IGT 124: WELCOME BACK DAVID

[Ceetar]

Welcome back Captain America.

deGrom versus Adam Morgan

Adam Morgan is seemingly a soft-tossing lefty? Mostly bad? I'm not sure you could set up a better return for Wright if you tried.

[G-Fafif]

[youtube:3057heku]M6o0Cah5kQU[/youtube:3057heku]

[G-Fafif]

It was a four-game series sweep at Citizens Bank Park at almost the exact same time of year (August 27-30) eight years ago that presaged the collapse to come and era to follow. The Mets entered on a Monday leading the Phillies by six and left leading by two. They recovered for a couple of weeks, but the fuse was lit.

Historical retribution is in order. Officially I take them one game at a time. But man oh man, I want to take four. Never mind that 23 of the current 25 Phillies will be, "What's 2007?" Stick it to Ryan Howard and Carlos Ruiz now and Chase Utley and Jimmy Rollins in October.

[Edgy MD]

My friends and I drove out to Cape May a few years ago. We found this lonely bar in the offseason and ordered some Adam Morgans. Got hammered.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

[Ceetar]

Phillies Elimination number is 22.

[MFS62]

I'm concerned about his defense. Will his back allow him to move/bend/set his feet to throw well enough to play the field?
We'll soon find out.

Later

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

No they gave him 6 months for treatment and rehab only to throw him out there again being unable to bend over.

[MFS62]

When a ground ball is hit to a third baseman's left, he has to twist his body around while rising up to throw to first.
I'm concerned about a sudden tweak of those muscles (lats? - not specifically a "back" muscle). Bending isn't really a primary concern, You can exercise those muscles.

Later

[Guest d'Kong76]

NY Mets at Philadelphia
When: 7:05 PM ET, Monday, August 24, 2015
Where: Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
SportsDirect Inc.

The Philadelphia Phillies made their intention to avoid a last-place finish known over the weekend and would like nothing more than to throw a wrench in the New York Mets� plans to win the National League East. The Phillies attempt to continue their climb out of the division basement when they host the Mets in the opener of a four-game series on Monday.

Philadelphia captured the final three contests of its four-game series at Miami over the weekend to pull into a tie with the Marlins for fourth place in the East and give it five wins in its last six games. The Phillies are 21-12 since the All-Star break and will play 10 games - including seven of the next 10 - against first-place New York over the final five weeks of the season. The Mets found their offense at Coors Field, scoring 33 runs during a three-game sweep, and are set to get even better at the plate when David Wright comes off the disabled list on Monday. Wright (spinal stenosis) has been out since April 14 and is expected to split time at third base with recent acquisition Juan Uribe while he works his way into shape.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, SNY (New York), CSN Philadelphia

PITCHING MATCHUP: Mets RH Jacob deGrom (12-6, 1.98 ERA) vs. Phillies LH Adam Morgan (4-4, 3.92)

DeGrom is making a run at the NL Cy Young Award as he has allowed two runs or fewer in each of his last seven outings. The 27-year-old surrendered one run and five hits in 7 2/3 innings at Baltimore on Tuesday en route to his second straight win. DeGrom is 2-0 with a 1.67 ERA in four career starts versus the Phillies, striking out nine while yielding two runs in 7 1/3 frames against them on May 26.

Morgan, who has alternated wins and losses over his last five starts, scattered two runs and five hits over seven innings to beat Toronto on Wednesday. The 25-year-old rookie did not walk a batter in either of his last two outings, totaling 13 frames. Morgan is making his first career appearance against New York but is 2-1 with a 3.81 ERA in five home starts.

WALK-OFFS:
1. The Mets are 30-17 against NL East opponents, including 8-1 versus the Phillies.
2. Philadelphia 3B Andres Blanco is 10-for-24 during his six-game hitting streak.
3. New York 2B Daniel Murphy is 7-for-17 with seven RBIs in his last four contests.

[Guest Mets � Willets Point]

G-Fafif wrote: It was a four-game series sweep at Citizens Bank Park at almost the exact same time of year (August 27-30) eight years ago that presaged the collapse to come and era to follow.

I remember that series. The Phillies played hard and capitalized on every single mistake the Mets made. And the Mets made a lot of mistakes.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Yes. The Mets were playing like they were afraid to lose. (And they were.) The 2015 Mets have to avoid falling into that trap.

[Centerfield]

I believe the 2015 Mets are a much better team. The 2007 team had glaring holes, and specifically, inconsistent pitching. If the bullpen situation ever got as bad as 2007, I believe they would insert Matz and Gee into the pen and bolster it that way.

[Gwreck]

Centerfield wrote: The 2007 team had glaring holes, and specifically, inconsistent pitching. If the bullpen situation ever got as bad as 2007, I believe they would insert Matz and Gee into the pen and bolster it that way.

2008 was the year of the bullpen disaster. The 2007 pen was decent/average.

[Fman99]

Ceetar wrote: Phillies Elimination number is 22.

I usually use the number "2" for elimination, but whatever works for you. I hope the Phillies take a big #22 on the field this week.

[Ceetar]

Wright�s 19 home runs are the most by a visiting player in Citizens Bank Park history.

[G-Fafif]

"We're gonna be careful with you and bat you cleanup from the get-go. No pressure."

Juan Lagares � CF
Daniel Murphy � 1B
Yoenis Cespedes � LF
David Wright � 3B
Wilmer Flores � 2B
Travis d�Arnaud � C
Michael Cuddyer � RF
Ruben Tejada � SS
Jacob deGrom � RHP

[G-Fafif]

No Granderson. That's a rarity. [crossout:rnx9xgoq]Conforto[/crossout:rnx9xgoq] Cuddyer in the corner where he was originally slotted before a game was played. And JuannyLag in center, so David doesn't suffer culture shock.

Edited August 24, 2015 by Guest

[Frayed Knot]

Now that we've got some real live (and even occasionally hitting over .200) backups, sitting Granderson vs LHPs should be almost the standard move at this point.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Conforto's sitting too against the lefty. That's Cuddyer in the corner spot.

I expect we'll see Curtis pinch-hitting against a righty reliever.

[Edgy MD]

I like that lineup.

As curious as I am to see a Murphy/Uribe platoon at first like there had been at third, I'm not going to bat over that one, considering (a) how Murphy is swinging the bat, ( how Uribe isn't, and © how little experience Uribe has over there.

[G-Fafif]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: Conforto's sitting too against the lefty. That's Cuddyer in the corner spot. I expect we'll see Curtis pinch-hitting against a righty reliever.

Brain saw one thing, fingers typed another. Corrected. Thanks.

[Centerfield]

Gwreck wrote: Centerfield wrote: The 2007 team had glaring holes, and specifically, inconsistent pitching. If the bullpen situation ever got as bad as 2007, I believe they would insert Matz and Gee into the pen and bolster it that way. 2008 was the year of the bullpen disaster. The 2007 pen was decent/average.

Wow, I would have sworn that it was 2007. That Luis Ayala-Jorge Sosa pen was the most depressing of all time.

[Guest d'Kong76]

Hernandez, 2B
Galvis, SS
Herrera, CF
Howard, 1B
Blanco, 3B
Asche, LF
Brown, RF
Rupp, C
Morgan, P

[ashie62]

Morgan has been pitching well and the Phillies are 21-12 since Sandberg quit. Beware.

[Edgy MD]

In 2013, David Wright missed seven weeks, and returned... against Philly in Philly. Two-run homered in the first against Cole F. Hamels to provide the margin of victory.

[Guest d'Kong76]

I have some Phillyphear, but I'm an over-anxious basket case
these days so hopefully it's just another series.

[Zvon]

Time to dress him up.

[fimg=500:18ayanyz]https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7BmB6VzESNU/Vds1Jh_IrxI/AAAAAAAAeKI/VK4eKNjq7qQ/s576-Ic42/WRIGHTreturnS-z15.png[/fimg:18ayanyz]

[Zvon]

Mets go 1-2-3 in the first. I think it's fitting that Wright leads off an inning upon his return, so this is going well afaic. Hope he gets a standing O there.

[Zvon]

Ryan Howard: It's ALIIIIIVE!


3-0 the dicks in red.