Nick Hundley: The Pitcher Whisperer?

Yes, the Padres lost 4-3 to the Buccos last night, snapping a 9-game winning streak against the Pirates dating back to 2009. Yes, Aaron Harang had his second straight dicey outing, giving up two first inning home runs to the likes of Chris Snyder and Garrett "Improved Plate Discipline" Jones. And yes, the Padres only went 1-8 with runners in scoring position, stranding 7 runners on base and having a runner thrown out at home.

But I did see one thing I liked in last night's game.

In the top of the 9th with the Padres protecting a 1-run lead, Bud Black called Luke Gregerson out of the pen to replace Ernesto Frieri, who had walked three of the last 4 batters (the bases weren't loaded because in between those walks Nick Hundley threw out Lyle Overbay trying to steal, in my view not even the best thing Nick did in the inning.) Luke promptly walked the first batter he faced and threw a bad looking ball to the next batter, Steven Pearce. It was then that Nick Hundley stepped up. He walked out to the mound, said a few words to Luke, patted him on the ass, and went back to his spot behind the plate.

Luke struck out Pearce in three more pitches. Then he got McCutchen to ground out to end the inning.

So yes, the Padres didn't win the game, but I liked what I saw in the interaction between Nick and Luke. That bodes well for Nick's increasing ability to handle the Padres pitching staff.

"Looking Good, Padres." "Feeling Good, Ryan."

That was the hypothetical conversation I had last night with the Padres. It's based on the famous last line of dialogue from Trading Places ("Looking good, Billy Ray!" "Feeling good, Clarence."). I thought those words were apropos considering the Padres solid start to the season.

Indeed, after the first four games of the 2011 season, the Padres sit at 3-1, highlighted by yesterday's win in the home opener against the San Francisco Giants (with honorable mention to Chase's 4 ribeye game Saturday in St. Louis - pictured above). Aaron Harang overcame some early wildness to shut down the Gints over six innings, paving the way for worry-free relief work from Luke, Mike, and Heath.

The only downside was that I couldn't be there in person to watch Trevor throw out the first pitch. What a moment.

Whither Luke Gregerson?

The Padres won yesterday for the first time in 10 games, defeating the Hated Dadgers 4-2 at Petco Park. A number of Padres played well in the game - Nick Hundley, Aaron Cunningham, Mike Adams, and Heath Bell come to mind - but Luke Gregerson again struggled to get outs.

Luke has not been effective so far in September. In his 3 appearances in the month, Luke has faced 13 batters and recorded only 3 outs, amounting to 1 full inning pitched. Over that inning, he's given up 6 hits, 8 runs (7 earned), walked 3, struckout only 1 and given up 2 homeruns. Bud Black pulled Luke last night after only 8 pitches, handing the ball over to Mike Adams to get the final two outs of the 7th inning.

This is not the first time Luke has struggled this season. During his first four apperances of July, Luke faced 17 batters across 2.2 innings pitched and gave up 6 hits, 7 runs (all earned), walked 4, K'd only 1, and allowed 2 bombs. Almost a mirror image of his first three appearances this month.

I'm not ready to close the book on Luke for the season. Far from it. In fact, I'm optimistic he'll turn it around. After that dismal start to July, Luke came back with a huge inning-and-a-third scoreless performance against the Rockies right before the All-Star break. That kind of resolve in the face of tough circumstances - coupled with a dominant slider that will no doubt resurface - is why Luke will be clutch these next three weeks.

After all, Luke went to high school in Morton, IL, just across the Illinois River from my hometown of Peoria. They don't breed half-hearts and cowards out in Morton. They breed country boys who know how to get things dun.

I bet Luke starts getting it dun tonight.

Oh, The Horror

Brandon Allen just hit a grand slam off Luke Gregerson in the 8th inning and the Diamondbacks beat the Padres 5-2.

The Horror.

Gregerson And The Padres Sticking It To The Marlins

Just watched Luke pitch another perfect 7th inning against the Marlins, this following his dominant, three-K 7th inning in last night's game.

On the season, not counting his outing this afternoon, Luke has 14 Ks over 11.1 innings pitched, to go along with a 2.38 ERA and .128 batting average against. He has not relinquished a home run, and has walked only two hitters.

Plus, as the photo above attests, he looks friendly and nice.

Luke. Getting it dun.

Opening Day For The Padrinos: Gregerson

Hey Luke Gregerson,

You "player-to-be-named-later" in the Khalil Greene trade ... how about having a year, huh?

Today you get to start proving last year wasn't a fluke and continue being an integral part of the Gregerson-Adams-Bell triumvirate that should hold any Padres lead from the 7th inning on this season.

Now get out there and start owning the 7th inning.

Best,
Bevormo

Looking Ahead To Peoria, AZ (aka Spring Training)

Spring Training approaches, folks, and in anticipation of that glorious time of the year, I recently posted a comment over at Ducksnorts asking Geoff Young, the renowned Padre blogger, what he plans to focus on when the Padres take the field in Arizona next month.

Geoff decided to use the comment as the basis for his post today at Ducksnorts.

It should come as no surprise that Geoff highlights several of the most intriguing issues facing the Padres as they prepare for the season. In addition to Geoff's points, I'd just add the following notes:

1. CY watch. While I am optimistic that the Padres as a whole can exceed expectations this season (85 wins and in the Wild Card conversation as late as mid-September if things break right), I am not overly optimistic as to Chris Young's chances to pitch an injury-free, ace-like season. He's just burned me too many times. I'll be rooting for him, but I'll also be keeping a wary eye open to any more shoulder and back problems that could further impede a return of the old CY.

2. Blanks and Headley. A key part of my optimistic projection for the Padres is that Blanks and Headley mash and, along with Adrian, form an actual, real live, scary heart-of-the-order for the Padres. I'm not sure that's possible - a Padres lineup that actually scares people - but if there is any chance of it happening then Blanks and Headley must perform like the #1 prospects they used to be.

3. Query the Padres bullpen? I have high hopes for these guys - Heath, Mike Adams, Luke Gregerson, Ed Mujica, Joe Thatcher - so high, in fact, that I think they have the potential to be the best in baseball. But other than Heath, there is not a long record of consistency and injury-free baseball from this group. In Arizona, I'll be watching for indications that these guys are for real, and that they won't regress or spend a lot of time this season twiddling their thumbs on the DL.

So that's that. Thanks to Geoff for using my question for the basis of a post, and let's get this season underway.

Heath Is In The Fold To The Tune Of $4 Million

The Drinos and Heath Bell agreed to a one-year contract to avoid arbitration. The deal is worth $4 million to Heath and should allow him to stock up on things he likes, like candy bars and ass kickings.

Jed Hoyer may still choose to trade Heath - which might make sense if in return he can get a promising young arm - but for now Heath is on board, ready to close out games for the 2010 Drinos.

Having a closer of Heath's skill might not seem necessary to a team that no one expects to compete, but not having Heath makes it even more likely the team will not compete. It's one of those self-fulfilling prophecies the Greek dramatists wrote about so much.

A Heath Bell-Mike Adams-Luke Gregerson-Edward Mujica-Adam Russell-Joe Thatcher-Ryan Webb bullpen could be rather ridiculous. I'm on board.

Losing Is A Disease, As Contagious As Polio ...

James Van Der Beek,

I know how you feel, man. That's the same face I made today when I saw the Padres had blown yet another late lead and lost once again to the lowly Arizona Snakenbacks.

Just a heinous set of games the last few days.

Check out this string of shyte:

Sunday: Down all game to the hated Dadgers, the Padres score five runs in the bottom of the 9th only to have the potential game-winning run thrown out at third and then to lose in the 13th on a James Loney bomb. Pads lose 7-6.

Monday: Padres lead 5-3 heading into the 8th until Luke Gregerson gives up two tying runs - punctuated by a Chad Tracy bomb - and Cla Meredith gives up the game winning single to Mark Reynolds, made possible by a 2-out walk to Justin Upton. Pads lose 6-5.

Tuesday: Padres make 3 errors in the third inning and are down 4-1 but manage to close the gap to 1-run before falling short after leaving the tying run on second with nobody out in the 8th. Pads lose 4-3.

Today: The Padres are up 2-1 going to the bottom of the 8th after a sterling start by Chad Gaudin. Unfortunately a disgusting 5-run 8th by the DBacks - set up in part by, of all things, an Adrian error - leads to yet another poor poor pitiful ending. Pads lose 6-2.

James, what would Dawson do in this situation?

I'll take ideas from anyone at this point.

Best,
Bevormo

Good Pitching Cures Hangovers

Jake,

Stellar game today at home against Cincy. You pitched a complete game 4-hitter with 9 Ks, the only real blemish a 6th inning bomb you relinquished to somebody on the Reds named Dickerson. That kid just got lucky. You were dominant today. I don't recall your pitches looking so unhittable, at least not this season. I see your ERA dropping into the 2s before long with stuff like that.

I feel bad though because I didn't watch every pitch. I was on the sofa in my living room napping off a margarita/red wine hangover (that's a dangerous mix, my friend) and would go in-and-out of sleep while the game played on the television. It seemed like every time I woke up one of your sliders was breaking off at a ridiculously late moment as it passed over the plate, or one of your fastballs was painting a corner of the plate for a sweet called strike. Absolutely nasty.

Needless to say it was one of the best naps I've ever had.

You're probably pumped today from your performance, but I bet you're also stoked based on what the boys in the bullpen did in last night's dramatic 16-inning 6-5 win over the Redlegs. I missed the game because I chose to eat salami but from what I see in the box score, the bullpen was perfect. Just look at these numbers:

Joe Thatcher - .1 IP, 1 K
Greg Burke (MLB debut, sorry I missed it, Greg) - 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 K
Cla Meredith - 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R
Heath Bell - 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 K
Edward Mujica - 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 K
Luke Gregerson - 3 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 3 Ks
Luis Perdomo - 3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 K

I'm no mathemetician, Jake, but that looks to me like 10.1 innings of relief pitching, with 0 runs allowed and 8 Ks. I'm no chef either but that looks like a recipe for victory.

And all that relief pitching set up Nick Hundley's 2-out, walk-off bomb in the bottom of the 16th.

What a weekend of Padre baseball.

Best,
Bevormo