KTE: Miami Marlins - Aug 31-Sep 2

[Gwreck]

[sorry, a short one. Product of a busy work schedule and me admittedly forgetting we played the Marlins this weekend].

Miami: What's Happening?
Ah, the Marlins, again. Haven't won a series since they played at Citi Field earlier this month. No improvement since that time: they're still in last place, 2 games behind the Mets. They haven't traded anyone else away but injuries for the players they do have don't help.

Ozzie seems to be taking things a little hard with the injured players, noting that "Guys play bad, have surgery, rehab, and I'm the one who is going to get fired."

He promised to have less patience with injuries next year: "Same philosophy, less bull," Guillen said Wednesday. "That's going to work better."

"We paid them a lot of money for them to play for us. They've got to respond to us -- to the Marlins." (Story here: Link)

Pitching Matchups:
Friday: Nate Eovaldi - R v. Dickey
This will be his third start against the Mets in the past 6 weeks (1 with LA, 1 with Miami). Threw 5 scoreless innings at Citi Field earlier in the month during the 13-0 loss to Miami. Has a 1.67 WHIP on the season and walks a lot of batters however, so there's really no reason why the Mets shouldn't be able to do better. Got knocked around badly (6 runs, 3 homers, 3 innings) in his last start against the Dodgers.

Saturday: Josh Johnson - R v. Hefner
Was the losing pitcher in the one game the Mets won against Miami earlier this month. Torres had a double and a homer. 4.00 ER and 1.33 WHIP for Johnson suggest that he's just not the same dominant pitcher he was before getting injured last year.

Sunday: Mark Buehrle - L v. Chris Young
12-11, 3.62 ERA and 1.21 WHIP in 26 starts for Buehrle this season. Another solid year for the one player who never gets hurt. 2 prior starts against the Mets earlier this year; held them to 8 hits and 2 runs in one start; 6 hits and 2 runs in the other. Wright and Davis hit homers off him.

Jose-Jose-Jose:
"We still have one more month of baseball left," the Marlins shortstop said. "I have one goal on my mind: to hit .300. Less than that is going to be unacceptable." (Story here: Link)

Jose was at .220 at the end of April and .264 at the All-Star break. He's now up to .283 (.345 OBP and .438 SLG).

[Benjamin Grimm]

Gwreck wrote: Jose-Jose-Jose: "We still have one more month of baseball left," the Marlins shortstop said. "I have one goal on my mind: to hit .300. Less than that is going to be unacceptable."

That's his only goal, huh? Nice! Nothing about winning games, avoiding last place, reaching .500. His only interest is his batting average. How unlike him!

[Edgy MD]

Yeah. Goals help you focus and all, but it seems a little petty, don't it?

"I have one goal in mind: reaching my performance bonus clause figures. Less than that is going to be unacceptable."

"I have one goal in mind: Michelle Williams. Less than that is going to be unacceptable."

[Frayed Knot]

Gwreck wrote: This will be [Eovaldi's] third start against the Mets in the past 6 weeks (1 with LA, 1 with Miami). Threw 5 scoreless innings at Citi Field earlier in the month during the 13-0 loss to Miami. Has a 1.67 WHIP on the season and walks a lot of batters however, so there's really no reason why the Mets shouldn't be able to do better.

Well, no reason except for the part about how they can't hit.
Let's not allow ourselves to get too giddy about the nine-run (five during regulation) outburst the other night, that's still the only one of the last dozen games where they've managed to plate more than three - and most of that was against lousy pitching.

[Frayed Knot]

Giancarlo Stanton since August 7th (after spending a full month on the DL): .316/.345/.785 -- 25 hits, 17 for Xtra bases, 10 HRs

[Guest themetfairy]

Thanks Gwreck!

[bmfc1]

If Guys! is back, he can renew his mancrush on Stanton.

[Zvon]

Gwreck wrote: [sorry, a short one. Product of a busy work schedule and me admittedly forgetting we played the Marlins this weekend]. Jose was at .220 at the end of April and .264 at the All-Star break. He's now up to .283 (.345 OBP and .438 SLG).

Short and sweet. GJ,thnx G.

Re Jose: Wow. Quite a charge. Good luck to him.