IGT: 06/04/2014 Mets at Wrigley

[Benjamin Grimm]

This is the first IGT I've started in 2014. Let's see how it goes...

Starting Pitchers
New York: Matsuzaka (2-0, 2.45 ERA)
Chicago: Jackson (3-5, 4.81 ERA)

[Guest d'Kong76]

NY Mets at Chi. Cubs
When: 8:05 PM ET, Wednesday, June 4, 2014
Where: Wrigley Field, Chicago, Illinois
SportsDirect Inc.

The Chicago Cubs harnessed a rare bit of late-inning magic in the opener of a three-game series against the visiting New York Mets, and they'll try to capitalize on the momentum when the series continues Wednesday. The Cubs rallied for a 2-1 win Tuesday, improving to 4-10 in one-run games and 1-28 when trailing after eight innings. The Mets have gotten used to nail-biters - they've played four one-run games in their last five contests, including a pair of walk-off losses.

New York is still one of the hotter teams in the National League, having won six of its last eight, but the Mets were an alarming 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position and stranded 10 men Tuesday. Cubs right-hander Edwin Jackson will try to keep New York's bats at bay. Jackson has pitched better at home this season, going 2-1 with a 3.45 ERA in five starts after posting a 4-8 mark at Wrigley Field a year ago.

TV:
8:05 p.m. ET, SNY (New York), WGN (Chicago)

PITCHING MATCHUP:
Mets RH Daisuke Matsuzaka (2-0, 2.45 ERA) vs. Cubs RH Edwin Jackson (3-5, 4.81)

Matsuzaka has been fairly effective as a reliever this season and he gets his second crack at the starting rotation. He made a spot start in the second game of a doubleheader with Arizona on May 25, limiting the Diamondbacks to two runs and three hits over six innings to earn the win. The 33-year-old from Japan is 0-1 with a 4.50 ERA in one start against the Cubs - he allowed three runs in six innings in a loss to them in 2012.

Jackson turned in a promising start May 17 against Milwaukee, striking out 11 over seven scoreless frames, but has since endured back-to-back losses. After a terrible outing at San Diego last week, the 30-year-old gave up two runs over 5 1/3 innings in a loss at San Francisco on Wednesday. Jackson is 2-2 with a 3.93 ERA in six starts against the Mets.

WALK-OFFS:
1. Jackson has not yet allowed a homer in 31 1/3 innings at Wrigley Field in 2014. ... The Mets rank 14th among 15 NL teams with 40 homers in 41 games.
1a. The Mets sucked last evening with RISP.
2. Mets 1B Lucas Duda is 7-for-23 with two homers during a seven-game hitting streak. Duda is 2-for-11 against Jackson.
3. Cubs C John Baker is 0-for-13 throwing out base stealers this season after allowing two stolen bases in the series opener.

[Edgy MD]

The Muns have gotten us as far as they're gonna take us, I fear.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Wow... it looks like this is the first IGT I've started since June 8, 2011.

[Guest sharpie]

good guys:
1. Matt den Dekker (L) CF
2. Daniel Murphy (L) 2B
3. David Wright ® 3B
4. Curtis Granderson (L) LF
5. Bobby Abreu (L) RF
6. Lucas Duda (L) 1B
7. Anthony Recker ® C
8. Ruben Tejada ® SS
9. Daisuke Matsuzaka ® P

bad guys:
1. Emilio Bonifacio (S) 2B
2. Justin Ruggiano ® CF
3. Anthony Rizzo (L) 1B
4. Starlin Castro ® SS
5. Nate Schierholtz (L) RF
6. Chris Coghlan (L) LF
7. Mike Olt ® 3B
8. John Baker (L) C
9. Edwin Jackson ® P

[Frayed Knot]

Andrew Brown rumored to be a call-up for Thursday's game, most likely at the expense of either Carlyle or Eveland, but for tonight it's the same short bench situation: d'Arnaud, C Young, Campbell & Flores

[Frayed Knot]

Little stuff, which largely has not been going our way lately, did in inning one tonight: Muffy's single off Castro's glove; the called strike three NOT called on David; the GiDP NOT turned (again, Castro); and then the Castro's error on Abreu and another close pitch on Duda not called.
Result = 3 runs on 2 hits

Now we just have to keep Operation Shut-Down from happening again

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

And sometimes, the little stuff flows the other way again.

We are currently approximately on pace for a 5:50 game.

[ashie62]

Yes...12 pitchers later...

[Edgy MD]

Tejada4Cleanup!

[Frayed Knot]

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: And sometimes, the little stuff flows the other way again.

Well, it's not like the Cubs are getting on or having longer innings on account of plays the Mets aren't making. DiceK simply isn't very sharp tonight.

We are currently approximately on pace for a 5:50 game.

IOW, 'bout normal for games these days.

[Frayed Knot]

Now THAT* was a break going our way!



* hard shot off Matsuzaka's ankle right to Tejada for a 1-6-4-3 inning-ending DP

[Fman99]

Watching the Cubs play I am struck at how much better the Mets look. These guys can't get out of their own way, it seems.

[Guest Mets Guy in Michigan]

Frayed Knot wrote: Now THAT* was a break going our way! * hard shot off Matsuzaka's ankle right to Tejada for a 1-6-4-3 inning-ending DP

Goofy Cub fielding helps us, too!

[Guest d'Kong76]

Kinda comical when the over-shifters get in each
other's way and it still doesn't work.

[Guest Mets Guy in Michigan]

We completely suck with the bases loaded.

[Guest d'Kong76]

Loaded loaded loaded, keep those bases loaded

[Guest Mets Guy in Michigan]

Dammit.

[Frayed Knot]

Going back to the cycle where on the days we pitch well we don't hit, and on the days we hit we don't pitch.

[Guest Mets Guy in Michigan]

Absolutely incredible.

[Frayed Knot]

We can't hit w/bases loaded and then don't even make the opposition get hits when they have them loaded.

[Guest Mets Guy in Michigan]

Cubs walking Wright to load the bases because they know that we won't score...

[Edgy MD]

The bases are loaded and so am I!

[Edgy MD]

Fooey.

[Edgy MD]

This isn't a game. This is a crucible.

[MFS62]

Watching the Mets hit with the bases loaded reminds me of something Samuel Beckett wrote:
"Fail. Fail again. Fail better."

Later

[Edgy MD]

d'Amn it, Travis. Get angry, already.

[Edgy MD]

Ceets, remember when I said that a game characterized by walks and strikeouts and few balls in play made for a lesser appeal?

[Edgy MD]

Torres closes the inning with a whiff and seems confusit whether to leave the field.

To the ninth!

[Frayed Knot]

Frayed Knot wrote: Now we just have to keep Operation Shut-Down from happening again

You know Operation Shurdown, right? That's the one where we score in the 1st inning and never (or rarely) afterward and blow any lead you had - Lather. Rinse. Repeat.