IGT, 3/10/09, vs. DC

[Guest Edgy DC]

That's what I call a number three hitter.

Meanwhile, the Valentins are reunited, both desperately trying to hang on. Marlon Anderson starting at second could be important in trying to establish the notion of his continued viablity, and I guess Valentin has a similar interest at short.

Washington	New York
Willie Harris, lf Lastings Milledge, cf Ryan Zimmerman, 3b Elijah Dukes, rf Javier Valentin, c Brad Eldred, 1b Alex Cintron, 2b Alberto Gonzalez, ss Jordan Zimmermann, sp	Cory Sullivan, cf Marlon Anderson, 2b Rob Mackowiak, lf Nick Evans, 1b Ryan Church, rf Andy Gree, 3b Jose Valentin, 2b Robinson Cancel, c John Maine, sp

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

I want to see Maine have a good outing. I'd be a complete bullshitting lying untruthful son of a bitch if I said he's not worrying the crap out my ass.

[seawolf17]

Who the hell is Andy Gree? Are they letting a clubbie bat sixth?

[Guest Edgy DC]

Andy Green. Solly.

[seawolf17]

Oh, that's right. Forgot he was in camp.

[Farmer Ted]

Looks like the Nats are throwing out there A team today. The Mets with their Sunday C team.

Three shutout innings and three Ks from Maine today will ease the tension.

[nymr83]

The Mets starting CF, 3B, SS, and 1B are away at the WBC, what do you think they are going to throw out there?

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Maine's already coughed up a 2-run homer in the first.

Am I the only fan shitting bricks over Maine? He's not good.

[Guest Edgy DC]

I do feel a powerful defactory urgency, it's true. I'm trying to work from the "it's early" perspective.

[bmfc1]

Maine's gonna go off again after the game--he just gave up a 3 run HR. It's 5-0.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

I hope Maine won't mind blowing his chunks in Buffalo this spring.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

So... with two second basemen, we're running the "Dukes Shift" all game?

(Not watching-- I'm guessing 'Stache is playing SS.)

[bmfc1]

Top of the 9th--Evans doubles, Murphy singles him home to tie it.

[Guest Edgy DC]

2009: The year late power and deep relieving is necessary to overcome crappy starts.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Mackowiak went 0-3 in his own showcase and is so not making this team.

Thole simply continues to confound, with a hit and a walk in two trips.

Marlon Anderson: 3-4.

[Frayed Knot]

* Game ended in a 5-5 tie;
Mets rallied from a 5-0 deficit, tying the score in the ninth on pinch-hitter Daniel Murphy's single off Jesus Colome that scored Nick Evans.
John Maine allowed all five runs in three innings, on homers by Elijah Dukes and Brad Eldred.


* At least Maine sounded less suicidal today;
�I felt good out there, ... I wasn�t throwing the ball all over the place. If I was missing, I was just barely missing. I threw good changes, a couple of good sliders. I threw the ball well. It could have been just as easily 0-0 as it was 5-0. That happens.�
Jerry Manuel also noted Maine was the victim of shoddy fielding, including a pair of misplays by Jose Valentin at shortstop.



* Pagan on the shelf;
... will have arthroscopic surgery on his right elbow to address a bone spur, acc to Omar Minaya.



Above all via Adam Rubin's blog (NY Daily News)

[metirish]

Gave up two long balls , saw the highlights on TV . I have a feeling that Dukes will be a thorn on the Mets side this coming season.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

metirish wrote: Gave up two long balls , saw the highlights on TV . I have a feeling that Dukes will be a thorn on the Mets side this coming season.

He is an offensive force when not hurt-- OPSed .870 last year, with 31 XB hits and a superhigh 15 percent walk rate in a half season's ABs-- and plays solid D. Add the talent to the 'tude-- the "NnnnnnOONAN"ing from the dugout in May last year, and the back-and-forth with the crowd on the Nats' last trip to Shea-- and we've got the makings of a new-school Chipper, no?

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/may/14/mets-pitcher-slams-chants-from-dugout/

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/mets/2008/09/10/2008-09-10_hothead_elijah_dukes_mixes_it_up_with_mi-1.html

Well... except with added texting-pictures-of-a-gun-to-your-ex-wife-and-threatening-your-kids'-lives. That part's new.

http://www.sptimes.com/2007/05/23/Tampabay/Ballplayer_s_wife__He.shtml