San Diego Padres @ Arizona Diamondbacks GameThread, Apr 20, 2008 4:10 PM EDT

Gameday Thread, #18: 4/20 vs. Padres

by Jim McLennan on Apr 20, 2008 3:36 PM EDT

San Diego Padres @ Arizona Diamondbacks

Randy Wolf
LHP, 1-0, 1.42

Randy Johnson
RHP, 0-0, 0.00

Baseball-Reference.com preview [opens in new window]

Yesterday, there was a sign in the crowd reading. "Our Chris Young is better than your Chris Young". So, today, keep an eye for "Our left-handed starting pitcher called Randy is better than your left-handed starting pitcher called Randy." It should be easy to spot,. since it will need to occupy about three sections at Chase. However, on the basis of their last starts, this one might be closer than you'd think: they combined for no earned runs and only four hits over twelve innings, striking out 16. Wolf - a name that may confuse foulpole! - one-hit the Rockies over seven innings, while Johnson was a victim of poor defense. They gave up three unearned run and, while he left with the lead, another error let the Giants steal the win. On a chilly Pacific night, he got significantly better as the game wore on, so I'm hoping for good things this outing.

You'd think this would make for a low-scoring game today, but I'm not convinced. Thus far, only one of our wins has been by a single run, and we have an ongoing streak of fourteen straight games scoring four or more. That has already shattered the previous franchise best of eleven consecutive contests, done most recently from July 20-31st, 2002 - the best by AZ since then was only eight. Over this time, our collective line is .304/.388/.522, which is a phenomenal - and I admit, unsustainable - level of production. But I wouldn't mind it running for a few more days!

As we entered this streak of 22 straight games facing the NL West, I said it was important to produce a good showing against out divisional rivals. Having gone 12-2 thus far, we have already guaranteed ourselves a winning record with eight games to go . From here on, anything more is gravy, but that's no reason to let up. Sweep the series today, send the Padres 6.5 games back and then take it to the Giants and Dodgers, before finishing up against the Padres again next weekend.

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Set the bar high

I don’t care if it is early or not, build that lead in the NL West while you’re hot.

by unnamedDBacksfan on Apr 20, 2008 3:51 PM EDT 0 recs

5:10 starts

suck wind for those of us over the age of 10 and under the age of 55, seriously.

by unnamedDBacksfan on Apr 20, 2008 3:53 PM EDT 0 recs

talking about

normal Saturday games, not today’s start

by unnamedDBacksfan on Apr 20, 2008 4:00 PM EDT up 0 recs

hotclaws' keys to the game

1)the Big Unit will pull some extrordinary faces ,like a geriatric tortoise having sex
2)Byrnsie will get his uniform dirty
3)gratuituous LOTR references.
4)drink beer

We will meet in Red 3 at the hour of scampering.

by hotclaws on Apr 20, 2008 4:03 PM EDT 0 recs

geriatric

anything having sex is not a pretty picture!

by unnamedDBacksfan on Apr 20, 2008 4:04 PM EDT up 0 recs

LOTR?

by foulpole on Apr 20, 2008 4:12 PM EDT up 0 recs

Lord Of The Rings

We will meet in Red 3 at the hour of scampering.

by hotclaws on Apr 20, 2008 4:12 PM EDT up 0 recs

but of course!

by unnamedDBacksfan on Apr 20, 2008 4:14 PM EDT up 0 recs

Today’s lineup:

C. Young cf .235
E. Byrnes lf .314
O. Hudson 2b .250
C. Jackson 1b .347
M. Reynolds 3b .293
J. Upton rf .385
C. Burke ss .148
R. Hammock c .250
R. Johnson p .000

Burke gets the nod against the Lefy Wolf and Hammock will call the RJ start.

by foulpole on Apr 20, 2008 4:07 PM EDT 0 recs

Good grief!

It’s 82º humidity is 16% and they have the damn roof closed!

by unnamedDBacksfan on Apr 20, 2008 4:07 PM EDT 0 recs

Those other guys:

S. Hairston cf .200
T. Iguchi 2b .222
A. Gonzalez 1b .275
K. Kouzmanoff 3b .282
J. Bard c .269
K. Greene ss .224
J. Huber lf .286
C. Crabbe rf .071
R. Wolf p .286

Maybe we’ll get some comic relief from Hairston and the rest of the Padres OF.

by foulpole on Apr 20, 2008 4:09 PM EDT 0 recs

Overall vs. LHP

Arizona is hitting .310/.393/.529. Look forward to that continuing.

by Jim McLennan on Apr 20, 2008 4:10 PM EDT 0 recs

The only agvantage to our heavy RHB roster.

by foulpole on Apr 20, 2008 4:13 PM EDT up 0 recs

advantage

by foulpole on Apr 20, 2008 4:14 PM EDT up 0 recs

Just heard CY is under the weather and not starting:-(

We will meet in Red 3 at the hour of scampering.

by hotclaws on Apr 20, 2008 4:10 PM EDT 0 recs

soco's keys to the game

1) eat some Pei Wei, as rice is one of the few grains I can eat for a week
2) ponder how I became so old and un-hip
3) dessert?

The boys in Sedona Red slugged it out with a pretty pesky poltergeist, then stayed on to dance the night away with some of the lovely ladies who witnessed the disturbance.

by soco on Apr 20, 2008 4:11 PM EDT 0 recs

Don't worry

you get old enough, you come back round hip again.

We will meet in Red 3 at the hour of scampering.

by hotclaws on Apr 20, 2008 4:12 PM EDT up 0 recs

I corrected it for you

You get old enough, you come back with a new hip again

by Jim McLennan on Apr 20, 2008 4:14 PM EDT up 0 recs

I have flames painted on my walker!

We will meet in Red 3 at the hour of scampering.

by hotclaws on Apr 20, 2008 4:16 PM EDT up 0 recs

un hip?

I seriously doubt that!

by unnamedDBacksfan on Apr 20, 2008 4:13 PM EDT up 0 recs

I just bought a couple cd's at Zia's

I feel un-hip.

The boys in Sedona Red slugged it out with a pretty pesky poltergeist, then stayed on to dance the night away with some of the lovely ladies who witnessed the disturbance.

by soco on Apr 20, 2008 4:25 PM EDT up 0 recs

CD's?

I really can’t remember the last one I bought of those.

by Jim McLennan on Apr 20, 2008 4:26 PM EDT up 0 recs

Wow

CDs? Did you finally replace your 8-Track, old man?

"It's such a fine line between stupid and clever."

by kishi on Apr 20, 2008 4:27 PM EDT up 0 recs

ha-ha

I like owning physical things, and I prefer the original sound quality. Sure I can then put them on my iPod, but I like owning the original just in case.

The boys in Sedona Red slugged it out with a pretty pesky poltergeist, then stayed on to dance the night away with some of the lovely ladies who witnessed the disturbance.

by soco on Apr 20, 2008 4:33 PM EDT up 0 recs

Ditto

I like CDs. I even like my cassettes and vinyl. With records, the artwork is bigger. I don’t like looking at the little renditions of “album” art on a 2X4 display screen.

by azshadowwalker on Apr 20, 2008 5:32 PM EDT up 0 recs

I stilll have LPs

Yep, vinyl is coming back around, baby.

by azshadowwalker on Apr 20, 2008 5:31 PM EDT up 0 recs

You should.

Everyone knows that Zia is where all the hipster poseurs hang out.

Eastside Records is where it’s at.

by dahlian on Apr 20, 2008 4:35 PM EDT up 0 recs

I like their selection and prices?

So how much better is it in comparison?

The boys in Sedona Red slugged it out with a pretty pesky poltergeist, then stayed on to dance the night away with some of the lovely ladies who witnessed the disturbance.

by soco on Apr 20, 2008 4:41 PM EDT up 0 recs

It is literally one million times better.

And the guys who work there are great. You can just hang out there for a while and have a conversation with them without them having that “I’m better than you because I work at a record store” attitude.

They also have the best c.d. and vinyl grindcore collection in the valley. There’s really no place else that deserves your money more.

by dahlian on Apr 20, 2008 4:45 PM EDT up 0 recs

How's the vinyl overall?

If I had one complaint against Zia’s is the piss-poor vinyl selection. I guess I’ll have to check out this place in a couple weeks.

The boys in Sedona Red slugged it out with a pretty pesky poltergeist, then stayed on to dance the night away with some of the lovely ladies who witnessed the disturbance.

by soco on Apr 20, 2008 4:51 PM EDT up 0 recs

They had a large used vinyl selection

Better than Zia’s for sure, but it’s been a couple years since I’ve been there.

by dahlian on Apr 20, 2008 5:32 PM EDT up 0 recs

I remember

when the Zia down by ASU was just a sea of vinyl. Rows and rows of records. Imports out the ying-yang. Haven’t been there in years, though, since I rarely go to the Valley anymore.

by azshadowwalker on Apr 20, 2008 5:34 PM EDT up 0 recs

Then it's definately not like that anymore

though that could change with the vinyl becoming more popular in the past couple years.

The boys in Sedona Red slugged it out with a pretty pesky poltergeist, then stayed on to dance the night away with some of the lovely ladies who witnessed the disturbance.

by soco on Apr 20, 2008 5:36 PM EDT up 0 recs

Burke looks ready to go.

Dandy play there.

by foulpole on Apr 20, 2008 4:13 PM EDT 0 recs

Great stop by Burke

Hammered by Hairston. Good job he doesn’t have real speed, Burke just got to it in time.

by Jim McLennan on Apr 20, 2008 4:13 PM EDT 0 recs

Ist pitch

a strike nice.

We will meet in Red 3 at the hour of scampering.

by hotclaws on Apr 20, 2008 4:14 PM EDT 0 recs

Good velocity

94 mph on the fastball. Pleased to see that.

by Jim McLennan on Apr 20, 2008 4:16 PM EDT 0 recs

Nice to see

O-Dawg’s mother at the game, after all she went through this off-season.

by Jim McLennan on Apr 20, 2008 4:18 PM EDT 0 recs

She's there? Aw, terrific!

I asked him how she was doing, and he said she’s doing good. :)

by snakecharmer on Apr 20, 2008 4:19 PM EDT up 0 recs

Koozy is being a real pest.

by foulpole on Apr 20, 2008 4:20 PM EDT 0 recs

is Kooze very rude slang in the USA?

We will meet in Red 3 at the hour of scampering.

by hotclaws on Apr 20, 2008 4:22 PM EDT up 0 recs

Er...

Yes

by Jim McLennan on Apr 20, 2008 4:23 PM EDT up 0 recs

Ha ha,I'm glad

We will meet in Red 3 at the hour of scampering.

by hotclaws on Apr 20, 2008 4:24 PM EDT up 0 recs

Lot of pitches for Johnson

Gone to a full count on several hitters. He’s already into the low 20’s for a pitch count.

by Jim McLennan on Apr 20, 2008 4:20 PM EDT 0 recs

ho many on base?

by unnamedDBacksfan on Apr 20, 2008 4:21 PM EDT up 0 recs

1

Baseball season, when everything becomes right in the world.

by seton hall snake pit on Apr 20, 2008 4:21 PM EDT up 0 recs

Now two :(

by snakecharmer on Apr 20, 2008 4:22 PM EDT up 0 recs

Darn!

was hoping for a quick 1-2-3 start

by unnamedDBacksfan on Apr 20, 2008 4:23 PM EDT up 0 recs

Just one.

"It's such a fine line between stupid and clever."

by kishi on Apr 20, 2008 4:22 PM EDT up 0 recs

you spoke too soon:-(

We will meet in Red 3 at the hour of scampering.

by hotclaws on Apr 20, 2008 4:22 PM EDT up 0 recs

Yeah, I should have waited.

"It's such a fine line between stupid and clever."

by kishi on Apr 20, 2008 4:23 PM EDT up 0 recs

Really? Ouch, not good

by snakecharmer on Apr 20, 2008 4:21 PM EDT up 0 recs

Another walk...

A bit like last time, though he does seem to have better control – these are not missing badly. But they are missing.

by Jim McLennan on Apr 20, 2008 4:22 PM EDT 0 recs

There we go. A pop up to get us out of the inning.

by foulpole on Apr 20, 2008 4:23 PM EDT 0 recs

finally

pesky hitters, wouldn’t let a strike by them

Baseball season, when everything becomes right in the world.

by seton hall snake pit on Apr 20, 2008 4:24 PM EDT 0 recs

A 28 pitch 1st for RJ.

by foulpole on Apr 20, 2008 4:25 PM EDT up 0 recs

Posts a zero

Time for us to increase our first-inning run differential. Put ‘em away early and I can enjoy things from there.

by Jim McLennan on Apr 20, 2008 4:25 PM EDT 0 recs

Again, we get the other team to leave runners in scoring position. Glad to be out of it, but that was a long inning.

"It's such a fine line between stupid and clever."

by kishi on Apr 20, 2008 4:25 PM EDT 0 recs

I still don't like Josh Bard.

The boys in Sedona Red slugged it out with a pretty pesky poltergeist, then stayed on to dance the night away with some of the lovely ladies who witnessed the disturbance.

by soco on Apr 20, 2008 4:25 PM EDT 0 recs

Romero gets the start

In CF, replacing Young. Let’s hope he makes it the Land of the Dead for flyballs out there…

by Jim McLennan on Apr 20, 2008 4:26 PM EDT 0 recs

otherwise known as Mooooorrrr-doooorrrr

We will meet in Red 3 at the hour of scampering.

by hotclaws on Apr 20, 2008 4:27 PM EDT up 0 recs

Schulte said Young's under the weather

Good chance to see Romero for more than one AB!

by snakecharmer on Apr 20, 2008 4:28 PM EDT up 0 recs

The Padres have crabs.

by foulpole on Apr 20, 2008 4:29 PM EDT 0 recs

tasty

We will meet in Red 3 at the hour of scampering.

by hotclaws on Apr 20, 2008 4:30 PM EDT up 0 recs

Pubic lice???

by foulpole on Apr 20, 2008 4:31 PM EDT up 0 recs

I was trying...

To come up with something similar when he flew out to Eric Byrnes on Friday. Something along the line of “Eric Byrnes caught Crabbes”. Never did quite get it to the level I wanted.

by Jim McLennan on Apr 20, 2008 4:30 PM EDT up 0 recs