IGT 9/26/14 HOU @ NYM: If Ever We See Them Again

[G-Fafif]

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The Astros!

The Mets!

1962!

2012!

Expansion!

Realignment!

History?

Lots!

Lately?

None!

Tonight?

More!

This is how we left the two fraternal twins of the National League when last they crossed paths. Ike Davis was a big hero and Jose Altuve was just a little shaver.

Jon Niese, the least struttingest pitcher of all time, versus Brad Peacock, no doubt played by that villain from all the '80s rich snob jocks who get their comeuppance movies.


Above: Astros starter Brad Peacock, presumably.

[Guest d'Kong76]

Houston at NY Mets
When: 7:10 PM ET, Friday, September 26, 2014
Where: Citi Field, New York City, New York
SportsDirect Inc.

While his team isn't in the running for a postseason berth, Jose Altuve has kept the conversation going as he vies for the American League batting title. Altuve looks to become his franchise's first player to win the lofty award as the Houston Astros open a three-game season-ending series versus the host New York Mets on Friday. The diminutive star is batting a majors-best .343 and holds a six-point lead over Victor Martinez, who cut into the deficit by going 3-for-4 in Detroit's 4-2 triumph over Minnesota on Thursday.

Whether Altuve will play is in the hands of interim manager Tom Lawless, who is on record as saying that he would give his star a break should he hold a significant lead in the race for the batting title. "I'm going to try to play, but he's the manager," Altuve told MLB.com. "... He makes the decision, but I told him I'm ready to play." New York is playing out the string after splitting a doubleheader versus Washington - with the setback in the latter contest clinching the team's sixth straight losing season.

TV:
7:10 p.m. ET, CSN Houston (Houston), SNY (New York)

PITCHING MATCHUP:
Astros RH Brad Peacock (4-9, 4.82 ERA) vs. Mets LH Jonathon Niese (9-11, 3.50)

After having a start pushed back due to tightness in his back, Peacock was blitzed for seven runs on six hits in 3 1/3 innings en route to a 10-5 loss to Seattle last Friday. The 26-year-old has struggled mightily away from home, posting a 1-5 mark with an inflated 5.51 ERA. Peacock fared well in his lone career meeting with the Mets, scattering two hits on five scoreless innings to pick up the win.

Niese turned in his third straight strong start before finally picking up the victory Saturday. The 27-year-old, who allowed two runs in 7 1/3 innings to defeat Atlanta, has permitted just five runs in his 21 innings during that stretch. Niese is vying to reach the 10-win plateau for the third time in his career.

WALK-OFFS:
1. New York RF Curtis Granderson is 10-for-21 with six runs scored during his six-game hitting streak.
2. Should the Astros sweep the Mets, they'll tie a franchise record with a 21-game improvement from one season to another. Houston won 72 games in 2000 before emerging victorious 93 times the following campaign.
3. Mets manager Terry Collins insisted that he will keep C Travis d'Arnaud (undisclosed) sidelined until the latter visits with the team doctors Friday.

[MFS62]

End-of-the-season series against the Astros still bring me flashbacks of John Paciorek.

Later

[Frayed Knot]

So as Butch and Sundance kept saying to each other: "who are those guys?"
After seeing them 6-12 times per year for half a century, it now looks like we last saw them back in early 2011

Two guys have been out there just about every day for them:
2B - Jose Altuve -- really good [.343/.379/.455 - 222 Hits, 46 2Bs, 56 SBs - should get some MVP votes], and really short [listed at 5' 6" but even that might be wearing really thick socks]. Only 24, already in 4th season
3B - Matt Dominguez -- also 24 y/o. 1st round pick by the Marlins back in 2007. Great glove, some pop (16 HRs), but not hitting much [.215/.256/.332]

More or less regulars:
C - Jason Castro (Castro the Astro)
1B - Jon (no relation to Ken) Singleton (22 y/o) - Acquired from the Phillies, called up earlier this season. Nice stick when he's not getting busted for pot (several times while in minors)
SS - Jonatan Villar -- also from Philly (Roy Oswalt deal). Looking at his hitting stats I hope he's got a good glove

LF - Robbie Grossman (24) -- he switch-hits, and I've never heard of him
CF - Dexter Fowler (28) -- once a top prospect w/Colorado. No longer with the Rox, no longer a top prospect
RF - Jake Marisnick (23) -- acquired via trade w/Miami in July.

Chris Carter - OF/DH/1B -- Low Avg (.228), lots of power (37 HRs and 58 of 114 hits for XBs), lots of Ks

[Edgy MD]

Lotta lefties. Get to the pitcher early.

[*:21qugfkn]den Dekker, lf[/*:m:21qugfkn]
[*:21qugfkn]Flores, 2b[/*:m:21qugfkn]
[*:21qugfkn]Murphy, 3b[/*:m:21qugfkn]
[*:21qugfkn]Duda, 1b[/*:m:21qugfkn]
[*:21qugfkn]Granderson, rf[/*:m:21qugfkn]
[*:21qugfkn]Nieuwenhuis, cf[/*:m:21qugfkn]
[*:21qugfkn]Recker, c[/*:m:21qugfkn]
[*:21qugfkn]Tejada, ss[/*:m:21qugfkn]
[*:21qugfkn]Niese, sp[/*:m:21qugfkn][/list:o:21qugfkn]

[Ceetar]

1. den Dekker, lf
2. Flores, 2b
3. Murphy, 3b
4. Duda, 1b
5. Granderson, rf
6. Nieuwenhuis, cf
7. Recker, c
8. Tejada, ss
9. Niese, sp

Edgy MD wrote: Lotta lefties. Get to the pitcher early.

Burp, Kirk out for EYJr, den Dekker slides to center.

[Guest d'Kong76]

[u:2fpt8r76]HOU[/u:2fpt8r76]
Grossman, LF
Altuve, 2B
Carter, 1B
Fowler, CF
Dominguez, 3B
Marisnick, RF
Villar, SS
Corporan, C
Peacock, P
[u:2fpt8r76]NYM[/u:2fpt8r76] - amended
Young, Jr., LF
Flores, 2B
Murphy, 3B
Duda, 1B
Granderson, RF
den Dekker, CF
Recker, C
Tejada, SS
Niese, P

[Zvon]

Duda's gonna hit two tonight. Wait..who's pitching?


Duda's going to hit three tonight.

[Frayed Knot]

No, den Dekker's going to hit one tonight.
There, I said it!

[Edgy MD]

It's Austin Mahone Minus One.

[Edgy MD]

Handsome threads for Houston here.

But they're gonna get whooped.

[Edgy MD]

That's about as far as anything Granderson has hit this season.

[Edgy MD]

Well, see ya, Niesie.

[Edgy MD]

Don't tell Keef but that female trainer is in the dugout.

[Edgy MD]

Duda beats the lefty and the shift in one swing.

Ugly show last inning, but only two runs.

[Edgy MD]

Keith grew up with Bob McClure. I did not know that.

May explain why we went after him in 1988.

[Edgy MD]

Bad checked swing strike calls multiply when the days grow short.

[Fman99]

I'm watching too. Would love to see the Metsies get this one back. They've got six outs left to work with.

[Guest d'Kong76]

Did I hear right, Niese left with a heart beat issue?

[Edgy MD]

I missed that.

Some dick napping on his girl's shoulder behind home plate.

[Guest d'Kong76]

[Benjamin Grimm]

Edgy MD wrote: I missed that. Some dick napping on his girl's shoulder behind home plate.

"Dick napping?" And they can show that on TV???

[G-Fafif]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: Edgy MD wrote: I missed that. Some dick napping on his girl's shoulder behind home plate. "Dick napping?" And they can show that on TV???

You won't have dick napping to kick around anymore.

[TransMonk]

I snapped this prior to the game. I'm hoping Mr. Met was giving Sandy advise on how to field a winner in 2015.