Apparently someone forgot to remind Brian Giles that he doesn't have 5 HR in 3 game power anymore and that he was a leadoff guy whose best asset is the fact that he gets on base. But apparently all of the Padres love Cincinnati after scoring 25 runs in 3 games.
After that offensive outburst it me thinking - would the Padres be better in a ballpark like Great American? Obviously the Reds aren't any good but it's not because of their hitting, so with a staff like the one SD has, would the Padres succeed in a park like that. A lot is made of Petco and the fact that the pitching staff benefits from the deep fences but does the ballpark really make that much of a difference?
In certain situations, it's obvious the environment and the ballpark have an impact (Coors Field anyone) but that doesn't mean the Padres wouldn't be just as successful in a smaller park. Now I am not trying to dredge up the argument going on as far as whether to move the fences in but the wheels started spinning after seeing all of the runs this weekend.
It's actually really nice when the offense makes an appearance, it would just be better if it was around more often.
Showing posts with label Cincinnati Reds. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cincinnati Reds. Show all posts
Sunday, August 12, 2007
Saturday, August 11, 2007
Tough night for closers
Obviously most of the focus on Friday night's win is on the fact that Trevor Hoffman blew his first save since April but he wasn't the only closer in the game - or in the league for that matter - that had trouble closing out a game last night. I didn't realize Friday the 10th was just as unlucky as Friday the 13th.
Of course in Cincinnati the lack what we have - stable relief pitching. And even though Hoffman gave up the save, it seemed obvious that the longer the game went the more likely a Reds reliever would blow the game. Who knew that reliever would be David Weathers, the only guy the Reds have been able to count on this year?
SD sends former Red Justin Germano to the mound to face Bobby Livingston, whose 4.46 ERA entering the game is lowest an opposing pitcher has had in a week. Hopefully some more runs are on the way.
Of course in Cincinnati the lack what we have - stable relief pitching. And even though Hoffman gave up the save, it seemed obvious that the longer the game went the more likely a Reds reliever would blow the game. Who knew that reliever would be David Weathers, the only guy the Reds have been able to count on this year?
SD sends former Red Justin Germano to the mound to face Bobby Livingston, whose 4.46 ERA entering the game is lowest an opposing pitcher has had in a week. Hopefully some more runs are on the way.
Outsider's perspective: Cincinnati Reds
There is plenty of news coverage on various Padres blogs about what the local media outlets are saying about the Padres. But as a guy who lives on the other side of the country, I thought it might be interesting to see what the media outlets of our opponents are focusing on.
I wanted to get this up before Friday's game that began the series against Cincinnati, but I will have to settle with getting it up now.
Apparently at the Cincinnati Post they actually have a reporter blog each game live and it is actually kind of interesting to see what this guy thinks of the Padres. The best part is the comments section where it actually makes me feel that even though the Pads are struggling right now I can say that at least I am not a Reds fan.
I will attempt to get up Cincinnati's version of the events up in the morning and any other stories they have involving the Padres. Let's hope they can make it 2 straight wins on Saturday.
I wanted to get this up before Friday's game that began the series against Cincinnati, but I will have to settle with getting it up now.
Apparently at the Cincinnati Post they actually have a reporter blog each game live and it is actually kind of interesting to see what this guy thinks of the Padres. The best part is the comments section where it actually makes me feel that even though the Pads are struggling right now I can say that at least I am not a Reds fan.
I will attempt to get up Cincinnati's version of the events up in the morning and any other stories they have involving the Padres. Let's hope they can make it 2 straight wins on Saturday.
Friday, June 8, 2007
Flashback Friday: Justin Germano
Ok, I realize I never got a flashback up last week and I apologize - things get crazy, life happens and it becomes Friday. For this week, I decided to flashback to the not so distant future of 2004, a time when people had just finished watching the first season of the new hit show, The O.C. (ok, when teenagers started watching it) and gas prices were still less than $2.00 a gallon. Oh I remember the days.
Anyways, on May 22 a young pitcher named Justin Germano made his major league debut for the Padres, giving up 4 earned runs in 5 innings while picking up the win, 9-6 over the Phillies. After the Padres had jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the second, Germano gave up four runs in the third. San Diego then chiseled away at the lead and had retaken it by the time Germano was pulled. Both teams combined for 15 runs and 23 hits and used most of their pens to try and win the game.
Germano would only start four more games and pitch in seven total the rest of the season, finishing with a 8.86 ERA, 16 K's and he gave up 31 hits in 21 1/3 innings. The next season Germano was traded along with pitcher Travis Chick to the Cincinnati Reds for IF Joe Randa.
Germano pitched 6 2/3 innings for the Reds in 2006, finishing 0-1 with a 5.40 ERA and 8 K's. He was then traded to the Phillies at the trade deadline for Rheal Cormier.
The Padres then claimed him off waivers as the Phillies tried to option him to the minors March and after optioning him themselves, the Padres called him up when Clay Hensley went on the DL. Since his call up March 30, Germano is 4-0 with a 1.76 ERA, 10 K's and a 0.81 WHIP.
While it still remains to be see how important of a role he will secure with San Diego, the Padres certainly have brought Germano back into the fold at the right time.
Anyways, on May 22 a young pitcher named Justin Germano made his major league debut for the Padres, giving up 4 earned runs in 5 innings while picking up the win, 9-6 over the Phillies. After the Padres had jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the second, Germano gave up four runs in the third. San Diego then chiseled away at the lead and had retaken it by the time Germano was pulled. Both teams combined for 15 runs and 23 hits and used most of their pens to try and win the game.
Germano would only start four more games and pitch in seven total the rest of the season, finishing with a 8.86 ERA, 16 K's and he gave up 31 hits in 21 1/3 innings. The next season Germano was traded along with pitcher Travis Chick to the Cincinnati Reds for IF Joe Randa.
Germano pitched 6 2/3 innings for the Reds in 2006, finishing 0-1 with a 5.40 ERA and 8 K's. He was then traded to the Phillies at the trade deadline for Rheal Cormier.
The Padres then claimed him off waivers as the Phillies tried to option him to the minors March and after optioning him themselves, the Padres called him up when Clay Hensley went on the DL. Since his call up March 30, Germano is 4-0 with a 1.76 ERA, 10 K's and a 0.81 WHIP.
While it still remains to be see how important of a role he will secure with San Diego, the Padres certainly have brought Germano back into the fold at the right time.
Friday, May 18, 2007
Flashback Friday: Boomer
This week's flashback features one of the most quoted individuals in recent memory, David Wells. We all know Boomer tells it like it is, especially when a reporter is around, but lets take a look back at his first game - back when he was a Toronto Blue Jay - on June 30, 1987.
Wells made his first appearance against legendary New York Yankees, the team he would later pitch a combined four years for in two different tours. In not only his first appearance but his first start, Wells gave up four runs in four innings pitched, along with nine hits, two walks and three wild pitches. His outing was cut short in the fifth inning after giving up consecutive singles to Don Mattingly and former Padre Dave Winfield. Wells gave up one run in the first, two in the second and was charged with Mattingly's run in the fifth.
In 18 games that year, Wells finished with a 4-3 record while posting a 3.99 ERA and striking out 32 in 29 1/3 innings pitched. The next season Wells pitched 64 1/3 innings in 41 appearances, posting a 3-5 record with a 4.62 ERA. Wells settled into his starters' role in 1989 and for his career he has a 231-150 record with a 4.09 ERA and 2,143 K's. Wells has had two separate stints in Toronto, New York and San Diego and has also pitched for the Tigers, Reds, Orioles, White Sox and Red Sox. In 1998, Wells pitched a perfect game against the Twins - and later claimed he was hung over and half drunk from the night before- and was the 1998 ALCS MVP.
He has won World Series rings with Toronto (1992) and New York (1998).
This season Wells is 1-2 with a 5.40 ERA, having given up 56 hits and 11 walks while striking out 24. But his last start was solid - despite a loss - and hopefully Wells has enough left in him to continue to be counted on as a solid No. 5 starter.
Game and career information was obtained from www.baseball-reference.com.
Wells made his first appearance against legendary New York Yankees, the team he would later pitch a combined four years for in two different tours. In not only his first appearance but his first start, Wells gave up four runs in four innings pitched, along with nine hits, two walks and three wild pitches. His outing was cut short in the fifth inning after giving up consecutive singles to Don Mattingly and former Padre Dave Winfield. Wells gave up one run in the first, two in the second and was charged with Mattingly's run in the fifth.
In 18 games that year, Wells finished with a 4-3 record while posting a 3.99 ERA and striking out 32 in 29 1/3 innings pitched. The next season Wells pitched 64 1/3 innings in 41 appearances, posting a 3-5 record with a 4.62 ERA. Wells settled into his starters' role in 1989 and for his career he has a 231-150 record with a 4.09 ERA and 2,143 K's. Wells has had two separate stints in Toronto, New York and San Diego and has also pitched for the Tigers, Reds, Orioles, White Sox and Red Sox. In 1998, Wells pitched a perfect game against the Twins - and later claimed he was hung over and half drunk from the night before- and was the 1998 ALCS MVP.
He has won World Series rings with Toronto (1992) and New York (1998).
This season Wells is 1-2 with a 5.40 ERA, having given up 56 hits and 11 walks while striking out 24. But his last start was solid - despite a loss - and hopefully Wells has enough left in him to continue to be counted on as a solid No. 5 starter.
Game and career information was obtained from www.baseball-reference.com.
Quick thoughts
Just a couple of quick thoughts from the Reds series.
1. I would have thought this a couple of years ago but based on performance this season, who would have thought Greg Maddux and David Wells would have solid outings while Jake Peavy would need some help? Granted, Wells didn't win his outing either, and the Padres lost that game, but he actually held down the fort pretty well. Maybe this old part of the rotation will be able to hold its own for one more year after all.
2. After slow starts it's nice to see Mike Cameron and Kevin Kouzmanoff starting to get comfortable at the plate, but how depressing is it to go 3-for-3 and only raise your batting average to .163. A couple more games like that and he may actually get his average north of the Mendoza Line.
3. While Cameron and Kouzmanoff heat up, Adrian Gonzalez is cooling off. Gonzalez was 1-for-13 during the Reds series with no RBIs and no HRs. May has been a tough month in general for Gonzalez as he has only added 3 HRs and 6 RBIs to his solid April totals while hitting a sparse .211.
The Mariners and Miguel Batista are up next. Batista is 3-3 this year but his ERA is a nice 6.98 - well at least it's nice for the Padres who might be able to get some runs Friday.
1. I would have thought this a couple of years ago but based on performance this season, who would have thought Greg Maddux and David Wells would have solid outings while Jake Peavy would need some help? Granted, Wells didn't win his outing either, and the Padres lost that game, but he actually held down the fort pretty well. Maybe this old part of the rotation will be able to hold its own for one more year after all.
2. After slow starts it's nice to see Mike Cameron and Kevin Kouzmanoff starting to get comfortable at the plate, but how depressing is it to go 3-for-3 and only raise your batting average to .163. A couple more games like that and he may actually get his average north of the Mendoza Line.
3. While Cameron and Kouzmanoff heat up, Adrian Gonzalez is cooling off. Gonzalez was 1-for-13 during the Reds series with no RBIs and no HRs. May has been a tough month in general for Gonzalez as he has only added 3 HRs and 6 RBIs to his solid April totals while hitting a sparse .211.
The Mariners and Miguel Batista are up next. Batista is 3-3 this year but his ERA is a nice 6.98 - well at least it's nice for the Padres who might be able to get some runs Friday.
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Maddux shines
Just when I thought Greg Maddux was struggling to find something left, he comes out and pitches a beauty of a game - going the distance and giving up one run in the ninth when the game was already over.
A lot had been made about the recent over use of the bullpen and nothing is better at solving that problem than having your No. 4 starter go all nine innings. Now if David Wells could follow that up with a gem of his own, the entire team might find some consistency and be able to build some momentum.
But here come the big but - every time the Padres have had a stretch like this reality has come crashing down. So here's to defying recent history and finally meeting expectations.
A lot had been made about the recent over use of the bullpen and nothing is better at solving that problem than having your No. 4 starter go all nine innings. Now if David Wells could follow that up with a gem of his own, the entire team might find some consistency and be able to build some momentum.
But here come the big but - every time the Padres have had a stretch like this reality has come crashing down. So here's to defying recent history and finally meeting expectations.
Monday, May 14, 2007
The (non) Weekend Update
So I've been a little lax this weekend in posting my thoughts, I am sure many out there are disappointed ... and more probably didn't even notice.
Jake Peavy has to be the best pitcher in baseball right now and if he had gotten the proper support in that no decision against the Diamondbacks where he struck out 16 there probably would be a number of stories detailing his life history on ESPN since they like to jump on what's hot. We knew he was good, even when he struggled last year, but I don't think any of us expected his season to go this way this early.
And it's nice to know that when a starting pitcher goes down, a guy like Justin Germano is hanging around in Portland ready for his next shot. After giving up only one run in his first start against Atlanta, Germano pitched seven innings of shut out ball on Sunday - which is huge considering Greg Maddux, David Wells and Clay Hensley have been so unpredictable. That trio has been very up-and-down and so to see Germano see pretty steady in his first two starts says a lot.
It was also nice to see the bullpen not have to work so hard against the Cardinals as they had to against the Braves. And three games at Cincinnati should not be too taxing either.
The only other thing I loved about the weekend series was retro night. Gaslampball.com has some great pictures from retro night (go check them out) but the only image you need to see is this one I found of Peavy.
Got to love the yellow and brown uni's. Now let's beat those Reds.
Jake Peavy has to be the best pitcher in baseball right now and if he had gotten the proper support in that no decision against the Diamondbacks where he struck out 16 there probably would be a number of stories detailing his life history on ESPN since they like to jump on what's hot. We knew he was good, even when he struggled last year, but I don't think any of us expected his season to go this way this early.
And it's nice to know that when a starting pitcher goes down, a guy like Justin Germano is hanging around in Portland ready for his next shot. After giving up only one run in his first start against Atlanta, Germano pitched seven innings of shut out ball on Sunday - which is huge considering Greg Maddux, David Wells and Clay Hensley have been so unpredictable. That trio has been very up-and-down and so to see Germano see pretty steady in his first two starts says a lot.
It was also nice to see the bullpen not have to work so hard against the Cardinals as they had to against the Braves. And three games at Cincinnati should not be too taxing either.
The only other thing I loved about the weekend series was retro night. Gaslampball.com has some great pictures from retro night (go check them out) but the only image you need to see is this one I found of Peavy.
Got to love the yellow and brown uni's. Now let's beat those Reds.
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