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.
#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.