No Wave Shirts

by Geoff Young on Jul 01, 2006 (8) Comments

You asked for ‘em, here they are. The wave has been irritating me for years and it reached a head a couple of weeks ago when the Dodgers were in town. People tried to get the wave going late in a tie game. Thankfully it didn’t catch. But the attempt inspired me to make some buttons. Then reader Steve asked if there would be T-shirts. I told him to give me a few days, but last night, in the eighth inning of a 4-4 game against the Giants, the wave actually happened. I know to a lot of folks, it seems like innocent fun, and maybe it is — in the right situation. But why do the instigators insist on waiting until a critical time in a critical game to get started? A Giants’ win would have tied them with the Padres for first in the NL West.

Anyway. T-shirts are here. Go get ‘em:

Ducksnorts No Wave Ash Grey T-Shirt Ducksnorts No Wave White T-Shirt

IGD: Padres vs Giants (30 Jun 06)

by Geoff Young on Jun 30, 2006 (12) Comments

first pitch: 7:05 p.m., PT
television: Channel 4SD
matchup: Chan Ho Park (5-4, 4.31 ERA) vs Jamey Wright (5-7, 4.85 ERA)
preview: Padres.com

Hello, anyone here? I think we may all be at the game tonight. Well, if you’re not, feel free to hang out and do the IGD thang. Put the whammy on the Giants while you’re at it. Gotta beat those guys. Gotta beat everyone. All the way, baby!

Friday Links (30 Jun 06)

by Geoff Young on Jun 30, 2006 (51) Comments

That has got to be just about the stupidest way to lose a game. If you walk a guy hitting .082/.167/.184 with the bases loaded in the 14th inning, you’re not seriously trying to win.

On to the links:

  • Mid-Season Blockbusters: June (Part Three: 1975-2005) (Hardball Times). The analysis of Gary Sheffield for Trevor Hoffman is a bit flawed. Yes, Sheffield has had a brilliant career, but most of that didn’t come as a member of the Florida Marlins.
  • Keeping the Baserunners (Baseball Crank). The Crank looks at which teams have been most successful at keeping and advancing baserunners this season. My description totally doesn’t do his work justice. Go read it.
  • Crucial Situations: Part 3 (Hardball Times). I’ve only had a chance to glance at this one. Looks pretty chewy — hardcore sabermetrics types will enjoy it.
  • Mike Napoli (Minor League Ball). Why am I linking to John Sickels’ writeup on an Angels prospect? First, I’m a fan of Sickels’ work. Second, there’s some excellent discussion in ensuing comments about the adjustment Napoli has made in going from strictly a pull hitter to a guy who uses the entire field, and how this potentially changes his future upside. It’s a good point to remember with prospects, whether we’re talking, say, about Josh Barfield’s defense or Cesar Ramos’ lack of a strikeout pitch.
  • Grading the Milulik’s Managerial Meltdown (Minor League Dugout). You’ve seen minor-league manager Joe Milulik’s tirade, now read one person’s critique of the performance. Milulik gets big points for the water-bottle slam and general losing of mind. I love the minor leagues.
  • A Bite of the Onion (View from the Bleachers). Some folks have been talking about bringing local product Mark Prior back to San Diego. The Onion has other ideas.
  • Southern League All-Stars Announced (BayBear Beat). Matt gives us the lowdown on which Padres minor leaguers will represent Mobile this year.
  • Walter Roark has put together an aggregator of baseball blogs and other news sources called Baseball Nooz that looks promising.

I’m wiped. Go read stuff.

IGD: Padres vs Athletics (29 Jun 06)

by Geoff Young on Jun 29, 2006 (142) Comments

first pitch: 12:35 p.m., PT
television: none
matchup: Jake Peavy (4-8, 4.50 ERA) vs Dan Haren (6-6, 3.56 ERA)
preview: Padres.com

Quasi-random observations from Wednesday night’s 8-1 victory over the A’s:

  • Mike Cameron is on fire. After hitting just one homer in his first 142 at-bats with the Padres, he’s knocked eight in his last 91 at-bats. And unlike some of his teammates, Cameron seems to have no trouble hitting at Petco Park, with six of his home runs coming there.
  • Adrian Gonzalez has quickly become one of my favorite players to watch. I love his instincts and footwork at first base. He is so smooth and almost always exactly in the right position. On the other side, I like the way he’s made adjustments throughout the season as opposing pitchers start to figure him out. Gonzalez started the season hitting everything into the gaps, particularly left-center. Pitchers began busting him with fastballs inside. Gonzalez responded by turning on said fastballs and sending several of them into the seats. Now they’re mixing it up a little more and his answer is to spray balls all over the field, to the tune of four singles Wednesday night. Gonzalez is not a guy who will blow you away with any one aspect of his game, but the more you watch him, the more you realize that the kid really knows what he’s doing out there.
  • When is the last time the Padres had a guy who runs the bases as aggressively as Josh Barfield? I’m thinking maybe Eric Owens. Yeah, probably Owens. That play in the fourth where Barfield scored from second on a wild pitch was just awesome. He puts so much pressure on the defense. Seems like he is always ready to take the extra base if needed. Barfield also put on a clinic at second base on Wednesday. I remember watching him at Elsinore a few years ago and thinking that he had terrific atheticism but looked a little stiff at times in the field. I still see the athleticism but the stiffness appears to be gone. Barfield is a legit big-league second baseman. It’s not even a question anymore.
  • The ball Mike Piazza hit out in the fifth was just crushed. His follow through on the swing is beautiful. I love what he brings to this ballclub. And I love the way Bruce Bochy pulls him out of games whenever he can — that should pay dividends come September. Of course, having not one but two capable understudies makes it easier for Bochy to rest the veteran. No, Piazza isn’t the player he once was, but who cares?
  • Clay Hensley needed a strong game. The one run in seven innings is great, but what I like are the zero walks and the 99 pitches thrown.
  • Good to see Brian Sweeney and Scott Cassidy get some solid work in. Cassidy was so strong in the early going before contracting a nasty case of gopheritis; it’d be great if he could straighten himself out in low-leverage situations and become a viable setup option again.
  • Speaking of Sweeney, he fanned the first batter he faced on Wednesday, striking out pinch-hitter Mike Rouse to open the eighth inning. That was Sweeney’s first punchout in over a month, since he struck out Atlanta’s Matt Diaz to end the fourth inning in a May 24 loss.
  • Speaking of pinch-hitters, when Doug Clark singled on an 0-2 offering from Hensley in the fifth, it marked the first pinch hit of the season for the A’s. They had been 0-for-17, with three walks, prior to Clark’s single.
  • I still can’t get used to seeing Mark Kotsay in an A’s uniform. Cameron’s presence this year has helped ease the pain. A lot.
  • Bottom of the eighth was brought to you by Rod Serling. First, A’s reliever Chad Gaudin balked Geoff Blum to second. Gaudin tried a pickoff move to first but nobody was covering the bag and so he had to abort. I can’t imagine why first baseman Dan Johnson wasn’t holding Blum on, unless it had something to do with the fact that Blum hasn’t attempted a steal all year and the Padres were leading by seven runs. Isn’t there an “unwritten rule book” somewhere that’s supposed to cover stuff like that?
  • The other great moment in the eighth came when lefty Scott Sauerbeck replaced Gaudin with two out and Brian Giles stepping to the plate. Hey, anything to keep that ninth run from scoring. Tony LaRussa left Oakland when? Then again, that might help explain why Gaudin was trying to hold Blum close at first. I dunno. My head hurts.

Pads go for the sweep Thursday afternoon. No television for this one — too bad, should be a great pitching matchup. Go Padres!

IGD: Padres vs Athletics (28 Jun 06)

by Geoff Young on Jun 28, 2006 (9) Comments

first pitch: 7:05 p.m., PT
television: Channel 4SD
matchup: Clay Hensley (4-6, 4.38 ERA) vs Joe Blanton (7-6, 4.67 ERA)
previews: Padres.com | ESPN

I still can’t find appropriate lyrics, so these will have to do:

My daddy took a look
On the day that I was born
And said he looks like corn
And his feet are made of clay

“Clay” — get it? Yeah, I know. My wife gave me that look, too. Hey, at least it’s a kickin’ tune.

Anyway, I’ll be down at the ballpark tonight so you’re on your own for this one. Be excellent to each other, and go Padres!

Young, Linebrink, Gammons, LaChappa

by Geoff Young on Jun 28, 2006 (39) Comments

Short on time, so bullet points this morning:

  • The All-Star Game means nothing to me, but it’d be nice to see Chris Young honored as the Padres’ representative this year. He is top 10 in the NL in wins, ERA, strikeouts, and height. And, as we’ve noted before, Young’s success isn’t a product of Petco Park — his ERA is over a run and a half lower on the road than at home this year. Also, if there’s been a more dominant pitcher since the end of May, I’d like to meet him. Check out what Young’s done over his last six starts:
    IP H R ER HR BB SO ERA
    38.2 17 5 4 1 15 42 0.93
    Stats courtesy of David Pinto’s Day By Day Database.

    My one complaint with Young is that he is inefficient. He needed 106 pitches to get through 6 innings in Tuesday night’s win over Oakland, and 127 to work 5 2/3 against Texas in his previous start. For the season, Young is averaging 4.34 pitches per plate appearance, worst in the big leagues. As a point of reference, only three hitters have seen that many pitches per plate appearance this season: Bobby Abreu, Kevin Youkilis, and Jason Giambi.

    Young is so unbelievably reliant on his fastball. If he ever learns how to use a second pitch with consistency, he could be a monster. As it is, we’re nitpicking — dude is having a fantastic season. And Jake Peavy is absolutely right in pushing for Young to represent the Padres in Pittsburgh next month.

    Oh yeah, almost forgot: And he’s 6’10″.

  • Richard and Lance have been kind enough to let me contribute to their Top 100 Padres series, and my first entry is #81 Scott Linebrink. Check it out, as well as the rest of the series — which features some cool guest appearances in addition to Richard and Lance’s fine work — over at Friar Faithful.
  • Ducksnorts reader Ryguy mentioned in the comments for Tuesday night’s IGD that ESPN’s Peter Gammons has suffered a brain aneurysm. Baseball Musings’ David Pinto worked with Gammons for 10 years and offers his thoughts. I typically don’t watch ESPN because they tend not to cover teams that interest me, but Gammons’ column in Baseball America is one of my absolute favorite reads. So, I’d like to join Ryguy and everyone else in wishing Mr. Gammons all the best and a speedy recovery.
  • Tim Sullivan has a great piece in the U-T this morning on former Padres prospect Matt LaChappa. The local left-hander, you may recall, was the Pads’ #2 pick in the 1993 draft. His career ended in 1996 after he suffered two heart attacks while warming up in the Rancho Cucamonga bullpen. Mad, mad props to Priscilla Oppenheimer and the Padres for continuing to support this kid.

That’s all for now; more as it happens…

IGD: Padres vs Athletics (27 Jun 06)

by Geoff Young on Jun 27, 2006 (18) Comments

first pitch: 7:05 p.m., PT
television: Channel 4SD
matchup: Chris Young (6-3, 3.16 ERA) vs Barry Zito (8-3, 3.36 ERA)
previews: Padres.com | SI.com | ESPN

This is where song lyrics might go if I could find any appropriate to tonight’s game. No such luck. You know the drill…

Series Preview: Padres vs Athletics

by Geoff Young on Jun 27, 2006 (24) Comments

A’s are in town for three games starting Tuesday night. What’s up with the team from Oakland? Well, for starters, they’re in first place in the AL West, 1 1/2 games ahead of Texas.

Left fielder Nick Swisher has become a bona fide stud in just his second full season. Catcher Jason Kendall has become an expert on power hitting after knocking his first homer in 961 at-bats on May 31. Shortstop Bobby Crosby continues to confound with his inconsistent play; the parallels between Crosby (.249/.321/.421 for career) and Khalil Greene (.251/.318/.430) are getting a little creepy at this point.

Former Padres? Yeah, the A’s have a few of those: Mark Kotsay and Jay Payton are capable defenders in the outfield, but neither is hitting much. Reliever Jay Witasick is on the DL (surprise) after sporting a 15.88 ERA over five games.

There are plenty of other San Diego connections: 3B Eric Chavez (Mt. Carmel HS), Kendall (father Fred caught for the Pads back in the day), LHP Joe Kennedy (Grossmont JC), LHP Barry Zito (USDHS), RHP Esteban Loaiza (Mar Vista HS). And, of course, CEO Sandy Alderson and VP for Scouting and Player Development Grady Fuson both worked for the A’s. Fuson, in fact, is responsible for the drafting of Chavez and Zito.

Although the A’s are leading the division, their run differential (+12) is nothing special. They also have a lower BA, OBP, and SLG than the opposition for the season.

June, however, has been a different story, as they are 17-5 during the month. First baseman Dan Johnson (.385/.455/.662 in June) is doing much of the damage on offense, and the pitching (3.40 staff ERA) has been brilliant.

The Matchups

Tuesday and Thursday both could be epic pitchers’ duels, and Wednesday’s pairing ain’t too shabby either.

  • Tuesday, 7:05 p.m.: Chris Young (6-3, 3.16 ERA) vs Barry Zito (8-3, 3.36 ERA). Two potential All-Stars square off in the opener.
  • Wednesday, 7:05 p.m.: Clay Hensley (4-6, 4.38 ERA) vs Joe Blanton (7-6, 4.67 ERA). A couple of relatively young pitchers who put their defense to work. Blanton’s ERA is over two runs higher on the road than it is at home.
  • Thursday, 12:35 p.m.: Jake Peavy (4-8, 4.50 ERA) vs Dan Haren (6-6, 3.56 ERA). Battle of the sick K/BB ratios. Peavy is at 4.81 this year (second in NL), Haren at 3.68 (fifth in AL). Interesting tidbit: “Haren” means “I’m not Dutch, you freakin’ idiot” in Dutch. Efficient language, that one.

Good times. And if you feel kind of down after those last two games against Seattle, be thankful you don’t root for the Cubs: they started Phil Nevin in left field Monday night.

Go Padres!

Pizza Feed Update

by Geoff Young on Jun 27, 2006 (8) Comments

Okay, here’s the plan. The event starts at 5:30 p.m. this Friday (i.e., June 30). Baseball Prospectus authors Joe Sheehan and Dave Pease will be there, and now we’ve learned that CEO Sandy Alderson will be the Padres’ representative at the feed.

I’m not sure whether tickets are still available, but if you’re interested and haven’t yet signed up, you’ll need to get in touch with Paul Swydan at pswydan@baseballprospectus.com.

As for those of us who already have tickets, like we did last year we’re going to meet beforehand at The Field for refreshments. I’m shooting for 4:30 but I’ll get down there as early as I can. I will be wearing my Xavier Nady Lake Elsinore Storm jersey and, delivery guy permitting, a Ducksnorts trucker hat for easy identification.

If you can’t make it early to The Field, the ballpark opens at 5:05 p.m. To get to the auditorium, where the feed will be happening, follow these three simple steps:

  • Enter PETCO Park at the Park Blvd. Gate, located at the corner of 10th Avenue and Park Blvd.
  • Use the escalator or stairs to your left to access the Main Concourse.
  • Once at the top of the escalator please look for the sign that will direct you to the Auditorium.

If that’s not working for you, I’m sure one of the ushers will be able to help.

I think that just about covers it. If I’ve forgotten anything, I’ll be sure to add it here. This is going to be a blast, and I’m looking forward to seeing many of you there again this year!

Open Thread (26 Jun 06)

by Geoff Young on Jun 26, 2006 (30) Comments

I’m still pretty numb from those last two losses. I can’t even muster a good rant, so today I turn the mic over to you. Here’s some of what y’all have been saying:

These are starting points. What else is out there that’s worth discussing right now?