IGT 6/17, Niese and Wacha

[Edgy MD]

[fimg=300:3o0bod74]http://s2.quickmeme.com/img/a2/a254e09d8d6351e5d7bf7034e50548692412f76aaf035d2b095c66bf80bbeb30.jpg[/fimg:3o0bod74] [fimg=300:3o0bod74]http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m4mk9ff23C1rworqoo1_500.png[/fimg:3o0bod74]

[Guest d'Kong76]

Is that Sam The Eagle?

[Edgy MD]

It is. Wifey MD, in fact, says his strong brow reminds her of you. I liken him to Jon Niese, though, beakwise, and so he stands in as my Niese muppet analog.

[Guest d'Kong76]

My girlly-friends used to call me Sam The Eagle back
in the long ago. Funny that Cha makes that connection
only meeting her several times in person.

[Guest d'Kong76]

Love the opening line...

NY Mets at St. Louis
When: 8:15 PM ET, Tuesday, June 17, 2014
Where: Busch Stadium, St. Louis, Missouri
SportsDirect Inc.

St. Louis has been a miserable place to visit for the New York Mets in recent years, and this year's trip isn't off to a promising start. The Mets, who are 13-29 in St. Louis since 2001, look to buck that trend when they continue a three-game series against the host Cardinals on Tuesday. St. Louis has won four straight and seven of eight overall, while New York has dropped 10 of its last 13.

Despite the woes in St. Louis, which continued with a 6-2 defeat Monday, the Mets lead the season series 3-2 by virtue of taking three of four in New York in April. Mets left-hander Jonathon Niese will try to beat the Cardinals for the second time this season after limiting them to one run in 6 2/3 frames on April 23 in New York. He will look once again to outduel young right-hander Michael Wacha, who struck out 10 but lasted only four innings in the first clash.

TV:
8:15 p.m. ET, SNY (New York), FSN Midwest (St. Louis)

PITCHING MATCHUP:
Mets LH Jonathon Niese (3-3, 2.54 ERA) vs. Cardinals RH Michael Wacha (4-5, 2.88)

Niese has not factored in the decision in any of his last four starts despite allowing two runs or fewer in each. He turned in his third straight quality start last time out, striking out eight and holding Milwaukee to one run over 7 2/3 innings. The 27-year-old is 4-1 with a 1.87 ERA in six starts against St. Louis and was the winner in his only career outing at Busch Stadium.

Wacha has taken the loss in his last two starts after going more than a month between defeats. The 22-year-old did not allow more than three runs in any of his first 13 starts this season but saw that streak end last time out, as he gave up four runs over five innings in a loss at Tampa Bay. Wacha is 1-1 with a 3.60 ERA in two starts against the Mets.

WALK-OFFS:
1. St. Louis 1B Matt Adams is 6-for-15 with a triple, three homers and six RBIs in four games since coming off the disabled list.
2. Cardinals OFs Matt Holliday and Allen Craig were among Monday's stars at the plate but are a combined 3-for-20 with five strikeouts against Niese.
3. Mets 3B David Wright went 1-for-4 Monday and is 3-for-43 since June 3.

[G-Fafif]

Pitcher bats eighth again.

Mets
Curtis Granderson, cf
Daniel Murphy, 2b
David Wright, 3b
Bobby Abreu, rf
Lucas Duda, 1b
Anthony Recker, c
Ruben Tejada, ss
Jonathon Niese, lhp
Eric Young Jr., lf

Cardinals
Peter Bourjos, cf
Jon Jay, rf
Matt Holliday, lf
Allen Craig, 1b
Yadier Molina, c
Jhonny Peralta, ss
Mark Ellis, 2b
Daniel Descalso, 3b
Michael Wacha, rhp

[Frayed Knot]

EYJ is now our 'pre-leadoff' hitter.

[ashie62]

Abreu catching a lot of work for an old guy..

[Guest d'Kong76]

Let's Wacha Wacha Wacha Wacha tonight!

[ashie62]

Holy Crap a David Wright KABOOM!!!

[Edgy MD]

God, even more than seeing that drive by Wright fly out, it was just nice to see him pull a ball.

[ashie62]

Niese is pitching a gem... lets get him a W..

[bmfc1]

Niese is pitching so well that Terry will take him out after he gives up a walk or a single.

[ashie62]

Willy Wacha and the unhittable pitch....

[ashie62]

bmfc1 wrote: Niese is pitching so well that Terry will take him out after he gives up a walk or a single.

Getting hammered now...

[Frayed Knot]

Some teams GET two-out hits, and some teams Give Up two-out hits.

In addition to our well-publicized bases-loaded ineptness, Murphy's AB tonight just took the already low .111 BA with runners on 2nd & 3rd and dragged it down a few notches further.

[ashie62]

Maybe water will find its' level on this...

[ashie62]

Abreu's turn

[Edgy MD]

David Wright hitting like he's angry.

For the record, I don't know why there's that much anger over Niese's hook last time. It's a lose/lose call. The move was successful and Niese certainly didn't miss out on any win he otherwise would have gotten, as the game remained tied until the 13th.

Maybe the bullpen may have lasted longer had they not yanked Niese, but it's asking a lot of a manager to manage in the seventh in order to preserve enough pitching to get through the 13th.

[Frayed Knot]

Cards, with no margin for error, get two consecutive two-out, run-scoring hits
Mets wind up with Five ABs with a runner or runners in scoring position in a six-batter span and wind up with no runs: K, FO, BB, FO, K

[Frayed Knot]

On the good side, that little bit of clownery by Muffy & Duda helped to get rid of Wacha.
On the other hand we can't hit their bullpen either.

[Frayed Knot]

Oh and what a shock, another fuckin' two out RBI hit!!

[Frayed Knot]

I believe the Cardinals have more two-out RBIs in this game than the Mets have this season.

[Frayed Knot]

Murphy owes us beer for tonight's game.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

RAAAAAR! DUDA MAKE POINTLESS FEELGOOD BALLSMASHERY!

[Edgy MD]

Well, if it means trading a loss to get Wright and Duda going, then I.... totally wouldn't have taken that deal at all.

But I sure hope this game gets Wright and Duda going.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Murphy owes us beer for tonight's game.

Not to read too deeply into these things but Alderson evidently was asked in one of those season-ticket-holder chats as to his attitude on trading Muffy and he was sorta noncomittal, at least it's how it read. I know you ca't give assurances but here's the magic quote:

"Look, we have a real appreciation for Dan Murphy. Murphy is somebody who is an offensive player, who has really done some things this year to improve himself as an offensive player. His on-base percentage is much higher than it has been in recent years. He goes the other way. So there's no question in terms of this ballpark, he's been a plus. You know, we talk about all the time: We're looking for players that are willing to play in New York or can play in New York. He hits in New York. He hits in this ballpark. ..."

He went on to say we shouldn't consider what we hear on twitter to be reliable.

I have no idea what Muffy would bring back in a deal not who would want him, but he's not without value, will be getting more expensive next year, and could be replaced in the lineup everyday by Flores.

[Frayed Knot]

Murphy owes us beer for tonight's game. Not to read too deeply into these things but Alderson evidently was asked in one of those season-ticket-holder chats as to his attitude on trading Muffy and he was sorta noncomittal, at least it's how it read. I know you ca't give assurances but here's the magic quote: "Look, we have a real appreciation for Dan Murphy. Murphy is somebody who is an offensive player, who has really done some things this year to improve himself as an offensive player. His on-base percentage is much higher than it has been in recent years. He goes the other way. So there's no question in terms of this ballpark, he's been a plus. You know, we talk about all the time: We're looking for players that are willing to play in New York or can play in New York. He hits in New York. He hits in this ballpark. ..." He went on to say we shouldn't consider what we hear on twitter to be reliable. I have no idea what Muffy would bring back in a deal not who would want him, but he's not without value, will be getting more expensive next year, and could be replaced in the lineup everyday by Flores.

Yeah, I read all that the other day. My first thought was that back in the old MOFO days there'd be screaming about the GM just giving a bunch of non answers, as if the only thing they'd accept in true SHOW US THE PLAN!!!! style is for Sandy to give an exact date and time on when Murphy was to be traded and what we'll get in return.

I personally think he's actually been OK defensively this year, or at least certainly hasn't hurt them with the glove as much as he's helped with the stick. It's just that last night's game featured him K-ing on a bad pitch w/2 on (just as the Cards got 2-out hit after 2-out hit) and then followed that up with the double error inning (even though I'm sure he was only charge with one).
Mainly it suxx with him not showing up on the one day recently when Wright did - but that's pretty much been the story of this season.