Analysis is cheap, season-saving home runs are not. Thank you, Brian Giles, for keeping our hope alive (box score). Thanks also to Joe Thatcher for getting out of a bases-loaded jam in the seventh, to Brady Clark for dropping a bloop single down the right-field line in the ninth, to Oscar Robles for drawing a walk after being a strike away from ending the game, and to the entire team for giving us all reason to cheer during the season’s final week.
I don’t know who half these guys are either, but they’re ours. Rock on…
Exciting game last night. I woke my kids up screaming at that Giles HR.
That was probably the biggest regular-season home run in Padres history. I have followed this team since I was in diapers and I can’t think of a more meaningful bomb than the one Giles hit last night. OG’s blast brought back memories of ’96 Caminiti for me – what a blast. And thanks GY for calling out Brady Clark and Oscar Robles, both of whom made the improbable happen.
And, yes, that Liney trade looks better and better – regardless of the questions with the starting staff, we’ve still got the best bully around. Keep the faith!
I’m painting my son orange today in honor of OG. What a big hit. If we don’t waste it by losing the postseason spot in the next 5 days, that will be the no-doubter biggest swing of the year, regular season version.
Was Bonds not available last night? Why didn’t Bochy use him in the 9th? Why did Bochy try to get 2 innings out of Wilson? All I know is I’m glad the Giants fans have to worry about Bochy now.
I hate baseball… I swear I’m going to have an ulcer and gray hair after this season… but I say that every season. What is it about SBC/AT&T/Pac Bell park and unexpected late-season heroics by the Padres?
’05 – Sean Burroughs (who had been benched in favor of Joe Randa) comes up with a double off Armando Benitez to tie the game in the ninth, the Padres go on to win.
’06 – Terrmel Sledge (who spent much of the year at AAA) hits a game tying home run to tie the game, which the Padres go on to win.
’07 – Brian Giles (stuck in a major slump) turns on a 96 MPH fastball and hits a game winning 3-run home run, in the ninth.
Thank-you, Mr. Giles … indeed!
Just as I began to think we were really in trouble they go and pull out a win to secure a game lead…crazy…
And just as I mentioned to my friend that KG has looked better in the field this year and that I should give him some props about his defense, he goes and has a game where he boots 3 plays…
Funny how this game works sometimes.
Bonds was who do you say unavailable in the 9th yesterday….unless you like his chances of hitting while in street clothes in the clubhouse
OT: I love reading Dodger Thoughts when the Dogs are stinking it up. Jon Weisman goes after the great Bill Plaschke (column this morning) for endorsing the apparent Dog FO idea to trade Matt Kemp for an established star in his prime. Apparently questionable attitude-carrying Kemp’s baserunning gaffes “negate” is .331/.364/.509 line this season. Um, if he’s so prone to mistakes, we’ll take him. We took on Snakes reject Hairston. This idea infecting Chavez Ravine (and a certain Times columnist or two) that it’s all the kids’ fault for their collapse is hilarious — if you’re a fan of a rival. Apparently .700 and below OPSs from Nomar and Pierre are not big factors, or vet Schmidt’s inability to pitch; it’s more Loney and Kemp’s refusal to suck up to Jeff Kent and Luis Gonzalez.
I didn’t realize Bonds was still nursing that toe injury. He’s slated to start today but he didn’t even dress last night? What a gamer…
KT on the radio…Headley might be the LF next year…kind of joking when he said it
Agree, baseball is a rollercoaster, especially this year. Tonight we could be two game up, half a game up, or tied again and back in the pit of despair. 1090 called “The HR” the 10 million HR. Guess OG gets 10 mil for only 12 HRs, but he earned most of that last night. But tonight, the DRAMA starts all over again. Pass the Tums.
Seriously if the Dodgers need another established bat they can have Giles(both of them) for Kemp
It looks like we missed all this stuff about Cain vs. Hairston last night (in the U-T today). I did notice Hairston’s bat flip following the HR but didn’t realize it was in response to Cain’s staring him down earlier in the game after a strikeout.
re 14: Don’t feel bad the San Fran papers conveniently left that part out as well
And Cain “waving goodbye” to him from the dugout after another K and Tomko yelling at Cain. Such drama. Makes it appropriate then that Giles sorta lingered in the box after he hit the HR, not that it was flagrant loitering or anything.
Yeah really classy displays last night from the Giants. If anyone wants a good laugh have a look at the lineup they are talking about running out there next year, they still are thinking Feliz could become a clean up hitter(hello he’s 33!)
This is fun, Phillies blog breain it down.
http://philliesblog.blogspot.com/
7: To be fair, at least two of those plays were sort of fluke. The error he got hung with in the first hit the bag, and the ball in the 9th (from what I’m told, dindn’t see it) was a tough chance, given he was in full extension jump mode.
I love that last name was truly a collective team effort. Adrian needs to get it going and lead the team, though.
Big props to Khalil for smacking 25 bombs in a season. I don’t think anyone ever anticipated that.
I am curious about the “mood” of this team right now. With all that happened over the weekend, a little attitude last night, a game winning homer. Let’s hope they are playing with a bit of an edge all this week. Padres against the world!
19: I am pretty sure everyone saw 25 homers coming if he was healthy. I think what no one anticipated was that he would be healthy all year.
The ball in the first was an error, your a pro player the hop wasnt that bad, he was just a step ahead of himself and was thinking about the throw before he got the ball.
So I get home from work in a foul mood… I decide I’m not going to deal with the roller-coaster of emotions and skip I’ll the game, “Besides, I’m recording it,” I tell myself…
Well, I peek-in at the game around 8:05 and we’re already down 0-4. “Ugh…” I find something else I want to watch and I turn off the recording function on the DVR (as I do it, I think, “Murphy’s Law; watch ‘em come back now”).
Then, a bit later, I’m flipping through a few website faves and I wonder about the game: 2-4 Padres in the 8th. I check MLB.com “Hmmm…” I move on…
A bit later… 3-4 in the 9th, “Well, my hopes aren’t up at this point, might as well see the conclusion of the game.”
I change channels and guess what, 2 outs, 2-0 count to Brian Giles…
Wow! What a game!
I just watched the replay of all of Cain’s Ks. After striking out Adrian, his last one, dude glared into the visitors dugout. The Giants announcers picked up on the histronics. Guess that’s when I went out for my semiannual jog.
Correction: The glare came in top of the 6th.
He’s gotta love not having a single W this season against the Padres despite the sterling ERA.
Wow, what an exciting end of game last night.
I was, for some reason, keeping the radio on after being completely disgusted with the score around the 7th inning. I’m glad I stuck it out.
When Oscar came up, I kept thinking that it would be nice if he draws a walk but I didn’t think OG was going to go deep. I figure a hit to tie the game would be nice.
Man, oh, man. What a big HR from OG. THANKS!!!!
Let’s keep it going, Padres!
Would it not be a big coup if the Rockies and the Padres ended up going to the playoffs in front of the Dbacks?
9: I hope the Dodgers trade Kemp away. It’ll be the craziest thing ever.
19.
It depends on who you ask. All of the Khalil lovers projected him being a 25 homer guy (if he could finish a full season) and all the KG haters said he was too fragile and hitting 15 homers in a season doesn’t mean you can hit 25. I’ve heard both arguments. I think I finally made up my mind this season and it looks like I’m a KG fan. Until we develop a Tulowitzki or someone with superstar potential we are not really going to do a whole lot better at SS. If there were some better hitters in the lineup KG’s offensive issues would stick out so much and who doesnt like getting power from a position not typically known for power? Plus the guy can pick it. Some people bag on his defensive range and stuff but the fact is that the guy is good in the field and he hits lots of doubles and homers. I would of course rather have a top teir Reyes, Rollins, Ramirez type but outside of the top guys at the position I don’t think KG is that far down the list.
Just to be clear KG is a better player then Tulowitzki, he just plays in a park which is about 50% more difficult to score runs in.
26: I’m probably one of the biggest Khalil-lovers here, and I’m stunned by his 25 jacks. The kid plays hard and slugs well, so I can forgive his low BA and OBP. As you said, if the rest of the offense were stronger, we’d just be thrilled getting that many HR and RBI out of a non-offensive position. As for top-tier, GY posted a while back that Khalil is the best slugging road-SS in baseball. Not too shabby.
This is off-topic (and I don’t have a link), but Mike Winters has been reportedly suspended for the rest of the season. I’m not sure if there will be any other disciplinary action, but it’s nice to see MLB acting quickly.
Some vindication for Jenga:
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3037237
Doesn’t help his knee, but still. (Thanks much to Peter for the tip.)
Ok so suspending Winters is the first step, but it is also a necessary one since he was scheduled to work the series in Milwaukee.
I’d like to see MLB change the umpiring assignments for that series to insure there is no retribution, but I realize there is no way they go that far.
Hairston and Tomko are getting skinned at McCovey Chronicles. Funny, if Cain was a Padre, they’d be bitching about him and backing their guys.
By Grant
Posted on Wed Sep 26, 2007 at 02:06:06 AM EDT
Picking the right target of rage isn’t a science. There really isn’t a right answer, so you just have to eliminate the possibilities.
Brian Wilson throws high-90s smoke, but his control will keep killing him. It wasn’t Khalil Greene’s chopper that hurt; it wasn’t Brady Clark’s weak fister that hurt. It was the four straight balls to Oscar F. Robles that hurt. It was getting behind in the count to Brian Giles that hurt. Target of rage, though? Nah. Learning experience. Better to get it in now than when it matters.
Scott Hairston did act like a petulant little twit throughout the whole game. After everything he does on the field, he has an interpretive dance of weenieness ready to go. He slams helmets, sighs, drops his shoulders and, of course, flips his bat after home runs. I don’t think he was really trying to show Cain up, though. Hairston’s just doesn’t think before he acts. Target of rage? Nah. Just an emotional moron. It’ll be that much more fun to watch the Cain/Hairston match-ups in the future.
“Brett Tomko popping up over the dugout like some methed-out meerkat to chirp at Matt Cain: perfect target of rage. What a whiny goon. If winning baseball were ever personified in a single man, Tomko would be that man’s venereal disease. Here’s to Brett Tomko: a waste of a mid-90s fastball, a waste of a Playboy model, and a waste of a roster spot wherever he goes.
Funny Tomko’s been worth his roster spot in San Diego whenever he’s been here. Eventually fans will have to realize that he’s not a #1 starter, but 200IP at about 5% below league average is worth something…..well maybe not 126M but Tomko doesn’t throw LH or play the guitar
Nice to see Giants fans and their media are in complete agreement that Cain should be able to walk the entire way from the mound back into his dugout while starting at anyone he strikes out, especially in the 1st/2nd Inning.
Why in the world would Peavy retaliate for anything that happened last night? They do realize that the Padres aren’t in last place like they are, right? Also they do realize that the 4 run 9th seemingly shut Cain up?
29: MLB should send the umpire back down to the minors next season. I hope he’s not eligible for post-season umpiring.
Check this irony…
I got my playoff tix in the mail yesterday, and I opened up the envelope when the Pads were down by 2 in the 8th.
Yesterday I accidentilly deleted my Post-Season ticket opputinity email to buy them this morning… bummer.
Nice article on Bruce Froemming and the Milt Pappas near perfect game against the Padres (see article here http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3019597). Isn’t it ironic that Winters is on Froemming’s crew; in fact, Alderson presented Froemming with a plaque (or something) before the game started on Sunday. Hopefully, Froemming and his crew will overcompensate for their part in the fracas on Sunday and give the Padres more than their fair share of the breaks on judgement calls during the series in Milwaukee.
27: Greene is not a better player than Tulowitzki. Greene is 27 years old and in his 4th full season, but he still hasn’t figured out how to draw a walk and his OPS+ is below average. Tulowitzki is a 22 year old rookie with an OPS+ of 109 and an OBP of .363. You can neutralize their stats at BR and Tulow still comes out nicely ahead without even considering the age difference, which is a huge consideration.
T also has a 36.3 VORP, good for 51st in all of MLB, while Greene is well down the list at 20.1 or 121st in MLB. Despite his nice power numbers, Greene is a below average offensive player and looks like he will remain that way. T, despite playing in Coors, is better at the plate now AND five years younger.
I doubt fielding makes up the difference, especially when age is considered. But at least Khalil is the best SS in Padres history and a seemingly nice guy.
Phantom, do you doubt my analysis of Bradley now? Giles hits a HUGE bomb in the 9th to win the game, but if Bradley is in the lineup, he K’s or hits into a DP. Don’t doubt the bad karma that guy carries around with him.
So, if we’re up big (say 6+ runs) in after 5 does Jake come out, so we can possibly bring him back for the finale?
ha jake should throw at Bonds in that sisuatuion in his last SF home game
40: Let’s hope they’re at least thinking about his pitch count tonight, unlike the last game before he went on short rest.
40 – Bud would be playing with karmic fire there man! Nothing ensures a massive bullpen blowup than pulling a starter early with your mind on a game in 4 days.
There is only 1 situation where Jake pitches on Sunday: we are 1 game out of the WC with AZ already having clinched the West. We won’t know the phillies/rockies outcomes b/c their sunday starts are right around the same time as ours.
Even if we’re one game up, I don’t throw Jake – if we lose and tie for the WC then Jake is on full rest for the 1-game playoff on Monday. If we’re in a situation where a win = division title and loss=wildcard tie, I wouldn’t throw Jake, I would keep him for playoff tiebreaker game.
Interesting to hear “the coach John Kintera” falling all over himself to blast Milton Bradley for his actions on Sunday. Gee, nothing like being able to pile on when you’re trying to prove the point you made when they traded for Bradley 2 months ago-that he’s a bad guy.
Seems like he’s forgetting that there is something a little more important to talk about….like the game last night!
Ok, ok so Tulowitski is a better player then KG. Put KG in Coors and Tulo in San Diego though and I bet you get a different result.
If the Padres were to score 10 runs in the first 5 innings, sure pull Peavy after 100 pitches, but if they only have 4 runs no way.
You’ve got to play each game like it is your last because there is no guarantee that 3 wins doesn’t get you the wildcard…if you’re the Braves then yeah you’ve got to play to win all 5
31: Players in a pennant race can get emotional, but then I wouldn’t expect Giants fans to know anything about that.
38: Somehow, I have a problem referring to a player as “below average offensive(ly)” when he’s going to get 70 XBH while fielding balls at SS and playing home games at Petco Park. Do I need to C&P one of Krasovic’s many “KG’s ballpark-adjusted rankings” sidebars?
Kentera is a dolt. I’m sure he’s a really nice guy and all. I lost a little respect for Scanlan last night when he said that Delmon Young should win ROY because he has 93 RBIs. Oh, yeah, his .360 RISP predicts a career of consistent clutch. That .740 OPS means nothing. Can’t we get Joe Carter in the Hall?
Tulo:
Home: .330/.398/.564
Road: .258/.329/.395
Even a great analyst like Bob Scanlan can’t concede that when endorsing the Rockies SS as ROY.
Off-topic and a bit dated, nonetheless I didn’t see anyone link to this from BB Prospectus:
September 21, 2007, 07:48 PM ET
Where Will Barry Bonds End up in 2008?
by Nate Silver
Based on a variety of factors related to need, money, culture, and geography, this is how I’d set the odds.
Padres 4-1
A’s 5-1
[Retirement] 6-1
Angels 10-1
Tigers 12-1
Giants 12-1
[cut for space]
My main point is that the Padres are a way underrated fit. They have no problem picking up players with some baggage, they’re on the West Coast in a low-key media environment, they have a smart GM who understands Bonds’ value, they’ll need a left fielder if Milton Bradley departs to free agency, and they’re a good team that will give Bonds the opportunity to go out a winner.
Ugh. Now I feel like I need to go take a shower. I admit Silver’s logic is fine, his understanding of our front office is probably pretty spot on, but I really really really hope he’s wrong.
49 – btw, the quote ends at “winner.” and my comment starts at “Ugh” – realized that didn’t come through clearly.