IGT 07/14 - WAS @ NYM - Say Goodbye to Zack?

[bmfc1]

How about a late Afternoon Delight? The Mets go for two in a row with Zack Wheeler (2-6, 4.42, 1.34) facing Austin Voth (per Federal Baseball: "pronunciation: \VOETH\)", a righty, making his MLB debut. Is this the last we'll see of Zack in a Mets uniform? For the bad guys, against Zack: Anthony Rendon is 7 for 20; Harper and Murphy have HRs. On April 17, Zack took the loss against WSH, going 6 IP with 3 ER.

This is the 4th time that Voth will be in the disgusting Nationals uni this season but the first time that he will play. If the Mets did that with someone, we'd make fun of them. Some information on Voth here: https://www.federalbaseball.com/2018/7/14/17568960/austin-voth-mlb-debut-washington-nationals-vs-new-york-mets

I went to the FanFest yesterday and it was great despite there being too much Nationals-related stuff. Here are some pictures!
https://photos.app.goo.gl/7CjBg2XGCuuKh43c6
That's me with Carlos Baerga; that's me touching the World Series Trophy (right before I was told not to).
BTW, following up on comments from yesterday's IGT, I bumped into someone I know who has Nationals season-tickets and not only did she have to buy tickets for every event this week, she had to pay for 8 programs (which makes no sense).

Edited July 14, 2018 by Guest

[G-Fafif]

Fuck yeah Carlos Baerga! Big part of the 1997 renaissance.

[bmfc1]

I'm getting some questions from people who don't know me: "which one is you and which one is Carlos Baerga?" Valid question. I'm on the right.

[Guest 41Forever]

AWESOME PHOTO!!!!

I’m green with envy. I love the FanFests.

[Lefty Specialist]

Baerga's arms look like tree trunks. Hope you got your hand back without it being crushed.

[bmfc1]

It was a very firm handshake. It looked like he could still play.

[bmfc1]

Here's the Mets lineup for today:
1. Brandon Nimmo (L) CF
2. Asdrubal Cabrera (S) 2B
3. Jose Bautista ® RF
4. Michael Conforto (L) LF
5. Wilmer Flores ® 1B
6. Kevin Plawecki ® C
7. Jose Reyes (S) 3B
8. Amed Rosario ® SS
9. Zack Wheeler (L) P

Reyes plays while Dom sits and while Dom is very bad (at the moment?), he is more likely to be part of the Mets future than Reyes so play him at 1B, move Wilmer to 3B (even though he will make at least one error there per game) and stop starting Jose.

Here are the scumbags from Washington (not THOSE scumbags):
1. Adam Eaton (L) RF
2. Juan Soto (L) LF
3. Anthony Rendon ® 3B
4. Bryce Harper (L) CF
5. Matt Adams (L) 1B
6. Daniel Murphy (L) 2B
7. Trea Turner ® SS
8. Spencer Kieboom ® C
9. Austin Voth ® P

[Edgy MD]

Lefty Specialist wrote: Baerga's arms look like tree trunks. Hope you got your hand back without it being crushed.

That's one jacked retired secondbaseman.

[bmfc1]

The bottom of the 2d was a thing of beauty.

[Guest 41Forever]

Well this has been going well so far. Conforto kaboom, Wheeler in a groove.n

[Guest cooby]

Carlos!

[Edgy MD]

What's Jeffrey Maier doing at Citi Field?

[Edgy MD]

Victory for the Mets and the Nats drop under .500.

[Centerfield]

Read a blurb that says Zack learned from deGrom to throw his fastball exclusively to the glove side. Anyone know what that means?

[ashie62]

Zack was awesome minus one pitch

[Frayed Knot]

Centerfield wrote: Read a blurb that says Zack learned from deGrom to throw his fastball exclusively to the glove side. Anyone know what that means?

Glove side for a RHP means inside corner to LHBs/outside corner to RHBs
And it's not that he only throws his fastball to that side but that it's the tougher pitch to spot and so deGrom took to only warming up that way so as to make it more likely he'll be able to pull
off that pitch if/when needed. Wheeler is now trying the same pre-game approach.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Cast your vote!

[Guest Rockin' Doc]

Well, my son and I are safely back in NC after our big adventure in NYC. Friday evening we took the train to Penn Station then wandered up 8th Ave. and had Dim Sum for dinner while watching the Mets game. Then we retraced our steps back down 8th Ave. while watching the game on the MLB app. on my son's phone. Stopped into Heartland Brewery (Midtown West) to have a beer and watch the conclusion of the game and post game show. We enjoyed watching all the happy Mets fans coming out of the nearby Port Authority terminal. Then we crossed the street and celebrated the Mets victory in the roof top bar at the Beer Authority. Eventually, we hustled back to Penn Station to catch the last train out to NJ.

We slept in (8:45 AM) Saturday morning, before fortifying ourselves with a hardy breakfast. We drove out to CitiField and backed my car into a shaded spot in Lot E around 1:20 PM. We then did some some sight seeing, as my son had never been to CitiField. We checked out the Home Run Apple and took some pictures around the stadium before heading to Mikkeller NYC to meet up with d'Kong/KC. We had a beer our two with KC before heading into the park. It was nice to meet G-Fafif, whom KC brought by and introduced to us prior to the game. After all these years, "talking" to one another on the CPF, I always feel as if I "know" members somewhat whenever we actually meet for the first time.

Young William Alexander* performed one of the finest renditions of the National Anthem that I have ever heard. Then it was time to play ball. We enjoyed watching Wheeler pitch a solid game (other than the fan assisted HR to Adams). It was nice to see the offense string some hits together and play small ball in the 2nd to get some momentum started and give Zack a little margin to work with. Conforto's home run in the 5th staked the the team to a nice lead and the bullpen made it stand up. All in all, a great day at the ballpark. It doesn't get much better than enjoying a Mets victory on a beautiful, sunny day. This win brought the Mets record to 6-1 in games I attend in person.

It is always more fun to watch a game with a friend and I thank KC for putting up with two loud southerners. I know it can be a dificult thing to do. G-Fafif, I appreciate you stopping by to meet us and I wish we had been able to spend time together discussing the Mets. Hopefully, someday in the future.

*My memory isn't always the best, but I believe this was his name.

[Guest d'Kong76]

Great to see you and your son too, RDoc, had a lot of fun seeing old friends.
Yes, that National Anthem was quite memorable... wonder if it's on youtube
or somewhere. And 7 runs! The Mets just don't do that! 7! You'll have to
come up for the next home stand lol.

[G-Fafif]

Great to meet you, Doc, and as always, a pleasure to cross paths with Kase. Missed the national anthem, but was on hand for "New York Groove," which, in the end, is the song one wishes to be humming as exiting.

[Guest d'Kong76]

Thanks G-F, I feel the same way.
MLB has young Mr. Alexander's perfomance, this kid's got some pipes!