IGT 07/28 - Padres at Mets - Don't Mess with Magic, Man

[Guest d'Kong76]

San Diego at NY Mets
When: 7:10 PM ET, Tuesday, July 28, 2015
Where: Citi Field, New York City, New York
SportsDirect Inc.

The New York Mets showed their willingness to buy at the trade deadline over the weekend when they acquired a couple of versatile veteran hitters, each of whom took turns helping them earn a split in their last series. The San Diego Padres may be willing to go from potential sellers to buyers based on their recent performance and how they fare in New York beginning on Tuesday when they open a three-game set with the Mets.

The Mets (51-48) acquired Kelly Johnson and Juan Uribe from Atlanta late Friday night and the pair wasted little time contributing, as the former homered in Saturday�s 15-2 demolition of the Los Angeles Dodgers and the latter delivered a walk-off RBI single in the 10th inning on Sunday. New York, which ranks last in the National League in runs, ended Zack Greinke�s 45 2/3-inning scoreless streak with Sunday�s victory to improve to 34-16 at home. San Diego (47-52) went 6-3 during its nine-game homestand to begin the second half of the season, which has at least one key hitter believing the Padres still have a chance to make a move in the standings. �I don't know what it is, but everyone is kind of vibing. � We're not too far off. I think this (Mets) series coming up is a big one for us,� outfielder Justin Upton told reporters after Sunday�s win against Miami.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, FSN San Diego, SNY (New York)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Padres RH James Shields (8-3, 3.77 ERA) vs. Mets RH Noah Syndergaard (4-5, 2.97)

Shields remained unbeaten over his last four turns, but continued his inefficient ways in a no-decision on Wednesday versus San Francisco, allowing three hits and three walks while tossing 96 pitches over five scoreless innings. The 2011 American League All-Star hasn�t worked more than 5 1/3 frames in any of his last three outings, yet his last trip to the mound was the first time over that span he threw fewer than 100 pitches. Shields has won both of his starts against the Mets, including on June 3 when he yielded two runs in seven innings.

Syndergaard was uncharacteristically wild over five innings in a no-decision in Washington on Wednesday, but managed to hold the Nationals to one run on five hits and a career-high five walks. Despite matching the number of free passes he issued over his previous four turns combined in last week�s outing, the No. 38 overall selection of the 2010 draft has posted a 1.59 ERA over his last five turns. Syndergaard endured the worst of his 13 big-league starts on June 2, taking the loss in San Diego after getting pounded for a career-high seven runs in four innings.

WALK-OFFS:
1. Despite going 0-for-4 on Sunday, San Diego LF Matt Kemp is batting .380 with 11 extra-base hits (five homers) and 12 RBIs over his last 14 contests.
2. New York closer Jeurys Familia, who has squandered both of his save opportunities since the break, gave up multiple runs on Sunday for the first time in 50 relief outings dating back to last September.
3. Padres CF Wil Myers (left wrist), who underwent surgery in mid-June to remove a bone spur, will be shut down for the next 2-3 days to consult with his surgeon after suffering a setback during his rehab.

[Frayed Knot]

So what's up with these Padres?

After a total make-over job last winter in which they traded about half of their top 30 prospects, they're humming along at a sub-.500 record (47-52) with a RS/RA ratio which suggests they should be 4 games worse than that.
8.0 & 8.5 games behind the Giants & Dodgers, they're probably on the verge of starting to un-do some of their quick-fix moves from last off-season to the point where it's possible that some of the guys who start this series against us won't be around for the finish.

We last saw them in early June at their place and lost 2 of 3, winning the opener 7-0 behind deGrom and at the expense of Andrew Cashner, before losing 7-2 on Syndergaard's worst start of his short career [7 runs on 10 hits over 4 innings) then 7-3 as Gee and a bunch of errors again allowed 7 runs in the first 4 frames.

Tuesday 7:10: James Shields vs Syndergaard (see above)
Wednesday 7:10: Tyson Ross (brother of Nats' Joe) [6-8, 3.45, 1.39] vs Bartolo
Thursday [u:2pnh39mk]12:10[/u:2pnh39mk]: Andrew Cashner [4-10, 3.93, 1.31] vs Niese. Cashner throws near 100 at times but still gives >1 hit/inning. He also might be one of their bigger trade baits.

C - Derrick Norris - good power threat from behind the plate
1B - Yonder Alonso - one of the multitude of 1Bs taken in the same draft year as Ike (11 picks earlier). Good BA/OBA but almost no power for a 1B (3 HRs and just 14 of 70 hits for XB)
2B - Mostly Jedd Gyorko these days. They hoped for better hitting from him than they've gotten
3B - Yangervis* Solarte - Got off to a hot start w/the Yanx last year (Who needs ARod!!!!) who dealt him to SD for Chase Headley last July. But he basically was an April phenomenon who's been barely mediocre since.
SS - A combo of Alexi Amarista (the better fielder) and Clint Barmes (the hitting half of the duo)
OF - Justin Upton in LF, a combo of Will Venable & Melvin Upton Jr** in CF, and Matt Kemp everyday in RF. Any or all of them could be gone before the week's out. Kemp's had a hot July after stinking up the first three months of the season.

Closer - Craig Kimbrel has been voted most likely to be dealt this week. Started poorly for him this year but seems to be back to his old self lately.
Wil Myers (the key to their off-season acquisition spree) & Will Middlebrooks are both on the DL so it's obviously a bad week to be a Will in SD no matter how many L's you choose to use and I don't think Will.I.Am will be singing the anthem anytime soon (can he even sing?).



* I heard a piece recently on the popularity of Y first names in Caribbean (and particularly Cuban - though Solarte is Venezuelan) cultures. It seems that one way to express individuality in the often oppressive states was through unique first names and the Y presence is in homage to Russian names they had known from Communist circles (Yegevny, Yuri, etc.) See also Yasiel Puig, Yoenis Cespedes, etc.

** Has any other player used the Jr. on his name when Sr. wasn't also a ML ballplayer (or say a coach in Cal Ripken's case)?
Melvin Jr is, of course, the artist previously known as B.J. which stood for Bossman Jr. which was in homage to his father's nickname. But he abandoned that this past winter going for Melvin Jr. rather than just Melvin or even M.J.

[Edgy MD]

David Wright in the park this afternoon taking ground balls and going through other drills.

You know, I could not run away. It seemed we'd seen each other in a dream. Seemed like he knew me. He looked right through me.

[Frayed Knot]

Just occurred to me that with the Nationals being one of the top teams mentioned in conjunction with Kimbrel, we could be seeing this guy six days in a row if the timing of a trade falls just so.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Edgy MD wrote: David Wright in the park this afternoon taking ground balls and going through other drills. You know, I could not run away. It seemed we'd seen each other in a dream. Seemed like he knew me. He looked right through me.

yeah.

[Ceetar]

Granderson
Tejada
Murphy
Duda
Uribe
Conforto
Nieuwenhuis
Plawecki
Thor

[Edgy MD]

[fimg=200:xfymgyl5]http://content.sportslogos.net/logos/54/73/full/x5qgaefxmvbsmrkzw3k8qggwr.gif[/fimg:xfymgyl5]
[*:xfymgyl5]Venable, cf[/*:m:xfymgyl5]
[*:xfymgyl5]Solarte, 3b[/*:m:xfymgyl5]
[*:xfymgyl5]Kemp, rf[/*:m:xfymgyl5]
[*:xfymgyl5]Upton, J., lf[/*:m:xfymgyl5]
[*:xfymgyl5]Alondo, 1b[/*:m:xfymgyl5]
[*:xfymgyl5]Norris, c[/*:m:xfymgyl5]
[*:xfymgyl5]Gyorko, 2b[/*:m:xfymgyl5]
[*:xfymgyl5]Amarista, ss[/*:m:xfymgyl5]
[*:xfymgyl5]Shields, p[/*:m:xfymgyl5][/list:o:xfymgyl5]

[TransMonk]

I'm loving all of the platoon options and the attitude of starting the hot hitters.

Sorry, Lagares and Flores.

[Edgy MD]

1. Granderson, rf
   
2. Tejada, ss
   
3. Murphy, 2b
   
4. Duda, 1b
   
5. Uribe, 3b
   
6. Conforto, lf
   
7. Nieuwenhuis, cf
   
8. Plawecki, c
   
9. Syndergaard, p

[Edgy MD]

Not only am I not reading any news of who gets sent off in favor of Clippard, I haven't actually seen any notes indicating Clippard being activated, so maybe he won't be available for tonight's game.

[Ceetar]

Edgy MD wrote: Not only am I not reading any news of who gets sent off in favor of Clippard, I haven't actually seen any notes indicating Clippard being activated, so maybe he won't be available for tonight's game.

supposedly Niese is supposed to be activated off Paternity too.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Frayed Knot wrote: Just occurred to me that with the Nationals being one of the top teams mentioned in conjunction with Kimbrel, we could be seeing this guy six days in a row if the timing of a trade falls just so.

I just read Nats are going the douchier route with PapeLOLbon

[TransMonk]

Edgy MD wrote: Not only am I not reading any news of who gets sent off in favor of Clippard, I haven't actually seen any notes indicating Clippard being activated, so maybe he won't be available for tonight's game.

He's got a locker and number. I'm hoping he's activated.

[nymr83]

When the Padres get on the bus back to the airport, make sure they leave Upton behind!

[Zvon]

[Edgy MD]

This game is ... really something so far.

[Edgy MD]

Murphy, you Hoover, you.

[ashie62]

Well well well.

[Edgy MD]

[fimg=500:1s9gh314]http://www.quickmeme.com/img/14/146272baabe98dfb55c501715c06dafd6313350163398ff052f7966214d191e4.jpg[/fimg:1s9gh314]

[Edgy MD]

Gary, you're forgetting Ventura.

[Fman99]

This game is super interesting.

[Zvon]

I lost my electricity. Gah! Looks like not much has happened after The Lumberjack� jacked one.

[Zvon]

.....oh.

[Fman99]

Dang. Clean single up the middle to break up the awesomeness.

[Zvon]

Gah. First pitch of the 7th.

[Edgy MD]

Boooooo!!!!!! Venable!!!!!!!!


Yaayyyyy!!!!!! Syndergaard!!!!!!

[Edgy MD]

Um....

[Gwreck]

Going to need a strikeout and GIDP, preferably in that order.

[Zvon]

Ugh, Tejada. I guess that's the only play he had but he shouldn't have been so carefree about it.
1st & 3rd, 0 outs.

2-0 Mets

[Zvon]

There ya go.

paaaaaTING!

(^that's my loogy hitting the spittoon)