IGD: Padres @ Giants (5 Apr 07)

Thu, Apr 5, 2007Ballhype: hype it up!
by Geoff Young

first pitch: 7:15 p.m. PT
television: Channel 4SD
matchup: Clay Hensley (11-12, 3.71 ERA) vs Matt Morris (10-15, 4.98 ERA)
previews: Padres.com | SI.com

Sweep? Sure, that’d be nice.

. . .

Marcus Giles has swung at 58% of the pitches he’s seen over the Padres’ first two games this year. It’s a small sample, but for his career, he’s at 49%. He draws his share of walks, but that’s an extremely aggressive approach for a leadoff batter. Nineteen players registered 500 or more plate appearances in the #1 spot last year. The only guy who hacked at a higher percentage of pitches seen than Giles also knocked 46 home runs:

Name SwgA% P/PA OBP
Alfonso Soriano 50 3.90 .351
Marcus Giles 48 3.88 .341
Jose Reyes 48 3.61 .354
Randy Winn 48 3.49 .324
Brian Roberts 46 3.84 .347
Juan Pierre 46 3.48 .330
Ichiro Suzuki 44 3.73 .370
Gary Matthews Jr. 44 3.71 .371
Curtis Granderson 43 4.08 .335
Grady Sizemore 43 4.01 .375
Hanley Ramirez 43 4.00 .353
David Eckstein 43 3.75 .350
Johnny Damon 42 4.09 .359
Chone Figgins 42 3.88 .336
Rafael Furcal 41 3.84 .369
Jimmy Rollins 41 3.70 .334
Dave Roberts 40 3.95 .360
David DeJesus 40 3.67 .364
Scott Podsednik 38 4.08 .330
Stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com

If it works for Giles, then who am I to argue? Still, this is a fascinating approach to batting leadoff and something that bears watching throughout the season.

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.

Possibly Related Posts

155 Responses to “IGD: Padres @ Giants (5 Apr 07)”

  1. Ben B. Says:

    Good work, Geoff. I am worried about Giles’ approach leading off, though it certainly worked out last night. I wonder if Rettenmund saw something in Cain’s method of pitching that would be best attacked by going after those first pitch fastballs.

    On a completely separate side note that has nothing to do with Padres baseball but really infuriated me: Jeter just slapped a single into the 5.5 hole that Zobrist (the Rays’ SS) fielded but had no chance to throw and get Jeter at first. Yankees announcer says, “Only one man in baseball can make that play, and he’s the one that hit it.” So it’s not just San Francisco announcers that are ridiculously biased cheerleaders for their star players.

    Current score: 0
  2. Richard B. Wade Says:

    I don’t see any reason to worry about Marcus’ approach being as his brother follows him in the lineup and regularly works deep into counts.

    Current score: 0
  3. Richard B. Wade Says:

    1: Wow. Jeter’s one of the worst fielding shortstops in baseball. That’s just ridiculous.

    Current score: 0
  4. Ben B. Says:

    Woohoo! I have Jon Miller as the announcer on the MLB feed.

    Current score: 0
  5. Ben B. Says:

    Great discipline by Giles.

    Current score: 0
  6. Stu Says:

    Question for everyone - Hensley is starting tonight in the 3rd spot in the rotation, and Maddux tomorrow night in the 4th spot for the home opener. A buddy of mine asked why. I wasn’t sure, but I guessed it was because Black wanted to give Maddux the glory of the home opener start, and maybe because Hensley had earned the #3 spot over Maddux.

    Does anyone know differently?

    Current score: 0
  7. Steve from Boston Says:

    4: Are you serious? Jon Miller is one of my absolute least favorite announcers ever ever ever.

    I’ve put the Giants announcers on mute and opened up another window with gameday audio for Ted to do the announcing.

    There’s a ten second delay but that’s not nearly as annoying as having to listen to Jon Miller explain in agonizing detail every single insignificant thing.

    Current score: 0
  8. Clayton Says:

    DR battling here…exact opposite of NOG. Not saying better or whatever, but exact opposite…

    Current score: 0
  9. Big Mike Says:

    pesky doc

    Current score: 0
  10. Ben B. Says:

    7: I enjoy how professional Miller is. He’s got a great voice and calls the action.

    Current score: 0
  11. Big Mike Says:

    Boooooooooo!!!!

    Current score: 0
  12. Stu Says:

    Channel 4 just ran a graphic listing the Padre pitchers off of whom Bonds has homered. All *fifty* of them. I had to laugh.

    Current score: 0
  13. Stu Says:

    That ball is out if it’s ten feet to the left. I didn’t even think Bonds put a good swing on it…the wind is blowing out to right, indeed.

    Current score: 0
  14. Big Mike Says:

    You think Barry’s helmet is the only one personalized because it’s the only one he can squueze that melon of a head into?

    Current score: 0
  15. Ben B. Says:

    Man, Hensley’s got the problem of finishing guys off now too.

    Current score: 0
  16. Clayton Says:

    well, that was, what, 60 pitches?

    Current score: 0
  17. Big Mike Says:

    Did Hombre bat third yesterday too?

    Current score: 0
  18. Clayton Says:

    Doc killing us tonight. Nice catch

    Current score: 0
  19. Stu Says:

    thought that one was gone…damn wind

    Current score: 0
  20. Ben B. Says:

    Is Klesko just trying to fit in with the Giants?

    Current score: 0
  21. Geoff Young Says:

    Hensley with 29 pitches in the first? Yikes.

    Storm opener broadcast:

    http://www.cash1700.com/index......p;Itemid=4

    Antonelli is playing second base.

    Current score: 0
  22. Ben B. Says:

    It’s frustrating to see Giles swinging when he takes hacks like he has this at bat, at pitches he can’t drive.

    Current score: 0
  23. Clayton Says:

    Yup. Making Morris look like it’s his glory days so far. Need to start making him work.

    Current score: 0
  24. Ben B. Says:

    Sledge looks shaky out there.

    Current score: 0
  25. Ben B. Says:

    Great inning. That’ll solve some pitch count woes.

    Current score: 0
  26. Steve from Boston Says:

    Very nice quick inning. Time to do some damage now guys.

    Current score: 0
  27. Stu Says:

    I have to say I’m impressed by the caliber of tunes Ch. 4 is using as they go to commercial. Some quality rock n’ roll during the last couple of games - U2’s “I Will Follow” being the most recent example.

    Current score: 0
  28. Big Mike Says:

    OG is lookin especially orange-y tonight

    Current score: 0
  29. Big Mike Says:

    Aflac question for you outta towners: Who did Flannery get his first career hit off of?

    Current score: 0
  30. Geoff Young Says:

    Bartolo Colon is pitching against the Storm tonight. Jered Weaver gets the start tomorrow.

    LaForest with a homer for Portland.

    Current score: 0
  31. Clayton Says:

    There’s a base knock. Thank you Hombre.

    Current score: 0
  32. Geoff Young Says:

    Sledge has to take charge on that ball.

    Current score: 0
  33. Mark Ase Says:

    How is Sledge such a bad fielder? The guy doesn’t appear to be terribly slow and he’s always been an outfielder

    Current score: 0
  34. Clayton Says:

    Boy that was ugly. The Sledge-Kouz-Greene bermuda triangle.

    Current score: 0
  35. Mark Ase Says:

    and to think most of the Giants fans I know were very excited to have Molina, that guy looks beat up already

    Current score: 0
  36. Mark Ase Says:

    Anybody else yelling at Sledge not to injure Greene or Kouzmanof? I mean anything goes down out there and suddenly we have Blum as an everyday player again

    Current score: 0
  37. Big Mike Says:

    there it is KG!!!

    Current score: 0
  38. Marsh Says:

    33: Seeming like bad instincts/jumps thus far. LF in SF might be a tough place to get a good read on a ball, but it seems Barry “no knees” bonds was able to get to OG’s ball last night, so Sledge should be able to the same…

    Current score: 0
  39. Mark Ase Says:

    Kouz has got to get him to 3B there

    Current score: 0
  40. Geoff Young Says:

    We’re going to waste KG’s double, aren’t we?

    Current score: 0
  41. Marsh Says:

    kouz is struggling a wee bit… hate to see him swing early in the count and end up grounding out to SS.. rule of thumb there is unless you can drive it, then hit it to the right side to advance the runner… given that he was probably thinking that he was going to drive that ball, you have to think that he is going to start having confidence issues…

    Current score: 0
  42. Ben B. Says:

    39: He gets him to third, though, and they pitch around Sledge to get to Hensley. Hensley makes the second out, and we still need a hit to get him home.

    Current score: 0
  43. Mark Ase Says:

    Hey Hensley said that he was going to out hit Peavy this year

    Current score: 0
  44. Big Mike Says:

    he ripped that!

    Current score: 0
  45. Geoff Young Says:

    Hensley’s like, screw you, I’ll do it myself. Nice.

    Current score: 0
  46. Marsh Says:

    hensley has such a nice swing!

    Current score: 0
  47. Clayton Says:

    Hensley, help yo’self out brutha!

    Current score: 0
  48. Ben B. Says:

    WHAT THE HECK? WHERE DID THAT COME FROM? That was awesome.

    Current score: 0
  49. Mark Ase Says:

    re 42: that is a lot of “if’s”

    Current score: 0
  50. Big Mike Says:

    hahaha NOG goes up there to hack there’s no doubt about that

    Current score: 0
  51. Steve from Boston Says:

    “I’ll tell you what, Barry Bonds has the worst arm of anyone in the National League and he just proved it again.” -Jerry Coleman

    Current score: 0
  52. Big Mike Says:

    Coleman and Leittner hate Bonds with a passion

    Current score: 0
  53. Mark Ase Says:

    I think Leitner, if he were Tony Soprano, would have Bonds killed before he breaks Aaron’s record

    Current score: 0
  54. Steve from Boston Says:

    52: Yes. I’m definitely a lot happier listening to Ted and Jerry on the delayed audio and watching the game on mute.

    Current score: 0
  55. Clayton Says:

    Hmmm…weak grounder to 2nd in an important situation from OG. Boy is that unusual. Unusual like the sun rising in the east. Bleh.

    Current score: 0
  56. Steve from Boston Says:

    53: It’s funny about Leitner… I was invited to my first Bruins game a few weeks ago and I kept thinking, “nono, I hate hockey.” Then I started thinking do I really hate hockey? Or have I just heard Ted Leitner say fifty billion times that he hates hockey?

    Current score: 0
  57. Marsh Says:

    51: Um, I’d propose that Doc has the worst arm in the No-Cal padres outfield, but I might be wrong…

    55: you got that right my brother (literally); but, i hate that we’re already bagging on Superglow like that!

    Current score: 0
  58. Clayton Says:

    re 57: It’s the continuation of a theme with me

    Current score: 0
  59. Clayton Says:

    Kouz!! Nice play rook!

    Current score: 0
  60. Marsh Says:

    58: you’re forgetting that I started that theme last year during the penant race when we were playing the giants at phoneco park. remember, it was the game Seanez blew, and I was making fun of (1) superglow’s hair and (2) superglows propensity to ground out to second in clutch situations… ?

    Current score: 0
  61. Clayton Says:

    re 61: you’re right. And when you’re right, you’re right. Especially about OG and the 4 hole

    Current score: 0
  62. Ben B. Says:

    Hensley, I would suggest not walking the two hitters in front of Bonds on 8 pitches.

    Current score: 0
  63. Geoff Young Says:

    What’s up with Bard’s throwing? It’s like he watched Piazza a little too closely last year.

    Current score: 0
  64. Marsh Says:

    egad, this is not good!

    Current score: 0
  65. Marsh Says:

    i kinda think you put bonds on in this situation…

    Current score: 0
  66. Marsh Says:

    62: pitchers are not helping him….

    Current score: 0
  67. Ben B. Says:

    The ump is squeezing Hensley.

    Current score: 0
  68. Marsh Says:

    67: agreed. looks like Black is letting him know it, too

    Current score: 0
  69. Ben B. Says:

    This is ridiculous.

    Current score: 0
  70. Marsh Says:

    crapburgers!

    Current score: 0
  71. Rich Campbell Says:

    The home plate umpire is responsible for that. Durham saw no less than six strikes on that at bat.

    Current score: 0
  72. Clayton Says:

    “First, I’m going to soil myself. Then, I’ll regroup and come up with a new plan”

    Current score: 0
  73. Bill R. Says:

    How bad are these calls? Gamecast hasn’t shown a pitch out of the zone yet, but I don’t know how accurate that is.

    Current score: 0
  74. Geoff Young Says:

    WTF? Guys can’t talk out there?

    Current score: 0
  75. Clayton Says:

    That’s Greene’s ball!!!!! Check his digits…

    Current score: 0
  76. Geoff Young Says:

    Yeah, the plate umpire has been brutal. This is pretty much all on him.

    Current score: 0
  77. Marsh Says:

    Oh god, that was like a montage scene from the first half of Major League…

    Current score: 0
  78. Ben B. Says:

    Walking Roberts on 4 pitches with two outs (without help from the umpire) was pretty brutal.

    Current score: 0
  79. Clayton Says:

    Well, i guess Hensley will be available on waivers in my fantasy league tomorrow.

    Current score: 0
  80. Rich Campbell Says:

    Greene’s mouth closed the whole time in that replay. After three years of Greene always being involved in those, I think we know who needs to work on something. I love Khalil…but c’mon! If you don’t call him off, Kouz has to assume it’s his ball.

    Frustration and a half. All starting with the ump squeezing Clay.

    Current score: 0
  81. Ben B. Says:

    The Giants announcers are pretending that the pop up to left was a hit.

    Current score: 0
  82. Rich Campbell Says:

    Technically, it is. By rule, you can’t call an error on a ball that isn’t touched.

    Current score: 0
  83. Stu Says:

    79 - at least you didn’t start him tonight…

    Current score: 0
  84. Marsh Says:

    82: I’m not positive, but I thought that there was a caveat that allowed for scorekeepers discretion in the case of balls that definitely should have been caught…

    Current score: 0
  85. Phantom Says:

    That whole inning is on the home plate umpire. No way that inning should have gone past Bonds.

    Khalil and Kouz need to work out a buddy system for fly-balls, whcih should basically consist of the following:

    If Khalil can get to it, let him catch it.

    Current score: 0
  86. Kevin Says:

    Someone may have covered this already, but the game is not on the MLB Extra Innings package tonight. Why?

    Current score: 0
  87. Rich Campbell Says:

    The unpire must think the plate is one from the Franklin Mint. Finally, it’s over. But nless we come back, I have my angle for tonights story. Just horrible. Absolutely ridiculous. I’d have been in trouble if I was in Shakespeare’s spot.

    Current score: 0
  88. Phantom Says:

    By the way, I’d like to add that I’m glad to see Bud chirping at the umpire about those horrendous calls.

    I don’t blame Clay for putting a ball up there that got grooved, because he clearly couldn’t throw it anywhere else.

    Current score: 0
  89. Clayton Says:

    I smell a rally in the late innings…Boch has to go to that pen sometime, and it’s going to bite him in the arse.

    Current score: 0
  90. Rich Campbell Says:

    re: 85. The only way Kouz can tell that Greene is there is to look…which requires him to take his eye off the ball. Ifyou hear nothing, you stay camped. You keep your eye on the ball. Kouz is far from the first. Dave Roberts and Khalil had issues last year… Burroughs and Khalil…see a pattern? And like I said, Greene’s mouth was shut throughout the replay. He should be yelling.

    Current score: 0
  91. Phantom Says:

    Another double for Khalil. Chance for Kouz to get his.

    Current score: 0
  92. Clayton Says:

    Good, good. Keep working Morris, get him out and let’s get to that soft pen!

    Current score: 0
  93. Bill R. Says:

    86, I called and moaned, and after some investigating DirecTV tells me it’s been blacked out in California (at least, and maybe nationwide) by the Giants ownership. It makes perfect sense since I know dozens of people in the San Fernando Valley who drive the 5 1/2 hours to San Francisco on a weeknight to catch a game. Television down here is KILLING Giants ticket sales.

    Current score: 0
  94. Rich Campbell Says:

    84: If it’s there, I’ve never heard of it being used. I’ve seen guys get a double on a sky ball that landed behind the mound untouched. But I’d have to look to be absolutely sure that it is hard-written instead of a long-standing standard interpretation.

    Current score: 0
  95. Phantom Says:

    I still think we have a shot if we can get into the ‘pen.

    My fiance thinks that since we already won the series, the Padres might have to lose tonite so that they can sweep the opening series.

    At either rate, I cannot wait for tomorrow nite. I’ll be making the 2 hour drive home to see us own the Rox.

    Current score: 0
  96. Kevin Says:

    re: 93

    I’m in D.C.

    Current score: 0
  97. Bill R. Says:

    Amazing. The Giants have some retarded policy.

    Current score: 0
  98. Bill R. Says:

    96: Amazing. The Giants have some retarded policy.

    Current score: 0
  99. Rich Campbell Says:

    ERRORS
    10.13
    An error shall be charged for each misplay (fumble, muff or wild throw) which prolongs the time at bat of a batter or which prolongs the life of a runner, or which permits a runner to advance one or more bases.
    NOTE (1) Slow handling of the ball which does not involve mechanical misplay shall not be construed as an error.
    NOTE (2) It is not necessary that the fielder touch the ball to be charged with an error. If a ground ball goes through a fielder’s legs or a pop fly falls untouched and in the scorer’s judgment the fielder could have handled the ball with ordinary effort, an error shall be charged.
    NOTE (3) Mental mistakes or misjudgments are not to be scored as errors unless specifically covered in the rules.

    Current score: 0
  100. Rich Campbell Says:

    based on notes two and three, it would seem the standard interpretation would be that those balls are mental mistakes…and certainly a collision would be so ruled.

    Current score: 0
  101. Kevin Says:

    From 0-2 to walk. Orange is in.

    Current score: 0
  102. Anthony Says:

    99: They left out the part where the scorer can blatantly ignore the rules if it favors the home team.

    Current score: 0
  103. Stu Says:

    this ump is killing me

    Current score: 0
  104. Ben B. Says:

    Good work calling that a strike consistently, blue.

    Current score: 0
  105. Phantom Says:

    Way to ring up Adrian on a pitch you wouldn’t give to Hensely. Really classy home-plate.

    Current score: 0
  106. Kevin Says:

    re: 102

    That’s one of the reason fielding percentages are higher and higher. The home team scorer is not willing to give errors on borderline plays.

    Current score: 0