Gay dame IGT 4/23 Mets @ St Louis

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

1:40 start.

Jerry sez Beltran will bat 3rd and Wright 5th, Sheff will start for Murphy, Cora in for Castillo and Omir Santos will catch. Santos had two HRs off Kyle Douche in a spring training game.

[Guest Edgy DC]

I think Beltran may be lost batting fifth, and may need a bigger challenge to get him out of his head.

It's a thought, anyhow.

[HahnSolo]

I don't mind the switch up with Beltran and Wright. I've thought that both of them were more suited to the 3-spot than the 5. But I really don't have too strong of a feeling who should be hitting where.

No Murphy, No Castillo. Who's in the 2-hole? Cora, I guess. Or maybe Church?

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Beltran has been smoking the ball these last 2 games but is coming off a bad series vs. the Brewers.

Wright to me has looked like he's struggled all year long, even as he gets his hits.

[Guest Edgy DC]

="John Cougar Lunchbucket"]Beltran has been smoking the ball these last 2 games but is coming off a bad series vs. the Brewers.

No doubt, but I sometimes get the impression that there's a little A-Rod in him. He can be on top of the nuances of his game --- his swing, his position --- but be so tuned into that he's aloof from the nuances of the game he's playing, and a simple situtational execution like sliding, can elude him.

That's purely speculation, but if moving him back to third has a chance of electrifying him by getting him back in the middle of things, it's worth a shot.

[Fman99]

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Beltran has been smoking the ball these last 2 games but is coming off a bad series vs. the Brewers. Wright to me has looked like he's struggled all year long, even as he gets his hits.

Wright only has 5 RBIs so far, and 3 of them came on one swing in the home opener. Ain't gonna be no playoff team without him warming up.

[metirish]

I'd like to see Beltran hit 2nd for a week followed by Wright and Delgado with Sheffield getting the week in the outfield to see if he gets on a hot streak.

[batmagadanleadoff]

If a player's game can be electrified simply by moving him into the three hole, then wouldn't the player taken out of the three lose a jolt of whatever the three hole supposedly provides?

OE: What is it about the three hole that would motivate Beltran to do what he could do but can't find the inspiration to do from the five hole?

[Guest Edgy DC]

Perhaps, clearly this is all speculative. Or perhaps, he'll stay there, or in the two hole, or the four hole. I'm just interested for now to see how he responds for one day.

As one of the premier power/speed guys of our time, he's got one homer and no stolen bases.

[Farmer Ted]

Wright peaked in the WBC. I blame Selig.

[Guest Edgy DC]

batmagadanleadoff wrote: OE: What is it about the three hole that would motivate Beltran to do what he could do but can't find the inspiration to do from the five hole?

It's just a thought, but the world looks different hitting in front of Delgado than hitting behind Delgado, being in the part of the lineup that tends to slope up in power, rather than sloping down.

Different engaging things you can do more often --- exploit the hole that opens up with guys held close in front of you, bunt for hits, hit with the runner in motion, steal more.

The dude's got only four runs --- he's apparently forgotten how to score one --- and maybe a change of perspective from where he is often the last best hope at a run-scoring inning can help get the rocks off.

[Guest Hawkeye57]

With the hits Beltran has been getting and the way that Wright has been playing, I would also agree on a swap between the two players.

What I really wonder is how Delgado will be affected. I wonder if he'll have to change his game plan a little in order to compensate for Beltran, a much faster runner that Wright, who isn't afraid to steal one. Just a thought.

[batmagadanleadoff]

You can make a reasonable argument to order Beltran, Delgado and Wright in any of the six possible permutations, especially considering the way Delgado's been hitting since June of last season. (I'm assuming that they'll bat 3-4-5, however they're ordered). Everyone has noticed how difficult it has been for the Mets to come up with runs this season even though practically the whole lineup is producing. I thing that this is no more than a short term statistical oddity and that the offense will generate above average run totals soon enough. Offense is not the team's weakness: it's of the Majors' best.

[Benjamin Grimm]

No, it's not. The biggest worry, I think, are the four guys who follow Santana in the rotation.

I think Pelfrey will ultimately be okay. I'm less optimistic about Maine and Perez.

And I don't know what to think about Hernandez/Garcia/Redding/Niese and whoever else might take some turns in the fifth spot.

[Fman99]

Today's lineup...

Jose Reyes, SS
Alex Cora, 2B
Carlos Beltran, OF
Carlos Delgado, 1B
David Wright, 3B
Gary Sheffield, OF
Ryan Church, OF
Omir Santos, C
Livan Hernandez, RHP

[Guest Edgy DC]

They're 13th out of 16 in starter ERA. For now, I'm certain they're young enough and talented enough that that will improve. Whether they're healthy enough is more my concern. Maine seems to be finding his arm again, and forearm tendinitis for Pelfrey, after a big uptick in innings last season, may foreshadow elbow issues.

And then the question is whether they're deep enough. Two big-league vet starters on the shelf may answer that.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Fman99 wrote: Today's lineup... Jose Reyes, SS Alex Cora, 2B Carlos Beltran, OF Carlos Delgado, 1B David Wright, 3B Gary Sheffield, OF Ryan Church, OF Omir Santos, C Livan Hernandez, RHP

S
L
S
L
R
R
L
R
Pitcher (w/Murphy, Castillo, and Tatis available)

Against a micro-Manager like LaRussa, I like the lefty-rightyness.

[Guest Edgy DC]

I like all that power out there for a day game.

[Fman99]

All of my optimism has returned. I think we whoop them and get the salvage game here.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Yes, I fully expect to destroy them this afternoon. My prediction is pain.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Hey we're winning already.

Cora (first Met hit) with a ground-rule double, to third on a Bektran single, scores on a balk

[Guest Edgy DC]

With a name like Skip Schumaker, he's almost guaranteed a 35-year broadcasting career when he hangs up his cleats, isn't he?

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Poo Holes ties it with a solo album.

[apmorris]

we could be in trouble, they have outfielders

[metirish]

What a running catch by Edmunds



I know that wasn't edmunds but it sure looked like him in flight

[nymr83]

apmorris wrote: we could be in trouble, they have outfielders

four good ones actually, too bad for them theres no DH.

[Benjamin Grimm]

metirish wrote: What a running catch by Edmunds

You had me confused there.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Edmonds is the centerfielder, Edmunds is the guitar player.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Beltran smashes a 2-out double off the fence. He's really stinging it right now.

[Guest metsguyinmichigan]

Edgy DC wrote: Edmonds is the centerfielder, Edmunds is the guitar player.

Bernie Williams was a centerfielder who played guitar. And his abilities in both were overrated.