IGD: Padres vs Dodgers (5 Jun 07)

first pitch: 7:05 p.m. PT
television: Channel 4SD
matchup: Chris Young (2-3, 4.74 ERA) vs Jason Schmidt (1-2, 7.36 ERA)
previews: Padres.com | SI.com

Dodgers starter Jason Schmidt hasn’t pitched in a big-league game since the Padres pounded him back on April 14. Shoulder bursitis has kept him out of action for nearly seven weeks. Closer Takashi Saito, meanwhile, is expected to miss the series due to “tightness in his left hamstring.”

Offense? Not a strength of either team. Rusell Martin and Luis Gonzalez are the rough equivalent of Adrian Gonzalez and Jose Cruz Jr. I remain baffled at (and grateful for) the Juan Pierre signing; that’s a lot of outs in the lineup every game.

It’s too early to get caught up in “making a statement.” Obviously this would be a nice series to win, but let’s not get silly about it. If the Dodgers taught us anything last year, it’s that a single series or game doesn’t define a team’s season. Romantic visions of destiny notwithstanding, you don’t really know where you’re going until you get there.

Wherever we end up, this summer again promises to take fans of both teams for a great ride. Go Padres!

Tagged as: , , , , , ,

192 Responses »

  1. Okay, I see. We were just trying to wear Martin down with all that running.

  2. Martin slipped and got caught in the rundown on his way to 3rd (posted for Lynch).

  3. just might have worked, GY :P

  4. Pads did a good job of wearing down Martin there. We certainly caught a break right there.

  5. 103: Thanks….

  6. #101: LOL. Yeah, get him so winded he can’t make it to 3rd or Home Plate!

  7. C’mon CY, you can do it!

  8. Does anyone still regret not trading Liney for Betemit at the deadline last year?

    I don’t.

  9. #106: No worries.

  10. Nice job by Pierre to work the count.

  11. #109: Uh, no.

    Buddy’s slow hook works again. Pierre has been extremely helpful tonight.

  12. The awesomeness of Juan Pierre cannot be stressed enough. He’s awesome.

  13. CY has done a helluva job these 7 innings. I’m sure we’ll see Bell next (not a bad thing). Again, I refer you to post #51.

  14. Hey, if Blum makes the last out this inning, they can do the double switch and then not only is he out of the game, he can’t pinch hit!!!

    I know, I’m hallucinating, but it’s a great trip.

  15. 115: I like the way you think.

  16. 115: Sorry, no backup SS. Blum is all we have. We’re stuck with Blum until he wins it for us in the 14th.

  17. Worst part about it is that he’s the only thing between us and a no-hitter right now…..

  18. Lot of pitches for Young.

  19. Speaking of Silent L…

  20. 117: Don’t B(l)um out my trip…. Let it last until at least the top of the next inning….

  21. Blum has just as much success with sliders out of the zone as Khalil does.

    At least we get the D from Khalil.

  22. Was that a suprise to anyone? I still think he has incriminating photos of KT.

  23. RE: 122

    Please don’t mention Blum in the same sentence with any MLB regulars, please.

  24. 121: In fact, I don’t think we have anyone available who has ever played SS at the major league level.

    122: At least Khalil’s K’s are against sliders breaking away from him. Blum’s supposed to have the platoon advantage as he strikes out.

  25. It’s “Lineytime”!

  26. 125: I’m cheap…

  27. WTF ump!

  28. I thought we would see Bell. But Linebrink works for me.

  29. Was that low? It looked liked a good pitch.

  30. this ump has ZERO inside corner

  31. At least Luis still sees that inside corner

  32. Another one over the corner

  33. Nice. Those splitters he threw to Kent 3-1 and Gonzalez 2-1 were filthy. Great job by Liney.

  34. Man, I can’t help but feel we’ve been squeezed a couple times tonite. The only gimme pitch we’ve gotten was the 3-1 to Gonzo.

  35. eventually we have to adjust… look, if he’s not gonna call it we have to stop throwing there. Shakespeare needs to know that. Set up outside, even if throwing more in. Give Blue a better look at the white. Ask how much it missed by, not just “was that inside?” There are ways to manipulate.

  36. #132: OT-I got those tix I told you about. However, they are for Sturday’s game. I had to give them away to a cousin because it wouldn’t be right to invite all these people and then go sit in the high dollar seats. Sorry.

  37. What happened to Linebrink? His K/9 is is down to about 5 this year, which is not going to get the job done, long-term.

  38. Look at Scott laughing… that bit from Jake was partially in support of Scott.

  39. Branyan is due to run into one.

  40. If he calls a Padre out looking on an inside job, there’s gonna be some nastiness… just sayin’

  41. #142: He’s been consistant with us as well.

  42. 141: Apparently one was due to run into him.

  43. Re: 144

    Touche.

  44. Yeah… he’s giving outside. Why I was saying Bard needs to lead his pitcher to adjust, and play mental on the Ump. But sometimes chirping leads to the wrong thing.

    Way to go Russ!

  45. Branyan!!! And Matty just made mention of the Ricky Henderson legacy.

  46. Stolen base for Russel the Muscle!