| time: | 1:40 p.m. PT |
| tv: | none |
| sp: | Greg Maddux (10-9, 3.79) vs Micah Owings (6-7, 4.51) |
| pre: | Padres.com, B-R.com |
Happy Labor Day, folks. The Padres and Diamondbacks enter their three-game series separated by mere percentage points at the top of the National League West with fewer than 30 games remaining. Could it get any better?
Well, yeah. The game could be televised. Hello!
109 Comments
This is why I love MLB.tv
So lame that on a day where lots of people are hanging around there’s no televised game.
Anyone else scared about the matchup today? Maddux has a horrible track record against the dbacks. Odds are not in our favor.
3: I’m not too concerned. If we hit Owings like we should, this game shouldn’t be a problem. Greg has pitched very well lately, which bodes well for us.
3: This same matchup last week ended in a Padre win so I am not really worried at all.
Fuson has good things to say about Josh Geer …
http://www.signonsandiego.com/sports/padres/20070903-9999-1s3padminor.html
I only wish the UT headline writers would take the time to get his name right.
The key statement is this … “Fuson said the next step for the 24-year-old will be to add 10-15 pounds of muscle onto his 6-foot-3 frame.” From that, it’s easy to see how/why PEDs have such alure. I have no idea how realisitic it is for a guy like Josh Geer to add 10-15 pounds of muscle between now an next March (6 months) …
Re: 6 have him talk to Rodney Harrison
I was looking at the UT’s HOF Induction photo’s … this one …
http://photos.signonsandiego.com/gallery1.5/album164/KC_Gwynn_Hall275596×223
… of the 5 Padres in the HOF caught my eye. Can you name them before looking at the pic?
Wait, there’s at least 1 missing, right? Ya, I think that’s all that’s missing …
A bit of a fluff … but fun/interesting nonetheless …
http://www.signonsandiego.com/sports/padres/20070903-9999-lz1s3padsmon.html
… especially the intro: Since falling to .108 on May 7, the rookie third baseman has hit .287 with 13 homers and 50 RBI in 300 at-bats.
That’s a pretty nice 300 ABs!
Here’s a tidbit for all the Pujols nay-sayers …
http://www.signonsandiego.com/sports/padres/20070903-9999-1s3myturn.html
… I knew there had to be some good in there somewhere
Oh, and BTW, Heat (typo/pun intended) Bell *ROCKS*!
#10: Thanks, LM. I’ll try to remember that the next time Pujols admires one of his homers or makes disparaging comments about the opposing pitcher.
TK making KT’s job that much harder …
http://www.signonsandiego.com/sports/padres/20070902-9999-1s2padnotes.html
LM, thanks for all the links! Incidentally, I update this most days:
http://del.icio.us/ducksnorts
Just FYI…
13 … ah, how delicious … from NC Times article there, I was disappointed to see that it’s unlikely that Paul McAnulty will get a callup this September … I understand, just disappointed … the hard reality is always tough to swallow … I remember “discovering” McAnulty at a Storm game in Stockton in 2004 when he put major wood on the ball *every* time he was up … it’s a reminder how hard it is to play baseball at the MLB level … he goes on my list of minor-league-favorites along with Dave Staton and Ray McDavid and Ben Davis, amonst others even less notable …
I’m assuming Laforest got through waivers. It would be nice to get another crack at this guy.
On another note, I have no life outside of baseball, especially when the Pads are contending, but I noticed, after perusing baseballref.com that Davey Lopes didn’t really “make it” in the big leagues until he was 28 years old http://www.baseball-reference.com/l/lopesda01.shtml. I found this really surprising and this balances me out in my analysis as far as writing guys off that are older. Hang in there PMAC !!!
15 … good point, I can’t say that I realized how much of a late-bloomer Lopes was … biggest obvious difference between Lopes and McAnulty is defense …
The late-bloomer-poster-boy of my youth was Mike Easler …
http://www.baseball-reference.com/e/easlemi01.shtml
… McAnulty-like cups-o-coffee from ages 22-28 … then he got MVP votes at age 29 and a spot on the AS team at age 30 … and then one monster season at age 33 … it can be done …
Jack Cust’s season this year gives hope to AAAA players like McAnulty. Hopefully McAnulty gets that opportunity somewhere.
Bard gets the start today at catcher, so we have a chance to win.
OG!!!!!
padres.com says it looks like Brocail and Cameron have taken over the spot Meredith once held.
I can’t believe this game’s not on TV. Somebody should be fired.
Gotta have Kouz try to steal second before Bard hits. It’ll increase Bard’s average by .150 if he can get into scoring position.
Silent L!!!
He hit that as the D-Backs radio guys were discussing his heroic homer off Livan Hernandez last week.
BLUM!!!!
Alright man, I’m sorry for all those hateful things I said about you earlier in the season.
(Alright, no I’m not)
I’m with you, Steve. I will celebrate Blum’s successes, and root for him to continue to succeed, but I maintain that he’s not a good hitter. Blind squirrels, broken clocks, etc.
It’s officially not a Silent L any longer. Back to back years he has stepped up in August and September when it counted.
Wow, tuned in just before Blum’s shot! (Completely forgot that labor day means early starts.)
I would stop calling him Silent L, but I tend to think that’s one of the best nicknames ever, so really I’ll keep using it until the end of time.
Blumpkin isnt a bad nickname either
26: I know, I know. I’m happy we’re getting production out of him. But on the other hand, I really liked hating him.
Just his face, you know. HIS FACE!!!
If he were a coworker I know he’d be one of the guys I’d pick on. And I’m sure he’d eat all loud and cook popcorn in the microwave and have conference calls on speakerphone at his desk. And he’d have his own little group of friends where he was the cool guy. But everyone else would think he was a total loser.
Scoreboard watchin’ … Phillies lose … Cubs up 2-1 on Dogs … man, how’d you like it if Esteban Loaiza were starting for the Padres today? Eh, I s’pose he’s not as bad as I imagine him to be … but $8M+ with a bum knee … it’ll be interesting to see how this Dog move pays off …
29: See, I think he’d be like the dean of my undergrad u. Totally fake nice guy, tries to include everyone and smile all the time, and can’t shut up about his beautiful wife.
30 … ouch, turns out Esteban can hit … Dogs now up 4-2 …
Thru 2 …
Pitches-strikes – G Maddux 27-18; M Owings 30-18.
Ground balls-fly balls – G Maddux 3-1; M Owings 1-3.
Batters faced – G Maddux 7; M Owings 9.
… the prof is teaching!
31: Okay, you’re probably right. I really haven’t seen a single interview with him or otherwise seen him outside of the game at all.
I guess I’m just pigeonholing him into the persona I’d like him to be so he fits in snugly with my meaningless existence as a corporate whore.
Eating B(l)umified crow is fine with me!
OG!!!!!!!!
Someone’s on tonight.
(And someone on the other team isn’t…)
34: I think we can at least agree that both our conceptions are equally annoying.
34 … for a corporate whore, you sure take some nice pics …
http://www.stevenjenkins.com/HOF_Induction_-_01.jpg
I am enjoying this game.
Enjoying this game indeed.
Blum is having a better year than Counsell, Graffanino (does have 9 blasts in same number of PA’s) , Marcus Giles , and of course Todd Walker and for that matter Josh Barfield all of whom were at one time or another penciled in or projected as second baggers over the Winter for the Pads.
38: Okay, okay, I lied. I quit that job two weeks ago. I just wanted an excuse to rant about Blum again.
39: Certainly better than yesterday’s game, for sure.
Haha, I ended up following that via AIM SmarterChild bot since I don’t have internet in my apartment yet, but somehow managed to remain signed onto AIM while coming from the wireless first floor to my apartment (where I can pick up a hotel’s signal, but not sign on).
40: Please don’t remind me of Todd Walker.
41: No excuse needed.
See, Michael Barrett no playing, team winning. please keep him out of the lineup.
It’s been a while since a Padres home run.
I’m bored.
ENTERTAIN ME MILTON!!!!
It may be becoming fairly obvious that Brian Giles was playing hurt most of the year and the post-All-Star break Giles is the real one.
That’s a huge hit by Jenga ! If we win today, we are 4 games up on the closest playoff contender for the last playoff spot with 25 left to play –we play .500 ball the rest of the way, the nearest competitor would have go 17-8 just to tie us !
Go Padres !!!!!!!!!
47: We will be up one game in the NL West. Which means, thankfully, we would not be in the wild-card race.
Is this game actually being played at Coors pre-Humidor? Do the Padres realize they’re playing in Arizona where we usually seem to suck despite how well the team’s been playing?
This is becoming a laugher.
50: Oh I’m laughing…
MANIACALLY!!!
I hear by propose that Milton Bradley’s new nickname be Uncle Milty…what do you guys think?
52: Uhhhh……
When you think about it, barring a complete collapse, both of these teams should be in the playoffs. The Dbacks need to play close to .500 ball the rest of the way and could even get in if they collapse and win 10 of their last 25 or so because the Phillies,Braves or Dodgers are hardly setting the world on fire.
Dbacks, Cubs and the Mets probably in. Think we don’t have a chance to win a pennant ?
Many people think the Diamondbacks will collapse because they are young and they have been outscored so much, so they have been very lucky.
No love for KK’s #15? He’s getting closer to 20
52: I like it, but “Jenga” is already locked and loaded as his nickname….It would be like calling Brian Giles “Oompa Loompa” instead of OG… funny, but the book is already closed….
Thru 6 …
Pitches-strikes – G Maddux 74-52; M Owings 44-29; Y Petit 40-25; B Medders 12-5.
Ground balls-fly balls – G Maddux 10-3; M Owings 1-4; Y Petit 0-4; B Medders 1-2.
Batters faced – G Maddux 22; M Owings 14; Y Petit 8; B Medders 5.
… interesting to note that Maddux has given up 4 hits … for the cycle … but still not walked anyone (for the super-cycle) …
Question: send him back out for the 7th?
If you know me, you know I’d be happy taking him out here … espeically with BB toying with the idea of shortening the rotation over the next couple of weeks (thanks to scheduled off-days) … I think our bully’s good for 3 IPs today …
Adrian Gonzalez is onefrom tying and two from breaking the team record for home runs in the Petco era. Phil Nevin, 26, 2004.
Anybody up in the pen now?
Alright, have we gotten too cocky here?
I think next inning we should hit three more home runs… just to be safe.
re:14
Lynch, I own a McDavid game worn jersey… *grin*
I’m good with the quick hook …
39 year old Doug Brocail throwing 90+ mph gas.
The two full counts were a little unnecessary, but Brocail got the job done nicely.
62 … nice … what team? There can’t be many of those that say “Padres” on the front …
http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/M/Ray-McDavid.shtml
… and in looking at his numbers, he’s proof you can’t just go by OBP in A-ball … anybody know how/why he “miss”d?
KK now hitting .251!!!
All of the regulars are hitting .250. Who would have thunk it a couple months ago?
66. Lynch, it’s a Padres home white and blue pinstripe jersey…. got it in the “clearance” sale they did before they left the Q
Blum this year as a ,700 OPS as a lefty and a .588 OPS as a righty. Please, Black, start Stansberry against Davis tomorrow.
I am not sure if this was discussed before: Cederic Hunter was recently called up to AAA. I found that quite surprising. He is not doing to bad, he just hit a homer!
That is really weird. I thought they usually promoted non-prospects to fill spots like that.
It would be nice to see Stansberry get a start or two down the stretch to see what he can do at this level. Stansberry may be of more value than Marcus Giles on the playoff roster – he makes better contact and has better speed. He is not going to be as good as Giles defensively but he is still a notch better than Blum.
Yeah, my guess is that he will skip Advance A next year and start in AA as Will Venable. Maybe they want to see him against tougher competition.
68 … interesting that Kahlil got a hit in the 9th, otherwise I think he’d have fallen below .250
Unless the Padres have clinched or are way up in the West, Stansberry will sit, plain and simple. You don’t dick around in a pennant race.
Have you seen the Beaver roster lately ? It is chock full of Single A guys (Schemmel, Hunter, Ruth, Woodard, Daigle, Faris, Teague) etc) . It’s the innovative KT style of minor league management(or he has no choice to fill the spots) – we will see if it works – but I like the concept. Give the kids a taste (especially the fringe guys like Daigle) and see if they step up with the challenge.
#76 Ah, we will be able to dick around shortly. Stansberry will get starts soon.
74 … I’d be surprised if Hunter skips a level … he’s very young … there’s just a ton of roster shuffling going on right now … except for the guys at AA San Antonio as they head into some post-season games … I don’t think any significance can be extracted from Hunter’s “promotion” one way or the other …
game over, Padres win!
77. it also allows them to see better (or at least more experienced) opposition without worrying about 40 man spots or ML service time…*grin*
76 … it’s not obvious to me that sitting a guy with such a huge platoon split at B(l)um is “dicking around” … I think BenB’s comment (#50) is quite valid …
And as much as I appreciate Blum its not like we are taking Adrian or Jenga out of the lineup which would really be “dicking” around. I don’t want Marcus on the playoff roster if possible. Let’s see what Stansberry’s got.
76: Except, as shown in post 70, Blum can’t hit lefties. Stansberry should be able to, since he’s a righty. Except I just checked his splits and he was a lot better against righties in AAA, and the sample size, while small, isn’t tiny. I’d still rather start him against Davis tomorrow than Blum.
It wouldn’t be dicking around. It would be having confidence in a young player in the No. 8 spot in the batting order. Not that crazy.
Matt Latos is pitching tonight! Game just started. Go Emeralds!
It sure seems like Chris Young’s start tomorrow is very critical … is he healthy? He’s sure gotten knocked around in his last 2 starts (and 3 of last 4) …
Hmmm, Estes with 2 IP for Portland today …
http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2007_09_03_freaaa_poraaa_1
86 … rats … I was hoping he wouldn’t pitch until tomorrow so I could go see him …
AA playoffs start Wednesday …
http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/tickets/page.jsp?ymd=20070814&content_id=289183&vkey=tickets_t510&fext=.jsp&sid=t510
… anybody (from this comment community) going?
I just read that Black may give the ball to Peavy on Wednesday on three days rest instead of going to Cassel/Hensley. Thoughts?
While I would like to see us put more room between us and the DBacks, I don’t want to see Peavy get over-used down the stretch. He has to be effective in October too.
Yes, I am a Carlsbad transplant (grew up there) who just moved to Plano. I’ll hit one or two of the games. Frisco is literally 10 minutes from my house.
91 … Great … let us know what you see!
ps. Why does someone move from Carlsbad to Plano?
Here’s BP’s look at “playoff odds” …
http://www.baseballprospectus.com/statistics/ps_oddspec.php
… shows Padres at 73% before today’s W.
Peavy pitching the finale of this series on three days rest is apparently an option. It apparently depends on the results of the first two games, so if we win tomorrow it likely won’t happen. If they were planning that, it would have been nice to pull Peavy after 6 on Saturday, although he only through 99 total pitches.
Also, from the notes, Headley isn’t coming back up this year. Too bad.
http://sandiego.padres.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070903&content_id=2186986&vkey=news_sd&fext=.jsp&c_id=sd
A win tomorrow guarantee’s the Pad’s a split of the season series with the Snakes. If that is the case, then I believe even if the Pad’s lost the last game they would win the tie-breakers with the better record in the division. A loss tomorrow, and I can see the Pad’s starting Jake on short rest to win the finale and hold the advantage with the tie-breakers.
86 … Latos didn’t end his season well …
http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2007_09_03_skvasx_eugasx_1
… 4.2 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 2 ER, 4 BB, 4 SO … next year to Ft. Wayne? Seems likely … with mid-season promotion to Lake Elsinore if he does well. He’s still a player with upside who’s a looong ways away.
Just got off the phone with my Dodger fan of a Grandmother. She’s promised to pay for my ticket at Fenway if the Padres play the Red Sox in the World Series.
Now all I gotta do is make sure I can get a night off from work!
(Oh, and also the Padres and the Sox winning the pennant)
97 … man, you are all set! For a Dog-fan, your Gma ain’t so bad!
OT … more from Dirk …
http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prospects/features/264780.html
… he’s a funny guy.
Blanks with HR #24 today for Storm …
http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2007_09_03_inlafa_lesafa_1
99 … and it looks like the Storm boyz will be playing some post-season ball also …
http://www.stormbaseball.com/2007Playoffs.htm
… games at The Diamond on Thursday, and Friday, if necessary. Anyone going up for that?
OK, now that explains Cedric Hunter going up to AAA … he couldn’t go up to Lake Elsinore or San Antonio because they are prep’ing for playoffs …
Nice ESPN piece recognizing the Padres’ recent surge: http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/story?columnist=crasnick_jerry&id=3003455
102 … thanks for the link … ouch, I don’t remember Frank Seminara at all …
http://www.baseball-reference.com/s/seminfr01.shtml
46 … any more thoughts on OG “playing hurt most of the year”? He was out May 20th to June 28th … did he come back too soon? Do you really think the ASP (July 9-12) got him rested/healthy? I’ve not seen/heard any talk of this … but the data sure supports something along those lines …
Checking OGs playing time for hints of health issues reminded me to check same for Jake … here’s his GameLog …
http://www.baseball-reference.com/pi/gl.cgi?n1=peavyja01&t=p
MAN, has he been consistent this year!!! He’s only got 2 starts with less than 6 IP (one at 5.1 and one at 5.0) … his lowest pitch count this year is 98 …
I just wonder what was really going on around the time of the ASB when he had 3 (relatively) bad outings in a row even with the ASB “rest” … but that’s just me being a worrier …
104: Giles’ numbers since the 28th are good. Presumably he was hurt for a large part of the time before he went on the DL.
102: I had said before that I had read about Merv being sick and lacking energy in the dugout, but I could never find the dang article I read that in. Thanks for helping me realize I was losing my mind after all
RE107…….”was NOT losing my mind after all”
108 … can you make up your mind?