IGT 09/11 -- Nationals at Metropolitans

[Guest d'Kong76]

Washington at NY Mets
When: 7:10 PM ET, Thursday, September 11, 2014
Where: Citi Field, New York City, New York
SportsDirect Inc.

The Washington Nationals have seized control of the National League East, but they have one last major obstacle to navigate when they kick off an 11-game road trip with the opener of a four-game series at the New York Mets on Thursday. The Nationals hold an eight-game division lead over Atlanta after taking two of three from the Braves and are in a virtual tie with the Los Angeles Dodgers for the best record in the NL. Washington has won five in a row versus the Mets, outscoring them 26-8.

New York is still in the playoff hunt, sitting 5 1/2 games out of the second wild-card spot after winning four straight and seven of eight. The Mets posted back-to-back shutout wins in a three-game sweep of Colorado, but the schedule gets much tougher with Miami following the Nationals on the 10-game homestand before they hit the road for six contests at Atlanta and Washington. New York managed only seven runs in sweeping the Rockies and must go the rest of the way without injured captain David Wright.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, MASN (Washington), SNY (New York)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals LH Tanner Roark (12-10, 2.97 ERA) vs. Mets RH Bartolo Colon (13-11, 3.96)

Roark closed July by winning four consecutive outings and allowing a total of four runs, but he has won only once since and will be trying to snap a three-start losing streak. Roark allowed three runs and six hits over six innings versus Philadelphia last time out and yielded a home run for the third start in a row. The 27-year-old beat the Mets twice this season and has won all three career starts against them.

Colon has alternated wins and losses over his last seven starts after limiting Cincinnati to two runs over seven innings in his last turn. Colon was a hard-luck loser at home against Washington on Aug. 13 despite striking out eight and permitting one earned run over seven frames in a 3-2 setback. Denard Span is hitless in 10 at-bats against Colon, but Ian Desmond is 4-for-9 with a pair of home runs.

WALK-OFFS:
1. Nationals RF Jayson Werth is batting .386 against New York this season.
2. Mets 2B Daniel Murphy, shifted to third when Wright was shut down for the year, has hit safely in seven straight games.
3. Nationals 3B Anthony Rendon (illness) and SS Desmond (back tightness) sat out Wednesday's series finale against Atlanta.

[bmfc1]

Here we go, our periodic humiliation from the team I despise the most in the National League. How about beating them at least once during these for games? That would be a nice change. The front-running is rampant in DC as the locals are proudly wearing the clothing with the Walgreen's symbol (you don't get that in NY which has Duane Reede).

I have tickets for the 9/23 game in DC--my fear is that becomes the night when the Nationals clinch the NL East. I hope that by then they have started a collapse so they can't clinch that night.

Oh yeah, Bob Carpenter sucks.

[Edgy MD]

Need good Bartolo tonight.

[Centerfield]

I have decided that within the year, I am starting a line of fragrances called "Bartolo Cologne", featuring our debonair starting pitcher.

This is a great investment opportunity. PM me if you want in.

[Ceetar]

Centerfield wrote: I have decided that within the year, I am starting a line of fragrances called "Bartolo Cologne", featuring our debonair starting pitcher. This is a great investment opportunity. PM me if you want in.

Will this conflict with my Bartolo Cleanses initiative?

[Centerfield]

Ceetar wrote: Centerfield wrote: I have decided that within the year, I am starting a line of fragrances called "Bartolo Cologne", featuring our debonair starting pitcher. This is a great investment opportunity. PM me if you want in. Will this conflict with my Bartolo Cleanses initiative?

Ceetar, please expect to hear from my attorney.

[Edgy MD]

Head down to Trademark and Patents Bureau to license that name and you'll find out I'm WAAAY ahead of you.

[Centerfield]

I am outraged. OUTRAGED.

You've seen pictures of my kids. I hope you can live with the fact that you just stole their college tuition.

[Centerfield]

But seriously, wow. I am dying here.

Imperturbabilty. Lol.

Have you posted that before?

[Edgy MD]

I'd be happy to sell you a ground floor piece of my language software application, Gonzalez German, my new bed sheet brand, Josh Satin, or perhaps my booming animal breeding business, Jeremy Heifer.

[Guest themetfairy]

bmfc1 wrote: The front-running is rampant in DC as the locals are proudly wearing the clothing with the Walgreen's symbol (you don't get that in NY which has Duane Reede).

That isn't the Walgreens symbol.

It's the Wegman's symbol!

[Edgy MD]

[Centerfield]

Edgy MD wrote: I'd be happy to sell you a ground floor piece of my language software application, Gonzalez German, my new bed sheet brand, Josh Satin, or perhaps my booming animal breeding business, Jeremy Heifer.

I'll take a pass. Still reeling from my losses on John's Bucks, the "companionship" service from last year.

[Edgy MD]

Dumb investment. Ron's Darlings has a 74% market share in that sector.

[Frayed Knot]

The Nats pretty much clinched the division and ridded themselves of some demons by taking 2 of 3 this week from Atlanta.
They've been the better team all year long (Nats = +106 RS/RA, Braves = +8) but were 4-9 against the Atlantas prior to this recent series and had at least the remnants of a lingering inferiority complex over it.


Rafael Soriano has been demoted as closer. Drew Storen filling in has racked up three straight saves (twice in one-run games, once in a two-run) and turned in 1-2-3 innings in all of them w/6 K's total
Soriano was allowed back on the mound yesterday in the 8th inning but only because the Nats were already up 6-1. He gave up a double, a single, and a SB and got out of the inning unscored-upon only with a line-out w/runners on 2nd & 3rd


With this being a four-game series, we'll see all their starters except for Strasburg

[Guest d'Kong76]

Span, CF
Rendon, 3B
Werth, RF
LaRoche, 1B
Desmond, SS
Harper, LF
Ramos, C
Cabrera, 2B
Roark, P

[Guest d'Kong76]

Eric Young, Jr. � LF
Juan Lagares � CF
Daniel Murphy � 3B
Lucas Duda � 1B
Travis d�Arnaud � C
Curtis Granerson � RF
Dilson Herrera � 2B
Wilmer Flores � SS
Bartolo Colon � RHP

[Edgy MD]

EY starting over Niuwie against the right-hander.

And Juan punched one notch down from the lagoff spot.

[MFS62]

Edgy MD wrote: EY starting over Niuwie against the right-hander.

Right-hander?
Then according to this WSJ article, Kirk should be starting:
http://online.wsj.com/articles/take-a-number-nobody-wins-games-like-kirk-nieuwenhuis-1410398247

Later

[Lefty Specialist]

This is the 'he did good last night so I'll start him tonight in the face of all statistical and historical evidence' move by Terry.

[Edgy MD]

The Mets wearing the First Responder hats for batting practice.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Edgy MD wrote: The Mets wearing the First Responder hats for batting practice.

That'll show Iron Mike.

[Zvon]

Edgy MD wrote: The Mets wearing the First Responder hats for batting practice.

Niiice.

[batmagadanleadoff]

d'Kong76 wrote: Nationals at Metropolitans

Clever thread title. How do you decide whether you're gonna go with Mets, Metsies or Metropolitans?

[Guest d'Kong76]

Depends on my caffeine level.

[Edgy MD]

Blacked out by MLB.tv. Gah.

[Edgy MD]

Two bills cashed in the first by the Nacionales.

[Frayed Knot]

12 hits by LRoche off the Mets this year -- 10 of them for extra bases.

[MFS62]

F'n LaRoche.
Can't they watch tapes of how other teams pitch to that guy?
He doesn't hit every team like this, does he?

Later

[Edgy MD]

Maybe not, but he's been very hot of late.