The Padres have thrown out 17 percent of opposing baserunners this season, which ranks last in the Major Leagues and well below the Major League average (28 percent), though it's up from the woeful 10 percent rate they posted a year ago.
In the last two games alone entering Sunday, Padres catchers Nick Hundley and Josh Bard have thrown out three consecutive would-be basestealers. It's the first time that has happened since June 2006.
Hundley, who threw out two baserunners Friday, has thrown out five of 14 (35 percent) of the baserunners who have tried to run against him since he was promoted from Triple-A Portland on July 4.
"Nick is a very good thrower," said Padres bench coach Craig Colbert, who works with the catchers. "When you punch the clock on him, it's like, 'Jeez.' It's a great asset to have a catcher who can throw like that."
Hundley's two successful throws against the Giants on Friday were clocked at 1.87 and 1.90 seconds, both considered very good for catchers.
"I'll take that every time," Colbert said. "Anything between 1.9 and 2.0 you'll take if the pitcher is doing what he's supposed to be doing. ... 1.87, that's getting down there in a hurry. That will stop the running game. I don't care who is on the mound."
It's not just the guy who throws the ball to second base but the guy who delivers the ball to the plate who factors in the equation as well. Last season, pitchers like Greg Maddux, Chris Young and Jake Peavy to some degree were easier to run against.
That may be changing, though. Since the start of Spring Training, the Padres have talked with their pitchers about not only paying more attention to runners on first base but also being quicker to the plate.
"It tells me our pitchers have sped up to home plate," Colbert said. "Jake Peavy, Josh Banks and even C.Y. have sped up."
Bard threw out San Francisco's John Bowker on Saturday but his time to second base was only 2.28 as Bowker appeared to get a bad jump from first base.
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