). At the game at Petco last night, had good seats close-up to see my ace in action. Zambrano is the most exciting player in the game. He gives up 3 in the first after looking pretty upset over not getting what looked like a real good pitch on an 0-2 count, later in the count a short pop-up to left which Soriano blew - by taking two steps back on - dropped in front of him for a hit which led to a few out-of-focus ABs against Z and 3 runs. Z settles down and shuts them out for the next 4 innings but doesn't last long because of a ~35 pitch count in the first inning.
Meanwhile, on the bases he gets a key two-out, stand-up triple to drive in a run - and he was motoring like he wanted an inside-the-parker. He later gets another sharp single up the middle. And in his final AB, for which any other pitcher would have been pinch hit for since he was coming out anyway, he lays a perfect drag bunt down the 3B line. Kouz was expecting it and is there quickly - but Zambrano was burning down the line faster than anyone that looks like him should be able to and beats it out, leading to a big inning. I really think he could out-run half the guys in baseball that steal 20+ bases a year. He's hitting 366 on the season with a 902 OPS. He just creates excitement. Too bad he can't play everyday.
As for the Padres, i think Adrian Gonzalez is turning into a perennial superstar. He has a perfect slight upper-cut swing and is right on the ball so often, with the strength to hit it out anywhere, its scary; one of the last guys in the NL I'd want to face if I was pitcher. I think he's moving into the same class as Berkman and Utley.
[ June 03, 2008, 01:53 PM: Message edited by: KJ Duke ]
