first pitch: 7:05 p.m., PT
television: Channel 4SD
matchup: Chris Young (2-1, 4.03 ERA) vs Jae Seo (0-2, 7.64 ERA)
previews: Padres.com | SI.com | ESPN
The Padres need to score some runs. There’s a theory going around that the club’s lack of offense is hitting coach Dave Magadan’s fault but I don’t buy it. As a team, the Padres have posted an OPS+ of 100 or better in each of Magadan’s three seasons here. The last time that happened was 1996-98, and we know about those clubs.
Furthermore, if a guy with a career OBP of .390 can’t get batters to take a disciplined approach at the plate, then who can? And if the answer is nobody, then why are the Padres wasting their time with such a philosophy?
Guys aren’t hitting. It stinks, but it happens. The Padres are 8-13 after 21 games; that kinda stinks, too, but it’s 2 1/2 games better than the Royals, 4 games better than the Pirates, and 8 games better than the 1988 Orioles.
Not that we want to compare this team to any of those, but the point is, it’s a long season. That said, it’s getting shorter every day (yes, folks, that’s the kind of wisdom you can’t find anywhere else).
The Dodgers are in town, and now would be a good time for the Padres to win their first home series of the year and get a little momentum going before they hit the road. Chris Young, medicated thumb and all, gets the start tonight in the opener. Here’s hoping he can turn things around from his last start and the offense can start clicking. Otherwise, no matter how short the season gets, it will still be long.
And you can quote me on that.
Nevin with RBI #21 tonight … http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/boxscore?gid=260428105 … grrr
Good for Nevin. That trade seems to be working out well for both teams.
Quick inning for Young. Command looks good.
Does Jae Seo have mechanics? I doesn’t seem like he does.
I dunno, but Piazza sure had a nice PA against him. Down 0-2, worked it full, then fouled off a couple before drawing a walk.
Also, Young has made some pretty good hitters look bad in the first couple innings.
I swear, Vinny Castilla is a walking double play.
Furcal cannot catch up to Young’s fastball. That’s two straight at-bats he’s been late on everything.
Young needs to find a way to get some movement on that fastball…when it starts to flatten out it gets very very hittable…
How long before one of our pitchers goes on like a 3 state killing spree because they can’t get any run support pitching on this team?
Watching Young tonight makes me think it has to be awfully hard for a hitter to adjust to a guy his height. Not only is his release point a good 6″ to 1′ higher than most other guys, but the ball is coming downward on a different plane than a shorter guy. Throw in that low 90′s is pretty good velocity, and it must be tough to hit that fastball. If he can improve his curve and change, he could be very good.
Holy Cow! What a play by Gonzalez!! Scooped it out of the dirt and then grabbed it barehanded while keeping his foot on the bag. Got the Pads out of the inning without giving up the run.
Nice pick by Gonzalez there to end the seventh. Couldn’t hold it with the glove, caught the rebound with the bare hand.
Young pitched well tonight; he deserved a better fate.
Is it a bad sign when you’re the only one posting, but you keep on posting? Does it mean you’re talking to yourself? Is that wrong? Is it a bad thing? The voices in my head aren’t answering.
Ah, hey, Geoff! Glad someone else is out there.
Yep, I’m here. Oddly, I hear those voices, too.
Pitching details thru 7 full …
Pitches-strikes – J Seo 93-56; T Hamulack 6-6; C Young 98-60; A Embree 2-2.
Ground balls-fly balls – J Seo 8-6; T Hamulack 2-0; C Young 7-6; A Embree 1-0.
Batters faced – J Seo 23; T Hamulack 3; C Young 26; A Embree 1.
… yes, Young deserved better!
Nomar’s double in the fifth is the only ball that was hit hard off Young.
Pat – 2 questions for you … are you on the Frappr? … are in you in DS#1 or DS#2?
They’re bleeding us to death. This is brutal. At least hit something hard every once in a while.
Yahoo says … “K. Lofton singled to left, R. Furcal to third, K. Lofton to second advancing on throw” … tell me about the throw?
Yo, LM! Yes, I’m on the Frappr; at least last time I checked I was. I’m in DS #1, and struggling. Thanks for bringing up something so painful. While you’re at it why don’t you give me a papercut and pour lemonjuice in it.
Man, I’m loopy tonight.
It was a hit and run, and Furcal never stopped. Great bat control, great baserunning.
Geoff, did you see Roberts’ throw? I missed it, but I still am shaking my head about the “throw” he made on the first run scored. Shallow LF and a ball he’s charging so all his weight is already going toward the infield, and he 2 hops it to Piazza. Unbelieveable a major league OF can’t get that ball to the plate on the fly.
I’m going to call it a night, guys. Let’s hope for some late inning magic! See you manana.
GY … my issue, then, with the throw on the hit & run is: why not throw to 2B and hold Lofton at 1st? That throw seemed to cost us a run! Unless there was a play at 3B …
… and I guess where I’m headed is if the Padres would be better served by Ben Johnson in LF?
Loretta went 0-for-5 today … now down to .219 …
navarro steals a base? that chubby little fart..geeesh
Pat – no, it’s not wrong … it’s not a bad thing … but I, too, hear the voices ???
http://www.lyricsfreak.com/s/simon-and-garfunkel/124712.html
If Piazza’s gonna catch, that’s what’s gonna happen!
We got 3 outs, boys! I trust we’ve all got rally-caps going???
Damn. Three outs on four pitches to end the game? Pitiful.
LM: The play at 3B on Roberts’ throw was pretty close.
2006 Padres might set a new record for offensive ineptitude.
I keep trying to stay postive but they are making it so hard.
Ouch, that bottom o’ 9th didn’t take long … ug.
Damn The Padres and their pitiful play!!!! With a few exceptions I do not like the approaches at the plate from most of the team. Beginning with the first inning! Roberts draws a walk and then quickly Barfield muffs some lam bunt attempt to try to get on. For Godsake take a few pitches work the count…. when you are not hitting collectively as a team try to let the pitcher help you by getting himself in trouble! The early the trouble the better!!! Don’t mean to pick on Barfield it really the team that is collectively struggling at the plate and it makes me sick!!!! I hope to God they can get some offense together tomorrow since I’ll be at the game and I rather not have to watch more of the same!!!
P&B – agree with you … and with J Seo only throwing 56 strikes in his 93 pitches, that tells me that he would get himself into trouble!
I see wearing my underwear backwards did nothing to lift the Petco Curse. Damn, and I got a rash nd everything.
Ok, next we walk barefoot across a hot bed of coals.
Hey, it worked in the 80s.
We appreciate the effort, IR, but don’t endanger your health!
Eh, if you’ve managed to survive since the 80′s, I guess you can take care of yourself
Yea IR, tomorrow just hope that the extreme sports day helps at PETCO