San Diego Padres @ Arizona Diamondbacks GameThread, Aug 21, 2008 9:40 PM EDT

Gameday Thread, #127: 8/21 vs. Padres

by Jim McLennan on Aug 21, 2008 8:12 PM EDT

San Diego Padres @ Arizona Diamondbacks

Chad Reineke
RHP, 1-0, 5.40

Brandon Webb
RHP, 18-4, 2.85

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

Our streak atop the division has been occasionally fragile - perhaps the closest was August 9th where, the Dodgers blew a 10th-inning lead that would have let them overtake us. But one stat [shamelessly stolen from Dodger Thoughts] explains why its unbroken. Since leaving second-place on April 5th, Arizona have woken up tied for first-place nine times. They are a remarkably clutch 9-0 in games played that day, having outscored our opponents 66-27 in those contests.

Tonight, with a 1.5-game lead [the Dodgers having won this afternoon], there is no such issue, but with Webb on the mound, going for his nineteenth win, I have to feel confident. He hasn't lost a game in almost two months, being 7-0 with a 2.28 ERA in his last ten outings - and a perfect five-for-five, with a 1.89 ERA, in the past month. Reineke has one major-league start under his belt, but as we've seen before [c.f. Cueto, Johnny], that doesn't necessarily mean very much.

It's been a fun series so far, with the new-found fondenss by the Diamondbacks for strolling to first overcoming an offensive indifference [our SLG this series is 32 points above our OBP!] Still, our OPS for August is .780, our best since April, and that's reflected in a healthy average of 5.33 runs per game. That's not apparently 'luck', either - our BABIP is .292, basically identical to the NL average of .294. I note, with some interest, the Dodgers are up at .325, so their recent success has the scent of over-achievement.

Should be about for this: we finished the PFFF program, and so I shouldn't have too much to do this evening. Whether I choose not do it in the living-room, or in the office, will likely determine my participation in the comments! I'll finish with another stat, this one courtesy of Gennaro Felice of SI: Padres catchers are hitting .195 this season. No other team in baseball has an entire position south of the Uecker Line.

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Comments

C'mon, Webby.

Let’s get that sweep.

Manny Ramirez and the Dodgers: Filling the dubious shoes left open by Barry Bonds and the Giants.

by DbacksSkins on Aug 21, 2008 8:19 PM EDT 0 recs

Actually,

it’s probably more meaningful if I say, “C’mon, hitters” instead, as I have more confidence in Webby doing his job than the hitters.

Manny Ramirez and the Dodgers: Filling the dubious shoes left open by Barry Bonds and the Giants.

by DbacksSkins on Aug 21, 2008 8:21 PM EDT up 0 recs

moar long bombs

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

by hotclaws on Aug 21, 2008 9:04 PM EDT up 0 recs

Today’s lineup:

S. Drew ss .283
C. Young cf .239
C. Jackson lf .304
A. Dunn rf .238
M. Reynolds 3b .245
T. Clark 1b .248
C. Snyder c .250
A. Ojeda 2b .258
B. Webb p .145

TC gets the start at 1b vs the RHP as we have 4 LHBs in the line up today.

by foulpole on Aug 21, 2008 8:34 PM EDT 0 recs

Those other guys:

J. Gerut cf .303
T. Iguchi 2b .243
B. Giles rf .290
A. Gonzalez 1b .282
K. Kouzmanoff 3b .280
C. Headley lf .263
N. Hundley c .215
L. Rodriguez ss .230
C. Reineke p .500

Scooter is nowhere to be found in the lineup?

by foulpole on Aug 21, 2008 8:36 PM EDT 0 recs

Hmmmm.......

Good column. ::snicker::

Manny Ramirez and the Dodgers: Filling the dubious shoes left open by Barry Bonds and the Giants.

by DbacksSkins on Aug 21, 2008 8:37 PM EDT 0 recs

I heard about that one

They were lamenting it over at Dodger Thoughts earlier in the week.

by Jim McLennan on Aug 21, 2008 9:05 PM EDT up 0 recs

Too true.

It really does defy logic, though…. unless they were betting that we would stand pat with our lineup, the way we did last year, even in the face of the Pads getting Milton Bradley.

See? Just goes to show you should never bet.

Manny Ramirez and the Dodgers: Filling the dubious shoes left open by Barry Bonds and the Giants.

by DbacksSkins on Aug 21, 2008 9:32 PM EDT up 0 recs

Padres catchers are hitting .195 this season.

Michael Barrett’s on the DL?

Manny Ramirez and the Dodgers: Filling the dubious shoes left open by Barry Bonds and the Giants.

by DbacksSkins on Aug 21, 2008 8:39 PM EDT 0 recs

Since July 4

And he was hitting only .202 this season.

by Jim McLennan on Aug 21, 2008 9:07 PM EDT up 0 recs

Exactly!

He could have given them that extra boost!!

Manny Ramirez and the Dodgers: Filling the dubious shoes left open by Barry Bonds and the Giants.

by DbacksSkins on Aug 21, 2008 9:24 PM EDT up 0 recs

lets go

we need some early runs for webby today. Then we could kick back and watch him work his magic.

by J Up on Aug 21, 2008 8:59 PM EDT 0 recs

Or maybe some early magic from Webby so we can kick back and watch our O work it’s magic throughout the game? ;-)

by foulpole on Aug 21, 2008 9:06 PM EDT up 0 recs

holly with a phioenix feather,11inches long

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

by hotclaws on Aug 21, 2008 9:22 PM EDT up 0 recs

Huh?

by foulpole on Aug 21, 2008 9:26 PM EDT up 0 recs

Magic. It’s a description of a magic wand.

It's like living with a six-year old.

by 4 Corners Fan on Aug 21, 2008 9:26 PM EDT up 0 recs

From where?

by foulpole on Aug 21, 2008 9:29 PM EDT up 0 recs

Oh, to be a nerd, I would say, from Olivander’s Shop.

But it’s from Harry Potter.

It's like living with a six-year old.

by 4 Corners Fan on Aug 21, 2008 9:30 PM EDT up 0 recs

You should just be a nerd. ;)

by snakecharmer on Aug 21, 2008 9:31 PM EDT up 0 recs

I’m afraid I already am.

It's like living with a six-year old.

by 4 Corners Fan on Aug 21, 2008 9:32 PM EDT up 0 recs

That would explain why I’ve never hear it. Thanks.

by foulpole on Aug 21, 2008 9:31 PM EDT up 0 recs

You know,

all it takes is “a Google” to find the answer to that….

Manny Ramirez and the Dodgers: Filling the dubious shoes left open by Barry Bonds and the Giants.

by DbacksSkins on Aug 21, 2008 9:30 PM EDT up 0 recs

Thank you, Miss Olivander

Am I avoiding the subject, or am I doing philosophy?

by kishi on Aug 21, 2008 9:27 PM EDT up 0 recs

We won't know if she's right, though

until we see if it blows everything out of the ballpark….

by snakecharmer on Aug 21, 2008 9:28 PM EDT up 0 recs

hi

time to close it out Dbacks. Perhaps a Dragonforce facemelting solo will lift them to glory?

"Yeah I could have been king, but maybe I already am king. Hail to the king baby." Ash from Army of Darkness

by Turambar on Aug 21, 2008 9:07 PM EDT 0 recs

It can't hurt, right?

Well, unless you’re Joel Zumaya.

Am I avoiding the subject, or am I doing philosophy?

by kishi on Aug 21, 2008 9:22 PM EDT up 0 recs

Joel Zumala?

Manny Ramirez and the Dodgers: Filling the dubious shoes left open by Barry Bonds and the Giants.

by DbacksSkins on Aug 21, 2008 9:24 PM EDT up 0 recs

Oh, I'm on to you now

Mister President.

Am I avoiding the subject, or am I doing philosophy?

by kishi on Aug 21, 2008 9:26 PM EDT up 0 recs

Drat!!

But c’mon, admit it. You knew it all along.

Manny Ramirez and the Dodgers: Filling the dubious shoes left open by Barry Bonds and the Giants.

by DbacksSkins on Aug 21, 2008 9:29 PM EDT up 0 recs

Your Facebook status updates

Have led me to believe otherwise.

Am I avoiding the subject, or am I doing philosophy?

by kishi on Aug 21, 2008 10:30 PM EDT up 0 recs

True.

Unless it’s just cover….

Manny Ramirez and the Dodgers: Filling the dubious shoes left open by Barry Bonds and the Giants.

by DbacksSkins on Aug 21, 2008 10:31 PM EDT up 0 recs

Another night with the D-backs’ feed!

——-!

by foulpole on Aug 21, 2008 9:30 PM EDT 0 recs

Well, it's a home game.

All the home games should have the Dbacks feed.

Manny Ramirez and the Dodgers: Filling the dubious shoes left open by Barry Bonds and the Giants.

by DbacksSkins on Aug 21, 2008 9:31 PM EDT up 0 recs

Oh, Daron just said “the sweep” while I was reading your post. And I thought he said, “Sweet” LOL

It's like living with a six-year old.

by 4 Corners Fan on Aug 21, 2008 9:31 PM EDT up 0 recs

The totalitarian regime has “voted” that word inappropriate. I would guess that Daron has gotten word as well? ;-)

by foulpole on Aug 21, 2008 9:36 PM EDT up 0 recs

It wasn't really a "totalitarian regime".

It was pretty much by popular caucus.

Manny Ramirez and the Dodgers: Filling the dubious shoes left open by Barry Bonds and the Giants.

by DbacksSkins on Aug 21, 2008 9:38 PM EDT up 0 recs

Or popular demand.

It's like living with a six-year old.

by 4 Corners Fan on Aug 21, 2008 9:40 PM EDT up 0 recs

Hi ^^

Wikipedia is accurate. (citation needed)

by Muu on Aug 21, 2008 9:40 PM EDT 0 recs

waves

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

by hotclaws on Aug 21, 2008 9:50 PM EDT up 0 recs

Two pitches, one out!

——-!

by foulpole on Aug 21, 2008 9:40 PM EDT 0 recs

Besides, do totalitarian regimes really vote? I think they just declare.

It's like living with a six-year old.

by 4 Corners Fan on Aug 21, 2008 9:41 PM EDT 0 recs

That’s why i used “quotes” on the word vote.

by foulpole on Aug 21, 2008 9:42 PM EDT up 0 recs

That's why

it was a caucus. We all came to a consensus.

Manny Ramirez and the Dodgers: Filling the dubious shoes left open by Barry Bonds and the Giants.

by DbacksSkins on Aug 21, 2008 9:43 PM EDT up 0 recs

I prefer

To think of myself as a benevolent dictator. My word is law, but I generally do things for the good of the entire nation, not my own selfish interests…

by Jim McLennan on Aug 21, 2008 9:44 PM EDT up 0 recs

A dictator

in the classical sense, not the modern sense.

Manny Ramirez and the Dodgers: Filling the dubious shoes left open by Barry Bonds and the Giants.

by DbacksSkins on Aug 21, 2008 9:58 PM EDT up 0 recs

Benevolent and Enlightened

Even benevolent dictators have to stifle dissent to stay in power. Ugly as it is, you are duty-bound to drag Padre and Dodger fans out of their houses in the middle of the night and send them to re-education camps. Yankees fans will probably have to be liquidated outright, though.

by UofAZGrad on Aug 21, 2008 10:05 PM EDT up 0 recs

Like I said

Whatever the good of the entire nation demands. :-)

by Jim McLennan on Aug 21, 2008 10:17 PM EDT up 0 recs

Four pitches, two outs???

by foulpole on Aug 21, 2008 9:41 PM EDT 0 recs

5 pitches, not 4

by singaporedbacksfan on Aug 21, 2008 9:42 PM EDT up 0 recs

Love the minimalist pitching! Go Brandon!

It's like living with a six-year old.

by 4 Corners Fan on Aug 21, 2008 9:42 PM EDT 0 recs

Oh, geez! The first two hitter went down pretty quick but to base runners since.

:-(

by foulpole on Aug 21, 2008 9:45 PM EDT 0 recs

Bear down Webby!!!

by foulpole on Aug 21, 2008 9:46 PM EDT up 0 recs

OT: Georgia update

My navy buddy said that at 0900 Tues morning, an Arleigh Burke class guided missile destroyer left Crete, (ended up being the USS McFaul) passed through the Bosporus and was in the Black Sea by Weds at noon. Amphibious landing craft USS Mount Whitney is to follow, as is a Coast Guard cutter. It’s been released to the press, so….

Manny Ramirez and the Dodgers: Filling the dubious shoes left open by Barry Bonds and the Giants.

by DbacksSkins on Aug 21, 2008 9:46 PM EDT 0 recs

Shanked that one.

Not a good block though by Snydes.

by TwinnerA on Aug 21, 2008 9:46 PM EDT 0 recs

A fastball in the dirt is highly unexpected. I would have to give Webby the “credit” for that one.

by foulpole on Aug 21, 2008 9:48 PM EDT up 0 recs

Yes

Grace was explaining that one: if the catcher is expecting a fastball, they have their legs closer together, which makes it harder to go down and block the ball if it gets spiked.

by Jim McLennan on Aug 21, 2008 9:49 PM EDT up 0 recs