IGD: Padres @ Devil Rays (14 Jun 07)
Thu, Jun 14, 2007
by Geoff Young
| time: | 9:10 a.m. PT |
| tv: | none |
| sp: | Justin Germano (4-0, 2.75) vs J.P. Howell (1-0, 4.85) |
| pre: | Padres.com, SI.com |
Wake up, fall out of bed, drag a comb across your head. There’s a game on this morning, and the Padres have a chance to take another series.
Nobody likes a four-game losing streak, but a 9-0 win sure makes everything better — at least for a little while. And, hey, both Kevin Cameron and Justin Hampson got into Wednesday night’s game. This reminds me, I may have stumbled onto a way to maximize a 12-man pitching staff:
| G | +/-4 | Pct | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stats are through games of June 13, 2007, and are courtesy of Baseball-Reference. +/-4 represents the games in which a pitcher entered with his club leading or trailing by four runs or more. | |||
| Cameron | 14 | 9 | .643 |
| Hampson | 11 | 7 | .636 |
| Brocail | 26 | 13 | .500 |
| Bell | 31 | 9 | .290 |
| Meredith | 28 | 5 | .179 |
| Hoffman | 27 | 3 | .111 |
| Linebrink | 28 | 3 | .107 |
If the game is out of hand, there’s a decent chance that Cameron or Hampson will get into the game. Of course, this assumes that Doug Brocail is unavailable:
Shoot, I really thought we had that solved. Ah well, perhaps some other day. Go Padres!
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June 14, 2007 at 8:12 am
There’s no better way to pass a day at work then listening to our guys.
Let’s hope Germano can find his control again and shake the specter of his last start. Here’s to another 5 run first by the Padres (I’m still hoping my prognostication has some mileage left).
June 14, 2007 at 8:15 am
Don’t look now, but pads are the best team in the NL at .578 folowed closely be the Dodgers (of course) at .576. Hitting, we don’t need no stinking hitting.
June 14, 2007 at 8:29 am
Lineups are posted on mlb gameday. Nice move by Black to use Bard as DH — keep his bat in the lineup and a day off behind the plate.
The Puerto Rican outfield of Cruz and Bocachica also bodes well in Florida. Go Padres!
June 14, 2007 at 9:01 am
Morning all!
June 14, 2007 at 9:02 am
I’ve been very impressed with Bocachica’s defense of late. He’s a very capable outfielder and has played a great back-up CF to Cameron.
June 14, 2007 at 9:05 am
#4: Morning!
Ex-Padre Raul Casanova in the lineup today.
June 14, 2007 at 9:08 am
4: Good evening! I mean, good morning to you.
Wouldn’t you know that the one night I have plans this week is the one night that the Padres are playing at a decent hour for me?
I’m hanging around for the first inning in hopes that it’s a repeat of last night’s.
June 14, 2007 at 9:11 am
I’m listening to the Rays feed. Sounds like NOG just got robbed there to start the game.
June 14, 2007 at 9:11 am
Damn, sounds like Marcus just put a charge into one.
June 14, 2007 at 9:13 am
8: Love how the Rays broadcast just showed NOG running the bases rather than, oh I don’t know, where the ball went.
June 14, 2007 at 9:20 am
Excellent slide by Cameron to break up the DP.
This broadcast is…interesting.
June 14, 2007 at 9:21 am
Kouz is getting into real nice hitters counts. Sounds like if NOG’s ball isn’t caught, we’re looking at another big first.
June 14, 2007 at 9:21 am
11: If you’re talking about the Rays broadcast…it’s the worst thing I’ve ever seen. I had to pull up Gameday to figure out what on earth is happening since they don’t show replays, don’t have any chyrons showing the score or what-not and I’m going back and forth between work things and the game. UGHHHHH. Stupid AAAA team.
At least they’re pitching like a AAAA team as well. Let’s plate some more runs boys!
June 14, 2007 at 9:22 am
Spoken too soon. Come on Germano!
Time to bike home.
June 14, 2007 at 9:24 am
13: Pretty clear this isn’t the official broadcast, just some random feeds of whatever cameras are in the park.
Only one run but some hard hit balls that inning. I like it.
June 14, 2007 at 9:27 am
Germano gets thru the 1st quickly, good sign.
June 14, 2007 at 9:28 am
Sounds like Germano got away with a couple there.
June 14, 2007 at 9:29 am
Rays hit two to the warning track in dead center, not as good sign.
June 14, 2007 at 9:30 am
16: Not a good sign when they are bombs to the deepest part of the park. Germano needs ground balls, not deep fly outs.
June 14, 2007 at 9:31 am
Damn, stupid umpire standing in the way.
June 14, 2007 at 9:32 am
What’s the over-under on balls hit to the Rays 3b?
June 14, 2007 at 9:32 am
Broadcast update: 2nd inning, director has finally found the instant replay button.
June 14, 2007 at 9:34 am
Cameron’s first-inning single has been ruled an error. Anyone see the play? Does this make sense, or is the Tampa Bay scorer still guessing?
June 14, 2007 at 9:36 am
Same question I asked previously with a new wrinkle: IF the Padres sign Brady Clark, who goes? Sledge, P-Mac, pitcher #12, someone else?
June 14, 2007 at 9:37 am
23: Mike hit it hard but right at Iwamura, who I think got a glove on it but it bounced away. Hard to tell exactly. Director had not yet found replay section of the broadcast owners manual.
June 14, 2007 at 9:37 am
#24: Should = pitcher #12; will = P-Mac.
June 14, 2007 at 9:40 am
Thank you, GY.
Should I have included Raul Casanova on the list for old times’ sake?
June 14, 2007 at 9:43 am
#27: Just one man’s opinion. Sure, add Casanova and maybe Chris Cannizzaro while you’re at it.
June 14, 2007 at 9:43 am
Nice DP. Kouz ranged pretty far to his left and NOG made a real nice turn with Pena coming in.
June 14, 2007 at 10:00 am
Broadcast update: 4th inning and the director has found the chyron button.
June 14, 2007 at 10:01 am
It sounds like this guy is throwing nothing but junk. We gotta start putting up some crooked numbers.
June 14, 2007 at 10:05 am
Oh crap. Kouz out, Blum in. Obligatory question of why not Branyan instead of Blum.
June 14, 2007 at 10:08 am
What happened to Kouz?
June 14, 2007 at 10:11 am
The radio guys don’t know.
June 14, 2007 at 10:11 am
Alright, Justin, be more fascist.
June 14, 2007 at 10:12 am
#32: Because that would make sense?
June 14, 2007 at 10:13 am
33: Kouz’s swing looked a little awkward but nothing too bad. He was reaching for a fastball low and away and grounded in foul off of third base. Nothing noticeably bad about the swing and he didn’t seem to be holding any body part.
Maybe he just wanted Flag Day off.
June 14, 2007 at 10:16 am
37: I could understand that. I definitely want Flag Day off.
June 14, 2007 at 10:17 am
Thanks, Evan.
June 14, 2007 at 10:20 am
37: Maybe he’s taking one for the team in trying to expose Bummer’s weaknesses as much as possible in the race to the All-Star break.
June 14, 2007 at 10:21 am
Just because I’m curious…
If Kouz had to miss two weeks on the DL, would we call up Headley from AA to fill in for him, or would we get two solid weeks of Geoff Blum? I’m afraid that I know the answer…
32: I think that they’re trying to protect Branyan from LHP, plus Blum reputedly plays better defense than Branyan. With a lead, I don’t mind choosing Blum over Branyan here.
June 14, 2007 at 10:22 am
Ouch. Germano grooved that 0-2 pitch badly. He’s REAL lucky Pena got under it.
June 14, 2007 at 10:24 am
41: Russell Branyan can play 3B.
June 14, 2007 at 10:26 am
#43: He’s also a better hitter against LHP than Blum.
June 14, 2007 at 10:28 am
44: So’s my bed-ridden grandmother.
June 14, 2007 at 10:32 am
So, hypothetically, if that had just been the end of the 6th/7th inning, is Cla available to pitch?
I’m VERY afraid of the answer.
June 14, 2007 at 10:34 am
44: He’s a better hitter vs. LHP this season, but over the last three years, Branyan has a .165/.230/.341 line vs. LHP. That’s a .571 OPS, which is slightly worse than Blum’s .660 line over the same time period. Obviously, neither is terribly confidence inspiring, but if Blum does play better defense (which I admit is debatable), then I’d rather have him in there.
Branyan always looks particularly bad to me against guys like Howell who don’t really throw a fastball. I like seeing him face guys like Turnbow who just throw fastballs.
June 14, 2007 at 10:35 am
Nice at-bat by Adrian. Down 0-2, works the leadoff walk.
June 14, 2007 at 10:35 am
Excellent AB. Laid off some tough pitches.
June 14, 2007 at 10:36 am
Grr. How many freaking times are we gonna hit it Iwamura?
June 14, 2007 at 10:37 am
Lots of hard hit balls in this game. Most of which have gone directly to Iwamura.
June 14, 2007 at 10:40 am
Broadcast update: director finds Devils Rays logo button. Decides he likes it more than the actual game.
June 14, 2007 at 10:42 am
52: I think he has a crush on Iwamura, based on his current display.
June 14, 2007 at 10:43 am
Good article by Dan Fox.
Small sample aside, as we suspected: OG doesn’t swing at bad pitches, and Khalil swings at them. NOG and Kouz are in the same quadrant as Khalil.
Interesting.
http://danagonistes.blogspot.c.....html#links
June 14, 2007 at 10:45 am
#47: These are incredibly small samples, but here are Blum and Branyan vs LHP since start of ‘06:
Blum: 64 PA, .180/.219/.246
Branyan: 55 PA, .222/.364/.511
I’m less upset about the decision to bring Blum in here than to have him DH against Kazmir in the opener.
Brocail and Hampson up in the bullpen.
June 14, 2007 at 10:45 am
Blum kills Branyan on defense. Branyan misses the AL. On a random note K-Cam needs to pitch more. He looked pretty bad yesterday and I think its because he sits around rotting in the pen all day. Personally I dont really like Hampson, I would rather see Royce Ring up here.
June 14, 2007 at 10:46 am
Looking at comp, NOG is Ty Wigginton without the power. Surprising.
Nice DP to get out of the inning.
June 14, 2007 at 10:46 am
Okay. Khalil now has permission to swing feebly at sliders out of the zone. That DP was nice.
June 14, 2007 at 10:48 am
Bell now getting ready; that’s more like it.
June 14, 2007 at 10:49 am
56: You would say that, wouldn’t you?
ESPN’s fielding stats don’t list DPs. Seems like the Pads turn more then their fair share. Does anyone know where I can find double-play stats?
June 14, 2007 at 10:51 am
I think the OF and middle IF could take a nap and we’d still only be up a couple. Iwamura is definitely on Howell’s Xmas card list.
June 14, 2007 at 10:52 am
60: Would say what?
June 14, 2007 at 10:53 am
55: The decision to DH Blum was totally indefensible. No excuse for it. It was tough to watch his AB’s against Kazmir–he just looked awful.
I know that the loss the other day was not his fault, but I’m tired of seeing Brocail get innings at the expense of Cameron. I feel just as comfortable with Cameron out there and I agree with 56 that he’s got to pitch a little more. I don’t have an issue with Hampson or Ring-I think that they’re basically the same guy. Ring is dominating AAA, but Hampson doesn’t get used anyway.
June 14, 2007 at 10:54 am
60: MLB.com show double plays. Shows us at 60, 15th in MLB 6th in NL
June 14, 2007 at 10:54 am
A little surprising not to see Linebrink here, no?
June 14, 2007 at 10:55 am
64: I’d bet that he’s referring to Ring as an SDSU alum and your screen name.
June 14, 2007 at 10:56 am
He probably was. I am kind of happy to not see Linebrink
June 14, 2007 at 10:56 am
Broadcast update: Seventh inning. Director appears to have found the star wipe button. These effects are not special.
June 14, 2007 at 10:56 am
Kouzmanoff day-to-day with a “back tweak.” Could be worse-if he goes on the DL I’d like to see Headley.
June 14, 2007 at 10:57 am
65: Liney in the 7th?
June 14, 2007 at 10:58 am
Evan-
Is Bell looking as dominating as he sounds? Having his power after Germano’s finesse is a pretty good combo.
June 14, 2007 at 10:58 am
Score?
June 14, 2007 at 10:58 am
69: My guess is we will see Robles
June 14, 2007 at 10:58 am
#69: But you won’t.
#72: We’re still up, 1-0.
June 14, 2007 at 10:58 am
70: Yup-I had the inning wrong…oops
June 14, 2007 at 10:59 am
Branyan already turned 6 DPs to Kouz’s 7 and Blum’s 3 this year.
June 14, 2007 at 10:59 am
72: 1-0 in the BTM 7th
June 14, 2007 at 10:59 am
71: Can’t catch up with the fastball so far. Got Crawford on back to back high, inside heat. Norton was also late on strike three. So far, looking like he deserves an All-Star slot.
June 14, 2007 at 11:00 am
Rays radio guys heaping all kinds of praise on the Padres pitching staff: “They just don’t groove pitches.”
June 14, 2007 at 11:01 am
76: the amount of DP’s turned is kind of the luck of the draw
June 14, 2007 at 11:01 am
78: Also, Bell is doing a good job locating the breaking stuff.
Except for ball four, of course.
June 14, 2007 at 11:02 am
“They just don’t groove pitches.”
What does that even mean?
June 14, 2007 at 11:02 am
I’m surprised and glad that Bud Black pulled Germano after only 78 pitches. I wish he’d done the same thing with Wells last week.
June 14, 2007 at 11:03 am
C’mon Bell, get it together.
June 14, 2007 at 11:04 am
Yea, apparently I should just shut up about Bell’s good location.
June 14, 2007 at 11:04 am
83: I’m hoping that Wells has now proved to Black that he is about a 6 inning/80 pitch guy, no matter how good that he looks during those 80 pitches.
I was a little surprised to see Germano pulled after 6 shutout innings also, but it seemed like there were some hard hit balls the last couple of innings.
June 14, 2007 at 11:04 am
82: It means that we don’t serve flattened out fastballs that can be crushed.
Our HR allowed rates compared to other clubs has got to be fairly low.
June 14, 2007 at 11:04 am
What the heck? Back to back walks. Come on Bell!
June 14, 2007 at 11:05 am
#82: I guess they’re used to seeing guys that throw more hittable pitches.
June 14, 2007 at 11:05 am
Delmon is pretty scary here.
June 14, 2007 at 11:05 am
Ugh, c’mon Bell. What’s up with our freaking relievers lately?
June 14, 2007 at 11:06 am
Nice! Three strikeouts in the inning!
June 14, 2007 at 11:06 am
Urgh! Not a wild pitch, Bell. Get it together, would you?
Here’s a distraction: you see that buxom blonde behind home plate? I heard she’s a he.
June 14, 2007 at 11:07 am
Whew, that was uglier than it needed to be.
June 14, 2007 at 11:07 am
Oh, goodie. Now, boys. Score more runs!
June 14, 2007 at 11:08 am
Okay. Gotta go to a meeting. Go Padres!
June 14, 2007 at 11:08 am
87: Padres pitching lead the majors with the fewest HR allowed (33). Devil Rays are second to last with 81 HR allowed.
June 14, 2007 at 11:10 am
Woot! Lead off double!
Bunt him over, get him in.
June 14, 2007 at 11:11 am
Nice hit by Bowen.
We really need more runs. We’re getting shut down by John Halama redux.
June 14, 2007 at 11:12 am
Oh those hip Padre radio guys, laughing about the Will Ferrell cowbell skit.
June 14, 2007 at 11:13 am
We need some insurance runs if Linebrink is pitching the 8th
June 14, 2007 at 11:15 am
100: I was thinking the same thing-I thought that I was listening to Matt and Mud for a minute.
June 14, 2007 at 11:15 am
Alright Cruz bring Bowen in from 3rd
June 14, 2007 at 11:15 am
Liney’s been pretty solid of late, but I wouldn’t complain about getting one or two runs.
Nice execution on the sac for NOG.
Broadcast update: Philip Early needs to head to the service desk. I sure hope he’s not watching via webcast in another city. That would be a pain.
June 14, 2007 at 11:16 am
Note to self: Trying to pull the fastball six inches outside maybe not the best approach.
June 14, 2007 at 11:17 am
Playing for one run. I love — uh not love it.
June 14, 2007 at 11:17 am
Nice job Crudge. Way to get it done.
June 14, 2007 at 11:17 am
CRUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUZ!
June 14, 2007 at 11:17 am
Much better.