IGD: Padres @ Diamondbacks (3 Sep 07)
Mon, Sep 3, 2007
by Geoff Young
| 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!
Picking up where last year's version left off, the Ducksnorts 2008 Baseball Annual provides in-depth analysis of and commentary on the San Diego Padres. Get your copy today.
September 3, 2007 at 9:44 am
This is why I love MLB.tv
September 3, 2007 at 9:50 am
So lame that on a day where lots of people are hanging around there’s no televised game.
September 3, 2007 at 9:58 am
Anyone else scared about the matchup today? Maddux has a horrible track record against the dbacks. Odds are not in our favor.
September 3, 2007 at 10:15 am
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.
September 3, 2007 at 10:26 am
3: This same matchup last week ended in a Padre win so I am not really worried at all.
September 3, 2007 at 10:40 am
Fuson has good things to say about Josh Geer …
http://www.signonsandiego.com/.....minor.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) …
September 3, 2007 at 10:46 am
Re: 6 have him talk to Rodney Harrison
September 3, 2007 at 10:49 am
I was looking at the UT’s HOF Induction photo’s … this one …
http://photos.signonsandiego.c.....6×223
… 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 …
September 3, 2007 at 11:04 am
A bit of a fluff … but fun/interesting nonetheless …
http://www.signonsandiego.com/.....dsmon.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!
September 3, 2007 at 11:34 am
Here’s a tidbit for all the Pujols nay-sayers …
http://www.signonsandiego.com/.....yturn.html
… I knew there had to be some good in there somewhere
Oh, and BTW, Heat (typo/pun intended) Bell *ROCKS*!
September 3, 2007 at 11:39 am
#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.
September 3, 2007 at 11:40 am
TK making KT’s job that much harder …
http://www.signonsandiego.com/.....notes.html
September 3, 2007 at 11:45 am
LM, thanks for all the links! Incidentally, I update this most days:
http://del.icio.us/ducksnorts
Just FYI…
September 3, 2007 at 12:10 pm
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 …
September 3, 2007 at 12:23 pm
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......da01.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 !!!
September 3, 2007 at 12:43 pm
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......mi01.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 …
September 3, 2007 at 1:07 pm
Jack Cust’s season this year gives hope to AAAA players like McAnulty. Hopefully McAnulty gets that opportunity somewhere.
September 3, 2007 at 1:08 pm
Bard gets the start today at catcher, so we have a chance to win.
September 3, 2007 at 1:41 pm
OG!!!!!
September 3, 2007 at 1:43 pm
padres.com says it looks like Brocail and Cameron have taken over the spot Meredith once held.
September 3, 2007 at 1:51 pm
I can’t believe this game’s not on TV. Somebody should be fired.
September 3, 2007 at 1:59 pm
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.
September 3, 2007 at 2:03 pm
Silent L!!!
He hit that as the D-Backs radio guys were discussing his heroic homer off Livan Hernandez last week.
September 3, 2007 at 2:03 pm
BLUM!!!!
Alright man, I’m sorry for all those hateful things I said about you earlier in the season.
(Alright, no I’m not)
September 3, 2007 at 2:04 pm
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.
September 3, 2007 at 2:04 pm
It’s officially not a Silent L any longer. Back to back years he has stepped up in August and September when it counted.
September 3, 2007 at 2:07 pm
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.
September 3, 2007 at 2:08 pm
Blumpkin isnt a bad nickname either
September 3, 2007 at 2:08 pm
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.
September 3, 2007 at 2:10 pm
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 …
September 3, 2007 at 2:11 pm
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.
September 3, 2007 at 2:12 pm
30 … ouch, turns out Esteban can hit … Dogs now up 4-2 …
September 3, 2007 at 2:13 pm
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!
September 3, 2007 at 2:13 pm
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.
September 3, 2007 at 2:14 pm
Eating B(l)umified crow is fine with me!
September 3, 2007 at 2:15 pm
OG!!!!!!!!
Someone’s on tonight.
(And someone on the other team isn’t…)
September 3, 2007 at 2:15 pm
34: I think we can at least agree that both our conceptions are equally annoying.
September 3, 2007 at 2:16 pm
34 … for a corporate whore, you sure take some nice pics …
http://www.stevenjenkins.com/H.....n_-_01.jpg
September 3, 2007 at 2:17 pm
I am enjoying this game.
Enjoying this game indeed.
September 3, 2007 at 2:19 pm
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.
September 3, 2007 at 2:21 pm
38: Okay, okay, I lied. I quit that job two weeks ago. I just wanted an excuse to rant about Blum again.
September 3, 2007 at 2:22 pm
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).
September 3, 2007 at 2:23 pm
40: Please don’t remind me of Todd Walker.
41: No excuse needed.
September 3, 2007 at 2:49 pm
See, Michael Barrett no playing, team winning. please keep him out of the lineup.
September 3, 2007 at 2:51 pm
It’s been a while since a Padres home run.
I’m bored.
ENTERTAIN ME MILTON!!!!
September 3, 2007 at 2:57 pm
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.
September 3, 2007 at 2:57 pm
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 !!!!!!!!!
September 3, 2007 at 2:57 pm
47: We will be up one game in the NL West. Which means, thankfully, we would not be in the wild-card race.
September 3, 2007 at 2:58 pm
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?
September 3, 2007 at 3:03 pm
This is becoming a laugher.
September 3, 2007 at 3:04 pm
50: Oh I’m laughing…
MANIACALLY!!!
September 3, 2007 at 3:06 pm
I hear by propose that Milton Bradley’s new nickname be Uncle Milty…what do you guys think?
September 3, 2007 at 3:07 pm
52: Uhhhh……
September 3, 2007 at 3:07 pm
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 ?
September 3, 2007 at 3:09 pm
Many people think the Diamondbacks will collapse because they are young and they have been outscored so much, so they have been very lucky.
September 3, 2007 at 3:13 pm
No love for KK’s #15? He’s getting closer to 20
September 3, 2007 at 3:14 pm
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….
September 3, 2007 at 3:17 pm
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 …
September 3, 2007 at 3:18 pm
Adrian Gonzalez is onefrom tying and two from breaking the team record for home runs in the Petco era. Phil Nevin, 26, 2004.
September 3, 2007 at 3:25 pm
Anybody up in the pen now?
September 3, 2007 at 3:27 pm
Alright, have we gotten too cocky here?
I think next inning we should hit three more home runs… just to be safe.
September 3, 2007 at 3:30 pm
re:14
Lynch, I own a McDavid game worn jersey… *grin*
September 3, 2007 at 3:30 pm
I’m good with the quick hook …
September 3, 2007 at 3:32 pm
39 year old Doug Brocail throwing 90+ mph gas.
September 3, 2007 at 3:33 pm
The two full counts were a little unnecessary, but Brocail got the job done nicely.
September 3, 2007 at 3:35 pm
62 … nice … what team? There can’t be many of those that say “Padres” on the front …
http://www.thebaseballcube.com.....avid.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?
September 3, 2007 at 3:37 pm
KK now hitting .251!!!
September 3, 2007 at 3:44 pm
All of the regulars are hitting .250. Who would have thunk it a couple months ago?
September 3, 2007 at 3:45 pm
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
September 3, 2007 at 3:51 pm
Blum this year as a ,700 OPS as a lefty and a .588 OPS as a righty. Please, Black, start Stansberry against Davis tomorrow.
September 3, 2007 at 3:56 pm
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!
September 3, 2007 at 4:00 pm
That is really weird. I thought they usually promoted non-prospects to fill spots like that.
September 3, 2007 at 4:03 pm
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.
September 3, 2007 at 4:03 pm
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.
September 3, 2007 at 4:06 pm
68 … interesting that Kahlil got a hit in the 9th, otherwise I think he’d have fallen below .250
September 3, 2007 at 4:07 pm
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.
September 3, 2007 at 4:08 pm
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.
September 3, 2007 at 4:09 pm
#76 Ah, we will be able to dick around shortly. Stansberry will get starts soon.
September 3, 2007 at 4:10 pm
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 …
September 3, 2007 at 4:10 pm
game over, Padres win!
September 3, 2007 at 4:11 pm
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*
September 3, 2007 at 4:11 pm
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 …
September 3, 2007 at 4:12 pm
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.
September 3, 2007 at 4:13 pm
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.
September 3, 2007 at 4:13 pm
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.
September 3, 2007 at 4:15 pm
Matt Latos is pitching tonight! Game just started. Go Emeralds!
September 3, 2007 at 4:15 pm
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) …
September 3, 2007 at 4:18 pm
Hmmm, Estes with 2 IP for Portland today …
http://web.minorleaguebaseball.....a_poraaa_1
September 3, 2007 at 4:20 pm
86 … rats … I was hoping he wouldn’t pitch until tomorrow so I could go see him …
AA playoffs start Wednesday …
http://web.minorleaguebaseball.....p;sid=t510
… anybody (from this comment community) going?
September 3, 2007 at 4:28 pm
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.
September 3, 2007 at 4:31 pm
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.
September 3, 2007 at 4:34 pm
91 … Great … let us know what you see!
ps. Why does someone move from Carlsbad to Plano?
September 3, 2007 at 4:36 pm
Here’s BP’s look at “playoff odds” …
http://www.baseballprospectus......ddspec.php
… shows Padres at 73% before today’s W.
September 3, 2007 at 4:49 pm
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.....mp;c_id=sd
September 3, 2007 at 5:25 pm
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.
September 3, 2007 at 6:22 pm
86 … Latos didn’t end his season well …
http://web.minorleaguebaseball.....x_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.
September 3, 2007 at 6:33 pm
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)
September 3, 2007 at 6:36 pm
97 … man, you are all set! For a Dog-fan, your Gma ain’t so bad!
OT … more from Dirk …
http://www.baseballamerica.com.....64780.html
… he’s a funny guy.
September 3, 2007 at 7:00 pm
Blanks with HR #24 today for Storm …
http://web.minorleaguebaseball.....a_lesafa_1
September 3, 2007 at 7:07 pm
99 … and it looks like the Storm boyz will be playing some post-season ball also …