IGT 06/15 - Pads at Mets

[Guest d'Kong76]

San Diego at NY Mets
When: 1:10 PM ET, Sunday, June 15, 2014
Where: Citi Field, New York City, New York
SportsDirect Inc.

After turning the tables by rendering an opponent powerless at the plate, the San Diego Padres vie for a series victory when they conclude their three-game set against the host New York Mets on Sunday. Chase Headley homered and drove in a pair of runs as San Diego snapped a season-high five-game losing skid with a 5-0 triumph on Saturday. The light-hitting Padres, who matched their scoring output from the previous three games combined, aren't used to that type of production as they rest in last place in the majors in runs and batting average as well as on-base and slugging percentage.

New York mustered an infield single to lead off the first inning and a blooper against a pronounced shift in the ninth as its only hits en route to falling for the ninth time in 11 games. Daniel Murphy was not responsible for either single and saw his 10-game hitting streak come to an end on Saturday. Murphy is just 2-for-10 in his career versus Sunday starter Ian Kennedy.

TV:
1:10 p.m. ET, Fox Sports (San Diego), WPIX (New York)

PITCHING MATCHUP:
Padres RH Ian Kennedy (5-7, 3.63 ERA) vs. Mets RH Daisuke Matsuzaka (3-0, 2.95)

Kennedy saw his season-best three-game winning streak come to a halt after yielding five runs on seven hits in as many innings in a 5-2 setback to Philadelphia on Tuesday. The 29-year-old looks to rebound versus the Mets, against whom he has enjoyed considerable success - save for his last outing. Kennedy permitted three homers and five runs total in 4 2/3 innings to drop to 4-1 in his career versus New York.

Matsuzaka authored his best outing of the season on Tuesday, when he allowed one run on three hits in six innings en route to a 6-2 triumph over Milwaukee. Despite an unbeaten record, the 33-year-old Japan native has struggled with his control by allowing 28 walks in 39 2/3 innings. Matsuzaka won his lone career appearance versus San Diego, yielding one run and five walks in six innings while striking out nine.

WALK-OFFS:
1. San Diego LF Seth Smith is 4-for-4 with a homer in his career versus Matsuzaka.
2. Mets OF Curtis Granderson made his second pinch-hitting appearance in three games on Saturday as he nurses a strained calf.
3. The Padres placed LHP Troy Patton on the 15-day disabled list with severe shoulder pain.

[Guest d'Kong76]

Los Metropolitans:
Granderson, CF
Murphy, 2B
Wright, 3B
Abreu, RF
Brown, LF
Duda, 1B
Flores, SS
Recker, C
Matsuzaka, P

[Frayed Knot]

Another day, another leadoff hitter.
Not that this choice is any worse necessarily than any of the others. At least Grandy's been taking his walks even when the hitting's been erratic or just plain lousy.

[G-Fafif]

[youtube:2c1jej6q]3dWDJhLCgdo[/youtube:2c1jej6q]

[nymr83]

You don't take 3rd on Duda!

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

I like Grandy as a leadoff guy. It's just that he might also be their best 4th 6th or 7th hitter too.

Rout on but Matsuzaka a L ready out with an injury.

[nymr83]

2-0 Mets and no outs, but Matsuzaka looks like he is done with illness or injury, we need more runs here!!!

[nymr83]

Missed a big chance there, hope it doesn't come back k to bite us but pretty sure it will.

[Frayed Knot]

Does anything exemplify this season better than that 1st inning?
- With early runs in and an almost certain chance to tack on more (2nd + 3rd - no one out) the following three hitters fail to even hit a fair ball.
- and then by the following half inning half both the starting pitcher and half the lead are gone

[Benjamin Grimm]

If Matsuzaka is going to have to miss time, who replaces him in the rotation until Gee gets back? Eveland?

[nymr83]

Vic black is a disaster right now..

[Frayed Knot]

Nymr83 wrote: Vic black is a disaster right now..

And then he looks great going: Pop-up, Pop-up, K

[Edgy MD]

I want to be generous, Kevin Quackenbush, but your beard isn't helping.

Hey, G-FAFIF, he's from USF!

[Frayed Knot]

They're going to have to keep the sharp objects away from David.

[Edgy MD]

In the book, that's a clean inning for Wilmer Flores.

Twice in one inning, a Padre quits on a play early, only to both times allow Wilmer Flores a second crack at a play he screwed up. That's the sort of thing that should make a manager cranky.

[Edgy MD]

Duda maybe kinda hopefully finding his extra base stroke.

[Frayed Knot]

(just shy of) three hours to play seven innings of a 3-1 game.

Mr Selig's successor is going to have some work to do on this issue because whatever steps are being taken now are having a reverse effect.

[Frayed Knot]

Am I the only one who thinks of Elton John whenever I hear the announcers mention SD player Alexi Amarista?

[youtube:3ovc8jy7]XKXDYMrIqTI[/youtube:3ovc8jy7]

[Edgy MD]

Just realized both teams are wearing shoulder patches honoring malaprop-launching longtime broadcasters.

[Edgy MD]

Keep hitting it to Duda!

[Edgy MD]

Kablammo.

[batmagadanleadoff]

Am I the only one who thinks of Elton John whenever I hear the announcers mention SD player Alexi Amarista? [youtube]XKXDYMrIqTI[/youtube]

Amoreena reminds me of the opening sequence of Dog Day Afternoon, a gritty, grimy Brooklyn on a sweltering Summer day:

7Gy2VMqjAsQ

[Zvon]

Looks like this IGT fell off a cliff.

Another day, another leadoff hitter. Not that this choice is any worse necessarily than any of the others. At least Grandy's been taking his walks even when the hitting's been erratic or just plain lousy.

Yikes. Abreu's next. Actually I like Grandy there but like JCL says, this line up needs hitters everywhere. But if G purrs there and Duda keeps showing strong stuff at the plate...

You don't take 3rd on Duda!

Didn't think I'd ever say this. I have complete confidence in Duda on routine plays at first. He has become solid.

Am I the only one who thinks of Elton John whenever I hear the announcers mention SD player Alexi Amarista? [youtube]XKXDYMrIqTI[/youtube] Amoreena reminds me of the opening sequence of Dog Day Afternoon, a gritty, grimy Brooklyn on a sweltering Summer day: 7Gy2VMqjAsQ

Might be my favorite Elton John song, and he has some fantastic songs. And so many bring back memories. I also know this from Dog Day Afternoon. I was an usher at the Towne 4 Theater and that was playing so Id see that opening 3 times a day for...mighta been two weeks. The drums and bass in that was so crisp. And what a vocal. I loved how it was playing and then when Sonny turned down the radio it got low and became the song on the radio.

Great game today. Happy Fathers Day all you padres!