IGD: Padres vs Brewers (26 May 07)
Sat, May 26, 2007
by Geoff Young
first pitch: 7:05 p.m. PT
television: Channel 4SD
matchup: Justin Germano (2-0, 0.47 ERA) vs Claudio Vargas (3-0, 3.68 ERA)
previews: Padres.com | SI.com
Lame dad-type thing to say: Love the participation, but as a reminder to everyone, please take a moment to review the Comments Policy. If you think I’m scolding you, I’m not; just want to make sure this continues to be the best place for intelligent discussion of Padres baseball.
Okay, enough of that. Kevin Kouzmanoff is on fire. Among National League batters with 50 or more plate appearances in May, nobody has a higher OPS than Kouz (1141). Also, his OPS at home (851) is more than 300 points higher than his OPS on the road (540).
Of course, OPS is a nonsense stat. But we use it anyway because it’s easy and it gives us a rough idea of how a guy is doing.
Anyway.
The other story is Justin Germano, who has done a remarkable job of filling in for Clay Hensley while the latter is on the DL. Germano’s K/9 is alarmingly low (2.37) and he would appear to be due for a “correction” at any moment. Still, he’s gotten the job done.
I thought tonight might represent more of a challenge for Germano, but Milwaukee’s offense (4.73 runs per game) isn’t really much different from Atlanta’s (4.79) or Seattle’s (4.70). Here’s hoping he can enjoy the ride a little longer.
Go Padres!
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May 26, 2007 at 6:30 pm
In LA tonight so no channel 4 or 1090, I’ll be relying on Ducksnorts for the score and commentry. Also, I saw a very cool baseball hiaku book at the book store last night and thought it would be fun to create some for tonight’s game. Haikus are three lines, 5 syllables, 7 syllables, 5 syllables. Here is my first lame attempt:
Parking frustration
Finding seats before first pitch
Play ball, all is well
May 26, 2007 at 6:42 pm
re Germano … a writer at BP recently studied all the GameDay pitching data and determined that Germano is in the Top 10 of pitchers who vary their velocity the most … Germano comes in with a StdDev of 7.2 mph … compare that to Greg Maddux (at 2.5 mph, 11th lowest) and Cla Meredith (1.9, 4th lowest) … interesting …
May 26, 2007 at 6:43 pm
Or…
“…If you think I’m scolding you…” You may have a guilty concious.
Sorry, couldn’t resist.
May 26, 2007 at 6:43 pm
In an effort to jump start the offense, Buddy has gone with our secret silent weapon: B(l)um gets the start at SS tonight. Is Robles on this team or is he here to shine everyone’s shoes?
May 26, 2007 at 6:47 pm
What is up, PM?
Sad to hear you’re in LA
And not at Petco
May 26, 2007 at 6:48 pm
It is a tight game
I sit wondering, mouth wide
He let Blum pinch hit
May 26, 2007 at 6:50 pm
Germano pitching
Is this finally the night
The bubble will burst?
May 26, 2007 at 6:50 pm
I actually don’t mind when Blum starts. We need to give Khalil days off, and Blum is our best (read: only) option to do that. It’s when he gets at bats where we have other, better options to hit that it really bothers me. Really, really bothers me.
May 26, 2007 at 6:52 pm
With Greene struggling
It’s time for B(l)um, the good news?
He can not pinch-hit
May 26, 2007 at 6:56 pm
Ouch, Sledge (batting .200) moves up to 6th in the lineup … while the Brewer’s #8 hitter is hitting .350 … Hmmm … can’t make a Haiku out of that ugliness …
May 26, 2007 at 7:13 pm
Nice 12-pitch top of 1st for Germano …
May 26, 2007 at 7:16 pm
Stop sac bunting, Cruz
In the first inning of game
Against bad pitcher
May 26, 2007 at 7:19 pm
Apparently the Brewers are as bad as us about throwing out runners.
May 26, 2007 at 7:21 pm
DOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONG!
May 26, 2007 at 7:21 pm
There they go throwing Mike Cameron inside fastballs again.
May 26, 2007 at 7:28 pm
After 1 full …
Pitches-strikes - C Vargas 26-15; J Germano 12-9.
Ground balls-fly balls - C Vargas 0-1; J Germano 1-1.
Batters faced - C Vargas 6; J Germano 4.
May 26, 2007 at 7:32 pm
Hey, I’m turning in late… what happened? Cameron hit a two run homer?
May 26, 2007 at 7:35 pm
17 … yup … on an inside fastball … to LF … with NOG on 3rd …
May 26, 2007 at 7:39 pm
18: Thanks dude!
So I’ve been thinking a bit about Blum. I’ve come to the conclusion that he sucks.
May 26, 2007 at 7:41 pm
Geoff Blum has struck out
I am shocked and bamboozled
What else is new here
May 26, 2007 at 7:48 pm
haiku night, eh?
I have nothing to add in that vein.
May 26, 2007 at 7:49 pm
THru 2 …
Pitches-strikes - C Vargas 42-26; J Germano 24-17.
Ground balls-fly balls - C Vargas 1-1; J Germano 3-2.
Batters faced - C Vargas 10; J Germano 8.
May 26, 2007 at 7:49 pm
I watched the LA/Cubby game on FOX and Matty V was a star. He and Mark Grace make a pretty good team. It was either that or the fact that the Dogs lost.
May 26, 2007 at 7:52 pm
Germano’s not supposed to regress by giving up a ton of homers! That’s supposed to be a sustainable skill. He’s supposed to regress by giving up lots of hits on balls in play.
May 26, 2007 at 7:54 pm
I don’t think I like this Braun kid… mostly because he’s playing against us. Having a nice first two days in the bigs, rook?
May 26, 2007 at 7:56 pm
Can we stop talking about moving the fences in now?
May 26, 2007 at 7:57 pm
Yea, let’s move the fences in. Not enough home runs at PETCO….
May 26, 2007 at 7:58 pm
Well, looks like Cruz got the lead back… I’m channel 4-less tonight, in my sis’ house in Temecula.
May 26, 2007 at 8:07 pm
Thru 3 …
Pitches-strikes - C Vargas 61-37; J Germano 40-29.
Ground balls-fly balls - C Vargas 1-3; J Germano 3-4.
Batters faced - C Vargas 15; J Germano 12.
May 26, 2007 at 8:08 pm
Tired, Exhausted,
But the Padres are playing,
Oh, one more inning.
May 26, 2007 at 8:12 pm
Hang in there, Steve … we might be McAnulty PH tonight!
May 26, 2007 at 8:14 pm
Down on the Farm … Freese and Antonelli with solo-shots for Lake Elsinore … http://web.minorleaguebaseball.....a_hdmafa_1 … but the pitching? Not so good …
May 26, 2007 at 8:15 pm
At least Blum saw a lot of pitches … and got a BIP …
May 26, 2007 at 8:16 pm
Man-Bo padding his stats tonight … he’s 2-for-2 already! Let’s cash in!
May 26, 2007 at 8:16 pm
33: Exactly. Good at bat by Blum’s standards.
Germano now has two sacs on two pitches. Can someone watching the broadcast tell if those were good bunts?
May 26, 2007 at 8:18 pm
Jared Wells, coming of 2 good relief appearances for the Portland Beavers, is back to being a Starting Pound Puppy … http://web.minorleaguebaseball.....a_lvgaaa_1
May 26, 2007 at 8:19 pm
35 … How could they be “bad”? … they worked … isn’t that the definition of “good”? Or are you asking if they were somehow “lucky”?
May 26, 2007 at 8:20 pm
Petco Park Homers
What the freaking heck is up
Balls Sail Away Now
May 26, 2007 at 8:20 pm
Thru 4 …
Pitches-strikes - C Vargas 70-43; J Germano 54-38.
Ground balls-fly balls - C Vargas 3-4; J Germano 3-6.
Batters faced - C Vargas 19; J Germano 16.
… these stats, and the score (3-2 Padres) seems a good reflection of what’s happened so far …
May 26, 2007 at 8:21 pm
Maybe I mean “pretty”. Were they down either line as opposed to right back to the pitcher, who took the gimme out rather than make the riskier play?
Germano got in touch with his inner Nolan Ryan today. 4 k’s in 4.1 innings thus far.
May 26, 2007 at 8:26 pm
4 K’s but two bombs…is he using his fastball more? is he just challanging more? has he had a curve or two flatten out?
Grrrr… I want to SEE
May 26, 2007 at 8:28 pm
That was four Padre at bats in a row decided on the first pitch. Vargas, having enough of this, ended it with a pitchout. The way we’ve run on the Brewers, and how they’ve been forced to counter this with pitchouts, is really reminiscent of our struggles to stop the running game.
Mike Cameron, frustrated he wasn’t able to make an out on the first pitch because of the pitchout, lines out on the second.
May 26, 2007 at 8:29 pm
40: *I* thought they were very good bunts. Especially the first. Right down the first bace line, had a tiny tiny chance of beating it out. Second was good too, very confident and the like.
May 26, 2007 at 8:33 pm
I’m stuck seeing KK on a 2-2 count for a while now … what’s going on?
May 26, 2007 at 8:36 pm
It’s 3-2 and Kouz keeps fouling balls off.
May 26, 2007 at 8:37 pm
He just hit a bullet into left but Jenkins made a pretty sweet catch to get it. One of those ones where it probably didn’t have to be as hard as he made it look, but, I guess it did. You know?
May 26, 2007 at 8:37 pm
Nice 11 pitch at bat by Kouz. Makes up for all those other 1 pitch at bats.
May 26, 2007 at 8:38 pm
47 … ah, so he fouled off a bunch of pitches … which is why all i saw was stuck on a 2-2 count … nice AB … ended in a line-drive … KK be da man!
May 26, 2007 at 8:41 pm
Kouz is making believers… Rookie of the Month is a lock. Player of the Month? Think he has a shot?
May 26, 2007 at 8:41 pm
I must find a way
To put Kevin Koizmanoff
Into a Haiku
May 26, 2007 at 8:42 pm
Thru 5 …
Pitches-strikes - C Vargas 89-55; J Germano 67-47.
Ground balls-fly balls - C Vargas 4-6; J Germano 4-7.
Batters faced - C Vargas 23; J Germano 19.
… one more inning for Justin, then it’s bully time!
May 26, 2007 at 8:43 pm
Woeful is this blog
Without any corrections
To my dumb typos
May 26, 2007 at 8:46 pm
Dick’s Sporting Goods Store
Commercial so over played
Will never shop there
May 26, 2007 at 8:49 pm
Gotta PH for Germano here, right?
May 26, 2007 at 8:50 pm
Gotta PH for Blum there, right? Oops, too late.
May 26, 2007 at 8:52 pm
Why does Cruz get told to bunt in the first inning with a runner on second and no outs and Blum does not in the sixth in a close game?
May 26, 2007 at 8:52 pm
36 … Portland, without Paul McAnulty in their lineup, is getting no-no’d tonight thru 5 …
May 26, 2007 at 8:52 pm
McAnulty’s on deck!
May 26, 2007 at 8:55 pm
The radio guys mentioned bringing in a lefty to pitch to McAnulty, and for a second I panicked. But then I realized, Blum can’t pinch hit! We have Bard or Khalil on the bench that can hit lefties just fine, or we could just stick with McAnulty. And there is no way Blum can hit here!
May 26, 2007 at 8:57 pm
55 … great question!
56 … great question!
Rally caps on full for McAnulty!
May 26, 2007 at 9:01 pm
After 6 …
Pitches-strikes - C Vargas 100-60; B Shouse 4-2; J Germano 81-54.
Ground balls-fly balls - C Vargas 4-7; B Shouse 0-1; J Germano 5-9.
Batters faced - C Vargas 26; B Shouse 1; J Germano 23.
… another GREAT outing for Germano! ZERO walks!
May 26, 2007 at 9:02 pm
61: And FOUR strikeouts!
May 26, 2007 at 9:08 pm
Nice 7th by Cla … let’s not forget that Hoffy has the “cranky” arm … and Cla’s had trouble in multi-inning outings … and both Bell and Linebrink pitched yesterday … Hmmm … no wonder Bud makes the big bucks
May 26, 2007 at 9:08 pm
4 NL West closers are among the top 5 in saves in the NL. It’s a testament to the type of games played among NL West teams.
May 26, 2007 at 9:11 pm
re: Craig Wilson … it would sure seem like he (and/or ANYONE getting released from any MLB team) would be a good fit for our AAA team …
May 26, 2007 at 9:14 pm
Not a good showing by the top of the order in the bottom of the 7th … 1-2-3 …
May 26, 2007 at 9:14 pm
53 … Good-night, Steve …
May 26, 2007 at 9:15 pm
Linebrink in for the 8th … guess that means Hoffy is available …
May 26, 2007 at 9:18 pm
32 … now they’re hittin’ up a Storm … Crosta with a GS … Antonelli with his 14th SB (who knew?) …
May 26, 2007 at 9:19 pm
Ryan Braun showing that he’s the next KK (May version) …
May 26, 2007 at 9:21 pm
69: Have you heard Antonelli was the Massachusetts state player of the year in hockey in high school? I guess he’s quite the athlete. He also moved up the defensive spectrum from third to second base.
May 26, 2007 at 9:22 pm
Holy cow, it’s a triple (!) by Adrian!
May 26, 2007 at 9:25 pm
Better late than never. I’m having DSL issues.
Good game so far.
May 26, 2007 at 9:31 pm
73 … I’ve been having issues myself … may not be (just) your DSL …
May 26, 2007 at 9:32 pm
72 … somebody tell me *HOW* adrian gets a triple? the most exciting 2 minutes in sports?
May 26, 2007 at 9:32 pm
Muscle with a PH … maybe that’ll move up in the PH pecking order?
May 26, 2007 at 9:33 pm
75: LOL. From the radio, it sounded like the ball got stuck in the Brewers bullpen for a while, and Adrian was still almost out at third.
May 26, 2007 at 9:35 pm
71 … re: Antonelli … a quick look at his overall stats for 2007 show he’s doing even better than I had figured … http://web.minorleaguebaseball.....pid=453327 … that’s .318/.427/.475 for a .902 OPS in 210+ PAs (before tonight’s HR) … and only 1 CS (to go along with his 14 SBs) and only 32 Ks (to along with his 31 BBs) … and, as you say, a move up the defensive spectrum to 2B … we’ve got ourselves a ball player!
May 26, 2007 at 9:35 pm
I can’t believe we are ahead and Silent L was playing.
May 26, 2007 at 9:36 pm
77 … “a while” = 2 minutes?
May 26, 2007 at 9:37 pm
Did anyone notice if Hoffy was warming up before we scored the 2 runs in the bottom of the 8th?
Brocail? Hmm, OK … “too close” for Cameron or Hampson? I s’pose …
May 26, 2007 at 9:39 pm
Yeah, Hoffman was up, and he’s up now too in case Brocail creates a save situation for him.
May 26, 2007 at 9:41 pm
I have no idea why Brocail was brought in there, when he got rocked last night and Cameron and Hampson have pitched really well but have had a lot of time off. A 4 run lead is not a high leverage situation; it’s ok to trust one of those guys.
May 26, 2007 at 9:42 pm
Trevor time!
May 26, 2007 at 9:43 pm
Ya, like Cameron or Hampson couldn’t have done that …
May 26, 2007 at 9:46 pm
Bad throw by Kouz. Could have been worse.
May 26, 2007 at 9:48 pm
I hate this tight rope act.
May 26, 2007 at 9:48 pm
A chinq in the KK armour …
May 26, 2007 at 9:49 pm
Now I’m sweatin’ …
May 26, 2007 at 9:50 pm
Finally! We grabbed 1st place.
May 26, 2007 at 9:50 pm
Any chance Heath Bell is warming up?
May 26, 2007 at 9:50 pm
91 … never mind
:-) 
Ah, yes, 1st place in the NL West … it’s nice …
May 26, 2007 at 9:51 pm
24 hours late, but finally back in 1st place…
May 26, 2007 at 9:51 pm
All right, time to lower the leverage of Brocail’s innings and use Cameron or Hampson instead. That’s three straight bad outings.
May 26, 2007 at 9:53 pm
I wish I could have seen more of this game other than the last 3 innings.
May 26, 2007 at 10:02 pm
Dodgers come to town on June 5/6/7 … for some reason, I’m looking forward to that!
Which reminds me … I’m hoping that the Padres skip Wells’ next turn … which falls on the off-day-Monday (Jake tomorrow) … and then even skip him again next round (which does not make anyone else go “short rest”, only “normal rest”, ie not “extra rest”) which would mean Wells’ next start would be back at Petco on June 6th and then enable Jake to pitch game 3 of that Dodger series on June 7th … hey, I think that’s what I’d do … it’ll be interesting to see if Bud plays the rotation that way … might be hard to skip Wells two times after that great start he had on Wednesday vs Cubs … but …
May 26, 2007 at 10:23 pm
96 … Check that … my details are off … Wells spot comes up on the 2nd … perhaps Hensley can take that turn (at Washington)? Eh, it’s a pitcher’s park also, I guess let Wells go … or …
Here’s what I’d do if I were manager-for-a-month …
22 H Jake
23 H Wells
24 H Young
25 H Maddux
26 H Germano
27 H Jake
28 off
29 R Young
30 R Maddux
31 R Germano
1 R Jake
2 R Hensley
3 R Young
4 off
5 H Wells
6 H Jake
7 H Maddux
8 H Young
9 H Hensley
10 H Wells
11 off
This “rotation” has Jake pitching every 5th day (which is more than “every 5th game”) … assumes Hensley is back for June 2nd … and gets Wells’ next 2 starts at Petco (at the beginning and end of the 6-game home stand) … and gets Jake a start in the Dodger series (which doesn’t happen if Jake pitches “every 5th game”) …
Some interesting possiblities for Bud … setup by his starting Jake last Tuesday (when it was Wells’ turn) …
May 26, 2007 at 10:46 pm
Padres “game notes” ( http://presspass.mlb.com/dbdoc.....0_1682.pdf ) is showing Wells as probably starter for Tuesday @ Pit … that’d be a bummer … ’cause then it seems like we’re committed to Wells getting his next 2 starts on the road (maybe this isn’t as big of a deal as I’m making it … but … his 2007 home/road split seems significant, Home ERA = 2.67 in 5 starts vs Road ERA = 8.84 in 4 starts) … AND would push Jake out of the Dodger series (unless we skip a Maddux or Germano start in there) …
May 26, 2007 at 11:05 pm
Just got back from game
Fun, exciting victory
Downtown hurts my head
May 26, 2007 at 11:13 pm
#78: Antonelli is a stud whose skill set will play beautifully at Petco Park. He is a pest at the plate and he runs extremely well. Dude has game.
May 26, 2007 at 11:14 pm
1st Place NL West
Bats swinging, opponents beat
Say goodnight, Geoff Young!