XIGT, 3/20/2012, Nationals @ Metionals

[Edgy MD]

Tejada back in the lineup tonight. All A-listers except for Turner subbing in for Wright.

Strasbburg on the hill for Washington.

1. Torres, cf
2. Murphy, 2b
3. Bay, lf
4. Davis, 1b
5. Duda, rf
6. Turner, 3b
7. Thole, c
8. Tejada, ss
9. Gee, sp

1. Lombardozzi, 3b
2. Desmond, ss
3. Espinosa, 2b
4. DeRosa, 1b
5. Ramos, c
6. Ankiel, cf
7. Carroll, lf
8. Bernadina, rf
9. Strasburg, sp

[Ceetar]

and yay, night game and SNY.

[Ceetar]

Collins interview stuff:

also Hairston on the field tonight too. (guess not the game-game field, but the field field? I dunno, Terry says he's on the field)

Don't know if he'll be ready for OD for sure.

Santana has been outstanding. Biggest, Brightest spot of camp. On track to pitch Opening Day. Not naming him there yet, because don't want to force it if they need to push him back a day or two for recovery reasons.

Niese in great shape, best in the three years Collins has been here.

Pelfrey needs to be a better pitcher this year, but Spring Training means nothing.

[Ceetar]

Collins really likes Niese's three pitches. Thinks it could take 2-3 years to get consistent with them, expects him to have a big year this year.

Franky probably closer.

Likes Edgin. They may take him north, but are concerned about the lack of experience against major leaguers.

Isn't in favor of the Mejia-track. Likes his prospects coming up as starters, not babying them in through the bullpen.

Murphy on second: Made some good plays, gotten in some bad positions too. Gonna play 12-13 of the rest of the games. Cedeno may be a 'defensive caddy'. Turner too. They're confident he can do it.

Torres will be the leadoff hitter.

[A Boy Named Seo]

Mr. Met: happiest when pooping.

[Ceetar]

Bay back to a comfortable swing. Hopefully going to see some more power going these last two weeks with more playing time.

Francessa doesn't like Thole. Collins happy with his catching work this Spring. blocking balls in the dirt, etc.

(dumb question) Terry has more confidence in the team than the mainstream media. Health a big issue. Nice to be able to call up Duda, and Turner etc last year, can't do that this year. Turner gonna play 1B too. Turner is a baseball player, likes to play. Doesn't strike out.

Important to win ST games? Collins doesn't really care about their record, but with their lineup going to be in most of the games going forward, he'd like to see them win some of those games, for the positive outlook.

[Edgy MD]

Visiting the Mets' clubhouse:

[Ceetar]

First pitch, called strike.

second pitch, swinging strike.

ball

fly out to Duda in right.

[metirish]

So great to hear the #1 crew calling the game.....Gee with some good life on this fast ball.

[metirish]

Seriously, that beard on Gee is so like ten years ago already....

[metirish]

Christ, not sure I want Murph stealing bases in ST.

[Ceetar]

metirish wrote: Christ, not sure I want Murph stealing bases in ST.

heh. They've all been doing it. No better way to get real practice reading pitches and getting jumps.

[metirish]

Murphy gets eaten up by a sharp liner right to him on the edge of the grass....misjudged? , anyway Murph saw the fun of it between innings.

[Ceetar]

metirish wrote: Murphy gets eaten up by a sharp liner right to him on the edge of the grass....misjudged? , anyway Murph saw the fun of it between innings.

was sorta an inbetween hop. Was a hard play that the better half of 2Bman probably make.

no problem, he turned the double play flawlessly on the next play.

now Tejada leads off with a double and Gee bunts him over.

Loewen in for Torres who seemed to have a tender calf jogging off the field in the second.

[metirish]

Left calf strain Gary says.....

[Ceetar]

metirish wrote: Left calf strain Gary says.....

yeah, imagine we'll have more definitive news tomorrow on how it actually feels.

[metirish]

Good AB here by Murphy

[metirish]

I'd forgotten how much I enjoy watching Murphy dig in and hit.

[duan]

Decent smack by Duda there. Y'know I'm kinda seeing him as maybe being a good year of Xavier Nady, he could be really decent with the stick.

[Edgy MD]

Did you forget how much you liked seeing Duda slam a ball over the fence against a super pitcher?

Another DP next inning too. Psyche.

[Edgy MD]

Big moment for Francis Francis here. First and second, two outs, and DeRosa at the plate.

[Edgy MD]

Infield hit for DeRosa. Ramos up. 'Sloaded.

[Edgy MD]

Backhanded by Tejada and he gets out of it.

Four batters to get an out. Woo-hoo!

[duan]

where'd you stand on the Murphy play there in that last half inning?
bad mistake?

[duan]

*good job by Jason Bay*
wow, didn't think I'd say that.

[Edgy MD]

Didn't see it. Getting a lousy feed as usual.

Two out walk to Bay. Stolen base. Ike plates him with a single. Two-zip.

[Edgy MD]

And Duda Dubbles!

Love this offense if it stays relatively healthy.

[Edgy MD]

That's it. Five-hit shutout.

Helps to see Parnell and Rauch perform a little, even against the second stringers. Few good appearances by the Mets' main bullpenners this spring.

[Ceetar]

they won a game, does this mean they won't lose 120 then?

[Guest themetfairy]

WTF is that thing on Dillon Gee's chin?