young, he’s an extreme fly ball pitcher. which is why his BABIP is so low because he pitches in a lot of pitchers parks in the NL West… that being said, all these guys are coming from Arizona, where Spring Training homers are highly frequent so the fly ball swings have come out.
Interesting note about MLB.com gameday, they have some cool new stuff there and also Marcus Giles’ shot was tracked longer than Bonds’es.
April 4, 2007 at 8:35 pm
71: Classic
I hope we see some NOG and OG signs on the homestand
April 4, 2007 at 8:40 pm
Nice quick inning. CY needed that. So did I.
April 4, 2007 at 8:40 pm
I love watching hitters (especially Bonds) hit fly balls against Chris Young and just shake their heads coming out of the batter’s box ‘cauase they know they didn’t get all of it.
April 4, 2007 at 8:41 pm
Anthony, do you have that link about Greene?
April 4, 2007 at 8:42 pm
thru 5 …
Pitches-strikes - C Young 84-55; M Cain 80-52.
Ground balls-fly balls - C Young 3-8; M Cain 2-8.
Batters faced - C Young 21; M Cain 20.
April 4, 2007 at 8:46 pm
78 … an idea for a sign is …
“GO OG”
… and then for when NOG hits a HR …
“GON NOG”
April 4, 2007 at 8:49 pm
WTH !!! Why Claw warming up?
April 4, 2007 at 8:52 pm
Stranded a small village?
April 4, 2007 at 8:52 pm
To come in and get the ground ball in a situation like this?
April 4, 2007 at 8:52 pm
Molina first-pitch swinging again. Thank you very much.
April 4, 2007 at 8:53 pm
Thank you, Bengie
April 4, 2007 at 8:53 pm
http://www.signonsandiego.com/.....notes.html
Many hitters warm up by swinging a bat that has a weighted doughnut on it. Khalil Greene goes one step further, leaving the doughnut on the bat when he hits off a high-speed pitching machine. Greene said it helps emphasize the “backload” part of his swing. “It’s pretty loud when he hits one on the doughnut,” said hitting coach Merv Rettenmund, who said Greene was the first of his pupils to adopt that approach. In his last seven games, Greene has batted .522 with four home runs and three doubles
April 4, 2007 at 8:53 pm
How do you hit a ground ball against Chris Young on the first pitch in a situation like that? You really have to be trying, I think.
April 4, 2007 at 8:54 pm
Man, how do you give up a hit to Feliz on a 1-2 pitch?
April 4, 2007 at 8:54 pm
By missing your spot by a foot.
April 4, 2007 at 8:56 pm
Sledge really should have caught that.
April 4, 2007 at 8:56 pm
91: You really have to be trying, I think.
April 4, 2007 at 9:00 pm
Linebrink is the one from the pen that should be pitching to lefties. With Klesko pinch-hitting, Meredith will face 5 lefties in a row.
April 4, 2007 at 9:02 pm
::Orders ‘Meredith’ T-shirt::
April 4, 2007 at 9:02 pm
thru 6 … both starters done …
Pitches-strikes - C Young 98-66; C Meredith 11-6; M Cain 90-59.
Ground balls-fly balls - C Young 4-9; C Meredith 1-0; M Cain 4-8.
Batters faced - C Young 26; C Meredith 2; M Cain 23.
April 4, 2007 at 9:03 pm
Just another day at the office for the Claw
April 4, 2007 at 9:09 pm
Giants TV broadcast seems intent on showing as many shots of “old dudes in the crowd” as possible. Maybe some kind of Bonds tribute.
April 4, 2007 at 9:10 pm
99: yea, the creepy old guy montage was a little weird.
April 4, 2007 at 9:14 pm
Great work by Cla. That sequence to Bonds was nasty.
April 4, 2007 at 9:14 pm
Re 95: You have no idea what you are talking about. Questioning the The Claw’s ability will always end with you completely incorrect.
April 4, 2007 at 9:15 pm
3 GB, 1 K
He’s pretty good.
April 4, 2007 at 9:17 pm
NOG with a nice showing tonight.
April 4, 2007 at 9:20 pm
Well, questioning going to Meredith instead of Linebrink worked out pretty well for us, so I’ll go ahead and question sticking with OG here. OG doesn’t hit lefties well, and Cruz Jr. does.
April 4, 2007 at 9:21 pm
102: Just ask Boston.
April 4, 2007 at 9:22 pm
I think it’s kind of early in the season to start pinch hitting for your established players. Give Giles a few months to see if he can bounce back and start hitting lefties again. Even if he did pop it up…
April 4, 2007 at 9:23 pm
Got here late so I have to chirp up on this - the Giants’ regular announcers, Duane Kuiper and Mike Krukow, are among the best in the business. Bits of their shtick can be a bit much (have they “eliminated” anyone tonight?) but they know the game and talk it well. I really enjoyed listening to them on the tube when I lived in SF…
A-GONNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN!!!!!!
April 4, 2007 at 9:23 pm
A-Goooooonnnnnee