IGT, 4-8-09: Pelfrey v Volquez

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Hey look, you wusses can poo-poo this but I'm on an IGT win streak and will continue starting the game threads if or until the Mets fail to win one.

I'm kind of hoping this is the year Pelfrey turns into a serious ass-kicker. I know it's tough to make that leap given his numbers, and his spring wasn't very encouraging, but still. For a big-time prospect who reached the Mets in a flash he's done a good job of lying in the weeds until now. But look: He's ourt No. 2 starter all of a sudeen?

Good. Now go kick some patootie. LGM, YGB, YYYBBB

[soupcan]

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: He's ourt No. 2 starter all of a sudeen? Good. Now go kick some patootie. LGM, YGB, YYYBBB

What are you - Dutch?

[Gwreck]

I guess he reached the Mets in a flash but he pitched 140 innings in his last year at Wichita State so it wasn't as if he was right out of high school.

I guess the jump to 200 innings with the Mets last year (versus 80 Mets IP and 72 minors IP in 2007) could be a little concerning but I think the Mets did a good job getting Pelfrey major league exposure while not rushing him.

I think he'll slightly improve on his numbers (3.72 ERA, 209 H, 64 BB) this year. Expecting good things.

[Fman99]

Can

not

wait.

[batmagadanleadoff]

Pelfrey reminds me a lot of Mike Scott. They both came up with terrific major league fastballs, good enough, though not enough to succeed with. Pelf, like Scott before him, is struggling to master a second pitch to complement his speed ball. Pelf's main pitch is so good that, like Scott, finding a second pitch might be the difference between one day winning the Cy Young award or being John Pacella's most comparable player on similarity scores. The talent is evident, though not on a consistent basis, obviously. Pelfrey and Scott are both named Mike. Both came up as Mets. Pelfrey's secretary is named Scott. Scott's pet cat is named Pelfrey.

Got sandpaper?

[soupcan]

soupcan likes this

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

With a righty going, we'll get Dickerson and Taveras in the OF over McDonald and Hairston, which should improve the Reds' D and maybe even their O.

In other words, we need to score more runs.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

FYI: Taveras was out because of the flu Monday... McDonald played CF like a handless man.

But, yeah, some hitting would be nice.

[metirish]

Reyes -- SS
Murphy -- LF
Wright -- 3B
Delgado -- 1B
Beltran -- CF
Church -- RF
Schneider -- C
Castillo -- 2B
Pelfrey -- RHP

[metirish]

Jerry Hairston Jr. cf

Chris Dickerson lf

Joey Votto 1b

Brandon Phillips 2b

Jay Bruce rf

Edwin Encarnacion 3b

Ramon Hernandez c

Alex Gonzalez ss

Edinson Volquez p


From the Cincinnati Enquirer

[Farmer Ted]

Starting to like the idea of Castillo in the 8 spot. Presents a number of options the opposing pitcher doesn't want to consider with the pitcher on deck.

[metirish]

Noticed this bit in the Enquirer

] Tonight's the night JohnFay at 4/8/2009 10:48 AM EDT Tonight's the night we find out what the seasonticket base is. The Reds don't announce that, but they've said it's down. A Wednesday night, early in the year, isn't likely to be part of any package but a full-season package. I'd bet they break the alltime low for Great Ameridan Ball Park. The record low is 11,987, set April 3 last year. That happened on Johnny Cueto's debut, probably the most exciting game of the year. The drop in season-ticket renewals is my guess is why the Reds held the line on player payroll. According to the USA Today salary list, the Reds' Opening Day payroll was $73.56 million, down from $74.12 million last year. The Reds' cut, one of 14 in the baseball, was modest. Ten teams trimmed $10 million or more. Here's how the rest of the Central stacks up: Cubs $134.8 million Astros $102.9 million Milwaukee $80.1 million St. Louis $77.6 million Pittsburgh $46.8 million The New York Yankees, of course, are No. 1 at a cool $201.4 million. The Mets, the team the Reds lost to on Opening Day, causing wide-spread panic among fans, is second at $149.3 million.

Surely they will get a decent crowd for tonights game.

[Guest OlerudOwned]

Delgado sort of got a bit of that one, eh?

The audio track on the online stream I'm using is slowed down and garbled, making it sound like it's being broadcast from hell.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Volquez hat/hair combo might one day be remembered for its Oscar Gambleness.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

uh, we need the triple-play ball NOW

[Guest OlerudOwned]

Strike zone's up here, Pelf.

[nymr83]

Pelfrey gives it back and more. I'm off to a seder, don't blow it Mets!

[Guest OlerudOwned]

That ain't good.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

44 fucking pitches, horrendous lazy play by Reyes and Delgado.

[Guest Kong76]

That was a long-ass two innings.

[Guest OlerudOwned]

Refreshing second inning for Pelfrey. The 1st was just practice, right?

[Guest Kong76]

Big Pelf at 91 or 2 pitches through four as the booth reminds us they have
a 12:30 start tomorrow.

I was distracted, and I realize they want to get innings out of him, but if he
was getting up there why did he bat with the bases loaded to end an inning?

[Guest OlerudOwned]

Loaded.

0 outs.

Delgado, Beltran, Church due up.

Gimmie something, please please please.

[Guest OlerudOwned]

"In play, run(s)" is the most suspenseful phrase in the English language. Is it a grand slam? An run-scoring double play? Hurry up!

(It was an RBI groundout... followed by a 2-run single from Beltran. Woo-hoo!)

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Great turn at bat by Delgado to earn that RBI groundout. Reyes, Murphy and Beltran all had nice solid singles.

But Wright looked terrible! We are very fortunate they muffed that play.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Put 'em away, Pelf

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Holy shit! Nice play by Castillo!

[metirish]

Castillo bailed out Pelfery twice there on that play.

[Guest OlerudOwned]

Certainly doesn't absolve him completely, and he had his share of help, but credit to Pelfrey for bouncing back from that awful inning and getting through five with a lead.

[Guest Kong76]

Yeah, it worked out nice, but I'm not so sure throwing home across the in-
field to get the final out when you have someone in a rundown is really the
textbook way to go. They barely got the out at home and the runner caught
between the bags was the surer out. We'd be questioning why throw home
if the guy scored, no?

(edited for clarity)