Game #118 IGT - Mets at Pirates - 8/8/26

[Frayed Knot]

Another 6:40 EDT start as Robert Stock faces Pirate rookie RH'der Bing Bubba Chandler. 

Roy Reuben Chandler (23) was a 4th round pick by the Bucs in 2021 out of HS in Georgia. He appeared in 7 games last year but has been a full-time starter this season: 4 -8, 4.49, 1.41  His 7.7 H/9 rate is decent but BB/9 is high at 5.1 per.

Expect partly cloudy and still in the mid-80s by game time with any storms not expected until after the game, 'round midnight as Charlie Parker might say.

[Gwreck]

With no particular animus towards Stock, it’s frustrating that the Mets don’t have someone else who can be starting this game who might actually be on the team in 2027 (and thus would benefit from getting some low-pressure major league reps).  Whither Tobias Myers?  Or maybe it’s time to give Wenninger a try?

[Centerfield]

Agreed.  Tobias Myers or Jonah Tong. Let them work it out up here. 

[Edgy MD]

If Stock threatens to stay as effective as his last time out, he can stay right put in my rotation.

[Edgy MD]

Hilltopper

Robert Stock RHP 0-1, 1.80 ERA, 4 SO

Lineup

1. A.J. Ewing (L) LF
2. Francisco Lindor (S) SS
3. Bo Bichette (R) 3B
4. Jared Young (L) 1B
5. Luis Robert Jr. (R) CF
6. Brett Baty (L) RF
7. Marcus Semien (R) 2B
8. Jorge Polanco (S) DH
9. Francisco Alvarez (R) C

Moundsman

Bubba Chandler RHP 4-8, 4.49 ERA, 98 SO

Lineup

1. Jake Mangum (S) CF
2. Brandon Lowe (L) 2B
3. Bryan Reynolds (S) DH
4. Spencer Horwitz (L) 1B
5. Nick Gonzales (R) 3B
6. Endy Rodríguez (S) C
7. Esmerlyn Valdez (R) LF
8. Jacob Gonzalez (L) SS
9. Ronny Simon (S) RF

 

[Cowtipper]

They're probably gonna ride Stock until he has a bad game. He did well last time, so they're hoping the lucky streak continues. 

 

[Marshmallowmilkshake]

I did something wild and crazy and drove to Pittsburgh for this game! I met John Candelaria before the game! 

[Cowtipper]

I've not been to many big league ballparks, but PNC Park is one of the best I've been to and the whole touristy Pittsburgh area is totally awesome. I went there twice with my dad back in the day and both times were great. 

One of the times was Donnie Hart's lone appearance with the Mets. 

[Marshmallowmilkshake]

Oh, Lindor. 

[Marshmallowmilkshake]

We are pretty listless so far. 
 

love this ballpark. 
 

 

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

Stock is tanking. SELL

[Edgy MD]

That wild pitch by Stockpile should have been his last.

He's running on the memory of fumes.

[Frayed Knot]

Stock got unlucky in the 1st inning* (after the leadoff rocket 2B anyway) but he's earned every run he's given up since.

 

* Double off wall - K - Infield single (Bichette's fault) - HBP - Weak GO to P (only play to 1st despite bases loaded) - Squirt of a double over 3rd (just/maybe cutting the edge of the bag) - BB - FO

[Frayed Knot]

I'm taking this personally that the team is so disrespecting my IGT streak.

[Edgy MD]

Mangum has a spot out there in right-center.

[Marshmallowmilkshake]

I’ve never heard of Gabriel Arias OR Cristian Pache.

[Edgy MD]

You stop trying to score, Mets, and you might forget how to do it.

[Edgy MD]

4 minutes ago, Marshmallowmilkshake said:

I’ve never heard of Gabriel Arias OR Cristian Pache.

You're missing out.  Arias has All-Star hair and MVP teeth.

Yeah, sure, he's got some AA eyebrows, but you can't get everything off the waiver wire.

[Gwreck]

8 hours ago, Edgy MD said:

If Stock threatens to stay as effective as his last time out, he can stay right put in my rotation.

He has better not get another start.  Not when there are real potential members of next year’s squad to get experience.

[Edgy MD]

Well, I think his slot is open.

It's going to be tough to get those eight runs back with just two innings left.

[Marshmallowmilkshake]

That homer by Lowe almost left the stadium. 

[Edgy MD]

Man, I've sat through this turkey and haven't even met John Candeleria.

I'd settle for Jermaine Allensworth at this point.

[whippoorwill]

2 hours ago, Marshmallowmilkshake said:

I did something wild and crazy and drove to Pittsburgh for this game! I met John Candelaria before the game! 

I was there too!  Where was Candelaria at?  I knew he was around but didn’t know where

[MFS62]

3 hours ago, Cowtipper said:

They're probably gonna ride Stock until he has a bad game. He did well last time, so they're hoping the lucky streak continues. 

 

Guess what. 
later

[Marshmallowmilkshake]

Candelaria was at the street party signing with Josh Harrison. I read he was going to be there so I brought my treasured Mets history book to sign. 
 

I said, “Hi John. Did you like playing in New York?”

”Huh?”

“Did you like playing for the Mets?”

“I wasn’t there very long.”

”OK. Thank you, sir.”

 

 

[whippoorwill]

That’s great!  I saw a big crowd around someone and thought that might have been them. Did you get a Josh Harrison shirt? 
 

[Edgy MD]

Being from Flatbush, it would have been nice if Candeleria had at least remembered that he had played for the Mets, brief as it was.

But he went from there to spending the better part of two seasons with the Yankees, and probably defines his time in his hometown by that tenure alone.

[Cowtipper]

I don't understand Pache being on this team when Morabito is doing reasonably well in the minors. 

[MFS62]

On 8/8/2026 at 12:37 AM, Centerfield said:

Agreed.  Tobias Myers or Jonah Tong. Let them work it out up here. 

They haven’t been pitching that well lately, nor has wenninger. They might be up in September but they still have work to do. So, we’re stuck with chuck-and-duck stock. For a while. 
later

[whippoorwill]

One of the songs they played before the game sounded like a cat singing…maybe a cat prostitute. 
The last line was ‘and when you’re finished you can poopie on my bed’. Or maybe it was head. Wasn’t sure.