first pitch: 12:35 p.m., PT
television: none
matchup: Tim Stauffer (3-5, 4.81 ERA) vs Chris Carpenter (14-4, 2.26 ERA)
The Padres are now 51-50. That’s insane. Or maybe just awesome and innovative. Don’t worry, I don’t know what I’m talking about either. Breaking an eight-game losing streak will do that to a guy. It’s like speaking in tongues, or dancing with wolves, or stumbling for metaphors.
Stauffer gets the rubber game against the Cards, in an afternoon affair that isn’t televised. Among other things, Stauffer has found Petco Park to his liking so far. Opponents are hitting just .268/.307/.401 against him at home. One trouble spot for Stauffer comes when runners get on base:
AB BA OBP SLG
Bases empty 185 .222 .276 .362
Runners on 117 .350 .421 .564
On the flip side, Carpenter has been amazing this year and is a legit Cy Young contender. Also, he’s completely destroyed right-handed hitters (.192/.221/.258 in 260 AB); figure Mark Sweeney will get the start at first. Check out Carpenter’s numbers since June:
G IP H R ER HR BB SO 9 73.2 44 6 6 3 13 71
He allowed half of those six runs in one start. In no other start did he allow more than a single run. Ridiculous.
Other Stuff
- Interview with Bob Scanlan (Mirl.com). Brian Wilmer talks to the current Padres broadcaster and former big-league pitcher “about steroids, the future of the game, and his rather unusual workout routine.”
- Burk’s Beaver Tales. Portland Beavers announcer Rich Burk joins the blogosphere. It’s great to see someone in a more “official” position getting into this. I look forward to reading Burk’s tales.
- Surgery for Hernandez (Padres.com). Ramon Hernandez will undergo surgery on his left wrist Friday and is expected to miss 3-6 weeks. Robert Fick and Phil Nevin will split time behind the dish in Hernandez’ absence.
- Here’s a stupid internet trick. Why not.
Breaking the streak was nice. Taking the series would be even nicer. Go Padres!
St. Louis Cardinals:
At this point, their biggest worry may be drawing some afternoon playoff games. We mentioned their nighttime proficiency a few weeks back, but when the sun shines, the Cards are a very mortal 18-18 and their ERA is 4.39, more than 1 1/2 runs higher than under the stars.
Carpenter stat for day games:
57.2IP 56H 25R 24ER 3HR 14BB 55SO 2CG 3.81 ERA
Without the 2 complete games shutout:
39.2IP 46H 25R 24ER 3HR 13BB 40SO 5.51 ERA
Oh, the Cardinals comment above was from Sports Illustrated Power Rankings.
Was that a Van Halen reference? If so, what do I win?
Didi: Thanks for the day/night splits on Carpenter and the Cardinals. There’s hope for us yet!
Indeed, it was. You win a chance to view this fabulous photo of Sammy Hagar:
http://www.born-today.com/Today/pix/hagar_sammy.jpg
When Tim Stauffer sails through the first inning, he has problems.
When Stauffer struggles in the opening stanza, he simply excels.
Stauffer brings a 3-5 record and 4.81 earned run average into this afternoon’s game against Albert Pujols and the St. Louis Cardinals.
In five of this 13 career starts, Stauffer has retired the opposition without allowing a run. In those five starts, Stauffer is 0-4, with a no decision last time out in the Padres’ eventual loss to the Phillies, and a 7.67 ERA.
In the eight starts Stauffer has allowed the opposing team to score in the opening frame, he’s 3-1, with four no decisions, and a 3.26 ERA. Overall, San Diego is 6-2 in these games.
Five Starts With Scoreless Firsts
W-L-ERA-IP-H-R-ER-BB-SO
0-4-7.67-27-35-23-23-12-12
Eight Starts With First-Inning Woes
W-L-ERA-IP-H-R-ER-BB-SO
3-1-3.26-49.2-47-20-18-15-33
Five Scoreless Firsts (0-4, 1 No Decision, 7.67)
H-R/ER-BB-SO-TP-Strikes-Balls-BF
3-0/0-1-2-89-52-37-21
Eight Nervous Firsts (3-1, 4ND, 3.26)
H-R/ER-BB-SO-TP-Strikes-Balls-BF
17-12/12-10-1-213-120-93-48
Also, in the five games where Stauffer’s thrown a scoreless first, he’s allowed the opposing team (Seattle, Chicago Cubs, Dodgers twice, and Philadelphia) to score a total of seven runs (on 11 hits and one walk) in the second inning. In these five outings, Stauffer has a 12.60 ERA in the second inning.
In the eight outings when Stauffer has allowed the opposition to score in the first inning, he’s given up only one second-inning run, Michael Cuddyer’s leadoff solo home run on June 17. Overall in these eight games, Stauffer has a 1.25 second-inning ERA.
Lastly, Stauffer’s first-inning ERA matches his sixth-inning ERA, 8.31 in each frame.
Stauffer has reached the sixth inning of each of his 13 starts, but failed to make it out the stanza six times (Seattle, Cubs, Minnesota Dodgers June 22, Giants July 3, and Philadelphia). In a total 8.1 innings pitched in the sixth stanza covering 13 starts, Stauffer has allowed 12 hits and 10 runs – eight earned – with five walks and nine strikeouts.
In six starts, Stauffer departed before recording the third out in the sixth inning. In these instances, Padres relievers allowed five of the 10 baserunners inherited from Stauffer to score.
Just a few numbers to keep an eye on today.
Thanks, IC, for the report. Fascinating stuff as always.
Nevin or Fick today, anyone know?
And is that combination officially the worst defensive catching tandem in the major leagues?
Lineups posted at ESPN:
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/preview?gameId=250728125
It’s Nevin, despite Carpenter’s dominance against righties. Sweeney at first, no surprise.
Those are similie’s at the beginning of the blog today, Geoff. You used the word “like”.
Rally time, baby!!!
Just back from Yoga, ahhhh, nice and relaxed. Hey three doubles in one inning. My goodness. And of course, Phil strikes out.
Come on Padres!
Phil in the lineup? What the heck Bochy?
Stauffer out. He is just a rookie.
What was that single to catcher play by Pujols?
A bunt single (fielded too late by our stellar defensive catcher), perhaps?
Anybody else see this bunch pounding out five more runs off Carpenter?
Thru 4, Carpenter’s at 71 pitches … so he won’t be going 9 … the sooner we can chase him, the more likely we’ll get the 5 runs!
Yup, if K-evin is off the lineup.
We need him to hit lots of hard balls, just so we can ship him to Anaheim for one of the Molina brothers.
Until then, guess more Phil ‘showcase’.
And I’m OK with the strategy of walking Carpenter with 2 outs … to make him run the bases in the sun a bit
Oooo, and making Carpenter run to 2nd on a wild pitch was a nice touch!
Where is the double switch with Fick in for Nevin?
Lefty-righty matchup, Bochy?
Why not PH for Hensley there?
Yup, all that baserunning really effected Carpenter. Another 10 pitch inning.
1-2-3 inning.
Nobody is taking pitches. 9 pitches, 3 outs.
Rats … and 8 pitch inning for Carpenter … now at 80 thru 5 … are we done yet? (note: this is just an echo of Brian G’s previous question
)
Another triple. Two in two days.
Where is the OF defense?
Anybody up in the bullpen?
95 pitches through six.
Cardinals with 14 hits through 6 innings. The last time the Padres had that many in a game was June 18 vs. Minnesota (16).
Nearly six weeks ago.
Make that 15 Cardinals hits through 6 innings and one batter…
Cardinals have a chance to make a mirror on the scorecard.
So far, they scored
3 1 1 2 0 2 1 through 7 innings.
All Cardinals batters has hit except the pitcher who reached base through a BB.
They also have a chance to have everyone in their lineup have at least two hits today.
Blum? That’s our best option off the bench?
Bochy is insane.
Oh, good. No chance for the mirror scoreboard now.
Let’s score some runs, Padres.
Memo to Mark Loretta: No more heaadfirst slides, please!
Let’s go Randa.
That sucks.
Trailing 10-3 and we have a guy thrown out at the plate by 5 feet? Are they for real?
well, picolo figured better to send him than let nevin strike out with the bases loaded.
Ouch. What the heck?
Was it a good throw? Bad call for running?
Urrgh.
K-evin is up.
of course, there is always the outside chance that phil slams em
Of course, it’s a slim chance.
But a chance, nonetheless. Or, PH for him. Geesh!
Down 7 runs and sending the runner.
What are the Padres playing for then?
Looks like Even Steven again.
So, now Fick is catching.
Why not earlier or PH last inning?
Nevin got thrown out arguing balls and strikes.
That’s why you can’t use Fick (or whoever your backup catcher is) as a pinch hitter earlier in the game.
17 hits, 6 walks allowed.
But only two wild pitches and just ONE guy thrown out at the plate by a mile!
This just moved:
SAN DIEGO (AP) — A day after starting catcher Ramon Hernandez elected to have surgery on his injured left wrist, the San Diego Padres obtained catcher David Ross from the Pittsburgh Pirates on Thursday for minor league shortstop J.J. Furmaniak.
Sweet! Now we can move Nevin back to 1B and Nady back to the bench…
Not a bad deal. Trading a fringe prospect like Furmaniak for David Ross when they know you need a catcher isn’t terrible.