Community KTE: Mets @ Nationals, 9/2-9/4

[bmfc1]

The red-hot New York Mets invade Nationals Park this weekend to play the low-life, scummy, piece of crap (I really don't like them) Washington Nationals. Washington is 2-8 in their last 10 while the Mets have won 6 of their last 7. This is a key series as the Mets hold a three game lead over the Nationals in the battle for third place in the NL East (frankly, I'm surprised at the lack of national TV coverage).

Pitching matchups:
Friday--RA Dickey (RHP, 6-11, 3.57 ERA , 1.26 WHIP) v Ross Detwiler (LHP, 2-4, 4.86 ERA, 1.36 WHIP)
Saturday--Dillon Gee (RHP, 12-5, 4.24, 1.30) v Tom Milone (LHP, 1st major league start--AAA: 12-6, 3.22, 1.03 and 155 K in 148.1 IP)
Sunday--Mike Pelfrey (RHP, 7-11, 4.65, 1.43) v Livan Hernandez (RHP, 8-12, 4.29, 1.39).

More on Milone (no relation to the owner of Cheers) here:
http://www.federalbaseball.com/2011/8/31/2395154/tom-milone

It's one year since Dillon Gee made his major league debut at Nationals Park (Willie Harris broke up his no-hitter) which was the night that The Second Spitter was photographed with Mrs. Gee. I will be at Saturday's game so if I see Mrs. Gee, she will no doubt ask how he is and I will send my regards.

Stephen Strasburg returns to the majors on Tuesday against the McCourts. A friend asked me if I wanted to go to see Strasburg. Why would I want to do that, I said, the Mets will be playing.

As for the rest of the Nationals, the floor is open.

[Guest themetfairy]

The red-hot New York Mets invade Nationals Park this weekend to play the low-life, scummy, piece of crap (I really don't like them) Washington Nationals.

That's all we really need to know.

[Frayed Knot]

Hot in August?

C - Wilson Ramos -- NO, but he's a good catcher. His bat typifies this low-OBA/decent power lineup
1B - Michael Morse -- YES .333/.405./606; 7 HRs. Quite a story really for a guy in his first full ML season at age 29 [.314/.370/.554 w.24 HRs all season]
2B - Danny Espinosa -- NOT. In fact he only really was hot briefly this season. Now not only is his BA/OBA low but his power has tailed off too.
SS - Ian Desmond -- Somewhere in the middle and, like most of them, makes a lot of outs.
3B - Ryan Zimmerman -- YES. Has basically been hot all year except for that minor half-season injury thing.
CF - Rick Ankiel -- NOT. Same low-BA/low-OBA with occasional power that he usually puts up.
RF - Jayson Werth -- Better in the last month, but that's only because he set the bar pretty low from April thru July.
LF - Nix or Gomes, Gomes or Nix (with a side of Bernadino), who really cares?

[bmfc1]

Rubin's preview:

http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/mets/post/_/id/33715/series-preview-mets-at-nationals-5

[Fman99]

They have an outfielder who has hit like shit this year and makes nearly twice what Jason Bay does.

[Edgy MD]

Charles Krauthammer, recent convert.

Jayson Werth is hitting like .321 (if I remember correctly, and I'm certain I don't) since dumping his walkup music (Kanye West's "Stronger", Metallica's "Wherever I May Roam," and Sammy Hagar's "Heavy Metal") for... nothing.

As the obnoxious DJ-ing is more egregious at Nationals Stadium than most big league parks, I can only salute him for the blessed silence.

[MFS62]

I was going to post Krauthammer's piece when I got home tonight.
Sure won't make me (or anyone else who read DC sports writing) forget Shirley Povich. I couldn't picture the "perpendicular" throw, and am still not sure perpendicular to what.

I know, he's a political guy, but ...

Ankiel's throw:
http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=2655396

Later

[Frayed Knot]

MFS62 wrote: I was going to post Krauthammer's piece when I got home tonight. Sure won't make me (or anyone else who read DC sports writing) forget Shirley Povich. I couldn't picture the "perpendicular" throw, and am still not sure perpendicular to what.

As in he's running from 3rd towards home while throwing from home towards 1st.




One of these days the Washington Post might actually have Krauthammer, George Will, and Tom Boswell all write about baseball in the same week.
Sixteen Redskins articles per day is something they're used to but the editors' collective heads might explode if they had to deal with the above situation.

[MFS62]

Thanks,
Later

[Edgy MD]

I find it interesting that Krauthammer, as a paraplegic and an MD, is fascinated by the biomechanics of great defensive plays. Never knew until I read this piece that he was a fan, however.

[bmfc1]

I saw Krauthammer as I was leaving via the Home Plate Gate. He was driving his chair very fast.