IGD: Padres vs Pirates (20 Sep 07)
Thu, Sep 20, 2007
by Geoff Young
| time: | 12:35 p.m. PT |
| tv: | 4SD |
| sp: | Brett Tomko (3-11, 5.40) vs Matt Morris (9-10, 4.84) |
| pre: | Padres.com, B-R.com |
Dear Diamondbacks,
Thanks much for Scott Hairston. He’s pretty good.
Regards,
The Padres
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 20, 2007 at 8:13 am
Doubt it will happen, but could be a little rain today, very unusual for SD, pretty sure they’ll get the game it. Tomko, well, maybe Petco is to his liking. Az doesn’t play, but the phils play at DC. Love to get a little more lead in WC and get just 1/2 game for the Div.
September 20, 2007 at 8:19 am
To shrink it to a half game would be pretty sweet… It’s hard not to go to the ballpark expecting a victory with all that’s happened this homestand. That said, it is always a tough thing to get a four game sweep… no matter who the opponent is.
September 20, 2007 at 8:24 am
Its hard to sweep your whole homestand aswell. But i have faith, this team has played great
September 20, 2007 at 8:30 am
agree, you can’t always win in baseball. But Col is coming and they play us real tough.
Thought: Angels Padres in the WS. Sort of a private, SoCal WS, and the East Coast and its bias can kiss my warm sunshine.
Chicken’s I know, hatching, right, but it could happen.
September 20, 2007 at 8:38 am
4: i would especially enjoy that if we swept the Angels
September 20, 2007 at 8:54 am
From AZ’s side, Scott Hairston has to be case-in-point of why you never, ever, trade someone to a division rival! No matter how innocuous the player, it will always come back to bite you in the arse. Un-be-lievable last night. This team, which seemed to be steady-Eddie all year, has in successive weeks gone 2-4 against chief division rivals AZ and LA and then ripped off 6 straight W’s.
Note to self: increase treadmill usage, decrease fatty salty foods. The ‘ol ticker might not hold up the next 10 days otherwise.
September 20, 2007 at 9:12 am
Absolutely fantastic victory last nite. My fiance and I were bouncing off the walls in our house all the way in Beaumont. I’m sure our neighbors thought we had just won the lottery. Our dogs were sure confused.
Obviously it’s tough to sweep a 4 game series or a 10-game homestand, but we’ve played so well this series. We’ve had 2 of each kind of game this series: Shutouts, Regular W’s, and Walk-off HR victories. Love that. Love to see Cla really step it up this week, and Thatcher is really making KT look like a genius.
I was telling my fiance last nite that these are the kinds of games that make you love baseball. These are the games that get you hooked, that make you believe that the Padres could cure cancer. These are the games that make all of the angst, nervousness, disappointment, depression, time, and money spent during a season worth it.
September 20, 2007 at 9:21 am
Yes it has rained some downtown this morning, it is suppose to clear up by game time though. More problems may be coming with weather for the weekend and if I were a betting man I’d take the under on every game game in the Colorado series as the Marine layer is going to be fierce.
Great game last night
September 20, 2007 at 9:24 am
When Bradley comes back, should the Pads roll the dice and put Hairston at second base ?
September 20, 2007 at 9:25 am
I am a Tivo guy, so my profound wisdom on games always comes a bit late.
Some “lesser” performances that really helped:
KK’s AB ahead of Scott. Commented upon on IGD, but did not try to do too much.
Thatcher: last 7 appearances: 7 IP, 2H, 0BB, 5K, 0HR
Cla: last 4 appearances: 4 IP, 1H, 0BB, 7K;
(small sample sizes, but encouraging trends)
Wow, did we need that one. Couple that with the come from behind in the first game of this homestand, we are living a charmed life right now.
We need every win. Schedules:
AZD: LA (3), at Pit (3), at Col (3)
SDP: Pit (1), Col (3), at SF (3), at Mil (4)
PHL: at WDC (4), Atl (3), WDC (3)
Of that remaining schedule, Arizona is a bit tougher, but it does get two days of rest while we keep playing. All three teams have nearly identical road records, though the Padres have had by far the best statistical performance on the road (measured in net OPS: OPS hit - OPS allowed):
SDP: 035
PHL: 005
AZD: (042)
So what? Just calming myself down by doing analysis. We got a shot, and so glad to be fattening up when we had the chance.
Matt Morris vs Tomko is not in our favor. Morris has generally been tough against us, though not so much this year.
Go Padres!
September 20, 2007 at 9:25 am
I was at the game last night. The 9th inning was great. Fans were really into it. It was almost like you knew they’d find a way. There have been times this season that I didn’t feel that way, but last night — you knew they were going to pull it out somehow.
My seats are on the first base side. When Adrian hit the drive down the 3rd base line, I thought it was out. Then Khalil hits it on the button, but right at the centerfielder. Then the Kooz chant started and continued, all the way through his at bat.
When Hairston came up, my son and I looked at each other and simultaneously talked about Hairston’s previous heroics.
Great night.
September 20, 2007 at 9:44 am
Pretty fun reading AZ Snakepit’s IGD leading up to and including Hairston’s AB.
September 20, 2007 at 9:50 am
12.
Work has the Snakepit site blocked. What were they saying?
September 20, 2007 at 10:05 am
This is just some of it. …
Padres game
Two on, two out in the 9th, and guess who’s up? Our very own Hairston.
by snakecharmer on Thu Sep 20, 2007 at 12:40:19 AM EDT
Oh, the humanity…
And the irony. Remember who gave you your break, Scotty. You owe us. Remember the T-shirts…
by Jim McLennan on Thu Sep 20, 2007 at 12:41:21 AM EDT
T-shirts?
by snakecharmer on Thu Sep 20, 2007 at 12:44:29 AM EDT
We’ll be okay
He was actually a sleeper agent we sent to the Padres so he could be in position to sabotage them in just a crucial moment like this…
…right?
by Devin on Thu Sep 20, 2007 at 12:41:32 AM EDT
Too late. Come on, Sandy Baby, loosen up. You’re too tight.
by DbacksSkins on Thu Sep 20, 2007 at 12:42:47 AM EDT
Screw Hairston.
5-3 walkoff homer.
Come on, Sandy Baby, loosen up. You’re too tight.
by DbacksSkins on Thu Sep 20, 2007 at 12:42:19 AM EDT
S—!
by seton hall snake pit on Thu Sep 20, 2007 at 12:42:20 AM EDT
Damnit
I love Hairston, but did NOT need to see that walk-off…
by snakecharmer on Thu Sep 20, 2007 at 12:42:26 AM EDT
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!
Curses.
by Devin on Thu Sep 20, 2007 at 12:42:54 AM EDT
September 20, 2007 at 10:09 am
this was my favorite Snakepit comment:
Dear San Diego. Can we have Hairston back? We still have the receipt. Love, the Arizona Diamondbacks.
September 20, 2007 at 10:14 am
That was one of my faves but I didn’t want to go overboard with c&p. Maybe we could get a couple of those “Free Hairston” T-shirts.
September 20, 2007 at 10:15 am
14, 15
Thanks guys! Love to see that stuff.
Looks like Hairston is throwing his name in the mix for LF next year. I would be interested to see what happens to him with regular at bats. Then again before this season I said the same about Sledge.
September 20, 2007 at 10:18 am
I think Hairston is one of the main reasons why they are going to be ok bringing Bradley back next year. If Bradley only plays 90 games that is going to be fine because Hairston can handle LF for a couple of weeks at a time.
In fact I wouldn’t be surprised to see them try and trade for a young CF and then bring back Bradley on a 1 year deal. Bring back Adam Jones, save him from Carl Everett!
September 20, 2007 at 10:24 am
I dont see the mariners giving up Jones for cheap, I think the Pads would have to overpay to get him.
September 20, 2007 at 10:27 am
Cheap-no…..overpay like what? I’d trade Headley and Geer for him without thinking twice about it.
September 20, 2007 at 10:30 am
Headly+LeBlanc+Huffman, Jones is a top 10 prospect
September 20, 2007 at 10:32 am
I think you may give Bavasi too much credit……even though I’d make that deal
September 20, 2007 at 10:35 am
So what kinda Padres blasts are we going to see from KLaw today? He’s 35 minutes into his chat.
September 20, 2007 at 10:36 am
9 - I’d love to see Hairston get a chance at 2B somehow, but I doubt they’ll shake things up considering the meaning of the games.
September 20, 2007 at 10:39 am
Hairston at 2B solves a ton of offensive problems, but I wouldn’t count on it until next season
September 20, 2007 at 10:42 am
Re: 22 The main issue is that both Ibanez and Guillen are only signined through next year, it would be hard to trade away your best OF prospect which you have controll of for the next 5 years if you are loosing two of your starting OF’s.
September 20, 2007 at 10:43 am
23: Can you view the chat?
September 20, 2007 at 10:44 am
Well the Dodgers would have made the playoffs if they would have made better decisions with 25% of their roster…..that’s kind of obvious don’t you think Keith?
September 20, 2007 at 10:45 am
Jason: st louis MO: love your chats–just picking your brain on some young pitchers……any potential #1s or 2s out of guerra, cueto, leblanc, henry sosa??
Keith Law: (1:12 PM ET ) Cueto looks like a solid 2 to me. Leblanc is the one who really doesn’t fit - 5th starter, fringy stuff, good feel.
September 20, 2007 at 10:46 am
Our first real blast on a Padres prospect:
Jason: st louis MO: love your chats–just picking your brain on some young pitchers……any potential #1s or 2s out of guerra, cueto, leblanc, henry sosa??
SportsNation Keith Law: (1:12 PM ET ) Cueto looks like a solid 2 to me. Leblanc is the one who really doesn’t fit - 5th starter, fringy stuff, good feel.
September 20, 2007 at 10:48 am
25: I wouldn’t count on it ever. He can probably play 2b anymore the way Bobby Bonilla played 3b for the Marlins in the 97 Series. You don’t have to tell him which glove to use or where to stand, but you don’t want any balls hit there.
Adam Jones K-rate scares me badly. Not sure that I’d give up Headley-LeBlanc-Huffman for him.
September 20, 2007 at 10:49 am
Robb (Colorado): Keith, Shouldn’t Francis get some considerationf or the CY? If Coors Field can count against the hitters, then shouldn’t it count in favor of the pitchers? Francis with 17-18 wins would be as good as Peavy with 18-20 at Petco.
Keith Law: (1:36 PM ET ) Win totals for pitchers are useless. Francis has been among the top 10-12 starters in the NL this year, but he’s not in Peavy’s class.
September 20, 2007 at 10:50 am
Jon (Phoenix, AZ): How many more times will Black run Peavy out on short rest and pay the consequences?
Keith Law: (1:41 PM ET ) None. I don’t think that happens again.
September 20, 2007 at 10:55 am
Re: 31 I would not give them up as well, but thats what I think it would take for the mariners to give him up.
September 20, 2007 at 11:01 am
re 31: Sounds pretty much like Barfield…just sayin’
September 20, 2007 at 11:02 am
Law acknowledges that Peavy should be the front-runner for the Cy Young, so that’s a good start. “… neither guy is close to Peavy, who has really pulled away from the pack,” talking about Aaron Harang and Roy Oswalt.
September 20, 2007 at 11:05 am
The following is unrelated to last night’s kick-ass win or the Keith Law chat, in which he used the murdered Natalee Holloway to illuminate Manny Ramirez’s propensity to disappear. You stay classy, Keith.
Michael Burgess, one of my preferred targets in the draft, had a 336/442/617 line in the Gulf Coast League.
September 20, 2007 at 11:09 am
35: The knock on Barfield, I thought, was his throwing, especially on DPs. The knock on Hairston is ever getting to the ball or the bag in the first place. He’s a lot thicker than he was in the minors, too. Not saying he couldn’t do it, but they’re going to need a 4th OF a lot and they have some 2b options. Antonelli, sign Loretta to back him up.
September 20, 2007 at 11:11 am
I think Hairston is enough of an offensive upgrade over NOG and Blum against a lefty starter to be worth the defensive hit. Not sure if I’d start him with Maddux pitching, but with Peavy or Young (especially) on the mound I would go for it.
September 20, 2007 at 11:12 am
37.
That’s the guy I was pimping for the Padres 1st or 2nd pick too. Nice start!
September 20, 2007 at 11:13 am
35: Thats a little harsh. Barf was a good defender, it was his arm that was a bit weak.
September 20, 2007 at 11:13 am
Navin (San Diego): Hey Keith, what do you think the Indians can get in return for Josh Barfield? Top 50 prospect? Decent AA prospect? A new lawnmower?
Keith Law: (2:12 PM ET ) Maybe a riding lawnmower, if they negotiate hard. That might be the biggest unexplained collapse of the year. I never loved Barfield, but he was productive for San Diego.
September 20, 2007 at 11:16 am
Geez…if I hear Loretta’s name again it is going to drive me crazy .700OPS players do not help you win the division…I’d rather have Blum back because at least he can play ss and over 150AB’s the offensive difference is negligible.
KT/Alderson have a ton of choices this off season, Hairston at least gives them some flexibility.
September 20, 2007 at 11:20 am
Re: 43 Loretta played 68 at SS this year for Houston
September 20, 2007 at 11:31 am
39: Yeah, with the strikeout/flyball guys it could work. But I’m assuming Antonelli gets the starting gig. It’s been a while since Hairston played the infield. Looks like one game since 2004.
http://www.thebaseballcube.com.....ston.shtml
43: As a backup, Loretta’s a fine player. He plays short as well as Blum does, which is totally anecdotal.
September 20, 2007 at 11:35 am
Looks like the SD FO is short one former GM. Jayson Stark says Houston has tapped Ed Wade as its new GM.
September 20, 2007 at 11:40 am
Another Keith Law San Diego burn…
Charles (Oklahoma City): What do you foresee on Kevin Kouzmanoff’s career? And also, I know it’s a long shot, but what about Oklahoma City for an MLB franchise if the NBA does not return?
Keith Law: (2:37 PM ET ) Too small. And I think Kouzmanoff’s a low-average, moderate-power guy who can’t handle 3b.
September 20, 2007 at 11:46 am
It’s weird that Law singled out average for Kouz. Kouz’s average has been pretty decent sub 1 month of the season and coming into the season was that he was a high average all fields type of minor league hitter right? Kouz has not been A-Rod at 3rd but after a rough start it’s really hard to kill the rookie year that he has had offensively.
September 20, 2007 at 11:46 am
47: I think that assessment’s skeptical but defensible.
September 20, 2007 at 11:48 am
KLaw is just an overly negitive guy. He never really sees positive in anything
September 20, 2007 at 12:02 pm
He did say that he thinks CY’s struggles are probably due to his back and not the league figuring him out after nearly two full seasons.
September 20, 2007 at 12:17 pm
51: I sure hope he is right because CY has the straightest fastball i have ever seen.
September 20, 2007 at 12:17 pm
45: Yeah, I was really only focusing on this weekend when Bradley’s starting in left against the lefties we face, and maybe for the rest of this year. For next year I would hope we would have some better options.
September 20, 2007 at 12:25 pm
49: Certainly, Kouz has real power - see his recent Petco HR - but can he display it consistently?
September 20, 2007 at 12:25 pm
53: I should have seen that you were only talking about now.
September 20, 2007 at 12:26 pm
I’m finding it very difficult to get the emotions right following the Dodgers’ game; there I was feeling a warm pleasure as the first two batters were quickly out, and then I had suddenly to remember that this was one game I was keen for the Dodgers to win. (Still no score in the top of the second, by the way.) Things will be a bit more clear cut in half an hour’s time…
September 20, 2007 at 12:32 pm
Great… Steve Quis and Micheal Barrett
September 20, 2007 at 12:33 pm
mlb.com has He Who Should Never Play listed as catching and batting eighth.
September 20, 2007 at 12:35 pm
re: Law on Kouz
perhaps by “low average” he meant low OBP? cuz Kouz’s walk rate was never great. He’s been historically batting average-heavy, I don’t see how Law could say that.
September 20, 2007 at 12:36 pm
Hey, the Padres have won Barrett’s last two starts!
September 20, 2007 at 12:37 pm
60: In spite of Barrett
September 20, 2007 at 12:37 pm
Lead-off triple for Morgan, again
September 20, 2007 at 12:39 pm
3 triples in 17 career at-bats for Morgan, who is kind of an interesting guy. Grew up in San Francisco and left to play junior hockey in Canada for several years. Just by looking at him, you wouldn’t think he’d be a hockey player (not only because he’s black but also since he’s not very big).
September 20, 2007 at 12:40 pm
Freakin Blum blows what should have been a run-saving play.
September 20, 2007 at 12:42 pm
64: He didnt blow it, the infield was playing way back
September 20, 2007 at 12:42 pm
nyjer hit another leadoff triple! is anyone watching? did OG misplay?
September 20, 2007 at 12:42 pm
64: According to Leitner on the radio, Morgan hesitated from third and he would have been dead to rights.
September 20, 2007 at 12:44 pm
at least Tomko got the next three pirates out.
September 20, 2007 at 12:44 pm
On TV it seemed he had no chance, hesitation on not. Morgan is fast and it was a long throw. Blum checked to home but went to first. It was the right play for how we always align our defense.
September 20, 2007 at 12:45 pm
C’mon Pads, 3 pitches, 2 outs? Take some pitches…
September 20, 2007 at 12:46 pm
Wow, we sure made Morris work
September 20, 2007 at 12:46 pm
5 pitch inning. Way to make him work guys.
September 20, 2007 at 12:46 pm
make that 5 pitches, 3 outs…
It’s hacktastic
September 20, 2007 at 12:51 pm
mlb.com has Tomko hitting 96.
September 20, 2007 at 12:53 pm
6-0 Colorado
September 20, 2007 at 12:53 pm
does matt kata have a brother jim?
September 20, 2007 at 1:00 pm
Can’t AGon learn to be fast?
September 20, 2007 at 1:02 pm
Nice work Hairy!! Keep it up boys!
*trying to ignore Michael Barrett*
September 20, 2007 at 1:02 pm
Hairston comes through again
September 20, 2007 at 1:02 pm
Hey, Padres, ignore AZ’s request for a refund!
September 20, 2007 at 1:03 pm
It’s got to be fate when Barrett is getting hits!
September 20, 2007 at 1:03 pm
Barrett is sick of getting trashed.
September 20, 2007 at 1:03 pm
WOW barrett finally comes through!
September 20, 2007 at 1:03 pm
Nice to see Barrett contribute.
September 20, 2007 at 1:04 pm
84: Only to screw up again.
September 20, 2007 at 1:04 pm
And Barrett still finds a way to mess up
September 20, 2007 at 1:05 pm
Of course, that baserunning blunder makes him look like the same old bad Barrett…..
(that was a lot of B’s)
September 20, 2007 at 1:05 pm
That McCloud guy is quickly becoming my favorite Pirate…misplaying balls left and right
September 20, 2007 at 1:06 pm
Do you think the fans at the stadium were like the Jets fans when they saw Barrett limp off the field?
September 20, 2007 at 1:06 pm
Eh, that was a tough baserunning play. He should probably have broken for third, but he’s still going to get thrown out there.
September 20, 2007 at 1:08 pm
He’s a catcher….they’re big and slow usually…..bad things happen when they have to run the bases.
Who wins a foot race between Adrian and Barrett?
September 20, 2007 at 1:09 pm
90: What he should had done was stayed on the bag. He made his move back to the bag wayyy to late
September 20, 2007 at 1:10 pm
91: Dont forget to throw Bard into that race
September 20, 2007 at 1:12 pm
Bard is the slowest man I’ve ever seen.
September 20, 2007 at 1:14 pm
94: Have you seen Bengie Molina? Or any of the Molina brothers… easily the slowest people in baseball.
September 20, 2007 at 1:16 pm
I’ll rephrase. Bard is the slowest man I’ve ever seen run. He looks like he’s running in place.
September 20, 2007 at 1:17 pm
How are all you guys watching the game? I;m at work and can’t see anything. GD is useless. Anywho, 3-1, cool. Barrett actually got a hit? Crazy, next thing you’ll be saying is rain in Sept. Ha ha ha ha. Dogs, can we start to feel sorry for them yet?
September 20, 2007 at 1:17 pm
Tomko is running into some trouble here in the day game
September 20, 2007 at 1:19 pm
Its on Ch. 4 and mlb.tv. Game is tied 3-3 now
September 20, 2007 at 1:20 pm
I’m using CBS Sportsline gameday and it sucks! It’s still in the 2nd inning!!!
September 20, 2007 at 1:26 pm
Is there a better gameday to use?
September 20, 2007 at 1:30 pm
mlb.com seems to be the fastest of sportsline, espn, and mlb
September 20, 2007 at 1:31 pm
chan 4, day weekday day game? Cool, looks like a pretty day downtown.
September 20, 2007 at 1:33 pm
Looks like its doubles day. Way to go KG and Kooooouuuuuuuuz.
September 20, 2007 at 1:36 pm
Yahoo GameChannel is working for me.