Frayed Knot

If nothing else, the games during this series in Pittsburgh have been moving right along. Right now: bottom 7th -- Boston at Baltimore same starting time and same number of runs scored (2-2): Top 5th

Lefty Specialist wrote: In a lineup with no hitters, and with first base open, why are they even pitching to McCutcheon? Inquiring minds want to know. Not sure I want to be putting the tying run on base (and a speedy one at that) so early-(ish) in the game.

duan wrote: you letting Niese bat? I would. Here? -- definitely. It's a different situation from last night.

The advantage of WPA is because of the context, that it measures not just what happened but in what situations. The drawback is that it's probably not as good a predictor of future success for the very same reasons. I'd imagine WAR WinShares or such similar stuff would be less erratic over a player's career. oe: cross posted w/Mags

Edgy DC wrote: Is a dream a lie when it don't come true? ... or is it something worse?

Gorkys was never a top prospect but was one of those very young/very raw prospects in the Braves system who wound up being the main bait when the Pirates dealt Nate McLouth over to Atlanta. At the time I remember thinking that the Pirates were selling McLouth short because he was pretty good there for a brief time. The other guys in the deal were today's starter Charlie Morton and Jeff Locke who's still in the Pittsburgh system *AND* they have McLouth back. So I guess it wasn't such a bad deal after all.

btw, it's a 12:35 game, not noon ... y'know, just in case anyone was thinking of running over a bunch of pedestrians trying to make it by first pitch. Be nice to see Duda park one in the river before he leaves town. Big guy like that shouldn't be getting shut out of long balls for the month of May. Has just one since game 8 of the season.

Bay, Tejada and Thole are supposed to start rehab assignments soon - like later this week. I'd say that starts the clock a'ticking.

Gee - 2.1 Francisco - 0.6 Byrdak - 0.2 Baxter - 2.2 Wright - 1.8 Nieuwenhuis - 1.4 Davis - 1.0 Murphy - 0.7

Batista - 0.6 Hefner - 1.5 Byrdak - 0.1 Rauch - 0.2 Baxter - 0.4 Duda - 0.5 Cedeno - 0.4

metirish wrote: Frayed Knot wrote: We're fortunate that McCutcheon's not on 2nd after that play. Rauch can't catch a break (and the Mets can't catch a ball) these last two nights. thought Ron was a little heavy on the praise for Murphy on his attempted catch that he made a mess of. Those over-the-shoulder plays are always tough so it's hard to kill Murph for not making it ... even though he should have. One problem is that Duda seemed to be playing just short of the river out there. There were three balls tonight* where you couldn't say he SHould have made the plays but maybe a better/quicker and not-so-deep playing RFer might have. * the one Murph dropped; the double by Harrison just before that; and the foul fly a few innings earlier.

At least Byrdak's been mostly reliable this year out of the pen ... even if he's the only one.

We're fortunate that McCutcheon's not on 2nd after that play. Rauch can't catch a break (and the Mets can't catch a ball) these last two nights.

metirish wrote: Christ, that was an awful swing by Ike..... That was one of those where it looks like he decides to swing before the pitch is even made. His problem is that when he looks to recognize the pitch before deciding whether to swing, those are the ones he's late on.

Now we got two on AND we got Wright up AND Cruz is frustrated.

Mike Baxter = Doubles machine

Gwreck wrote: Tie game? Our bullpen? Dickey pitching like he is? No way do I take him out for a pinch hitter. Even leading off the inning when we need runs desperately? I'd be shocked if they don't PH oe: on the other hand I am kind of surprised to see McDonald gone

Cedeno's 2-out infield hit didn't produce any runs but it "cleared" Nickeas for the next inning.

bmfc1 wrote: Are you an attorney FK? I've advised myself not to answer that.

Sickels: - Is Wilmer Flores finally breaking out? The New York Mets prospect had a solid April (.293/.319/.463) and has been even better in May (.329/.380/.534), leading to an overall line of .310/.347/.497 with seven homers, nine walks, and 16 strikeouts in 155 at-bats for High-A St. Lucie. This is his third run through the Florida State League but he's still just 21 years old. It is interesting to note that his offensive improvement coincides with a shift of his defensive position from shortstop to third base this year. Given that he now has 242 games of High-A on his resume, a promotion to Double-A seems like a good bet sometime soon. FK: That's some serious slugging (near .200 IsoP) in a FSL where power is tough to come by. The low walks are a concern, although the Ks are low too.

Yeah, can't hurt to look into things. Was borderline mediocre for the Nats in the first half of last year, then was traded at the deadline and pitched only 11 innings for the DBacks after that so there was probably some health issue. That the horrid 2012 Twins can't find a spot for him doesn't bode well. Doesn't turn 34 until August.

* Marquis lives in Staten Island -- or at least grew up there. Not sure if he still calls it home * and has wanted to be a Met for years -- well, whenever he wasn't wanting to be a Yanqui. Admits (IIRC) to growing up a YLDB but shirley didn't miss a chance to mention the Mets during FA periods * He's not great but he was adjusting to a new league. -- and pitchers moving from the AL to the NL automatically lower their ERA by 3 or 4 runs/game ... or at least that's what I've heard * Maybe finally playing at home will rejuvenate him. -- Why do I get the idea that he's one of those guys who only pitches well for the Cardinals? * If not, he won't cost very much. -- plus it's not like the competition is very stiff * And he can probably out-hit half of the team. -- But can he play 1B?

Now if we could only figure out a way to convince the Pirates to use our BP pitcher to start tonight's game.

'Fearless' is the one of his I've meant to get around to but for some reason never have. Putting it on the list.

Caught just the last inning of the Yanx game last night - and between the drizzly night and the 6-0 KC lead the bodies on the field out-numbered the ones in the stands by the end. Then after all that I had trouble falling asleep last night so 'treated' myself to an hour or so of WFAN as I tossed and turned. Not surprisingly their fans aren't too happy. Many are blaming things on Girardi although specifics weren't too forthcoming - him being "unimaginative" was about the only thing put into words. But the real fun part comes when the blame starts getting ladled out for not enough hitting in the clutch. The team has been unbelievably bad recently - something like 6 for their last 60-something w/RiSP - so it's not like it's not a real problem, it's just that their "solution" is to get rid of the players who have been deemed to be "not good at" doing so, a failure which is determined to be a trait (and an "un-Yanqui-like one to boot) rather than a phase. ARod is, of course, public enemy #1, but Swisher and especially Teixeira are taking a beating also ... "they're just interested in their paychecks ... they're not trying ... they don't care ... they're chokers ... they'll always be chokers ..."