Frayed Knot

Definitely approve of Clip-art here over Familia considering the work-load over the last few days. If this blows up on us I'll erase this post.

Lefty Specialist wrote: ESPNinnies completely ignored Rendon's double while they yammered on. Fortunately nothing else happened. Ya gotta remember that ESPN's first and last priority is promoting themselves. If they happen to also describe the sporting event at the same time well then that's just a happy coincidence.

Wow, Lucas does singles too!

Mets Guy in Michigan wrote: 1) I've never seen the ESPN crew call the game from the seats like this. They've done it a couple times this year. In the 'Monster Seats' in Fenway recently not surprisingly. 2) I can't decide if I like the fake umpires. I'm leaning toward liking them because they are good. They've got all the moves down pat. I want to see them run Harper. I think they're hysterical. Not sure exactly where that started, but the throwing the ball back pantomime is great.

If that's the worst inning Syndergaard has tonight we should be OK. And even after that frame he's under par for a good pitches/inning rate.

So, are we having fun yet?

Since Duda was on the verge of running out of Rosses to HR against, the Nationals made a surprise bullpen signing overnight. [fimg=300:1ktgdsv9]https://pristineauction.s3.amazonaws.com/19/196340/main_1-Marion-Ross-Signed-8x10-Photo-PA-LOA-PristineAuction.com.jpg[/fimg:1ktgdsv9] Betsy has apparently retired.

Funny thing about walking Cespedes to get to Duda is their splits this year Cespedes vs LHPs: .183/.244/.329 Duda vs LHPs: .305/.359/.558 Now their career numbers aren't nearly so lopsided (although Cespedes has always been slightly better vs RHPs during his ML time) but add that to the Lucas hotness factor (we here at CPF labs are still working out the numbers on that) and it makes the decision even more shaky. And, as I mentioned in the IGT, he's doing all high leverage inning stuff, plus all of Friday's late & extra innings, without touching either of his top two relievers. Williams is a definite "by the book" kind of guy with his bullpen and he's been burned by it several times in his first 1-1/2 as manager, including last October.

Syndergaard vs Zimmermann - same match-up as 11 days ago which wound up a 4-3 Nats win NS that day = 5 IP, 1 run, 5 hits but also 5 BBs and, like deGrom last night, a high pitch count forced him out early JZ = 7 IP, 3 Runs on 7 hits. A 2-out/2-RBI 2B from Nieuwenhuis followed by a Plawecki single in the 4th got the runs in This was the one where Parnell later gave up 3 in the 8th after 2 were out, then we K'd 3 times vs Storen Take away that loss plus the one vs SD the other day and we'd be in 1st right now - but those games count too so we're not.

I remember this name, he was the #4 overall draft pick by the Padres 12 years ago but injuries and effectiveness got in the way and his career has been pretty checkered since although he's managed to get at least pieces of 10 ML seasons. Was released by Minnesota in June and had hooked on with the Sugarland Skeeters, as has Allen Dykstra who was released by Tampa this past week.

2 games, each decided by 1 run, and a total of 21 innings of baseball where the largest lead has been 2 runs and it's been a 1 run lead or tied for 17 of those 21 innings. And yet Matt Williams hasn't found a spot to get either of his top relievers into either game. Fine by me Matty boy. Save 'em for tomorrow when we'll be up by a half-dozen or so.

Ceetar wrote: Ceetar wrote: speaking of, how are we enjoying Josh Lewin's signature HR call? I haven't listened as much this year. or as closely anyway. That been going on all year? I can't speak for his home run call, but Josh was great tonight. I'm thinking of inviting him over tomorrow. I'm definitely considering slowing down the live TV and watching with the WOR audio. Means staying off Twitter though. Problem with that is I usually find the radio is ahead of the TV and there's no way to slow down the radio in order to sync them up.

So the Mets win tonight, the Nats lose tonight, and now the Yanx just lost. Hey gang, what do we call it when those three things happen?

Duda - 4.7 deGrom - 2.5 Parnell - 0.6 Robles - 0.6 Familia - 0.6 Granderson - 1.0

Nice back-to-back nights for Familia following the worst stretch of the season for him. 8 up, 8 down.

Mets Guy in Michigan wrote: Listening on the radio. By how much did Duda miss a third homer? Lower part of the wall, maybe 1/3 of the way up.

DON'T. STOP. HERE.

LUCAS DUDA IS A GOLDEN GOD

Well, his OBA as a Met just rocketed up to .250

NO BUNTING!! Just pull the damn ball and maybe it'll go for a hit by mistake.

I believe we've had just two OF outs today: Werth at the wall off Flores and Werth on the one he almost misjudged against someone. Everything else has been a GO or a K

I was just about to say that no only were we getting no-hit in the early innings (again!) but that we had racked up all of 6 hits (now 7) over 16 innings in this series. That's not going to cut it here and we have neither the starter length going our way tonight but our bullpen (at least the good parts) are less rested than theirs.

An assessment of Fulmer & Cessa by prospect guru John Sickels: Michael Fulmer, RHP: The Mets drafted Fulmer in the supplemental first round* in 2011 from high school in Edmond, Oklahoma. He has been generally effective in the minor leagues when healthy and has been excellent so far in 2015, posting a 1.88 ERA in 86 innings over 15 starts for Binghamton in the Double-A Eastern League, with an 83/23 K/BB and just 70 hits allowed. This is a considerable improvement over his 3.97 ERA, 86/31 and 112 hits in 95 innings last year in High-A. Fulmer is listed at 6-3, 200, age 22. He has been dogged by nagging injuries for much of his career, particularly knee problems that limited him to 46 innings in 2013. There is little doubt about the stuff: Fulmer can hit 95 with the fastball, both his curveball and slider can be above-average, and his change-up is an adequate fourth option. His command has steadily improved. Some scouts view Fulmer as a future reliever for durability concerns but he has the stuff to be a starter and it increasingly looks like he has the command as well. He's posted an 18/1 K/BB in his last two starts and looks ready for a Triple-A trial. A healthy Fulmer looks like a potentially strong number three starter. Luis Cessa, RHP: Born in Mexico, Cessa was signed in 2008, originally as a third baseman. He couldn't hit however so he converted to pitching in 2010 with good results, moving slowly but steadily up the Mets farm ladder. He's been very effective this year in Double-A (2.56, 61/17 K/BB in 77 innings) but has found the going more difficult in the unforgiving environment of Las Vegas and the Pacific Coast League (8.51 ERA, with a nice 24/4 K/BB but 40 hits in 24 innings). Cessa is listed at 6-3, 190, age 23. He can hit 96 in short stretches but more commonly works at 90-92. He throws strikes but reports on his secondary pitches vary depending on the source: some reliable observers say he has a very good change-up but needs to enhance his breaking ball, while other also-reliable observers say his breaking stuff is solid enough but his change-up needs work. I guess you can say he's inconsistent with the secondary pitches. Despite his rough early outings in Triple-A, Cessa has major league arm strength and throws strikes. If he can round out his full arsenal he can be a back-end starter or a solid bullpen option. * the Pedro Feliciano signing with the Yanx pick

It may take years to untangle that massive Braves/Dodgers/Marlins deal which originally grew out of the aborted Latos/Morse trade. All that is known right now is that the Dodgers took on and/or paid out a helluva lotta money in this transaction. Guess a $200+ mil payroll just doesn't buy as complete a team as it used to. Braves to Dodgers: Jose Peraza (AAA pitcher - Top 100 prospect in pre-season 2015) Bronson Arroyo (hasn't played all year - essentially a salary dump of approx $8 mil, split between teams undisclosed) Luis Avilan (ML LH reliever) Jim Johnson (ML reliever - twice a 50-save man w/Balt) Alex Wood (LH starter) Marlins to Dodgers: Mat Latos (we all know him - big, blond ape with all the silly tats. Signed thru this year only) Mike Morse (a salary dump who was promptly released by LA. Already picked up by Pitt, Dodgers will pay ~$10.5 mil for the remainder of this season plus 2016) Dodgers to Braves: Paco Rodriguez (ML LH reliever) Zachary Bird (A-ball pitcher) Hector Olivera (currently in AAA OK City - Cuban emigre signed to a six year/$62.5 mil deal in May '15. Dodgers will pay entire $28 mil signing bonus.) Dodgers to Marlins: Victor Araujo (A-ball reliever) Jeff Brigham (A-ball pitcher) Kevin Guzman (A-ball pitcher) Marlins to Braves: 2016 competitive balance round A pick to the Braves (probably an upper-30s/lower-40s pick next year)

The other really cool part you can see on the clips was that Wilmer hit that HR so hard that all of Felipe Rivero's tattoos fell off right there on the CitiField mound! It's true go back and check the tape, you can see them scattered there on the dirt. Couldn't tell if he picked them back up or not; guess we'll have to find out next time he pitches.