Frayed Knot

Tough to hang a lot of this on Teufel when the biggest problems in turning DPs lately has been getting the elementary task of getting the ball to actually stick in the glove of the fielder plus getting pitchers to hit large targets from 60 feet away. Muffy's turns this year, something you'd think we be tops on Timmy's agenda, have actually looked increasingly smooth IMO. cross-posted with smg The 'we need Ike's defense even if his bat suxx' argument (for those who are inclined to advance that particular one) is losing steam too. He's looked sloppy on a number of occasions.

In fairness to Valdespin (not that I'm in the mood to be) he's what, the fifth option out there behind Tejada - Cedeno - Turner - Quintanilla We know now why Terry said he doesn't really view him as an option in the infield and, like I said in the IGT, my mind immediately flashed back to Mel Mora and that series against Boston. The difference then is that no one was coming back from the DL anytime soon (I assume SOMEONE will come back soon) which prompted the trade for Bordick, yadda yadda yadda.

By my count (and, Hell, I could have missed some) the NYM infield has, over the last 15 innings, turned five ground balls with the potential for nine outs into a total of two outs even though only three official errors were tallied. In the end the miscues almost certainly cost us the last two games. MONDAY * 7th inning, game tied 1-1 Gee puts the first two hitters on 1st & 2nd, then gets a come-backer which he promptly throws into CF. Should have had two outs, got none. Two runs score that inning and the Mets go on to lose by one run TUESDAY * 8th inning, Mets up by one With a runner on 1st and no outs, a GiDP ball to Muffy is muffed and he settles for the out at 1st only. No error is scored because he got an out, but the runner he fails to get later scores and ties the game. * 10th inning, Mets up by one - Leadoff error at SS (Valdespin) - 2nd batter bounces one to Ike who bobbles it and has to settle for the out at 1B, runner moves up - A wild pitch and a walk later (1st & 3rd) the potential game-ending DP ball (although we should only need one out) is booted again and the game is tied. It also forces Parnell to throw 14 additional pitches to escape that inning with the game still tied on a night where we were down two relievers and pulled the started after five leaving Terry to rely on a rookie call-up in his 2nd ML outing. And this doesn't even count relay Quintanilla somehow bounced over the backstop & screen which allowed a run to score. Ain't gonna win games that way.

Gee - 3.1 Parnell - 0.5 Duda - 1.6 Hairston - 2.5 Torres - 0.4 Nieuwenhuis - 0.5 Quintanilla - 0.3

We have met the enemy and he is us.

I'd normally ask for a DP ball here but we know that won't happen.

Elvin didn't throw one strike to Detwiler.

Between the bleeders, the bouncers, and the errors, these guys have gotten on base on like their last nine grounders.

In addition to the infield, Hairston + Rottino isn't exactly gold glove coverage in the OF corners either.

WIN IT FOR ELVIN !!!!

Murph's had a tough night. We need one here.

Do I even have to say it ladies and gentlemen? that man was put upon this earth to smack the snot out of LHPs

What's that now, five Ks in a row from Parnell/Elvin? Thing is, with the way the IF is playing tonight, we NEED strikeouts!!

Any of the Short-stops we drafted in the last day or so ready yet?

Edgy DC wrote: Didn't Ramirez walk, like, nobody in AAA? Well he just struck out the only guy in this lineup who may have actually faced him before.

Granted it was a tough inning, but Terry has shown he's certainly not anxious to go more than one inning at a time with Parnell.

Frayed Knot wrote: Heroic inning from Parnell when you think about it. I don't think anyone got the ball out of the infield. Now the problem is his fielders made him throw like 58 pitches that inning. Plus that whole inning turned the Nats order over so they get the top of the order up again.

The Nats are essentially down to Detwiler in their pen, but he was a starter until about a week or two ago so can probably give them five or six innings easily. And they've got two PHers (all be it both rookie backup catchers)

Heroic inning from Parnell when you think about it. I don't think anyone got the ball out of the infield. Now the problem is his fielders made him throw like 58 pitches that inning.

Frayed Knot wrote: This infield has turned a potential five outs tonight into two. Make that seven!!

And now you know why Terry said he doesn't consider Valdespin a SS. This is what Mel Mora did all those years ago to get hisself booted out.

Kong76 wrote: Where is the D? The D gets a D tonight.

This infield has turned a potential five outs tonight into two.

Miami has lost (to Atlanta), Lee gave up 2 in the 8th and the Phils lost to LAD 2-1 ... meaning this is for first place baby!!

OK Bobby P, strap 'em on. You da man tonight!!