IGT 6/22/16: KCR@NYM -- And Then There's Thor

[G-Fafif]

All that bullpen one night, all that Syndergaard the next afternoon.

g9NY8R-LmIw

Matthew E. Harvey was the Dark Knight Risin�
He didn�t care if the whole word looked

Bart Colon eschewed exercisin�
He was a mister who really cooked

Jake deGrom was a real head-turner
Ain�t ya glad he showed up? (Oh yeah!)

And when the ballclub was fallin� apart
Steven Matz got it all sewed up

(And then there�s Thor)
And then there�s Thor
(And then there�s Thor)
And then there�s Thor
(And then there�s Thor)
And then there�s Thor
(And then there�s...)

Mythologizin�, v�lcoitizin�, fastballs that are high �n� tight �n�
Right on Thor!

With Conrad Bain as Danny Duffy.

[Fman99]

Oh, and here I am, with a contractor scheduled for today to work on my kitchen. Guess I'll work from home all day (though I expect him to be done by 12-1 PM, not that I'm shouting that from the rooftops).

[Guest d'Kong76]

Kansas City at NY Mets
When: 1:10 PM ET, Wednesday, June 22, 2016
Where: Citi Field, New York City, New York
SportsDirect Inc.

The New York Mets are banking that the extra day of rest was beneficial for hard-throwing right-hander Noah Syndergaard as they vie for an abbreviated two-game sweep of the visiting Kansas City Royals on Wednesday afternoon. Forced into action after Bartolo Colon exited following one batter with a right thumb contusion, the Mets' bullpen worked 8 2/3 strong innings in a 2-1 triumph on Tuesday.

Yoenis Cespedes belted his second homer in three outings in the series opener and Asdrubal Cabrera also went deep, but the former is 0-for-5 with two strikeouts versus Wednesday starter Danny Duffy while the latter is 4-for-10. While New York was able to snap a three-game skid with just its third win in nine outings, Kansas City's road woes continued as it has dropped 10 of its last 12 away from Kauffman Stadium and fell to 13-24 on the road this season. Brett Eibner had an RBI single to drive in his fifth run in as many games since returning from the disabled list. Alcides Escobar has five hits in his last three contests and will face a familiar face in Syndergaard, who famously brushed him back on his first pitch of Game 3 of the 2015 World Series.

TV: 1:10 p.m. ET, MLB Network, FSN Kansas City, SNY (New York)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Royals LH Danny Duffy (2-1, 3.17 ERA) vs. Mets RH Noah Syndergaard (7-2, 1.91)

Duffy has posted a 2-1 mark and a 3.25 ERA in seven starts since moving from the bullpen. The 27-year-old was done in by the home-run ball on Thursday as he surrendered three solo shots in five innings of a no-decision versus Detroit. Duffy pitched well in a relief appearance versus the Mets on April 5, allowing one hit in 1 2/3 scoreless innings.

Syndergaard recorded New York's lone win versus Kansas City in the Fall Classic with a six-inning effort in Game 3. The 23-year-old fireballer also gained a small measure of revenge against the Royals after collecting nine strikeouts over six dominating innings in a 2-0 triumph during the second game of the season. Syndergaard has 11 quality starts this season and permitted just 18 earned runs in 85 innings.

WALK-OFFS:
1. New York LH Jerry Blevins, who struck out one in one inning in the series opener, has recorded 20 consecutive scoreless appearances this season.
2. Kansas City RH Paulo Orlando is 13-for-24 with three RBIs and three runs scored during his six-game hitting streak.
3. Mets RHP Zack Wheeler (Tommy John surgery) is scheduled to visit team doctors Wednesday after developing soreness in his right elbow.

[Guest d'Kong76]

And then there�s Thor (The Tuckahoen Terror)

[Ceetar]

Fman99 wrote: Oh, and here I am, with a contractor scheduled for today to work on my kitchen. Guess I'll work from home all day (though I expect him to be done by 12-1 PM, not that I'm shouting that from the rooftops).

What are you getting done?

[G-Fafif]

Curtis Granderson � RF
Asdrubal Cabrera � SS
Yoenis Cespedes � CF
Neil Walker � 2B
Wilmer Flores � 3B
James Loney � 1B
Matt Reynolds � LF
Rene Rivera � C
Noah Syndergaard � RHP

Check out that left fielder.

[G-Fafif]

Verrett up, Kelly down, a Colon pronounced OK for Sunday start.

[Edgy MD]

Ty Kelly is checking the lineup on his mobile phone on the airplane, knowing in his heart of hearts that Reynolds' start belonged to him.

[ashie62]

Reynolds huh? We shall see.

Onward and upward!

LGM

[Zvon]

Reynolds in left? Well, I guess I asked for it (but I was thinking infield). Good luck out there Matt. Lets go Mets!

Miami up 3-0, Big Bad Bour smacked a 2 run job.

[Zvon]

G-Fafif wrote: Verrett up, Kelly down, a Colon pronounced OK for Sunday start.

No way. If he don't skip at least a start I will be amazed. If he makes that start I think we should clone Colon.

[Frayed Knot]

A walk, a double, and a couple of other hard-hit balls, but once again the well-timed GiDP saves us from scoring any of those run things that I hear about from other teams.
Mets now 0 for their last 25 w/RiSP

[G-Fafif]

Reynolds made a decent catch in LF. Perhaps he's more Mackey Sasser (who made two sensational plays in his first start in RF) than Todd Hundley (no elaboration necessary).

[Fman99]

Working from home and listening to the game in the background. Life is good.

[Centerfield]

Bottom Four. First two on.

Let's play WHO WANTS TO GIDP?

[Edgy MD]

Looks windy out there today.

Let's go, right-handed Neil!

[Edgy MD]

SOOOO popped up.

[Edgy MD]

Flores: SOOOO struck out.

[Fman99]

Clutch hit for Loney!

[Edgy MD]

Opposite-field punching.

[Centerfield]

Wow, 2 out RBI hit? Is that even allowed?

[Frayed Knot]

An actual RiSPy hit!!! (first one in 28 ABs) ... and we'll ignore the fact that it wouldn't have scored a run had the throw been better.
Or that, other than the opposite field flare, none of the other batters hit a fair ball in an inning that started Walk - Single.

[Fman99]

Dang

[Edgy MD]

Well, that lead was nice.

The whole pitch-and-play-defense-near-perfectly-and-hope-to-scratch-out-a-run-or-two strategy has its limitations.

[Lefty Specialist]

Absolutely no margin for error with this team.

[Frayed Knot]

Duffy is doing the pen to starter transition thing and has yet to throw as many as 90 pitches this year. He's already at 75 thru 4 so we'll be into their bullpen fairly soon.
Whether that's a good thing or not I'm not sure.

[Guest Mets Guy in Michigan]

Get the lead, give it right back. Grumble!

[Frayed Knot]

Forget Hillary & Trump ... I'm voting Asdrubal for Prez!!!

[Edgy MD]

Well, that deficit was less than nice.

Thank you, Asdrubal!

[Lefty Specialist]

Danny Duffy wrote: Get the lead, give it right back. Grumble!