IGT 09/20 - Mets at Nationals

[Edgy MD]

Jackson has only been released by one team this season.

[bmfc1]

Edgy MD wrote: Jackson has only been released by one team this season.

Plays like it was two. Should be two with the Mets being the second.

[Centerfield]

Mets rallying exact same time Red Sox clinching at MFYs.

[Edgy MD]

Harper knows he's playing for a contract, right?

[Centerfield]

Go home Rayburn. Jesus.

[Edgy MD]

First Mets victory for Gary Disarcina?

[Centerfield]

Jose Loboton. shams MVP

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Rhame, Sewald and Lobaton come through

[Edgy MD]

Centerfield wrote: Jose Loboton. shams MVP

"José, grab a bat, we're going to need you to pinch-hit next inning."

"Wait a minute ... am I actually on the roster?"

[bmfc1]

I missed both ejections. They were lousy calls and there will be no ramifications for the umpire, D.J. ("Dumb Judgement"?) Rayburn.
https://www.mlb.com/gameday/mets-vs-nationals/2018/09/20/531695#game_state=final,lock_state=final,game_tab=videos,game=531695
(Does Harper say "go f*** yourself; get it f*****g right"?)

This is a fun website: http://portal.closecallsports.com/historical-data/2018-mlb-ejections

[MFS62]

Let's hear it for the expanded rosters.

Later

[Benjamin Grimm]

Cast your vote!

[Centerfield]

Rayburn was noticeably bad all night long. Squeezed Vargas on more than one occasion. Had a much bigger strikezone for Scherzer. I feel like Mickey needed to start barking at him long before he actually did.

He had a terrible call against Jackson (at least I think it was Jackson, IIRC). Way down and away, called for strike 3. The calls against McNeil were laughable. Both of them. I'm glad Mickey came out and showed some fire. He needs to have a lot more of that (in these instances, I miss the hell out of Terry Collins).

The call against Bryce was missed too, but it was a close call and one that someone is going to be upset about whichever way it's called. And of course we don't know what Bryce said, but his head was down and walking back to the dugout, so unless he used a few choice words, there's no need for that.

Bryce Harper is such an interesting guy. He comes across as the biggest asshole, but seems well liked by teammates not named Papelbon. Is always gracious in his comments, and when off the field, seems somewhat likeable. Which is almost impossible for someone with that hair. Doesn't run out ground balls nearly enough, but also displays passion like we saw last night. Tough guy to figure out.

[Ceetar]

I think Harper's just a hot head for the most part, but in a MLB clubhouse that passion and intensity is probably valued.

[Edgy MD]

Yeah, the idea that he can hustle like nobody's business when he sees daylight but regularly embarrass himself with his mail-it-in motions in the same game is frustrating. I guess the same can be said of Céspedes, but at least we know he's had damage to his trucks, so him picking his moments can be rationalized as strategic, rather than merely petulant.

He seems impossibly self-centered to me. It's probably part of what makes him the athlete he is. But I'd want a locker as far away from him as possible.

[Frayed Knot]

Harper looks increasingly disinterested in anything that doesn't involve him hitting a HR

His BA is 30+ points off his career avg and more than 70 off last year
He has ZERO triples this year after hitting 9 as a rookie
He walks a ton but one gets the impression that's more because he's waiting for the perfect pitch to wail on rather than actually working the count
He was a good fielder when he came up and was more than capable of holding his own in CF. He now looks not just ordinary but more like bottom of the barrel
He runs the bases only occasionally and often badly on those rare occasions
His OBP is just shy of .400 yet he manages to slot in as only 10th best in WAR (1.2) on his own underachieving team, a feat which I would have thought impossible