IGT 6/30 - Phillies vs. Mets - Rubber Game - Lieber/Martinez

[Guest Rotblatt]

I say we give Petey the ball in the 7th. He's at 99 pitches, but it's the bottom of the order and our pen could use an extra inning's rest.

[Guest Yancy Street Gang]

Mets lead 5-2 after 6.

Pedro's thrown 99 pitches. Let's hope he has two more good innings in him. (Three would be better, but my guess is that Pedro's max for this game will be eight innings.)

[seawolf17]

Gotta get Looper an inning in this game; he hasn't pitched since Sunday. He'll pitch the ninth no matter what.

[Guest Rotblatt]

We're all overruled. Diaz in to pinch hit for him with 2 outs and no one on.

[Guest Edgy DC]

[Guest Edgy DC]

So they're in the home pinstripes and blue caps, right?

[seawolf17]

Maybe he can come back into the game, Sports Guy-column style:

Gary Cohen: So it's 2-2 on the pinch-hitter Burrell. Bases are loaded, and Aaron Heilman is scuffling.
Howie Rose: Aaron Heilman has not looked good today, Gary.
Gary: No, no, he hasn't -- wait! What's that?! That's Pedro Martinez's music!
PA System: (plays generic salsa music)
Howie: Here he comes!
Pedro: (comes running out of the dugout with a bat, cracks Heilman over the head and grabs the ball)
Gary: He's gonna come back in the game!
Howie: Burrell is stunned!
Gary: And here's the pitch... freezes him! Strike 3! The ballgame is over! Pedro picks up a win and a save in the same game!

[Guest Edgy DC]

Jam.

End.

Now!

[Guest Rotblatt]

Willie, can you please please please let your pitchers work and stop trying to be so cute?

It's the seventh inning and we were only up by 3 runs. Why burn one of your better relievers on just two batters? Plus:

Bell against lefties: 12.1 IP, 13 H, 3 BB, 10 K, 1 HR. That's better than he's done against righties.

Ring against lefties (before today): 5 IP, 4 H, 4 BB, 5 K, 0 HR.

Let's try and win the ballgame, Willie. Come on.

[seawolf17]

The double play... the pitcher's best friend. GET UP and stretch.

[Guest Rotblatt]

And for all that, Ring gets Abreu to ground into a double play.

Nicely done, Royce!

5-3 Mets heading into the bottom of the 7th.

So does Ring stay in for the eighth? Rollins has a harder time versus lefties . . .

[seawolf17]

Beltran stole two bases! I didn't know he could steal bases.

(sarcasm mode turned off)

[seawolf17]

Cliffy walks. First and third. Let's steal one more, Cliffy.

[Guest Yancy Street Gang]

Stealing third with two out: doesn't that violate Conventional Wisdom?

[Guest Rotblatt]

Nah, just threaten to steal, Cliff. Keep a nice hole between 1st & 2nd for Piazza to ground the ball through. And distract the pitcher!

[seawolf17]

(sigh)

Mets Career GOICS

1. Mike Piazza 827

[Guest holychicken]

I HATE when relief pitchers walk the first batter in close games. . . frustrates the hell out of me.

[Guest Rotblatt]

Me too, chicken . . .

[metirish]

Jimmy Rollins grounds out, shortstop Jose Reyes to first baseman Chris Woodward. Jim Thome to 2nd.

Chase Utley walks.

[Guest holychicken]

When are our pitchers going to learn that walks are highly likely to kill us?

[Guest Yancy Street Gang]

After Thome's walk, Rollins grounds out. Utley walks.

Coaching visit to mound.

[metirish]

Pitcher Change: Roberto Hernandez replaces Royce Ring, batting 9th.

[seawolf17]

The double play... the pitcher's best friend.

[Guest Rotblatt]

Shit, man, this sucks.

Loopy v. lefties: 13 IP, 19 H, 7 BB, 4 HR, 4 K, 2.00 WHIP, .322 BAA.

Even if Robo gets us out of the current jam, Loopy's got his work cut out for him in the 9th . . .

[Guest holychicken]

I do love double plays. . . but I don't like the numbers rotblatt just posted. . .

[seawolf17]

Looper vs.

Tomas Perez: 2-9, 2B, 2 K
Mike Lieberthal: 7-16, 2 2B, BB, 2 K
David Bell: 3-11, 3 BB, 1 K (Bell is the only player left on the bench)

I'll take my chances in the ninth. Plus, Lieberthal and Bell are both righties.

[Guest Yancy Street Gang]

Hernandez threw one pitch.

I think he can start the ninth inning.

[Guest holychicken]

well, here we go. . .

[Guest Rotblatt]

Good call, seawolf. I posted before the DP--now things look a little better for Loopy.

knock on wood.

[Guest holychicken]

Does anyone know why he pinchhit for Cliffy?