Padres (7-6) @ Rockies (5-7)
Randy Wolf vs Ubaldo Jimenez
7:05 p.m. PT
Channel 4SD
AM 1090, FM 105.7, XM 189
MLB, B-R
The Padres were outscored, 16-9, in Los Angeles over the weekend, but took two out of three against the Dodgers. Devotees of Pythagoras may call this “lucky,” but the real good fortune is that all members of the Tremulous Trio met their weekly appearances quota in Saturday’s game. Now the Padres can return to their functional nine-man pitching staff while Enrique Gonzalez, Wil Ledezma, and Glendon Rusch refill their gas cans and wait for the next blowout. Who knows, one of them might make a cameo as a pinch-runner before then…
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Tony Clark and Scott Hairston will wear #42 in Tuesday night’s game to honor Jackie Robinson, whose number was retired in perpetuity by MLB in 1997. Meanwhile, MLB will continue to be baffled by the concept of perpetuity.
105 Comments
Good call on MLB not understanding the concept of perpetuity.
Enrique Gonzalez will be filling his gas can in Portland for a while … being replaced on the roster by Kevin Cameron … who hopefully will get enough innings to keep the momentum he’s built during his early season of success in AAA …
Meanwhile, down on the farm, the boyz at Ft Wayne have converted some of their speed into runs to go up 4-2 in their early going this evening …
http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2008_04_15_ftwafx_wisafx_1
At AA San Antonio today, the Missions were thump’d 11-5 …
http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?gid=2008_04_15_sanaax_tulaax_1&t=g_box&did=milb
… and I’m thinkin’ that Will Inman’s ERA is deceiving …
An interesting alignment of the schedules has the AAA Padres (Portland Beavers) playing at the AAA Rockies (Colorado Springs) tonight …
http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2008_04_15_poraaa_cspaaa_1
… Beavers up 3-0 early behind Shawn Estes.
OT … a George Kottaras sighting …
http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080414&content_id=385135&vkey=news_milb&fext=.jsp
… he’s off to a good start at AAA this year.
OT … is Valverde “done”?
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/boxscore?gid=280415122
… he’s got a Trevor-like ERA now, also!
#6@LynchMob: Valverde’s line does have the interesting element of 2 K’s in only 1/3 of an inning pitched
#4@LynchMob: Hopefully the Pads will follows Portlands lead. 10-0 through 5
Randy’s looking pretty good so far. I know it’s early.
good for Randy to get out of the inning
good for Randy to get out of the inning
i’m not drunk…and yet i’m seeing myself in double…
#1@Richard:
I wrote a column about that last year. It was great.
He’s gonna wild pitch OG all the way to the plate!
Bad Iguchi. Wolf has a no-hitter through 1.
#8@Turbine Dude: On the surface, the walks to Tulo and Helton tell me a different story … but I’m not watching him pitch …
Bad Adrian.
Looking ahead, I had been wondering if they’d skip Germano’s turn (him being the #5 starter) … this UT article from Sunday (4/13) says it was considered by Bud …
http://www3.signonsandiego.com/news/2008/apr/13/germano-will-get-regular-start/
Sure a lot of swinging against a guy with a 7 BB per 9 so far this season. Oh well.
#4@LynchMob: A decent outing by Estes … 7 Ks in 5.1 IP … he got hit a bit in the 6th and left after 88 pitches …
I wonder if the Wolf Pack will be revived in San Diego.
OT … Kuo was wild in the 1st for the Dogs … but got out of it with only 1 run scoring …
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/boxscore?gid=280415119
That was a terrible looking at-bat by Edmonds. His bat looks slow as he was way behind two fastballs right down the middle and then flailed away at a slider up and out over the plate. Of course, mlb.com gamecast is clocking him at 97-99 out of his hand.
Got him looking!
After top of 3rd …
Pitches-strikes – U Jimenez 25-16; R Wolf 58-35.
Ground balls-fly balls – U Jimenez 3-1; R Wolf 2-2.
Batters faced – U Jimenez 7; R Wolf 12.
… we’ll see if Wolf makes it 6 innings tonight …
Nice little sand wedge shot for Josh.
What do you think the chances of a 1-0 game are tonight? 10%? 50%? 99.9%?
OT: Does anyone know why XX Sports isn’t on FM 105.7 anymore?
#26: 20%-Something’s got to give.
If you ask the chances of the Padres scoring one run or less, the odds are 100%.
#27@Turbine Dude: I listened to XX on FM 105.7 last Wednesday night …
#24: Lynch, I don’t see Randy going 6 tonight.
#30: I listened to it on my way into work this morning. When I left work, it was a music format.
I guess it’s back to listening to AM 1090 again.
#33: Here’s a link about 105.7. The reasoning seems short to me, they added 105.7 to hit the weaker areas of the county, but the advent of digital radio and HD somehow make those areas more likely to receive a clearer signal?
http://sdradio.net/2008/04/15/1057-hits-with-the-walrus/
#34@Bruce: Thanks for the link … it does say this …
Because the demographics are complimentary, the Padres will continue to be carried on both 1090 and 105.7.
… so it should be Padres on 105.7 right now, is it?
#34: Thanks Bruce. Yeah, that was a rather oblique explanation.
#4@LynchMob: Nick Hundley caps a nice night with a 3-run HR in the 9th inning of what looks to be a blowout win for the Beavers …
Good point, it should if you take that verbatim. I’m just disappointed that I will no longer get to listen to Philly Billy breathe in FM. I guess I will have to get a HD receiver.
Wolf should be able to make it through six tonight but that will probably be it. Definitely an odd game for Wolf — he gets the good hitters out but keeps walking the crappy ones.
That horrible base-running by Torrealba helped though. Bard padding his CS stats!
#31: I take it back.
It’s hard to walk four through five and maintain a 2:1 K:BB ratio.
I’m praying every night now with same request running through my mind…. “please, oh please allow Randy Wolf to have 15 starts at Petco” ….”please, oh please allow Randy Wolf to have 15 starts at Petco” …..please…..
Thru top of 5th …
Pitches-strikes – U Jimenez 54-34; R Wolf 88-53.
Ground balls-fly balls – U Jimenez 7-2; R Wolf 2-4.
Batters faced – U Jimenez 14; R Wolf 18.
… yup, Wolf looks clear to go 6 … NOTE: he’s pitching tonight on 6 days rest due to 2 off-days since he last pitched.
This umpire (Mike Reilly) has a very low strikezone. I thought the 2-2 pitch to Greene was a strike — it was belt high — but it was called a ball. The next pitch wasn’t close so a leadoff walk to Khalil. Hopefully he won’t get to 3rd with less then 2 outs — you know he’ll be stranded there.
8% of the way into the season hasn’t changed my mind about this starting staff….Top 5 starting staffs in all the game. Maddux and Wolf are pitching like #1 starters and would be on any one of 10 staffs in mlb.
Furthermore, LeBlanc,Geer, and Estes would all be starting for any one of 10 staffs in mlb.
Jimenez has a 16.1 inning scoreless streak against the Padres (through the 4th inning). He gave up three runs in the first inning of his first start last July 24 on a 2 out, three run HR by Mike Cameron, then threw 6 scoreless August 15th plus the 4 plus tonight.
NO SACRAFICE THERE!!!!!!!!!!!!
Nice OG! I just wish he had gone yard.
OG with a blast! Jimenez took something off the fastball and it moved right into the fat part of the bat. Impressive that he took an outside 92mph fastball and pulled it off the out of town scoreboard in right.
#45@JP: Shawn Estes? Let’s not get crazy!
KOUZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wow, Jimenez lost it in a hurry. He was cruising along looking like he wasn’t going to give up any runs and he just completely lost his control. Before this inning he was looking very impressive.
Any reason why Edmonds is bailin on some of these pitches?
‘Bout time Edmonds earned his paycheck.
#53: Because Jimenez has completly fallen apart.
nice hit by edmonds. I still don’t like how he stepped back before the ball reached the plate on strikes 1 and 2, not even pretending to look like he’s trying. It’s not going to help him get a close strike either.
I’m swamped with work tonight, so I told myself I’d watch just one half inning. I totally tuned into the right half inning with the bottom of the 5th! Nice to see some offense. Especially offense that involves something other than just singles.
Wow, has Greene EVER walked twice in an inning before?
It’s the twilight zone.
The ultimate twilight zone inning … KG with *two* walks!!!
#45@JP:
Yeah, got carried away. In my estimation, the number is more like two – Estes right now would start for the Nationals and Rangers.
Estes is not a total joke at all though –he threw really well the last week of Spring Training and he has had two really good starts now.
BTW-I am pleased we didn’t sign Jason Jennings, who has serve up a bushel of long balls and is sporting a 10.0 era.
#50@Schlom:
Really carried away, but I have a good feeling that Estes will contribute positive for some ml club this year. If Estes has a decent & healthy first half, perhaps the Pads could dangle him for a nice prospect. And if they keep him, I certainly would rather have Estes out there in August or September than Jack Cassell.
Oh….and what about that guy named Prior ? Could he be any good if healthy ?
hm… no hitter thru 6 innings, 99 pitches…how far do we let him go?
Great game so far. It would be poor form to complain about leaving the bases loaded in the bottom of the 5th.
Thru top of 6th …
Pitches-strikes – U Jimenez 102-59; K Wells 14-5; R Wolf 99-60.
Ground balls-fly balls – U Jimenez 8-2; K Wells 0-0; R Wolf 2-6.
Batters faced – U Jimenez 23; K Wells 3; R Wolf 21.
… VERY nice outing by Wolf … 7 innings, anyone?
Wow, Bud lets Wolf hit in the bottom of the 6th … to tell you the truth, I was wondering if he’d be PH’d for in the 5th!
#59- Unlock this door with the key to imagination. Beyond it is another dimension-a dimension of sound, a dimension of sight, a dimension of K. Greene walking twice in one inning. You’ve just crossed over into the Twlight zone…….
You let him pitch until he gives up a hit, I think. But I don’t think that’s how many of today’s managers think.
LM- What was my pre-season surprise…. I believe he is pitching tonight….
The fact that some of us thought Wolf would come out after five or six is a comment on the the state of pitching today.
68: I think Buddy will let him pitch ’til he gives one up.
9K’s in 6? This is “a Peavy in Wolf’s clothing”. ..uuuuggh…Oh good god I need to just stop, that was bad. This is an incredible showing though after the early walks concerned me a bit. He is coming back for another inning. After a typical rough spring, Wolf is making KT look like a genius again so far.
#62@JP:
If he looks even average, KT is gonna look like a genius again after a little bullpen shake up.
Bummer… there it went
He’s having efficient innings now.
It’s over.
No-no is gone … but a nice outing indeed! After top of 7th …
Pitches-strikes – U Jimenez 102-59; K Wells 26-13; R Wolf 112-68.
Ground balls-fly balls – U Jimenez 8-2; K Wells 1-0; R Wolf 4-7.
Batters faced – U Jimenez 23; K Wells 6; R Wolf 25.
That makes Buddy’s job a little easier.
Don Newcombe was on XX today. He pitched a double header against Cincinati back in the day.
#69@SD Padres Girl: And that was a brilliant call, CC
#21@LynchMob: Dogs similarly pounding Bucs tonight
#61@JP: I hate to bring up Estes again but why would you think that? He’s had 2 league average seasons with an ERA+ of 100 or better in the past 10 years! He’s basically still living off his 1997 season — it was really good but it was 11 years ago. He’s always had terrible control and now he gives up too many hits to overcome that. I guess it’s possible that he might be able to have some decent starts in Petco if the ball isn’t carrying but is a 4.50 ERA in Petco noteworthy? He’s made over $22m as a professional baseball player — shouldn’t the Padres give someone else a chance? Geer turns 25 this season and LeBlanc 24 — it’s not like they are youngsters that could use more time in the minors. They have to be better options then Estes.
Nice to see the return of the Human Victory Cigar
Alright, lets see how Cameron makes the first move in the bullpen changes look.
#78@Turbine Dude: If you look at Newcombe’s stats you can see how much the game has changed over the years.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/n/newcodo01.shtml
He led the NL in K/9 in 1949 in with 5.49, was 3rd in 1951 at 5.43, and 5th in 1955 at 5.51. He didn’t walk many batters either. I’m sure he had complete games where he threw 70 pitches or so — and probably a lot of those were to hitters that couldn’t hurt him even if he grooved it.
I always get a kick out of people that say that pitchers aren’t as good as they used to be. If athletes in every other sport are better then they used to be, as well as the batters, wouldn’t it follow that pitchers are too? Or are they the only athletes who’ve gotten worse in all of sports?
OT: Tonight is the anniversary from 1972, of the first mustache sported since 1914. Reggie Jackson is making more history that we did not realize. Matty V and his trivia make my pop-culture, oddball persona so happy sometime
#81@anthony: well said
#80@Schlom: I hate to ask this again, but how often have you seen Estes pitch recently? And what does “give someone else a chance” have to do with anything? And what are your credentials for determining that Geer and LeBlanc don’t need more time in the minors for development? I know these questions may come across as harsh, but I mean them sincerely. Look, I’m not an Estes fan *at all* … I agree with you that it sure seems like he stinks and has stunk for many, many years now … but the reality is that he’s had 3 decent outings at AAA and it’s my understanding that the Padres baseball people (scouts and coaches) seem to like something they are seeing. MLB experience does have some value … that I think casual fans sometimes underestimate. And I think “development time” for prospects like Geer and LeBlanc is misunderstood by casual fans … until they can blame an organization for “rushing” a prospect to the majors after he fails to live up to expectations. I think the Padre approach is a good, balanced mix of developing recently drafted players and bringing in experienced veterans to fill holes at the MLB level until the prospects are ready.
I never heard that there were no mustaches in MLB between 1914 and 1972. I knew about Charlie Finley and paying the A’s to grow them, but I didn’t realize the significance.
When did Gilette begin sponsoring All-Star ballots?
#83: I just thought it was a kick to hear him re-live that day. I’m not saying that that is the way baseball should be today. However, it was still impressive. I think he said he threw 86 pitches in the first game and around 82 in the second. He was pulled in the 8th inning in the second game. Was it 1952? Either way, On #42’s day, it was cool to hear him talk about the days of yesteryear.
Guy in the crowd has a sign saying ” Hey Holiday, we are still waiting for you to touch home plate.” It makes me proud wearing the same DS shirt. Thanks Geoff and everyone who came up with the idea. It gets the best reactions.
That’s how you debate!
I don’t want to over-think this victory…. but anyone else get the feeling that (based on Colorado’s poor start and poor first 5 months of last year) the Rockies are a very medicore team that just got riddiculously hot at the end of last year? Much the same as the Houston Rockets in the NBA when they won 25 in a row…
Just struck me when Vasgersian said “defending NL champs”… I was thinking… those guys aren’t really that good. Anyways, just a thought.
That Cameron cutter is sick… if he can improve his command he’ll be a real weapon out of the pen.
86: I think Gillette has been sponsoring the All Star voting since at least the 70s.
He spent ‘52 & ‘53 in the military.
#81@anthony: OT … wikipedia only has 2 references to HVCs …
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darko_Mili%C4%8Di%C4%87
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chuck_Nevitt
… Kevin Cameron doesn’t yet have a wikipedia page … but if/when he does, I’ll update it with this nickname
Welcome to the Padres, Kevin Cameron … you are a welcome addition … this team was in need of an HVC!
Down on the Farm … Cory Luebke with a good outing tonight …
http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2008_04_15_lesafa_hdmafa_1
5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 Ks … despite what the box score reports as “Wind: 33 mph, L to R” … yow, that’s blowin’!
OT … the game @ Lancaster was postponed due to “Wind” … what must *that* have been like???
#85@LynchMob: Basically, I’m saying that the past 10 years of his career are more important then a few innings at the end of the season and one good start in AAA (and 1 terrible one and one OK tonight). I guess it’s possible that he’s suddenly become better but isn’t that what GM’s and manager’s have thought for the past 10 years? How many chances are too many?
I don’t have a problem with the Padres taking a shot with a younger player but why Shawn Estes? It’s not like he’s making the minimum (he made $1m last season) and they’d have to clear a spot for him on the 40 man roster. Decisions to keep players like him are what cost the team Joakim Soria before last season.
#90@Richard D.:
I have had major issues with all the sports sites, fantasy mags, etc all picking us 4th and Colorado repeating WC or ending up 2nd. My obvious gut feeling says that their luck streak last year is not ever going to repeat. That will leave them in a similar standing as before they went nuts. I just see things working out different than the predictions. I can really see us 2nd or 3rd depending on an “oh too familiar” Dodger meltdown and I don’t see Colorado in the top 2.
#93@LynchMob: Chuck Nevitt? Yeesh… The only problem with the nickname is Cameron is actually pretty good, the HVC is traditionally comically awful, a la Nevitt or Stojko Vrankovic with the Celtics.
And why doesn’t Cameron have a Wikipedia page? What is he paying his agent for?
#96@Jeremy: The question from last season is whether they were a .500 team that got lucky and went on an incredible hot streak, or the streak was more representative of how good their team was and the team prior to that was unlucky. I’d say most of us (being Padre fans) sees the first as more likely.
The Rockies are going to go through the same thing every year — they are going to look at their offense and think that they are good enough when in reality they are below average. The fact that they are starting Torrealba nearly everyday over Ianneta is a mystery to me — now they have two complete offensive holes in their lineup (C, 2B). Add in the fact that Helton, Atkins and Hawpe are terribly overrated because of Coors Field and they have a below average offense. They won with pitching last season (like they did in 1995) and it might not be possible to repeat that in Denver.
#95@Schlom: Alright, you didn’t answer any of my questions, but you’ve asked some good ones …
How many chances are too many? I don’t believe there’s any such thing as too many chances … if it’s not obvious that a player sucks right now, then it’s not a bad idea to give him a chance … lots of players have had a “last hurrah”. Another way to say this is that I somewhat disagree with “the past 10 years of his career are more important then a few innings at the end of the season and one good start in AAA (and 1 terrible one and one OK tonight)” … I think that recent performance (and other information such as health status, and recent observations) are much more relevant to predicting near-term performance than what happened in the distant past (by which I mean greater than 2 years ago).
Why Shawn Estes? Because he does have MLB experience … and somebody in the Padre org seems to think he’s got a chance at pitching some good innings in 2008 for the Padres … and I’m guessing that that is based upon seeing him pitch recently … which is something I value a lot …
At what cost, a player like Soria? GREAT POINT! I agree with you 100% that previous decisions to keep players like Estes were what contributed to losing Soria … so there is cost / risk … and in the case of Soria, that cost became real. I will point out that the problem in that case was 2-fold … not only did they overvalue whomever they kept on the roster, but they were undervaluing Soria. It’s an inexact science … cliche, I know … but it seems to apply in this case …
I remain interested in your answers to my questions (in #85).
97: Ah, but so apt. He’s like a closer but with a lot more runs.
#98@Schlom:
I agree. I think it was a team with some good upside potential that somehow pulled it all together and made it reality. IMO, team luck is comparable to the recent talks about the reality of clutch hitting. Debatable at best. They achieved something that is simply impossible to repeat. Again, IMO. Regardless of the reason I do not see this team doing the same thing and I will resist the urge to cite the recent evidence of their play because it is way too early. Until we are a little farther along, I will stick with my gut feeling and secretly say to myself “I knew that was gonna happen”.
#90@Richard D.:
Chuck Nevitt went to N.C. State.
#97@anthony:
The Rockies are not that good. I think they’ll finish fourth. But the Giants do have three good young pitchers.
#99@LynchMob: I saw Estes pitch a few times in spring training this year and I remember his start from 2006. In spring training he was absolutely terrible, in 15 innings he gave up 28 hits, 8 walks, 24 runs (19 earned) and only struck out 7. He may not have been the worst pitcher in spring training, but he was certainly one of them. In AAA this year, he’s had one good start (6 IP, 0 runs), one OK (5.1, 2 runs) and one bad (6.0, 5 runs). In the minors last season he was bad (good in rookie ball and at Lake Elsinore but horrendous in Portland). In 2006 he was mediocre in his one start (6.0, 3 runs but in Petco Park, that’s definitely below average). He was also awful in the majors between 2002-2005. Basically, the only thing he has going for him is that the one start in Portland on April 4th (against the Giants affliate so you know there’s little talent there). It’s not like he’s Mark Prior where he’s still young and has pitched awesome in the last five years — Estes hasn’t pitched well since 1997! Again, it’s certainly possible that he’s managed to overcome 11 years of futility to pitch well but how likely is that? If you could name another pitchers that’s been average (at best) in 2 of the last 11 years and then turned into a solid contributor then maybe I’d soften my stance. Until then, if Estes pitches just one inning for the Padres then I’m going to be greatly disappointed.
For example, 2 pitchers tonight pitched pretty well in the PCL: Chris Seddon (ALB, Marlins property) and Doug Mathis (OKLA, Rangers). Neither of them is on the 40 man roster so they could come for essentially free. I don’t see anyone clamoring to pick them up but they are far superior options then Estes since they are both only 25. Doesn’t the fact that 2 randomly picked starters from tonight in the PCL are better choices to start a game then Shawn Estes seem slightly scary?