IGT 8/9/14 NYM @ PHI: Philadelphia Geedom

[G-Fafif]

Dillon looks to break historical form this evening against unwanted Phillie Cole Hamels. Prospective participants include Lucas "Lucky Duds" Duda, getting a chance against a pitcher who has traditionally tamed him and Matt den Dekker, who just threw his stuff in Chris Young's old locker and threatened to fight any man who doesn't like it.

Fire up the scrapple and play ball!

[Guest d'Kong76]

Five-star thread title!

NY Mets at Philadelphia
When: 7:05 PM ET, Saturday, August 9, 2014
Where: Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
SportsDirect Inc.

The New York Mets are not in the middle of the pennant race but at least they can give their fans something to cheer about by taking out the rival Philadelphia Phillies. The Mets attempt to make it two in a row when they visit the Phillies for the second of a four-game series on Saturday. New York looked like it was cruising to victory in Friday�s opener before a wild ninth inning caused the Mets to sweat out Bartolo Colon�s 200th career win.

The Phillies are not making a postseason push either but are clearly not without fight, as they pushed the tying run to third base in the ninth inning on Friday before dropping a 5-4 decision. Philadelphia lost a three-game set in New York less than two weeks ago but came into this series with some momentum after a three-game sweep of Houston and has won five of eight. The Mets� bullpen remains an area of concern but the team is making the City of Brotherly Love feel like home with 10 wins in its last 11 games at Citizens Bank Park.

TV:
7:05 p.m. ET, WPIX (New York), NBC 10 (Philadelphia)

PITCHING MATCHUP:
Mets RH Dillon Gee (4-4, 3.73 ERA) vs. Phillies LH Cole Hamels (6-6, 2.42)

Gee is attempting to end a four-start winless streak and began to pull out of the funk last time out against San Francisco. The 28-year-old allowed two runs and five hits in 5 2/3 innings without factoring in the decision in that start after going 0-3 with a 9.88 ERA in the previous three turns. Gee put together a quality start against Philadelphia at home on May 10, allowing three runs in six innings, but did not factor in the decision.

Hamels stayed put at the trade deadline and was reportedly pulled back after being claimed by the Chicago Cubs on waivers. All the turmoil behind the scenes has not bothered the California native on the field, where he has allowed a total of two earned runs with 33 strikeouts and two walks in 30 innings over his last four starts. Hamels tossed eight scoreless innings to beat New York on July 29, scattering six hits and striking out eight without issuing a walk.

WALK-OFFS:
1. Mets 2B Daniel Murphy has recorded multiple hits in five straight games.
2. Philadelphia CF Ben Revere is 10-for-19 over his last four games.
3. New York designated OF Chris Young for assignment late Friday.

[Frayed Knot]

Grandy - RF
Murphy - 2B
Davey - 3B
Soupy - LF
Doodie - 1B
d'Arnie - C
Largy - CF
Florey - SS
Gee-ey - P

[Guest d'Kong76]

Revere, CF
Rollins, SS
Utley, 2B
Howard, 1B
Byrd, RF
Brown, LF
Ruiz, C
Asche, 3B
Hamels, P

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

The SHaMs are here for real. Let's Go SHaMs.

[Guest d'Kong76]

Did they change the game start time for some reason?

[Guest d'Kong76]

First pitch, 7:51pm

[Edgy MD]

Had to induct Charlie Manuel into the Phillies Chamber of Excellence, or something.

I'd have left him cooling his heels for another year for not beating the Janks in 2009.

[Edgy MD]

Ugly HbP there against Lags.

[Edgy MD]

Laggy covering a lot of property this evening.

[Edgy MD]

Charlie is something less than the most articulate of men.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Stupid, muffy

[metirish]

That was just a bad play....Keith pretty much laid into that attempt

[ashie62]

A pitching duel....

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

PhiLOLies

[Edgy MD]

Funky way for the Mets to load the bases, but I'll take it.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Flores has smashed it twice at 3B.

[Edgy MD]

Flores seemed to get down the line fine on that one.

[Edgy MD]

Be nice if Gee could hit safely once or twice this season. Colon has.

[Edgy MD]

Maybe wishful thinking, but Wright seems like he's seeing the ball well tonight.

[Edgy MD]

Jamie Moyer writing an open letter to Dillon Gee in the Phillies' booth: "Why do you throw a slider and a cutter? They're very similar pitches. With the curve, you're working on three different pitches with three different release points. You're not putting yourself in a position to succeed."

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Until or unless this game turns into one of those games that reminds us that we hate baseball, it's one of those games that remind you of how good the good players really are. Grandyman's catch, Utley's turns, etc. Etc.

Many Met Phillies games this year have looked like battles between the last and second to last teams but no tonight.

[Edgy MD]

Just nice to see Gee turn in a tough start.

Too bad all he has to back him was a near-gift run.

[Edgy MD]

Duda is a better outfielder when he's playing first.

[Edgy MD]

Couldn't catch that one, though.

Boo.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Edgy MD wrote: Just nice to see Gee turn in a tough start. Too bad all he has to back him was a near-gift run.

Other than Muffy s idiotic steal attempt we've given Hamels a good effort though.

Now another bullpen showdown.

[bmfc1]

8th inning, tie game, Granderson leads off, he's hitting .222, 2-0 count, and he swings. Lefty-lefty, too. Stupid.

[Edgy MD]

All hail the No-Doubles Defense.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Eh, I'm not gonna tell Grandyman how to hit.

I'm oddly CAHNfident in victory tonight.

[Edgy MD]

Strange factazoid they're bandying about in the Phillies' broadcast booth. Lefthanders never (or almost never) throw over a third time.