IGT 09/09 -- Rockies at Metsies

[Guest d'Kong76]

Colorado at NY Mets
When: 7:10 PM ET, Tuesday, September 9, 2014
Where: Citi Field, New York City, New York
SportsDirect Inc.

Curtis Granderson has not had a memorable first year with the New York Mets, but he's doing his best to end the season on a high note. Granderson has swatted two homers and collected seven RBIs during a four-game hitting streak, including an RBI triple before scoring the winning run in Monday's series-opening, walk-off victory over the visiting Colorado Rockies. The Mets have won five of six and can move to .500 with a victory Tuesday in the middle game of the series.

Colorado was three outs away from matching its longest winning streak of the season, but LaTroy Hawkins suffered his fourth blown save to deprive the Rockies of a fifth straight victory and drop them to a major league-worst 20-50 on the road. Michael Cuddyer returned from the 15-day disabled list in style, belting a homer in his first at-bat, and Nolan Arenado also went deep for his fourth blast in five games. Colorado's Christian Bergman opposes Jacob deGrom on Tuesday in a matchup of rookie right-handers.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, ROOT (Colorado), SNY (New York)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rockies RH Christian Bergman (2-2, 5.23 ERA) vs. Mets RH Jacob deGrom (7-6, 2.79)

Bergman allowed nine hits over six innings but minimized the damage to two runs while failing to record a strikeout in a victory over San Francisco on Wednesday. The 26-year-old Californian is unbeaten in his last three turns and has not permitted a home run in that stretch after surrendering five in back-to-back outings. Bergman has not factored in the decision in either of his two road starts, giving up four runs in 11 1/3 frames.

DeGrom has not surrendered an earned run in his last two turns but came away with a no-decision after giving up one run and five hits over six innings at Miami on Wednesday. It was the sixth time in nine starts that deGrom has held the opposition to fewer than two runs - a span in which he has pitched at least six frames in each outing. He has pitched superbly at home with a 4-3 record and microscopic 1.68 ERA in eight starts.

WALK-OFFS:
1. Mets C Travis d'Arnaud is 12-for-24 with a homer, four doubles and five RBIs during his six-game hitting streak.
2. Rockies 2B DJ LeMahieu has hit safely in seven straight games, going 12-for-26 in that span.
3. New York 2B Daniel Murphy is expected to be activated from the 15-day DL on Tuesday. He had hit in five straight games before getting hurt.

[Guest Trachsel My Tears]

Of your last point, I wonder what the team will do with Murphy/Herrera. No answer yet, mostly because they don't know if Herrera will injure his left testicle tomorrow in a tragic tarp accident involving a stray hyena on the field, just in time to permit a seamless return for Murph, but absent testicle/hyena issues suddenly emerging, this is a little interesting.

Assuming both are healthy, what would YOU do?

a) play Murph fulltime at 2b, tell Herrera "OK, time to grab some pine for a few weeks"
play Herrera full-time at 2b, relegate Murph to PH duties, filling in for Wright on off-days, etc.
c) play Murph fulltime at 2b, put Herrera at short for the next few weeks (tell Flores and Tejada, "Grab some pine")
d) play Murph fulltime at 2b, play Herrera at short, splitting time between him and Flores (and Tejada) next few weeks.
e) Play Murph etc, make Herrera into an all-purpose utility guy for a few weeks, splitting time filling in at 2b, ss, 3b for the next few weeks
f) ucked if I know

[Lefty Specialist]

Herrera will ride the pine. Murphy will start most games and Herrera will be a defensive replacement and spot starter. They won't put him at short because they want Flores to play there every day.

Murphy has to play for the trade value if nothing else. I expect he'll be gone over the winter and the Dilson Herrera Era, for better or worse, will begin.

[Edgy MD]

If Murphy is healthy, Murphy will play.

[Guest Trachsel My Tears]

Edgy MD wrote: If Murphy is healthy, Murphy will play.

And what role will Herrera play?

[Edgy MD]

Guy who plays less until next year.

[Guest Trachsel My Tears]

Just a backup at 2b, or some innings at 3b and ss?

[Guest Trachsel My Tears]

I'm a "some innings for Herrera all over the infield" vote, myself.

[Edgy MD]

I can't see the harm in using him in other stations --- including leftfield --- if that's strategically appropriate. And it could be.

But I see no point in forcing the issue. He's had a full season, and tasted some big league success.

[Guest Trachsel My Tears]

The issue IS being forced. Can't avoid doing something with Murphy and Herrera, right? Might as well do something planned.

[Edgy MD]

"Use him as appropriate," seems fine. There's what? --- 18 games left? How detailed a plan does Terry need to present?

[seawolf17]

Edgy MD wrote: "Use him as appropriate," seems fine. There's what? --- 18 games left? How detailed a plan does Terry need to present?

Terry's gotta do what I do with my little leaguers. Rotate 'em around so everyone gets a chance to play every position. Who knows? Maybe Lucas Duda is a world-class shortstop just NOBODY EVER GAVE HIM THE CHANCE.

[Guest Trachsel My Tears]

Edgy MD wrote: "Use him as appropriate," seems fine. There's what? --- 18 games left? How detailed a plan does Terry need to present?

Just a tiny skosh more detailed than "use him as appropriate," I'd say.

We could have a smaller disagreement here, but if we do I'm gonna have to find my tweezers.

[Zvon]

D or E suits me just fine. And I suppose you can add OF to his utility role, take a look.

[Guest Trachsel My Tears]

Sandy chimes in: "It's Murphy's job," and speculation that Herrera will play some shortstop.http://www.nj.com/mets/index.ssf/2014/09/mets_expect_daniel_murphy_off_disabled_list_tuesday_get_his_job_back.html

[Edgy MD]

Unless he ends up at third, with Dilson at second. Mets lineup isn't posted yet, but Twitterers are reporting that Wright will be sitting out to rest his wonky shoulder, with a possible re-examination.

[Guest Trachsel My Tears]

Too bad, just as he started hitting doubles again.

[Edgy MD]

1. Juan Lagares, cf
   
2. Daniel Murphy, 2b
   
3. Eric Campbell, 3b
   
4. Lucas Duda, 1b
   
5. Travis d'Arnaud, c
   
6. Curtis Granderson, rf
   
7. Wilmer Flores, ss
   
8. Matt den Dekker, lf
   
9. Jacob deGrom, sp

[Lefty Specialist]

Not a surprise. Soup is the designated 3B backup. You don't want to play Murphy at third his first game back.

[Edgy MD]

I'd kinda wanta bat him third against the righty, though, rusty or not.

[Guest Trachsel My Tears]

1. Juan Lagares, cf
2. Daniel Murphy, 2b
3. Eric Campbell, 3b
4. Lucas Duda, 1b
5. Travis d'Arnaud, c
6. Curtis Granderson, rf
7. Wilmer Flores, ss
8. Matt den Dekker, lf
9. Jacob deGrom, sp

You know, with a resurgent Wright and a resurgent Granderson, that suddenly looks like a pretty strong lineup. den Dekker just seems about the strongest #8 hitter we've had for quite some time.

Do you capitalize "den Dekker" if you're starting off a sentence with him? What's house-style around here on that? As I noted, with him and d'Arnaud and deGrom, that's a question that will come up often. Do you suppose we can convince Duda to spell his name "duDa"?

[Guest d'Kong76]

Blackmon, CF
Cuddyer, RF
Morneau, 1B
Arenado, 3B
Dickerson, LF
Rosario, C
Rutledge, SS
LeMahieu, 2B
Bergman, P

[ashie62]

I would try Flores batting third. You never know.

[Guest d'Kong76]

Is this Burkhardt's last game?

[ashie62]

d'Kong76 wrote: Is this Burkhardt's last game?

Saw a Facebook dingy that led me to believe it is. I will miss him very much.

[ashie62]

Zip zip in the fourth Duda up.

[Frayed Knot]

Two infield hits thus far.
Not what you want to see against a Colorado pitching staff on the road.

[Ceetar]

Ashie62 wrote: d'Kong76 wrote: Is this Burkhardt's last game? Saw a Facebook dingy that led me to believe it is. I will miss him very much.

the 17th.

http://www.the7line.com/farewell-kb/

[Guest themetfairy]

No - September 17th is KB's last game. This is just his version of a farewell tour.

[Edgy MD]

That's another 2015 homer for Granderson.