IGT - 4/27/11 Mets at Nationals

[ashie62]

That be 6>>>>>>

[bmfc1]

YESSSS! I'll do my best to cheer on another win tomorrow night.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Books.

[Ceetar]

6 in a row. *drool* the slow climb continues.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Great to ride a train with a bunch of victory-satisfied Met fans again. The team was pressing a lot as the game wore on, and seemed to get sloppy because of that --- Dickey didn't have a play when he threw the ball away, Reyes oversliding the bag, Bay going for the sliding catch when there was no wall to worry about, Murphy failing to cover in time on the same play (though he wouldn't have gotten the runner). But they collected themselves. They probably wouldn't have against a better team, but two weeks ago, they couldn't have made those mistakes without sinking themselves.

So hopefully next week they won't be making them at all. I mean, you're down one against the Nats, Mets. Don't force it.

I was hoping for an extra-base hit or two by Bay --- going up against journeymen lefties all night, you'd think he'd get around, but he certainly made his dinks pay off. I'll take it.

It's been a while, I think, since I caught a Mets win live. And I have you to thank, Daniel Murphy.

[Guest Edgy DC]

What was the room's take on going for Hu over Pridie to pinch-hit there? On one hand, he's a guy with put-the-bat-to-the-ball skills, and his propensity to chase is lessened with the bags juiced. On the other hand, he's a guy hitting a buck and change and rusting away on the bench. I marvel at the testes displayed by Terry there.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

I think it's clear from the profanity above that Reyes did not overslide the bag. (replays show as much too). It's just that Hudson was sold on Hairston's play-act.

Hu was hitting for the pitcher, not Pridie at that point. He was switched out when Beat-O came in (and Muffy!) It worked out pretty good overall, I'd say.

[Guest Edgy DC]

No, I didn't mean to suggest that it was a good call, so much as he overslid enough for it to be recklessly close. Regarding Hu, I was just interested if he was believed to be the better pinch-hitting choice while Pridie was still available. (He was still available, wasn't he?) There was just a handful of sloppy plays that seemed to come from pressing that got away with last night, but I imagine they wouldn't against the Phils. (Although the Phils are down to their third closer.)

I was down the left field line. Look for me talking on the cellular and waving* during that ninth-inning double by the Nats.

*Ha, I kid.

[Frayed Knot]

Hu v Pridie was clearly a L/R choice. Southpaw Burnett was in instead of Storen because, once past Bay leading off, he had a whole bushel full of NYM LHBs to face that inning. I normally shun L/R decisions that are made solely for that reason but it's not like either is a great hitter there so I would have gone with Hu also. You want the bat on the ball in that situation and I think of CLH as less K-prone - not sure if I can back that up but that's my story and I'm sticking to it - and if it caused Riggleman to switch to his RH closer-type for a game that was a decent bet to go to extras at that point then that's fine too; I would have stuck with Hu in that case.

It was kind of a fortunate inning if you think about it: Bay had the infield single to lead off; Davis blooped that one in front of Bernadino who got it via the shortest of short hops; then the Harris bunt (which I was OK with) that Hairston Jr pretty much screwed up. So the bags were loaded w/none out on three hits that probably wouldn't have broken glass (although after the Reyes call we were owed a break). Then the lifting got easier and we got nice ABs from Hu and especially Murph. He not only hit a pretty nice pitch up-and-in but he roped it. That and his earlier HR more than made up for the play where he wasn't covering 2nd on the LaRoche bloop that Bay couldn't come up with.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Yeah, I don't know why JH Jr. stayed home on that bunt. If you want to be aggressive and get the lead runner, put the carousel on and let the shortstop cover. I'm going to guess it was one of those football situations where the player knew the playbook of his former team. Really well-placed bunt by Harris and credit to him for --- when [crossout]J[/crossout]Terry sent him up there to sacrifice --- going for the extra juice of the bunt single.

I watched that game from leftfield and wanted to sign Reyes to a contract of about 20 years. He hit it to the gap in left-center, with a great arm on the centerfielder, and it barely squirted in between the outfielders, but none of that was going on in his head. As soon as it came off the bat, he was thinking three. Likewise in ninth, he was thinking home as soon as that double came off of Murphy's bat. How beautiful to watch him fly like that.

I was also impressed with how Terry took the argument right up to the threshhold of getting himself tossed, then walked away. It's like he told his team, "We got screwed, I'll back my player up, but I'm not sacrificing myself for a moral victory here. We still have a game to win." Felt like that anyhow. And if there's anything to any of that, Murphy was just the guy I would have liked to see respond.

Funny to see how frequently he burns his entire bench in nine inning games, especially against lefthanders, now that Pagan is out --- as he's pulling his secondbaseman, catcher, and centerfielder when the opposition goes to a righty out of the pen.

[Gwreck]

It was speculated on the TV broadcast (and I agree) that neither Reyes nor Collins were ejected because it's quite possible that the umpire knew the call was bad. Particularly in Reyes' case: throwing the helmet down and jumping up and down is usually going to result in an ejection.

I was surprised Terry didn't get tossed as well. I guess he just didn't want to use the magic word.

[Ceetar]

SNY mused that neither Reyes or Collins got tossed because the ump sorta realized that maybe he made a bad call solely on the suggestion of the third baseman.

I credit him with not curling up into the fetal position though, because Reyes was livid. We're gonna get some nice screencaps from that one.

[soupcan]

If the ump knew right away that the call was bad, why not reverse it?

He could make a whole show of asking other umps etc. I mean sure it would be embarassing and he'd have to deal with the Nats getting all bent out of shape but if he knew he made a mistake why not correct it?

[Ceetar]

soupcan wrote: If the ump knew right away that the call was bad, why not reverse it? He could make a whole show of asking other umps etc. I mean sure it would be embarassing and he'd have to deal with the Nats getting all bent out of shape but if he knew he made a mistake why not correct it?

I don't think he knew so much as suspected. He probably didnt' get a good view. And the way Reyes flipped out (he was already asking for time) he must've suspected he made a bad call, but not enough that he was going to risk reversing it and getting screwed that way either.

[metirish]

Great pix here of Reyes





and of Dickey

[Frayed Knot]

Yeah, it looked like his positioning screened him from seeing Reyes's hand and then got fooled by seeing the foot come off coupled with Junior Hariston's sales job.
I suspect he suspected a goof immediately upon seeing both Jose's and Hale's insta-reaction but certainly can't change the call just based on that. If he were more convinced he was right I think he tosses Reyes the second that helmet hit the ground.




Ahhh yes, the obligatory Dickey-face photo.

[Guest Edgy DC]

What a save by Chip Hale, though.

It's a crappy rule that allows the scorer to only credit a guy with a double when he (supposedly) over-slides third. If he touched the bag safely, he hit a triple.

[Guest The Second Spitter]

Good lord, I go away and they win 6 straight. Didn't see that one coming. Of course, now that I'm back....

[smg58]

Hale and Collins deserve a lot of credit for keeping Reyes from being ejected. Reyes certainly had every right to be as livid as he was.

Jerry Hairston acted like he tagged Reyes with his arm off the bag, and the ump somehow bought it. A veteran umpire has no excuse on a play like that.

I went into the ninth thinking that would have been a tough way for Beato to lose, and instead it turns into his first big league win.

Easily the best win of the year so far. Hopefully it turns the momentum into a juggernaut.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Edgy DC wrote: Yeah, I don't know why JH Jr. stayed home on that bunt. If you want to be aggressive and get the lead runner, put the carousel on and let the shortstop cover. I'm going to guess it was one of those football situations where the player knew the playbook of his former team.

Howie and Wayne flipped it, purporting that Hairston/the Nats knew that Harris isn't a great bunter (see: last weekend), and that they might have a play on the lead runner if Burnett could handle it. BIG "if" to rely on in a one-run game, though.

[Guest attgig]

i was 4 rows away from that reyes triple, and man, all the mets fans in the crowd started going crazy. then a douchebag nats fan right behind me (he was just douchey hearing him talk to his friend and talking like he knew the game like he was a coach, when he's just a douche) was like...just watch the replay on sportscenter... just watch the replay..... douche...

the rest of the game, there was one guy who was calling the umpire out by name - heckling him the rest of the way. if we lost though...man... would've been real bad...

[Guest themetfairy]

The Second Spitter wrote: Good lord, I go away and they win 6 straight. Didn't see that one coming. Of course, now that I'm back....

3D - you know I love you, Man. But please take this in the spirit in which it's intended.

Go Away Again!

NOW!!!!!

[Willets Point]

The SBS Princess has spoken.

[Guest themetfairy]

[Guest Edgy DC]

Frayed Knot wrote: Hu v Pridie was clearly a L/R choice. Southpaw Burnett was in instead of Storen because, once past Bay leading off, he had a whole bushel full of NYM LHBs to face that inning. I normally shun L/R decisions that are made solely for that reason but it's not like either is a great hitter there so I would have gone with Hu also. You want the bat on the ball in that situation and I think of CLH as less K-prone - not sure if I can back that up but that's my story and I'm sticking to it - and if it caused Riggleman to switch to his RH closer-type for a game that was a decent bet to go to extras at that point then that's fine too; I would have stuck with Hu in that case.

Well, I loved it from the time I saw our backbencher up there, and he damn near hit a grand slam. At YSIII, that's bouncing off the facade of the upper deck.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Anyone else wonder whether GoodHairston called out EvilHairston postgame about the Reyes "tag"? He had to bring it up, didn't he?

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Reyes saved himself from ejection by thouhtfully bringing his helmet all the way to the ground with both hands, rather than the waist-high helmet free-bunce that's a sure ticket outtathere. I don't wanna be overly excited, but that's the kind of play that would kill the Mets for a week or more. To come back as suddenly and completely as we did, on the road, has to be the best Mets win since what? The Cliff Floyd/Marlon Andersin game?

[TransMonk]

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: To come back as suddenly and completely as we did, on the road...

Once Muffy pokes the ball out for the tie...I was pretty sure we were gonna pull it out. If there was ever a perfect time for a HR, that was it.

[Guest Edgy DC]

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Reyes saved himself from ejection by thouhtfully bringing his helmet all the way to the ground with both hands, rather than the waist-high helmet free-bunce that's a sure ticket outtathere. I don't wanna be overly excited, but that's the kind of play that would kill the Mets for a week or more. To come back as suddenly and completely as we did, on the road, has to be the best Mets win since what? The Cliff Floyd/Marlon Andersin game?

Hard to analyze the winnieset win, but yeah, that triple was so long coming, and then to have it whistled back was deflating as all git. For the team to say, "Fuck it, let's win anyway," well mit sure shut up the 27 Nats fans in attendance.

It was a heckuva game to be at, and my seats were ridiculously sweet. Got half a mind to go back tonight.

I was with my friend, Joe. Joe Capuano. That has to be worth something, right?

[Ceetar]

Edgy DC wrote: John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Reyes saved himself from ejection by thouhtfully bringing his helmet all the way to the ground with both hands, rather than the waist-high helmet free-bunce that's a sure ticket outtathere. I don't wanna be overly excited, but that's the kind of play that would kill the Mets for a week or more. To come back as suddenly and completely as we did, on the road, has to be the best Mets win since what? The Cliff Floyd/Marlon Andersin game? Hard to analyze the winnieset win, but yeah, that triple was so long coming, and then to have it whistled back was deflating as all git. For the team to say, "Fuck it, let's win anyway," well mit sure shut up the 27 Nats fans in attendance. It was a heckuva game to be at, and my seats were ridiculously sweet. Got half a mind to go back tonight. I was with my friend, Joe. Joe Capuano. That has to be worth something, right?

You got a Pelfrey friend to go with tonight?

Or a Mike? hey wait, can I come?