XIGT, 3/26, Mets @ Cardinals

[Ceetar]

Mets Mon. lineup at Cardinals: Tejada-SS, Murphy-2B, Wright-3B, Duda-RF, Turner-1B, Baxter-LF, Thole-C, den Dekker-CF, Santana-LHP

[metirish]

Good news with David.......go Mets..

[Edgy MD]

One centerfielder short of a squadron.

Pounce today, boys. Pounce unrelentingly.

[Edgy MD]

Johan's start

> Walk.
> Walk.
> Single.
> Walk.
> Warthan...

[metirish]

Edgy DC wrote: Johan's start > Walk. > Walk. > Single. > Walk. > Warthan...

what could Dan possibly tell him on the visit?

[Benjamin Grimm]

Maybe to remind him that the object is to get guys out.

[Edgy MD]

I'm not sure what anybody ever says, but "settle down, remember the plan, don't get flustered, you're still the man" --- stuff like that.

[metirish]

Looks like whatever magic Dan is tossing out today is working

Same scout says Johan got velocity back up to 88-89 mph in 3rd. He's retired nine straight since first four batters reached.

AdamRubinESPN Meanwhile, Johan still has somehow struck out 5 thru 2.1 with velocity down. Another changeup for a K, this time to Carlos Beltran.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

He reminded him to STFU.

Wright has the only Mets hit thru 3 and also dove onto his ruptured rectus abdominus to make a nice play and throw out Rafael Furcal.

[Edgy MD]

Johan pitches out of a first-and-second, one-out situation in the fourth. Still 2-0, Cardinals.

I'm declaring this a must-win.

[Guest attgig]

Edgy DC wrote: I'm not sure what anybody ever says, but "settle down, remember the plan, don't get flustered, you're still the man" --- stuff like that.

[Ceetar]

86 pitches for Santana. one more start, probably 95-100, then hanging out with me next Thursday!

[Edgy MD]

den Dekker looking to crack that roster to the tune of a .120 batting average this spring.

[metirish]

Double D obviously doesn't want to peak early.

[Edgy MD]

Two guys on in the seventh.

[youtube:3ubj7rbz]oIP1okixlfE[/youtube:3ubj7rbz]

[Edgy MD]

Justin Turner stepping in with the ol' .114 batting average.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Freedom he was chasin. Tyrna doubles in a run

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Big rally! RBI infield single by Rottino and a wild pitch makes it 3-2 Metsies.

[Edgy MD]

Holy crap. Bon Scott, what can't you do?

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Cory Vaughn got in on the action with a pinch-walk. Tejada makes it -5-2 with a 2-run single!

[Edgy MD]

Awesome team. Awesome.

[Edgy MD]

Game, set, and match, New York.

No errors, people. NO ERRORS!

[Frayed Knot]

10 hits, nice.
9 of those as singles, not so great ... especially since this seems to be a continuing trend.

[Edgy MD]

I kind of see this --- wishfully probably, at least in part --- as the way Hudgens' hitters roll out their game, though. First they get the eye down. They're hitting .210, but with plenty of walks. Then they's hits start dropping in when their patience is rewarded with good looks at balls sweeping across the outside of the plate, turning into drives the other way. Then the real payoff comes when a pitcher isn't fooling them at all, and starts getting set up for inside pitches that they turn on for power.

Duda in 2011 was sort of that in a microcosm. Punchless, but with a good eye, then the batting average started coming up in June and July, and then by August and September, the kaboomage. Patience, he teaches to the paduans. And so we might have patience as well.