IGT 05/14 -- Mets at Cubs -- Afternoon Lumberfest!

[Guest d'Kong76]

I predict a Metropolitan BLOWOUT!!

NY Mets at Chi. Cubs
When: 2:20 PM ET, Thursday, May 14, 2015
Where: Wrigley Field, Chicago, Illinois
SportsDirect Inc.

The Chicago Cubs aim for their first four-game sweep of the New York Mets since 1992 when the teams wrap up their set Thursday at Wrigley Field. The Cubs notched a pair of one-run victories in the series already, including a 2-1 victory Wednesday in which they scored in the eighth and ninth against New York's bullpen.

The Cubs have dominated when the Mets come to visit, winning seven straight home games against New York and taking seven of the last eight series at Wrigley. Cubs left-hander Travis Wood hopes to continue his strong pitching at home, where he is 2-0 with a 1.29 ERA on two starts this season compared to an 0-2 mark and 7.72 ERA in four road starts. Keeping the ball in the park has been a problem for Wood, who has surrendered six homers in his last four starts. The Mets have struggled at the plate of late, scoring three runs or fewer in five of their past six contests and 12 of their last 15.

TV: 2:20 p.m. ET, SNY (New York), CSN Chicago

PITCHING MATCHUP: Mets LH Jon Niese (3-2, 1.95 ERA) vs. Cubs LH Travis Wood (2-2, 4.96)

Niese has allowed more than one earned run only once in his six starts this season and has recorded two straight quality starts. The 28-year-old was excellent last time out, holding Philadelphia to two unearned runs and five hits over seven innings. Niese has struggled against the Cubs, going 3-4 with a 5.16 ERA in eight career starts.

Wood's ERA has spiked after back-to-back rough outings, and the Cubs have lost his last two starts. The 28-year-old lasted only four innings Saturday at Milwaukee and was tagged for six runs (four earned) and six hits. Wood is 2-1 with a 3.34 ERA in six career starts against the Mets.

WALK-OFFS:
1. Cubs 1B Anthony Rizzo is hitting .458 against left-handed pitchers this season, but is 1-for-11 in his career versus Niese.
2. Mets INF Daniel Murphy is 14-for-42 in 11 games this month after going 16-for-81 in April.
3. Chicago rookie 2B Addison Russell went 2-for-3 with a double Wednesday and has reached safely in 16 straight games and 18 of his first 20 big-league contests.

[Guest d'Kong76]

Of course, I should know weather conditions before making such a statement...
so I found http://dailybaseballdata.com/cgi-bin/weather.pl

ESE 12 mph -- is that good or bad??

[TransMonk]

From the graphic on that site, it looks like ESE is blowing in from right.

[Guest d'Kong76]

Got 'em right where we want 'em!

[Ceetar]

Thursday, May 14

@ Chicago



Curtis Granderson � CF
Dilson Herrera � 2B
Lucas Duda � 1B
Michael Cuddyer � LF
John Mayberry, Jr. � RF
Wilmer Flores � SS
Anthony Recker � C
Ruben Tejada � 3B
Jonathon Niese � LHP

Today will mark Ruben Tejada�s first ML appearance at third base.

[Guest d'Kong76]

@cgrand3 CF
@Dilson_H 2B
Duda 1B
@mcuddy23 LF
@Jmayberryjr44 RF
Flores SS
@Anthony_Recker C
Tejada 3B
Niese P

@kcmets #cpftoocool

[Frayed Knot]

So who's turn is it to get our RBI today?

[Guest d'Kong76]

Everybody hits and eats rib eyes in an afternoon lumberfest!

[ashie62]

The only lumber around here is morning wood.

[TransMonk]

Ashie62 wrote: The only lumber around here is morning wood.

[Guest d'Kong76]

Poppin' up to the outfield ain't gonna get it done.

[Ceetar]

d'Kong76 wrote: Poppin' up to the outfield ain't gonna get it done.

he's done, release him.

[Guest d'Kong76]

I meant generally.. all five outs so far have been pop ups.

[bigpurple:3hy4nzdi]ReckBOOM![/bigpurple:3hy4nzdi]

[Guest d'Kong76]

I love when I'm typing shit and someone homers.

[Guest d'Kong76]

Swing the bat, Doooooda!!

[Guest d'Kong76]

.
[bigpurple:3psur9ce]FloreBOOOOOM!![/bigpurple:3psur9ce]
Is this thing on?

[Ceetar]

d'Kong76 wrote: . FloreBOOOOOM!![/bigpurple] Is this thing on?

yay, good time for his weekly dinger.

[Guest d'Kong76]

.
[bigpurple:3hwd3we2]ReckBOOOOM!

Again!
.[/bigpurple:3hwd3we2]

[nymr83]

Anthony Recker of all people becomes the first player in one of my daily fantasy lineups to go deep twice in a game this year, ANTHONY RECKER!!!

[Benjamin Grimm]

Geez, I forgot that today was a day game. I have some catching up to do...

[Lefty Specialist]

Nymr83 wrote: Anthony Recker of all people becomes the first player in one of my daily fantasy lineups to go deep twice in a game this year, ANTHONY RECKER!!!

Will you win a shipload of money?

[Frayed Knot]

Mayberry's first hit since the Clinton administration (or thereabouts) plates two.
The disappointing part was the Kuddyer AB prior to that with 2nd & 3rd, 1-out, and the infield in.

[Edgy MD]

I'm sure I'll get used to it, but that digital scoreboard in left field is pretty jarring.

Wrigley means ivy, day baseball, a manual scoreboard, and a drunk guy singing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame."

Anthony Recker saved his major league life today, for at least two months. He's getting some love tonight.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I'll be content to give him some Schaefer.

[Edgy MD]

Flores giveth.

Flores taketh away.

You don't bring me Flores.

[Guest d'Kong76]

Cubs lumbering back into the lumberfest.

[Guest d'Kong76]

And just like that... 5-5

[Edgy MD]

I check the game where they've brought their lumber
I leave it on while in bed I slumber
I hear the umps... check out the replay
Can't understand, just what does he say?!

I'm on the MLB Radio!
I'm on the MLB, oh-wo Radio!

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

How egregious was this error we're talking about?

And more generally, isn't it weird that he's hurting us so much more badly on bad throws than balls-not-gotten-to or clanks-off-the-gove?

[Zvon]

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: How egregious was this error we're talking about? And more generally, isn't it weird that he's hurting us so much more badly on bad throws than balls-not-gotten-to or clanks-off-the-gove?

I don't think we can hang this all on Flores. It was deep in the hole at short. Would a perfect throw have gotten him? I'm not sure.

GREAT friggin play by Tejada. Wow.

5-5 Mets