IGT 8/29/14 PHI @ NYM: Right Herrera, Right Now

[G-Fafif]

Probable Starting Second Basemen in this battle to avoid the basement, which Philadelphia holds by a half-game...though the Mets have been charging downward:

PHI: Chase Utley (born 12.17.1978)
NYM: Dilson Herrera (born 3.3.1994)

Mets have the advantage on youth. Phillies retain an edge in sucking in general.

Also, David Buchanan takes on Jacob deGrom in the pitching department.

[Lefty Specialist]

The best part of this is that Herrera will be eligible for the postseason roster.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

We accidentally scored Fred Wilpon type tix to this one. Nice that we'll catch Dilson and deGrom before it's all over since I almost always draw Niese or Gee.

[smg58]

It still might be a good idea to see what Flores can do with an uninterrupted run of starts. I was thinking Herrera is a better bet for 2016 than next year (much less now), but I wouldn't mind being wrong.

[Guest d'Kong76]

Great thread title! Again!

Philadelphia at NY Mets
When: 7:10 PM ET, Friday, August 29, 2014
Where: Citi Field, New York City, New York
SportsDirect Inc.

The Philadelphia Phillies have long since dropped from postseason contention, but they have done their part to impact the playoff race by winning seven of their past nine � all against October contenders. Philadelphia arrives in New York to open a three-game series Friday against the Mets on a four-game winning streak, fresh off a sweep of National League East leader Washington after winning two of three against St. Louis and Seattle. The Mets are also well outside the playoff picture and have lost seven of their last 10 after a 6-1 defeat againstt Atlanta on Thursday.

Both teams send rookies to the mound for the opener, as David Buchanan starts for the Phillies and Jacob deGrom goes for the Mets. Veteran outfielder Grady Sizemore has sparked Philadelphia since joining the Phillies, hitting .307 in 38 games with a pinch-hit two-run homer in Wednesday�s 8-4 triumph over the Nationals. New York saw third baseman David Wright return to action Thursday after missing two games with a stiff neck, but second baseman Daniel Murphy was placed on the disabled list after Thursday�s game due to a calf injury and the team promoted Dilson Herrera from Double-A Binghamton.

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

PITCHING MATCHUP:
Phillies RH David Buchanan (6-7, 4.21 ERA) vs. Mets RH Jacob deGrom (6-6. 3.13)

Buchanan makes the 15th start of his rookie season, having gone 1-2 in four starts since being recalled from Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Aug. 6. He got a no-decision against the Cardinals on Saturday, allowing two runs on eight hits in five innings, and has not allowed more than three earned runs in his past 10 big-league outings. Buchanan lost to the Mets on Aug. 11, giving up three runs on four hits in six innings, and is 0-2 with a 4.26 ERA in two starts against New York.

One of several young arms the Mets hope will lead them back to contention in 2015, deGrom suffered his first loss in his past seven starts Saturday at the Los Angeles Dodgers while giving up five runs in six innings. He lost five of his first six decisions, but is 5-1 with a 2.31 ERA and 48 strikeouts in 46 2/3 innings in his past seven outings. The 26-year-old deGrom gave up three runs on three hits in 6 1/3 innings in a no-decision against Philadelphia on May 31.

WALK-OFFS:
1. Phillies RHP Jonathan Papelbon earned his 100th career save with Philadelphia on Tuesday and is the first player to accumulate 200 saves with a team in one league (Boston, 219) and 100 with a team in the other league.
2. The Mets hit .169 with six runs scored in the three-game series against Atlanta.
3. Phillies CF Ben Revere is one stolen base from 40, which would make him the 12th Philadelphia player to steal 40 or more bases in one season.

[Frayed Knot]

BA chimes in with a piece on what to expect when you're expecting Dilson Herrera


excerpts:

When the Pirates signed Herrera out of Colombia in 2010, they used him at third base in the Venezuelan Summer League but shifted him to second when he reached the States in 2012.
A high-energy player, Herrera is working through the kinks of a still-new-to-him position, as some managers who saw him in 2013 in the South Atlantic League felt his actions were stiff.

... where Herrera really makes his bones is at bat. A line drive, gap-to-gap hitter, the righthanded Herrera slashed .323/.379/.479 at high Class A St. Lucie and Double-A Binghamton before his call up. Evaluators tagged him for average power and he has 51 extra-base hits this season among his 169 knocks, including 33 doubles. Just 5-foot-10, 150 pounds, Herrera generates his extra-base pop with super-quick hands and above-average bat speed, combined with an aggressive swing. Herrera uses his core and strong lower half to gain leverage and make hard contact.

[G-Fafif]

The future is now-ish:

Lagares, cf
Granderson, rf
Wright, 3B
Duda, 1b
D'Arnaud, c
Den Dekker, lf
Herrera, 2b
Flores, ss
deGrom, p

Dilson Herrera will wear No. 2.

[Ceetar]

I'm not positive deGromination shouldn't hit 6th.

[Edgy MD]

G-Fafif wrote: Dilson Herrera will wear No. 2.

Justin Turner: not expected back.

[Guest d'Kong76]

For a half-second I thought I read:
D'Arnaud, lf

[Guest d'Kong76]

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

[Frayed Knot]

Ceetar wrote: I'm not positive deGromination shouldn't hit 6th.

I'd hit him lead off.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

The best part of expecting Herrera is that, going by his age, if I hadn't been more careful with my first girlfriend junior year, I could have feasibly been expecting Herrera. He's my kid AND could be my kid.

[Edgy MD]

How about Wilmer Flores? You've got 704 plate appearances at AAA and about 90% of your alleged value is in your bat, and you're batting eighth behind a 20-year-old who's never taken a breath above AA.

[Guest d'Kong76]

Captain lackin'intangibles is a whiffer.

[TransMonk]

d'Kong76 wrote: For a half-second I thought I read: D'Arnaud, lf

LOL!

[Zvon]

Welcome to the majors, Herrera. DP in 1st ever at bat.

Dilson? Is that a typo?

[Guest d'Kong76]

Nope, that's his name

[Guest Carnac the Metnificent]

Zvon wrote: Dilson? Is that a typo?

[fimg=250]http://www.screeninsults.com/images/the-tonight-show-starring-johnny-carson-carnac-the-magnificent.jpg[/fimg]


A: Ulf, Woodrow, and Herrera














Q: Name me a Nilsson, a Wilson, and a Dilson



[fimg=250]http://alienationmentale.files.wordpress.com/2014/04/hi.jpg[/fimg]

[Zvon]

Ha. Excellent^.

Imagine if we kept Byrd and didn't get Grandy. Very nice catch there.

[Frayed Knot]

G-Fafif wrote: Dilson Herrera will wear No. 2.

They seem to be trying to stuff as many of their young players into single and other low digit numbers as possible: Herrera, Flores, MdD, Td'A
Not sure how conscious a decision that's is but it does seem to be too common to be just coincidence.

[Zvon]

d' drives in Wright, who got a hit. Things are happening.

1-0 Mets

[Guest d'Kong76]

deGrom looking pretty damn sharp!

[Guest themetfairy]

[youtube:98tef3ob]hYlvfX3nwlc[/youtube:98tef3ob]

[Edgy MD]

Flores not convincing me as a shortstop.

If only he hit enough to pick up his glove.

[Guest d'Kong76]

Tied 1-1, but nice 1-6-3 to end the 7th

[Guest Trachsel My Tears]

very smooth, deGrom to Flores to Duda.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Pretty weak throw to home by denDekker.

[Frayed Knot]

After that hitting outburst in the last game of the Dodger series, we're on a 6, 5, 4, and, so far tonight, 4 hit streak again.

[Frayed Knot]

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Pretty weak throw to home by denDekker.

He rushed it and pretty much spiked it into the ground.
But, yeah, considering how shallow he was when he let the thing go it wasn't impressive at all.
Then again, very few of our OF throws are.