first pitch: 5:35 p.m., PT
television: Channel 4
matchup: Woody Williams (8-11, 4.61 ERA) vs Jamey Wright (7-16, 5.73 ERA)
magic number: 8 –>
Padres overcame a Brian Lawrence meltdown to beat the Rox in the opener at Coors Monday night. The headlines will all sing the praises of Khalil Greene (and rightly so; he doubled and knocked two homers, including the game winner to lead off the ninth), but let’s not forget the efforts of Chan Ho Park, who kept the Friars in the game at a time when things could have gotten real ugly.
And is there a better reliever around than Scott Linebrink? The steady right-hander picked up his eighth win of the season after working two scoreless innings to keep the game close until Greene worked his magic. Since the beginning of 2004, exactly two pitchers who have worked 140 or more innings over the past two seasons have a better ERA than Linebrink: Mariano Rivera and Brad Lidge.
Tuesday night, Woody Williams takes the hill. If they are to have any hope of getting deep into the playoffs, the Padres need someone other than Jake Peavy to step up. Williams is a good candidate. He’s a veteran who’s been around a while. After battling injuries and ineffectiveness for much of the second half, Williams is 2-0 with a 1.59 ERA in three September starts. He isn’t throwing masterpieces but he’s getting the job done.
For scoreboard watchers, the Giants are at the Washington, and the Dodgers are at Arizona. The Giants are the only team still in it, and they’re not really in it. The Pads could win 3 of their last 13 games this year, and the Giants would have to win three times as many just to tie. We’ll keep an eye on things, but it’s pretty much a formality at this point.
Barry Bonds, meantime, can continue his pursuit of Babe Ruth and Hank Aaron. Then, like the rest of us, he can go home and watch the Padres in the playoffs.
I was told this site is THE source for up-to-the-minute information on boat racing. Well..where’s the boat racing?
For you boaters who also follow baseball, the Storm fell one game short in their quest for the California League title. After starting the playoffs by winning five straight, they lost their final three (all at San Jose) including last night’s finale 3-1, to lose the championship series to the Giants affiliate 3 games to 2.
Really good game last night. It was back and forth all game until finally the Pads had a lead in the ninth. Rock solid Hoffy took care of that.
Go Woody tonight!
Hey, hey, another important number is 6, as in 6 wins to have a winning season and a bit of respect. And I think it matters to the players, despite thier sound bites to the contrary.
Six is also the number of runs the Rox have scored in the first with only one out. Guess I’m not missing much of a game tonight.
Woody gets Coors’d … the only good news is that there’s a good chance that it will take more than 7 runs to win this game …
Yeah, this isn’t going so well. I may have to go out for dinner.
Check out how Boston’s 3/4/5/6 hitters are doing tonight … http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/boxscore?gid=250920130 … YOWZA!
Ugh. Brian, here’s your boat racing:
http://www.strangedangers.com/images/content/7483.jpg
Down by two touchdowns. I think I’ll turn this one off.
Rumor has it, Phillip Rivers is warming up in the Pads bullpen.
Sorry guys. Saw the score and had to stop by.
Puh-leeze, don’t let Barry into the postseason. This is agony.
There are those rare games where it’s actually better to talk about boat racing. This is one of those games.
On the other hand, Kevin, we already had our first double switch-related drink!