Only Nine

March 19, 2009

• 9-4 Rangers

The number nine is one of the “sacred” numbers in baseball. It represents the length of a baseball game, not in terms of time or mintues, but in terms of duration. Each team has at least eight chances to give their team some runs, and either one or both of the teams will get a ninth chance, depending on the game situation. That ninth inning is usually pretty special. Sometimes, your closer will come out in a close game to try to save it. Other times, your team has to face the other team’s closer. If the home team is behind, they get one last chance to come from behind, to get a walk-off hit. If it’s a tied game, the home team only needs to score one run, and the game is over. The ninth inning can be very exciting.

In the Padres-Rangers game yesterday, the Padres’ pitching gave up nine runs. This is an improvement, as they had given up 12 runs on Tuesday. I mean, only nine! Cesar Ramos started, and boy did he start early. Meaning, he started the Rangers’ slaughter of us early. How’s four hits and three runs…in the top of the first?! In his three innings of work, he gave up five runs on seven hits.

This is Joe Thatcher. JOE THATCHER CANNOT PITCH. Period. Well, sure, he can throw a ball to the plate, but that’s different. I can throw a ball to the plate! Being a “pitcher” as opposed to a “thrower” means being able to use your pitches, use the plate, and get batters out. JOE THATCHER IS A RUN-GIVER. He helps us lose. He used to be able to pitch, but he’s lost it. Lost it lost it lost it. Sure, it’s still Spring Training, and these pitchers are still getting into form, but still. Joe Thatcher gives up runs, whether it’s Spring Training, the regular season, or Single-Single-A. He did pretty well in Triple-A last year, but he can’t pitch in the majors. It’s too bad, but it’s the truth. Last year, he pitched 25.2 innings for the Padres, and he gave up 25 runs. NOT GOOD. In this spring so far, he’s pitched 7.2 innings, giving up ten hits and four runs. OK, so he’s doing a little better, but still. He can’t be on this roster.

The point of that whole rant was that Thatcher gave up two runs in yesterday’s game. I think the Spring Training stats are not up to date, so maybe Thatcher’s thrown 8.2 innings with twelve hits and six runs. I think that’s right…

Jae Kuk Ryu and Edwin Moreno each gave up a run, but Arturo Lopez and Matt Buschmann had scoreless innings. Obviously, the pitching is going through the dead-really-really-dead arm stage. I just hope they break out of it soon. Real soon. 

Kyle Blanks got the Padres’ first hit of the game in the fifth with a double. Will Venable then drove him in. Chris Burke walked and got a hit. Drew Macias hit a two-run homer in the ninth, but it was way too little too late. We are not doing well. But of course, it’s only spring. I don’t know. I just don’t want to go through a season like last year again.

If you guys haven’t seen it yet, you have got to watch this video on MLB.com. It’s called “Sounds of Spring Training”, and it’s hilarious. Check it out here. If the link doesn’t work, search for it. It’s amazing.

Last night I got to play some version of baseball with a bunch of my friends, and it was so much fun! We used a really soft ball, and all the fielders spread out wherever, but it was a blast. It’s one thing to play catch with my two younger brothers, but it’s quite another to actually play an “organized” game with people my age. I had so much fun! I was playing catch with a real baseball with a friend after the game, and I got hit in the side of my mouth area! I really should have caught the ball, but oh well. The first thing I was worried about was my retainer and all the work (braces, etc) I’ve had done in my mouth. But thankfully, everything was intact. I think my retainer cut the inside of my lip with the impact or something, though. It’s all swelled up, but I’m just thankful that it wasn’t worse!

Now, the Padres are having some injuries too. We found out yesterday that pitcher Mark Worrell is having some elbow soreness. This is the guy who we got in the Khalil Greene trade, the one who has that funky sidearm delivery. Also, Chris Young is going through his annual elbow tendonitis.

Tonight we are playing the Mariners in Peoria, but we are technically the visiting team (the Padres and the Mariners share the same facility, so there’s a bit of a rivalry). It will be an interesting game. Cha Seung Baek is starting.

GO PADRES!!

(photo credit: cache.daylife.com)   

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Written by Kaity Bergquist Posted in Dailies Tagged with dead arm stage, joe thatcher, mariners, nine, padres, rangers, san diego, sounds of spring training, spring training