IGT 5/22/14 LAD @ NYM: Ruin Fred's Thursday

[G-Fafif]

Beat the Dodgers already yet.

[Guest d'Kong76]

LA Dodgers at NY Mets
When: 7:10 PM ET, Thursday, May 22, 2014
Where: Citi Field, New York City, New York
SportsDirect Inc.

Zack Greinke can make history when he takes the mound for the Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday in the finale of their three-game series with the host New York Mets. Greinke has not allowed more than two runs in 21 consecutive starts, the longest stretch in the majors in 100 years, and can break Roger Clemens' major-league mark of 21 straight outings with two or fewer earned runs permitted. "It's not like one of the more important streaks," Greinke said. "It's not a real big deal."

The Mets have collected 24 hits in the first two games of the series but also stranded 19 runners to fall to 5-14 in May and drop a season-worst five games under .500. Rookie Eric Campbell continues to make a push for more playing time, swatting his first career home run and extending his hitting streak to six games. After a pair of rookies each made their second career start in the first two games of the series, New York turns to veteran Jon Niese to avoid a three-game sweep.

TV:
7:10 p.m. ET, SportsNet (Los Angeles), SNY (New York)

PITCHING MATCHUP:
Dodgers RH Zack Greinke (7-1, 2.03 ERA) vs. Mets LH Jon Niese (2-3, 2.54)

Greinke is coming off a dominant performance last time out, blanking Arizona on five hits over a season-high eight innings to improve to 22-5 since signing a six-year, $147 million contract with Los Angeles in December 2012. Greinke's only defeat came at Washington on May 5, when he was forced from the game after three innings due to a lengthy rain delay. He is 1-1 with a 3.21 ERA in two career starts against the Mets.

Niese had allowed three runs or fewer in his first seven starts before he was touched for five - three earned - and eight hits over four innings in a loss at Washington last time out. It was the first time Niese failed to go six innings since a 5 2/3-frame stint in his season debut and extended his winless streak to three starts. Niese has made four career starts against the Dodgers, going 1-0 with a 4.09 ERA.

WALK-OFFS:
1. The Mets are 6-for-41 with the bases loaded this season.
2. The current Dodgers players have 64 combined at-bats against Niese with a total of two extra-base hits - both by SS Hanley Ramirez.
3. Mets RF Curtis Granderson is 7-for-39 lifetime with 10 strikeouts versus Greinke.

[Ceetar]

I shall be in attendance.

[Guest d'Kong76]

Have you attended a win yet? I think it was you that
was on a bad roll?

[Ceetar]

d'Kong76 wrote: Have you attended a win yet? I think it was you that was on a bad roll?

oh shush you.

yeah, I'm 0-3 this season. lost the last two of the season last year. Last one I saw as a win was 7/20 5-4 over Philly (unless I missed an At-Bat check-in)

[Guest d'Kong76]

Haha... good luck and enjoy.

[Ceetar]

d'Kong76 wrote: Haha... good luck and enjoy.

This rain may put a damper on things. I want to watch batting practice!

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Soupy starting in LF tonight, so the 5-man 'ro has become a 6-man rotation.

[Frayed Knot]

[fimg=200:29phc015]http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2A8bMww4C-o/TbYk5v4xszI/AAAAAAAAcXA/hHL9S2iA1Mw/s1600/camping.gif[/fimg:29phc015] [fimg=200:29phc015]http://www.psdgraphics.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/bell-icon.jpg[/fimg:29phc015] [fimg=200:29phc015]https://www.vappingo.com/word-blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/exclamation_mark.png[/fimg:29phc015]

[Edgy MD]

[*:jnmrkmwk]Juan Lagares � CF[/*:m:jnmrkmwk]
[*:jnmrkmwk]Daniel Murphy � 2B[/*:m:jnmrkmwk]
[*:jnmrkmwk]David Wright � 3B[/*:m:jnmrkmwk]
[*:jnmrkmwk]Curtis Granderson � RF[/*:m:jnmrkmwk]
[*:jnmrkmwk]Eric Campbell � LF[/*:m:jnmrkmwk]
[*:jnmrkmwk]Lucas Duda � 1B[/*:m:jnmrkmwk]
[*:jnmrkmwk]Wilmer Flores � SS[/*:m:jnmrkmwk]
[*:jnmrkmwk]Anthony Recker � C[/*:m:jnmrkmwk]
[*:jnmrkmwk]Jon Niese � SP [/*:m:jnmrkmwk][/list:o:jnmrkmwk]

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Do you suppose its possible the Mets are ready to give up on CYoung this soon? Or are they just trying to ride this hotness from Soupy till it dries out?

[Edgy MD]

1. Win games.
2. In trying to win games, try not to compromise your ability to win even more games down the road.
3. But win games.

Redeeming Chris Young's trajectory would sure be helpful, but since he's neither helping them win now nor a key to helping them win beyond this season, it's probably not Terry's top priority. But neither do I think he's out of the picture.

[Zvon]

Hows the weather looking up in NYC for this game? Just starting to hear very loud thunder down here in S.J.

I like Campbell in left much more than first base. The stupidest thing the Mets did in the off season was guarantee CYoung playing time. I have to add the fact that I respect that they are trying to honor that, but to put that out there was just stupid. If it meant he would have passed (if we didn't say it) on the $ we threw at him, good riddance. All it's done is made settling the OF more difficult.

[Edgy MD]

Thunder's starting to rumble in Baltimore as youse get under way in New York. Play fast.

Had no idea until last night that Dee Gordon was Tom Gordon's kid, and now that his secret identity is known, he's out of the lineup.

Mets Young-less for the first time all season.

[Edgy MD]

Stop whiffing, Wrighty!

[Edgy MD]

Puig with an insane catch that should have broken his wrist, but he some how had the presence of mind to roll it out of harm.

This is young Sammy Sosa in all his crazy flower all over again.

[Guest d'Kong76]

Edgy MD wrote: Thunder's starting to rumble in Baltimore as youse get under way in New York. Play fast.

Weather today was moving towards you from the
PA and No NYarea ... sun was out here before.

[Edgy MD]

Hanley throws nicely from the hole. Nice to know Wright still has enough speed to beat that.

[Frayed Knot]

NOW they manage to turn the 1-6-3!

[Edgy MD]

DFA-ing Turner pays off!

[Frayed Knot]

Can't anyone here play this game?!?

[Guest d'Kong76]

Never saw that before that I can remember, even in
over-thirty softball!

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

At least three of the players involved in that infield-fly displayed an absolute ignorance of the rule.

You could hear it in that sigh-- Keith's BP just audibly spiked.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

What a display of kwality baseball.

[Fman99]

Strange things are afoot.

[Frayed Knot]

Gary and I were yelling the same thing at the same time. ... TAG HIM! You've got to tag him!!!

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

FART. Tyrna sure ran hard around the bases on that, didn't he?

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

heh-heh, Mista Madison

[Guest d'Kong76]

[Edgy MD]

In a big spot, Recker looking ugly.

WHICH IS HARD TO DO!