SAN DIEGO ?141 (WELLS VS REYNOLDS LISTED)
Have to take a shot at the Padres here for numerous reasons. Let?s take a look at what I feel are the key numbers and/or situations in this game.
After going through a bit of a slump themselves in the early part of this month, the Padres seem to be back on track having won 6 of their last 8 games. The D?Backs on the other hand are struggling, having lost 9 straight games after yesterday?s loss to Detroit. The old saying states ?never to bet against a streak?, so I?ll hope this streak has at least one more in it!
Another problem for the D?Backs is the travel situation. Anytime a team travels from East to West and plays the next day, it seems to have an effect on that team. Whether it?s the sleep situation, or jet laag, or what have ya, teams seem to struggle more in these situations. Of course Arizona just played in Detroit on Sunday and although San Diego is traveling as well, the situation isn?t near as drastic.
Shane Reynolds gets the start for Arizona today. It?ll be his first start of the season and his first official start for the D?Backs. Reynolds got rocked in spring training this season and had a 14.02 ERA which included 4 starts, before landing on the Disabled list with rotatator cuff problems. Reynolds, however did pitched well in his last rehab start in the minors, but then again that was minor league hitting. There?s a big difference between inexperienced and experienced hitters when you?re facing someone that?s going to be more than likely relying on a lot of off-speed stuff to make him effective?.it?s like night and day. With that being said, he?ll be facing a veteran group of major leaguers with the Padres and he might just not have enough heat on his fastball to make him effective against this group. I?d be surprised if he hits those mid to upper 80?s consistently. The Padres hitters also have a pretty good history vs Reynolds. Here?s the ones that have hit him very well over their careers:
Jeff Cirillo .480 (12 for 25)
Brian Giles .375 (9 for 24)
Ryan Klesko .526 (10 for 19)
Terrence Long .500 (2 for 4)
Mark Lorretta .371 (13 for 35)
Phil Nevin .364 (4 for 11)
Jay Payton .667 (2 for 3)
It will also be Reynold?s first start as a Diamond Back at Bank One Ballpark, but he does have 3 previous career starts as a visiting pitcher in this ballpark and has a not so good 6.38 career ERA in those starts, so maybe this ballpark isn?t too friendly for him as well.
Bottom line in this one, is that San Diego has the edge in almost every category ranging from hitting including their bench to pitching including their bullpen. They also have the edge in defense. The one negative I have in this game is the fact that Arizona just faced Wells 5 days ago which in a way favors the Zona hitters, but then again in that game, Wells did pitch very well in that game, getting a no-decision, allowing just 2 runs over 7 innings. I?ll take my chances with San Diego in this one, hoping the numbers back me up and the Zona streak continues.
Good luck to all!
-ndnfan
Have to take a shot at the Padres here for numerous reasons. Let?s take a look at what I feel are the key numbers and/or situations in this game.
After going through a bit of a slump themselves in the early part of this month, the Padres seem to be back on track having won 6 of their last 8 games. The D?Backs on the other hand are struggling, having lost 9 straight games after yesterday?s loss to Detroit. The old saying states ?never to bet against a streak?, so I?ll hope this streak has at least one more in it!
Another problem for the D?Backs is the travel situation. Anytime a team travels from East to West and plays the next day, it seems to have an effect on that team. Whether it?s the sleep situation, or jet laag, or what have ya, teams seem to struggle more in these situations. Of course Arizona just played in Detroit on Sunday and although San Diego is traveling as well, the situation isn?t near as drastic.
Shane Reynolds gets the start for Arizona today. It?ll be his first start of the season and his first official start for the D?Backs. Reynolds got rocked in spring training this season and had a 14.02 ERA which included 4 starts, before landing on the Disabled list with rotatator cuff problems. Reynolds, however did pitched well in his last rehab start in the minors, but then again that was minor league hitting. There?s a big difference between inexperienced and experienced hitters when you?re facing someone that?s going to be more than likely relying on a lot of off-speed stuff to make him effective?.it?s like night and day. With that being said, he?ll be facing a veteran group of major leaguers with the Padres and he might just not have enough heat on his fastball to make him effective against this group. I?d be surprised if he hits those mid to upper 80?s consistently. The Padres hitters also have a pretty good history vs Reynolds. Here?s the ones that have hit him very well over their careers:
Jeff Cirillo .480 (12 for 25)
Brian Giles .375 (9 for 24)
Ryan Klesko .526 (10 for 19)
Terrence Long .500 (2 for 4)
Mark Lorretta .371 (13 for 35)
Phil Nevin .364 (4 for 11)
Jay Payton .667 (2 for 3)
It will also be Reynold?s first start as a Diamond Back at Bank One Ballpark, but he does have 3 previous career starts as a visiting pitcher in this ballpark and has a not so good 6.38 career ERA in those starts, so maybe this ballpark isn?t too friendly for him as well.
Bottom line in this one, is that San Diego has the edge in almost every category ranging from hitting including their bench to pitching including their bullpen. They also have the edge in defense. The one negative I have in this game is the fact that Arizona just faced Wells 5 days ago which in a way favors the Zona hitters, but then again in that game, Wells did pitch very well in that game, getting a no-decision, allowing just 2 runs over 7 innings. I?ll take my chances with San Diego in this one, hoping the numbers back me up and the Zona streak continues.
Good luck to all!
-ndnfan
