Time to make the doughnuts

[Frayed Knot]

The rest of August is a huge soft spot in the schedule (at least theoretically - witness our 2-8 vs Astros & Padres so far) and it's time we start taking advantage.

From GWreck's pitching sked:

v PIT
Mon Aug 11 - Martinez v. Zach Duke

at WAS
Tue Aug 12 - Santana v. Odalis Perez
Wed Aug 13 - Maine v. Jason Bergmann
Thu Aug 14 - Perez v. Colin Balester

at PIT
Fri Aug 15 - Pelfrey v. Jason Davis
Sat Aug 16 - Martinez v. Zach Duke (redux)
Sun Aug 17 - Santana v. Jeff Karstens
Mon Aug 18 - Maine v. Paul Maholm

vs. ATL
Tue Aug 19 - Perez v. Tom Glavine
Wed Aug 20 - Pelfrey v. Jair Jurrjens
Thu Aug 21 - Martinez v. Mike Hampton

and that stretch is followed up with 4 at home vs Houston before seeing Philly - Florida - Milwaukee - Philly
Also, at some point in the next week or so (again, at least theoretically) we'll see the return of Maine, Wagner, Church & Castillo.

Seems like we need to go 9-6 at an absolute minimum here and could really use more like 11 wins

[metirish]

These next two series need to set the tone for this stretch .

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

These things seem always to go differently than when drawn up, but yeah, 11 wins would be good. That would be the pace we'd need* to meet Marlon Anderson's "62 wins" goal he set after that awful Padres series in early June.

* -- actually somewhat less, as we need to go .667 (30-15) in the final 45 games to reach the Magic 92.

-- Marlon's goal assumed a .620 win% over the final 100; we've actually played .582.

[Farmer Ted]

I'll be in PGH for the game on the 15th. Anyone else going to PNC that night?

[soupcan]

9-6? I suppose, I'd be okay with that, but those are losing teams.

You have to be happy with 2 of 3 each series (as I am with this past weekend's against Florida) and that's what 9-6 would be, but wouldn't that still be a little disappointing?

[seawolf17]

Plus, the Phillies are out in California all week.

Make it count, fellas.

[G-Fafif]

The Mets need to go 1-0 today.

[Benjamin Grimm]

G-Fafif wrote: The Mets need to go 1-0 today.

I agree!

[Frayed Knot]

soupcan wrote: 9-6? ... wouldn't that still be a little disappointing?

That's why I referred to it as an absolute minimum.

[soupcan]

I know, just expanding the thought.

[Frayed Knot]

Well, after getting off to the worst possible start in game 1 of this 15 game "soft" stretch, our hoped-for 9-6 minimum record or 11-4 preferable one is off to a very nice 6-1 start.
With 8 more still to go, 5-3 to get us to that 11-4 seems not only very do-able but even better-able.


Mon 8/11 - Pitt - L
Tues - Wash - W
Wed - Wash - W
Thurs - Wash - W
Fri - Pitt - W
Sat - Pitt - W
Sun - Pitt - W
-----------------------------------
Mon - 8/19 - @ Pitt
Tues - Atl
Wed - Atl
Thrus - Atl
Fri - Hous
Sat - Hous
Sun - Hous
Mon - Hous

[Elster88]

Phillies:
Mon - 8/19 - no game
Tues - Washington
Wed - Washington
Thrus - Washington
Fri - Los Angeles
Sat - Los Angeles
Sun - Los Angeles
Mon - Los Angeles

[TransMonk]

Frayed Knot wrote: Seems like we need to go 9-6 at an absolute minimum here and could really use more like 11 wins

9-6 will be had...and 11 is just a split with Houston away.

I'm upping the ante to 12 now.

[Frayed Knot]

Well several of the losses were ugly (are they ever pretty?) but, when you add it all up, we successfully made the doughnuts, reaching the hoped-for 11-4 mark during this streatch.

Mon 8/11 - Pitt - L
Tues - Wash - W
Wed - Wash - W
Thurs - Wash - W
Fri - Pitt - W
Sat - Pitt - W
Sun - Pitt - W
Mon - 8/19 - @ Pitt - L
Tues - Atl - W
Wed - Atl - W
Thrus - Atl - W
Fri - Hous - W
Sat - Hous - L
Sun - Hous - L
Mon - Hous - W

and, yes, I'm fucking with fate by counting this one as a win with two outs still to go but I'm just a live dangerously kind of guy.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Insane but not impossible to imagine having gone 14-1. But gotta take 11-4. Went from 2 GB to 1/2 ahead (at least) over the stretch too. Anything less than 11-4 and we're still looking up!