IGT 7/19, @ Nationals: A Quick Turnaround

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Because it's Dickey Day.

Because it'll be fun watching new oblique strains silently develop in Nat hitters' haunches.

Because those interns sitting in front of you just won't... sit... down.

Because it was our burger first.

Because all of these replica hats and jerseys are brand fucking new.

Because the only time you should fear a "Gio" is when you're riding in one.

Because it's time. LGM.

[batmagadanleadoff]

This weather forecast ain't for knuckleballs.



http://www.weather.com/weather/today/Washington+DC+20003:4:US




Chance of rain:
60%

Wind:
SW at 6 mph

Humidity:
60%

UV Index:
10 - Very High

Snowfall:
0 in

Sunrise:
5:58 am

Moonphase:
New

Past 24-hr Precip:
0 in

Past 24-hr Snow:
0 in

Variable clouds with thunderstorms, especially during the afternoon hours. High 93F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.

[Fman99]

Good, something else will be blowing besides the Mets bullpen.

[bmfc1]

Batista after last night's game (quoted by Adam Rubin):

"Our team is going through a bad stretch right now," Batista said. "But my personal belief is we're way better than our numbers are. Baseball is living proof that who you might not expect might be there in October. I know a lot of people didn't expect us to be as good as we have this year. But I believe this team is way, way better than what it's been playing. And regardless of the fact what other people might think, October is not here yet. We'll see at the end of the season. ... "Right now they're playing good baseball, but I don't believe they're a better team than us," Batista continued, referring to the Nats. "They're playing great baseball. But better team? I believe we're the better team. We just have to play as we're supposed to. Every team goes through a bad stretch, from the greatest to the worst. I remember I told Terry two month ago: 'I haven't seen a team better than us.' ... We just have to believe how good we are and just go out there and perform. I believe we are the best team in baseball. We just have to play like one. That's what we're not doing."

I appreciate his confidence in the team but how about shutting up after "they" beat "us" two days in a row.

[bmfc1]

[u:2qcgjo38]METS:[/u:2qcgjo38]
Tejada-SS
Torres-CF
Wright-3B
Hairston-RF
Bay-LF
Davis-1B
Turner-2B
Thole-C
Dickey-RHP

[u:2qcgjo38]Nationals:[/u:2qcgjo38]
Lombardozzi 2B
Harper RF
Zimmerman 3B
LaRoche 1B
Morse LF
Espinosa SS
Bernadina CF
Flores C
Gonzalez LHP

Edited July 19, 2012 by Guest

[bmfc1]

The Nationals will designate Rick Ankiel for assignment to create roster space for Drew Storen, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reports (on Twitter).

How about signing Ankiel and sending Nieuwenhuis down so he can play every day and hopefully cut down on his strikeouts?

[TransMonk]

Hell...at this point I'd let Ankiel try out in the bullpen.

[Guest Swan Swan H]

Nooey is 8 for his last 65 (.123), with 2 HR, 4 RBI, and 26 Ks. When a veteran has a stretch like this you expect him to come out of it. When a rookie does, it might be time for him to get back to a level where he can excel and regain his CAHNfidence.

Ankiel is not a savior, but if he has a bit of motivation he can be useful in a platoon and as a defensive replacement.

[bmfc1]

The flaw in swapping Ankiel for Nieuwenhuis is who goes when Baxter returns? That might be resolved if the Mets become "sellers" and perhaps Hairston or Turner is traded.

[Edgy MD]

DFA doesn't make him a free agent, however. The Nats still own his rights for 10 days and can negotiate a trade, though leverage is obviously compromised. I'm fine with the notion of farming out Nieuwie and gaining Ankiel. We've suited up plenty of other veterans of PED suspensions.

Long day playing hooky for me. Mets and Nats by day, Squeeze and B52s (they dropped the apostrophe in 2008) by night.

[Guest Swan Swan H]

bmfc1 wrote: The flaw in swapping Ankiel for Nieuwenhuis is who goes when Baxter returns? That might be resolved if the Mets become "sellers" and perhaps Hairston or Turner is traded.

I'd do it to just to improve until the point when Baxter returns. If Ankiel isn't doing much, off with his head. If he's a revelation, that's one of those good decisions to have to make, as the cliche goes.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

In the meantime, why not bring up Fred Lewis (currently MURDERING righties in Buffalo) and let Nieuwenhuis get his head straight? Torres can split time with 'Spin in center, no?

[Ceetar]

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: In the meantime, why not bring up Fred Lewis (currently MURDERING righties in Buffalo) and let Nieuwenhuis get his head straight? Torres can split time with 'Spin in center, no?

Satin for Turner while we're at it.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Ceetar wrote: LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: In the meantime, why not bring up Fred Lewis (currently MURDERING righties in Buffalo) and let Nieuwenhuis get his head straight? Torres can split time with 'Spin in center, no? Satin for Turner while we're at it.

[Nods hard]

[ashie62]

bmfc1 wrote: Batista after last night's game (quoted by Adam Rubin): "Our team is going through a bad stretch right now," Batista said. "But my personal belief is we're way better than our numbers are. Baseball is living proof that who you might not expect might be there in October. I know a lot of people didn't expect us to be as good as we have this year. But I believe this team is way, way better than what it's been playing. And regardless of the fact what other people might think, October is not here yet. We'll see at the end of the season. ... "Right now they're playing good baseball, but I don't believe they're a better team than us," Batista continued, referring to the Nats. "They're playing great baseball. But better team? I believe we're the better team. We just have to play as we're supposed to. Every team goes through a bad stretch, from the greatest to the worst. I remember I told Terry two month ago: 'I haven't seen a team better than us.' ... We just have to believe how good we are and just go out there and perform. I believe we are the best team in baseball. We just have to play like one. That's what we're not doing." I appreciate his confidence in the team but how about shutting up after "they" beat "us" two days in a row.

Ojeda showed this interview after the game and laughed his ass off.

[ashie62]

Edgy DC wrote: DFA doesn't make him a free agent, however. The Nats still own his rights for 10 days and can negotiate a trade, though leverage is obviously compromised. I'm fine with the notion of farming out Nieuwie and gaining Ankiel. We've suited up plenty of other veterans of PED suspensions. Long day playing hooky for me. Mets and Nats by day, Squeeze and B52s (the dropped the apostrophe in 2008) by night.

That Squeeze/B 52's tour moves north this weekend...Can't wait.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Wright says, come, on Mammy, throw me that whammy, and crushes it for a 2-run homa.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Torres beats out a Lombardozzi double-clutch* for an infield hit.

Then David goes Full Sugar on Gonzalez's first pitch.

*How hasn't anyone on the Nats staff talked to him about that? That's almost given the Mets four infield hits in the first two games, by my (likely incomplete) count.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

IKE.

There's more than a little carry today... which leads me to worry about that high knuckler of RA's.

[bmfc1]

Holy crap, Angel Hernandez made a great call!

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Bernardina's on with a soft-line-drive single... and erased with a beaut of a 1-4-3 DP* to end the second.

*Turned despite a Victorin-ish interference swipe of Tyrna by Bernardina

[Fman99]

So far, so good. Mets knocking balls around. I am telecommuting, the A/C is cranked and the 55" HDTV and surround sound are fully engaged.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Yes, but do you have White Castle?

[Takes preemptive Zantac]

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Speaking of dyspepsia... they're walking Wright to pitch to Hairston. With the bases loaded.

This might not be fun for the camp crowd.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Hairy batting with the bases loaded and no outs.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

GiDPs a single run in.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Ike with a RBI single, 5-1 Mets.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Ike's looking hungry.

[Guest Swan Swan H]

[Fman99]

Ikey me likee