Mets @ Reds 9/5/14

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Colon opposes Alfredo Simon who you might not know is probably the Reds' best guy this year.

[Guest d'Kong76]

NY Mets at Cincinnati
When: 7:10 PM ET, Friday, September 5, 2014
Where: Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati, Ohio
SportsDirect Inc.

After a porous road trip did little to change their fortune, the Cincinnati Reds look to apply the brakes when they begin a seven-game homestand with the opener of a three-game series against the New York Mets on Friday. The Reds yielded 20 runs en route to getting swept by Baltimore and have dropped 16 of their last 22 to reside even with New York at seven games out in the race for the second wild card in the National League. Devin Mesoraco, who is 10-for-21 with five runs scored in his last seven games, homered among his four hits and drove in four runs in Thursday's 9-7 setback.

New York won two of three from NL East-rival Miami before enjoying a day off on Thursday. Kirk Nieuwenhuis belted a two-run homer in Wednesday's 4-3 triumph as he received the start over high-priced acquisition Curtis Granderson, who has been a spectator in two of the last four outings. The Mets won two of the three meetings against the Reds when the teams met in New York in early April, although Friday starter Alfredo Simon emerged victorious in the last outing.

TV:
7:10 p.m. ET, SNY (New York), FSN Ohio (Cincinnati)

PITCHING MATCHUP:
Mets RH Bartolo Colon (12-11, 4.01 ERA) vs. Reds RH Alfredo Simon (13-9, 3.28)

Colon allowed six runs for the second time in five outings and exited after 5 1/3 innings in a 7-2 loss to Philadelphia on Saturday. The 41-year-old Dominican has permitted four homers in that stretch after yielding 14 in his previous 21 outings this season. Colon has fared well versus Cincinnati - save for his last outing in 2013, when he fell to 3-1 in his career against the club after allowing five runs in 2 2/3 innings to take the loss.

Simon suffered his sixth loss in seven decisions after permitting three runs on four hits in seven innings during a 3-2 setback at Pittsburgh on Saturday. The 33-year-old Dominican would like to revert back to his early-season dominance and channel his sterling effort versus the Mets on April 6. Simon yielded one run on four hits in seven innings en route to a 2-1 triumph that day.

WALK-OFFS:
1. New York C Travis d'Arnaud went 6-for-12 in his last three games, but is 0-for-4 versus Simon and 1-for-12 in four career outings versus Cincinnati.
2. Reds RHP Homer Bailey is expected to have surgery to repair a tear in the flexor mass tendon near his right forearm on Friday.
3. Mets 3B David Wright had four strikeouts on Wednesday and has fanned 12 times in his last seven outings.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

The way I see this is, if we win this one, then the next 9 in a row, we're right back in this thing.

[Guest d'Kong76]

Haha, yeah just do the math!!

[Lefty Specialist]

What exactly constitutes a 'porous road trip'? Were they suddenly more permeable to liquids than before?

[ashie62]

I am looking for nine consecutive JCL IGT threads.

[Edgy MD]

I'm declaring this a "big game"TM.

[Guest sharpie]

Two teams that can't wait to post their lineups:

1. Juan Lagares ® CF
2. Matt den Dekker (L) LF
3. David Wright ® 3B
4. Lucas Duda (L) 1B
5. Travis d'Arnaud ® C
6. Curtis Granderson (L) RF
7. Dilson Herrera ® 2B
8. Wilmer Flores ® SS
9. Bartolo Colon ® P

1. Billy Hamilton (S) CF
2. Todd Frazier ® 3B
3. Devin Mesoraco ® C
4. Jay Bruce (L) RF
5. Brandon Phillips ® 2B
6. Brayan Pena (S) 1B
7. Jason Bourgeois ® LF
8. Ramon Santiago (S) SS
9. Alfredo Simon ® P

[Edgy MD]

Laggy > Hammy

[Guest d'Kong76]

Is a "big game"TM a "meaningful game in
September"? I've heard those are huge!

[Ceetar]

where's Kirk?

[Frayed Knot]

I had to look up Alfredo Simon just to familiarize myself with him even though he's been kicking around since first signing with the Phillies back in 1999
He went from Philly to SF to Texas to Baltimore. then back to Philly, back to the Rangers, then to the Dodgers before finally surfacing in the majors for the first time in 2008 at the age of 27 on his 2nd go 'round with the Orioles
He had token appearances there in '08 & '09 then, after being released and resigned by Bal'mer, pitched two full seasons (some starting, mostly relief) in '10 & '11 before being claimed off waivers by the Reds

He pitched fairly decent relief in Cincy for two seasons until, just now at the age of 33, is starting for the first time with excellent results: 13-9, 3.28, 1.17 WHiP.
Doesn't strike out a lot (5.8 K/9) but keeps the walks (2.4/9) the and HRs (1.1/9 - even in that park) under control
Fairly sudden burst of goodness from a guy entering baseball middle-age-dom.

Edited September 5, 2014 by Guest

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Edgy MD wrote: I'm declaring this a "big game"TM.

It really is a Big Game, inasmuch as we win it and it's three in a row, and teams that need to win 10 in a row need to win the first three, can't be done otherwise. Even a four-game winning streak is impossible without tonight's contest. Gotta win it.

[Guest d'Kong76]

BAR TO LO
BAR TO LO
BAR TO LO

[Edgy MD]

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Edgy MD wrote: I'm declaring this a "big game"TM. It really is a Big Game, inasmuch as we win it and it's three in a row, and teams that need to win 10 in a row need to win the first three, can't be done otherwise. Even a four-game winning streak is impossible without tonight's contest. Gotta win it.

I also want the psychological boost of catching and passing a team in the standings. They haven't done it in a while and tonight, after a day off in swinging Cincinnati, they could pass two of 'em.

There's probably also some psych at stake tonight for Sandy and his team. After holding Colon at two separate deadlines, they sure don't want to see him turn into a lemon now.

[Guest Trachsel My Tears]

d'Kong76 wrote: BAR TO LO BAR TO LO BAR TO LO

As in, "Edgy, you've set the bar too low for a big game" or as in "Colon"?

[Guest d'Kong76]

Good one, but I'm not that clever. "Colon."

[Frayed Knot]

[fimg=400]http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-m6Dc3G4_9zc/T5YpvxoTKxI/AAAAAAAAA7o/v_eunQEVHfk/s1600/godfather00015.png[/fimg]

"You give me too much credit kid, I'm not that clever"

[Guest d'Kong76]

"Try the veal. It's the best in the city."

[Guest Trachsel My Tears]

"What do you think, this the Army where you shoot 'em a mile away? No, you gotta get up close like this - badda-bing! - you blow their brains all over your nice Ivy League suit. C'mere."

[Zvon]

That's just an awful Reds alt uniform. May as well go all the way and call themselves the Greens.

[Zvon]

Yikes. Gary's stealin' my material. lol

[Frayed Knot]

Note to Mets: Never do a green uniform thing

[Frayed Knot]

Godfather quotes = ALWAYS in style.

[Zvon]

I'm telling ya, that's what we need at Citi. Wind tunnels. I said that year one.

[Guest d'Kong76]

Maybe it's St. Cincy Day or something.

[Zvon]

I'd have gone with a four leaf clover.

Yea, d' comes thru!(after Duda's horrible display of horribleness).
Damn, Wright doesn't score too.

1-0 Mets

Edited September 5, 2014 by Guest

[Ceetar]

Stroop test uniforms.

Also, runs!

Also, where is my chinese food, I'm gonna finish my Anchor Big Leaf Ale before it gets here.

[Guest Trachsel My Tears]

Frayed Knot wrote: Note to Mets: Never do a green uniform thing

And that's Alfred O'Simon on the mound, me boy.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Oh, Todd Frazier, you dumb, dumb bunny.