Frayed Knot

NYM batters = 5 for 9 with a walk + 2 SACs vs Strasburg so far (as of the Wright single)

Mixtapewormhole wrote: can't begrudge Lagares that K - filthy curveball Would have been even filthier if it was actually over the plate.

TransMonk wrote: TransMonk wrote: EY/Harper collision. Yikes! I'm not a Bryce fan, but I hope he's OK. Sure, but it was his own fault. True...I just want to root for him to fail without excuses. Plus he can argue that his slide caused the bad relay and thus stole a run for the Nats. It's just that there's been a lot of talk about Harper being less reckless this year - and now on the first play he's involved in he takes a face full of shin.

TransMonk wrote: EY/Harper collision. Yikes! I'm not a Bryce fan, but I hope he's OK. Sure, but it was his own fault.

Nymr83 wrote: Gee is getting squeezed according to the espn gamecast, first pitxh to Ramos was a strike? I'm betting ball 1 to Harper looked good on Gamecast too.

You're doing a heckuva job Brownie

Span - CF Zimmerman - 3B Werth - RF Ramos - C Harper - LF Desmond - SS LaRoche - 1B Rendon - 2B Strasburg - P

A slight chance of rain before 1pm. Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 49. North wind around 18 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. Doesn't sound like the most pleasant conditions to watch a game, but it doesn't seem that we need to worry about a rainout. Not quite as nice as this March 31st opener: Start Time Weather: 82� F, Wind 9mph out to Leftfield, Sunny, No Precipitation. The only problem with the weather that day was that I went to the game in shorts (I think it hit 86 at one point). But by the 14th inning things were starting to get a bit chilly and I was underdressed.

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Also, don't the Mets get to call up a paternity replacement for Muffy? Isn't the paternity leave a three-day thing? If so then, yeah, you could get a replacement in, but it would mean Muffy missing Wednesday's game as well. P.S. I suspect the minor leagues are still in Florida, not yet in Vegas

Eric Young Jr. � 2B Juan Lagares � CF David Wright � 3B Curtis Granderson � RF Andrew Brown � LF Ike Davis � 1B Travis d�Arnaud � C Ruben Tejada � SS Dillon Gee � RHP

So what are the rules again? Is it highest spot in the batting order who's considered "first" - or does the fact that they're the home team and who gets the ball hit to them first play a role?

So things were delayed not by complications but by contractions!

Anthony Rendon will be handling the keystone for the Nats. Danny Espinosa started last year (and is still on the team) but lost his job halfway through which let the former 1st round pick (6th overall - 2011) take took over in mid-season. He was actually considered the best bat coming out of the draft that year (Rice U) but an elbow injury scared some teams away and the Nats were all too happy to jump on him after having back-to-back #1 overalls the previous two seasons. A respectable .265/.329/.396 over 350 ABs in 2013, this will be his first full season in the majors. He was a 3B-man as an amateur but the opening was at 2nd so that's where he is. Not the greatest of glove-men in the middle of the diamond but Washington is hoping he'll hit enough to make them not care despite their pronounced increased emphasis on defense this year.

Pedro Beato designated for assignment by the Reds

Edgy MD wrote: Fortune Magazine ranks the world's greatest leaders. 1. Pope Francis, Catholic Pontiff, Vatican by way of Argentina 2. Angela Merkel, Chancelloress, Germany 3. Alan Mulally, CEO, Ford Moters, United States 4. Warren Buffett, CEO, Berkshire Hathaway, United States 5. Bill Clinton, Founder, The Clinton Foundation, United States 6. Aung San Suu Kyi, Chair, National League for Democracy, UK by way of Myanmar 7. Gen. Joe Dunford, Commander, U.S. Forces, Afghanistan, United States 8. Bono Vox, Lead singer, U2, Republic of Ireland 9. Dalai Lama Tenzin Gyatso, 14th Dalai Lama, Buddhist leader, India by way of Tibet 10. Jeff Bezos, Annoying CEO, Amazon.com, United States 11. Derek Sanderson Jeter, Shortstop and Captain, New York Yankees, United States Wouldn't you feel stupid to be #12? Even Olbermann made fun of this a few days ago, wondering how captaining a stacked roster backed with a top payroll to one championship in 13 years falls so high on FORTUNE's leadership scale.

MAR 31 - APR 3NATIONALSCOMMUNITY PROJECTAPRIL 4 - 6REDS=#FF0000]G-FaFiFAPRIL 8 - 10BRAVESCOMMUNITY PROJECTAPRIL 11-13ANGELSAPRIL 14 - 16DIAMONDBACKS=#FF0000]LWFSAPRIL 18 - 20BRAVESCOMMUNITY PROJECTAPRIL 21 - 24 (4)CARDINALS=#FF0000]d'KONG 76APRIL 25 - 27MARLINSCOMMUNITY PROJECTAPRIL 28 - 29 (2)PHILLIESCOMMUNITY PROJECTMAY 1 - 4 (4)ROCKIES=#FF0000]METSGUYINMICHIGANMAY 5 - 7MARLINSCOMMUNITY PROJECTMAY 9 - 11PHILLIESCOMMUNITY PROJECTMAY 12,13 + May 14,15 (4)YANKEES=#FF0000]FMAN99MAY 16 - 18NATIONALSCOMMUNITY PROJECTMAY 20 - 22DODGERSMAY 23 - 25DIAMONDBACKS=#FF0000]LWFSMAY 26 - 28PIRATESMAY 29 - JUNE 1 (4)PHILLIESCOMMUNITY PROJECTJUNE 3 - 5CUBS=#FF0000]GWRECKJUNE 6 - 8GIANTS=#FF0000]LWFSJUNE 10 - 12BREWERSJUNE 13 - 15PADRES=#FF0000]JOHN COUGAR LUNCHBUCKETJUNE 16 - 18CARDINALS=#FF0000]d'KONG 76JUNE 19 - 22 (4)MARLINSCOMMUNITY PROJECTJUNE 24 - 25 (2)ATHLETICS=#FF0000]GWRECKJUNE 26 - 29 (4)PIRATESJUNE 30 - JULY 2BRAVESCOMMUNITY PROJECTJULY 4 - 6RANGERS=#FF0000]G-FaFiFJULY 7 - 10 (4)BRAVESCOMMUNITY PROJECTJULY 11 - 13MARLINSCOMMUNITY PROJECTJULY 18 - 20PADRES=#FF0000]JOHN COUGAR LUNCHBUCKETJULY 21 - 23MARINERS=#FF0000]JOHN COUGAR LUNCHBUCKETJULY 24 - 27 (4)BREWERSJULY 28 - 30PHILLIESCOMMUNITY PROJECTAUGUST 1 - 4 (4)GIANTS=#FF0000]LWFSAUGUST 5 - 7NATIONALSCOMMUNITY PROJECTAUGUST 8 - 11 (4)PHILLIESCOMMUNITY PROJECTAUGUST 12 - 14NATIONALSCOMMUNITY PROJECTAUGUST 15 - 18 (4)CUBS=#FF0000]GWRECKAUGUST 19 - 20 (2)ATHLETICS=#FF0000]GWRECKAUGUST 22 - 24DODGERSAUGUST 26 - 28BRAVESCOMMUNITY PROJECTAUGUST 29 - 31PHILLIESCOMMUNITY PROJECTSEPTEMBER 1 - 3MARLINSCOMMUNITY PROJECTSEPTEMBER 5 - 7REDS=#FF0000]G-FaFiFSEPTEMBER 8 - 10ROCKIES=#FF0000]METSGUYINMICHIGANSEPTEMBER 11 - 14 (4)NATIONALSCOMMUNITY PROJECTSEPTEMBER 15 - 17MARLINSCOMMUNITY PROJECTSEPTEMBER 19 - 21BRAVESCOMMUNITY PROJECTSEPTEMBER 23 - 25NATIONALSCOMMUNITY PROJECTSEPTEMBER 25 - 28ASTROS

(re)Meet the Nationals 2013: 86 - 76 w/no playoffs record was, by their "World Series of Bust" standards, rather disappointing. This year they're back to being the chic pick for a WS in many circles. Q: What's new since last season? A: Not a lot really ... the manager and the back of the rotation is about it. Manager: First time Matt Williams replaces Davey Johnson. "The Big Marine" (a nickname he acquired along the way despite not being particularly big nor ever a marine) has made noises about improving the defense, going so far as to hire a coach with the specific title of "defensive coordinator". He'll probably also be less confrontational with the front office, as driving the GM nuts with complaints or odd public pronouncements was something that was usually on Davey's daily to-do list. Back of the rotation: In via trade is Doug Fister (Fister? I barely touched her officer!) but he's not only slated for the #4 spot and would have missed this series anyway but then locked down that fact by starting the year on the DL. Tanner Roark (yes, there are at least two starters in MLB this year named 'Tanner') and Taylor Jordan (or is it Jordan Taylor ... doesn't matter) will start 4th & 5th for the time being but again none of that will matter in this series except that it shoves last year's #5 starter Ross Detwiler to the pen where he'll potentially be a dangerous LHP for mid/late innings stints. Someone let us know about their lineup, the pitching match ups, or (even better) tasteless jokes about their WAGs

MAR 31 - APR 3NATIONALSCOMMUNITY PROJECTAPRIL 4 - 6REDSG-FaFiFAPRIL 8 - 10BRAVESCOMMUNITY PROJECTAPRIL 11-13ANGELSAPRIL 14 - 16DIAMONDBACKSLWFSAPRIL 18 - 20BRAVESCOMMUNITY PROJECTAPRIL 21 - 24 (4)CARDINALSAPRIL 25 - 27MARLINSCOMMUNITY PROJECTAPRIL 28 - 29 (2)PHILLIESCOMMUNITY PROJECTMAY 1 - 4 (4)ROCKIESMAY 5 - 7MARLINSCOMMUNITY PROJECTMAY 9 - 11PHILLIESCOMMUNITY PROJECTMAY 12,13 + May 14,15 (4)YANKEESFMAN99MAY 16 - 18NATIONALSCOMMUNITY PROJECTMAY 20 - 22DODGERSMAY 23 - 25DIAMONDBACKSLWFSMAY 26 - 28PIRATESMAY 29 - JUNE 1 (4)PHILLIESCOMMUNITY PROJECTJUNE 3 - 5CUBSGWRECKJUNE 6 - 8GIANTSLWFSJUNE 10 - 12BREWERSJUNE 13 - 15PADRESJOHN COUGAR LUNCHBUCKETJUNE 16 - 18CARDINALSJUNE 19 - 22 (4)MARLINSCOMMUNITY PROJECTJUNE 24 - 25 (2)ATHLETICSGWRECKJUNE 26 - 29 (4)PIRATESJUNE 30 - JULY 2BRAVESCOMMUNITY PROJECTJULY 4 - 6RANGERSG-FaFiFJULY 7 - 10 (4)BRAVESCOMMUNITY PROJECTJULY 11 - 13MARLINSCOMMUNITY PROJECTJULY 18 - 20PADRESJOHN COUGAR LUNCHBUCKETJULY 21 - 23MARINERSJOHN COUGAR LUNCHBUCKETJULY 24 - 27 (4)BREWERSJULY 28 - 30PHILLIESCOMMUNITY PROJECTAUGUST 1 - 4 (4)GIANTSLWFSAUGUST 5 - 7NATIONALSCOMMUNITY PROJECTAUGUST 8 - 11 (4)PHILLIESCOMMUNITY PROJECTAUGUST 12 - 14NATIONALSCOMMUNITY PROJECTAUGUST 15 - 18 (4)CUBSGWRECKAUGUST 19 - 20 (2)ATHLETICSGWRECK AUGUST 22 - 24DODGERSAUGUST 26 - 28BRAVESCOMMUNITY PROJECTAUGUST 29 - 31PHILLIESCOMMUNITY PROJECTSEPTEMBER 1 - 3MARLINSCOMMUNITY PROJECTSEPTEMBER 5 - 7REDSG-FaFiFSEPTEMBER 8 - 10ROCKIESSEPTEMBER 11 - 14 (4)NATIONALSCOMMUNITY PROJECTSEPTEMBER 15 - 17MARLINSCOMMUNITY PROJECT SEPTEMBER 19 - 21BRAVESCOMMUNITY PROJECTSEPTEMBER 23 - 25NATIONALSCOMMUNITY PROJECTSEPTEMBER 25 - 28ASTROS

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: Division opponents as a community errand? That's the way to go. Excellent idea IMO All those in favor? -- AYE All those opposed? -- Go fuck yourself blondie! The 'AYE's rule the day, the motion is carried. Stake your claim - first come, first served, although local knowledge is given preference for out of town corespondents. Chart forthcoming.

Mejia makes the team as the 5th starter (so that answers any questions about the injury from Friday) -- Matsuzaka to AAA Also Andrew Brown, Qunintanilla & Germen secure spots. The Brown vs Eric Campbell fight was one of the last to be decided. Farnsworth will be at Vegas So I think the 25-man is pretty much set - or are we still waiting on backup catcher? Ike, DooDoo, Muffy, Tejada, Qball, Wright, Satin Lagares, Granderson, Young^2, Brown d'Anaud + Recker/Teaparty Niese (although DL to start), Mejia, Gee, Wheeler, Colon Parnell, Germen, Valverde, Lannan, Torres, Rice, Familia That's 14 players plus 12 pitchers but one DL'd Something would have to give by the time Niese is needed for Game 4/5. Logical candidates figure to be a reliever [Lannan, Germen?] ... or maybe Satin ... or maybe a trade

Oh, we're paying for it. It's just in the cable bill not (just) the ticket prices. Of course we're paying for it (in one form or another). The point is that baseball fans have proven themselves to be quite willing to pay for it* and until they show otherwise this conversation of 'I can't believe how much Player X is getting' hasn't changed since the favored complaints were about how criminal it was that backup infielders were making 50K. * something which has to be a surprise for those at ESPN who keep telling me that the set of baseball fans in America now is down to Bob Costas, George Will, plus seven or eight guys in a nursing home somewhere, and despite the fact that their network just re-upped a deal with MLB for double the money they were previously paying

metsguyinmichigan wrote: How long before the average all-star commands $20 million? Y'know what, if the owners have the money -- and it certainly appears that they do -- then who cares? OK it'll matter if and when either teams start to go out of business or fans start to stay away because they're priced out of their seats in order to pay for these contracts - but not only is neither happening right now (despite decades of dire predictions that such scenarios were just around the corner) but the trends for the most part are marching in exactly the opposite direction.

[fimg=600:3z2t975s]http://sarasotadog.com/files/2013/01/colliepuppies.jpg[/fimg:3z2t975s]

It didn't take more than a few minutes after the Cabrera deal was announced that speculation began about what this means for Mike Trout. Well, it took less than 24 hours before we had an answer: 6 years / $144.5 Totally different situations of course; Trout won't turn 23 until August and while the Angels had control of him anyway for the next three seasons beyond this one (the deal goes into effect starting with the 2015 season) this buys out those three years of arbitration plus the first three years of FA-gency. Trout was still pre-arb this year and will make an even $1mil. Next year he gets a slight raise up to just north of $24 million. He'll be eligible for FA the year he turns 29 Somewhere, Bryce Harper is smiling.

metirish wrote: I miss the Expos. me too, seeing Felipe Alou , wow he looks great at 78....love the hats....I do wish they never left but the crowds were awful weren't they? For a while they did alright. From the founding in 1969 through '76 they were up and down, hovering around average to somewhat below but never at the bottom. After moving into Stade Olympique in 1977, which helped with the weather for early/late season games, it got better and when the team was contending for the top so were the crowds: 3rd (of 12 in the NL) in 1981 & '82 and 2nd in '83. After that they started trailing off and throughout the '90s they were constantly at or near the bottom. Lot of factors involved though. It was a really bad stadium for baseball for one, and the club had the bad timing to keep having their best seasons during seasons interrupted (or ended) by strikes.