IGT 08/22 -- NY Mets @ Dodgers (formerly of Brooklyn)

[Guest d'Kong76]

... even though they were from NY, the Giants weren't
the Manhattan Giants after all ...

NY Mets at LA Dodgers
When: 10:10 PM ET, Friday, August 22, 2014
Where: Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, California
SportsDirect Inc.

The Los Angeles Dodgers look to build on their National League West lead when they open a three-game series on Friday against the visiting New York Mets. Los Angeles has a 3 1/2-game advantage over the San Francisco Giants after Justin Turner blasted a two-run homer in the eighth inning in Thursday�s 2-1 win over the San Diego Padres. The Dodgers were on the verge of dropping to 1-5 on their homestand before Turner�s heroics made a winner out of Clayton Kershaw.

The Mets split two games in Oakland to begin their five-game road trip on the West Coast. New York erupted for eight runs in Wednesday�s victory over the Athletics after scoring just four total during a three-game skid. First baseman Lucas Duda has homered in two of the last three games to raise his season total to 23 � a figure that leads New York with outfielder Curtis Granderson (15) being the only other player with 15 or more.

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

PITCHING MATCHUP:
Mets LH Jonathon Niese (7-8, 3.50 ERA) vs. Dodgers RH Dan Haren (10-10, 4.59)

Niese has won back-to-back starts following a four-game losing streak. He defeated the Chicago Cubs in his last turn when he gave up three runs and seven hits in six innings. Niese is 2-0 with a 4.03 ERA in five career starts against the Dodgers, including a victory May 22 when he gave up three runs and four hits in seven innings.

Haren was moved up a day after Zack Grienke was scratched from his Thursday turn and pushed back to Saturday. Haren lasted just three innings against Milwaukee in his last outing � giving up six runs (three earned) � while losing for the sixth time in eight starts. He is 3-3 with a 5.25 ERA in 11 career appearances (10 starts) against the Mets.

WALK-OFFS:
1. Los Angeles SS Hanley Ramirez (oblique) took batting practice Thursday and is expected to come off the disabled list Sunday when he is first eligible to do so.
2. New York 3B David Wright is 7-for-21 with two homers against Haren, while Granderson is just 7-for-36 with 15 strikeouts despite also taking Haren deep twice.
3. Dodgers OF Carl Crawford has eight multi-hit games in August.

[Guest d'Kong76]

Granderson, RF
Murphy, 2B
Wright, 3B
Duda, 1B
d'Arnaud, C
den Dekker, LF
Lagares, CF
Flores, SS
Niese, P

Gordon, 2B
Puig, CF
Gonzalez, 1B
Kemp, RF
Van Slyke, LF
Turner, 3B
Ellis, C
Arruebarrena, SS
Haren, P

[Frayed Knot]

d'Kong76 wrote: ... even though they were from NY, the Giants weren't the Manhattan Giants after all ...

Except that when the direct linear predecessor of the Dodgers (under various nicknames) first started playing professionally in Brooklyn (1884), Brooklyn was not part of NY, it was an independent city.
Brooklyn, along with Queens (but not Hempstead who opted out) didn't join the rest of NYC to form its current boundaries until 1898, but by that time the name was established and obviously it stuck around for the following half-century.

[Guest d'Kong76]

I know, I have issues with the Nets jumping on that.

[Fman99]

KABOOM! That's how you start a road game right there.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

And fancy-fieldin', too? EVERYTHING's prettier in California.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Pretty though that DP was, it's not quite enough to keep the Doyers off the board this half-inning.

Flash Jr. has gotten a lot better at this hitting thing since last we saw him, hasn't he?

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

I like to see guys who suck suddenly find it when they're on the brink of bench jockeying.

[Frayed Knot]

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: Pretty though that DP was, it's not quite enough to keep the Doyers off the board this half-inning.

Another rally started by walking a sub-.200 hitter. AJ Ellis in tonight's case
Our hurlers were doing that all over the recent Cubs series.


oe ... and now a 2-out hit to a pitcher

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Again with the Deegordoning.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Oh, Willy.

[Frayed Knot]

When Scott Van Slyke is making catches at the wall and now legging out doubles to Lagares, you start to think that maybe it's not our night.

[Frayed Knot]

Fman99 wrote: KABOOM! That's how you start a road game right there.

Yes, but it's not a good way to end our hitting for the night. Two singles since.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Aw geez, Wilmer.

Niese though. Way too many well struck balls.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Good job, Torres.

[Edgy MD]

Full-Time Flores = Mistake

[Edgy MD]

When did Van Slyke get called up from the House of David All-Stars?

[Edgy MD]

JP Howell, another House of David guy.

[Frayed Knot]

Eli Lapp in to pitch for the Dodgers
Terry counters with John Book to PH

Edited August 22, 2014 by Guest

[Edgy MD]

That's a bunny rabbit of a call, ump.

But Curtis, strike two was your pitch, and you should have parked that one in the gap.

[Frayed Knot]

Say goodnight Gracie.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Edgy MD wrote: Full-Time Flores = Mistake

not much else ending well for the SHaMs.

I don't believe in Tejada, and the Mets owe it to themselves to try and score some runs. WE'll know more about Flores if he plays than if he doesn't.

[Edgy MD]

Maybe, but I think there's ways to get a guy at-bats besides handing him a position.

Hit like a big leaguer first, then we'll see if we can find you get a job. That's the way I play it.