Coincidence or not, Jake Peavy will pitch the first and last games on the Padres’ six-game homestand that begins tonight.This will mark the third time in the last four homestands (all six games) that Peavy has pitched the first and last contest.
More than a coincidence?
Maybe.
Let’s face it: Peavy is a hot topic at home.
The last time Peavy pitched at home June 7 against the Dodgers, the attendance was 40,631. That was about 9,000 more than for each of the first two games against Los Angeles.
There may be a Randy Jones theory at work here. When Jones won the National League Cy Young award in 1976 for the Padres, home attendance was normally about 10,000 more when he pitched.
Peavy is actually a better road pitcher this year, with a 4-0 record and 0.88 ERA. But his presence at home, where he is 4-1, certainly adds up the attendance figures.
And the Padres have taken note of that, especially as Peavy tonight will try to tie his personal best of six consecutive winning decisions in a season set from July 16-Aug. 28, 2004.
1 comment:
Thanks for pointing out Peavy's superior road record. Some national "experts" have been discounting his record because he pitches in Petco Park, failing to note his superior road record. Additionally, when Peavy's home performance is adjusted for ballpark factors, he still rates (by far and away) the best pitcher in the major leagues.
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