Emergency Enemy Education (EEE)

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

2-Nite: Pedro vs. Josh Johnson (3-2, 2.62)
Don't look now but this is an Ace v. Ace matchup. Johnson, a ginormous 22-y.o. righthander from Texas, has yet to face the Mets and has had nothing but success in 4 starts since coming out of the bullpen (2 NDs and 2 wins). He was a 4th round draftee in 2002.

Saturday:
Glavine v. Willis
Maybe this is Ace v Ace. Willis (1-5, 5.12) is sucking BHMC currently though the Snooze today reported that Delgado will ride pine for this game already (he could use a breather, looks like). Willis had what was prolly his best start of the year against the Mets, also against Glavine on April 9. He went 8 IP, but got a ND when Wright won it in the bottom of the 9th with a sacfly.

Ricky Nolasco, heir to the Triscuit throne, opposes unpredicable new Met El Doo K on Sunday. Nolasco is looking OK this year -- 3-1, 2.89 -- but has yet to face the Mets. He most recently was a winner against the Cubs, getting 9 runs of suppoprt helped.

Their best hitter is still Cabrera (355/432/599) but don't sleep on Hanley Ramirez, acquired in the Beckett trade from the sawx. He's 335/411/476 with 2 homers and 11 doubles.

Overall the Fish are scoring slightly below average and have the League's highest team ERA -- that's due a lot to Willis' struggles and a gaggle of stiffs in the pen. The O gets an alleged boost with the retun of Jeremy Hermida, subject of some preseason ROY chatter but yet to outscore Brian Bannister in votes. They're also on a season-high 3-game win streak, bringing them over the .300 plateau for the year.

They shoved their bats up Greg Maddux's ass just the other day, and got tough on John Smoltz & Mark Mulder a week before, so they prolly have boners for a the legends on the Met staff. The Florida papers are running with preview stories saying as much, authoring this as a team where wide-eyed youngsters are learning how to compete with the Big Boys for the first time.

X-Factor: Fat farm product Yusmeiro Petit will be there. He's appeared 4 times in relief since his callup and given up a single run -- a walkoff solo HR to Aubrey Huff last weekend.

Mike Jacobs is hitting 220/335/397 -- not good for a first sacker -- and quite poor (132) vs. lefthanded pitching, which is pretty much my worst fear had we strapped 'em on and kept him.

[metirish]

Graet job outta the pen Dickshot,only two Marlins have faced Pedro, Mets need to win Pedro's starts.

[Gwreck]

The first year after the fire sale isn't ever pretty. After winning the series in '97 and being dismantled, the '98 Marlins went 54-108. This time, the results look pretty similar (on pace to go 50-112). Of course, with 2 championships in 13 years of existence, plus still having two of the best young stars in baseball (Dontrelle and Cabrera) it's tough to feel sorry for the Marlins' fans, if you should happen to run across any one of the 15 in existence.

Previous Matchup:
Mets swept a rain-shortened series on the first weekend of the season.

Ex-Marlin Factor:
Ramon Castro
Cliff Floyd
Paul LoDuca
Carlos Delgado
Darren Oliver

[nymr83]

JD with a nice last-second KTE, who disappeared?

[metirish]

RealityChuck.

[Guest Edgy DC]

I vote JD 10-0 over RealityChuck. I mean come on!

[Gwreck]

Some extra EEE:

Marlins Bench 'n Bullpen Report:


Alfrezo Amezaga ® is a utility, play-anywhere type. Short is the primary position.

Wes Helms ® is a backup 1B/3B who credits Julio Franco with teaching him how to properly prepare as a part-time player. He's got some pop but strikes out a bunch.

Chris Aguila ® backup outfielder, career minor-league type who can't hit much in the bigs.

Joe Borchard (S) started the year with the Mariners but was acquired in early May. He started a bunch in rightfield but is riding the pine lately because he's not hitting and the Marlins have high hopes for Abercrombie.

Matt Treanor ® backup catcher and the last man off the bench. Can't hit for sh*t. 0-3-.228 this year.

Dontrelle Willis (L) has pinch hit quite a bit, considering, over the past 2 years. 1-1 this year.


Joe Borowski ® is the closer, such as it is for a team that doesn't give a lot of save opportunities. Borowski is 5 for 6 in save chances but has a 4.79 ERA with 1.79 WHIP. His splitter apparently makes him more effective against lefties than righties, usually.

Matt Herges ® is one of the primary setup guys, and spent a year as the not-so-good closer of the Giants in 2004. Had a couple of good years with LA in 00-01 but his 5.40 ERA this year is more representative of recent performance.

Yusmerio Petit ® made his ML debut on May 14. He's had 3 good relief outings and one in which he gave up a walk-off homer to the only batter he faced.

Todd Wellemeyer ® isn't anything better than average really, but has been one of the better relievers so far for Florida. 4.38 ERA, 1.64 WHIP.

Randy Messenger ® has been ok, primarly because he's kept his walks down (only 3 in 18.1 Innings). Throws strikes but will sometimes give up the longball.

Renyel Pinto (L) is a rookie who just got called up.

Logan Kensing ® has been hit pretty hard since getting called up 2 weeks ago. 6.23 ERA

[Guest Edgy DC]

Ralph in the booth in good voice.

[metirish]

Ralph will never forgive Branch Ricky.

[Guest Edgy DC]

It would help if they didn't always steer the conversation that way.

There is something refreshing to hear a living Hall of Famer who can't let go of his animus for a deceased Hall of Famer.

[metirish]

Ralph talking about meeting Ty Coob as a kid, I love it.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Bye, Ralph.

[A Boy Named Seo]

]Ricky Nolasco, heir to the Triscuit throne

Great line. Right up there with "You bet your Wockenfuss!".