Sorry, I just had to use that lame headline. Jake did a heck of a job hanging around for 6 scoreless innings in the brutal heat and humidity. The bullpen did their part as well, Heath Bell was flat out filthy at times. It would be nice if the offense would stop making scrubs like Anthony Reyes look like aces but slapping around the closer almost makes up for it.
The Pitching Mechanic has a nice analysis of Jake’s mechanics. He notes some areas of concern:
The main thing that concerns me about Jake Peavy is that he breaks his hands with his elbows. As a result, and as you can see in the photos above, his Pitching Arm Side (aka PAS) elbow gets quite high. While it doesn’t get as high as Mark Prior’s or Anthony Reyes’, it is still quite high.
Read the whole thing, as they say.
I love Jake Peavy but something about his mechanics never seems quite right to me; it seems like he’s going to rip his arm off during his follow through sometimes.
Kevin Towers was on 1090 this morning and said David Wells is done as a Padre. They’re leaving it up to him whether he wants to retire, be released or be traded. Classy move on KT’s part. I actually hope Boomer catches on with another team this year and can regain some effectiveness. I just hate to think of a guy with that kind of career going out like that.
Tonight we have Greg Maddux going for us. I hope the bullpen is ready because even in the best conditions we’re lucky to get 6 out of Maddux.
Predictions:
A home run for Adrian and Maddux will execute a bunt within the first two pitches of an at bat.
3 responses so far ↓
1 gpc31 // Aug 8, 2007 at 8:52 pm
Give Maddux some run support and he’ll go more than 6 innings.
Last several starts, in no particular order:
Lost 1-2 vs. Boston; lost 1-3 vs. Houston;no decision 1-3 vs. Giants when he left, bullpen let two inherited runners score; no decision 5-4 vs. Mets (bullpen blew 4-0 lead); no decision 5-7 loss to Rockies (bullpen blew 5-2 lead); tonight vs. Cards lost 1-2, lifted for pinch hitter in the 6th.
No run support, putrid bullpen work.
Actually, he’s been making more mistakes at the beginning of games and then getting stronger: missed changeup vs. Carlos Lee; 4 straight hits tonight in the 1st inning.
The only mistakes he’s made in the 6th-7th inning were when he badly hung a curveball for a HR to Hanley Ramirez on a 1-2 count (OUCH). That after something like 21 consecutive strikes. Last start vs. the Giants he left balls up on two consecutive batters in the 6th. Otherwise, he’s been pretty solid late in games. Would greatly help if the pinch hitters actually, you know, hit.
2 Geoff Young // Aug 9, 2007 at 9:16 am
No home run for Adrian, but he did have some nice at-bats yesterday. Partial credit?
3 Didi // Aug 9, 2007 at 9:41 am
The Padres needs to score a lot more. To think that Maddux hasn’t won for all the starts in July and August is unbelievable, and Chris Young having won only 9 games is also terrible in that the two pitchers have performed much better than their record indicate.
Anthony, I was wondering if you can pull together a chart of all the first pitch that the Padres’ hitters swung at. Are the hitters bad batters or do those pitches really look hittable?
I’m trying to figure out what the opposing pitchers’ strategy is to throwing first pitch against the Padres’ hitters.
Or just limit those to NOG’s. He just seems so anxious all the time. Also Kouzmanoff looks lost at times.
Thanks, Anthony.
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