SB Nation - Oscar Salazar

NL West in Review: 2nd Basemen

Poseidon's Fist — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 19:00:36 -0000

Felipe Lopez only got in a half season in the NL West, but was he good enough to be the best 2B in the division in 2009?

Browse more photos »

Introduction

Before getting to the second base rankings, I thought I would touch on a peripheral discussion on the accuracy of WAR. It is important to understand that even the WAR found at Fangraphs isn't absolute. The methodology of chosen inputs can make the final numbers vary slightly, or in some cases, drastically. The best example of this is this year's season by Ricky Nolasco, who was a 4.0 WAR pitcher from Fangraphs, but just a 1.0 WAR pitcher via Rally's historical database. The quick explanation is that Fangraphs' input is FIP, while Rally's is more based on actual runs allowed and BABIP.

In my case, I'm using Statcorner's component park factors, while Fangraphs has their own methodology for park effects. That is why some of my numbers will vary some from Fangraphs' data. For instance, I have Orlando Hudson as a 2.52 WAR second baseman, while Fangraphs has him at 2.9 WAR. Which is right? I think it's a matter of preference.

A few weeks ago, Dave Cameron wrote an article entitled WAR: It Works, which defended their methodology by finding a 0.83 correlation between a team's total WAR and final record (for comparison, Pythageorean W-L has a 0.91 correlation). So it does a decent job, but there's some understandable noise in the data.

Method

See the full methodology as explained last week. Last Monday, I omitted stolen bases and caught stealings from my value calculations. It turns out Fangraphs' positional splits are accurate to positional at-bats, and Baseball Reference's positional splits are not accurate for stolen bases and caught stealings. As it turns out, first basemen don't steal much, so that omission made practically no difference.

However, second basemen do tend employ the running game, so I did the extra legwork of utilizing ESPN.com's positional splits to extract SB/CS data. It didn't make a great deal of difference. Four teams saw their team wOBA* increase by .001, while the Rockies dropped by .001. Clint Barmes, who led all NL West 2B in caught stealings with nine, was the only prominent player to be affected, who dropped one slot in the rankings.

Read the results after the jump.

Results

No NL West team had complete personnel consistency at second base, but that didn't stop Arizona from far surpassing the rest of the division with some surprise production from their second-sackers.


Teams	Players	Avg	HR	RBI	OBP	SLG	wOBA*	WAR
1. Arizona	4	.298	15	49	.372	.448	.362	5.97
2. Los Angeles	6	.283	12	77	.356	.424	.347	3.19
3. Colorado	5	.231	31	98	.281	.441	.301	0.80
4. San Francisco	7	.236	17	80	.281	.329	.281	-0.26
5. San Diego	5	.246	2	58	.315	.314	.292	-1.04

Brendan Scolari's calculations had Arizona projected to be the weakest team at second base this season, but the other four teams fell in line as expected from there.

Your graphical plot of the RAR for all five teams, with the positional RAR set at +2.5.

The second base position was exceedingly interesting, in my opinion. To wit: the most valuable player was also the fifth least valuable fielder; the worst and best fielders came from the same team; the man with the third most homers was the fourth worst second baseman; and, one team had four second basemen in the top seven in the division:

There were 27 total second basemen, and you can view the complete rankings and data here in Google Docs. Here are the top and bottom five:

Rank	Player	Team	PA	Avg	HR	RBI	OBP	SLG	wOBA*	UZR	WAR
1	Orlando Hudson	LAD	627	.285	9	62	.359	.420	.345	-3.7	2.52
2	Felipe Lopez	AZ	375	.305	6	25	.366	.417	.351	3.8	2.25
3	Ryan Roberts	AZ	199	.303	7	16	.374	.506	.383	2.3	1.65
4	Clint Barmes	COL	551	.238	22	69	.286	.437	.301	7.0	1.60
5	Juan Uribe	SFG	131	.274	6	15	.331	.538	.380	3.5	1.25
~	~	~	~	~	~	~	~	~	~	~	~
23	Edgar Gonzalez	SDP	54	.234	0	3	.315	.319	.289	-2.1	-0.17
24	Ian Stewart	COL	73	.235	8	26	.274	.632	.349	-7.5	-0.39
25	Luis Rodriguez	SDP	102	.200	1	7	.294	.256	.266	-4.1	-0.48
26	Emmanuel Burriss	SFG	220	.238	0	13	.292	.267	.265	-3.7	-0.53
27	Eugenio Velez	SFG	106	.198	1	8	.226	.287	.231	-4.7	-0.80

Arizona

2009 in Review

Felipe Lopez barely played half a season for the Snakes, but his stellar first half offensively and plus glove defensively kept him in position to finish second best in the division. Ryan Roberts had the best rate stats of any divisional player with over 100 PA (he surpassed Clint Barmes for WAR when I added the SB/CS factor), and he was joined in the top seven by Augie Ojeda and Rusty Ryal, who led the entire team in wOBA in a small sample. All four players had positive UZR scores.

2010 in Preview

AJ Hinch will most likely choose either a starter from the pool of Ryan Roberts, Rusty Ryal and Tony Abreu going forward into next season. It is possible that an unnamed free agent would be thrown into the picture, but I personally don't expect it. The fact that the hands down best team at 2B in 2009 has such a question mark going into 2010 with only Lopez subtracted speaks to the relative weakness of the position in the NL West.

Colorado

2009 in Review

Clint Barmes had a heck of an enigmatic season. He was easily the most valuable defensive 2B and had more than twice the home runs of any other player. However, his Ryan Howard impression was completed by having a poor average and batting average, and he led the division in caught stealings, helping Roberts to surpass him. Ian Stewart was third in the division in home runs, but he posted the worst UZR by far, completely negating Barmes' defensive contributions, at least statistically. Omar Quintanilla contributed enough defensively to stay out of the bottom five despite a 2-for-28 mark with the bat.

2010 in Preview

Rumors abound that Dan O'Dowd is going to lock Barmes down to a multi-year contract, so it appears he will have the position locked down going into spring training, though Eric Young Jr could provide a completely different toolset.

Los Angeles

2009 in Review

Orlando Hudson had an All-Star first half, but his defense has slipped and Ronnie Belliard (who had a strong stretch in his own right by finishing8th in just 42 PA) of all people took starts from him down the stretch. Blake DeWitt, Juan Castro and Mark Loretta provided negligible negative value.

2010 in Preview

Hudson will be a Type A free agent and probably won't be retained by the Dodgers. By trading Tony Abreu for Jon Garland, Ned Colletti gave up his best internal option for the position going forward. There's no way they go with Loretta or Castro full time, and Blake DeWitt seems to have regressed after perhaps playing over his head in 2008. Los Angeles could go with Belliard, but second base is certainly on Colletti's offseason shopping list.

San Diego

2009 in Review

Grit is not an input for WAR, so almost all of David Eckstein's value goes unchecked. He combined his light hitting with the second worst UZR in the division. Oscar Salazar and Chris Burke played a small role, but Luis Rodriguez and Edgar Gonzalez really hurt the team, as both were in the bottom handful both with the bat and glove. As a team, the running game was essentially non-existent, as the Padres only stole four bases from second base. All five second basemen posted negative UZR scores.

2010 in Preview

Kevin Towers extended Eckstein through 2010 with a $1 million deal in August, so he is unequivocally the starter going forward, especially with signs pointing towards very minimal free agent spending this offseason

San Francisco

2009 in Review

The position looked to be weak going into the season, and it was. Freddy Sanchez was unable to get on the field consistently after being acquired, but Juan Uribe picked up the slack by not only performing well (his wOBA* at second was just four points behind the best in the division for those with 100+ PA) but having a career season overall. Emmanuel Burriss and Eugenio Velez each got a well deserved Simon Cowell treatment for their poor auditions, and the team seemed that Kevin Frandsen is not the answer. The Giants' combined wOBA of .281 was by far the worst in the division.

2010 in Preview

As Rox Girl noted yesterday morning, the Giants signed Sanchez to a 2-year deal on Friday, paying him $6million/year, more than he's ever made in his career. On the surface, Sanchez is not much of a threat in the division, as he has regressed due to age in recent years and he dealt with a multitude of injuries of late. In 2008, he provided just $1.8million in value, and though he provided the Giants almost no value in 2009, he did have $10.1million total. And after seeing the terrible play at second and need to validate the Tim Alderson trade, it's no surprise Brian Sabean decided to go this direction. At any rate, barring injury to The Mole, the Giants will be much improved at second base in 2010.

Amazing Eight! Mujica tries to bust Rockies mojo, but Yorvit Torrealba rallies Colorado to win with ninth inning double

Rox Girl — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 05:20:57 -0000

More photos » by Denis Poroy - AP

Even Scrappiness couldn't beat the Rockies on Friday night.

Browse more photos »

Yorvit Torrealba's bases loaded heroics saved the night for the Colorado Rockies, as the streaking catcher continued a torrid month with a three run double off of Padres closer Heath Bell with two outs in the top of the ninth inning on Friday night to keep Colorado's win streak alive.

The Colorado Rockies got the kind of start they needed from Jorge De La Rosa after one shaky first inning, but nonetheless their offense failed to materialize as the San Diego Padres capitalized on a first inning walked in run and an effective performance from starter Edward Mujica and a handful of relievers to take a 1-0 lead on Friday night and for most of the game, it appeared they were on their way to victory. The Padres scored their run when De La Rosa loaded the bases following a one out David Eckstein double by walking Adrian Gonzalez and allowing a single to Chase Headley. JDLR then walked Oscar Salazar to push Eckstein home before regaining his composure and more or less cruising through the next six innings of his start.

The Rockies best chance to score before the ninth inning rally came when they loaded the bases with one out in the seventh inning. In the seventh inning when Todd Helton got hit by a pitch to lead off the inning and moved to third one out later when Brad Hawpe doubled. With runners in scoring position, Garrett Atkins popped out to first. Seth Smith pinch hit for Clint Barmes and was intentionally walked bringing Ryan Spilborghs (pinch hitting for Chris Iannetta) to the plate with the bases loaded and two outs. Spilborghs struck out swinging to end the threat.

In the ninth, Helton walked, Hawpe singled with one out and pinch hitter Jason Giambi also walked to load the bases for Colorado. Heath Bell struck out Matt Murton, but Torrealba came through with the bases clearing double that would give Colorado a 3-1 lead. A single by Paul Phillips scored Torrealba and pushed the lead to 4-1. Franklin Morales came on to pitch a scoreless ninth inning for the save.

With the win Colorado improved to 82-60 on the season and stayed two games behind the Dodgers, while expanding their lead over their closest competitors in the N.L wild card chase as both Florida and San Francisco lost.

Row Call and graph after the jump.

via www.fangraphs.com

Row Call: Jabberwocky, The Lodo Magic Man, MissR, SDcat09, Silverblood, noelman31, butterfly, WolfMarauder, leadbelly, OutHereInPA, Shoemaker, Rock Oax, pedalpusher, ckloewer, TuLoRocks2008, ddavis539, Russ, LACK, befizzle, SimchaWard, realmenwearpurple, EricMedic, coolopotamous, AtkinsandTulofan, Poseidon's Fist, HeltonsHeroes, Colsportsfan, ejskater, TGumb, Rox Girl, bballrox4717, RockiesMagicNumber, GoRoxInNSB,FL, Kumar_98, theshiva, RoxnSox09, Cargo's Ball Sack5, brian8065, Jester76, squalene203, CombatChuk, Teekalong, djmbluemoon, tulotulotulo, moose14, smokinRox, Foxhole Atheist, Digshot, fatheadX, bucimislover, Roberbola, haj_saitou, McCorvic, amoeba, controlled_slide, Narcoleptico, Mondogarage, dogs, RockiesDave, DeRock, jeffpalfini, Angélique C. Murray

Padres Anagrams

jbox — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 22:29:12 -0000

Dex was just showing me this website that figures out an anagram for your name. I decided to do it for each of the Padres. Surprisingly in some cases the anagram actually describes the person. It's remarkable!

NAME	ANAGRAM
Jeff Moorad	MAJOR OF FED
Tom Garfinkel	GNATLIKE FORM
Kevin Towers	I'VE NETWORKS
Paul DePodesta	UP PLEASED TOAD
Grady Fuson	FURY GONADS
Bud Black	BALD BUCK
Heath Bell	HELL! BATHE
Greg Burke	KRUGER BEG
Kevin Correia	CROAKIER VEIN
Sean Gallagher	HAS LARGE ANGEL
Luke Gregerson	OK GREENER SLUG
Mat Latos	AM TOTALS
Wade LeBlanc	CLEAN BAWLED
Edward Mujica	DRAW MAD JUICE
Luis Perdomo	I'M PROUD LOSE
Aaron Poreda	POOR AND AREA
Cesar Ramos	OR MASSACRE
Clayton Richard	A CONTRARY CHILD
Adam Russell	SMALL AS RUDE
Tim Stauffer	MATURE STIFF
Joe Thatcher	HA! REJECT HOT
Ryan Webb	BRAWN BYE
Eliezer Alfonzo	RAZZLE OF ONE LIE
Henry Blanco	LYNCH ON BEAR
Nick Hundley	UNKINDLY CHE
Everth Cabrera	BRAVER CHEATER
David Eckstein	KINDEST ADVICE
Adrian Gonzalez	DAZZLING ON AREA
Edgar Gonzalez	NAG DAZZLE OGRE
Kevin Kouzmanoff	KNAVE FUNK IF ZOOM
Luis Rodriguez	GURU IDOLIZERS
Oscar Salazar	ALAS! CZAR OR AS
Anthony Gwynn Junior	JOY! NOW HURTING NANNY
Chase Headley	ELSE HEADACHY
Drew Macias	A WEIRD SCAM
Will Venable	WELL! EVIL BAN
Gaslamp Ball	SMALL BAG PAL

GM Towers: "We're going to be okay next year."

jbox — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 22:56:18 -0000

XX Sports Radio: Kevin Towers Interview (MP3) with Darren Smith

Towers on the Padres getting out of last place: "I'd be lying if I didn't say we had our eye on the Diamondbacks." The Padres are trying to feel good about themselves going into the off season.
The Pads have played .500 or better if you take out June and July. Towers personal goal was to win at least 70. It looks like the Pads might win 73. "We want to get back to winning divisions again." The Padres have made a statement within the NL.
The players want to win as many games as they can. "I assure you that clubhouse is about as good a clubhouse that I've been in, in a long time." Different guys are contributing each game. The Padres are finding out they are really liking a lot of their players. The starting pitching is the biggest weakness going forward. "We're going to be okay next year."
Towers thinks he has a grasp on his every day line up. He likes the infield the way it is. Kouz has established himself at third and had his best year from an RBI stand point. Everth Cabrera hasn't missed an inning since he's been off the DL. Eckstein does the little things right. Adrian Gonzalez is having a career year. Nick Hundley is getting better with the bat since the injury. Will Venable has been the big bright spot this season. Kyle Blanks was hitting well before the injury. Tony Gwynn has been nice.
The Pads maybe need one more bat to improve the bench. They are 2 or 3 pieces away to make it real interesting in 2010.
Venable is starting to establish power. He has struggles vs. lefties. He plays good center and right. "The more he plays the better he's going to get." Towers thinks there is untapped potential for Venable. "He might be one of those Steve Finley types."
Kouzmanoff is day to day. He'll be out at least a week. It will give Chase Headley time at third base and Oscar Salazar playing time.
Towers absolutely thinks that if they judge Kevin Kouzmanoff strictly on defense than he deserves the Gold Glove. The problem is that they tie offense to the award too. "He's probably played as good of third base... since Ken Caminiti." He's the best Towers has ever had that can handle the slow roller. Cami didn't have great range.
Towers wouldn't be surprised if the Rockies catch the Dodgers and win the NL West leaving the wild card to L.A.
Towers thinks the playoffs in the NL will consist of the Cardinals, Phillies, Rockies and Dodgers.

Washington Nationals Drop 5th-Straight, 4-1 To San Diego Padres. Clayton Richard = Balker.

Ed Chigliak — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 07:57:33 -0000

by Lenny Ignelzi - AP

3 months ago: Washington Nationals' Josh Willingham makes the running catch in the left field corner on a ball hit by San Diego Padres Will Venable that saved a run and ended the the fifth inning in a baseball game Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2009 in San Diego. (AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi)

View full size photo »

Nationals Drop 5th-Straight, 4-1 to Padres.

Who here thinks Clayton Richard's pickoff move is a balk? MASN announcer Rob Dibble got out his MLB Rule Book last night to argue his point, and I'm pretty sure Elijah Dukes thinks it was a balk that resulted in his getting picked off first late in Tuesday's loss, but while you're asking Dukes about that, ask him where he was going when the Padres' starter picked him off first following a one-out walk in the seventh with the Nationals trailing 2-0 to San Diego. As luck would have it, one pitch after Dukes was caught leaning, Josh Bard ripped into a hanging slider and launched his 4th HR of '09 to left field for a solo shot that should have tied it. Instead, it's a 2-1 Padres' lead. DC starter J.D. Martin, who'd allowed just 2 runs, 1 earned through six, comes back out for the seventh after the Bard blast and throws a first-pitch slider to pinch hitter Oscar Salazar that goes out to left and just over the scoreboard Salazar collided with last night while robbing Willie Harris of extra bases. Salazar's HR makes it 3-1 Padres, and San Diego adds another run in the eighth when Washington right-hander Tyler Clippard gives up two two-out walks and an RBI single to Drew Macias to make it 4-1 Padres after eight and nine.

The Nationals lose their fifth straight, seventh of their last eight, and they're now 3-12 in their last 15...

Padres win, 4-1 final.

Miss The Game? The DC Faithful Were Watching?

Check Out The SB Nation's San Diego Padres Blog: Gaslamp Ball GameThread. (No one's watching the Padres either).

BACKPAGE:

• J.D. Martin Gets The DC Starter Treatment.

• E: 118.

• Hammer, Dunn, Horrible.

For The Completists, Full Game Report After The JUMP...

Nationals now 46-87. (Countdown To 100 Losses Stands At...13)

BACKPAGE:

• J.D. Martin Gets The DC Starter Treatment.

J.D Martin throws 104 pitches, 63 strikes to 27 batters, who ground out 7 times, fly out 6 times, strike out 5 times and collect 5 hits, 3 walks and 2 ER off Martin over 6.0 innings on the mound...Padres' lefty Clayton Richard, (W, 8-4), one of four pitchers San Diego got back in the Jake Peavy trade, tosses 96 pitches, 63 for strikes, and holds the Nationals off the board until Josh Bard's 7th-inning HR. That's the only run Richard allows, as he completes 6.2 IP, and surrenders just 4 hits through sixth, and, as mentioned, one in the seventh.

• E: 118.

The Padres scored a run in the second when Kevin Kouzmanoff and Will Venable connected on back-to-back hits off the Nationals' starter. Martin held San Diego to one run through the fourth, but the bottom of the fifth started with Everth Cabrera dropping a bunt in front of the mound. J.D. Martin got to the ball but bobbled it and couldn't even get off a throw to first. That's Martin's 3rd error of '09 and the Nationals' league-leading 118th. OUTCOME: Everth Cabrera scores two batters later on a sac fly by Kouzmanoff. E = Winning run.

• Hammer, Dunn, Horrible.

Let's just say, Adam Dunn, 0 for 3 with a walk and a K. Josh Willingham? 0 for 4, with 4, count'em, 4 K's. Justin Maxwell's 0 for 3 with a walk in his return to the major league lineup. Ryan Zimmerman (1 for 4) has 1 of the Nationals' 4 hits, Elijah Dukes (1 for 3, 1 BB), Alberto Gonzalez, (1 for 4), and, of course, Josh Bard (1 for 3, 1 HR) have the others. The Nationals have just 3 runs combined in their last 3 games, 2-1, 3-1 and 4-1 losses...Who's going to finally get the offense started again?

GAME REPORT:

Washington Nationals At San Diego Padres Game 133 Of 162.

Justin Maxwell leads off with a fly ball to San Diego right fielder Will Venable for the first out of the game. Alberto Gonzalez lines one off the pitcher’s backside and right to the second baseman David Eckstein. DC Hitting Coach Rick Eckstein’s brother catches the third out off Ryan Zimmerman’s bat and Clayton Richard has one scoreless...Everth Cabrera grounds out to Pete Orr at second. J.D. Martin throws a high two-strike fastball by David Eckstein. Adrian Gonzalez grounds out to second.

Adam Dunn grounds into the dramatic shift. Clayton Richard throws a fastball by Josh Willingham for a swinging K. Elijah Dukes grounds to short, slow over the grass, and Everth Cabrera rushes and throws it over first. Dukes takes second. Josh Bard ends the second with a groundout to short...Kevin Kouzmanoff bounces a long fly off the center field wall, and has to step on it to make it to second ahead of Maxwell’s throw. Will Venable lines a single to right to score Kouzmanoff, and Venable takes second on Elijah Dukes’ errant throw. 1-0 San Diego. Chase Hundley grounds out to move Venable to third. Nick Hundley goes down swinging at a full count slider. J.D. Martin walks Tony Gwynn, Jr. and gets a weak grounder from the opposing pitcher to end the second.

Clayton Richard breaks Pete Orr’s bat in half and gets a weak grounder to the mound. J.D. Martin K’s swinging. Justin Maxwell grounds sharply to second to end a quick third...Everth Cabrera gets a two-strike curve for a swinging strike three. David Eckstein grounds out to Adam Dunn. Two-out walk to Adrian Gonzalez, to bring up Kouzmanoff. Kouzmanoff flies to right on a full-count fastball, 1-0 Padres after three.

Alberto Gonzalez lines to short, Everth Cabrera drops it, but picks up and throws to first in time. Ryan Zimmerman doubles to right center and off the wall. Adam Dunn takes a one-out walk. Josh Willingham lifts his arms like he’s Kearns as he takes strike three on a fastball inside. Elijah Dukes grounds into a force at second...Will Venable gets the big bender from J.D. Martin for strike three swinging. Chase Hundley K’s swinging through a high fastball. Ryan Zimmerman makes a diving play to his backhand, but Hundley’s safe at first when Zim can’t come up with it for the throw to first.. Martin walks Tony Gwynn, Jr. with two down. Martin gets the pitcher again.

Josh Bard and Pete Orr strike out swinging and Clayton Richard gets a groundout from J.D. Martin to end his fifth scoreless...J.D. Martin fumbles the bunt from Everth Cabrera and the Padres have a leadoff runner on. Eckstein bunts his way on too, after J.D. Martin blows another. Adam Dunn makes a diving play on a grounder from Adrian Gonzalez. Kevin Kouzmanoff flies out to right to score Cabrera from third. 2-0 Padres. Willingham breaks for the corner and catches the third out off Will Venable’s bat.

Justin Maxwell flies out to center to start the sixth. Alberto Gonzalez lines to left field for a one-out single. Will Venable makes a diving catch to rob Ryan Zimmerman and he almost doubles up Alberto Gonzalez off first. Adam Dunn grounds weakly to second to end the top of the sixth...J.D. Martin vs Chase Headley. Justin Maxwell hustles to get in under a fly ball to center, one down. Nick Hundley flies out to center, and Tony Gwynn, Jr. just a little more to the right, Maxwell gets to them all.

Clayton Richard busts Josh Willingham inside with a two-strike curve. Elijah Dukes uses his Discernning Eye to draw a one-out walk. Josh Bard’s up, and Dukes gets picked on a balk. Seriously, it was a balk. Josh Bard destroys a low fastball, deeeep to left and GONE!! Solo HR, 2-1 Padres. Willie Harris gets a pinch hit appearance against Adam Russell. Harris lines out to right to end the top of the seventh...Oscar Salazar hits a solo shot to left and over the scoreboard wall. 3-1 Padres. Sean Burnett comes on for J.D. Martin. Everth Cabrera K’s swinging. David Eckstein tests Burnett’s glove with a liner to the mound. Burnett walks Adrian Gonzalez. Jason Bergmann comes on to face Kouzmanoff, who lines out to end the seventh.

Cristian Guzman hits against Luke Gregorson in the eighth. Guzman grounds out. Justin Maxwell walks and takes second on a groundout by Alberto Gonzalez. Ryan Zimmerman shoots a line drive to center and Tony Gwynn, Jr. robs him with a sliding catch to end DC’s eighth...Tyler Clippard vs Will Venable. Venable K’s when he can’t hold up. Chase Headley chases strike three out of the zone. Nick Hundley takes a two-out walk. Tony Gwynn, Jr. walks and Drew Macias doubles in a run 4-1 Padres. Everth Cabrera flies out to end the eighth.

Heath Bell vs Dunn, Hammer and Dukes in the ninth. Adam Dunn K’s swinging through a fastball outside. Heath Bell drops a full-count curve on Josh Wiilingham to get a backwards K. Elijah Dukes grounds out to third, Kouzmanoff’s throw ends it....

Nationals now 46-87.

Livan Hernandez Can't Do It All. San Diego Padres 3-1 Over Washington Nationals.

Ed Chigliak — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 11:18:14 -0000

by Lenny Ignelzi - AP

3 months ago: San Diego Padres right fielder Will Venable makes the running catch to take a hit away from Washington Nationals' Alberto Gonzalez in the second inning of a baseball game Monday, Aug. 31, 2009, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi)

View full size photo »

Padres Take Game One:

Let's forget for a moment, the fact that one of the San Diego Padres' two runs in the first was the result of the visiting team's bullpen being moved into foul territory down the right field line so that a sand box could be built in what's usually the visitor's bullpen. You know, for the kids! Of course, right away a line drive by David Eckstein gets lost in the seats that have been placed out there for Washington' relievers, and Elijah Dukes' throw in is too late to keep Everth Cabrera from scoring from first after he'd reached on a bunt back to Livan Hernandez that died in front of the mound. 1-0 Padres. At least it wasn't the winning run, right?!! The winning run came one batter later when Kevin Kouzmanoff doubled Eckstein in from second for a 2-0 San Diego advantage early...And let's also forget that after Livan Hernandez had singled and scored from second in his first at bat, DC Manager Jim Riggleman asked him to try a bases loaded, one-out, safety squeeze that quickly turned into the easiest DP either team turned tonight when the Padres' pitcher Tim Stauffer threw home, and the catcher, Nick Hundley's throw beat Livan to first. And let's forget that Chase Headley, who's last HR was back on July 18th, hit a pinch hit HR off Livan Hernandez in the eighth to put the game out of reach...Let's forget this whole game...

Well, there were a few things worth remembering...

Padres win, 3-1 final.

Miss The Game? The DC Faithful Were Watching...

Check Out The SB Nation's San Diego Padres Blog: Gaslamp Ball GameThread.

BACKPAGE:

• Dunningham

• Livan's Only One Man

For The Completists, Full Game Report After The JUMP...

Nationals now 46-86. (Countdown To 100 Losses Stands At...14)

BACKPAGE:

• Dunningham -

Adam Dunn and Josh Willingham were a combined 0 for 8 tonight, with two K's each, and over the last 4 games, all losses, Dunn (2 for 15, 1 HR) and (1 for 13, 1 2B) have failed to produce in 3 one-run games. San Diego starter Tim Stauffer held the Nationals to just the 1 run on 7 hits in 6.2 IP, and it took 4 Padres' relievers to get through the next two innings, but they held Washington off the board.

• Livan's Only One Man

The man pitched all eight innings, and even scored the Nationals' only run. Livan Hernandez threw just 90 pitches in 8 innings, and allowed 7 hits, 1 walk and 3 ER in the loss. The big right-hander K'd 5, most of them with his circus-curve, but it wasn't enough as the Padres scored two early and held on for the one-run win.

GAME REPORT:

Washington Nationals At San Diego Padres. Game 132 Of 162.

San Diego Padres’ starter Tim Stauffer walks Willie Harris to start the first of three in PETCO Park. Pete Orr pops out to short and Stauffer gets Ryan Zimmerman swinging. Adam Dunn takes a 2-2 pitch on the low corner inside for a called strike three to end the Nationals’ first...Everth Cabrera bunts his way on when Livan Hernandez pockets it. David Eckstein slices a low liner into the on-field bullpen the Nationals are forced to use since there’s a sandbox where the pen should be. Cabrera scores. 1-0 Padres. Livan Hernandez gets Adrian Gonzalez swinging through a high fastball. Kevin Kouzmanoff lines to deep center over Willie Harris for an RBI double and a 2-0 lead. Will Venable walks. Livan gets a DP grounder from Oscar Salazar, Alberto Gonzalez to Pete Orr to Adam Dunn, double play.

Josh Willingham grounds out to Everth Cabrera at short. Elijah Dukes grounds hard to the hole at short, Everth Cabrera backhands but can’t throw Dukes out. Will Venable makes a running catch on a line drive from Alberto Gonzalez. Wil Nieves grounds into a force...Padres’ catcher Nick Hundley beats out a grounder to Alberto Gonzalez’s backhand. Tony Gwynn, Jr. gets a 65 mph bender for a swinging strike three. Tim Stauffer gets down a sac bunt to move Hundley up. Everth Cabrera K’s swinging at another slowww bender.

Livan Hernandez goes back up the middle with a leadoff single in the third. Livan takes the long way to second on a wild pitch that bounces off the catcher. Willie Harris takes a curve for strike three and doesn’t agree. Pete Orr singles just over second into center for an RBI single, Livan scores from second. 2-1 Padres. Ryan Zimmerman pops out to second. Adam Dunn takes strike three, and swears it’s outside. He has a good argument...Pete Orr catches up to a short liner from David Eckstein. Pete Orr takes a one-hopper in the chest from Adrian Gonzalez that he fields and throws to first. Kevin Kouzmanoff rolls the third out to Zimmerman who throws to first.

Josh Willingham K’s swinging over a curve. Elijah Dukes rips a line drive single to center. Alberto Gonzalez takes a fastball in the chest when he squares to bunt. Wil Nieves walks to load the bases with one down. Livan Hernandez bunts, safety squeeze, Stauffer gets to it and tosses to home, Dukes out, Livan doubled up at first, double play the hard way...Will Venable K’s on a low fastball outside. This ump’s nuts. Oscar Salazar grounds out to short on a sloooow curve. Nick Hundley flies out to short.

David Eckstein reaches up and leaps to pull down a Willie Harris’ liner. Pete Orr lines out to center field and Tony Gwynn, Jr. grabs it. Ryan Zimmerman drills a grounder to center and just beats the throw in to second. Adam Dunn grounds into the shift...Tony Gwynn, Jr. gets jammed and rolls the first out to Adam Dunn. Tim Stauffer grounds out short, and Livan gets Everth Cabrera to K swinging.

Josh Willingham grounds out to third. Elijah Dukes punches a short fly to right. Alberto Gonzalez grounds to first, and Stauffer’s through six....Livan Hernandez gets a ground ball to short from David Eckstein. Adrian Gonzalez dumps a one-out single in front of Dukes in right. Kevin Kouzmanoff grounds to third, Zimmerman to Orr to Dunn, double play.

Tim Stauffer gives up a line drive single to Wil Nieves, who tries to take two and gets thrown out by Will Venable. Livan Hernandez walks with one down. Oscar Salazar tracks a long fly ball to left and runs into the out-of-town scoreboard while he makes the catch. Salazar’s out of the game. Pete Orr belts a single through short. Stauffer’s done. Adam Russell comes on to face Zimmerman. Ground ball to short, 2-1 Padres in the seventh...Will Venable lines the first out right at Josh Willingham. Drew Macias rolls one toward short, Ryan Zimmerman cuts it off, spins and throws to first, Dunn picks it. Nick Hundley flies out to center for Willie Harris.

Adam Dunn flies out to center to start the eighth. Lefty Joe Thatcher gets Dunn, he’s out. Luke Gregerson gets Josh Willingham to chase a slider. Elijah Dukes gets nothing but benders, and he K’s swinging to end the Nationals’ eighth...Livan Hernandez gets a high pop fly from Gwynn, Jr. Pinch hittter Chase Headley goes deeep to right center and GONE!! Solo HR, 3-1 Padres. Everth Cabrera reaches on a bunt single. Pete Orr fields and tosses a DP grounder to Alberto Gonzalez with his glove hand for the force and The General gets throws to first for the DP.

Heath Bell vs Josh Bard. Bard lines a single to center. Wil Nieves grounds into a double play. Cristian Guzman grounds out to short, and Everth Cabrera’s throw ends it. 3-1 Padres.

Nationals now 46-86.

Brewers 12, Padres 9

KLSnow — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 21:33:27 -0000

More photos » by Darren Hauck - AP

Manny Parra stares off into space while congratulating Mike Rivera, who saved his ass today.

Browse more photos »

W: Manny Parra (8-8)
L: Cesar Carrillo (0-1)
S: Trevor Hoffman (26)

HR: Prince Fielder 2 (29), Mike Rivera 2 (2), Ryan Braun (23), Oscar Salazar (3), Adrian Gonzalez (30)

MVP: Mike Rivera (+.153)
LVP: David Weathers (-.065)

Win Expectancy Graph
SBNation Coverage

Well, that got more interesting than it needed to.

A game the Brewers led 9-0 and 11-3 got interesting in a hurry in the late innings, as the Padres scored three runs in the fifth, sixth and eighth to make today's game into a save situation.

With that said, the Brewers knocked around Cesar Carrillo, the first time in five attempts this season where they've been able to beat a starter making his major league debut. Carrillo allowed eight earned runs on four hits in 2.1 innings, as the Brewers reached base nine times in the first three innings, and had all nine baserunners come home to score.

Mike Rivera had easily his best day of 2009 today, going 2-for-4 with a walk and two home runs, driving in five runs. Prince Fielder also contributed two home runs as part of his 2-for-4 day, and Jody Gerut went 2-for-3 with a double. Alcides Escobar picked up a single late in the game for his first hit of 2009.

The Brewer bats covered for a rough outing by Manny Parra, who allowed six earned runs on 13 hits and two walks in 5.2 innings, but still managed to win his fifth game in six tries. Parra's game score for today's start was 24, meaning he has the Brewers' three lowest game scores by a winning pitcher this season.

NL West Report: Talent in, Talent out at the trade deadline.

Rox Girl — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 01:30:57 -0000

The good news for competitors in the NL West this week is that none of their rivals added what we would consider a major impact talent at the trade deadline along the lines of a Cliff Lee, Matt Holliday or Victor Martinez, the bad news is that this means that neither did they, leaving the division in pretty much the same state it was last week save for the one team at the very bottom, who did wind up making a very interesting move on Friday. The overall talent flow still seems to be flowing into the division rather than out, however, and the division as a whole still seems to be on the ascent.

NL West Report

San Francisco (58-47, t-2nd, W2, 7.0 GB)

Last Week: 6-1. 3-0 vs. Pirates, 3-1 vs Phillies. At some point you've just got to forget the projections and say a team is what it is. The Giants really seem to be that team this year, similar to the 2007 Diamondbacks, where they are combining some excellence in pitching with a favorable circumstance or two (in this case a deadly home field advantage) to mask over their flaws. While sweeping a rebuilding Pirates team isn't a huge accomplishment, taking three of four against the defending world champions is. The Giants are a very real threat, but an up and down one.

Pace: 86-76.

Divisional Change: Gained 3.0 games.

This Week:

News: The Giants were the most active NL West squad at the deadline, acquiring Ryan Garko from the Indians in exchange for Scott Barnes and Freddy Sanchez from the Pirates in exchange for Tim Alderson. Both prospects were immediately downgraded by pundits from potential aces to potential fifth starters after the transactions.

Ryan Garko

#23 / First Base / San Francisco Giants

Height: 6-2

Weight: 225

Bats: R

Throws: R

Born: Jan 02, 1981

Freddy Sanchez

#21 / Second Base / San Francisco Giants

Height: 5-10

Weight: 190

Bats: R

Throws: R

Born: Dec 21, 1977

Kidding about that last part, sort of. Barnes wouldn't have been a name most Giants fans would recognize, but he's a decent LHP prospect a bit beyond the Keith Weiser level but quite a bit below the Bumgarner level. With Barnes and Connor Graham added to their pitching depth the last couple of weeks, the Indians have put quite a dent on the starting talent in the Cal League's North division. I was curious about the amount of articles downplaying Alderson that came after the trade compared to the hype he was getting before it.

Grant's reactions to both trades at McCovey Chronicles were suspiciously understated:

Sanchez

Garko

Clearly something's up with these players that they're not telling us about, like how they wouldn't tell us that Fred Lewis will eat the children of Rockies fans if we let them stay out to late or how Pedro Feliz was able to control the forces of nature of his mind as long as he wore a Giants uniform and the Giants were playing the Rockies. You're not fooling me this time Grant, word to Rockies pitchers: approach these two players like you would Babe Ruth. If Babe Ruth was alive. And not really old.

Players Gained:

Freddy Sanchez
Ryan Garko

Players Lost:

Tim Alderson (AA)
Scott Barnes (A+)

SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS INJURIES

15-DAY

PLAYER	INJURY TYPE	INJURY DATE
Rich Aurilia	toe	07/21/2009
Nate Schierholtz	hip	07/27/2009
Andres Torres	hamstring	07/31/2009

60 DAY DL / OUT FOR THE SEASON

PLAYER	INJURY TYPE	INJURY DATE
Randy Johnson	trapezius	07/06/2009
Noah Lowry	ribs	03/27/2009
Kelvin Pichardo	shoulder	06/28/2009
Joe Martinez	concussion	04/10/2009

Arizona (46-59, 4th, W1, 19.0 GB)

Last Week: 3-3. 1-2 vs Phillies, 2-1 @ Mets.

Pace:

Divisional Change: Gained 0.5 games.

This Week: The Snakes wrap up a long road trip with three game series @ Pittsburgh and @ Washington

News: The Diamondbacks had a quiet week leading up to the non-waiver trade deadline, but general manager Josh Byrnes expects August's waiver trade market to be active.

Brandon Webb finally decided to undergo the knife to fix his ailing shoulder, but no timetable has been established for when he is expected to return to the mound. Will the Diamondbacks pick up his $8.5 million option for 2010? Byrnes is taking a wait and see approach.

Brandon Webb

#17 / Pitcher / Arizona Diamondbacks

Height:6-2

Weight:230

Bats:R

Throws:R

Born:May 09, 1979

Steve Gilbert writes that Byrnes' faith in his core is a large part of the reason why the trade deadline was so quiet for Arizona:

"There are a lot of components there that we think are real positives," Byrnes said. "I think a lot of the pieces to get back to winning are already in place."

Certainly Justin Upton has to be a major component that Byrnes is thinking of, AZ Snakepit's Jim McClennan took a look at the elite club the phenom's track thus far puts him in.

The Snakes are negotiating with Daniel Cabrera for added pitching depth

Added Comment: Arizona remains a flawed team for 2010 until it gets the pitching ironed out, but a very dangerous one for 2009. The fact that they didn't sell off at the deadline doesn't leave them nearly as weak as other non-contenders. I'm relieved that the Rockies only have six more games against this team compared to nine for the Giants and ten for the Dodgers, because it really looks like they've finally righted the ship in Phoenix. Over the last thirty games, the D-backs have scored the fourth most runs in the NL in going 16-14. Other key potential spoiler series for Arizona will be in Philadelphia at the end of August and at Chicago for the last series of the season in October.

Players Gained:

Brandon Allen (AAA)
Cole Gillespie (AAA)
Roque Mercedes (AA)

Players Lost:

Felipe Lopez
Tony Pena

Arizona Diamondbacks Injuries

15-Day

Player	Injury Type	Injury Date
Eric Byrnes	hand	06/26/2009

60 Day DL / Out for the season

Player	Injury Type	Injury Date
Tom Gordon	hamstring	05/04/2009
Conor Jackson	pneumonia	05/12/2009
Brandon Webb	shoulder	04/07/2009

Los Angeles (62-36, 1st, L1)

Last Week: 3-4. 1-3 vs Cardinals. 2-1 vs Braves. The Dodgers road trip started out poorly against Matt Holliday and the Cardinals, but much like the Rockies, the Dodgers finished well, going over the last four games of the trip, against much tougher competition than we had to face.

Pace:

Divisional Change: Lost 0.5 games to Colorado and 3.0 games to San Francisco

This Week: The Dodgers return home where they will face a Brewers team (3 games) that's been caught in a rut for much of the last two months and then get a four game set against the Braves who will want revenge for losing a series in Atlanta this weekend.

News: The Dodgers had been rumored for much of last week to be in on every prominent trade target supposedly available, and apparently came close to reeling in Adrian Gonzalez and Heath Bell in a mega deal with the Padres. Unwilling to part with prize major league talent such as Matt Kemp and Clayton Kershaw (wisely, I might add, Kershaw's change-up is starting to be as devastating as his fastball and curve) Los Angeles wound up making one major move, trading minor leaguers Josh Bell and Steve Johnson for Orioles closer George Sherrill.

George Sherrill

#0 / Pitcher / Los Angeles Dodgers

Height: 6-0

Weight: 230

Bats: L

Throws: L

Born: Apr 19, 1977

The Dodgers made one other minor depth move to clear a roster space for Sherrill, trading Claudio Vargas to Milwaukee for catcher Vinny Rottino. Rottino actually has an engaging baseball biography, as he was an undrafted free agent out of college and wound up getting signed out of a try-out camp. He caught for team Italy in the WBC this Spring. Still, not going to supplant team Canada's catcher anytime soon.

Even with the Sherrill addition, Los Angeles continues to wage a war against an unseen and unknown enemy as the workload for their young pitching continues to mount. Chad Billingsley seemed like he might be the latest to succumb when he was pulled from Sunday night's start with what turned out to be just a case of leg cramps. Rockies and Giants fans are all hoping this menace proves more real than it has, but that just might be wishful thinking on our parts. Sherrill hasn't been the only cavalry to arrive to rescue Los Angeles' young arms, as both Jason Schmidt and Hong Chi Kuo made returns from long injury absences this week.

Eric Stephen's monthly reviews are always worth reading to catch up on the rest of the Dodgers news.

Players Gained:

George Sherrill
Vinny Rottino (AA)

Players Lost:

Josh Bell
Steve Johnson
Claudio Vargas

Los Angeles Dodgers Injuries

Probable

Player	Injury Type	Injury Date
Chad Billingsley	hamstring	08/03/2009

Questionable

Player	Injury Type	Injury Date
Casey Blake	wrist	08/03/2009

15-Day

Player	Injury Type	Injury Date
Will Ohman	shoulder	05/28/2009
Ronald Belisario	elbow	07/06/2009

60 Day DL / Out for the season

Player	Injury Type	Injury Date
Eric Milton	lower-back	06/28/2009
Doug Mientkiewicz	shoulder	04/17/2009
Xavier Paul	ankle	05/21/2009

San Diego (43-63, 5th, W2, 22.0 GB)

Last Week: 5-2. 3-1 @ Reds, 2-1 vs Brewers. Visiting Cincinnati has become a medicinal spa retreat for ailing NL West teams, as the Padres and Rockies combined to go 6-1 against the hapless Reds. San Diego carried their winning ways home with them against the Brewers.

Pace:

Divisional Change: Gained 2.0 games.

This Week: Braves (3 games) fans and Mets (4 games) fans will learn just how easy it is to go into PETCO Park and win series.

News: The Padres traded away their erstwhile ace Jake Peavy to the Chicago White Sox in the trade deadline's most surprising move. Peavy must have felt like Bill Murray in Groundhog Day in getting a chance to change a decision he made two months ago, for whatever reason, the White Sox held more appeal this time around.

Coming back from Chicago are four of the White Sox better prospects in Clayton Richard, Aaron Poreda, Dexter Carter and Adam Russell. This move was typical of other blockbusters in 2009, where the selling team generally walked away with the buying team's quality depth, but not their creme de la creme as far as talent is concerned.

jbox gets oddly, I don't know, pragmatic, in his review of the trade at Gaslamp Ball.

Clayton Richard

#41 / Pitcher / San Diego Padres

Height: 6-5

Weight: 240

Bats: L

Throws: L

Born: Sep 12, 1983

The Heath Bell/Adrian Gonzalez trade to the Dodgers wasn't the only big deadline deal that San Diego was involved in that fell through, apparently there was also a blockbuster that could have send Gonzalez to Seattle, Felix Hernandez to the Red Sox, and a bushel of prospects to the Padres that got nixed by the Mariners. The day was so busy, that Kevin Towers told the LA Times Bill Shaiken:

"It's almost comical," he said. "I wish we had a video camera in there. You tend to worry about everything moving so fast."

Players Lost:

Players Gained:

Ryan Webb (AAA)
Craig Italiano (A+)
Sean Gallagher
Aaron Poreda
Clayton Richard
Dexter Carter
Adam Russell
Oscar Salazar

San Diego Padres Injuries

15-Day

Player	Injury Type	Injury Date
Chris Young	shoulder	06/15/2009
Nick Hundley	forearm	06/18/2009
Brian Giles	knee	06/19/2009
Edgar Gonzalez	concussion	07/19/2009

60 Day DL / Out for the season

Player	Injury Type	Injury Date
Mark Worrell	elbow	03/27/2009
Cha Seung Baek	forearm	03/30/2009
Shawn Hill	elbow	04/26/2009
Cliff Floyd	shoulder	06/18/2009

Poll

Which NL West team helped itself the most via non-waiver trades?

Arizona: The D-backs didn't sell low on their players and added a couple of key parts for 2010 and beyond.

3 votes

Colorado: The Rockies major weakness was the bullpen and they addressed it without giving up top ten prospects.

98 votes

Los Angeles: The Dodgers got the one elite reliever dealt this year.

22 votes

San Francisco: The Giants held onto most of their elite prospects, including their very best, and still added the bats they needed.

90 votes

San Diego: The Padres were in desperate need of restocking the system and added a boatload of talented young arms.

29 votes

242 votes | Poll has closed

Austin Kearns' Walk-Off Single Wins IT!! (Not A Typo!!) Washington Nationals 3, San Diego Padres 2.

Ed Chigliak — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 21:26:16 -0000

More photos » by Evan Vucci - AP

4 months ago: Washington Nationals' Austin Kearns, foreground, just right of center, is mobbed by teammates after hitting a game-winning single in the 10th inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres on Sunday, July 26, 2009, in Washington. The Nationals defeated the Padres 3-2. From left is Ronnie Belliard, Anderson Hernandez, Ryan Zimmerman, Josh Bard, Kearns and Alberto Gonzalez. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Browse more photos »

Unbelieveable...

When Adam Dunn’s RBI single in the bottom of the eighth put DC up 2-1, it looked like the Nationals might finally reach 30 wins. John Lannan had been lifted for a pinch hitter after 8.0 IP, so DC closer Mike MacDougal made his way to the mound. Top of the ninth, 2-1 Washington, and the Nationals' closer on to end it. MacDougal got Chase Headley, uh, chasing a sinking two-strike fastball inside at 97 mph. Kevin Kouzmanoff popped out No. 2 up over second, and MacDougal just had to get the hulking, .188 hitting, infielder Kyle Blanks. Blanks gets a first pitch fastball at 97 mph and demolishes it...oh no...deeep to left and GONE!! Tie game. 2-2 Unbelievable...(only if you’ve just joined the Nationals’ ‘09 Season In Progress...)

Even More Improbable...

When Dunn's winner didn't win it, and the Nationals went down in order in the ninth, it didn't look good for DC. Mike MacDougal, who came back for the tenth, gave up a one-out single to Eliezer Alfonzo, and was lifted for left-hander Joe Beimel. Beimel got back to back flyouts from Drew Macias and Everth Cabrera, and the Nationals got their second chance to walk off with a winner. Padres' righty Greg Burke took over on the hill and gave up a bunt single to "Everyone's Favorite" Nyjer Morgan. A sac bunt by Willie Harris moved Morgan to second. Burke walked Nick Johnson to face Zimmerman and the Padres' pitcher popped up the Face of The Nationals' Franchise to bring up the slumping, defeated, popless Austin "Blue Grass" Kearns. Burke throws outside for ball one, and then tries to come inside, Kearns turns it inside out, lining to right center and into the gap, Morgan rounds third, and scores easily!!! AUSTIN KEARNS WITH THE WALK-OFF WINNER!!! Austin Kearns who has hitting .196 going into the game...Austin Kearns who hasn't had an RBI since June 27th. That Austin Kearns, who has never quit or complained. That Austin Kearns wins it.

Nationals win, 3-2 final.

Miss The Excitement? The DC Faithful Were Watching!!!

Check Out The Gaslamp Ball GameThread...(We Totally Outcommented Them)

BACKPAGE:

• "Cool Hand" Lannan Deserved The "W"

For The Completists, Full Game Report After The JUMP...

Nationals now 30-68.

BACKPAGE:

• "Cool Hand" Lannan Deserved The "W"

DC lefty and yes, "Ace" John "Cool Hand" Lannan allowed just one run on five hits in eight innings pitched this afternoon, and when he was lifted after 81 pitches, 59 of which were strikes, and Adam Dunn hit his RBI single in the bottom of the frame, it looked like Lannan was in line for his 8th win of '09. Mike MacDougal blew it, of course, but that shouldn't lessen Lannan's effort. 11 groundouts, 10 flyouts, 2 K's and just 1 walk issued. After a 19-pitch first inning, Lannan needs just 30 pitches to get the Nationals through the top of the fifth. Lannan gave up two doubles in the sixth, and the second one by Kevin Kouzmanoff scored Will Venable, who'd hit the first two-bagger, for a 1-0 Padres' lead. Lannan got a fly ball from Kyle Blanks for the final out of the sixth, and returned for the seventh and eighth, holding the Padres to one run long enough for DC to catch up and take the lead.

GAME REPORT:

San Diego Padres At Washington Nationals. Game 98 Of 162.

Everth Cabrera’s on with an infield single when a grounder bounces off Nick Johnson’s gloved hand. John "Cool Hand" Lannan gets a fly ball to deep right center from Will Venable. Cabrera moves himself up, stealing second with Chase Headley at bat. Headley flies out to Adam Dunn in left. Willie Harris makes a hop-step as he catches Kevin Kouzmanoff’s liner, and Lannan’s through the first...Willie Harris works the count full against Chad Gaudin and takes a 10-pitch walk. Nick "Two-Spot" Johnson's at bat when Willie Harris is thrown out at second. Johnson grounds out to Oscar Salazar at first. Ryan Zimmerman takes strike three low and inside, but the Ump likes it.

Kyle Blanks flies out to Josh Willingham in right. Oscar Salazar gets a fastball up high for a swinging K. Luis Rodriguez singles on a line drive to right, and Eliezer Alfonzo gets a grounder through John Lannan and up the middle. But Lannan gets a groundout from the pitcher to complete his second scoreless...Adam Dunn grounds into the percentages. Josh Willingham pops out foul of first. Josh Bard lines a two-out single to center. Gaudin gets Alberto "The General" Gonzalez to chase junk out of the zone.

John Lannan snags grounder back to the mound from Everth Cabrera and a fly ball to right from Will Venable. Ryan Zimmerman throws high to first, but close enough to get Chase Headley...Luis Rodriguez does a Jeter-jump throw to get Anderson "Elvis" Hernandez at first. John Lannan hits a bloop single to left. Willie Harris walks to put two on for "Two-Spot" Johnson. Nick Johnson flies out to the track in left. Ryan Zimmerman K’s looking, this time Gaudin goes outside with the two-strike heater.

Ryan Zimmerman throws to first to get Kevin Kouzmanoff for the first out of the fourth. Kyle Blanks pops out behind second. John Lannan fields a grounder to the mound from Oscar Salazar and throws to first to end a quick frame...Adam Dunn flies out to left for the first out of the frame. Josh Willingham K’s swinging over a 2-1 slider. Josh Bard pops out to the catcher.

John Lannan gets a weak grounder to third from Luis Rodriguez that Zimmerman handles. Alberto Gonzalez throws out Eliezer Alfonzo and Lannan gets a grounder to second from the pitcher...Alberto Gonzalez sends a spinner to first, Chad Gaudin fields and makes the tag. Anderson Hernandez gets jammed and grounds out to second. John Lannan lines a two-out single to right, but Willie Harris’ fly ball to center ends the fifth.

Everth Cabrera grounds out to Alberto Gonzalez at short. Will Venable doubles off the left center wall with one down. Chase Headley grounds to left for Adam Dunn who makes the catch, spins and throws back in. Kevin Kouzmanoff flies to right center, Josh Willingham dives but misses, Willie Harris retrieves it, but Venable scores, 1-0 Padres. Kyle Blanks flies out to right and it’s 1-0 in the sixth...Nick Johnson flies out to Will Venable in center. Ryan Zimmerman pops out to Luis Rodriguez behind second. Adam Dunn grounds to first, Oscar Salazar’s throw to Gaudin covering is on the mark.

Oscar Salazar pops the first pitch of the seventh straight up. Luis Rodriguez grounds out to second. Alberto Gonzalez throws a strike to first to get Eliezer Alfonso for the final out of the frame...Josh Willingham takes Chad Gaudin’s hanging curve to left and just over the wall for a solo shot and a 1-1 game. Josh Bard flies out to center. Alberto Gonzalez drops a hanging curve in short right for a one-out single. Adrian Gonzalez steps on first and throws to second, Everth Cabrera makes the tag cause he has to, double play.

Tony Gwynn, Jr. flies out to Dunn in left center. John Lannan issues a one-out walk to Everth Cabrera. Will Venable up, and Lannan picks Cabrera off first!!! Picked!! Will Venable K’s chasing a two-strike bender...Luke Gregorson vs Nyjer Morgan. Morgan flies out weakly to center. TAWH lines a single to right in front of the "Two-Spot". Nick Johnson grounds to short, Cabrera tosses to Luis Rodriguez, who drops it, both runners safe and Zimmerman up with two on. Ryan Zimmerman K’s looking at a fastball outside, or so he thinks. Adam Dunn gets down low to get a sinking fastball that he rips for an RBI single, 2-1 DC!! Josh Willingham pops out to the infield to end the eighth.

Chase Headley goes down swinging for the first out of the ninth. Mike MacDougal gets a fly ball from Kevin Kouzmanoff out to Anderson Hernandez for the second out and Kyle Blanks is up next. First pitch GONE!! HR TO LEFT and it’s tied at 2-2. Unbelievable...only if you’ve just joined the Nationals’ ‘09 Season In Progress...Adrian Gonzalez grounds out to end the Padres’ ninth...Josh Bard grounds out to second. Alberto Gonzalez grounds weakly to second. Anderson "Elvis" Hernandez K’s hacking to end the ninth.

Luis Rodriguez lines out for the first out of the tenth. Mike MacDougal gives up a one-out single to Eliezer Alfonzo who lines to left. MacDougal’s done. Joe Beimel’s on to face Drew Macias. Macias flies out harmlessly to left. Everth Cabrera pops out to short center and it’s 2-2 middle of the tenth...Nyjer Morgan drops a perfect bunt and beats the throw to first. Willie Harris against Padres’ reliever Greg Burke. Willie Harris gets a successful sac bunt down. Nick Johnson gets the intentionals when Burke falls behind and Ryan Zimmerman’s up with two on and one out. Zimmerman flies out to center. Austin Kearns rips a line drive to the right center gap and it falls in!! Nationals win when Morgan scores!!! 3-2 final on Kearns’ walk-off win!!! KEARNS? KEARNS??

Nationals win, 3-2 final.

GM Towers: "Hate to lose, hate to lose the way that we do"

jbox — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 20:07:35 -0000

XX Sports Radio: Kevin Towers Interview (MP3) with Darren Smith

Padres been getting decent pitching but have had problems scoring. It will be nice to have David Eckstein and Henry Blanco back.
At the end of the year hopefully the Padres will get Young and Peavy back.
"Hate to lose, hate to lose the way that we do". If the Padres weren't suffering from injuries than they would be performing better than they are. "I'm sure it's not fun for the fans". The Padres are going through the growing pains.
"Hopefully we can find something positive here in the upcoming months to give of us a little bit of momentum going into the off season, because this feels a lot like Groundhog Day and a lot like last year.
Towers says the injuries are a result of "Two years of bad luck", it's not the fault of trainers or team doctors. It's nothing they could have prevented.
Addressing his quotes in the UT, Towers thinks Adrian Gonzalez is at the point where he is frustrated as well. He's at the stage where he wants to win. Adrian looks at the young players and talk of Peavy moving and realizing that there isn't a chance of winning in the foreseeable future.
It's highly unlikely anything will happen before the deadline in terms of trading Adrian. At the end of the season Towers will sit down with Moorad, Garfinkel and Black to see what they need to do to turn the team around. They might talk about locking him up in a long term deal, but they'll discuss that at the end of the season.
Even if Adrian Gonzalez thinks it's best to move him, he'd have to realize the backlash the Padres would face moving such a popular player.
To convince Adrian to stay in a long term deal, they'd have to show him the talent of the young players. In the next two months those guys will have to start producing. It will give the fans and Towers some hope.
Kyle Blanks will probably start playing a lot more. Towers talked to Black about it after the game. They will make a move in the next couple days when Eckstein comes back. More than likely it will be an outfielder and you'll see Blanks out there more often. The move will more than likely be a younger player with options.
The PTBNL in the Scott Hairston trade will be named the last week in July. There were two players they identified that they would choose from. The one they are leaning towards has been mentioned (Sean Gallagher).
Cla Meredith was passed up by other guys in the bullpen (Mojica, Gregerson and Adams). He wasn't pitching in a significant role. His velocity dropped from 90mph to 84mph. He didn't have the sink he once had. Lefties were hitting .300 against him. He was arbitration eligible next year and he'd still probably be a 11th or 12th pitcher. With Edgar Gonzalez going down they thought Oscar Salazar would give them a right handed bat off the bench and be more valuable for the team.
Towers responds to Krasovic's assertion that players had tuned out the hitting coach. "Being named a hitting coach for the San Diego Padres in Petco Park is literally a death sentence. It has not worked out for many that have been here." There is a huge age difference between Jimmy Lefebvre and the players. The players need to look in the mirror. "If they tune him out than they are evidently not tuning in the right person right now because it's not working either."
Towers says that Moorad and Garfinkel are evaluating all the Padres employees.
Tony Gwynn and Everth Cabrera are two of the better players and they didn't come from the Padres system.
On Mat Latos: "Liked it, liked the stuff, nice to see 98 pop up there on the scoreboard the first pitch of the game." He probably could have gotten out of the game with just the solo home run. The first start was a good one. He thinks he'll be better against the Nationals. He'll have a pitch count of 75 to 90. He has the ability to throw 90 pitches in 7 innings. Keeping a player from doubling their innings from one year to the next makes sense to Towers.
The bullpen has been the best part of the club this year. They just need to figure out how to score some runs. "We're not doing it now, so we're going to have to find a way."
Things are moving slow with Donovan Tate. His agent is working to sign other players first. The local area scout is keeping in contact with Tate.
Towers isn't getting many calls because they don't have many active players that are playing well.