IGD: Padres @ Cubs (15 Jun 07)
Fri, Jun 15, 2007
by Geoff Young
| time: | 11:20 a.m. PT |
| tv: | WGN |
| sp: | David Wells (3-3, 4.76) vs Ted Lilly (4-4, 3.96) |
| pre: | Padres.com, SI.com |
The Cubs are a strange team. On the one hand, their current record and occasional love spats have to be viewed as disappointments in light of the nearly $300 million they spent on free agents this past off-season. On the other, the Cubs are even further below their Pythagorean winning percentage than the Padres are, and several young hurlers — Rich Hill, Sean Marshall, Angel Guzman, Carlos Marmol — have gotten off to nice starts.
On offense, the triumverate of Derrek Lee, Aramis Ramirez, and Alfonso Soriano is striking large doses of fear into the opposition, and free-agent signee Mark DeRosa is insinuating that his season in Texas was no fluke. There’s almost enough fire power here to compensate for the out machines known as Cesar Izturis and Jacque Jones.
On the pitching side, Jason Marquis and Carlos Zambrano seem to be stuck in a Dan Aykroyd movie, but that will work itself out over the long haul. The bullpen? Not as terrible as you might expect (4.01 ERA, .249/.332/.382). Friday’s starter, Ted “$40 Million Man” Lilly, came out of the gates strong for the Cubs but has been brutal over his past four starts (17 IP, 8.47 ERA, .309/.372/.691, 7 HR). Whatever the problem is, here’s hoping that Lilly and the Cubs don’t solve it until after the Padres have left town.
David Wells gets the call for San Diego in the opener at Wrigley Field. He’s been the anti-Lilly of late. Over his past five starts, Wells has posted some nice numbers (31 IP, 2.90 ERA, .267/.286/.353, 1 HR). The key, of course, is to get Boomer out of the game at the first sign of trouble, if not sooner.
Oh, and the Padres have made a switch at third base:
| Out | In |
|---|---|
 |
 |
Let the Chase Headley era begin. Go Padres!
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June 15, 2007 at 10:31 am
Re: discussion of Headley versus Kouz coming up from AA in previous thread
Headley appears to have better plate discipline than Kouz did, walking more often. Of course, he also struck out more often in the minors.
June 15, 2007 at 10:32 am
Maybe just a preview to the Chase Headley era.
BTW, 39.35% of the Padres hits on the road are the XBH variety with 91 doubles and 29 HRs. Maybe Headley can add to that.
I know, I know, temper the expectations. In that case, I’d like to see his glove work.
June 15, 2007 at 10:38 am
Pretty unique lineup today …
AB R H RBI BB K LOB Season Avg
H. Bocachica rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .231
J. Cruz Jr. lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .272
A. Gonzalez 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .289
M. Cameron cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .246
J. Bard c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .252
K. Greene ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .228
C. Headley 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
G. Blum 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .190
D. Wells p
… good news: Headley hitting ahead of B(l)um!
June 15, 2007 at 10:39 am
I’m excited about his defensive abilities and what he might be capable of at Wrigley.
I’m also hoping for big things from Khalil for this series. Wrigley should be a haven for his offensive abilities and I’m hoping he can add to that Xbh count of his. Last I checked, he’s 4th in the NL in doubles.
June 15, 2007 at 10:40 am
3: Is Marcus hurt, or is he just getting some rest?
June 15, 2007 at 10:45 am
Re: 3 If Peavy was pitching he would hit ahead of Blum
June 15, 2007 at 10:46 am
4: Correction, he’s tied for 5th with Jose Bautista.
June 15, 2007 at 11:00 am
6 … correction … should say “should” instead of “would” …
June 15, 2007 at 11:01 am
The Padres have the best Pythagorean winning percentage in baseball.
http://www.baseballprospectus......ndings.php
June 15, 2007 at 11:01 am
Quick Poll … What will Chase do in his first MLB AB?
o K
o Ground Out
o Fly Out
o Walk
o Single
o Double
o Triple
o HR
o Grand Slam
o Other
… just for fun, I’ll take “other”
June 15, 2007 at 11:02 am
5: It’s just that we can’t possibly go 2 games without Silent L.
Marcus has a history of missing games. Stansberry would be more valuable than Hampson right now.
June 15, 2007 at 11:03 am
10: I say he tries to fit in and pops out with a runner on third base and one out.
June 15, 2007 at 11:03 am
9 … the math is different here …
http://www.coolstandings.com/b.....gs.asp?i=1
… shows BoSox with ~1 more “expected W” …
June 15, 2007 at 11:04 am
10: I say Walk
June 15, 2007 at 11:04 am
12 … LOL, I like it!
June 15, 2007 at 11:05 am
14 … no fair, with B(l)um behind him, this does seem to improve the odds of him getting a walk … perhaps even IW …
June 15, 2007 at 11:06 am
It’s been a month since Corey Brock’s infamous “Only recently as Geoff Blum, the Padres best pinch-hitter, started to find his swing” comment.
Since that comment Blum’s OPS has dropped from 626 to 575. Why couldn’t his swing have stayed lost?
June 15, 2007 at 11:07 am
well with B(l)um behind him lilly will figure DP.
June 15, 2007 at 11:15 am
10: You left out HBP. I’ll vote for walk as well.
June 15, 2007 at 11:18 am
19 … “HBP” is “other” … as is “ROE” … or “CI” … what else? see why i took “other” … lotsa possibilities …
June 15, 2007 at 11:18 am
What the heck? Silent L starting at 2B. GRRRRR…..
He won’t pinch-hit….he won’t pinch-hit….he won’t pinch-hit….
June 15, 2007 at 11:19 am
21 … what? did you want them to call up Antonelli to play 2B while they are in a “call-up” mood?
June 15, 2007 at 11:20 am
10: No way, he’ll walk. Knowing that Silent L is ‘hitting’ behind him, he’ll try too much and swing at everything. One of those swings ended up a double.
June 15, 2007 at 11:23 am
22: He’s only a drive-up the I-15 away.
June 15, 2007 at 11:23 am
WGN says that NOG is a “bit under the weather”
June 15, 2007 at 11:26 am
Dang it. NOG at Wrigley with OPS of 1.044 in 66 ABs.
June 15, 2007 at 11:26 am
Amazing…we’ve got a staff ERA under 3. Wow!
June 15, 2007 at 11:26 am
Hi all, long time lurker. Geoff congrats on 6 years of great blogging.
Anyone knows of any other movements within the organization? Noticed that neither Freese (Lake Elsinore) nor Contreras (Forth Wayne) played yesterday.
June 15, 2007 at 11:27 am
Re: 28 with Headly going up to the big club im sure Freese will be going to SA
June 15, 2007 at 11:29 am
I wonder if Lilly is a little gun shy about pitching inside.
June 15, 2007 at 11:29 am
Go Shakespeare!
June 15, 2007 at 11:33 am
Wow Cruz takes 3rd
June 15, 2007 at 11:34 am
31: What?
June 15, 2007 at 11:34 am
At least Lilly threw a lot of pitches.
Man, it gets old leaving 2 guys on base every inning.
June 15, 2007 at 11:36 am
33: Didi refers to Bard as Shakespeare as in, “The Bard.”
I’m an English teacher…which is why I can sit at home and watch the Padres today
June 15, 2007 at 11:36 am
Amazing how much better the lineup could be if you add Kouz for Bochachica and NOG for B(l)um
June 15, 2007 at 11:37 am
#28: Welcome, P47, and thanks! According to MadFriars.com, Brett Bonvechio will take Headley’s spot on the SA roster. No word on Freese or Contreras.
June 15, 2007 at 11:38 am
35: Lucky Bastard.
June 15, 2007 at 11:40 am
28: Welcome Pelotero 47.
June 15, 2007 at 11:41 am
Brett Bonvechio? where is he playing now?
June 15, 2007 at 11:41 am
Damnit Bard, you’ve got to catch those foul tips. We should be out of this inning instead of men at 1st and 2nd.
June 15, 2007 at 11:44 am
I guess down the middle at the knees doesn’t count
June 15, 2007 at 11:44 am
35: I understood the reference, but not the exclamation. What did Bard do to deserve a Go Shakespeare? I was wondering if my GameDay was five minutes behind.
June 15, 2007 at 11:44 am
Where did that pitch to DeRosa miss?
June 15, 2007 at 11:45 am
Whew. At least we got out of that.
June 15, 2007 at 11:45 am
42: Boomer does himself no favors going 3-0 on DeRosa before that, but it was a nice-looking Ball 4.
June 15, 2007 at 11:46 am
44: You guys are gonna have to keep us apprised on bad calls by the umpires since lots of us are on radio only today.
By the way, what’s up with the horrible umpiring the Padres have received lately? Is there some unwritten rule that if you have the best pitching staff in the league, you no longer get calls?
June 15, 2007 at 11:46 am
Thanks Steve (29), Geoff (37) and Didi (39).
Isn’t Bonvechio a catcher? I heard the same thing, just wondering I missed something else.
Here comes the rookie!
June 15, 2007 at 11:46 am
#40: Can’t find any record of him this year, but he spent ‘06 at Mobile:
http://www.thebaseballcube.com.....chio.shtml
I liked him a little when he was at Elsinore.
June 15, 2007 at 11:48 am
And here’s what we’ve been waiting for.
June 15, 2007 at 11:49 am
Damn. Was that deep? Deeper than Khalil’s?
June 15, 2007 at 11:49 am
First AB = 1-0 fly to warning track in CF.
June 15, 2007 at 11:51 am
ESPN rankings are out. After going 2-4 on the week, Pads fall all the way to….
#2.
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/.....mp;week=11
June 15, 2007 at 11:52 am
#51: He got under it, same as Cammy in the first. Someone is going to take Lilly yard today, he’s leaving stuff up in the zone.
June 15, 2007 at 11:53 am
54: Thanks much, sir. I hate not having visuals, but my day at work goes by way, way faster.
June 15, 2007 at 11:54 am
Sounds like a nice catch by Bocachica?
I’ve got the Cubs broadcast, so they get excited about every ball put in play.
June 15, 2007 at 11:55 am
Cubs announcers make me laugh, saying how lucky Headley was to make his debut in Wrigley……yes great ballpark with a lot of history….but let’s not try to make it out to Fenway or Yankee Stadium. Typical Cubs fans though
June 15, 2007 at 11:55 am
Incidentally, I love the Cruz-Cameron-Bocachica outfield from a defensive standpoint.
June 15, 2007 at 11:56 am
#56: It was okay, nothing special. Remember, they have to watch Soriano every day.
June 15, 2007 at 11:58 am
59: Touché salesman, I too have an uncle.
I’ve been pretty damn impressed by Bocachica’s defense thus far.
June 15, 2007 at 12:01 pm
Lilly got away with one to Cruz. Left a pitch up, and Cruz just got under it.
June 15, 2007 at 12:01 pm
Another deep fly ball. One of these has got to go out at some point.
Padres need to get Lilly’s pitch count up. Their bullpen is less than solid.
June 15, 2007 at 12:05 pm
What is really funny is what the Reds reportedly asked the Angels in order to trade Dunn: Ervin Santana, Wood and Aybar. So that’s a solid #2/3 starter and their two top prospects for 3 months of Dunn huh? Good luck with that.
June 15, 2007 at 12:07 pm
63: If only the Angels had some mediocre relievers, they could get Dunn and Griffey.
June 15, 2007 at 12:07 pm
Wells and the home plate umpire not exactly getting along…a predictable result with Lee getting 4 strikes
June 15, 2007 at 12:08 pm
Some nice breaking balls by Boomer this inning. He had Lee struck out on a 1-2 pitch but it was called a ball and Lee followed with a double to left.
June 15, 2007 at 12:09 pm
Wow, Wells must really be getting squeezed if the Cubs announcers are mentioning it.
June 15, 2007 at 12:09 pm
The umpire is calling strikes based on where the ball is three feet in front of the plate.
June 15, 2007 at 12:10 pm
Wells strikes out all four batters he faces. He is locating very well.
June 15, 2007 at 12:11 pm
“Fine, I’ll just make ‘em whiff” - Boomer to the ump while giving him the finger.
I have no idea if it just seems like this or not, but it really feels like our team is getting the shaft on some calls this year? Was there some kind of unconditional love-fest with Bochy that has been destroyed by Black?
June 15, 2007 at 12:14 pm
DeRosa look what I found
June 15, 2007 at 12:14 pm
Couldn’t get that one, eh DeRosa?
June 15, 2007 at 12:16 pm
C’mon Khalil. Make it happen. Give Chase an RBI opportunity.
June 15, 2007 at 12:16 pm
DeRosa robs Khalil of extra bases and an RBI. That will be on ESPN.
June 15, 2007 at 12:17 pm
Jesus Christ, DeRosa screwed the Padres twice this inning. Wonderful.
June 15, 2007 at 12:17 pm
74: Lilly can’t keep this up all day. Guys are absolutely scalding the ball from the sound of things. Poor Khalil, two hard hit balls with naught to show for it.
June 15, 2007 at 12:19 pm
Of course, he leads off with a double off the ivy in RCF. One-man wrecking crew.
June 15, 2007 at 12:19 pm
Mark DeRosa needs to be removed from this contest.
June 15, 2007 at 12:20 pm
I officially HATE this DeRosa kid.
June 15, 2007 at 12:22 pm
C’mon Boomer, use the crafty lefty stuff to get out of this unscathed.
Is DeRosa fast? How deep does a sac fly need to be?
June 15, 2007 at 12:23 pm
Apparently that deep.
June 15, 2007 at 12:28 pm
Ugh, I’ve had enough of this Cubs broadcast. I don’t care how much slower the radio broadcast is through the internet, I can’t stand this.
June 15, 2007 at 12:29 pm
Okay, I can live with one run given up.
Now we need to start finding holes for all of our well-hit balls.
June 15, 2007 at 12:29 pm
80: Crafty lefty stuff? If you havent noticed thats been missing all year
June 15, 2007 at 12:30 pm
84: His last five starts have been pretty damn good. He’s worked out of many jams this year. As it is, he gives up three hits in the inning and only yields a run. That’s pretty good.
June 15, 2007 at 12:31 pm
Nice restraint by the WGN broadcasters. They waited till the fifth inning to bust out with Anchorman references.
June 15, 2007 at 12:31 pm
Cliff Floyd robs Headley of his first big-league hit.
June 15, 2007 at 12:31 pm
Kind of seems like one of those days……..
June 15, 2007 at 12:32 pm
Poor Chase, fights off a ball and has nothing to show for it.
God some of these balls have got to start falling. Our BABIP has got to be incredibly low.
June 15, 2007 at 12:32 pm
Balls arent falling where they need too
June 15, 2007 at 12:34 pm
Sharpie day????
That may be the worst give-away ever. Gee, wonder what the teenage delinquents will use their sharpies for…
June 15, 2007 at 12:35 pm
God Bob Brenly is an idiot
June 15, 2007 at 12:35 pm
Man, I sincerely hope Lilly doesn’t get too much deeper. Of course, he’s only at 59 pitches through five.
June 15, 2007 at 12:36 pm
43: TW, my CBS gamelog was showing 4 balls to Cameron to load the bases, I thought. Of course, then, it showed 2 strikes and a flyout. I jumped the comment.
79: Ditto.
June 15, 2007 at 12:37 pm
#82: Can’t say I blame you. Their broadcast team hasn’t been very good since the glory days of Caray and Stone.
June 15, 2007 at 12:37 pm
93: He’s not even pitching all that well. He’s just getting INCREDIBLE support from his defense and some gifts from Padres hitters getting under the ball.
June 15, 2007 at 12:37 pm
I can’t believe the Padres are being 2-hit by Lilly so far. Drat!
June 15, 2007 at 12:38 pm
I don’t come on here much anymore, little busy, but I know that Kouzmanoff is hurt a little bit getting some rest.
I think the promotion of Headley is not only a chance for the future (trade value?) but it’s also showing the confidence (or lack) in Branyan/Blum
I don’t think Headley Can be up for long but if anyone has any stories that they expect him to stick then let’s hear it.
June 15, 2007 at 12:39 pm
96: It’s not as if the Padres aren’t putting good swings on the ball (save for Geoff Blum). The Cubs are just getting incredibly lucky.
June 15, 2007 at 12:42 pm
A Cubs fan interfering with a ball in play? They’ve learned a lot from Bartman.
June 15, 2007 at 12:44 pm
Was that a home run anyone? Andy and Jerry said they coudln’t tell.
June 15, 2007 at 12:46 pm
#101: After several replays, the WGN guys have concluded that it was not a home run.
June 15, 2007 at 12:47 pm
102: Thank you sir. Are they begrudgingly doing so? I’m sure Ron Santo probably had another coronary when that play happened.
June 15, 2007 at 12:49 pm
From the re-plays I think he got some leather on it, but it’s hard to tell.
June 15, 2007 at 12:49 pm
#103: No, they are being surprisingly objective about it.
June 15, 2007 at 12:50 pm
Get him over and get him in. Let’s hope more of those balls start finding gaps.
June 15, 2007 at 12:51 pm
Ugh, c’mon Cruz.