IGT 8/29/12 NYM@Phil: Close Encounters of the 3rd Place Kind

[batmagadanleadoff]

Mets' Finishing in Turmoil on Field and Off
By CLIFTON BROWN
Published: September 28, 1989

The Mets made more news off the field yesterday than on it. Davey Johnson had separate meetings earlier in the day with both Frank Cashen and Joe McIlvaine to discuss the Mets' downfall this season. The Mets' manager said he admitted he may have been too lenient on his players this season. Whether that admission will lead to his dismissal as manager remains to be seen. Johnson has two seasons remaining on his contract, with the club having the option to renew it for a third season. ''It was an amicable meeting but I guess they give you a big meal before they pull the trigger,'' Johnson said. ''Every manager feels a bit uneasy about his future. If it's time for a change, it's time for a change. It's not going to make me bitter toward anyone in life or in the organization. It's not going to take away from my nine years here. 'Liberties Taken' ''My handling of players in the past has always been, 'You're a professional, you know what you have to do to get ready.' I don't want to interfere with that. I want guys to be relaxed. But it was apparent to me that liberties were taken that conceivably could have affected performance this year. I think the majority of players would welcome a little more regimented atmosphere.'' Darryl Strawberry, in the meantime, said he will not sign a contract extension with the Mets during the off season, regardless of what the Mets offer. Strawberry also plans to meet with Cashen when the season ends to discuss whether the team would consider trading Strawberry, preferably to a West coast team. The comments of Strawberry and Johnson overshadowed last night's game at Shea Stadium, which the Mets lost, 5-3, to the Phillies. An emotional moment occurred when both Keith Hernandez and Gary Carter made pinch-hit appearances. Both will be free agents after the season and may not be offered new contracts by the Mets. After Hernandez flied out in the eighth inning, he tipped his cap to the cheering crowd, a farewell gesture in what may have been his last home game as a Met. Carter delivered a pinch-hit double in the ninth inning, and he also tipped his cap, then left the game to a huge ovation. Fight Breaks Out The game ended on a bizarre note, when Gregg Jefferies and Roger McDowell of the Phillies fought in the infield after the final out. Jefferies and McDowell, a former Met, exchanged words as Jefferies ran down the first-base line. After the final out, Jefferies and McDowell screamed at each other, then Jefferies charged McDowell. Both benches emptied to separate the two players. ''Roger screamed something at Gregg,'' Johnson said. ''It went back to Monday night, when Roger screamed something at Gregg after he broke Gregg's bat. Obviously there's bad blood between them.'' Jefferies refused to comment on the incident. McDowell claimed Jefferies started the incident by cursing at him. ''I pitched him inside a little on Monday, so I guess that's what it was all about,'' McDowell said. Nick Leyva, Philadelphia's manager, defended McDowell by saying that Jefferies is not popular among his own teammates, then Leyva said, ''There were 30 guys on our side rooting for Roger and 20 guys on their side rooting for Roger.'' Strawberry can become a free agent after next season, the option year on his current contract. The Mets have until one week after the World Series ends to inform Strawberry whether they will pick up his option. Strawberry's contract calls for him to earn $1.8 million next season. ''I've been thinking about this and I'm not going to demand a trade, but I'm going to talk with Frank after the season's over,'' Strawberry said. Welcomes Trade ''I've got a lot of pride. I play baseball for fun, but as long as I'm here, I'll be the guy blamed for everything. I've stood up to it. I've taken it. But I think it's time for a change. I have nothing against the fans or New York. But the only thing that will probably make me happy is a change in scenery.'' Asked what he would do if Strawberry asked to be traded, Cashen said, ''It's a hypothetical question. He hasn't said anything to me, so I don't have an answer.'' Assuming the Mets pick up the option on his contract for next season and do not trade him, Strawberry said he will play 1990 with the Mets, then he will strongly consider signing with another team. This has been Strawberry's most frustrating and disappointing season with the Mets. He is batting .225, with 29 home runs and 77 r.b.i. Strawberry struggled throughout August and September when the Mets desperately needed his offense from the cleanup position. Yet Strawberry feels he has been unfairly targeted for blame in the Mets' failure to win the National League East. ''Everybody's entitled to one bad season, and this has been mine,'' Strawberry said. ''I just didn't hit. ''People say if I don't hit, the Mets don't win. It will be like that as long as I'm in New York.''

[batmagadanleadoff]

[Ceetar]

Cole Hamels was sick to the stomach at the prospect of facing the Mets, begs out with stomach illness.

[seawolf17]

Or, worse:

[bmfc1]

Adam Rubin ?@AdamRubinESPN
Phillies scratch Cole Hamels with stomach ailment. Matt Harvey faces RHP Tyler Cloyd (15-1, 2.26 between Reading & Lehigh Valley) instead.
http://www.thegoodphight.com/2012/8/28/3274558/ironpigs-tyler-cloyd-named-international-league-most-valuable

[Edgy MD]

The Great Recovery avenges.

[Frayed Knot]

With the way our offense has been going of late, I can't complain about going into Philly and missing Halladay, Lee, AND Hamels
(although I suppose it's possible that we'll see Hamels on Thursday instead)

[TransMonk]

Cloyd's been money in the minors this season.

[Frayed Knot]

I've never heard of the guy, but the first thing I thought of upon hearing the name was the over-looked Boyer brother - http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/boyercl01.shtml



The Cloyd report from John Sickels

Cloyd was drafted by the Phillies in the 18th round in 2008, from the University of Nebraska-Omaha. He pitched decently in A-ball in 2009 (12-9, 3.54, 116/42 K/BB in 165 innings, 173 hits), but wasn't considered a top prospect. He posted an ugly 5.32 ERA in 69 innings for High-A Clearwater in 2010, but his 67/16 K/BB ratio showed some promise. He was much more effective in 2011, posting a 2.77 ERA with a 138/22 K/BB in 146 innings, 132 hits allowed, combined between Clearwater and Double-A Reading.

He returned to Reading to begin 2012 and was excellent in four starts (1.80 ERA, 20/3 K/BB in 25 innings). Promoted to Triple-A Lehigh Valley, he's continued to perform well against International League competition, going 12-1, 2.35 in 22 starts. Overall this year, he is 15-1, 2.26 in 26 starts, with a 113/41 K/BB ratio in 167 innings, allowing only 127 hits.

Obviously his numbers are very good, but Cloyd doesn't show up highly on prospect lists. You can guess the reason: he doesn't throw hard. He can top out at 92 on his best days, but usually works in the 86-89 range. Scouts rate his slider and changeup as merely adequate, but the combination of the three pitches has worked well in the minors since he throws strikes and locates his pitches well. If his location is off, he usually misses high, which can result in excessive home runs.

Listed at 6-3, 190, Cloyd was born May 16, 1987. At age 25, with this kind of performance record, Cloyd doesn't have a lot left to learn in the minors and deserves a shot against major league hitters. His lack of plus stuff limits his projection, and even scouts who like him see him as just a fifth starter or relief option.

[Edgy MD]

[G-Fafif]

The lineup Cloyd may find cloying:

Tejada-SS
Murphy-2B
Wright-3B
Davis-1B
Duda-LF
Hairston-CF
Baxter-RF
Shoppach-C
Harvey-P

[Zvon]

Adam Rubin ?@AdamRubinESPN Phillies scratch Cole Hamels with stomach ailment. Matt Harvey faces RHP Tyler Cloyd (15-1, 2.26 between Reading & Lehigh Valley) instead. http://www.thegoodphight.com/2012/8/28/3274558/ironpigs-tyler-cloyd-named-international-league-most-valuable

[Ceetar]

I was gonna post this in the "things people on facebook" bit, but I figured it was apropos. My cousin goes to Temple. Judging by her pictures, she spends _a lot_ of time drinking in this dingy basement.

[Zvon]

Thought we had something going there, but Pink Cloyd gets thru the 1st unscathed.

[Zvon]

Hairball wallball double to start the 2nd. And Cloyd plunks Baxter. Two men on. Who bats 8th? Collins picks Ho-Jo's Nose (that'll never stick, will it?).

[Guest themetfairy]

Another RBI for Harvey!

[Zvon]

Damn that Harvey can hit. Ties the game with an RBI single.

[Guest Mets � Willets Point]

Pedro was with Philadelphia long enough to get a card?

[Frayed Knot]

They're getting some good swings off of Harvey thus far, better than we've seen maybe in all his starts.
He's probably lucky to be down by only one at this point.

[Zvon]

Rollins!


Just one run, but I am tired of us giving runs right back.

[Guest themetfairy]

DuDaBoom!

[Zvon]

themetfairy wrote: DuDaBoom!

[Frayed Knot]

Tyler Cloyd was taken in the same draft --18th round of 2008-- exactly two picks after Collin McHugh
Advantage Mets so far.

[Guest Swan Swan H]

Lucas Duda, left fielder.

[Zvon]

Wow, fine catch by Duda. It did look like the Phils heads said though. Looked like it found his glove. Hell, Lucas will take that. Very nice play.

[Piggiestomatoes]

Hey, Duda. Can you bottle tonight???

[Guest Swan Swan H]

Somewhere, Zvon is working on an image of a bottle labelled "Duda," and it will be awesome.

[Zvon]

Aside from pitches thrown these two rook pitchers have very similar numbers tonight.

Ha^!

[Zvon]

Ho-Jo's nose couldn't pick that one.

[Zvon]