IGT 7/19, @ Nationals: A Quick Turnaround

[Edgy MD]

TotG:

• Shocked to see Dickey pitching into the eighth. The magic wasn't there today, but neither were the walks. The guts were, though.
  
• Also surprised Terry didn't pull any starters besides Hairston. Thought for sure Wright and Thole wouldn't finish the game.
  
• I don't know if the heat helped it or what, but Wright's first homer was like vintage Piazza --- drive that kep' climbing.
  
• Wright's glove was magnetic all day.
  
• I don't know if Torres is going to Tejada school or what, but he is not getting cheated these days. Having some really good at-bats.
  
• The idea that nobody in the bullpen isn't cutting it, so go with each guy for one batter --- that's vintage Jerry action by Terry. I dinna think that's the answer. Ramirez deserved to stick around if nobody else.
  
• Don't know if the runner was safe on that grounder to second in the ninth, but Turner really didn't charge.
  
• That hit-by-pitch by Parnell was funny. He gets ahead with the curve, and I say, "OK, this time come up and in" --- plunk!*
  
• Encouraging to see the Nats swapped out some starters, and so had the last guy on their bench up with two outs in the ninth.
  
• Not encouraging enough.
  
• It woulda been nice to finish this one like we started, but I'll sure take it.

*Or as ceetar put it:

pitch 'em in Bobby. wait, maybe not that much in.

[Guest Swan Swan H]

Edgy DC wrote: Encouraging to see the Nats swapped out some starters, and so had the last guy on their bench up with two outs in the ninth.

Think Davey's kicking himself for pulling the 'chute a bit too soon on this one?

[Edgy MD]

Well, it's not like Flores is much of a bat. But pulling Zimmerman for DeRosa is giving up a lot of offense.

[Frayed Knot]

He also pulled LaRoche.
Think of how all that would have looked had Harper's AB w/bases loaded in the 8th continued the inning. He wouldn't even have had to hit a GS (even though I know that's what we were all thinking) but if his bloop that Nieuwy caught on the run dropped in instead Davey would have been within 2 or 3 runs, with runners on, and with the 3 & 4 slots coming up, but his actual 3 & 4 hitters already in the shower.

And to think that just a couple of days ago some were calling a stolen base attempt in the 2nd inning of a scoreless game "over-managing".

[Frayed Knot]

Good thing we built up a big lead early yesterday.

After 5 full innings the score was 9-1

- The Mets sent just 13 more men to the plate for the remainder of the game, and not only did just one of them reach base (Turner's 7th inning double) but only 2 others even got the ball out of the infield (FOs by Nieuwenhuis & Bay). And if you want to back that up to the final two hitters in the 5th -- Dickey's GO & Tejada's K which followed the one-out 1B & 2B by Turner & Thole -- then 12 of the final 15 failed to clear the IF

- The Nats, on the other hand, sent 24 more hitters to the plate starting in their half of the 6th and 12 of them reached base. Now they weren't exactly smacking the ball all over the park seeing as how that parade included 3 infield hits plus the Wright error and a HBP, but still.

[bmfc1]

Did I hear Terry correctly on the post-game: the Nationals are a good bunting team so they tailor their IF so that bunts stay fair. If he thinks that, and I wouldn't put it past Davey and management that went out of its way to get the 1st round pick two years in a row, then did the Mets bunt at all? Is that why Torres had a few IF hits?

[Ceetar]

bmfc1 wrote: Did I hear Terry correctly on the post-game: the Nationals are a good bunting team so they tailor their IF so that bunts stay fair. If he thinks that, and I wouldn't put it past Davey and management that went out of its way to get the 1st round pick two years in a row, then did the Mets bunt at all? Is that why Torres had a few IF hits?

No one ever talks about this stuff. Torres is probably the only one (well, Valdy) with the real speed to make bunting a thing though.

The Mets should (they might for all I know) let the infield grass grow a little longer so it slows down the ball and gives guys that extra split second to make plays defensively.

[Centerfield]

The best part about afternoon wins is watching the encore on SNY at night.

Me: Ok, I'll let you watch just one more inning before your shower. I have a feeling David Wright is going to hit a HR.

Ryan: Really? I hope so, but - OMG DAD! HOW DID YOU KNOW? WOW!!!!