IGT 07/31 - Mets at Nationals - Let's Bury These Muthas

[Guest d'Kong76]

They were laughing because someone said, 'maybe his arm will fall off and
we'll finally be rid of him.' (ok, sorry, I totally made that up)

[Frayed Knot]

metirish wrote: I really don't know what else they are supposed to do .

Pitch a pitcher, perhaps?

[RealityChuck]

metirish wrote: #Metstwitter is livid( it's always livid) that the bench, coaches etc. were laughing when Reyes was pitching...were they?, I really don't know what else they are supposed to do . I do recall when Desi Relaford pitched in 2001 there was some mild controversy after the game about some members of the team were laughing.

That's why they call a rout like that a laugher.

People tend to feel that a team should be embarrassed by being on the field when losing that bad. In reality, once they realize they are out of it -- especially in non-playoff game -- they always joke around. Losing a blowout doesn't bother a team; once things go pear-shaped, there's no reason to be mad. They tend to be more upset on losing a close game, especially if they had a chance to win it.

Do they think they should have acted like Shawn Kelly?

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

This was embarassing tho, especially given that the opponent was widely percieved to be in trouble, but had embarrassed us plenty already this year, that the damage came off a guy the Mets had in so many words just declared too good to trade, some damage came against ineffective fodder from last year's trade deadline, that a large percentage was inflicted by a former Met, that even if the bullpen thrown 8.1 scoreless we still get blown out because there's so little offense with which to fight back. It's in its own way its as bad as batting out of order, and a symbol of just how ineffective, how unprepared and how hopeless this team has been this year.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Cast your vote!

[nymr83]

Frayed Knot wrote: So Drew Smith, after throwing one inning/20 pitches -- one scoreless inning I might add -- needed to be removed from the game in order to make room for the Jose Reyes clown show?

the babying of pitchers in today's game is nuts.

a shortstop can come on and throw 48 batting practice softballs but relievers can't go a 2nd inning?

[Frayed Knot]

It was as if they wanted to get to Reyes.
It's been a trend all over MLB this year. The Mets had been one of the few teams NOT to employ a position player on the mound as it had already been done some 40 times this year.

Not that it was going to make a difference in the game, but both the booth and the dugout seemed anxious to join the party as if this move made them part of the cool crowd or something.
I'm hoping that the Dodgers lose the NL West by one game this year based on their use of Kike Hernandez rather than some back of the rotation starter during the 16th inning of a tied game in Philly last week.
Or maybe they'll lose out in the WC race to Philly by a game.

[Chad ochoseis]

7/31, 4PM, Omar's office.

Omar: "Looks like this guy McNeil is gonna work out as a utility infielder once we get Todd back. But I'm not ready to let go of Jose yet. Can we find a new position for him?"

Mickey: "I'll see what I can do."

[Ceetar]

Nymr83 wrote: Frayed Knot wrote: So Drew Smith, after throwing one inning/20 pitches -- one scoreless inning I might add -- needed to be removed from the game in order to make room for the Jose Reyes clown show? the babying of pitchers in today's game is nuts. a shortstop can come on and throw 48 batting practice softballs but relievers can't go a 2nd inning?

pitchers break. the best thing you can do to keep pitchers healthy is to not pitch them. There's value to staying fresh and getting your work in, etc, but hell, they probably should've brought Reyes in earlier. Those innings are garbage. The game was over. They were playing out the string. If you don't want the 25th guy on the roster throwing saving arm strain of more important guys, support a mercy rule and this game could've been over after 7.

Shawn Kelley agrees. should've been a bench guy for the Nats too.

[Guest d'Kong76]

Ceetar wrote: The game was over. They were playing out the string. If you don't want the 25th guy on the roster throwing saving arm strain of more important guys, support a mercy rule and this game could've been over after 7.

A mercy rule is ludicrous for professional baseball. 4,374 minimum outs per season
unless nature says otherwise. Imagine two games left in the season and you're 1 HR
away from a $1mil contractual bonus that kicks in for reaching X HR's and they call
mercy rule on you and you're up first in the 8th? Everyone bats 9 innings and someone
from the other team has to pitch 9 innings. It's pro ball, not Sunday beer league.

Please, there are too many changes already and the dreaded DH is coming soon. Stop
thinking of ways to further fuck up the game. It's not The Gong Show, it's The Show.

[batmagadanleadoff]

There's nothing ridiculous about a mercy rule. It's just that you're not accustomed to it and it's associated with children's baseball. But if MLB always had a rule where a team is charged with a loss as soon as it falls behind by "x" runs, it will have been a fabric of the game and as traditional as the sac bunt. And you'd accept it. And a player with a performance clause would understand that the mercy rule, just like a heavy and prolonged rain, could interfere with his personal goals. If MLB had always played through heavy rain, like the NFL does, you'd probably think that proposed rain delay rules were for pussies.

[Guest d'Kong76]

What's next, rounding the bases on an obvious HR is optional?

[batmagadanleadoff]

batmagadanleadoff wrote: There's nothing ridiculous about a mercy rule. It's just that you're not accustomed to it and it's associated with children's baseball. But if MLB always had a rule where a team is charged with a loss as soon as it falls behind by "x" runs, it will have been a fabric of the game and as traditional as the sac bunt. And you'd accept it. And a player with a performance clause would understand that the mercy rule, just like a heavy and prolonged rain, could interfere with his personal goals. If MLB had always played through heavy rain, like the NFL does, you'd probably think that proposed rain delay rules were for pussies.

The likeliest reason there's no MLB mercy rule is not because the rule's ridiculous, but because of the economics. Fans can't spend their money when the game's over and the ushers are herding them out of the ballpark.