IGT 6/12/17: CHC@NYM -- Jake It To The Limit

[G-Fafif]

The champions of the weekend series in Atlanta come home to face the champions of the world. The Mets' title is more recent, thus more imposing. DeGrom to stick it to Lackey. Or deGrom's teammates will do that, while deGrom sticks it to Lackey's teammates. Something like that.

[Guest d'Kong76]

Cuck the Fubs
Met's go Lets!

[Edgy MD]

This is the bar.

[fimg=750:pxwizpp9]http://ultimatemets.com/scorecard_graph.php?game=8698&font=1[/fimg:pxwizpp9]

[Fman99]

I'm hoping deGrom figures out how to not suck dePenis in this start.

[Lefty Specialist]

When someone pitches well for most of the season and then suddenly goes in deTank, I worry about deInjury.

Hope I'm wrong and he comes out firing on all cylinders.

[Centerfield]

I love these thread titles.

[Guest d'Kong76]

Chi. Cubs at NY Mets
When: 7:10 PM ET, Monday, June 12, 2017
Where: Citi Field, New York City, New York
By Gracenote

The Chicago Cubs haven’t won a road game in a month, a trend they hope to reverse when they begin a six-game trip on Monday with the opener of a three-game series against the New York Mets. The Cubs have lost eight straight away from home and haven’t won a series on the road since taking two of three at Pittsburgh from April 24-26.

The Cubs snapped a four-game skid with a 7-5 win over Colorado on Sunday behind four home runs, but they’ve had a hard time generating offense away from Wrigley Field. Chicago has totaled only 12 runs during its eight-game road slide, while New York’s pitching staff has been dominant of late, allowing exactly one run in each of the last three games. The Mets won the last three contests of their four-game weekend set at Atlanta and have taken over second place in the National League East, although they remain 9 1/2 games behind division-leading Washington. Veteran right-hander John Lackey takes the mound for the Cubs in hopes of continuing his strong pitching against the Mets, as he is 2-0 with a 2.14 ERA in five career meetings.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, CSN Chicago, SNY (New York)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Cubs RH John Lackey (4-6, 5.12 ERA) vs. Mets RH Jacob deGrom (4-3, 4.75)

Lackey is winless in his last four starts and has been tagged with the loss in three of those outings. The 38-year-old gave up five runs and seven hits over six innings in a loss to Miami on Wednesday. Lackey has surrendered 16 home runs in 12 starts this season, including eight in his last five turns.

After putting together back-to-back dominant starts, deGrom has turned in two straight clunkers. The 28-year-old has been rocked for 15 runs and 18 hits in eight innings over his last two outings, including eight and 10 in four frames Tuesday at Texas. DeGrom is 1-2 with a 5.31 ERA in four career starts against the Cubs.

WALK-OFFS:
1. Chicago RHP Wade Davis has converted his first 13 save opportunities, tying Randy Myers (1993) for the longest streak to begin a season in franchise history.
2. Mets RF Jay Bruce is 12-for-36 with four homers during his eight-game hitting streak.
3. Cubs 1B Anthony Rizzo is 8-for-20 during his six-game hitting streak.

[Guest d'Kong76]

Jay CF
Bryant 3B
Rizzo 1B
Zobrist LF
Heyward RF
Contreras C
Baez 2B
Russell SS
Lackey P

[Ceetar]

Granderson CF
Walker 2B
Cespedes LF
Bruce RF
Duda 1B
Cabrera SS
d'Arnaud C
Reyes 3B
deGrom RHP

[Edgy MD]

Wait a micron ... they're benching Conforto against the only righty starter that they expect to see in the series?

[Benjamin Grimm]

Does Granderson have a history of success against Lackey? That's the only reason I'd be able to think of. But regardless of any past history, Granderson isn't the player he used to be, and Conforto is still the player that he is.

[Edgy MD]

I suspect it's in part Terry having cold feet about Conforto in center.

[Ceetar]

Edgy MD wrote: I suspect it's in part Terry having cold feet about Conforto in center.

so bench Bruce. he's garbage and Granderson has been our best hitter for a month.

[Edgy MD]

I am not Terry Collins. Folks make that mistake a lot, though.

[G-Fafif]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: Does Granderson have a history of success against Lackey? That's the only reason I'd be able to think of. But regardless of any past history, Granderson isn't the player he used to be, and Conforto is still the player that he is.

Granderson vs. Lackey: .244/.326/.463 in 47 PA, one homer, two ribbies.

[Ceetar]

Conforto has a stiff back. Flores scheduled day off.

[Frayed Knot]

Yeah, I was just about to ask if Conforto did something during the game yesterday. It would explain the late inning PH thing as well.
Now the only question remains is the date of the surgery.

[seawolf17]

Ceetar wrote: Conforto has a stiff back.

[mets doctors] DAMMIT see you in 2019, Michael. [/mets doctors]

[G-Fafif]

Joe Maddon's rubbing his hands together now that he's in possession of this supersecret injury information.

Then again, I assume opposing managers work on the premise that all Mets are injured.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Edgy MD wrote: I am not Terry Collins. Folks make that mistake a lot, though.

That's not you in this photo?

[MFS62]

Ceetar wrote: Conforto has a stiff back. Flores scheduled day off.

Is he f'n kidding? Scheduled day off???
He's benching his hottest/ best (take your pick) hitter and replacing him with Reyes?
And then batting Reyes EIGHTH?
The senile old fool* never lets a hot player stay hot with those scheduled rests.
Incredible.

Later

* = yes, he's younger than I am, but i'd never do that crap.

[Edgy MD]

Hey, Keef's back!

And strangely happy. Watch out for those painkillers, man.

[Edgy MD]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: Edgy MD wrote: I am not Terry Collins. Folks make that mistake a lot, though. That's not you in this photo?

I took the picture.

[Edgy MD]

I like how deG is coming out.

[Edgy MD]

I feel like it's 15 or 20 years since I saw a slugger (or anybody) choke up and go the other way like that with two strikes. Rizzo looked like Rusty Staub up there.

That double aside, nice inning by deGrom.

[Edgy MD]

Ceetar wrote: Edgy MD wrote: I suspect it's in part Terry having cold feet about Conforto in center. so bench Bruce. he's garbage and Granderson has been our best hitter for a month.

On a pace for 43 homers and 114 RBI, he's the garbage that's going with her to England, Sir.

[Edgy MD]

Ugh. #toomanyshortstops

[Edgy MD]

Leadoff error. Shakes it off.

[Edgy MD]

Cabrera doing what he do.

[Frayed Knot]

Finally got one where Heyward wasn't tall enough.