first pitch: 7:05 p.m. PT
television: Channel 4SD
matchup: Clay Hensley (0-1, 9.64 ERA) vs Matt Morris (0-0, 1.50 ERA)
previews: Padres.com | SI.com
We’re seven games into the season, and already the Padres have played in four one-run contests. In fact, they’ve played in four straight, winning the last three. Get used to it, folks; this is how it’s going to be.
Clay Hensley gets the start Tuesday evening against the Giants. When he faced them in San Francisco last week, he battled control problems. Actually, the plate umpire that night battled control problems; Hensley just suffered for it. Assuming Hensley’s blister (great name for a band) doesn’t act up and tonight’s plate umpire has better command of the strike zone, he should be fine.
Matt Morris takes the mound for the Giants. He’s had pretty decent success against most current Padres over the years, with two notable exceptions: Mike Cameron (.444/.559/.926 in 34 PA) and Brian Giles (.395/.449/.744 in 49 PA). Those are big enough samples that they probably aren’t flukes.
Also, in case you missed it, the Padres have signed Chris Young to a deal worth $14.5 million over 4 years, with a club option for 2011. We’ll drill a little deeper tomorrow; for now I’ll just say I’m thrilled about the news.
Go Padres!
271 Comments
High socks kicking low socks’ rear end over in the poll there. I like it.
Hey GY, maybe your next poll should be “How many at bats will Khalil have before he takes his first walk?”
I’ll guess 51. The Vulcan’s hitting .321, with all kinds of big hits, so I’m not saying his approach is good or bad . . . .
How about Jeff Weaver’s line today: 2IP, 7ER. Where the heck was that back in October?!?!?!
On the subject of Padres clothing, I have a real-deal dugout jacket from around 1998. I wear it regularly.
On the subject of that fan who followed Chris Young to the Padres. I am a Padres fan for the same reason. I followed Steve Garvey to the Padres from the Dodgers. And how!
Re #3: It’s back with Dave Duncan. DD has some special knack for wringing good work out of fallen veteran pitchers – keep an eye on Kip Wells this season.
A philosophical question here: Was Bochy this bad a manager with the Padres? Or did we just ignore it because we’re fans? I mean, batting Molina 5th? Not pinch-hitting for Pedro Feliz? I’ve read stuff critical of his in-game managing, but I never seemed to notice as much when he was managing the Pads. So I wonder if we just turn a blind eye to stuff like that.
I don’t think too many turned a blind eye on this blog. There were plenty of critics of his in-game managing, with Richard leading the way.
Joakim Soria, the Royals’ Rule V pick from the Padres, earned his first major league save today with two great innings against Toronto. Good for him.
Sledge, Branyan and Bowen all in the lineup tonight.
Did anyone catch what happened to Kouz? I was at the game last night and it looked like he was hit on or near the hand, but yet I haven’t heard anything. Hopefully it was just a bruise, but I am worried that he may have broken something.
I think we just got used to Bochy always being around like an old piece of furniture. I never really cared for his management style.
BTW, I just got the MLB.com catalog in the mail today. Lots of Tony Gwynn schwag.
#8 Kouz got hit pretty hard right around the elbow. I heard it was just a bruise but I’m not sure if that is the official word.
I heard he was day to day with a bruise on the elbow.
Pregame on and channel 4 Padres on directv again….. This is just a dream come true…
Bonds is batting #4 tonight.
Happy property tax day! Don’t forget to mail your checks to the city treasurer.
Go Padres!
Hensley just busted out the four-seamer, 94mph!
Matt says, “the Giants have scored 7 runs in their first 14 games.”
When did the Giants squeeze in 7 more games than the Padres?
Good first half. I wish Mark Grant would just be quite. Nice having Tony in the booth last night.
Hensley’s been hanging out with CY. He gets all three outs on fly balls.
Alright MG
18….sorry to disagree…but I love Mark Grant.
Whew. Morris’ no-hitter ends with the first batter.
No need to be sorry. We all have our preferences. I just prefer hearing Tony do the color and Matt do the play by play. I would turn on the radio and listen to Ted and Jerry but HDTV lags about two seconds behind real-time. Oh, well. Go Pads!
By the way everyone…I’m not shaving again till the Padres lose a game. 3-0 so far….am i sharing too much here?
I love having all three guys in the booth…Tony provides great insight and Mark Grant makes it fun and Matty V. seems to do well playing off both of them
Here’s to Mark with a floor length beard
I really don’t understand the value — other than lefty-righty-lefty in te 2-3-4 hole — of having Cameron hit 3rd. He just doesn’t seem like a good fit for 3 to me b/c of his lack of plate discipline and low average. I really think his occasional pop makes him a better 5 or 6 hole hitter…
whoops… NOG with a rare error…
Giles sat back too long on that ball… you never want to wait “down” for a ball that long – it tightens you up…
WTF!
things better change … this is not a good start
good grief charlie brown…wtf is going on this inning?
Are the lights an issue? That’s the second time MC has done that this season.
on a brighter note….good article on Bud Black and Peavys start from sunday
http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20070409/news_1s9padnotes.html
Wasn’t it a day game last time it happened, though?
33: other one was daylight, I believe.
That’s two plays that Cameron has botched this season already. I don’t recall him making any bonehead plays at all last year.
True. Maybe the sun the first time.
not sure why we’re pitching to Klesko here.. or at least giving him pitches that he can swing at…
nice Clay
33 – was going to say the same thing…twice in like 3 games
because Klesko sucks and he’ll strike out with runners in scoring position
Hensley, realizing he can’t rely on his defense, takes matters into his own hands.
Rules Question:
Can Hensley put his hands in his mouth?
I know that sounds silly….
great pitch, but don’t we want a ground ball now? let’s pitch around Molina…
Turn two for Hensley right here… make up for it
44: no i don’t think he can
Did I just hear him say “take a wee wee on your hand”??
There’s something wrong with that second error being ruled a double.
rats..
This inning should have already been over.
Cameron did not touch the ball ..no error … even though Mike would say it was
44: I think he can, as long as he’s off the mound. I’m pretty sure he’s allowed to lick the fingers if he’s not on the mound.
Geez Hensley’s getting unlucky.
again, I don’t get it. why not load the bases and roll a pair?
What was Clay thinking there?
That was a AAA mistake.
mental mistake by Hensley there…should’ve come home with that one…
AHHH Clay
This is just atrocious defense, and Hensley can be blamed for that one.
goodness! what the heck is Hensley doing???
52: I understand why it isn’t ruled an error. I’m just saying that there’s something wrong with that.
Are their brains broken? Dayam, this is getting silly
Your damn skippy he went!
Ok…well tonight would be a good night to score some runs
can they come back out with a different team in the third
Wow. No runs should have scored and Clay should have been out of the inning after 14 pitches.
Those runs should be unearned, even if Durham’s hit is a “double”, right?
How the heck does an experienced CF’er like Cammy lose that ball so egregiously?
78% of Greene’s hits this year have been for extra bases.
67: Only the first run was unearned.
rught 2 unearned runs
Alright!!! What the crap just happened?! I’m on the phone with my friend with the game on mute trying to be polite and listen to her and not scream while watching that half inning.
I don’t think she suspected anything.
Close at first.
still lots of AB’s for the Pads before the bottom of 9
Padres offense still lifeless. That ridonkulous top 1/2 of the inning might stand up.
72: you have more control than i. My wife just asked if i accidentally reformatted my laptop or somethin’. Ah well, at least it looks like they could get to Morris a bit.
Steve, it was a simple misunderstanding of baseball basics and slight alzheimers on the part of the Padres that caused a incredulous debacle that inning.
75: Padres are 15th in the Majors in OPS (8th in NL).
Friendly note to Gaylord Perry: might want to skip the buffet
go on a road trip … cool .. i’m in
78 – back out the first 2 games and recalc…bet we’re near the bottom
77: Yeah, it was so ridiculous, I don’t think the debacle believed it was happening either.
81: If you remove the data points that don’t fit your conclusions, then you’ll always be right.
This is looking better.
79: TV adds weight…how many cameras do you think are on Gaylord Perry right now?
now that is better baseball
back out almost a third of the season and… yeah
83 – I’m more interested in the trend, not the full set
Looks like Gaylord could get kicked out of the buffet.
Thank you Adrian
way to BO
Doh!
And Bowen’s wOBA is up to .180.
I didn’t even recognize Gaylord, but I’ll bet he still had a foreign substance hidden somewhere on his body.
Those were a couple of pretty pathetic bunt attempts
Yeah, but now it’s PrepH and Bengay.
94: yup, Gaylord’s smuggling shanks into the ballpark these days… I’m surprised he was sitting down….
96: ?
88: In a 7 game sample you want to remove outliers and analyze trends? I’m convinced by previous conversations that you’re not stupid, so I’m really having a hard time understanding where this is coming from.
oh wait, you said “on” his body…
ahh..i get it now..
Not so sure that was really a walk.
It’s ok, not sure that really was a strike.
99 – obviously the sample is low, the full 7 is just as low. My point, which really was never meant for serious discussion, was that for the last 5 games we’re on a real skid…that #15 ranking in OPS is obviously heavily influenced by games 1 and 2. Without them, and our offense looks scary bad.
99: um, trends occur across series of consecutive data points. As long as Clayton’s picking consecutive data points, he’s good to go. So, while he might have coincidentally removed the “outliers” from his set, he’s not violating any rules…
make your mind ump either the outside corner is aball or a strike .. can’t change it for every batter
those weren’t even on the outside corner..those hit a left handed batter
104: And without the two worst games we’re a lot closer to the top. It’s just a pointless argument to make.
Mark G. calling a ducksnorts…
Yo, Adriaaaaaan!
Damn!
108: stick with making fun of Giant’s fans. I think that’s your natural strength.
::sigh::
Guys, either way it’s a ridiculously small sample size. We’re not concluding Albert Pujols is a bum even though he’s hitting under .200.
bummer..
105: 7 games.
Ok…neutral corners boys…..
strike 2..
Why do we even pitch to Bonds? I wish every team in the league would just walk him everytime to deny him any HR record. Hell, he can’t run. Knees too messed up.
I like that approach to him… I liked seeing him have to move his feet a little…
Close. No cookie on the double.
heh… ‘vise-a versa’. Bummer we didn’t score, but if Hensley can hold on here and the Padres can shake off that first, i like the way the Padres are hitting Matt tonight.
Hensley is getting zero help from the defense tonight.
How do they get lucky with hits on balls hit like that and we can’t buy a hit in a clutch situation? It’s infuriating.
Bengie needs to GIDP here…
Klesko grabbed Marcus and pulled him to the ground. That can’t be within the rules.
Klesko playing dirty ball now?
Cmon Ryno! That’s blatant interference!
2 pts – Klesko
Okay, if you want to break your little losing streak by cheating that’s fine. If you can live with yourself that way Giants, go for it.
128: That kind of thing is supposed to result in an out, isn’t it?
I hate games like this. Death by paper-cuts, especially when they are self-inflicted.
Still alot of game left to go.
130: Well, we are talking about a team that Barry Bonds is the face of.
We need to get back into their bullpen.
I was going to say there’s no way NOG would have had time to finish the DP, then I remembered that Molina was running.
Hensley still looks good pitching, if he could just turn some of these grounders going through the infield into outs.
lost in all of that mess was a great play by KG, and a great throw to NOG. I think NOG would’ve had a shot at Molina…
Clay should have three scoreless inning under his belt if it weren’t for miscues by Marcus, Cameron and the second base umpire.
That fan should have broken that play up.
Again you’re cheating Klesko. That was clearly a foul ball.
I think I am going to nominate the foul pop fly as the official Petco hit.
A ball hit into the stands should never be caught by the opposing team. That’s just laziness on the part of the home team’s fans.
Closely followed by the signature Petco moment of the two-out rally that amounts to nothing.
Crudge! Nice AB…
I have seen no comments nor media coverage of Barry’s cheap shot on Marcus Giles in the top of the 6th last night. Didn’t anyone see this? I am hoping Marcus and the team are just waiting for baseball justice later in the season. This was no accidentail bump. Marcus wasn’t even looking when Barry raised his elbow.
Sorry, meant to post the video: http://www.veljovich.com/homeweb/index.php?page=barry
Bowen’s got to get the bat off the shoulder there, that pitch looked fat.
I saw it. Thought there should have been a call.
146: Thanks for that.
Can someone tell us non-sandiegans who these Scott and whoever is that Matt is talking about?
Breaking news, all charges dropped in the Duke lacrosse case. What a farce.
Breaking news from ESPN: all charges have been dropped against the Duke Lacross players. Not sure how big a deal that story is on the west coast, but it was a pretty big deal out here.
150: Morning sports radio guys.
151: Farce is about the kindest choice of word available.
Yet another ground ball finds a hole.
It feels like Hensley hasn’t allowed a ball in play that hasn’t resulted in a base-runner.
And there’s another one.
This game is a farce. It sure got ugly in a hurry…
Noooooooooo… our scoreless bullpen streak!!!
Geez, Hensley hates the Giants, that’s for sure
Geoff,
Didn’t see it mentioned, so congrats on the almighty Rob Neyer citing your writing (his blog entry today regarding Mike Hampton).
This game looks like first turd of 2007. Yuck.
Is our infield defense poor? Because the number of grounders that have found their way through holes is ridiculously high. Hensley has pitched really well, except for the walk to Roberts.
160: You have to hate losing games to the worst team in the division.
Well when the team has trouble scoring, we can no longer fault that second inning. These three runs are enough to bury us right here. No excuse for letting the pitcher get a hit to lead off the inning.
We might as well shut Clay down until this blister goes away. It looks like he’s preoccupied with it. Let it heal and let Thompson make a spot start for a week or two.
161: It’s not normally poor. Just a rough night.
163: I don’t know about that. He pitched well and suffered from poor luck on batted balls.
First inherited runner of the season to be allowed to cross home plate.
166 Fair enough. Other than the bonehead moves by his defense, everything was on the ground. Just frustrated, and we don’t have Bochy to kick around anymore.
150: BR is Billy Ray Smith. Ex-NFL guy married to a local new anchor (Kimberly-bird legs-Hunt).
148/149: Thanks.They should post that on the Petco Digital Board for the next few innings. See if the Boys can get fired up……
Monica Seles routine… did he make a donkey sound?
As much as I hate Bonds, that REALLY pissed me off!
Hensley destroyed Morris in DIPS stats:
Hensley- 4 K, 2 BB, 11 ground balls, 4 fly balls
Morris – 2 K, 2 BB, 4 ground balls, 10 fly balls.
And yet the Giants are winning 6-0. Weird.
#160: Thanks, Stephen; I had no idea. Very cool…
I am having trouble accepting that Matt Morris is shutting us down for the second time in a week.
A two out knock.
Oops. DIPS stands for defense independent stats. So maybe scratch the word “stats” from 172.
3 run homer would be nice.
OK, base hit would be nice.
Ok, that is a good start.
Yo, Adriaaaan!
yay points!!! we need points.
Leave him in, he’s fine…
Whoah…a run before the 7th inning? Someone sit AG down and have a talk with him, clearly he’s not getting with the program here…
Ack!
boo outs!!! we need less outs.
Ah, right. Well hit grounder by our guys, go right to a player. Grounder by them, find a hole. Sigh.
Molina keeps making faces like he just snorted some coke.
7 LOB so far.
That wasn’t good.
185: Awesome. ‘cept you owe me a new keyboard
Dodged that one.
Good catch MacCrudge!!!
Steve, how’s the weather in Boston/NE coast?
AND BLUM COMES THROUGH!
rally cap time….everyone sit where they were sitting last night when we scored the game winning run
Mark, I was sitting on my ass last night. So, I guess I’m already there.
193: It’s a bit cool for the start of spring but still you can feel the seasons changing. Great feeling.
196…good one..
OK, bullpen time. Everyone get their bibs on, time to feast…
197: Does it feel like baseball season or football? San Diego always feels like both.
Bull? Bibs? Sounds like RJ BBQ or Phil’s BBQ time!
OK, this is a good thing. Can we capitolize?
capitalize
we’re getting closer…
Damn, both Giles bros almost did serious damage.
Can’t win for losing.
Well, The Padres Didn’t Capitalize, But I Can.
Who the crap made this ballpark so big?
At least we don’t have the ‘Green Monster.’
208: Larry Lucchino
Visquel just got a shave! LOL!
Crap!
Good, walk the SOB.
im surprised he’s still in the game
Good DP.
nice…
214: I guess he’s not.
This guy looks like the kid in the movie ‘Deliverance.’
El Hombre!
Home effing run!!!!!!!!!!!!
218: that’s creepy…
aint over till .. sings
Yo, Adriaaaaaaan!!!!
stupid delay on MLB.tv ….
I clicked reload and saw you postong about the homerun before it happened. :-/
now we’re a little closer……
Nice pitch mouth-breather… now we got a game.
224: Sorry Steve, I’ll time delay my posts by two seconds for you.
Why can’t we get home runs like that with people on base?
3 strikeouts and a home run….just your typical inning…
228: I hear you Ben. That should have come when we had opprotunity knocking.
227: Thanks Rick. Can everyone do the same? And actually about 20 seconds would be better. :-p
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had to tell my friends not to IM me or call me when exciting things happen in a game. I mean, the first few times I get it, they don’t know about the delay. But I tell them OVER AND OVER!!!
Hey, Mike C saw the ball!
Mike C got that gold glove the same day he lost the ball in the sun and missed the play. How ironic.
Steve, I don’t know how you can follow this live on the east coast and still hold a job.
234: lol, I’m in my last week of unemployment. Start a new job on Monday. I’m gonna miss watching these games :’(
234: I agree… I have hard time making it to the end of these long games
Well, congrats on the new job thing. You need to get Tivo.
Yep…congrats on the job….good news is the Padres play some games on the east coast so they don’t end at a ridiculous hour for you
Whoa! I think that went to the Toyota Terrace!
237: Well MLB.tv acts kinda like a tivo. I can watch the games from the last night that evening if I want to. But I suppose it wouldn’t kill me to miss a few of the 162 games.
Let’s get things started Cruz!!!!!!
It’s all about priorities man… wait, what?
That was inside.
Hot blonde in the high dollar seats tonight.
P-Mac just doesn’t seem ready to me. A little too far away from being ready to be giving him the chance over someone else who might be “kinda ready”
Steve, have you been to Petco yet?
One away…
Pathetic offense as usual.
Got him looking!
We need a BIG bottom 9th!
245: Yes, only once. About this time last year. It was the series against the Rockies where they ruined us. I was at the game where Peavy pitched. I did get to go down to Shea to watch them play the Mets last fall. Again, another blow out loss. Had a blast, though. I got me a single ticket 12 rows right behind home plate.
Bullpen still scoreless though… a few runs?
You gotta admit Petco is a pretty nice venue.
Nice double.
252: Alright fine Rick, you’ve twisted my arm… I admit it.
It was great, I was with a clingy friend, though, so I didn’t get to explore as much as I’d like to. Hopefully it’s not too long before I’m back for when I can see another.
Alright!!! Time for some 9th inning drama that will only accomplish pushing my bedtime back another 15 minutes!!!
Yo, Adriaan!
I think they don’t show these things just to encourage us to actually go to the games.
Home Run!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
uno mas
Sorry Steve. We are only down by one!
Adrian Gonzalez just needs to face San Francisco relievers every at bat!
How huge is that defensive blow-up early in the game?
Wow. What an incredible player. I played t-ball with that guy!!! (or so I’m told)
Come on Greene-y!!!!!!!!!!
Now that second inning smarts again!
Alright… better luck tomorrow! Too bad about that 1st.
D-Backs won in 11, btw
Ufff… predictability sucks.
‘night guys!
Ouch. Hurts to be beaten by ourselves.
G’night folks.
Hmm, sounds familiar. Solid outing by Hensley ruined by poor defense, late rally against Benitez only to come up short.
Through tonight’s game, the Padres have only six players hitting above league average. They are Adrian Gonzalez (.432), Khalil Greene (.398), Russell Branyan (.476), Terrmel Sledge (.428), Jose Cruz Jr. (.402) and Marcus Giles (.354).
I’m pleasantly surprised by the early returns from left field.
269: Those are wOBA numbers, btw.
GY … again I ask … let’s rerun the Adrian Gonzalez HR guestimate poll … a few more takers in the 30+ range?
Our El Hombre!