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The MLB Weekend Top 10: The Best Pitching Matchup You'll Never See By Shane Ryan on August 23, 2013 5:16 PM ET The weekend is here, and I don't know about you, but I'm ready to sit back, watch some baseball, cry, watch more baseball, think about exercising, back to baseball, cry, baseball, eat, cry, baseball, baseball, cryball, eat, cryercise, baseball, eat. WHO'S WITH ME?! To approach this with sober objectivity: We might be dealing with the best weekend of baseball so far this season. There are no less than four incredible series matchups, a wonderful, tragic pitchers' duel, and a special bonus slotting in at no. 10 � 1. Tragic Pitching Matchup of the Week: Max Scherzer vs. Matt Harvey (Saturday, DET-NYM) In all the time I've been writing the MLB Weekend Top 10 (37 years this September), I don't believe I've ever seen a better duel. Do I even need to sing their praises? If the season ended now, they'd both deserve to finish second in Cy Young voting. I say "deserve" because Scherzer would undeservedly win the AL Cy Young, and Harvey would undeservedly fall outside the top two in the NL. But forget all the technical nonsense � these are two of the best strikeout artists in the game, and the fact that the schedules lined up so they'll face each other in an Interleague game is just fantastic. Now, the tragedy. Since this is a Fox Saturday game, you will probably not get to watch it. You can check the coverage map here � unless you live near the New York or Detroit metropolitan areas (or near Kansas City, for some reason), you will be seeing Boston-L.A. or Oakland-Baltimore in the 4 p.m. time slot. I've written extensively about the baseball blackout absurdities surrounding the game, but at least those are byzantine business entanglements in which MLB is only one culprit. But this? THIS IS MADNESS! This is MLB and Fox killing themselves. Why wouldn't you make this game available nationally? I mean, at least put it on one of the 18 Fox Sports channels, right? I don't know what the satellite situation is � if you go to a bar with DirecTV, will they be able to pick up a New York Fox affiliate? � but as of now, there is no way to watch this game on any MLB package. I'm not one for predicting the future, but I definitely have visions of myself screaming at a crappy Internet feed at around 4 p.m. tomorrow. This is easily the worst pitchers' duel tease of all time. Thanks again, MLB, for mismanaging an excellent product. Other than that, though, should be a great weekend! Have fun! [sobs.] http://www.grantland.com/blog/the-triangle/post/_/id/72398/the-mlb-weekend-top-10-the-best-pitching-matchup-youll-never-see

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: You may recall that in last year's version of this quiz, Vic Sage, incredulous over the final answer, threatened to blow Lunchbucket's head to smithereens, Smith & Wesson style. Or something like that. I have no memory of this. Memory lane, and last year's Hairston quiz. Same answers as this year, minus Byrd, natch. http://archives.cranepoolforum.net/18600/f1_t18633.shtml

G-Fafif wrote: Jay Horwitz bobbles, too. Great idea, great cause, terrible likeness.

Benjamin Grimm wrote: I find it hard to believe that Richard Dreyfuss was up for the role of Batman. Batman? I could see Alfred the butler.

Benjamin Grimm wrote: He'll be wearing uniform number 16. Is 16 the Mets designated big name Japanese pitcher number?

Koufax (3X) 1963, 1965 and 1966; Gooden 1985 and Santana 2006. Johan was that day's starter, probably not coincidentally, given how the quiz questions are often tied in to the game.

Doc 1985, Guidry 1978, Gibson 1968. OE: Koufax musta won it once. Pedro? Nope. We're talkin' major league triple crown, not league triple crown. To win this quiz, you've gotta play it SNY style, getting all three pitchers in one post. I'll post the answers in about 5 minutes 'cause I gotta go.

If you're a fan of Bill Webb's work and haven't been to the Museum of the Moving Image in Astoria since 2010, you'll want to visit soon. Seriously cool as Mets thing there, reported on here. Gary and Keith discuss Stephen Strasburg�s major league debut from the night before and the statistics that perfectly complement their conversation magically materialize. - See more at: http://www.faithandfearinflushing.com/#sthash.yQucytcV.dpuf Keith said that Strasburg's curveball was even better than Doc's, and comparable to Darryl Kile's, or young Bert Blyleven's. Michael Milken was in the booth the following inning. Not as entertaining as Jerry Seinfeld's visit, almost two weeks later, but for a good cause. The AT&T Trivia question from 6/10/10, game #1: Who were the only three pitchers to win the Major League triple crown (W, K, ERA) since 1950?

If you're a fan of Bill Webb's work and haven't been to the Museum of the Moving Image in Astoria since 2010, you'll want to visit soon. Seriously cool as Mets thing there, reported on here. Gary and Keith discuss Stephen Strasburg�s major league debut from the night before and the statistics that perfectly complement their conversation magically materialize. - See more at: http://www.faithandfearinflushing.com/#sthash.yQucytcV.dpuf Keith said that Strasburg's curveball was even better than Doc's, and comparable to Darryl Kile's, or young Bert Blyleven's. Michael Milken was in the booth the following inning. Not as entertaining as Jerry Seinfeld's visit, almost two weeks later, but for a good cause.

Some Cardboard Tiger MIA's: Dean Chance, Vince Coleman, Joe Grzenda, Clem Labine, Elliott Maddox, The Other Bob Miller (L.), John Pacella, Timo Perez.

If you're a fan of Bill Webb's work and haven't been to the Museum of the Moving Image in Astoria since 2010, you'll want to visit soon. Seriously cool as Mets thing there, reported on here. Gary and Keith discuss Stephen Strasburg�s major league debut from the night before and the statistics that perfectly complement their conversation magically materialize. - See more at: http://www.faithandfearinflushing.com/#sthash.yQucytcV.dpuf Keith said that Strasburg's curveball was even better than Doc's, and comparable to Darryl Kile's, or young Bert Blyleven's.

Edgy MD wrote: If those games were for the Mets, he'd be 15th all-time on the team's win list. He'd be one win behind Bobby Ojeda. And I wouldn't want Ojeda pitching for the Mets either, unless the goal was to chase down next year's overall #1 draft pick, which is not an unreasonable goal once the team's out of it.

I smell a ringer.

Mets' Wright still plans on returning this season By FRED KERBER Last Updated: 9:20 AM, August 21, 2013 David Wright is feeling good, progressing after a right hamstring strain landed him on the 15-day disabled list Aug. 3. Though the Mets� All-Star third baseman has not run at all (he has done strengthening work limited to the upper body), he is convinced he will return this season. �I don�t think in my mind there�s any question,� Wright said before the Mets� 5-3 win over the Braves Tuesday night at Citi Field. Now for the $64,000 question: When? Wright has no timetable for rehab in Florida or playing in Queens. �It�s actually probably a good thing, but the medical staff doesn�t really give me too much of an outlying plan. I like to plan things out and know where I�m going to be. ... I come in and I�ve been successful with everything they�ve thrown at me, and the next day I advance a little bit slowly but surely. It�s frustrating because I want to be out there, but at the same time you don�t want this to become a chronic problem ... because you didn�t rehab it properly,� Wright said. But he feels it is important to get back this season. �It�s always important to me on a number of different levels,� Wright said. �One, this is what I love to do. Also it helps you confidence-wise going into spring training knowing that you finished the year healthy.� http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/mets/wright_eyes_return_n8ZZgnrLypVyhDIge9vw1I

Parnell: Surgery still an option By Matt Ehalt | ESPNNewYork.com NEW YORK -- Injured Mets closer Bobby Parnell (herniated disc) said surgery is still a possibility after he had a follow-up exam on his neck on Tuesday. Parnell has still not been cleared to resume baseball activities. "It's a possibility. I don't think it ever came off the table," Parnell said of surgery. "I don't know how big of a possibility it is right now." He added: "I think there's a timeline where if I don't get to a certain point at a certain time, they'll push for it. Just a waiting game. Do therapy every day and get stronger." Parnell said he if he were to have surgery, he should be ready for spring training next season. He said it would be about a four-to-five month process. "Love to come back, pushing to come back. We'll see," Parnell said. "But my ultimate goal is to be ready for spring training so I can be here for the team next year." The closer was placed the disabled list on Aug. 6, and said his strengthening exercises involve light band work, as well as working out his legs with squats, bike work and other exercises. The focus is to keep stress off his neck. Parnell last pitched on July 30. "Getting better every day. It's a slow process. Doctors are being hesitant with me. They don't know how I respond to baseball activities, so they're being cautious. Slow process but getting better." Parnell said the next week should be telling, and he still wants to return this season. He has a doctor's appointment next week, although he's not sure of the date. "I'm pushing to get back this season," Parnell said. "The doctors are hesitant, and rightfully so, it's a part of the body where they feel like if I push it too much or come back too quick there will be some serious damage. There is that fine balancing act. I'm pushing as hard as I can. But they have the reins." http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/mets/post/_/id/75962/parnell-surgery-still-an-option

44 out of 45. I missed the Met that was, statistically, the toughest one to get. Odd picture I blame it on. Doesn't look like him at all.

It's Smith again. The last man standing two years running. Zvon wrote: I'm waitin for JCL too because I don't believe Charlie Smith hit 20 knockers. I'd watch out for Sage. Charlie Smith is Vic's personal Susquehanna Hat Company. And see if you can fix this card, while you're at it.

Benjamin Grimm wrote: I didn't know that photo appeared on a real baseball card! (I like my version better, I have to say.) Me too.

Good luck with your blog. Looking forward to more Mets cards.

Memory lane, and last year's Hairston quiz. Same answers as this year, minus Byrd, natch. http://archives.cranepoolforum.net/18600/f1_t18633.shtml

Zvon wrote: Burnitz had to hit 20. Did it eight times, he did. But never as a Met. 19 and 18 were his Met season highs.

Any minute now, Lunchbucket ...