IGT 6/29/2011 Mets @ Tigers Capuano v. Coke

[MFS62]

metsguyinmichigan wrote: OK, what's with the beards? They all seem to have them. Is this a superstition or trend that we missed somehow. I'm expecting to see Mr. Met sporting some facial hair.

This generation's rally caps?
Later

[Ceetar]

looking forward to Gwreck's recap, if he has time before the next one..

[Gwreck]

Well, that was an interesting game. Let's get down to the details:

The Jose-Jose chant was started by a guy about 5 rows behind me and found a few other willing participants. Jose was also implored by Tiger fans sitting near the Mets dugout to sign with the Tigers in the offseason. He smiled and put his hands over his ears.

The key hit in the game - lest we not forget - was the Hairston triple in the first that really set the tone for the whole game. Bay also had several nice plays in left in the first two innings (back when Capuano was still working on that perfect game.

Cabrera's first homer was good but that shot to center was *impressive.* Announced in stadium as 455 feet. Terry was out of the dugout like a rocket after it went out.

There was some inordinate delay when Terry was trying to bring Byrdak in and he repeatedly signaled with his left hand before Byrdak actually emerged. Leyland came out and had a long discussion with Ed Hickox about this. Too bad this didn't give Terry a chance to change his mind about the choice of pitcher.

Parnell registered numerous pitches
over 100 on the stadium gun, including one at 103.

His walk of Cabrera - with two outs, nobody on, switch hitter Martinez following as the tying run: infuriating. Getting Martinez there was one of the key moments of course so I suppose he can be forgiven.

Rodriguez was warming in the 9th and had the Mets not added those extra two runs he would have come in to the game. Attention Terry: it's the AL rules, pitchers don't hit, and both Parnell and Isringhausen were possibly pulled too early.

Some questionable lineup choices when the game started but since there were 23 runs it's hard to complain about either Collins or Leyland in that regard.


Kelly pitching in the 9th was funny and something else to check off my in-person baseball game bucket list. Lots of laughs in the Mets dugout whenit was happening, particularly after the fans started reminding Hairston that there was "no pressure!" to not strike out.

[G-Fafif]

The Tigers have players named Austin, Casper and Alburquerque, all of them more or less western cities.

And they still lost 16-9!

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Great wrap, G. The delay related to Byrdak having not even warmed up. Gary & Ron called it before Terry even went out there, that they could not see Byrdak warming. Lots of disgusted dugout shots of Byrdak following the HR. He was very pissed off.

[G-Fafif]

Collins very proactive in the postgame taking the responsibility for Byrdak not being ready. Wonder if that was code for throwing Debus under de bus.

[Ceetar]

G-Fafif wrote: Collins very proactive in the postgame taking the responsibility for Byrdak not being ready. Wonder if that was code for throwing Debus under de bus.

i'm wondering if maybe he didn't want Byrdak at all? slip of the tongue? Did he mean to tell him to get up and ready and forgot?

[Frayed Knot]

I think Leyland was out there during the Byrdak/Parnell "mix-up" to see if he could convince the umps that Collins had in fact called on Parnell first meaning he either had to come into the game and pitch to at least one batter (the LHB in case) or be declared as "announced" and therefore ineligible for the rest of the game.

[Ceetar]

Frayed Knot wrote: I think Leyland was out there during the Byrdak/Parnell "mix-up" to see if he could convince the umps that Collins had in fact called on Parnell first meaning he either had to come into the game and pitch to at least one batter (the LHB in case) or be declared as "announced" and therefore ineligible for the rest of the game.

This is the kind of stuff that needs to be in a game story, not bs about last year's record.

[batmagadanleadoff]

Nice touch by Terry to bat Paulino cleanup. It was the logical move, really. Paulino's batting .396 against lefties this season. Granted -- in only 48 AB's, but Paulino's total destruction of LHP's this season is consistent with what Paulino has been doing throughout his career. Against lefties, Paulino hits like an all-star.

Earl Weaver would regularly win 90+ games a season with half a lineup of half players ... players like Paulino. The players with extreme splits, in the right hands, are more valuable then their contemporaries who put up similar numbers, but without the extreme lefty-righty splits. Because with the split guys, the manager can predict with greater accuracy, when that player is likely or unlikely to have a productive game, and use those indicators to his advantage.

I'm also noticing that Collins is now making some use of Pagan's extreme splits as well, batting Angel at the bottom of the order -- usually 7th -- when Pagan starts against a LHP.

[Guest holychicken]

This explains why I had that giddy feeling I had watching this game:

[Ceetar]

batmagadanleadoff wrote: I'm also noticing that Collins is now making some use of Pagan's extreme splits as well, batting Angel at the bottom of the order -- usually 7th -- when Pagan starts against a LHP.

And it's nice that Hairston has seemed to go back to hitting the lefties like he makes a habit of.

Of course, it'll be nice to have Wright back (not just in this regard)

Pagan did get some hits off the lefties last night too, of course he's hitting everything all of a sudden.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Weaver went for platoons --- most notably Lowenstein/Roeneke but --- he typically went for defense first behind the plate. He mixed it up at catcher during the interregnum between Hendricks and Dempsey, but it was a parade of guys who didn't really hit against anybody. Am I misremembering?

Platooning at catcher is great, but I can't really recall the last tieam that won a championship doing it. (Which isn't to say that it's necessarily an impediment.)

Really, the best example I hold up of golden platooners is Hodges (four platoons in 1969) and Johnson (platoon at second and a two position/three man platoon in center and left in 1986). Casey, too, or course, who seemingly always had four middle infielders working.

[Ceetar]

Geeze, Nick Evans is basically murdering the baseball in AAA and they call up F-Mart? (I know, options, options..)

[Guest Edgy DC]

I love it.

[soupcan]

I thought Martinez was having knee issues...?

[metirish]

Ceetar wrote: Geeze, Nick Evans is basically murdering the baseball in AAA and they call up F-Mart? (I know, options, options..)

killing it like Duda was in AAAA?

[batmagadanleadoff]

Edgy DC wrote: Weaver went for platoons --- most notably Lowenstein/Roeneke but --- he typically went for defense first behind the plate.

Like he had a choice. It was the seventies.

[Ceetar]

metirish wrote: Ceetar wrote: Geeze, Nick Evans is basically murdering the baseball in AAA and they call up F-Mart? (I know, options, options..) killing it like Duda was in AAAA?

better I think.

[ashie62]

metirish wrote: Ceetar wrote: Geeze, Nick Evans is basically murdering the baseball in AAA and they call up F-Mart? (I know, options, options..) killing it like Duda was in AAAA?

Thank you.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Detroit announces that Coke is heading back to the bullpen.

Let's do the same with Whatshisnamethestartertoday.

[Ceetar]

Edgy DC wrote: Detroit announces that Coke is heading back to the bullpen. Let's do the same with Whatshisnamethestartertoday.

Also that Schlerith guy demoted to AAA. Mets are wrecking the Tigers roster.