first pitch: 7:05 p.m. PT
television: Channel 4SD
matchup: Greg Maddux (1-2, 4.24 ERA) vs Brett Tomko (0-1, 2.65 ERA)
previews: Padres.com | SI.com
If you, like me, are trying to get Friday night’s bad taste out of your mouth, I’ll note that despite the Padres’ terrible play over the past few games, they’re still in better shape now than they were at this time last year. After their first 23 games in 2006, the Pads were 8-15 (oddly enough, having just lost to Saturday night’s starter, Brett Tomko).
It’s a long season, folks. There aren’t any truly putrid teams in this division, and everyone is going to fight until the final out. My expectation is that at some point, the Padres will break the hearts of Diamondbacks and Dodgers fans.
I look forward to that.
99 Comments
Hello Duck People.
Already Cameron is showing no enthusiasum.
Nice play by OG.
Yo, Rick, slow night, huh? Just checkin’ in … if you’re watching the game, post observations … I’m just “watching” on Yahoo …
After 1 …
Pitches-strikes – B Tomko 11-6; G Maddux 19-12.
Ground balls-fly balls – B Tomko 2-1; G Maddux 1-2.
Batters faced – B Tomko 3; G Maddux 6.
4: Everybody must have tix for tonight.
HOW THEY STARTED AB AVE OBP OPS
B GILES 25 121 355 434 1046
T SLEDGE 27 99 276 317 766
M GILES 23 99 263 404 722
J CRUZ 23 102 255 309 858
R BRANYON 24 100 250 367 1047
K GREENE 24 102 248 303 702
R BOWEN 25 94 245 339 733
G BLUM 26 133 241 335 831
A GONZALES 22 102 239 288 664
J BARD 24 90 222 255 633
K KOUZ 25 116 164 230 532
KK THIS YEAR 60 117 185 385
I LOOKED AT FIRST 100 ABS VIA BASEBALLCUBE WHERE AVIALABLE
4: Will do.
Sean Thompson with a nice outing for AA San Antonio … http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2007_04_28_mroaax_sanaax_1
I hope our bats can do something tonight. Last night was embarassing.
I hope we trade Cameron away.
I echo 4, except on Gameday instead of yahoo.
Mike Cameron was the best player on our team last year. Yes he’s struggling this year. But he was the best player on the team last year.
13: No doubt. However, he has been lathargic and doesn’t seem to give a sh*t latley.
After 2 …
Pitches-strikes – B Tomko 20-12; G Maddux 26-18.
Ground balls-fly balls – B Tomko 4-2; G Maddux 3-3.
Batters faced – B Tomko 6; G Maddux 10.
14 … “lethargic” sounds like something with a reason … meaning I don’t buy “doesn’t give a shit” … I know that’s not what you said … you said that’s what seems … fair enough … but I’d wonder if there is something going on … off the field? … medical? … I’m still interested to hear a report that says his eyes have been checked and they are fine.
Following on Gameday is very frustrating. Not watching the game myself, all I have to fall back on is DIPS theory, and the Dodgers are 5-11 in balls in play, while the Padres are 0-6.
Nice pitch by the Mad Dog to K Gonzalez. Fastball started to come in on him and backed up over the plate. Gonzalez was pissed with the ump, but it was a strike.
16: I agree. I think he has some personal issues that we don’t know about. Nor should we if that is the case. However, Buddy should pull him.
19 … agree … I’m not saying we should know … and I’m gettin’ to the point of agreeing with you re: pull him …
Well Gameday disagrees on that strike 3 call, but what does gameday know.
How deep was KK’s out?
21 … can you tell if it’s “enhanced gameday”? it’s my understanding that “enhanced gameday” (which is only available in 8 stadiums so far, and i don’t know if petco is one of them) bases it’s pitch location on 3 cameras … that’s be great when they get that rolled out to all the ballparks …
22: Not very.
Does anyone know th Aflac answer?
I didn’t want to do it, but I’m forced to. Desperate times call for desperate measures.
Tomko has now gone through our lineup once, and nary a single hitter has gotten a hit. That’s right. Tomko has a NO-HITTER going. A NO-HITTER. It is only the third inning, but it is definitely time to be on NO-HITTER watch.
Nice quick inning. Now to get the bats untracked.
NO-HITTER? No, I’ve clearly seen the Padres bats hit the ball… several times.
Matt Cain makes me angry. Before this start, he had allowed a .130 BABIP, allowing him to compile a 1.55 ERA despite only 6.5 K/9 and 4.0 BB/9. And now in his start tonight, he threw 4 no-hit innings, in the process walking 3 and striking out only 1, until Tony Clark finally singled in the 5th. It’s mind-boggling.
Allright. Now let’s note how Tomko hasn’t allowed a RUN. Do you guys see that? That’s right, Tomko has a NO-RUNNER going.
Is it too early for rally caps? C’mon KG!
Way to go Greene!
GREENIE!
30 … smooth, BenB, real smooth
31 … rally caps!
Woohoo! I can see something good happened, but not exactly what it was because Gameday still only has “in play, run(s)”. And now I see it’s a double!
Laced nicely down the line and into the left field corner, bounced around JUST enough for MIJO to come around and score.
Way to go Mike Cameron who is sorely lacking a nickname that can be typed emphatically with great joy!
And Cameron contributes. ‘Bout time.
After 4 full …
Pitches-strikes – B Tomko 62-37; G Maddux 55-37.
Ground balls-fly balls – B Tomko 5-6; G Maddux 7-3.
Batters faced – B Tomko 16; G Maddux 18.
5 pitch inning for Maddux.
Nice little 5 pitch inning there for Maddux. Gracious Pierre, Furcal, and Garciaparra.
Could he have hit that any harder?
Bowen spanked it. Nice leaping grab by Mr. Hamm.
Did Maddux hit it well also?
Man, Padres hitting it on the screws and geting nothing out of it.
Three hard hit balls, last one knocks Tomko off his feet.
McAnulty 2-for-2 + a BB so far tonight for AAA Portland … http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2007_04_28_poraaa_tucaaa_1
Maddux is locked in. Last pitch to Martin definitely not a strike, but we’ll take it. Thanks, blue.
After 5.5 …
Pitches-strikes – B Tomko 70-43; G Maddux 69-47.
Ground balls-fly balls – B Tomko 5-9; G Maddux 9-6.
Batters faced – B Tomko 19; G Maddux 24.
… wow, those #s look *very* good for Maddux … he’ll go a couple more, I presume …
Tomko looks back on track, unfortunately.
After 6 full …
Pitches-strikes – B Tomko 84-53; G Maddux 69-47.
Ground balls-fly balls – B Tomko 6-11; G Maddux 9-6.
Batters faced – B Tomko 22; G Maddux 24.
Sure seems like a strong effort by Tomko … but then again, that sounds like an oxymoron …
14 in a row for Maddux…. is it wrong that I’m already getting a bit queasy thinking about Hoffy?
Tomko has been helped greatly by the Padres’ .190 BABIP. Of course, Maddux has been helped by the Dodgers’ .227 BABIP.
Did the Dodgers really just not pinch-hit for Tomko?
I just placed my order for the Tony Gwynn brick on behalf of me and my wife.
After 6.5 …
Pitches-strikes – B Tomko 84-53; G Maddux 80-55.
Ground balls-fly balls – B Tomko 6-11; G Maddux 9-9.
Batters faced – B Tomko 22; G Maddux 27.
… Maddux on cruise control? Let it ride!
53 … not wrong … you’re only human … Hoffy’s only human …
55 … tell us about the brick?
Scott Hairston just hit a three run homer to put the D-Backs up 5-4 on the Giants in the 7th.
I would probably pull Maddux after 7, since he’s suddenly run out of gas in a couple of other starts around this pitch count, and all three outs last inning were in the air.
Big hit for Kouz
54 … re: Tomko … amazing … let’s make ‘em pay for that dis!
KK – do your thing!
Well, that sucked.
58: Lynch, they are erecting a statue of Tony Gwynn at the “Park at the Park” at Petco. They are going to pave the surounding area with 3000 personalized bricks. Go to Padres.com for more info.
Our brick will read as:
THANK YOU TONY
RICK & LILY
SCHRODER
Argh, what was Kouz thinking?
What was Bowen thinking? If you’re going to swing at the first pitch, you can’t ground out to the pitcher.
Got him!
Doesn’t Pierre realize he can just steal second on the first pitch anyway?
Kouz not thinking>…
But what a play by Sledge, hustles over toward the left field line to snag it, wheels and fires a strike to NOG. Nice!
Crudge Cannon!
I thought he was safe but the replay looks like Marcus got him on the upper arm. What a play, I thought they had no chance with Pierre’s speed.
Against Tsao, we had three first pitch outs and one first pitch swinging, strike out on three pitches. Not so great.
No kidding, I was replaying the Pierre replay and when I came back the inning was over already.
BTW he was out by a fraction of an inch
Hell’s Bells.
Death.
That first pitch was in a very scary location on Gameday. But one down.
Gameday had Trevor’s first pitch at 88.6 out of the hand, the Channel 4 radar showed 82. It looked a lot more like 88 to me.
Death.
Two outs. Taxes.
Three outs. Hoffman.
Ballgame! All is right and well with the world.
48 – McAnulty now 3-for-3 tonight … just knocked in a run to put Beavers up 1-0 …
Matt Cain seems to be doing a nice Jake Peavy immitation …
Small cardiac episode when Martin hit it. Feeling better now, thanks.
Padres C Josh Bard, who fell coming out of the batter’s box on Friday night in his return from the disabled list, got the night off. Manager Bud Black said Bard will be back in the lineup on Sunday.
82: See post 29 as to why that is inaccurate. Unless you’re referring to his bullpen sucking and blowing it. Then, yes, his bullpen did that.
63 … THANKS for the info/pointer … I’d not heard of this … I’m in … here’s what I did on my brick …
YOU GAVE US FUN
THE BEST ON&OFF
HOWARD&AL&CINDY
85 … well, it was the BS that made me think of it … but really what I was getting at was Cain @ age 22 reminds me of Peavy @ age 22 … both will be a force to be reckon’d with for many years to come …
Beavers win 1-0 … the closer came in and loaded the bases, but survived … actually, part of the process of getting the bases loaded was some OF butchery by Jack Cust … a reminder of part of why he’s down at AAA … despite his obvious and significant batting skills …
Well, we needed that!
Storm blowing their game open tonight … now up 9-3 in bottom of 7th … getting/taking lots of walks tonight … http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2007_04_28_stoafa_lesafa_1
Went to the game tonight – some comments:
1) Pads were about 2-20 against Tomko with the bases empty, but 4-5 with runners on. Tomko was not effective from the stetch.
2) That baserunning “thing” in the 7th was just awful.
3) Scotty and Trevor looked good; but batters are getting good wood on Trevor’s pitches.
4) Jaun Pierre made a HUGE HUGE blunder; that being said, great hustle and throw by Cruz.
5) Nice to see hits from Cameron and Kouzmanoff.
HeyLynchMob, I’m going over to see Jose Lobaton tomorrow.Any advice on what to look for?
#90: I just got back from Elsinore. Not to take anything away from what the Storm did, but Stockton put on one of the worst collective pitching performances I’ve ever seen in person at any level. Their poor catcher got a workout. That said, Kyle Blanks looked terrific. I’m really pulling for him to make it. He is a lot of fun to watch.
93 … Hey Malcolm … I’m BIG TIME jealous!
Jose’s hittin’ .310/.414/.552 … you go check ‘im out and tell me if it’s for real! http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?t=t_ibp&cid=103
I’d be interested to know if the bunny still hop’s outta the scoreboard when the Storm score … it’s cute the first coupla times … but I went to a high-scoring game, and it got obnoxious …
OK, some serious advice … check out how big Kyle Blanks is … and how smooth at the plate and in the field …
PF’s fav is 3B David Freese … let us know what you see!
I’m a Craig Cooper / Chad Huffman fan … I saw them play up here in Eugene last year …
And of course there’s Matt Antonelli …
Seth Johnson was a high pick … who knows …
And of course I/we/you can’t forget Matt Bush … I hope you get a chance to see him … he didn’t play tonight, so maybe tomorrow …
Bottom Line: Have fun! And bring back “scouting reports”
I didn’t know Stansberry could play SS too…
Get Blum outta here!
95.Thanks, LM. I’m also interested to hear what a few regulars at the park have to say.
#93, 95: Yes, Jackpot still jumps out of the right field wall every time the Storm score a run. I love it.
A few notes from last night:
–Blanks had three hits and a walk. The first hit was a booming triple to deep right-center. He also advanced three times on PB/WP. The guy is huge but he runs surprisingly well.
–Freese put the ball in play all five times he batted last night, and all were hit to right or right-center.
–Cooper had a nice game. In the seventh, after failing to get a sacrifice bunt down, he worked the count to 3-2 and knocked a two-run broken-bat double to left.
–Huffman had a couple hits, including a triple.
–Antonelli had two hits, two walks, and a stolen base. Both of his hits were grounders (one to shortstop, one to second base) that he beat out. My first impression of him is David Eckstein. Very pesky.
Anyway, as LM said, have fun out there. Let us know how it goes!
K Greene still second in the NL with 16 extra base hits. Chase Uttley has 18.