Monday, June 4, 2007

Give My Regards to RFK; NL Worst No More

- The Padres began June in the same fashion they ended May, by dropping the first game of a series only to come back and win the series. This weekend the Padres made there final visit to RFK (assuming they don't play there in October...I'll let the laughter die down...) and dropped their first game in extra innings. It was a game in which the Padres had come back from 3 down to tie this game only to have Cla Meredith give it up in extras. Now, I have not heard any panic in the struggles of Cla Meredith but one only needs to look into how Bud Black is using him. Meredith no longer is the 7th inning guy as that job, for the time being, appears to belong to Heath Bell. Meredith has not been demoted to mop up guy and certainly he is still an excellent pitcher but his struggles cannot be ignored (further reason why Scott Linebrink CANNOT BE ON THE TRADE BLOCK!!!)

- The Padres came back to score 18 runs in two games in RFK having a rare power outburst in a stadium that doesn't give up many homeruns. Josh Bard appears to be reacting to his impending suspension at the plate, including a 4 RBI game on Sunday. Bard is getting hot...just in time for the Padres to lose him.

- More good news from the trip to the D.C. was another outstanding performance by Justin Germano who appears to be going no where (Clay Hensley, your Germano voodoo doll is available at window 1).

- In 2005 the Padres won the division by playing .500 baseball (finishing 2 games over .500). They were the only team that year to finish above .500 in the NL West and were predictably sweep in the playoffs. That year, the NL West took over the name NL "Worst" and perhaps rightfully so. Those days, my friends, are long gone. The NL West currently holds the best overall winning percentage of any division in the Majors with three teams in a virtual tie for first, all 10 games over .500. The Padres team ERA is 2.94 and they are scoring enough to win. Although, when your holding teams to under 3 runs, not much offense is needed. The best race is in the NL West and the Padres are set for another division run.


Padres Notes:

Jake Peavy was named the National League Pitcher of the Month for May with a 4-0 record and .079 ERA. That's right, .079 ERA...The U-T is reporting that Brian Giles does not feel like he is close to coming back. This is a substantial blow to the lineup as evidenced by the amount of juggling Bud Black has been doing. Right now there is no clear #2 hitter with Jose Cruz Jr., Termel Sledge, and Mike Cameron all trying to fill the void (Note: Jose Cruz Jr. sore back kept him out again on Sunday). Brian Giles may not hit for power but he may be the most patient batter in a lineup full of free swingers...Kevin Kouzmanoff continues to thrive since being moved to the #5 spot as he continues to hit the ball hard with hits in 3 of his last 5 games...The Padres waiver wire pick up Hiram Bocachica made his presence felt on Sunday, hitting his first homerun as a Padres. The pickup doesn't light the world on fire but gives Bud Black a right handed option in the outfield.


What's Next:

The Padres return home for three games against division rival and co-leader of the West Dodgers with the expected return of Jason Schmidt on Tuesday night. The Padres entertain more interleague action when the Mariners come in this weekend. Obviously, the Dodger series is huge and we'll have a full series wrap up on Friday.


All-Star Voting:

No Padres is in the Top Five in any position! Let's get out there and make Adrian Gonzalez, Marcus Giles and the rest of the deserving Padres a trip to San Francisco. http://sandiego.padres.mlb.com/mlb/events/all_star/y2007/index.jsp

1 comment:

Unknown said...

Jake the Snake got NL Pitcher of the Month? Awesome!!

Thanks for keeping me in the know!

Looking forward to some great games against the Dodgers!