Frayed Knot

Nats get held to 2 runs or fewer for the 9th time in the last 13 games This one was especially tough as Strasburg allowed only a lead-off 2nd inning HR to Pedro Alvarez; in all he went 8 innings on only 2 hits. The Pirates then tacked on 3 in the top of the 9th for a four-run lead and then the Nats got their only two runs on a Jayson Werth HR (Werth HRs seem to account for half their runs lately) but the bad relief pitching in the top half made that too little/too late. That the game ended on a bad call (phantom tag) GiDP was just icing on the cake.

Bad pitching, bad pitching, and the defense didn't help much either.

If it's the one I'm thinking of it came while running the bases. IIRC, Gibby was on 1st and tried to reverse himself when an infield liner was caught; his knee buckled and he was doubled off to end the inning. He eventually got up and insisted on staying in the game. When he tried throwing his first warm-up pitch the leg collapsed under him and he was taken out of the game.

I've noticed, in these few short weeks, that Young frequently does that last, long, almost jumping stride into 1B when trying to leg out a hit. This time, when Hudson jabbed at the base a second time trying to make sure he knew where it was, disaster ensued.

Kong76 wrote: I'm confused. I've heard that.

Zvon wrote: That's at least the third time this year that glass has been broken. They need to get themselves whatever the Marlins are using to enclose those fish tanks. Lousy cheap-ass Wilpons!!

'Guys' and Mr. Met portraying themselves and the John and Yoko of CitiField as a promo of this upcoming event.

The home plate ump in last night's Yanx/Rangers game certainly didn't want to see any pitch Mariano threw have to undergo the indignity of being called a ball. I didn't watch the entire game obviously so I don't know whether Kerwin Dantley had a wide strike zone all night, but he certainly did not when Joe Nathan was walking Vernon Wells to start the Yanx rally in the top of the 9th but suddenly did when something named Leonys Martin was PH-ing in the bottom of the inning. Poor dude never had a chance as he K'd looking on four pitches, not one of which was in the strike zone.

I was thinking, after I wrote that last night, that it would be possible to be down Two-nothing after two pitches and therefore your odds of that game becoming a win ticks down slightly more.

Greetings from the Netherlands! How appropriate, y'know, seeing as how you're all orange. metsmarathon wrote: oh crap, i have so much catching up to do! Oh sure, ignore it when I warn you but then get all urgent when Grimm says so.

Players do NOT get paid while on suspension so a suspension (ban) for life would kill his contract. But that's exactly why (one of several reasons really) it's not going to happen. The union is saying that they're not going to pretend that someone isn't guilty if the evidence shows that they are, but that doesn't mean they'll just sit back while MLB runs one of their guys out of the business. With the 'Basic Agreement' spelling out the specific penalties: 50 games for first offense -- then 100 games -- then lifetime, it would be real tough for MLB to make a case that Alex deserves third offender status when his only real previous "crime" was inclusion on that initial round of testing back in 2003 before anyone was even subject to penalties and was supposed to remain anonymous. MLB is supposedly going to try and argue that taking the drugs, then lying about it to investigators, and possibly throwing up other roadblocks to the investigations are all separate acts and therefore he's a multiple offender but you want to try and make that case in front of an arbitrator? The one thing MLB does NOT want to do here is swing for the fences but miss and wind up getting less than they would have had they stuck more to the book punishments. So MLB will threaten something harsh, ARod will make noises that he's going to fight for his innocence, and they'll eventually compromise on something in between; that's my guess anyhow. He'll play again but it'll be sometime in 2014 and probably not for opening day.

Torres - 4.0 Aardsma - 0.25 Rice - 0.15 Hawkins - 0.4 Parnell - 0.4 Wright - 1.0 Davis - 1.3 Lagares - 1.3 Buck - 1.0 Murphy - 0.2

Gee - 4.8 Byrd - 1.2 Davis - 1.2 Satin - 0.5 Young - 0.2 Hawkins - 0.6

If nothing else, this whole topic has given ESPN a reason to actually talk about baseball. As long as they don't have to sully themselves discussing the season, the games, or the players, they're OK with it.

It's usually a good day when your opponent's scoring ends on the 2nd pitch of the game.

Rodriguez looking at a lifetime ban according to sources http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2013/07/23/report-yankees-alex-rodriguez-is-looking-to-make-a-deal-with-mlb/ Seems excessive and unlikely. I agree. I suspect MLB will threaten along those lines before settling for something significant, but ultimately less. A-Rod strikes me as the type of guy that will fight it tooth and nail to the last inch. Maybe. But I think what's becoming apparent with the Braun case is that MLB has the goods here and accepting their terms of punishment, or some negotiated version of it, could be the wiser move here. The union will back the players of course but they don't sound whole-heartedly into it and could very well recommend against. Plus a hearing runs the risk of getting the details out in public. Better to accept the medicine and keep the specifics private. Stories were leaking out today that what they've got on ARod is "well beyond" what they had on Braun and Braun is technically only a first-time offender. Also reports about ARod actively trying to hinder MLB's investigation (lying?, bribing? hiding evidence?) which won't sit well with the league office.

Gary on Carpenter: 'The Braves picked him up on waivers and he's come in and done a nice job for them' Seems like we've heard some version of that sentence a lot over the years concerning the Braves ... Cardinals too.

Swan Swan H wrote: It took me a second to realize that this was Dana Torres and not a picture of just some random athlete Medalin'

Francisco Rodriguez to the Orioles for minor league infielder Nick Delmonico Surprising only in that it was thought there were other teams more in need of relievers like Boston and/or Detroit. I assume he'll set-up mostly behind Johnson

Edgy MD wrote: Yeah, tough, but they're going to point Medlen. POUND. Pounding has yet to commence.

Mets � Willets Point wrote: Rodriguez looking at a lifetime ban according to sources http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2013/07/23/report-yankees-alex-rodriguez-is-looking-to-make-a-deal-with-mlb/ Seems excessive and unlikely. I agree. I suspect MLB will threaten along those lines before settling for something significant, but ultimately less.

Cubs GM Jed Hoyer says "not so fast" on that Soriano to the Yanx story. Claims the club is in talks with "several teams" but no trades have been agreed to much less passed by Soriano who has veto rights.

28 (under pressure) pitches from Kimbrel last night, do you suppose that burns him for tonight's game? Yeah, me either.

If that ball hit - but didn't stick - in Heyward's glove, there's no doubt in my mind that the Mets score twice there and win the game because there are all sorts of places for the deflection to go. Missing it completely may have allowed Johnson to field it on a bounce and hold them to just one run.

John Sickels -- New York Mets prospect Cesar Puello went 1-for-3 with a double for Double-A Binghamton yesterday, giving him a season line of .332/.401/.571 with 16 homers and 23 stolen bases. He's been particularly hot lately, hitting .361 in his last 10 games with five doubles, a homer, four steals, and a 6/7 BB/K ratio. Tools have never been the problem with the 22-year-old Puello, but he's been slowed by injuries and poor plate discipline. He's healthy this year, has tripled his 2012 walk rate, and is now hitting the hell out of the ball. He's flashed this before but didn't sustain it, but this season he got hot in late April and has stayed that way. I didn't have him in my recent Top 75 Prospects update, but he'd definitely be in the 80-100 range and if he keeps playing like this he'll certainly be in the Top 50 for next year.