IGT 121: Mets are a mile high in Denver

[Ceetar]

8:40 start at Coors Field. Mets will Bartolo Colon who's slow fastballs hopefully won't be battered by the reduced break at that altitude.

Definitely glad they're not bringing David Wright to the thin Denver air, seems something worth avoiding.

Great breweries out there though, they miss the Great American Beer Festival by a month, in September. One day those two things will coincide and I will be drawn there for an amazing week.

Average Temp:79�

The 49-70 Rockies throw Jon Gray,

[Guest d'Kong76]

NY Mets at Colorado
When: 8:40 PM ET, Friday, August 21, 2015
Where: Coors Field, Denver, Colorado
SportsDirect Inc.

The New York Mets attempt to get back on track Friday as they continue their road trip with the opener of a three-game series against the Colorado Rockies. New York has lost four of five contests since beginning the month with a 10-2 stretch that included a four-game sweep of Colorado at home.

The Mets kicked off their nine-game trek by splitting two contests at Baltimore, which posted a walk-off 5-4 victory on Wednesday. Colorado aided New York on Thursday by registering a 3-2 triumph over Washington, which fell four games behind the first-place Mets in the National League East. The Rockies squandered a 2-0 lead before Ben Paulsen delivered a tiebreaking RBI single in the seventh inning. The win was just the second in 10 overall games for Colorado as it improved to 2-4 on its nine-game homestand.

TV: 8:40 p.m. ET, MLB Network, SNY (New York), ROOT (Colorado)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Mets RH Bartolo Colon (10-11, 4.58 ERA) vs. Rockies RH Jon Gray (0-0, 2.40)

Colon was forced to settle for a no-decision against Pittsburgh last Friday despite allowing just one run and five hits in seven innings. The 42-year-old Dominican has won only one of his last 10 outings, even though he yielded fewer than three earned runs five times in that span. Colon, who has issued only 16 walks in 141 1/3 frames this season, is 2-1 with a gaudy 7.71 ERA in three career starts versus Colorado.

Gray remains in search of his first career decision as he makes his fourth major-league start. The 23-year-old native of Oklahoma worked five innings against San Diego on Saturday, allowing one run and four hits with five strikeouts. Gray, who has given up fewer than three earned runs in each of his outings, limited the Mets to one run on one hit - a solo homer by Travis d'Arnaud - over a career-high six frames on Aug. 10 at New York.

WALK-OFFS:
1. Mets 3B David Wright, who hasn't played since April 14 due to a hamstring injury and spinal stenosis, hopes to return to the lineup next week in Philadelphia.
2. Former Mets SS Jose Reyes collected three hits for Colorado on Thursday to improve to 7-for-13 over his last three games and has hit safely in 13 of his last 15 contests.
3. New York may skip RHP Matt Harvey's scheduled start on Sunday in order to keep him fresh for the stretch run.

[Vic Sage]

Definitely glad they're not bringing David Wright to the thin Denver air, seems something worth avoiding.

Given his druthers, somehow I think David would be willing to risk the discomfort of a long flight to hit in that thin Denver air.

[Ceetar]

Vic Sage wrote: Definitely glad they're not bringing David Wright to the thin Denver air, seems something worth avoiding. Given his druthers, somehow I think David would be willing to risk the discomfort of a long flight to hit in that thin Denver air.

Sure, but a rehabbing player trying to get back up to speed doesn't need the associated problems with exerting yourself at that altitude and the fatigue associated with it. Additionally, there's some evidence that part of the reason players have such extreme Coors splits is that because the breaking balls don't break as much there, EVERY pitcher looks like Clayton Kershaw by comparison when they descend the mountain. Wright gets to avoid that adjustment.

[Frayed Knot]

Wonder if this Gray guy for the Rox is still on a pitch count, or if his limit is as limiting as it was the last time when he was pulled after 6 while tossing a one-hitter vs us. As you will probably recall we proceeded to torch the Colorado pen once he left.
That game was his 2nd in MLB and he's pitched one since and by the looks of things they haven't loosened the reins on him. He's yet to allow more than 2 ER in any game but has also yet to reach 80 pitches.

Game 1 (SEA): 4 innings, 3 runs (2 earned), 5 hits, 77 pitches
Game 2 (NYM): 6 innings, 1 run, 1 hit, 75 pitches
Game 3 (SDP): 5 innings, 1 run, 4 hits, 69 pitches

He doesn't even have a decision to his name yet although the Rox have gone on to lose all three of his games.

[Lefty Specialist]

Got a bad feeling about The Fat Man in Colorado. Hope I'm wrong.

[Guest themetfairy]

I'll be there - tonight and tomorrow!

[Guest d'Kong76]

Frayed Knot wrote: Wonder if this Gray guy for the Rox is still on a pitch count, or if his limit is as limiting as it was the last time when he was pulled after 6 while tossing a one-hitter vs us. As you will probably recall we proceeded to torch the Colorado pen once he left.

This is 5-6 days old, but... http://blogs.denverpost.com/rockies/2015/08/15/jon-gray-remains-on-strict-pitch-count-rockies-walt-weiss-says/20744/

[Guest d'Kong76]

themetfairy wrote: I'll be there - tonight and tomorrow!

Bring home some W's!

[Guest themetfairy]

d'Kong76 wrote: themetfairy wrote: I'll be there - tonight and tomorrow! Bring home some W's!

We'll do our best!

[Guest d'Kong76]

It's Fiddle Friday! One more night of Zacommercials...
[youtube:11upek44]yAuwqm0IjlA[/youtube:11upek44]

[ashie62]

When they talk about the Mets having the easiest schedule down the stretch they mean GAMES LIKE THIS.

LETS GO METS.

[ashie62]

Lefty Specialist wrote: Got a bad feeling about The Fat Man in Colorado. Hope I'm wrong.

Get him some weed.

[Zvon]

themetfairy wrote: themetfairy wrote: I'll be there - tonight and tomorrow! Bring home some W's! We'll do our best!

Be safe Chapmans!

If you make a spectacle of yourself and end up on the broadcast I'll make you a fan of the month card.

[Guest d'Kong76]

Granderson, RF
Murphy, 3B
Cespedes, CF
Duda, 1B
Flores, SS
Johnson, 2B
d'Arnaud, C
Conforto, LF
Colon, P

Blackmon, CF
Reyes, SS
Gonzalez, RF
Arenado, 3B
Paulsen, 1B
LeMahieu, 2B
Hundley, C
Barnes, LF
Gray, P

[Edgy MD]

Tejada looking like the forgotten man these days.

[Guest d'Kong76]

Maybe he's the guy that leaves and not all the others mentioned
ad nauseam the last three weeks waiting for the return of DW.

[Guest d'Kong76]

Has it been mentioned here that Cespedes (who just singled in
the first with one out) is a heavy smoker? Didn't know that until
today when forced to listed to WFAN for an hour or so.

[Edgy MD]

Arrenado will singlehandedly keep David Wright from ever even thinking about a Gold Glove again.

[Edgy MD]

You want to give Conforto a final start as a send-off gift, Terry, then I'm down with that. But how cruel to bat him eighth where he has Colon behind him?

But hey, maybe Colon homers today. Hey, a Colon hit batsman.

[Zvon]

Wow, not good. Colon hit by a pitch on his pitching forearm. Looks like he'll stay in but I'll be kinda surprised if he continues to pitch.

[Zvon]

It hit him just below the wrist on his arm. If he can still command his pitches after that I'll be duly impressed.

[Zvon]

BTW,

3-1 Mets

[Edgy MD]

A 2-1 game with the bases loaded, one out, and Murphy up in the second.

That's all good, but we have a wounded warrior on the mound, perhaps unlikely to report for the next inning.

Now, 3-1.

[Zvon]

Jeeze, that's all we need. Do we use Verrett now instead of Sunday and Matt's back in?

[Zvon]

No ones up in the pen. I guess he thinks he's fine.

[Zvon]

Gilmartin got up and then sat down again.


WHOAAAAAAAAAA..

CESPEDES GRAND SLAM!!!

[Guest d'Kong76]

Cespedes SMOKES one to right field for a grand PUFFBOOM!!

[Edgy MD]

Gonzalez faking out Gary Cohen on the grand slam!

[Edgy MD]

Looks like we're gonna chase ol' 50 Shades here.