IGD: Padres @ Braves (9 May 07)
Wed, May 9, 2007
by Geoff Young
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.
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May 9, 2007 at 4:06 pm
Down on the farm … Cedric got on-base 3 out of 5 PAs … http://web.minorleaguebaseball.....x_ftwafx_1 … but no one was there to knock him in …
May 9, 2007 at 4:08 pm
… at least until the 2nd game of the DH … http://web.minorleaguebaseball.....x_ftwafx_1
May 9, 2007 at 4:10 pm
At AAA, Stansberry and McAnulty are the lone hitters so far … http://web.minorleaguebaseball.....a_albaaa_1
May 9, 2007 at 4:14 pm
Big Unit off to an interesting start tonight … http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/boxscore?gid=270509129 … 6 K’s in 1st 2 innings … yow!
May 9, 2007 at 4:20 pm
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.
May 9, 2007 at 4:23 pm
Let’s see if this posts today … for your pre-game entertainment … http://sportsillustrated.cnn.c.....index.html … Jake is rated #13 on the BP / SI “Baseball’s 50 Most Valuable Players” list …
May 9, 2007 at 4:24 pm
Everyone’s favorite Padre, Geoff “Silent L” Blum, getting the start at shortstop tonight
May 9, 2007 at 4:26 pm
7 … i *love* the new nickname … “Silent L” …
May 9, 2007 at 4:27 pm
… and he’s hitting in the #7 spot … ouch, that’s gotta hurt the pride of both Bowen and Maddux …
May 9, 2007 at 4:30 pm
#5: Cool. Those must have been fun to watch.
May 9, 2007 at 4:33 pm
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.
May 9, 2007 at 4:37 pm
That was a very un-Sledge-like at-bat.
May 9, 2007 at 4:39 pm
Damn. OG slides off the bag and is tagged out at second. I’d rather have two in scoring position and one out.
May 9, 2007 at 4:41 pm
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 …
May 9, 2007 at 4:44 pm
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.
May 9, 2007 at 4:47 pm
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.
May 9, 2007 at 4:49 pm
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 …
May 9, 2007 at 4:53 pm
Silent L goes yard? Wow.
May 9, 2007 at 4:54 pm
DO YOU BELIEVE IN MIRACLES?!
May 9, 2007 at 4:54 pm
Blum with a home run? What the crap?
May 9, 2007 at 4:54 pm
Geoff “Silent L” Blum just went yard! woot!
May 9, 2007 at 4:54 pm
9: Ummm… you were saying?
May 9, 2007 at 4:55 pm
15 … http://www.mlb.com/mlb/officia.....rer_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 …
May 9, 2007 at 4:56 pm
Maddox must have liked the bald spot!
May 9, 2007 at 4:56 pm
That’s real nice of the crowd to give Maddux a standy ovation. Followed by booing him after he gets a base hit
May 9, 2007 at 4:56 pm
22 … I can swallow that pride … I say “Give ‘em L”
May 9, 2007 at 4:56 pm
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.
May 9, 2007 at 4:57 pm
oh well… that was fun at least.
May 9, 2007 at 4:58 pm
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?
May 9, 2007 at 5:00 pm
Dogs knockin’ Dontrelle around … now up 3-0 after 3-1/2 …
May 9, 2007 at 5:02 pm
Since the Smoltz/Maddux games are always shutout affairs, does this mean that we’re destined to win?
May 9, 2007 at 5:03 pm
#31: Thorman almost put that theory to the test.
May 9, 2007 at 5:04 pm
How many more weeks on the roster did Silent L earn with his homer?
May 9, 2007 at 5:06 pm
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!
May 9, 2007 at 5:08 pm
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!!!!!!!!
May 9, 2007 at 5:11 pm
ADRIAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
May 9, 2007 at 5:11 pm
Another solo shot!! When was the last time we hit a HR with runners on base…?
May 9, 2007 at 5:11 pm
Adrian Gonzales - Simply amazing.
May 9, 2007 at 5:12 pm
TO ADRIAN GONZALEZ!!!!!!
May 9, 2007 at 5:12 pm
Two solo homers early. Sounds familiar…
May 9, 2007 at 5:12 pm
37: I was just thinking the same thing.
May 9, 2007 at 5:13 pm
40: No negative thoughts!
Plus, how can you think negatively, the foudning member of Team Blum is playing tontie.
May 9, 2007 at 5:21 pm
Damn, I hate that tommahawk chop chant…
May 9, 2007 at 5:22 pm
I miss Khalil
May 9, 2007 at 5:23 pm
Branyan does a nice screen job on Blum. Should be out of the inning.
May 9, 2007 at 5:24 pm
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.
May 9, 2007 at 5:29 pm
Jesus Christ, what;s gontten into Blum tonite?
Nice triple dumbass.
May 9, 2007 at 5:29 pm
Incredibly old. And a horrible baseball player.
May 9, 2007 at 5:30 pm
Another solid hit by Blum, not so smart on the bases. Doesn’t the league know that Francouer has a great arm?
May 9, 2007 at 5:30 pm
Leave it to Blum to screw up a double.
Didn’t anyone get a scouting report on Francouer’s arm?
May 9, 2007 at 5:30 pm
We’ve given up tw o outs on teh base paths tonite.
Don’t people realize that Francoeur has a cannon?
May 9, 2007 at 5:31 pm
#46: In Blum’s defense, Branyan clearly screened him on that ground ball.
May 9, 2007 at 5:31 pm
Apparently three of us know about Francouer’s arm.
May 9, 2007 at 5:32 pm
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.
May 9, 2007 at 5:35 pm
The Blumasaurus is feelin’ the cycle tonight.
May 9, 2007 at 5:36 pm
OMG, Blum made a routine play!
Kory must be thrilled.
May 9, 2007 at 5:36 pm
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?
May 9, 2007 at 5:38 pm
Haven’t had a chance to turn the game on, but a little bit ago a pig flew by my window - what happened?
May 9, 2007 at 5:44 pm
Could someone explain to me where that 0-1 pitch missed?
May 9, 2007 at 5:49 pm
Willie Harris? Ugh.
May 9, 2007 at 5:49 pm
We score on two solo homers, and they get their run on a grounder up the middle and bloop into right. Very frustrating.
May 9, 2007 at 5:51 pm
Harris entered the game with a career .241/.310/.297 line over parts of seven seasons. Can’t let him beat you.
May 9, 2007 at 5:51 pm
60: Harris is like Ricky Henderson on the bases. 4 out of 4 steals in two weeks!
May 9, 2007 at 5:53 pm
#63: He’s more like Curtis Goodwin.
May 9, 2007 at 5:54 pm
We had better score Giles!
May 9, 2007 at 5:54 pm
Right on OG.
I can’t wait for the Pads to come home so I can watch in HD again.
May 9, 2007 at 5:56 pm
65: Seriously, we need to score a run here. Just don’t let Francouer try for another assist.
May 9, 2007 at 5:56 pm
OK, a productive out from AGon. Let’s see if Cammy can do at least the same.
May 9, 2007 at 5:57 pm
Nicely done on the ground ball to the right side by Adrian - now Cammy just needs a pop-up…
May 9, 2007 at 5:57 pm
It appears that Florida is trying not to give the game away.
Nice work Cameron, way to get that runner in.
May 9, 2007 at 5:57 pm
Thanks Cameron, that was really top notch situational hitting.
May 9, 2007 at 5:58 pm
Damnit Padres, we need to score this run.
May 9, 2007 at 5:58 pm
*SIGH*
May 9, 2007 at 5:59 pm
Wow. Where did that 1-2 pitch miss.
May 9, 2007 at 6:00 pm
HR or strikeout coming from Branyan
May 9, 2007 at 6:00 pm
Another no RBI inning. Grrrr.
May 9, 2007 at 6:01 pm
big surprise…
May 9, 2007 at 6:01 pm
Braves: Can hit in the clutch.
Padres: What’s clutch? That’s with nobody on, right?
May 9, 2007 at 6:01 pm
Geez it’s frustrating to watch this team bat
May 9, 2007 at 6:02 pm
Clutch is the thing on a car…
May 9, 2007 at 6:03 pm
79: It most certainly is. What’s our team BA right now, like low .200s?
May 9, 2007 at 6:03 pm
More pressure on the bullpen.
May 9, 2007 at 6:05 pm
wow, that was really un-maddux-like…
May 9, 2007 at 6:05 pm
The Braves had a runner on third and one out. Kelly Johnson struck out.
May 9, 2007 at 6:06 pm
Braves make mistakes, we don’t capitalize.
We make mistakes, Braves pounce.
May 9, 2007 at 6:06 pm
Giving guys second base uncontested is getting old.
May 9, 2007 at 6:06 pm
still cant throw a guy out even on a pitchout!!!
May 9, 2007 at 6:07 pm
I’m seeing shades of the 8th from last nite….
May 9, 2007 at 6:07 pm
that’s all on maddux… geesh, what a jump.
May 9, 2007 at 6:07 pm
Did you see the guys’ jump? Bowen had zero chance. That is 100% on Maddux.
May 9, 2007 at 6:07 pm
Oh sh*t, here we go again.
May 9, 2007 at 6:08 pm
#81: Entering tonight, the team is hitting .239/.314/.382. With RISP it’s .276/.362/.401. Wow, didn’t expect that.
May 9, 2007 at 6:09 pm
Did they double switch someone in?
May 9, 2007 at 6:09 pm
man, maddog is not happy with himself, I’m surprised he didn’t go pyscho on the gatorade cooler…
May 9, 2007 at 6:11 pm
Cla! Cla! Do it again Cla!
May 9, 2007 at 6:11 pm
Claw gets the job done. Some runs, perhaps?
May 9, 2007 at 6:11 pm
93: Robles is in for Branyan at third. Cla Meredith is freaking stud!!!
May 9, 2007 at 6:11 pm
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.
May 9, 2007 at 6:11 pm
92: Padres are #2 in the NL with that .276 RISP average, #4 in the majors.
May 9, 2007 at 6:11 pm
CLAW!
May 9, 2007 at 6:12 pm
Sqeeked out of that one.
May 9, 2007 at 6:12 pm
Was that only 2 pitches? That’s a huge help for the bullpen.
May 9, 2007 at 6:12 pm
I
May 9, 2007 at 6:13 pm
103: Aw crap, I used an HTMLish character and my post got all scummed up. Oh well, it was lame anyways.
May 9, 2007 at 6:13 pm
You better believe Cla is going next inning.
Offense. Now.
Please.
May 9, 2007 at 6:14 pm
3 pitches. Took 2 to get the last batter…
May 9, 2007 at 6:15 pm
Blum - we’re trying to get Smoltz OUT of the game. How about not hitting a weak GB on the first pitch?
May 9, 2007 at 6:15 pm
106 - well, that’s 50% more pitches, so no way Cla can go the 7th
May 9, 2007 at 6:15 pm