Opening Day IGT: 4/1/21

[Edgy MD]

Pending cancellations, the Mets are scheduled to open in DC, play six games in seven days in Washington and Philadelphia ,and not make it back to Queens for the home opener until a full week later.

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[TH][/TH]	[TH][FIMG=250]https://cdn.freebiesupply.com/images/large/2x/new-york-mets-logo-transparent.png[/FIMG][/TH]	[TH][/TH]	[TH][/TH]	[TH][FIMG=250]https://cdn.freebiesupply.com/images/large/2x/washington-nationals-logo-transparent.png[/FIMG][/TH]	[TH][/TH]
[TH]#[/TH]	[TH]Player[/TH]	[TH]Pos[/TH]	[TH]#[/TH]	[TH]Player[/TH]	[TH]Pos[/TH]
[TD]=#FF8000]1[/TD]	[TD]=#0000FF]Nimmo[/TD]	[TD]=#FF8000]cf[/TD]	[TD]=#B22222]1[/TD]	[TD]=#0000BF]Turner[/TD]	[TD]=#B22222]ss[/TD]
[TD]=#FF8000]2[/TD]	[TD]=#0000FF]Lindor[/TD]	[TD]=#FF8000]ss[/TD]	[TD]=#B22222]2[/TD]	[TD]=#0000BF]Robles[/TD]	[TD]=#B22222]cf[/TD]
[TD]=#FF8000]3[/TD]	[TD]=#0000FF]McNeil[/TD]	[TD]=#FF8000]2b[/TD]	[TD]=#B22222]3[/TD]	[TD]=#0000BF]Soto[/TD]	[TD]=#B22222]rf[/TD]
[TD]=#FF8000]4[/TD]	[TD]=#0000FF]Alonso[/TD]	[TD]=#FF8000]1b[/TD]	[TD]=#B22222]4[/TD]	[TD]=#0000BF]Bell[/TD]	[TD]=#B22222]1b[/TD]
[TD]=#FF8000]5[/TD]	[TD]=#0000FF]Conforto[/TD]	[TD]=#FF8000]rf[/TD]	[TD]=#B22222]5[/TD]	[TD]=#0000BF]Schwarber[/TD]	[TD]=#B22222]lf[/TD]
[TD]=#FF8000]6[/TD]	[TD]=#0000FF]Davis[/TD]	[TD]=#FF8000]3b[/TD]	[TD]=#B22222]6[/TD]	[TD]=#0000BF]Kieboom[/TD]	[TD]=#B22222]3b[/TD]
[TD]=#FF8000]7[/TD]	[TD]=#0000FF]Smith[/TD]	[TD]=#FF8000]lf[/TD]	[TD]=#B22222]7[/TD]	[TD]=#0000BF]Gomes[/TD]	[TD]=#B22222]c[/TD]
[TD]=#FF8000]8[/TD]	[TD]=#0000FF]McCann[/TD]	[TD]=#FF8000]c[/TD]	[TD]=#B22222]8[/TD]	[TD]=#0000BF]Garcia[/TD]	[TD]=#B22222]2b[/TD]
[TD]=#FF8000]9[/TD]	[TD]=#0000FF]deGrom[/TD]	[TD]=#FF8000]sp[/TD]	[TD]=#B22222]9[/TD]	[TD]=#0000BF]Scherzer[/TD]	[TD]=#B22222]sp[/TD]

That's the way I would align them, anyhow, but anyone shown from 2-7 might end up in the three-hole.



As for the Nats, apart from having, you know, the best hitter in the division, this isn't looking like much of a lineup yet.

[Frayed Knot]

Hit it to left field

[Centerfield]

Turner and Soto are stars.



Schwarber and Bell are dangerous power hitters. It still could be a pretty good lineup, depending on which Bell shows up for 2021.

[Edgy MD]

Turner is a star. Soto is a superstar.



I certainly don't want to short-sell the 2019 champs, but five guys in that lineup had awful seasons in 2020.

[batmagadanleadoff]

Sandy Alderson sez that Dom Smith ain't going anywhere. If there's no NL DH in 2021, the Mets'll deal with it with Dom on board.



https://metsmerizedonline.com/2021/01/alderson-doms-not-going-anywhere.html/https://metsmerizedonline.com/2021/01/alderson-doms-not-going-anywhere.html/

[Lefty Specialist]

Sandy Alderson sez that Dom Smith ain't going anywhere. If there's no NL DH in 2021, the Mets'll deal with it with Dom on board. https://metsmerizedonline.com/2021/01/alderson-doms-not-going-anywhere.html/https://metsmerizedonline.com/2021/01/alderson-doms-not-going-anywhere.html/

If there's not a DH in 2021, there could very well be one in 2022. So it's certainly worth holding on to Dom. He'll get his at-bats.

[Frayed Knot]

Two weeks!

[Edgy MD]

Switching the Mets lineup around to reflect how they've been deployed of late, as well as McNeilio's crappy spring.



The Nats seem to favor Soto in the two-hole, with Turner behind him. Other than that, they've got the returning and reinvigorated Ryan Zimmerman challenging Josh Bell at first, and Alex Avila pushing Yan Gomes behind the plate.



They're pretty much dispatching their starting lineup today as they visit the Mets, with the main exception being Avila at catcher, so maybe he is ascendant.



Both teams are deploying DHs today, which is just goofy. Play baseball, man.



Governor Cuomo just stated that Citi Field and YSIII can open at 20% capacity for opening day.

[TABLE][TR][/TR][TR][/TR][TR][TR][/TR][TR][/TR][TR][/TR][TR][/TR][TR][/TR][TR][/TR][TR][/TR][TR][/TR][TR][/TR][/TABLE]

[TH][/TH]	[TH][FIMG=250]https://cdn.freebiesupply.com/images/large/2x/new-york-mets-logo-transparent.png[/FIMG][/TH]	[TH][/TH]	[TH][/TH]	[TH][FIMG=250]https://cdn.freebiesupply.com/images/large/2x/washington-nationals-logo-transparent.png[/FIMG][/TH]	[TH][/TH]
[TH]#[/TH]	[TH]Player[/TH]	[TH]Pos[/TH]	[TH]#[/TH]	[TH]Player[/TH]	[TH]Pos[/TH]
[TD]=#FF8000]1[/TD]	[TD]=#0000FF]Nimmo[/TD]	[TD]=#FF8000]cf[/TD]	[TD]=#B22222]1[/TD]	[TD]=#0000BF]Robles[/TD]	[TD]=#B22222]cf[/TD]
[TD]=#FF8000]2[/TD]	[TD]=#0000FF]Lindor[/TD]	[TD]=#FF8000]ss[/TD]	[TD]=#B22222]2[/TD]	[TD]=#0000BF]Soto[/TD]	[TD]=#B22222]rf[/TD]
[TD]=#FF8000]3[/TD]	[TD]=#0000FF]Conforto[/TD]	[TD]=#FF8000]rf[/TD]	[TD]=#B22222]3[/TD]	[TD]=#0000BF]Turner[/TD]	[TD]=#B22222]ss[/TD]
[TD]=#FF8000]4[/TD]	[TD]=#0000FF]Alonso[/TD]	[TD]=#FF8000]1b[/TD]	[TD]=#B22222]4[/TD]	[TD]=#0000BF]Bell[/TD]	[TD]=#B22222]1b[/TD]
[TD]=#FF8000]5[/TD]	[TD]=#0000FF]Smith[/TD]	[TD]=#FF8000]lf[/TD]	[TD]=#B22222]5[/TD]	[TD]=#0000BF]Schwarber[/TD]	[TD]=#B22222]lf[/TD]
[TD]=#FF8000]6[/TD]	[TD]=#0000FF]Davis[/TD]	[TD]=#FF8000]3b[/TD]	[TD]=#B22222]6[/TD]	[TD]=#0000BF]Kieboom[/TD]	[TD]=#B22222]3b[/TD]
[TD]=#FF8000]7[/TD]	[TD]=#0000FF]McNeil[/TD]	[TD]=#FF8000]2b[/TD]	[TD]=#B22222]7[/TD]	[TD]=#0000BF]Gomes[/TD]	[TD]=#B22222]c[/TD]
[TD]=#FF8000]8[/TD]	[TD]=#0000FF]McCann[/TD]	[TD]=#FF8000]c[/TD]	[TD]=#B22222]8[/TD]	[TD]=#0000BF]Garcia[/TD]	[TD]=#B22222]2b[/TD]
[TD]=#FF8000]9[/TD]	[TD]=#0000FF]deGrom[/TD]	[TD]=#FF8000]sp[/TD]	[TD]=#B22222]9[/TD]	[TD]=#0000BF]Scherzer[/TD]	[TD]=#B22222]sp[/TD]

[Frayed Knot]

Edgy MD wrote: Governor Cuomo just stated that Citi Field and YSIII can open at 20% capacity for opening day.

[Marlins]Why so many?[/Marlins]

[Frayed Knot]

One week from today!

[Frayed Knot]

High of 46 predicted for DC on Thursday ... and I'm guessing that that high won't be peaking at the 7PM game first pitch.





Thanks ESPN!!

Edited March 28, 2021 by Guest

[Edgy MD]

Carter Kieboom has been optioned down by the Nats. This opens things wide up, as the original plan seemed to be to bring Starlin Castro over from third, with one or more of veteran utility workers Jordy Mercer, Hernán Pérez, and/or Josh Harrison looking to take over at second. But Castro has sustained a mild left hammy strain, so it looks like two of those guys will be in the lineup. Or maybe Castro is ready for Thursday, or maybe Kieboom gets recalled. Or perhaps even Ryan Zimmerdude moves back to third.



Secondbaseman Luis Garcia, who also seemingly started camp at the top of the depth chart, has been optioned as well. The future will have to wait.



Who knows, Baby? But for now, it's Castro's job, and we'll keep a close watch going forward. Castro has switched to 13 this season, which really seems like a faux pas. Castro is a Dominican and he's got a perfectly cromulent Venezuelan infielder in Pérez playing along side of him.

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[TH][/TH]	[TH][FIMG=250]https://cdn.freebiesupply.com/images/large/2x/new-york-mets-logo-transparent.png[/FIMG][/TH]	[TH][/TH]	[TH][/TH]	[TH][FIMG=250]https://cdn.freebiesupply.com/images/large/2x/washington-nationals-logo-transparent.png[/FIMG][/TH]	[TH][/TH]
[TH]#[/TH]	[TH]Player[/TH]	[TH]Pos[/TH]	[TH]#[/TH]	[TH]Player[/TH]	[TH]Pos[/TH]
[TD]=#FF8000]1[/TD]	[TD]=#0000FF]Nimmo[/TD]	[TD]=#FF8000]cf[/TD]	[TD]=#B22222]1[/TD]	[TD]=#0000BF]Robles[/TD]	[TD]=#B22222]cf[/TD]
[TD]=#FF8000]2[/TD]	[TD]=#0000FF]Lindor[/TD]	[TD]=#FF8000]ss[/TD]	[TD]=#B22222]2[/TD]	[TD]=#0000BF]Soto[/TD]	[TD]=#B22222]rf[/TD]
[TD]=#FF8000]3[/TD]	[TD]=#0000FF]Conforto[/TD]	[TD]=#FF8000]rf[/TD]	[TD]=#B22222]3[/TD]	[TD]=#0000BF]Turner[/TD]	[TD]=#B22222]ss[/TD]
[TD]=#FF8000]4[/TD]	[TD]=#0000FF]Alonso[/TD]	[TD]=#FF8000]1b[/TD]	[TD]=#B22222]4[/TD]	[TD]=#0000BF]Bell[/TD]	[TD]=#B22222]1b[/TD]
[TD]=#FF8000]5[/TD]	[TD]=#0000FF]Smith[/TD]	[TD]=#FF8000]lf[/TD]	[TD]=#B22222]5[/TD]	[TD]=#0000BF]Schwarber[/TD]	[TD]=#B22222]lf[/TD]
[TD]=#FF8000]6[/TD]	[TD]=#0000FF]Davis[/TD]	[TD]=#FF8000]3b[/TD]	[TD]=#B22222]6[/TD]	[TD]=#0000BF]Castro[/TD]	[TD]=#B22222]3b[/TD]
[TD]=#FF8000]7[/TD]	[TD]=#0000FF]McNeil[/TD]	[TD]=#FF8000]2b[/TD]	[TD]=#B22222]7[/TD]	[TD]=#0000BF]Gomes[/TD]	[TD]=#B22222]c[/TD]
[TD]=#FF8000]8[/TD]	[TD]=#0000FF]McCann[/TD]	[TD]=#FF8000]c[/TD]	[TD]=#B22222]8[/TD]	[TD]=#0000BF]Harrison[/TD]	[TD]=#B22222]2b[/TD]
[TD]=#FF8000]9[/TD]	[TD]=#0000FF]deGrom[/TD]	[TD]=#FF8000]sp[/TD]	[TD]=#B22222]9[/TD]	[TD]=#0000BF]Scherzer[/TD]	[TD]=#B22222]sp[/TD]

[Frayed Knot]

Edgy MD wrote: ... Or perhaps even Ryan Zimmerdude moves back to third.

I think, if he were to move back, that he'd be Four-hopping throws across the diamond by this point.

He was already up to two or three by the time he was yanked out of there in the first place.

[Frayed Knot]

Frayed Knot wrote: High of 46 predicted for DC on Thursday ... and I'm guessing that that high won't be peaking at the 7PM game first pitch.

First pitch forecast: 42, clear, 17mph NW wind, dropping to mid-30s by 10PM

Ugh!



Games #2 & 3 on Saturday and Sunday look considerably better: clear, upper 50s & upper 60s

Whoda thunk that playing day games in early April in the northeast/mid-atlantic would make such a difference?

Edited March 31, 2021 by Guest

[Edgy MD]

So, opening with a night game? How unusual is this?

[Benjamin Grimm]

Pretty unusual, I think. I assumed it was a day game way back when and took a day off from work.



Now I'm just going to have a day of leisure with no game to watch. (I probably won't get a chance to see any, or much, of the first three games. Schaefer voting may be delayed until the early part of next week, by the way.)

[Edgy MD]

I had assumed such as well. Weird.

[Ceetar]

Mets are a draw, ESPN is MLB's major customer, and the customer is always right. Players and fans are secondary.

[Fman99]

I play in a Thursday night darts league at a local bar (we wear masks, it's OK!). I am going to be half watching while I play - but this is OK also because in that setting I will not be able to hear the insipid ESPN broadcast team. Just visuals.

[MFS62]

One Nationals player has tested positive for COVID-19, but their GM won't say which one.



Later

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

=Fman99 post_id=59081 time=1617219482 user_id=86]
I play in a Thursday night darts league at a local bar (we wear masks, it's OK!). I am going to be half watching while I play - but this is OK also because in that setting I will not be able to hear the insipid ESPN broadcast team. Just visuals.

[Ceetar]

Johnny Lunchbucket wrote: I bought new C batteries while I waited my COVID shot to insert into the boombox. It's Howie for me, hopefully outside by a fire. (no I didn't vaccinate my boombox, tho it sounds like it)

supposed to be a little rainy tomorrow, but fire sounds nice.

[Benjamin Grimm]

One Nationals player has tested positive for COVID-19, but their GM won't say which one.

The Daily News wrote: On the eve of Opening Day, one player tested positive for the coronavirus with four others and one staff member needing to quarantine for being close contacts to that player, Nats GM Mike Rizzo announced.

[Ceetar]

hope that scares players into getting vaccinated *cough cough* Mookie Betts.

[MFS62]

=Ceetar post_id=59099 time=1617233333 user_id=102]
hope that scares players into getting vaccinated *cough cough* Mookie Betts.

[Edgy MD]

Well, I think it isn't so much true that Mike Rizzo won't say who who has tested positive, so much as he is restricted from saying.

[Willets Point]

HIPAA

[Frayed Knot]

And if it turns out to be Scherzer, we'll know soon enough.

[Frayed Knot]

=Ceetar post_id=59099 time=1617233333 user_id=102]
hope that scares players into getting vaccinated *cough cough* Mookie Betts.

[Ceetar]

Betts (as did Bauer) went the "personal decision" card, which you know, is like saying it's a personal decision for me to sneeze in your face when I'm sick. Sure, personal decision, but that's a pretty selfish thing to demand.