Scoring 6 runs in the fourth inning, good.
Giving up 4 runs in the last two innings, not so good.
The Padres had a little too much excitement Friday night when after they had a 7-2 lead the Dodgers were able to creep back into the game. Luckily Trevor Hoffman only gave up one run in the ninth (can you sense the sarcasm in that sentence).
Cla Meredith seems to still be struggling. He pitched a scoreless seventh but then left him in the game and he gave up 2 runs in the eighth. Chris Young had another solid performance and seems to be quietly establishing himself as a great front-of-the-rotation starter.
Which brings us to tonight's game and the No. 1 starter, Jake Peavy. Even though his ERA is above 2.00 for the first time since he gave up four runs in fourth start of the season (April 19 at home against Arizona).
Peavy's last start against the Dodgers wasn't any better than that start against Arizona as he gave up four runs in a no decision. But take the numbers out to his last five starts against LA and Peavy is 3-0 with a 3.03 ERA and 26 K's in 32 2/3 innings.
LA counters with Brad Penny, who in his last five against SD is 1-2 with a 7.62 ERA in 26 innings (and average of about 5 innings per start). Lets hope the Padres can keep that success up again tonight. We'll need it considering Penny is having as good of a 2007 as Peavy is with his 10-1 record and 2.04 ERA.
Saturday, June 30, 2007
Friday, June 29, 2007
Top spot on the line
Two of three from the Giants isn't bad but the series that begins today is a big deal. With Arizona, LA and SD all battling for first place in the NL West, the Padres have to win this series to keep an advantage - and I'm sure none of us would object to a second straight sweep.
The best things about tonight's game has got to be Chris Young taking the mound. Even though Jake Peavy has been the stud of the rotation, Young's year has been very impressive as well and in his last outing against LA he pitched 7 shutout innings, giving up only 3 hits. The one disturbing - and I use the term loosely - stat is the fact that he is 0-1 in his last five starts against the Dodgers. He also has walked 20 batters compared to 21 strikeouts in those starts. Not the most impressive stats but the small sample size and the fact that Young has been on a roll this year have to count for something as well.
LA sends Hong-Chih Kuo to mound, who is 1-3 with a 6.33 ERA this year. In his only start against SD this year, Kuo pitched 6 innings, gave up 1 run and 3 hits while striking out 8. Hopefully the second time the Padres face him they will figure him out.
The best things about tonight's game has got to be Chris Young taking the mound. Even though Jake Peavy has been the stud of the rotation, Young's year has been very impressive as well and in his last outing against LA he pitched 7 shutout innings, giving up only 3 hits. The one disturbing - and I use the term loosely - stat is the fact that he is 0-1 in his last five starts against the Dodgers. He also has walked 20 batters compared to 21 strikeouts in those starts. Not the most impressive stats but the small sample size and the fact that Young has been on a roll this year have to count for something as well.
LA sends Hong-Chih Kuo to mound, who is 1-3 with a 6.33 ERA this year. In his only start against SD this year, Kuo pitched 6 innings, gave up 1 run and 3 hits while striking out 8. Hopefully the second time the Padres face him they will figure him out.
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Searching for a win
Boy it sucks to be mired in a losing streak huh (And yes, I know we have only lost 2 straight but we have lost 5 of the last 6, close enough to call it a streak)? I was glad to see the Padres had no AL teams on the schedule in the near future but I can't believe they lost to the Giants in 11. San Fran has not been very good this year and if SD continues to walk Barry Bonds there is not really anyone else on the team that should beat them.
David Wells takes the hill tonight against the most overpaid pitcher in MLB history, Barry Zito. Do you think if the Giants could do it all over again they would sign Zito to that big deal? Just something to think about as we watch the offense get going tonight.
David Wells takes the hill tonight against the most overpaid pitcher in MLB history, Barry Zito. Do you think if the Giants could do it all over again they would sign Zito to that big deal? Just something to think about as we watch the offense get going tonight.
Sunday, June 24, 2007
Pitcher's Duel
After splitting the first two games of the series with the Red Sox, both teams will send their early season Cy Young candidates to the mound. Both Jake Peavy and Josh Beckett come into Sunday's game with only one loss and both pitchers strike a ton of people out. This should be one of the best games of the season, win or lose.
Not much more to say other than I'm glad interleague play will be over after this.
Not much more to say other than I'm glad interleague play will be over after this.
Friday, June 22, 2007
To be the best you've got to beat the best
Ok, so this whole interleague thing has been a disaster for the Padres - but even after dropping 2 of 3 to Baltimore, SD still boasts the best record in the NL. But that being said, the team with the best record in baseball comes to town in the form of the Boston Red Sox - and they are rolling the Dice-K tonight (ok, enough bad jokes about Japanese pitchers).
Where Boston excels (offense), the Padres have struggled. And any attempt to prove that the Padres have what it takes to match up with the power houses from the AL East is going to have to start with offense.
Greg Maddux is on the mound tonight and one place he likes to pitch is Petco. In his 6 starts at home this season, Maddux is 5-1 with a 2.75 ERA, 1 complete game and 20 K's. Maddux will need his best stuff tonight if he is going to keep David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez in check, although the cavernous confines of Petco should help. And if the Red Sox want Ortiz to be in the lineup, he will have to play 1B also, meaning hot hitting Kevin Youkilis will either have to play elsewhere or pinch hit - another plus for the Padres.
Dice-K, meanwhile, has been beatable on the road. In 7 road games this season he is 4-3 with a 3.48 ERA, 20 walks and 58 K's. We should expect to see a lot of swings and misses from the Padres tonight, but Dice-K is hardly the shutdown ace he is projected to become.
However, the Padres seem to struggle when the numbers are in their favor yet come out when the odds are stacked against them so anything can happen tonight. I have decided I will not be surprise win or loss. Hopefully, the numbers are stacked against and we can expect a win.
Where Boston excels (offense), the Padres have struggled. And any attempt to prove that the Padres have what it takes to match up with the power houses from the AL East is going to have to start with offense.
Greg Maddux is on the mound tonight and one place he likes to pitch is Petco. In his 6 starts at home this season, Maddux is 5-1 with a 2.75 ERA, 1 complete game and 20 K's. Maddux will need his best stuff tonight if he is going to keep David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez in check, although the cavernous confines of Petco should help. And if the Red Sox want Ortiz to be in the lineup, he will have to play 1B also, meaning hot hitting Kevin Youkilis will either have to play elsewhere or pinch hit - another plus for the Padres.
Dice-K, meanwhile, has been beatable on the road. In 7 road games this season he is 4-3 with a 3.48 ERA, 20 walks and 58 K's. We should expect to see a lot of swings and misses from the Padres tonight, but Dice-K is hardly the shutdown ace he is projected to become.
However, the Padres seem to struggle when the numbers are in their favor yet come out when the odds are stacked against them so anything can happen tonight. I have decided I will not be surprise win or loss. Hopefully, the numbers are stacked against and we can expect a win.
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Down and out
An out-of-work manager doesn't want the job and yet the Padres couldn't beat the Orioles Wednesday night. Justin Germano got lit up in the first and if it weren't for Russell Branyan's home run, they would have been shut out.
David Wells is up against probably the most reliable pitcher for the O's, Erik Bedard. The teams get underway early and at the conclusion of this game, I will be limited to only seeing the Padres when they are on ESPN. Here's to hoping this game is one worth watching.
David Wells is up against probably the most reliable pitcher for the O's, Erik Bedard. The teams get underway early and at the conclusion of this game, I will be limited to only seeing the Padres when they are on ESPN. Here's to hoping this game is one worth watching.
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Look at me
Alright, I admit it, I'm the Johnny-come-lately of the group and all of the news going on today has been reported on other sites and blogs. But that doesn't mean I still don't want to throw my two pennies into the void known only as the internet.
First things first, Tuesday's game. Got to love beating up on a team that can't figure out which way is up. Steve Trachsel got bombed, Jake Peavy was great for five innings (too bad he pitched that sixth) and the game went on forever. I TIVO'd the thing and started watching around 11 ET and when I turned the TIVO'd portion off around 1 ET because I didn't get the whole thing recorded, the game was still on! Got to love getting a lot of offense from a lot of different people but the fact that Khalil Greene actually went 4-for-5 when he is usually striking out every other at bat impressed me the most.
Today's game should be no different, the O's have nothing to throw at the Padres and Justin Germano is on a roll. While new addition Michael Barrett will not be in the lineup tonight, it sounds like he has a good rapport with former Cubbie Greg Maddux and Peavy so if those two guys like him, I'm excited to see what he can bring to this offense. And with Barrett's seemingly consistent presence on ESPN for his "spirited" play, a little more exposure for the Padres should be a good deal as well.
First things first, Tuesday's game. Got to love beating up on a team that can't figure out which way is up. Steve Trachsel got bombed, Jake Peavy was great for five innings (too bad he pitched that sixth) and the game went on forever. I TIVO'd the thing and started watching around 11 ET and when I turned the TIVO'd portion off around 1 ET because I didn't get the whole thing recorded, the game was still on! Got to love getting a lot of offense from a lot of different people but the fact that Khalil Greene actually went 4-for-5 when he is usually striking out every other at bat impressed me the most.
Today's game should be no different, the O's have nothing to throw at the Padres and Justin Germano is on a roll. While new addition Michael Barrett will not be in the lineup tonight, it sounds like he has a good rapport with former Cubbie Greg Maddux and Peavy so if those two guys like him, I'm excited to see what he can bring to this offense. And with Barrett's seemingly consistent presence on ESPN for his "spirited" play, a little more exposure for the Padres should be a good deal as well.
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