IGD: Padres @ Braves (8 May 08)
Thu, May 8, 2008
by Geoff Young
Padres (12-22) @ Braves (17-15)
Wil Ledezma vs Jo-Jo Reyes
10:00 a.m. PT
no TV
AM 1090, FM 105.7, XM 186
MLB, B-R
In an extraordinary display of mercy, Thursday morning’s contest will not be televised.
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May 8, 2008 at 8:00 am
OT: Bud Black is going to be on 1360 in a few mins.
May 8, 2008 at 8:06 am
Once more into the breach of Turner Field I go, dear comrades. This time I bring the ultimate lucky charm, my five-year old daughter.
May 8, 2008 at 8:09 am
Brutal article in the UT today. Says the padres have not had a home grown 20 HR run guy in a decade.
“From 1988 through 2006, the Padres were the only National League team that never got one 20-home run season from a homegrown player; in that same span, the Braves got 45 seasons of at least 20 homers from nine players.”
http://www3.signonsandiego.com.....fuel-fire/
Oops, two decades. Um, thats not good is it?
May 8, 2008 at 8:20 am
TW, Its even more lucky if she gets some pink cotton candy. Wait, shouldn’t she be in school?
May 8, 2008 at 8:37 am
Well, I’ll be listening on XM. Work is pretty boring by itself, so I might as well suffer.
May 8, 2008 at 8:58 am
This just in, from reading comments on SignOnSD: Moores promised a top 5 payroll if voters voted for Prop. C.
May 8, 2008 at 9:00 am
#6@Stephen: Commenters from SignOnSD should definitely always be considered an authoritative source when it comes to the Padres’ financial situation.
May 8, 2008 at 9:07 am
Yeah, everyone knows the Padres farm system sucked like a Hoover in the 90’s - what are they doing to fix it, that’s what I want to know. Someone yesterday made a great point - by just focusing on low-ceiling / polished college guys we are actually taking a huge risk by not diversifying. Then again, maybe the FO thinks we will be signing more and more guys out of the DR and other international spots and that those guys will serve as our high-ceiling, “tools” guys? I don’t know. . .I feel like I’ve been drinking for six days straight.
May 8, 2008 at 9:10 am
#7@Phantom:
Absolutely, they are. I can just imagine the fun going on at the padres.com forum
— Recovering padres.com participator (clean for almost two years).
May 8, 2008 at 9:12 am
#9@Stephen: Ha same here…
May 8, 2008 at 9:43 am
#8@BigWorm: Wake me up in 10-12 years if that is the goal.
May 8, 2008 at 9:45 am
I’m with TW. I’d rather have the Reds’ 3 or 4 studs among a system of turds.
May 8, 2008 at 9:49 am
So has anyone voted for the All-Atar Game yet? I can’t belive they start voting this early.
May 8, 2008 at 9:52 am
Looks like the sunday lineup today.
Morton at C (woohoo Bard gets a rest)
Crabbe at 2B
Hairston in CF
Huber in LF
Ledezma may have his work cut out for him today.
May 8, 2008 at 10:10 am
Is the game blacked out on MLB.com for everyone or just b/c I am in Nashville today?
May 8, 2008 at 10:11 am
Way to go Giles…more OBP
May 8, 2008 at 10:14 am
is XX radio online not working currently or is it just me? it was working before the game then the game started and bam nothing.
May 8, 2008 at 10:17 am
two men in scoring position with 1 out come on Pads we need to take advantage of this!
May 8, 2008 at 10:18 am
Two run lead! Who’d a thunk it?
May 8, 2008 at 10:18 am
KOUUUUZZZZ!
May 8, 2008 at 10:19 am
KOOZ!
May 8, 2008 at 10:19 am
#17@Ian C.: You have to have a subscription to MLB.com TV/Radio to listen to the games on-line
May 8, 2008 at 10:20 am
Come on Greenie!
May 8, 2008 at 10:20 am
Of course these first inning runs come when I pick up Jo-Jo Reyes for the start against the Pads today. Serves me right, but in reality I was thinking about the Pads b/c it is the kiss of death for any starter that I pick up…
I did it for my love of the Pads.
May 8, 2008 at 10:20 am
Another run would be nice.
May 8, 2008 at 10:22 am
#22@Coronado Mike: brutal, thanks
May 8, 2008 at 10:23 am
Khalil is killing us right now.
May 8, 2008 at 10:23 am
Bleh well thats one way to kill a rally…
May 8, 2008 at 10:26 am
#27@Bryan S: He has made a lot of outs for a number of years…It is not all that different now except he can’t seem to get the 1 HR a week we are accustomed to.
May 8, 2008 at 10:30 am
Kahlil is so lost on the box, no. Tries to pull everything, seems way off the plate. Love to see some emotion out of the guy, some frustration or something, but he just stands there. Creepy.
May 8, 2008 at 10:31 am
Well, Wilfredo sure didn’t waste time giving one back, huh?
May 8, 2008 at 10:34 am
#31@Bryan S: Hard to tell since I only have Game Day access, but it seems like it was at least partly Crabbe’s fault. GD says Escobar reached on a slow ground ball to 2nd and then advanced to second on a throwing error by Crabbe.
May 8, 2008 at 10:35 am
Morton FINALLY got his first big league hit. Only took him 3 weeks…
May 8, 2008 at 10:38 am
Argh! Giles caught looking at strike 3 with runners on second and third! That’s disappointing!
May 8, 2008 at 10:38 am
Ducks (snorts) on the pond.
May 8, 2008 at 10:38 am
2 let on. It’s goint o be a long afternoon…
May 8, 2008 at 10:38 am
#33@Bryan S: Are you shocked? 1. He is not playing. 2. He is not a great hitter.
No, I don’t mean that to sound snarky…
May 8, 2008 at 10:39 am
How do you take a called third strike, with a runner on third and less than two outs?
May 8, 2008 at 10:40 am
Never mind.
May 8, 2008 at 10:46 am
#37@Coronado Mike: No, no, not even surprised…
May 8, 2008 at 10:53 am
What’s up with the injury? I’m stuck in class and watching on gameday…
May 8, 2008 at 10:55 am
wow pitcher change in the 3rd?
May 8, 2008 at 10:56 am
Bryan…no word. Just that Reyes is out and Carlyle is in.
May 8, 2008 at 10:58 am
#15@Coronado Mike: Its not blacked out for me. I am guess its because you are in a Braves area.
May 8, 2008 at 10:58 am
#41@Bryan S: They said it was a blister.
May 8, 2008 at 10:59 am
#14@Steve C: Crabbe probably is a wash over Iguchi right now.
May 8, 2008 at 11:03 am
#44@SDSUBaseball: I’m in San Marcos and can’t get it on my computer, even though there’s no Ch. 4 today…I think I’m done with MLB.TV.
May 8, 2008 at 11:04 am
#46@SDSUBaseball: I dont know the Goocher has looked better at the plate as of late, he ahs his average back up to .250 and his OBP to .327 which is not good but it is alot better than where it was.
May 8, 2008 at 11:05 am
I’ll take Iguchi.
We want guys to take pitches as long as it’s not for strike 3. To me, the dissapointment isn’t any worse that a swinging K, a comebacker, pop up or easy groundball to first.
May 8, 2008 at 11:06 am
He walked the pitcher?? Oy vey…
May 8, 2008 at 11:07 am
#47@Bryan S: Ya, not sure why that happens. i love in Irvine though, so I am really never blacked out unless it is an LA game or a national game. If you live in Temecula I wouldnt bother if you get Ch. 4. You will only miss the few games they take off each year, and you are blacked out anyway.
#48@Steve C: When Crabbe has started he has done fairly well too though.
May 8, 2008 at 11:09 am
#51@SDSUBaseball: I actually live in Temecula but I’m in San Marcos for school today…I was hoping they’d lift the blackout, but no dice. Usually I don’t have a problem, I have Extra Innigns too and between the two of them I pretty much get every game…
May 8, 2008 at 11:09 am
#49@Stephen: Ya I dunno if I would. I dont see him as much of an improvement over Crabbe right now and its nice to see Crabbe get a start here and there.
May 8, 2008 at 11:10 am
#47@Bryan S: Because you are in SD, you won’t be able to watch games…I had the same problem last year and it was only worth it b/c I travel so much for work. If I was still in SD and did not travel 5-10 days a month, I would not have renewed…
#44@SDSUBaseball: Thanks.
May 8, 2008 at 11:11 am
Come Wil one good pitch and your out of the jam.
May 8, 2008 at 11:11 am
#52@Bryan S: Do you get Ch. 4 out there? Extra Innings and MLB.tv. Thats some coin there man.
May 8, 2008 at 11:13 am
#50@Bryan S: They are talking about him possibly being hurt. When Carlyle bunted they said he took and awkward step at the end.
it looks like he is ok now though. A big K to end the inning.
May 8, 2008 at 11:13 am
Nice work by Wil to get out of it, he’s having control problems though…
May 8, 2008 at 11:13 am
I am not in favor of Ledezma’s stratagey there, but the result was ok.
May 8, 2008 at 11:14 am
#56@SDSUBaseball: No, we don’t. My parents pay for Extra Innings though…
May 8, 2008 at 11:14 am
Nice that Ledezma was able to work out of trouble there, but I hope he keeps these guys off the bases for the next couple of innings at least.
May 8, 2008 at 11:15 am
#58@Bryan S: His control was solid the first 2 innings. I think he got a little shaken up trying to get to that bunt.
May 8, 2008 at 11:20 am
Giles with a mighty 2 out walk!
May 8, 2008 at 11:23 am
Why try to steal with Giles? When was that considered a good idea?
May 8, 2008 at 11:23 am
OG what are you doing trying to steal??
May 8, 2008 at 11:25 am
64: With 2 outs it’s worth it, imo, to try to get him into scoring position. Even if it doesn’t work, which it didn’t, you still have your 2, 3, 4 hitters coming up next inning.
May 8, 2008 at 11:25 am
#65@Kelly in SD: I guess maybe he thought he had the element of surprise going for him.
May 8, 2008 at 11:26 am
#66@Pat: I dont think it is ever worth it with Giles.
May 8, 2008 at 11:30 am
#65@Kelly in SD:
Is that the end to SD’s perfect stealing rate?
Those caught stealings don’t bother me much. It was only 1st with 2 outs. Now you have 2,3,4 leading off next inning.
May 8, 2008 at 11:31 am
The hit and run could have been on and Crabbe may have n ot been able to connect.
May 8, 2008 at 11:32 am
#66@Pat:
That’s what I get for sitting on my post for five minutes.
May 8, 2008 at 11:32 am
#67@SDSUBaseball: It’s a little hard for an Oompa-Loompa to take anyone by surprise. But at least we have 2-3-4 coming to bat next.
May 8, 2008 at 11:34 am
#66@Pat: I am with you here…I still think players don’t run enough with 1. 2-outs 2. The top of the order up or coming up.
May 8, 2008 at 11:36 am
Dang Adrian ripped that thing, you dont normally see Tex miss balls either.
May 8, 2008 at 11:37 am
Gameday made it look like Adrian just missed a homer on that one.
May 8, 2008 at 11:38 am
Wow, Carlyle tags Kouz, but Kouz nailed him. Another pitcher leaving the game…
May 8, 2008 at 11:38 am
sucks we’re wasting this tear A-Gone is on.
May 8, 2008 at 11:38 am
Says injury delay on Gameday - Carlyle or Kouz?
May 8, 2008 at 11:38 am
#76@SDSUBaseball: That explains it
May 8, 2008 at 11:40 am
Well at least Adrian is on 3rd which means he will score on a hit. Ya never know if he will make it from 2nd haha.
May 8, 2008 at 11:40 am
If this keeps up, maybe the Pads will find a pitcher they can hit.
May 8, 2008 at 11:42 am
way to come through scotty!
May 8, 2008 at 11:43 am
Well the run scores… I dunno if that is an error or not. Hairston may have been able to run it out. I like how Hairston watches a first pitch BP fastball, but then swings at one out of the zone on the second pitch.
May 8, 2008 at 11:43 am
Way to go Greenie!
May 8, 2008 at 11:44 am
NICE! Greeney double in a run. Ripped down the 3rd base line. Hairston scores from first, he has the kind of speed this team needs.
May 8, 2008 at 11:44 am
#83@SDSUBaseball: I’ll take what I can get…
May 8, 2008 at 11:44 am
Keep ‘em coming.
May 8, 2008 at 11:45 am
Maybe this is the pitcher the Padres can hit.
May 8, 2008 at 11:48 am
Can the Padres play day games on the road from now on? I think they are 4-1 in those.
May 8, 2008 at 11:49 am
Now, it’s time for Ledezma to shut down the top of the Braves line-up (and Campillo - I assume the Braves do not burn another pitcher with a pinchhitter here.)
May 8, 2008 at 11:49 am
Shawn F*$%&&#^ Estes. After only 63 pitches!!!!
May 8, 2008 at 11:49 am
Estes? This might be interesting.
May 8, 2008 at 11:53 am
#91@Kelly in SD: I think Ledezma could had gone one more too. Especially since I think his spot was coming up to bat next inning and he hadnt given up an earned run yet. i guess if they want him to be a fixture in the rotation they may have had him on a pitch count.
May 8, 2008 at 11:53 am
Can anyone explain the rationale for pulling Ledezma? He’s due up next inning, plus let him get through 5.
May 8, 2008 at 11:54 am
So Black uses the really quick hook today after going too long last night. Was Ledezman doing something wrong?
There’s a balance somewhere in there.
May 8, 2008 at 11:54 am
#91@Kelly in SD: Apparently Estes can opt out of his contract if he wasnt on the big club by May 15th or something.. I might be wrong though.
May 8, 2008 at 11:54 am
#94@Richard D.: Maybe it is his first start…maybe his arm is not “stretched out” yet…maybe they want to get Estes an inning and this was a favorable matuch-up for him.
May 8, 2008 at 11:55 am
#97@Coronado Mike: I’d like to think it wasn’t just to get Estes work, and keep Ledezma from getting a shot at a “W”.
Plus, hasn’t Ledezma thrown 80+ pitches in long relief outings this year?
Ugh.
May 8, 2008 at 11:57 am
If I remember the 22 inning game correctly, Ledezma through at least that many and still had something left.
I just looked at the schedule and the Pads don’t have a day off until Memorial Day.
First, how do you not play on Memorial Day?
Second, the Pads go from ATL to SD for three to CHI for 4 to SEA for 3 to SD for 7 before a day off. Great Union work guys.
May 8, 2008 at 11:58 am
That is crazy travel.
May 8, 2008 at 11:59 am
#94@Richard D.: I agree, especially when he on for the win. Now he doesnt factor in the decision and Estes might get the win… The only thing I can think of is if they had him on a 65-70 pitch count limit.
May 8, 2008 at 12:01 pm
Ok so your going to let Estes hit, but not let Ledezma go 5? I dont get it.
May 8, 2008 at 12:02 pm
I think it’s because Bud knows the bullpen is going to blow it anyway so Ledezma wouldn’t even get a win if he went 5 innings.
May 8, 2008 at 12:02 pm
20 games in 20 days with four games on travel days. I think the 20 games in 20 days used to be the max allowed.
May 8, 2008 at 12:03 pm
#99@Kelly in SD: Sounds like a normal monthly trip for me.
May 8, 2008 at 12:04 pm
#102@SDSUBaseball: Don’t get it either… maybe it’s a product of the terrible season, but the bloom is off the rose of Buddy Black right now.
May 8, 2008 at 12:06 pm
#106@Richard D.: Yeah I guess it looked a little easier last year when he had the best bullpen and starting staff in the league. Poor pitching only magnifies poor decisions.
May 8, 2008 at 12:07 pm
#99@Kelly in SD: Only Major League Baseball would be dumb enough to have an off-day on a holiday. The crazy thing is that attendance would probably be at least double in most places on Memorial Day vs. a Tuesday through Thursday night. So it’s not because of greed (understandable in this case) that they have the holiday off but for some other dumb reason.
May 8, 2008 at 12:07 pm
#106@Richard D.: Agreed. What is Buddy thinking seems to come up more often than great move Buddy. For a pitching coach, the guys has NO CLUE how to manage a bullpen.
May 8, 2008 at 12:12 pm
Talking more about the Padres having Memorial Day off — the next three games are here vs. the Nationals (Tuesday and Wednesday nights and a Thursday day game). I’ll bet that the attendance for the Tuesday/Wednesday games would be less then then the holiday attendance for a day game on Monday. Plus the fact that you are spending nearly double for staff, I’m not sure why in the world you’d want Memorial Day off. Playing Monday to Wednesday and having the Thursday off seems to make a lot more sense, doesn’t it?
May 8, 2008 at 12:12 pm
#108@Schlom: Its just scheduling. Not every team has the day off.
May 8, 2008 at 12:15 pm
You think Bud will let Meredith pitch the 7th and Bell the 8th? They are his most consistant arms. Or will he go with Thatcher and Rusch again.
May 8, 2008 at 12:18 pm
#110@Schlom: It will be a much needed day off. You cant expect a team to pitch the 6th through the 28th without a day off. That would be ridiculous.
May 8, 2008 at 12:21 pm
Crabbe should be gone.
May 8, 2008 at 12:22 pm
Nevermind what I said about Crabbe.
May 8, 2008 at 12:23 pm
#113@SDSUBaseball: It would make a lot more sense to have Thursday, May 22 off and push the Reds four game series to Fri-Mon.
May 8, 2008 at 12:31 pm
Actually, the Pads travel schedule between May and July is horrible with almost every day off at home in the middle of a homestand rather than at the start or end of it.
May 8, 2008 at 12:32 pm
Nice work Khalil. God, we are just awful EVERYWHERE.
May 8, 2008 at 12:33 pm
#113@SDSUBaseball: I’ll bet every single team would give up a day off (or have it three days) later to play on a holiday. Not only would the attendance be higher, but I’ll bet that concessions get a bigger revenue during day games, especially if it’s hot. The only teams that might not care are the Red Sox and Yankees since they pretty much sell out every game anyway, regardless of date.
Why cost your team money when you don’t have to?
May 8, 2008 at 12:33 pm
This whole team needs a week off to pull its collective head out.
May 8, 2008 at 12:35 pm
Why do I feel shaky about jim edmonds being a defensive replacement here in a 1-run game? Oh yea, b/c he is just not good right now.
May 8, 2008 at 12:42 pm
It doesn’t even look like they’re trying anymore. 2-base error, hit batsmen, wild pitch. Tie game.
All 4 runs today are unearned.
May 8, 2008 at 12:43 pm
Morton is good defensively ? I have seen him show a complete lack of good fundamentals in his two passed balls this year in high leverage sitiations. Morton is not ready for the big leagues in the slightest.
May 8, 2008 at 12:44 pm
Well, I can say with a bit of confidence that we have officially entered Project Retool.
May 8, 2008 at 12:44 pm
#123@JP: Oh sorry. Morton and Crabbe’s minor league numbers were good and they simply have not played enough at this level to know how good they truly are. Hogwash.
May 8, 2008 at 12:45 pm
The question now is whether the Braves will their first one run game of the season today (0-9 so far). Personally I doubt it as I suspect that they will score more then one run in the 8th inning.
May 8, 2008 at 12:48 pm
#125@JP: In Morton’s defense, that was scored as a wild pitch, not a passed ball. Also, he went from AA to the Majors, quite a jump.
May 8, 2008 at 12:48 pm
#125@JP: Was that sarcasm or not? I don’t have a problem with Crabbe or Morton playing as I don’t think the available alternatives are any better. GY yesterday thought that the Padres should send down Crabbe but who replaces him? He talked about Robles but he’s no better then Crabbe — if the team has a problem scoring runs does it makes sense to carry a no-hit defensive replacement?
May 8, 2008 at 12:49 pm
#127@Zagz: What a gift. Morton turned his glove the wrong way.
May 8, 2008 at 12:54 pm
#121@Coronado Mike: Maybe Buddy wanted Edmonds to be able to take the field one last time in Padre uni…
May 8, 2008 at 12:54 pm
#128@Schlom: Sadly you may be correct. Though Morton and Crabbe are so overmatched at this level, that you may just want to bring up Stansberry and Carlin just to see if they can bring more stability.
If we truly have no one better in the system than Crabbe or Morton, then we are indeed a 90 loss team.
May 8, 2008 at 12:56 pm
Well on the bright side Ledezma looked like a big leauge starter today! Had some control issues but did not allow an earned run and worked out of a few jams.
May 8, 2008 at 12:57 pm
I think that was the last AB of Edmonds career.
May 8, 2008 at 12:58 pm
Parlo, I hope so.
May 8, 2008 at 12:59 pm
Ted Lightner…so funny…”best catch Mark Kotsay ever made is his wife.” Yuk, yuk, yuk…
Not that I am disagreeing. She is head-turning good looking, but seriously that was minor league. Leave the funny to Matt and Mudd.
May 8, 2008 at 1:02 pm
#125@JP: Morton is not a legit prospect…his numbers are not that good.
May 8, 2008 at 1:02 pm
At least Bell is throwing mid-90s according to Gameday.
May 8, 2008 at 1:05 pm
I hope Black has a damn good reason for not giving Ledezma one more inning so he could at least try and qualify for a win? Against the team that traded him, too. He had only thrown 63 pitches!. I’m sure he would’ve been fine to throw 80.
I hate to criticize the manager because a bad team is going to find a way to lose anyways, but why not try and give the kid a chance to win the game? Geez. He didn’t really expect his bullpen to hold a lead for five innings, did he?
May 8, 2008 at 1:11 pm
This team gives me heart attacks. At least Bell managed to not screw it up in the 8th…that PB by Morton just makes me even more angry that Hundley\Carlin aren’t up.
May 8, 2008 at 1:12 pm
Did Gilly kill that one? Gameday made it look like he did…
May 8, 2008 at 1:16 pm
The Padres have not given up any earned runs. So they playing poorly in a different way, at least.
May 8, 2008 at 1:19 pm
Classic padre rally, runner on with two outs.
May 8, 2008 at 1:19 pm
#140@Bryan S: not really: long, lazy fly ball pushed to the edge of track by strong wind.
May 8, 2008 at 1:20 pm
139. BTW Hundley is hitting .203 right now in Portland. Carlin is doing better but this is also in his second year in AAA.
May 8, 2008 at 1:20 pm
TREVOR TIME!?
I do not think that word means what you think it means….
May 8, 2008 at 1:20 pm
9 left on today. Yup, these are my Padres…
May 8, 2008 at 1:22 pm
#144@John Conniff: Yikes, hadn’t seen the numbers…just heard KT talk about Hundley earlier in the week. I still think Hundley would be more useful than Morton…and I still think we need to get a backup catcher that Black can use. But I’m preaching to the choir here…
May 8, 2008 at 1:23 pm
OK, Thatcher is another high leverage situation. It should be Hoffman.
May 8, 2008 at 1:24 pm
2 on, none out, Thatcher in the game… (beats head on desk)
May 8, 2008 at 1:26 pm
147. I think Hundley will be good, his bat just needs more time. I always liked Morton I really don’t know why they didn’t give him more of a chance or just bring up Carlin in the first place.
May 8, 2008 at 1:27 pm
Loaded ‘em up, DP is set up if Thatch can get a ground ball. Come on, baby…
May 8, 2008 at 1:30 pm
Wow, that sucks.
May 8, 2008 at 1:30 pm
and thats the ball game….
May 8, 2008 at 1:30 pm
So - when does May begin?
May 8, 2008 at 1:31 pm
can’t listen to the game at work, can someone tell me what happened?
May 8, 2008 at 1:32 pm
#150@John Conniff: You’ve seen Morton more than us…and what we’ve seen hasn’t been much. What do you like about him?
May 8, 2008 at 1:32 pm
Incredible. Thatcher, arguably their worst pitcher, decided the last two games, and Hoffman never even warmed up.
May 8, 2008 at 1:33 pm
Look on the bright side, they could get to draft Stephen Strasburg of San Diego State with the first pick in 2009. And then we can watch him have Tommy John surgery in 2010. I know I’m looking forward to that!
May 8, 2008 at 1:33 pm
#144@John Conniff: Would you feel comfortable with any of the 3 guys (Morton,Hundley, or Carlin) starting one game a week ?
May 8, 2008 at 1:33 pm
Wow… Did that just happen?
So I ask again… Anyone think Stephen Strasburg will sign for slot? It looks more and more everyday like we are going to have first shot at drafting the kid and I sure hope he doesn’t want a dime more than MLB says the 2009 1st pick is worth because that would take us out of the running.
May 8, 2008 at 1:34 pm
#155@John Conniff: Thatcher loaded the bases with one out then gave up a single to diaz pares lose 5 to 4….
May 8, 2008 at 1:34 pm
Guess Gameday doesn’t understand the concept of the bottom of the ninth.
Tough game, tough series, tough road trip, tough season. Just tough all round. Well, back to work.
May 8, 2008 at 1:34 pm
Oh, and the Braves won their first one-run game of the year.
May 8, 2008 at 1:34 pm
And home where Peavy gets to try to break another losing streak.
Just tell yourself the season is over and treat the games as extended spring training. It’s what I’ve been doing for two weeks. Much less stressful or troubling.
May 8, 2008 at 1:35 pm
#156@Bryan S: I haven’t seen him that much, but I thought he was a decent defensive catcher - some problem getting to low balls, good arm and called a good game. Offensively he really tightened up and posted a decent OBP last year in Texas and has good power if he gets a hold of one.
I think Hundley has the potential to be a little better all around, but many think Canham in LE will be the best.
May 8, 2008 at 1:36 pm
#161@Steve C: thanks
May 8, 2008 at 1:37 pm
#159@JP: Probably Carlin right now. I think Hundley is the best long term of the three but he needs to play everyday - especially he needs to make progress offensively. He started out slow last year and came around.
May 8, 2008 at 1:38 pm
#165@John Conniff: Canham’s the Oregon State kid, right? I heard good things about him when he was drafted…I live 15 min. from the Diamond, I need to go give the kids a look.
May 8, 2008 at 1:40 pm
You heard it here first- the Padres will finish with a record of 12-150.
May 8, 2008 at 1:42 pm
#68@SDSUBaseball: Then perhaps I should have added, ymmv.
May 8, 2008 at 1:43 pm
#158@Schlom: no way, Strasburg will want more than slot. The Pads will draft a polished left handed college pitcher with ok stuff.
May 8, 2008 at 1:44 pm
Is this 17 of 21 losses?
May 8, 2008 at 1:45 pm
#73@Coronado Mike: Yes, I agree and feel it’s a good move in that situation.
May 8, 2008 at 1:46 pm
Hey guys, I just found out I’m heading to Petco Park in June to see the Mets play the Pads. Any recommendations/suggestions on where I should buy tickets? Any sections better or more fun than others? Feel free to email me suggestions at toastyjoe@gmail.com. Thanks.
May 8, 2008 at 1:50 pm
#168@Bryan S: Yeah - he’s really still learning how to play there - OSU converted him from 3b. His defense is good, but his ability to throw out runners needs some work. Supposedly he calls a great game
Decent bat - not a lot of power right now, but a good OBP
May 8, 2008 at 1:53 pm
Joe what are you looking for as far as seats go? I prefer upper IF reserve (sections 300 – 302). You look right down on the plate and you can see the whole field and I think it’s the best value (tickets are about $20 or so).
One tip I have is do not get seats in Toyota Terrace, they are really expensive, not great seats and the restaurants that you get access to are really not that great.
May 8, 2008 at 1:53 pm
#171@Steve C: I don’t think they will really finish with the worst record but if they do I don’t see there is anyway they could pass on the best player after the 2004 (and 2003 as well) fiasco. Plus add in the fact that he’s a local boy (went to West Hills HS in Santee) there is no way they could pass on him. However, I seriously doubt that they finish with the worst record.
May 8, 2008 at 1:56 pm
#176@Steve C: Thanks Steve. Yeah, I didn’t want to spend more than $30 a ticket, so that sounds like a plan.
May 8, 2008 at 2:02 pm
Again, I really hate to criticize the manager (this is just the fifth time in two days), but Thatcher has almost zero confidence, you’re going to lose this game eventually (Padres never score after the 6th), so why couldn’t he just go with Rusch or Germano to save Thatcher another loss? Even Hoffman for two innings would have been OK with me as he’s barely pitched while the team’s lost nearly every game in the last three weeks.
The headline story on my site for today was, “Black keeps giving Thatcher the ball and Thatcher keeps giving up runs”. Now I can use the same headline and story again tomorrow.
May 8, 2008 at 2:04 pm
#179@JMAR: Nice headline. Too bad I really liked Joe coming into the year.
May 8, 2008 at 2:05 pm
At least I didn’t introduce my daughter to any unusually bad words today. She’s heard everything I said today before, but usually when I’m bleeding or hit my thumb with a hammer.
The true head-scratching moves:
1. Not going with Iguchi at 2b with a 3 run lead when you’re desperate for a win. It’s not like Crabbe’s offense is better.
2. Bringing in Meredith rather than Bell to face Norton. That’s the highest leverage situation in the game, and Black lets his sidearm RHP throw to a lefty.
Ledezma looked gassed in person; his control had really wavered. He was throwing hard early. It’s a wonder he doesn’t get more strikeouts. And Estes, to whom I have an unvarnished antipathy, got an EASY ground ball that Crabbe muffed. It’s nobody else’s fault that he walked Corky Miller, though.
Corky Miller, the type of classic veteran backstop that JP seems to want, has 2 passed balls this season. Morton has 0. And Miller is hitting .083.
May 8, 2008 at 2:11 pm
Strasburg is a San Diego kid whose parents both attended SDSU. His favorite athlete (not just pitcher) is Jake Peavy. He had a chance to go to Stanford, Yale, and Harvard if he wanted the kind of education that virtually guarantees you 100K entry-level salaries; he could have gone to Arizona or Arizona State if he wanted a better shot at a college national title. Something tells me he loves San Diego. If we’re ever going to have a shot with a high-end talent, he’s the one. As long as we don’t low-ball him we should have a good chance.
There are all kinds of ways to fudge the money, anyway. Give him a major league deal, that spreads the bonus out. Defer some of the bonus with interest.
May 8, 2008 at 2:20 pm
#180@John Conniff: Yeah, he was the last guy who I thought would struggle. He had been excellent at every level up until this season.
John, what are the defensive scouting reports on Gerut and Carlin? You think Gerut can handle CF and how much better of a catcher is Carlin than Morton, and is he better than Hundley?
May 8, 2008 at 2:24 pm
#181@Tom Waits: You went to the game today TW?
May 8, 2008 at 2:29 pm
#179@JMAR: I couldn’t agree more.
Here was my story for today:
http://www.padresnation.com/ke.....ame34.html
I am writing a similar one now.
May 8, 2008 at 2:37 pm
#184@Steve C: I went to all 3 games here in Atlanta. I’m now going to curl up in a dark room in the fetal position and listen to whale song.
May 8, 2008 at 3:02 pm
http://www.padresnation.com/ke.....ame35.html
May 8, 2008 at 3:49 pm
#181@Tom Waits: Cheap shot.Never heard of Corky Miller until today.
May 8, 2008 at 3:54 pm
#181@Tom Waits: But seriously, a defensive replacement (Iguchi) in the 6th inning ?
May 8, 2008 at 4:38 pm
#188@JP: Corky Miller exactly fits the profile you’ve talked about before, with his veteran reputation as a strong defender. I don’t know if Morton is bad, good, or indifferent defensively; the scouting reports on him that I can find (linked below) are generally positive. There’s no way I can understand writing him off defensively when he’s played 36 major league innings and doesn’t yet have an error or a PB. In case anyone didn’t notice, he and the pitchers would have a 1 run game today if not for shoddy defense.
#189@JP: If the defensive replacement is better both defensively and offensively, why the hell not? Iguchi’s better with the stick, better with the glove, and the team needed a win.
May 8, 2008 at 6:03 pm
#190@Tom Waits: Morton was not ‘officially’ charged with a passed ball on that crucial 4th run but in any case, he made a weak stab at at ball that he turned his glove the wrong way on. Gotta make a better effort than that with a runner on third. How does this play show up in his fielding stats ?
If we can’t give Iguchi a full day’s rest and has to come in to close game in the 5th or 6th to spell a banjo hitter who also can’t field then we are indeed in trouble.
May 8, 2008 at 6:05 pm
BTW, I will find the exact game, this is the 2nd time I have watched Morton make a weak stab at a ball w/ a runner on third w/o attempting to block the ball. Again, how does this play show up in his fielding stats ?
May 8, 2008 at 7:21 pm
#191@JP: While I agree that “we are, indeed, in trouble,” I’m not sure that today’s use of Iguchi is the deciding indicator of said trouble. I thought we were in trouble as far back as last October, as I saw a division with three rapidly improving teams, and the Padres with no apparent way to immediately improve and keep up with the others.
May 8, 2008 at 7:43 pm
Headley had a great night. 4 for 4 with a walk.
It seems that the Pads almost have to sign Jacques Jones as a centerfield stop gap simply because of his defense. Gerut in centerfield is not the answer even short term.
May 8, 2008 at 9:47 pm
Jody Gerut, Luke Carlin and Luis Rodriguez (who I think is off the DL now) did not play for the beavers tonight.