You may see a lot of outlets simulate NFL games on Madden NFL 12 to gain insight on the games to come. We at the Friarhood thought we’d do the same to see how the digital Padres match up against the NL West leading Diamondbacks.

I did so using Major League Baseball 2K11 for the Xbox 360 console. I used up to date rosters and set the time and weather to what is predicted for Friday, September 16th's night game at Petco Park.  I used the probable pitchers as they are scheduled with Tim Stauffer going against Wade Miley. Since Miley is a lefty I decided to send out a lineup with Bud Black written all over it.

CF Cameron Maybin

SS Jason Bartlett

1B Jesus Guzman

LF Kyle Blanks

C Nick Hundley

2B Orlando Hudson

RF Chris Denorfia

3B Alberto Gonzalez

P Tim Stauffer

I purposely started Gonzalez instead of James Darnell so everyone on my imaginary twitter feed would throw a fit, just like in real life. They also are upset with virtual Bud Black for not giving digital Anthony Rizzo a chance to show he can hit against lefties, something he’ll eventually need to do if he wants to succeed on the big league level.

This group will go against Arizona’s best lineup as follows.

LF Gerardo Parra

2B Aaron Hill

RF Justin Upton

C Miguel Montero

1B Paul Goldschmidt

CF Chris Young

3B Ryan Roberts

SS Jason McDonald

P Wade Miley

Since it is a video game they have a sold out crowd In Petco Park and they are all San Diego fans.  Just like in real life they are wearing a plethora of different Padres jerseys & caps, from blue and white, to brown and yellow. They even have some people wearing the “throwback sand” for good measure.

Stauffer miraculously had a 1-2-3 inning in the top of the first featuring a non-diving catch by Norf and a strikeout of Upton, causing me to question the realism of the game. But the game got realistic real quick when the Padres failed to get a hit after Maybin’s leadoff walk.

Hundley got the first hit of the game, a single to left to start the second inning, but like Maybin before, he never reached scoring position. Stauffer lost the perfect game when he walked McDonald. After Miley’s sac bunt, Stauffer got Parra to fly out to Blanks to end the third.

At this point I had my oldest daughter do the running-man, a la the “Dancing Groundskeeper”, while her younger sister straightened up our living room. They both exited and the game continued.

Aaron Hill got Arizona’s first hit when he hit a fly ball to shallow right that Denorfia dove for and missed by about five feet(pictured right), making me fall off my couch with laughter. Upton then singled to right to put Arizona up 1-0. Upton then tried to steal second as was thrown out easily by Nick Hundley. Stauffer got out of the inning with minimal damage.

I then grabbed a pulled pork sandwich from my kitchen (Randy Jones BBQ?) during the middle of the fourth. I purposely did not pause the game as if to simulate myself standing in a concession line. I sat down in time to watch Blanks hit a stand-up double off the PETCO Porch in right field. After a Hundley walk, O-Dog grounded into a 4-6-3 double-play that prompted me and the virtual PETCO crowd to let out a collective sigh.

The top of the next inning had Young hitting a ground ball up the middle that Hudson snag and perform his patented “jump-throw” which sailed over Guzman’s head, allowing the runner to reach second. I “booed” him for his effort. Young eventually scored on a single by Miley of all people. Another run scored when Parra beat out an inning-ending double-play when Bartlett’s throw brought Guzman off the bag, reminding me you can’t spell Bartlett without an “E”.

At this point I went to get an O’Douls out of my fridge / virtual Neil the Beer Man. When I came back, the Padres pinch-hit for Stauffer with Aaron Cunningham with two out and none on. He grounded out to end the inning.

Ernesto Frieri came in and fared better than Stauffer facing only three batters. Young absolutely crushed a ball to right-center but the ball was eventually run down and caught by Maybin on the warning path right in front of the “beachers” for out number three.

Maybin led off the sixth with a stand-up double to left field. He then advanced to third by a groundout by Bartlett.  After a Guzman walk Blanks nearly tied the game when he hammered the ball deep to straightaway center but only got a sac fly as Young caught the ball with his back to the wall. Hundley then fanned to end the inning with the Padres trailing 3-1.

I used the restroom during the seventh inning stretch and sang take me out to ball game while I waited in line at my own house. When I came back I saw Deno single and steal second off reliever David Hernandez with one out. Black then pinch hit Gonzalez for virtual Will Venable. Venable popped up prompting me to remind myself to check out an IPA fueled review of that at-bat by the Avenger-in-Chief. Jeremy Hermida then pinch-hit for Frieri and grounded out to the pitcher, ending the inning.

In the eighth Maybin launched one off of the side of Max’s (yes Max’s) Metal Supply Building just foul of a home run. Maybin then struck out before Bartlett popped out. Guzman and Blanks then hit consecutive bloop-singles to right-center to put runners at the corners. Hundley then struck out looking at a low fastball on a 3-2 count leaving me muttering to myself.

A neat aspect of the game is that unlike the real Padres nowadays, they ring the rally bell to begin the bottom of the ninth. It seemed to help as O-Dog drew a one out walk off closer J.J. Putz to lead off the inning. Putz then walked Denorfia on four pitches prompting Black to bring in pinch-hitter Andy Parrino. Parrino then grounded into a 5-4-3 twin-killing, bringing up Rizzo as the tying run with two out. Rizzo grounded out to the shortstop to end the game, sending the virtual Petco crowd home disappointed and wondering if they want to renew their fictitious season tickets.

I found the simulation a little too realistic for my tastes, having watched my Friars come up painfully short in key situations. It made me wonder why I put myself in such a situation on one of the few off days I’ve had to not see that these last six months. But who knows, maybe I’ll try it again. But I think next time I’ll be using Major League Baseball 2K10.