IGD: Padres @ Devil Rays (12 Jun 07)
Tue, Jun 12, 2007
by Geoff Young
| time: | 4:10 p.m. PT |
| tv: | 4SD |
| sp: | Greg Maddux (5-3, 3.82) vs Scott Kazmir (4-3, 3.92) |
| pre: | Padres.com, SI.com |
A few things stand out to me when looking at Scott Kazmir’s splits: he is much more effective at home (.234/.319/.354 for his career) than on the road (.260/.349/.418), he does better work with runners on (.230/.311/.335) than with the bases empty (.264/.357/.435), and he destroys lefties (.212/.280/.290). That middle one is problematic. First off, why should anyone pitch better from the stretch than from a windup? Guys may or may not “bear down” in pressure situations, but the mechanical advantage gained by working from a full windup would seem to outweigh any elevated levels of concentration. Second, and from a more practical standpoint, it’s difficult to sustain a rally against someone who gets stingier when men are on base. I guess that helps explain Kazmir’s career 119 ERA+. Did I mention that he’s only 23 years old?
Anyway.
The Padres as a team are batting .248/.310/.357 in June. Opponents are hitting .271/.318/.372. Still, the Pads come out ahead in the runs department, 46-33. This tells me that a) the Padres have been more efficient than their opponents of late and b) anything can happen in a nine-game sample.
Speaking of small samples, this is a little distressing:
| Month | IP | K/9 | PA | K/PA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stats are through June 11, 2007, and courtesy of Baseball-Reference. | ||||
| Apr | 244.2 | 6.58 | 1021 | .175 |
| May | 245 | 6.98 | 946 | .195 |
| Jun | 83.1 | 4.54 | 347 | .121 |
Oh wait, I’m the one always preaching that guys like Jake Peavy and Chris Young should pitch to contact more. Seriously, I do appreciate the effort, but it’s okay to strike out the occasional batter or seven…
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June 12, 2007 at 3:14 pm
As mentioned below, it looks like Blum is the DH tonight. McAnulty gets the start in left against the lefty, so Bocachica must still be sick.
June 12, 2007 at 3:14 pm
Congrats on 6 years, GY … you’re the BEST … and the community you attract here to Ducksnorts is the BEST, too! Keep it up … keep SA happy … he needs you!
June 12, 2007 at 3:18 pm
#2: Thanks, LM. And actually, we need SA.
June 12, 2007 at 3:20 pm
Oh, cool. PMac starts. Still why Blum DH? Where’s Russell? Wait, can this be a good thing, in that Blum will not pinch-hit?
Hmmm….
June 12, 2007 at 3:30 pm
I posted this in this mornings Blog before I realized that the IGD was up.
Blum is has a career OBP of .290 against lefties in 573 PA’s
P-mac has a .438 OBP against lefties but thats only in 16 PA’s
Branyan has a .301 OBP (with a BA of .219) against lefites in 297 PA’s
Also Sledge should be kept far away from the plate tonight he has a career .252 OBP with a .301 Slg in 124 PA’s.
June 12, 2007 at 3:31 pm
Branyan hits lefties better than Blum does. I don’t understand why Blum would be the DH. Since 2000, Branyan has hit .224/.304/.496 against them an Blum has hit .234/.291/.380. That’s not even close. That’s over 284 PA and 546 PA respectively.
June 12, 2007 at 4:01 pm
I don’t think it’s who hits lefties better I think it’s the fact that Kazmir kills lefties. At least I think that’s the case. I heard someone talking about his stats vs. lefties earlier on XX and it sounds like he pretty destroys them. With that said I would still rather someone other than B(l)um get some hacks against him. Bocachica must be in really bad shape because this is the kind of match up I would think we got him for.
June 12, 2007 at 4:15 pm
Three Ks to start the game off is no way to start the game off. Yikes.
June 12, 2007 at 4:24 pm
That’s a little better.
June 12, 2007 at 4:27 pm
Are they playing on real grass or a shaggy astro-turf? They just mention that it is new as well as the infield clay.
June 12, 2007 at 4:35 pm
Delmon makes his manager look like a genius for having a guy with a .633 SLG lay down a sac bunt in the second.
June 12, 2007 at 4:44 pm
That ballpark looks like a lopsided circus big-top.
June 12, 2007 at 4:53 pm
It’s amusing to listen to Jerry Coleman’s continuing astonishment that this Kazmir fellow is a good pitcher who can strike some guys out.
June 12, 2007 at 4:53 pm
Josh really got a hold of that. Nice placement for the double.
June 12, 2007 at 4:55 pm
Caught Kazmir in the ass for an RBI!! LOL. That’s adding insult to injury.
June 12, 2007 at 4:59 pm
Silent L is NOT getting a Christmas card from me this year.
June 12, 2007 at 5:01 pm
You make me feel sad inside Geoff Blum
June 12, 2007 at 5:02 pm
17: LOL… where ya been?
Also, holy cow… 8 K’s through 4 innings…. Yikes…
June 12, 2007 at 5:03 pm
re 18: also, 8 K’s with 6 hits through 4 innings… that’s not a line that you usually see…
June 12, 2007 at 5:03 pm
That was depressingly predictable.
June 12, 2007 at 5:10 pm
Holy crap. Maddux’s career against the Devil Rays before today: 3 games, 3 CG, 2 shutouts, 2 runs allowed in 27 total innings.
June 12, 2007 at 5:10 pm
Where the hell did that miss???!!!
June 12, 2007 at 5:12 pm
OK, now we have to play against the umpires as well tonight.
June 12, 2007 at 5:15 pm
It sounds like this game should be scoreless right now with how well both pitchers are throwing. At least we have an extra base hit.
June 12, 2007 at 5:22 pm
What was all that yelling when Adrian was at-bat? Sounded like a horse race in there…
June 12, 2007 at 5:26 pm
#25: May have sounded like a horse race because they are playing in a barn.
June 12, 2007 at 5:31 pm
Padres 2
Devil Rays 1 + Umpires 2
We should be winning this game. Who is this idiot behind the plate?
June 12, 2007 at 5:37 pm
#27: At least it’s not Joe West.
June 12, 2007 at 5:38 pm
Way to go, Mike Cameron. Looking even better after Bard’s walk.
June 12, 2007 at 5:38 pm
Great job by Bard to work the walk. If only Cameron hadn’t gotten himself picked off…
June 12, 2007 at 5:40 pm
#1: Bocachica with strep throat.
June 12, 2007 at 5:42 pm
#30: Coming from behind 0-2, no doubt.
June 12, 2007 at 5:43 pm
You make me feel good inside Kevin Kouzmanoff
June 12, 2007 at 5:44 pm
#27: Phil Cuzzi.
http://www.baseballprospectus......cid=231396
June 12, 2007 at 5:44 pm
Oh boy howdy! Thank you Kahlil.
June 12, 2007 at 5:45 pm
But you make me feel better Khalil Green!
GO PADRES!!!
June 12, 2007 at 5:45 pm
Great approaches by Bard, Kouz, and Khalil. This should be a huge inning already.
June 12, 2007 at 5:46 pm
Ted Leitner definitely called Khalil coming through there. He was raving about Greene’s job of getting closer and closer to hitting Kazmir his previous at bat.
And then he says Kazmir had mugged Blum his previous two at bats.
June 12, 2007 at 5:46 pm
Thank you, Devil Rays. That’s one way to get the run home with Blum up there. I hope Kazmir is okay.
June 12, 2007 at 5:47 pm
Kouz is safe and Kazmir got spiked on the slide.
June 12, 2007 at 5:47 pm
Kazmir is good to go.
June 12, 2007 at 5:48 pm
Blum’s clutch vibes are completely responsible for that wild pitch.
June 12, 2007 at 5:48 pm
Kaz shook that off pretty well.
June 12, 2007 at 5:50 pm
42: I get so jealous of all you guys coming up with so many great Blum burns. I’m a clever fella’, why can’t I think of fancy ways to express my feelings of Geoff Blum suckage?!?!
June 12, 2007 at 5:50 pm
Mud nailed that pitch 3 seconds before it was thrown.
June 12, 2007 at 5:51 pm
Blum made Kazmir work; expecting more from Blum batting right-handed is unreasonable.
June 12, 2007 at 5:51 pm
#44: Hoover Blum?
June 12, 2007 at 5:52 pm
Blum sucks out loud. How is it possible that we can’t acquire someone better?
June 12, 2007 at 5:52 pm
Opponents are batting .289/.376/.462 against Tampa’s relievers this year. We get three innings of that.
June 12, 2007 at 5:53 pm
48: How is it possible we don’t play our obviously better options on the bench? Blum is a backup SS, he’s supposed to suck. It’s just a matter of Black being smart enough to realize this.
June 12, 2007 at 5:54 pm
So, Blum the DH has 3 swinging strikes, huh?
Though, that last 10 pitch epic battle was pretty good for a total of 18 pitches = 3 K’s.
Come on, P-Mac. Get a hit, dude.
June 12, 2007 at 5:55 pm
Can of corn.
June 12, 2007 at 5:57 pm
That shot took a nasty hop for NOG.
June 12, 2007 at 5:57 pm
Blum had quite year for TBD in 2004 batting a crisp .215 in well over 300 at bats. No wonder Piniella hated him.
June 12, 2007 at 5:57 pm
I’m guessing that Branyan will PH for the DH Blum?
47, 48: Oh, I get it now. DH = Designated Hoover = Blum. He sucks so well.
June 12, 2007 at 5:57 pm
Nice DP 1-4-3. Sweeeeet.
June 12, 2007 at 5:59 pm
50: Blum really only plays one position halfway decent (third base). He can’t hit from either side of the plate. I refuse to believe we can’t find someone that can’t hit, but at least plays a decent shortstop because such a player is better than Blum.
June 12, 2007 at 5:59 pm
#55: Didi I’m LMFAO at that one!
June 12, 2007 at 5:59 pm
55: Designated Hoover… I like that.
June 12, 2007 at 6:01 pm
I think ‘Designated Hoover’ surpasses ‘Silent L’ as the best dig on Blum.
June 12, 2007 at 6:01 pm
57: Is Oscar Robles better than Blum? Or Craig Stansberry?
June 12, 2007 at 6:02 pm
#61: I think I like none. But if I had to chose, I would go with Robles.
June 12, 2007 at 6:03 pm
60: omg… I’m flattered that the new nickname representing the lameness of Blum was inspired by one of my posts. Almost as good as coming up with it myself.
June 12, 2007 at 6:03 pm
59, 60: Only during interleague game when Blum = DH. In the Senior Circuit, the Silent L is awesome.
June 12, 2007 at 6:04 pm
61: Robles can at least field and bunt. Blum can’t do either of those things. Neither can hit.
June 12, 2007 at 6:04 pm
That guy yelling in the stands is louder than I am at a game. Is that possible? I guess so.
June 12, 2007 at 6:06 pm
#64: Totally agree. All in favor of the new ‘Man Law’ say aye.
June 12, 2007 at 6:07 pm
What’s with Jose Jr and Adrian imitating the DH? Especially Adrian with 3 swinging strikes?
June 12, 2007 at 6:08 pm
That fake grass looks like it has snow on it. Too weird.
June 12, 2007 at 6:09 pm
Should Stansberry be given a chance? His stats are better than Robles and he’s a RH hitter. Also, I heard he’s really FAST.
June 12, 2007 at 6:12 pm
Alright, Cla. Keep those pitches down. DOWN!
June 12, 2007 at 6:12 pm
Ut-Oh. Phil Cuzy is totally screwing up the calls tonight and he just admitted it to Maddux. Which in of itself was very honorable. However, his calls can turn this game. Ack! I hate it when the umps become a factor in a game.
June 12, 2007 at 6:13 pm
Maddux is the a great anchor on a good staff. Yet another quality start. Consumate pro wouldn’t lower himself to look HP Phil Cuzzi’s way when he walked off even though he got absolutely screwed on that last pitch to Dukes.
June 12, 2007 at 6:16 pm
70: Here we face the yawning gap between what a team fighting in a tough division should do (keep the 25 best players on the roster) and what actual teams, and not only the Padres, really do.
Cameron and Hampson have passed beyond the 4th dimension, taking us to 23 players. Blum, on the other hand, gets 3x the chances he should and takes us down to 21.5. But they’re just not going to move Blum. Keep Cameron, demote Hampson, promote Stansberry is the best we can hope for, and Blum will still get the bulk of the at-bats.
June 12, 2007 at 6:17 pm
I know there are alot of Merideth fans out there. But, I’ve never been a fan of sidearm pitchers. There accuracy always seems to lack.
June 12, 2007 at 6:18 pm
#75: Their (sp)
June 12, 2007 at 6:19 pm
Drat! Cla!
June 12, 2007 at 6:19 pm
That is just dumb luck. How does Adrian get hung with an error when the ball Delmon Young dropped earlier was ruled a hit?
June 12, 2007 at 6:20 pm
Shit! I HATE artificial turf! We didn’t need that and Adrian does not deserve and error on that.
June 12, 2007 at 6:21 pm
What happened? Adrian error? What?
June 12, 2007 at 6:22 pm
Meredith had us out of the inning with the lead until that ball hit to Adrian. This whole damn thing is the fault of the umpire blowing that call to put the first runner on base.
June 12, 2007 at 6:22 pm
#80: Smash down the first-base line that ate Adrian up (and would have eaten up any other first baseman). There’s no way it was an error, but that’s the ruling.
June 12, 2007 at 6:23 pm
AAA for Cla.
June 12, 2007 at 6:23 pm
I think it’s safe to say our bullpen is officially over used or over rated.
June 12, 2007 at 6:23 pm
74: I fear that you may be right on the last point.
June 12, 2007 at 6:24 pm
This inning isn’t Cla’s fault.
June 12, 2007 at 6:24 pm
Cuzzi gave this game to the Devil Rays. That’s just absolute garbage.
June 12, 2007 at 6:24 pm
83, 84: Do you watch baseball?
June 12, 2007 at 6:25 pm
OK, I was going to say, “Paging, good bullpen, you’re needed immediately.” Three straight blown leads in the 7th, correct?
June 12, 2007 at 6:25 pm
Thanks, Geoff. I’m officially pissed. OK, go home and eat now.
Go Padres! Come on, it’s the TB bullpen. Eat them!
June 12, 2007 at 6:25 pm
#84: Also the best in baseball.
June 12, 2007 at 6:26 pm
Goddamit. Watching a sidearm throw a baseball is akin to watching someone shoot a pistol turned sideways. It looks ‘cool’, but very ineffective.
June 12, 2007 at 6:27 pm
89: A bad call and a bad hop are what blew this particular lead.
June 12, 2007 at 6:28 pm
92: Are you serious? Meredith should have been out of that inning if not for a bad hop.
June 12, 2007 at 6:28 pm
three hits and a walk? who’s fault is it?
He has an ERA over 7 since May one, gives up a homer every 5 appearances, 16IP, 29 H… not just bad luck, imho.
June 12, 2007 at 6:28 pm
92: Kent Tekulve and Dan Quisenberry say different. Cla said different for the whole year last year.
You do have to wonder why Black doesn’t give him an easy chance to get him back in the saddle. I’m afraid Black might have a bit of that old school, “Let’s see how tough you are” mentality instead of that “Let’s win this game” mentality.
June 12, 2007 at 6:30 pm
#94: I’m just saying I don’t belive sidearms are very effective. Granted, those scores were not Cla’s fault.
June 12, 2007 at 6:30 pm
88. Are you 12 (read: a-hole)?
June 12, 2007 at 6:31 pm
It’s also worth noting that Cla completely abused a very good hitter, Carl Crawford, to get the second out. He also got ahead of Norton and then got victimized by a bad hop. Even the Iwamura and Harris hits weren’t scalded.
June 12, 2007 at 6:32 pm
Verlander with a no hitter. Officially, the Matt Bush pick is a gigantic mistake.
June 12, 2007 at 6:33 pm
June 12, 2007 at 6:34 pm
I’m just not a Cla fan. Sorry. I didn’t know this was such a heated issue.
June 12, 2007 at 6:34 pm
97: Fair enough.
98: Look, you’re the one making statements that give the impression you’ve never watched a game. What conclusion should I draw from that? That you’re a well-informed and a brilliant baseball analyst?
June 12, 2007 at 6:35 pm
I say again, since May 1, 16 IP, 29 H. None were scalded? Raul Ibanez, Luis Gonzalez, and Jason Bay seemed to hit the ball pretty hard in the last few weeks. Agreed AAA may be a rush judgement, but the point is he is in need of an adjustment (to quote Sutcliffe).
June 12, 2007 at 6:35 pm
102: Not heated. I think people are just forgetting all of Cla’s previous body of work.