IGT - Phils at Mets -- Friday July 19

[Frayed Knot]

Since my IGTs are on a one-game winning streak (bringing my total wins for the year up to one) it can't be too early to keep the karma going by looking past these next two looooooongest days on the sports calendar.

Jeremy Hefner who, in the span of a few short months, has gone from the man most likely to lose his slot in the rotation to being the guy who starts twice in a four game span, gets the nod.
I suspect his opponent will be Cliff Lee. He's been their best pitcher this season and it's his turn anyway. Although seeing as how it's getting towards the trading deadline and it just wouldn't be a trading deadline season without speculation about Lee being dealt elsewhere, you never know where Cliff could be having his mail forwarded come Friday.


I suspect the Phils will follow up Lee with Hamels so, with a pair of LHPs right off the bat to start the 2nd half, it'll be interesting to see if our 1st base situation is all Satin-y smooth or if it remains more Ikey spikey.
CF Ben Revere is one Philly who will NOT be in the lineup for this game, not to mention for at least the next six weeks, as he'll be the guy with the busted foot.

[metirish]

According to mets.com

Jeremy Hefner vs Kyle Kendrick

Zack Wheeler vs Cole Hamels

Matt Harvey vs Cliff Lee

you can get 30% of tix by using the code WRIGHT


I entered that and it said code was not valid

[Frayed Knot]

A bit surprising that they're holding Lee back like that as he threw all of one inning/19 pitches last night and it'll wind up being eleven days between starts for him.
Of course the Mets are doing the same with Harvey but you wouldn't figure Lee to get the same kid-gloves treatment.

[metirish]

That's three potentially great matchups....might go to one.

[Edgy MD]

Frayed Knot wrote: CF Ben Revere is one Philly who will NOT be in the lineup for this game, not to mention for at least the next six weeks, as he'll be the guy with the busted foot.

Hit it to the outfield, Mets.

Pos	LF	CF	RF
Guy	D.Brown	J. Mayberry, Jr.	D.Young
dWAR*	-0.1	-1.3	-1.0

*as per baseball-reference.com

Brown may be their most reliable guy out there, but his near-average rating is probably largely a product of his 7 assists.

[Ceetar]

metirish wrote: That's three potentially great matchups....might go to one.

one? how about two! (Friday and SAturday, making five straight events at Citi Field. )

[Frayed Knot]

Edgy MD wrote: Hit it to the outfield, Mets. Pos LF CF RF Guy D.Brown J. Mayberry, Jr. D.Young dWAR* -0.1 -1.3 -1.0

Young is definitely defensively challenged.
Mayberry's decent in a corner spot but I don't see him as a real CF.
And Brown looked positively Duda-esque going back on a ball last night.

[Edgy MD]

Yup, yup, and yup.

I tell you though, if Eric Young has the future on this team I hope he has, that playing-on-the-warning-track nonsense has got to stop. The skills are there, but that approach makes him look like an infielder forced into playing the outfield in an emergency out there.

And maybe that's what he is, essentially, but he's now 150+ games into his outfielding career. Here's hoping Tom Goodwin takes him somwheres and gives him a long tutelage.

[metirish]

Ceetar wrote: metirish wrote: That's three potentially great matchups....might go to one. one? how about two! (Friday and SAturday, making five straight events at Citi Field. )

Sunday is Doc's bobblehead day....

How as the ASG in person?....thoughts over in that thread would be appreciated, Swannie too.

[Centerfield]

Later on, when I am King, I will reduce the All-Star Break to one day.

I need some Mets baseball.

[Fman99]

Centerfield wrote: Later on, when I am King, I will reduce the All-Star Break to one day. I need some Mets baseball.

Seriously. I don't begrudge them the day after the game off, guys have to travel and whatnot. But EVERY team should have games today.

[Frayed Knot]

When expansion and inter-league play made scheduling tougher, the dreaded fourth off-day (Thursday) started to creep in for a small portion of the teams. Within a few years of that starting, the portion of teams with off-days seemed to get a bit larger. I've always suggested that, since you need a four-game series to fill this Thurs-Sun period it would be the perfect time to schedule the IL 'rivalry' four-game series. Would be a nice kick-off to the 2nd half and each team could line up their pitching specifically for it.
Instead, I suspect now that it's part of the basic agreement that the ASB is a four-day break. The players probably preferred it and were willing to give up one off day elsewhere in exchange.

Besides, without it many of them would scarcely have the time for that all-important trip to and from the ESPYs!!

[Guest Swan Swan H]

I'm dying for a game today, but I'm not upset that Wright gets an extra day off at home after the weekend he must have had, being pulled in so many directions. Of course, knowing what we do about David I bet he's aching to get back out there today.

[Edgy MD]

Which would be kinda stupid, him just standing there alone, punching his glove at third base, waiting for tomorrow's game.

[Guest Swan Swan H]

Edgy MD wrote: Which would be kinda stupid, him just standing there alone, punching his glove at third base, waiting for tomorrow's game.

I could totally see him doing that, kind of like Charlie Brown standing on the mound by himself in the rain.

[Ceetar]

Edgy MD wrote: Which would be kinda stupid, him just standing there alone, punching his glove at third base, waiting for tomorrow's game.

nah, Murphy would be there too at second, and willing to take throws at first too.

[G-Fafif]

Young LF
Murphy 2B
Wright 3B
Byrd RF
Davis 1B
Buck C
Nieuwenhuis CF
Quintanilla SS
Hefner P

[Guest Swan Swan H]

Turner not activated, the bench consists of Brown, Recker, Lagares and Satin. All righties - a pox on the evil Bastardo.

[batmagadanleadoff]

You deserve a gold star just for being able to identify the Mets bench. When I was a kid, a bench was typically seven, sometimes eight players -- as many subs as starters.

[Guest Swan Swan H]

batmagadanleadoff wrote: You deserve a gold star just for being able to identify the Mets bench. When I was a kid, a bench was typically seven, sometimes eight players -- as many subs as starters.

Very true. It was easy to platoon at a couple of positions when you have practically another full squad to call on, and probably more necessary to keep guys fresh.

[Frayed Knot]

It's actually much easier these days to name a team's bench.
The tougher assignment is keeping the entire bullpen straight.

[Ceetar]

Swan Swan H wrote: Turner not activated, the bench consists of Brown, Recker, Lagares and Satin. All righties - a pox on the evil Bastardo.

Turner to Brooklyn, I'd expect him tomorrow after that, otherwise why to Rookie ball from AA?

Leaving in about 45 minutes. It's not wonder I love Citi Field with all the time i spend there.

[Guest Swan Swan H]

Ceetar wrote: Swan Swan H wrote: Turner not activated, the bench consists of Brown, Recker, Lagares and Satin. All righties - a pox on the evil Bastardo. Turner to Brooklyn, I'd expect him tomorrow after that, otherwise why to Rookie ball from AA? Leaving in about 45 minutes. It's not wonder I love Citi Field with all the time i spend there.

Makes sense on the Turner move. Have fun. We're back on Monday for the Braves.

[Ceetar]

Swan Swan H wrote: Swan Swan H wrote: Turner not activated, the bench consists of Brown, Recker, Lagares and Satin. All righties - a pox on the evil Bastardo. Turner to Brooklyn, I'd expect him tomorrow after that, otherwise why to Rookie ball from AA? Leaving in about 45 minutes. It's not wonder I love Citi Field with all the time i spend there. Makes sense on the Turner move. Have fun. We're back on Monday for the Braves.

Friend's visiting or I'd be all home, AC and root beer floats. Going tomorrow too. And probably Tuesday because I can't really pass up Mr. Met with a lightsaber. (I mean, who can?)

[Guest Swan Swan H]

Maybe they'll have these at the concession stands on Tuesday. Mmmmmmm...Pocky sticks!

[Zvon]

....damn you Utley!

[Guest Swan Swan H]

Ron says Jeremy is looking like the old Hefner.

[Zvon]

GO GO YOUNG! Hes nutz, but luckily he's also very fast. Almost as fast as his legs.

[ashie62]

Swan Swan H wrote: Ron says Jeremy is looking like the old Hefner.

Ron Jeremy?

[Zvon]

So Ike gets the start, as he should. If he's gonna sit for righties send him back down. This at bat he didn't look bad. Cause he hardly swung the bat. Looks at two strikes, fouls one,Ks looking. He did work the count full.