Humber's Debut

[Guest Edgy DC]

Would you send DiFelice (or Sandy Jr.) out there to catch for him?

(I don't think this is happenin', based on Lo Duca's talkback, but it's worth speculatin'.)

[Centerfield]

I wonder if we might be making too big a deal about this. It's the Washington Nationals, a lineup with guys like Nook Logan. Go out there and give me 3 runs over 5 innings.

[soupcan]

Why would you discount LoDuca's tutelage?

[Guest Edgy DC]

I don't necessarily, though the performance of the staff this month hasn't earned him much Schaefer. I only wonder if a familiar partner might be a benefacation.

[soupcan]

Interesting angle.

[Valadius]

Why not, if it keeps Nationals from crossing the plate. Then you can double-switch in Dookie if Humber comes out of the ballgame.

[metirish]

Is's that one reason why DiFelice is in the Mets org,to help Pelfrey and those kids,IIRC Minaya sent him back to the minors one time because Pelfrey was sent down,or maybe he was called up to catch Pelfrey for one start.....

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

In general xtra O beats the piss out of xtra D from the catcher. Sure there may be some intangible DiFelice could bring with his experience receiving Humber but perhaps none he couldn't impart to LoDuca in a pregame meeting. And it's not like LoDuca's kicking the ball around or catching it with his mouth, like some so-called defensive specialists. He's above a minimum level of acceptability.

And while there's some question now, there may not be after tonight. Maybe if the good guys win and the Phils lose, we can afford to sacrifice O tomorrow. If we lose and the Phils win? I doubt we risk it.

All of which is to say that tonight's game is HUGE.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Johnny Dickshot wrote: In general xtra O beats the piss out of xtra D from the catcher.

In general. In particular, I'd piss on a sparkplug if it'd help get a good start out of our pitcher tonight.

[Willets Point]

Expect a great game.

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

OK, I'm saying if we have to win tomorrow, our best chance is to play LoDuca (or maybe even Castro).

If all we want is to massage the best possible outing out of Humber, with less regard to winning or losing, then by all means play DiFelice.

Is someone saying different?

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

Perhaps we can improve the O if we start DiFelice behind the plate and LoDuca at short.

[metirish]

Johnny Dickshot wrote: OK, I'm saying if we have to win tomorrow, our best chance is to play LoDuca (or maybe even Castro). If all we want is to massage the best possible outing out of Humber, with less regard to winning or losing, then by all means play DiFelice. Is someone saying different?

Nope that's what i got from this thread,I think you can start Mike D if the Mets had clinched.

[MFS62]

="Edgy DC"] ="Johnny Dickshot"]In general xtra O beats the piss out of xtra D from the catcher. In general. In particular, I'd piss on a sparkplug if it'd help get a good start out of our pitcher tonight.

Let me guess. You're a fan of the movie War Games?

As for the choice of catchers, Willie usually gives LoDuca off for day games after night games. I'm guessing its Castro.

Later

[Benjamin Grimm]

So, any updates?

Do we know what time Humber woke up this morning? What he had for breakfast? (I'm hoping it's Pop Tarts.) Any word on precisely how many butterflies he has in his stomach?

If anyone runs in to him this afternoon, let him know I have six nice big Schaefer points set aside for him. All he has to do is earn them! How hard can that be?

[metirish]

This would be hilarious if we had clinched,Ron Darling has said several times that having pitched in the college WS will stand Humber in good stead ,but can it be anything like it might be for him tonight,is too much been made of this.I like it and would much rather see Humber than Williams or Lawrence,I enjoyed watching Muniz last night even though Gary was having a hernia when he saw him warming up.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Well, Ron Darling would know about what it feels like to pitch a big college game. However, his first major league start came in the closing days of the 1983 season, when the Mets were going nowhere. A whole lot less pressure.

No rational Mets fan (and yes, there are a lot of irrational Mets fans) will hold it against Humber if he fails tonight. We all understand he's in a very tough situation.

But if he comes through, if he gets us six or seven good crisp innings and the Mets win, it will be remembered forever. People will post UMDB memories about it ten years from now. (If UMDB is still around, of course.)

I think the upside for him is greater than the downside. Hopefully he'll see it that way and feel a little less pressure because of that.

[metirish]

It sure might have been beneficial for all concerned if Humber had pitched that Lawrence game in D.C., I know that's hindsight by me but Minaya surely could have seen this coming, I believe some here brought it up at the time.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Even without hindsight, most of us were pretty certain that Lawrence was a horrible choice to start that game.

I think, in the IGT prior to the start, I posted something about being filled with dread.

[TransMonk]

Yancy Street Gang wrote: I think the upside for him is greater than the downside. Hopefully he'll see it that way and feel a little less pressure because of that.

Good point. I just hope the stadium doesn't turn on him if he pulls an "Alay Soler debut" in his first inning. It might be hard to get back on track if that happens.

[soupcan]

Wasn't Soler's debut a 1 hitter in 'Zona?

I'll sign up for one of those.

[TransMonk]

No it was a 5-4 win over the Phils at Shea. His 2 hitter vs. ARZ came in his 4th start.

May 24th, 2006

Top of the 1st, Phillies Batting, Tied 0-0, Alay Soler facing 1-2-3
Scr/Out RoB Pt Batter Play Detail
+------+---+---+---------------+--------------------------------------------------------------+
--- 5 J Rollins Walk
1-- 6 C Utley Walk; Rollins to 2B
12- 6 B Abreu Walk; Rollins to 3B; Utley to 2B
R 123 6 P Burrell Single to LF (Ground Ball); Rollins Scores; Utley to 3B; Abreu to 2B
RR 123 3 R Howard Reached on E4 (Ground Ball); Utley Scores; Abreu Scores/No RBI/unER; Burrell to 2B
O 12- 5 S Victorino Strikeout Looking
O 12- 2 D Bell Flyball: LF
O 12- 4 S Fasano Strikeout Swinging

[Valadius]

Lawrence is a two-pitch pitcher who tops out in the low 80's. I still don't know why they started him last week.

[Guest Edgy DC]

I guess I'll take what I got.

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

Good to go for the play-in game Monday!

[Vic Sage]

Edgy DC wrote: I guess I'll take what I got.

what choice do you have?

[Guest Edgy DC]

I think I was saying that in response to his neither good-nor-disastrous start, before the bullpen finished the immolation.

My other choices are behind Curtain Number Two --- root for S.'s Yankees --- and Curtain Number Three --- indulge my other interests and start being kind to my woman again.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Once the Mets play their last game of the season, whether it's Sunday or November 1, I don't expect to watch another game until 2008.

[nymr83]

i'm with yancy, if the mets dont make the playoffs i'm not watching at all.