IGT 8/24 Astros - Lyles vs Niese - What the car said...

[Guest The Second Spitter]

Fair comment is not a defense for damage with malicious intent in NSW!

(Apologies for the in-joke)

[ashie62]

This should be a hoot...Lyon 2-10

[Benjamin Grimm]

He's gotta be thinking that today he has a good shot at 3 and 10.

[G-Fafif]

What didn't work yesterday is transformed into something else today.

Tejada SS
Baxter RF
Wright 3B
Davis 1B
Turner 2B
Valdespin LF
Torres CF
Thole C
Niese P

[bmfc1]

Valdespin is a 2B, if anything. He doesn't have the baseball instincts to play OF. He screwed up in LF on Wednesday (it may have been Tuesday, when he overran the bloop single), CF yesterday, let's see what happens tonight.

[Edgy MD]

Takes a lot of baseball instincts to play 2b, also.

[bmfc1]

Edgy DC wrote: Takes a lot of baseball instincts to play 2b, also.

Obviously, but he's shown none for the OF so put him back in the IF where he played in the minors. If Murphy can become almost a mediocre 2B, then so can JV.

[G-Fafif]

I can live with Valdespin at any of his top three positions, but I wish they would pick one and let him get comfortable there for a week or more. He's not hopeless in the outfield, I don't believe, but he's not gonna get any better being jerked around. And he might get better at 2B if given some time there if they're having fourth or fifth thoughts about Murphy.

[Edgy MD]

Well, I'd say outfield is more about athleticism and less about sport-specific skills. It's just that his experience there is limited. I'd guess he has more of a future there, to the extent that he has a particular future at any position.

I think he's done a lot more damage-per-inning in the infield historically, but we haven't seen it.

[Frayed Knot]

1) I don't think we know that Valdespin is more natural or mistake-free in the IF than in the OF
2) we actually have some living, breathing, and occasionally functioning IFers currently on the roster

IOW, he may not be ideal out there but right now he is more needed there. Plus it's not like the W/L record is going to be all that altered (or that it'll be all that important even if it is), or that his development is going to be all that retarded by stashing him out there for the time being.

[Guest Swan Swan H]

Who-stons lineup:

Altuve 2B
Gonzalez 3B
Wallace 1B
Francisco LF
Pearce RF
Greene SS
Snyder C
Barnes CF
Lyles P

The third baseman's first name is Marwin, which is proof that when you compromise, nobody wins.

[ashie62]

I want 3 slugging OF's, ok?

[bmfc1]

I'd like to see JV play everyday at 2B because I don't see anyplace else that's suitable for him. Second choice is one place, everyday.

[Frayed Knot]

I think that in this case you are ...
- being too quick on the trigger to decide that he's an asset at 2B but can not be a good OF. Details and evidence are limited in either case.
- over-blowing the idea that bouncing around in different positions is bad for him. Plus, let's face it, a handful of big PHs aside, it's not like his offense [.245 BA - .281 OBA] has done all that much to warrant an everyday position all his own. He's young, he'll adjust.

[bmfc1]

FK: Please don't say "you are" because I don't think I am either of those and just because you think "I am" doesn't make it so. You could have said "I think you are".

Your points are valid, and I appreciate your considered opinion because it's usually intelligent and thoughtful. Please at least try to give mine the same deference.

[Frayed Knot]

Frayed Knot wrote: I think that in this case you are ....

[bmfc1]

I think I appreciate the gesture!

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Aside from overrunning that one ball the other night-- unless I'm misremembering-- Valdy's actually covered LF quite credibly, no?

(OE: In an EXTREMELY small sample size-- so much so as to render the number not-so-credible-- Fangraphs disagrees; he's actually been a net asset in center, as per UZR... and a massive liability at both the corner OF spots AND SS.)

[Guest Swan Swan H]

Juan Neise surrenders nada in the premiero inningo of El Noches Merengue.

[Guest Swan Swan H]

Miguel Baxtero grounds out to Tyler Verde.

And David Wright with the old El Whiffo.

[Zvon]

Los Mets unis. Kool!

[Zvon]

That video session stuff looks very boring. He sits there all alone like that?

[Guest Swan Swan H]

Zvon wrote: That video session stuff looks very boring. He sits there all alone like that?

That was just for the SNY crew. Once they left he put on 'Steel Magnolias.'

[Zvon]

Barnes at 2nd after the ribby double: "LETS GO!" as he twirls his fingers.

If Im pitchin, straight in the buttocks next time up. If he ends up scoring, right in the middle of the back.

K, so its gonna be the back.

[ashie62]

I dont think I give a shit anymore if Sugarpants comes back.

[Guest Swan Swan H]

Flushing, NY (AP) - Continuing a recently disturbing trend, another rally was mercilessly killed by Mets players this evening. According to witnesses, the Mets had runners on first and third with none out when the next two batters grounded into a fielder's choice and a double play.

"I've see this sort of thing before," said F. Mann, a visitor from upstate NY. "Between the junkyards across the street and this mess, property values around here are goin' straight in the crapper, if you catch my drift." Authorities have promised action before, yet the senseless killing continues.

[Guest Mets � Willets Point]

Swan Swan H wrote: Flushing, NY (AP) - Continuing a recently disturbing trend, another rally was mercilessly killed by Mets players this evening. According to witnesses, the Mets had runners on first and third with none out, when the next two batters grounded into a fielder's choice and a double play. "I've see this sort of thing before," said F. Mann, a visitor from upstate NY. "Between the junkyards across the street and this mess, property values around here are goin' straight in the crapper, if you catch my drift." Authorities have promised action before, yet the senseless killing continues.

Bullet of cool.

[Zvon]

Mets � Willets Point wrote: Swan Swan H wrote: Flushing, NY (AP) - Continuing a recently disturbing trend, another rally was mercilessly killed by Mets players this evening. According to witnesses, the Mets had runners on first and third with none out, when the next two batters grounded into a fielder's choice and a double play. "I've see this sort of thing before," said F. Mann, a visitor from upstate NY. "Between the junkyards across the street and this mess, property values around here are goin' straight in the crapper, if you catch my drift." Authorities have promised action before, yet the senseless killing continues. Bullet of cool.

Ha. Agreed.

[Zvon]

Ashie62 wrote: I dont think I give a shit anymore if Sugarpants comes back.

After David hits his 200th I'm not sure if there will be anything to watch for. I guess R.A.'s run for 20 wins, which, it seems now, the way the team is playing, is another big mountain for him to climb.

[ashie62]

with the nice start I thought the Mets could sign Wright in the off season.

Then disaster struck all around.

Go R.A.!