IGT 06/16: PIT@NYM, Nicasio@Col�n

[Edgy MD]

The Pirates' pitcher has an ERA 73.3% higher than that of the Mets. The offense woke up last night and Pirate pen is sapped.

Let's keep the tap open.

[Guest d'Kong76]

Pittsburgh at NY Mets
When: 7:10 PM ET, Thursday, June 16, 2016
Where: Citi Field, New York City, New York
SportsDirect Inc.

The Pittsburgh Pirates are failing on both sides of the ball as they slip toward .500. The New York Mets were struggling on offense before breaking out in an 11-2 win over the Pirates on Wednesday and will try to earn a series win when they host the rubber match of the three-game series on Thursday.

Pittsburgh took the series opener 4-0 on Tuesday behind a brilliant start from rookie Jameson Taillon before suffering their sixth loss in seven games and falling to 33-32 with Wednesday�s thrashing. The Pirates were hoping Jeff Locke could step up with Gerrit Cole heading to the disabled list but he instead was rocked for seven runs in four innings on Wednesday, making it 18 earned runs allowed in 8 2/3 innings over his last two outings. The Mets� total of 11 runs on Wednesday was exactly half of their total from the previous nine contests as everyone in the starting lineup aside from pitcher Noah Syndergaard recorded at least one of the team�s 19 hits. The top six spots in the order combined to go 15-for-29 with 11 runs scored in the win.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, ROOT (Pittsburgh), SNY (New York)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Pirates RH Juan Nicasio (5-5, 5.34 ERA) vs. Mets RH Uncle Bartolo (5-3, 3.08)

Nicasio is being bumped all over the rotation with Cole hurt and the off day on Monday allowed time for a reshuffle. The 29-year-old Dominican came on in relief in the 12th inning on Friday against St. Louis and was ripped for six runs in a single frame to suffer the loss. Nicasio made his last start against the Mets on June 7 and earned the win by allowing one run on three hits while striking out seven in five innings.

Uncle Bartolo is riding a hot streak over his last four starts and breezed through seven innings at Milwaukee last Thursday, scattering one run and eight hits to earn the win. The hefty veteran surrendered a combined five earned runs in 25 innings over his last four turns and issued only four walks in that span. Uncle Bartolo did not make a start in the series at Pittsburgh last week but held the Pirates to one run in seven innings in his lone start against them last season.

WALK-OFFS:
1. Pirates LF Starling Marte left Wednesday�s game after getting hit in the face with a hop in the outfield and is day-to-day.
2. Mets RF Curtis Granderson has hit safely in six straight games and recorded only two strikeouts in that span.
3. New York 2B Neil Walker (lower back) underwent an MRI on Wednesday and has missed the last three games.

[Lefty Specialist]

Need the Fat Man to step up here.

How someone can give the Mets one run on three hits over seven innings and then a few days later give up 6 runs in an inning is a mystery. I'd run the same damn lineup out there tonight and see if they still have their hitting shoes on.

[Edgy MD]

Happens alla time. But Bartolo has given up more than three runs only once this season. Last four starts:
[list:3e0dblk5][*:3e0dblk5]5/23 @ WAS 7.0 IP, 1 ER[/*:m:3e0dblk5]
[*:3e0dblk5]5/29 vs. LAD 6.0 IP, 2 ER[/*:m:3e0dblk5]
[*:3e0dblk5]6/4 @ MIA 5.0 IP, 1 ER[/*:m:3e0dblk5]
[*:3e0dblk5]6.9 @ MIL 7.0 IP, 1 ER[/*:m:3e0dblk5][/list:u:3e0dblk5]

Walker cleared by team doctors. Let's see if he's in tonight's lineup.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Walker and Conforto back tonight, Twits say.

Grandy
Cabrery
Cespy
Walkie
Conforty
Florie
Loney
Rivery
Colonie

[TransMonk]

I would love to see what this lineup could do if it could stay entact for a few games straight.

[Guest d'Kong76]

Harrison, 2B
Polanco, RF
McCutchen, CF
Kang, 3B
Freese, 1B
Joyce, LF
Mercer, SS
Kratz, C
Nicasio, P

[G-Fafif]

Juan Lagares to DL, Ty Kelly to NY.

[Zvon]

G-Fafif wrote: Juan Lagares to DL, Ty Kelly to NY.

Thumb?
Jeez Louise!

No way Wilmer stays in this game. His own fault there. He stepped into that. Reynolds time!

[ashie62]

No Nimmo? boo

[Zvon]

TMF is sitting 12 rows behind home plate. A screen grab wins 100 CPF bucks.

[Lefty Specialist]

Gelbs talking to draft picks is excruciating.

[Frayed Knot]

Lefty Specialist wrote: Gelbs talking to draft picks is excruciating.

I was just about to post that the next one of these 1st round pick NFL draft interviews that produces an interesting comment will be the first -- and EVERY station in EVERY city does this type of thing EVERY year.

[Zvon]

Lefty Specialist wrote: Gelbs talking to draft picks is excruciating.

Gelbs talking about anything is excruciating.

I kid. He's getting better. I like his bit with the gloves, being a fan of the leather. The segment is as lame as anything he does but I enjoy it. He should make a name for himself by doing even lamer stuff.

Big Sexy with the big gapper!

HA!~ Safe at 3rd by a buttock!

[Lefty Specialist]

Bartolo!!!! Always an adventure!

[Zvon]

Mets have to slow down on the record breaking. Since my PC died I'm graphically impaired.

Did Gary say 17 lead-off homers as a Met? In three years? Fuckin awesome.

Last years:

[Frayed Knot]

Speed kills!!

[Edgy MD]

�Ruedas de fuego!

[Edgy MD]

.
[bigpurple:1jvh9j0r]��Impresionante poder de todos!![/bigpurple:1jvh9j0r]

[Zvon]

Frayed Knot wrote: Speed kills!!

Speed and weight murderizes.

WALKER!


CONFORTO

[Zvon]

I knew Flores would not be able to play this one out. $10 bucks somethings broken. Or 100 CPF bucks.

[Edgy MD]

�No hay m�s Flores?

[Frayed Knot]

Frayed Knot wrote: Lefty Specialist wrote: Gelbs talking to draft picks is excruciating. I was just about to post that the next one of these 1st round pick NFL draft interviews that produces an interesting comment will be the first -- and EVERY station in EVERY city does this type of thing EVERY year.

Now that I think about it, dealing with those painful interviews once or twice a summer isn't so bad.
But if you happen upon a broadcast emanating from the football-happy south or midwest, especially if that local station is under a corporate umbrella like FOX, and one of them gets a mic in front of the 1st round draft pick or sometimes even the local HS star, they'll talk to him for two straight innings or more while the ballgame you tuned in to watch fades into the background.

[Frayed Knot]

I would have bet on a broken hand/wrist also - but the early news says no.

[Edgy MD]

Frayed Knot wrote: Frayed Knot wrote: Lefty Specialist wrote: Gelbs talking to draft picks is excruciating. I was just about to post that the next one of these 1st round pick NFL draft interviews that produces an interesting comment will be the first -- and EVERY station in EVERY city does this type of thing EVERY year. Now that I think about it, dealing with those painful interviews once or twice a summer isn't so bad. But if you happen upon a broadcast emanating from the football-happy south or midwest, especially if that local station is under a corporate umbrella like FOX, and one of them gets a mic in front of the 1st round draft pick or sometimes even the local HS star, they'll talk to him for two straight innings or more while the ballgame you tuned in to watch fades into the background.

St. Louis. They're always talking to somebody I'm supposed to care about. Always I don't. Always they're excruciatingly empty. And they're pretty much always a coach named "Woody." Or a baby quarterback named "Trey."

[Edgy MD]

Now I'm ickily intrigued by what sort of debauchery goes on between innings up there.

[Frayed Knot]

Edgy MD wrote: St. Louis. They're always talking to somebody I'm supposed to care about. Always I don't. Always they're excruciatingly empty. And they're pretty much always a coach named "Woody." Or a baby quarterback named "Trey."

I've heard my share from Cincy as well (no coincidence that both the Reds & Cards broadcast over a FOX affiliate).
You know who should care about Massillon High School football? People who either currently attend or currently have a child attending Massillon High School.
The fact that far too many other "adults" (for lack of a better term) care far too much is the source of many problems in our sports culture (IMHO of course).

[Zvon]

Walker knocks Nicasio out of the game with an RBI double off the wall in left.

6-0 Mets on 7 hits.

[Zvon]

Conforto finding his groove again. We knew he would with that sweet swing. If they sent him down two days ago I would not have complained. I'd have been slightly devastated but I would not have complained.

I spelt it right!

[Lefty Specialist]

You know, Colon is making this look easy.