Yankees @ Padres August 2-4

[HammerDown]

Would kill to see the Padres sweep those creeps.

 

[LucklessPadresFan]

I actually like our chances of taking the series. The Yanks are struggling right now, and I'm still very pissed about the '98 WS. I want to kick their butts!

 

[HammerDown]

I love how the Padres refused to honor Mariano without Trevor being there.

Ian Kennedy vs. Phil Hughes on Sunday should be a good matchup.

Unless CC is really on his game, I think we can sweep 'em. I heard Saturday night is already sold out.

 

[HighNTight_SD]

From ESPN Insider: Breaking down the Ian Kennedy trade

Details of the trade: San Diego Padres get: RHP Ian Kennedy -- Arizona Diamondbacks get: LHP Joe Thatcher, RHP Matt Stites, competitive balance draft pick

Ian Kennedy's 2011 season -- in which he finished fourth in the NL Cy Young voting -- was a mirage, in large part the result of being a severe fly-ball pitcher in front of one of the game's best defensive outfields that year. Guys who are that prone to putting the ball in the air will eventually give up more home runs, and Kennedy has, 46 bombs in his 332 innings over the past year and a half.

He works with fringy velocity and little life on his fastball, relying instead on some deception in his delivery and an above-average changeup. After two years of throwing strikes and keeping his walks down, he has been well below league average this year in both departments, and he's not the kind of pitcher who can survive with a walk rate worse than league average.

In San Diego, however, the fly-ball high-wire act might work better than it did in Arizona, as he's moving from a good home run park to one of the majors' worst, and given how little the Padres had to give up to acquire him and whom he'll likely replace in their rotation, the move made a lot of sense.

The return for Arizona is slight, although it reflects the performance of Kennedy this year and the team's desire to just be rid of him. Joe Thatcher is a pure lefty specialist, holding left-handed batters to a .192/.248/.254 line since the start of 2010, but shouldn't be allowed to face any right-handers and has limited value except as a one-batter guy, taking up a roster spot that might be better spent on another bench bat.

Matt Stites has a low to mid-90s fastball with outstanding control, but doesn't have a plus secondary pitch and did miss three weeks with shoulder trouble in 2012; he projects as a middle reliever.

-Keith Law

 

[HighNTight_SD]

Padres Lineup:
E Cabrera SS
C Denorfia CF
C Headley 3B
J Guzman LF
Y Alonso 1B
J Gyorko 2B
L Forsythe RF
N Hundley C
A Cashner P

*Guzman hitting 4th ... Gyorko and Forsythe back to back again???

 

[HammerDown]

I think we can beat them! Especially if we get lots of production from the top four guys. It'll be interesting to see what CC brings.

 

[HighNTight_SD]

I think we can beat them! Especially if we get lots of production from the top four guys. It'll be interesting to see what CC brings.

More interested to see if Cashner is on his game tonight ...

Our offensive lineup is not looking productive -- especially with Gyorko, Forsythe, Hundley hitting as a block after Headley & Guzman (with Alonzo in between).

 

[HammerDown]

I always feel better when bother Everth and Denorfia are in the lineup. They will translate into runs and if we can get two longballs, we win.

A blown save from Mariano, especially on Sunday, would be more than anything I could ever hope for.

/nojinx

 

[HighNTight_SD]

as a Padres fan ... I will always second guess Buddy Black and always be happy to be wrong

 

[HammerDown]

Here we go! Just tuning in. Have they mentioned whether it's a sell-out tonight? I know tomorrow night is.

 

[HammerDown]

Jeter should go hang out in Hillcrest. Plenty of his type hanging out there.

 

[HighNTight_SD]

Cashner getting lit up early ...

 

[HammerDown]

Inning ending double play right here.

 

[HighNTight_SD]

whew -- got out of that one!

 

[HammerDown]

Come on boys, get after CC early. Would love to see the first two guys work the count and draw a walk.

 

[HammerDown]

A double steal would be gold here.

 

[HammerDown]

CC's sweatin' like a stuck pig.

 

[HighNTight_SD]

31 pitches by CC ... and 2 runs, good inning

 

[HighNTight_SD]

I am SHOCKED that a Padres pitcher would give up a lead on the very next AB

 

[HammerDown]

Jeter looks shaky as hell.