first pitch: 4:35 p.m. PT
television: Channel 4SD
matchup: Greg Maddux (2-2, 3.96 ERA) vs John Smoltz (4-1, 3.35 ERA)
preview: Padres.com | SI.com
The matchup between former teammates and future Hall of Famers Greg Maddux and John Smoltz is being hyped like crazy, and I think justifiably so. Jay Posner and Tom Krasovic have assembled a nice little tale of the tape over at the San Diego Union-Tribune. Maddux gets the best quote: “I don’t want to hit him. He might hit me back. He throws a lot harder than I do.”
These two pitchers have hooked up three times in the past — once in 1990, twice in 1992. All three have resulted in a shutout for one of the teams involved, with Smoltz getting the upper hand on two of those occasions:
- May 16, 1990: Braves 4, Cubs 0. Smoltz went the distance, allowing five hits and striking out nine. He and Maddux are the only players from this game who remain active. Ryne Sandberg, who had one of the Cubs’ five hits, is in the Hall of Fame.
- July 5, 1992: Cubs 8, Braves 0. Deion Sanders led off for Atlanta and struck out all three times he faced Maddux, who worked seven innings before turning the game over to Paul Assenmacher and current Padres broadcaster Bob Scanlan.
- July 10, 1992: Braves 4, Cubs 0. Smoltz tossed a four-hitter. Two of the hits came off the bat of ex-Padre (yep, you can look it up) Rick Wilkins.
Of course we want a Padres victory tonight, but savor this one no matter how it unfolds. Matchups like these don’t happen every day or even every year.
174 Comments
Down on the farm … Cedric got on-base 3 out of 5 PAs … http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2007_05_08_kccafx_ftwafx_1 … but no one was there to knock him in …
… at least until the 2nd game of the DH … http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2007_05_09_kccafx_ftwafx_1
At AAA, Stansberry and McAnulty are the lone hitters so far … http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2007_05_08_poraaa_albaaa_1
Big Unit off to an interesting start tonight … http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/boxscore?gid=270509129 … 6 K’s in 1st 2 innings … yow!
Except this is the third time a matchup like this has happened this year. Smoltz and Glavine have pitched twice against each other already. Smoltz, or at least the Braves, won both.
Let’s see if this posts today … for your pre-game entertainment … http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/baseball/mlb/05/07/bp.ufd.fourth/index.html … Jake is rated #13 on the BP / SI “Baseball’s 50 Most Valuable Players” list …
Everyone’s favorite Padre, Geoff “Silent L” Blum, getting the start at shortstop tonight
7 … i *love* the new nickname … “Silent L” …
… and he’s hitting in the #7 spot … ouch, that’s gotta hurt the pride of both Bowen and Maddux …
#5: Cool. Those must have been fun to watch.
So Black still trusts Blum more than Robles and Bowen. I guess I can live with that, as long as he’s not starting at 3B.
Make sure that you’re paying attention when Maddux or Smoltz hit against each other. Smoltz has promised something wacky.
That was a very un-Sledge-like at-bat.
Damn. OG slides off the bag and is tagged out at second. I’d rather have two in scoring position and one out.
If is slid off the bag, shouldn’t it be scored a double? Yahoo’s saying “single” … but then again, they’re just a bunch of yahoo’s …
14: I don’t think they make any distinction of how he is tagged out. Sliding past the bag looks like sliding 10 feet short and crawling in only to get tagged out.
After 1 …
Pitches-strikes – G Maddux 13-8; J Smoltz 10-6.
Ground balls-fly balls – G Maddux 1-2; J Smoltz 1-1.
Batters faced – G Maddux 4; J Smoltz 4.
15 … I saw on BaseballDirect’s notes that the throw went to 3rd then back to 2nd base … so, as opposed to being thrown out trying to stretch a single into a double, he was thrown out trying to advance on the throw … so “single” is the correct scoring in this case, no matter if he slid by or not …
Silent L goes yard? Wow.
DO YOU BELIEVE IN MIRACLES?!
Blum with a home run? What the crap?
Geoff “Silent L†Blum just went yard! woot!
9: Ummm… you were saying?
15 … http://www.mlb.com/mlb/official_info/official_rules/official_scorer_10.jsp … Rule 10.06(c) confirms what you said … but note in the comment that it matters if he slides past or runs past … hmmm …
Maddox must have liked the bald spot!
That’s real nice of the crowd to give Maddux a standy ovation. Followed by booing him after he gets a base hit
22 … I can swallow that pride … I say “Give ‘em L”
That was fun. When Maddux came up to bat, Smoltz tipped his cap and the crowd gave a standing ovation. Maddux promptly smacked the first pitch back through the middle for a single.
oh well… that was fun at least.
It was pretty cool that Smoltz could still clown around with Maddux after Blum took him yard.
That was such a pretty swing. Why can’t Blummer do that more often?
Dogs knockin’ Dontrelle around … now up 3-0 after 3-1/2 …
Since the Smoltz/Maddux games are always shutout affairs, does this mean that we’re destined to win?
#31: Thorman almost put that theory to the test.
How many more weeks on the roster did Silent L earn with his homer?
After 2 …
Pitches-strikes – G Maddux 25-17; J Smoltz 30-22.
Ground balls-fly balls – G Maddux 1-4; J Smoltz 2-1.
Batters faced – G Maddux 8; J Smoltz 10.
… gotta run to a softball practice … hold down the fort!
For those of you that aren’t listening to the Braves broadcast, the announcers are telling some pretty cool stories about Maddux.
Here’s a couple:
They once had a bachelor party for Maddux. He ate the entire cake before they could tell him there was a stripper in it.
If you drop a phonograph needle on Maddux’s nipple, it plays the Beach Boys’ “Pet Sounds”
Maddux named the group Sha Na Na. They did NOT want to be called that.
GREG MADDUX!!!!!!!!
ADRIAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Another solo shot!! When was the last time we hit a HR with runners on base…?
Adrian Gonzales – Simply amazing.
TO ADRIAN GONZALEZ!!!!!!
Two solo homers early. Sounds familiar…
37: I was just thinking the same thing.
40: No negative thoughts!
Plus, how can you think negatively, the foudning member of Team Blum is playing tontie.
Damn, I hate that tommahawk chop chant…
I miss Khalil
Branyan does a nice screen job on Blum. Should be out of the inning.
I really hope you guys aren’t all posting about Blum sucking on that throw. I really don’t think it’s his fault. You just have to remember, he’s incredibly old, and he’s a horrible baseball player.
Jesus Christ, what;s gontten into Blum tonite?
Nice triple dumbass.
Incredibly old. And a horrible baseball player.
Another solid hit by Blum, not so smart on the bases. Doesn’t the league know that Francouer has a great arm?
Leave it to Blum to screw up a double.
Didn’t anyone get a scouting report on Francouer’s arm?
We’ve given up tw o outs on teh base paths tonite.
Don’t people realize that Francoeur has a cannon?
#46: In Blum’s defense, Branyan clearly screened him on that ground ball.
Apparently three of us know about Francouer’s arm.
What makes it even dumber is that it was Francouer’s laser that enabled them to nail OG at 2nd. He’s already displayed the arm, it’s no secret.
The Blumasaurus is feelin’ the cycle tonight.
OMG, Blum made a routine play!
Kory must be thrilled.
Blummer is halway to the most ineffective cycle possible: Solo HR, out stretching a double into triple. Now he needs to be thrown out stretching a bases-empty triple and maybe a single with a caught stealing. Has anyone ever done anything like that?
Haven’t had a chance to turn the game on, but a little bit ago a pig flew by my window – what happened?
Could someone explain to me where that 0-1 pitch missed?
Willie Harris? Ugh.
We score on two solo homers, and they get their run on a grounder up the middle and bloop into right. Very frustrating.
Harris entered the game with a career .241/.310/.297 line over parts of seven seasons. Can’t let him beat you.
60: Harris is like Ricky Henderson on the bases. 4 out of 4 steals in two weeks!
#63: He’s more like Curtis Goodwin.
We had better score Giles!
Right on OG.
I can’t wait for the Pads to come home so I can watch in HD again.
65: Seriously, we need to score a run here. Just don’t let Francouer try for another assist.
OK, a productive out from AGon. Let’s see if Cammy can do at least the same.
Nicely done on the ground ball to the right side by Adrian – now Cammy just needs a pop-up…
It appears that Florida is trying not to give the game away.
Nice work Cameron, way to get that runner in.
Thanks Cameron, that was really top notch situational hitting.
Damnit Padres, we need to score this run.
*SIGH*
Wow. Where did that 1-2 pitch miss.
HR or strikeout coming from Branyan
Another no RBI inning. Grrrr.
big surprise…
Braves: Can hit in the clutch.
Padres: What’s clutch? That’s with nobody on, right?
Geez it’s frustrating to watch this team bat
Clutch is the thing on a car…
79: It most certainly is. What’s our team BA right now, like low .200s?
More pressure on the bullpen.
wow, that was really un-maddux-like…
The Braves had a runner on third and one out. Kelly Johnson struck out.
Braves make mistakes, we don’t capitalize.
We make mistakes, Braves pounce.
Giving guys second base uncontested is getting old.
still cant throw a guy out even on a pitchout!!!
I’m seeing shades of the 8th from last nite….
that’s all on maddux… geesh, what a jump.
Did you see the guys’ jump? Bowen had zero chance. That is 100% on Maddux.
Oh sh*t, here we go again.
#81: Entering tonight, the team is hitting .239/.314/.382. With RISP it’s .276/.362/.401. Wow, didn’t expect that.
Did they double switch someone in?
man, maddog is not happy with himself, I’m surprised he didn’t go pyscho on the gatorade cooler…
Cla! Cla! Do it again Cla!
Claw gets the job done. Some runs, perhaps?
93: Robles is in for Branyan at third. Cla Meredith is freaking stud!!!
Good call by Black to be aggressive and bring in a reliever that could get the grounder to keep the lead. And excellent execution by Cla to keep us ahead.
92: Padres are #2 in the NL with that .276 RISP average, #4 in the majors.
CLAW!
Sqeeked out of that one.
Was that only 2 pitches? That’s a huge help for the bullpen.
I
103: Aw crap, I used an HTMLish character and my post got all scummed up. Oh well, it was lame anyways.
You better believe Cla is going next inning.
Offense. Now.
Please.
3 pitches. Took 2 to get the last batter…
Blum – we’re trying to get Smoltz OUT of the game. How about not hitting a weak GB on the first pitch?
106 – well, that’s 50% more pitches, so no way Cla can go the 7th
107: Kory told him to.
Offense? More like OFFense!!
109 – nonsense. From what I read, Kory sounds like a saavy manager for Team Blum. She’s probably going to bench him for his younger brother after that.
111: I think you might be right on that one. Kory clearly would have opted for one of the triplets to try to draw a walk.
112 – I bet Kory wouldn’t have kept Bellhorn on the playoff roster either.
Silent L almost blew that one.
That ground rule double could save our ass.
Once again, there is no room for error with for the bullpen. Man, Cla got hittable fast.
Not Possible! EGAD! Cla – what happened?
Again with Willie Harris? Really. At least we caught a break on Chipper’s double.
Jesus. This is much too much like last nite.
Did I jinx us in #40?
This is deja-vu all over again. and again. and again. and…
I think I’m going to be sick…
All of this with 2 outs, no less.
120: YES!!! It’s all your fault.
Geez, even that last out was crushed.
It’s all Jane Fonda’s fault.
Anyone else thinking those two base-running blunders are going to come back to hurt us?
125 – I’ve started to notice that with Cla. It seems like he gets real hittable real fast in these appearances now. He can start out lights out but it doesn’t take long for that ball to drift back up to the middle of the zone. It’s not coming in very fast, so the hitter can catch it if it stays up.
If Branyan is again the usual Branyan over his career (.213 with 10 home runs and 28 rbi’s in 250+ at bats and 100 K’s) and KK continues to struggle then the Pads are really in trouble.
Look at the bright side: Blum can’t pinch hit tonight
This roadtrip can really make you lose some faith in a team.
I liked Atlanta’s bullpen better last year.
You’re losing faith after a 3-2 record so far on this roadtrip?
Hmm…I always thought Geoff Blum was the batboy….
Keep the Faith!
(that’s what it says on my official Padres 1996 video)
going to be 3-3 soon.
Did you just hear Brian Giles moan a little bit on that hit?
Ok, so you’re losing faith after a 3-3 record on a road trip (if you want to concede this game)?
At least Adrian can tie it up leading off the ninth. The trick is figuring out how to get the go-ahead run before he bats again.
Why would you throw Thorman a first pitch strike – he’s swung first pitch every at bat?
Brocail in the 8th? Guess Bud isn’t as much a ’system’ guy as we thought. Of course we’re trailing, but it is a 1-run game.
#139: Sean, if you can find a way to make that happen, we’ll all be forever in your debt.
Are we going to see Soriano again?
come on Agon! do it for your brother that never had the chance….
#138: You know, that is funny; I just assumed Stephen meant the score was going to be 3-3 soon.
141: Yeah, he brought in Kevin Cameron last night in the 8th with runners on the corners and 2 outs despite only trailing by 1. It seems like he only uses Meredith, Linebrink, and Hoffman with a lead or tied, regardless of how closely they trail. But Brocail has certainly pitched well enough this year to earn some relatively higher leverage innings.
dude…..yeah, piece of cake
Boy, it takes patience to be a Padres’ fan. Whoa! Two nights in a row.
Why is it that other teams can score a man from 3rd with only 1 out or get a hit with men in scoring position and two out?
Geoff. Better start working on the “step back from the ledge” entry for tomorrow.
138: You know what, that is a good interpretation. I’m sorry I’m such a pessimist.
yup, that’s an amazing stat.. 8 runs scored this series by the friars… 5 on solo homers…
148: The other team twice failed to score a runner from third with one out. One inning they scored it with a two out hit.
I’m gonna quit eating peanuts, peaches, and stop wearing cotton.
133: The frustrating thing is that every game we’ve lost on this trip, we should have won.
In fact, when was the last time we lost a game by more than 1 run. I think you have to go back before the last Dodgers series.
That’s whats frustrating and makes you lose faith. Because this team has the talent, but they are unable to get it clicking on all cylinders thus far.
Nice freaking work Cameron.
McCann makes the catch Piazza could not last year vs St. Louis
Cameron is brutal.
Lame
Ack!
Thanks a lot, Seattle. Giving up Soriano for Horacio Ramirez?
This is just getting unreal. What happened to the magic of MAy?
god damn it
Unfreaking believable.
And we get Hudson tomorrow, yay.
What the hell is it going to take to get this team to produce offenisvely? Our bullpen has been saving us thus far and now that they’re starting to have problems, our severe lack of offense is becoming a huge issue.
I am glad it is a day game tomorrow, less time to dwell on this.
162: What’s more frustrating about the lack of offense is that people on our team have shown flashes of brilliance, but they can’t keep it consistent.
162 – it’s not even that the bullpen is having severe problems. With the exception of the twin double-D bombs Linebrink gave up vs Florida, it’s just the other team scratching across a run or two in a game where we should be up by 3 or 4 runs.
#148: I am always up for a challenge.
#153: Bingo. The amount of talent on this team is what makes the poor play so frustrating. This isn’t a bunch of scrubs we’re running out there.
I’d like to see our guys play with some pride tomorrow.
Okay, here’s a happy thought: It’s awesome that we’re all mad as hell that this team is 18-16. Did that even seem possible 5 years ago?
167: lol, good point. I know our expectations are high, but it’s because they have the talent to play better than they are.
The last game we lost by more than one run was April 26 at Arizona (we lost 4-7). Since that time, we’re 6-6, with each of those losses being by one run.
168: And we’ve actually only had 2 one run wins in that time. Of course, the most lopsided win was by 4 runs, so everything has still been close. I guess that’s what we signed up for with this team.
169: Good point. These losses don’t piss me off so much because my team sucks. These losses really get to me because it’s a simple matter of us not getting it done when it matters. Whether it’s a mental mistake (Jake’s windup, Adrian’s mis-handling of the bunt, LaForest’s inability to catch a ball) or just the total inability to score runs, it makes for very frustrating games.
I feel bad for my fiance because these past two days have been brutal on me. Tough, tough, tough losses.
Here’s a note from WC @ BP re: Roberts …
The Giants are worried that Dave Roberts may be headed to the DL with an elbow issue. Roberts first injured the elbow about ten days ago in Colorado, though no one has publicly stated exactly how the injury occurred. The team is worried that there are bone chips or spurs, and Roberts told MLB.com that he can’t straighten it to throw nor bend it to hit, which sounds like a problem, given that he’s expected to do those things. The speedy center fielder will have an MRI, and it sounds like the team is ready to hear that Roberts will need surgery. Unlike Chris Carpenter, Roberts should be back quickly. You may remember Rich Aurilia having similar surgery a few years back and only missing the minimum 15 days. Roberts could do the same, though a month is the timeframe you normally anticipate for recovery.
… and it is odd that, in this condition, he hit an HR today …
Kyle Blanks hit a HR tonight … with a man on base!
http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2007_05_09_lesafa_rcqafa_1
BREAKING NEWS:
The bats belonging to the San Diego Padres have finally arrived in Atlanta airport after they were mistakenly placed on an airplane destined for Europe. This couldn’t have come at a better time, as the Padres will square off against Tim Hudson in Thursday’s series finally. Hudson has found his Cy Young form this year and the Padres will need their bats in order to get any kind of base hit.
Hudson today?? Oh, that’s not good