Frayed Knot

Just to refresh my memory, when our guys have more runs than the other guys is that what's called "a lead"? I've heard other teams' fans talk about it, but it's been so long that I'm having trouble remembering.

The good news is we're facing Derek Lowe and not some pitcher who is looking for his first ML win. The bad is that we're coming off a series where I believe they made more outs on the base-paths (CS, pick-offs, GiDPs, thrown out tagging, etc.) than they scored actual runs, and now have to go face a real team.

I think what happened was that the guy was skipping work and his kid skipping school. Then, when the wife/mother saw that they were on camera, she called them on their banana phones to tell them to get out of the shot so they wouldn't get caught.

Right now my description of a NYM calendar is 'Target Practice'

In the first of a four-gamer in Boston on Thursday, the Sox - forced to start someone named Kyle Weiland - got thumped by the Rays 9-2 cutting their SC lead down to 3.0 games (4.0 over LAA) They get Beckett back tonight as he opposes Shields for Tampa Angels - 3.5 behind Texas - are in Baltimore Rangers are in Seattle Somewhat comforting to know that we don't have the only 100-mph reliever having a tough time. Boston's main set-up guy Daniel Bard is having hisself a kind of rocky September so far: 5 appearances; 4.2 IP; 10 runs (9 earned); on 6 hits and 5 walks + 1 HBP, all against division opponents.

No, he's not an elite prospect. On the other hand neither is Wilmer Flores.

Acosta: 6 base-runners (E, 2B, Sac Fly, 1B, 1B, 2B) on his first 10 pitches Oh yeah, and Ian Desmond has re-caught the Mets in the hits race: 5-to-5

Those of you holding tickets for '9th inning' in the: when will David Wright make his error contest, please advance to the window to claim your winnings.

Frayed Knot wrote: Bay's 2nd double of the game means the Mets are at least now out-hitting Ian Desmond for the day (5-4). And nothing like following up a leadoff 2B with K-K-FO

Bay's 2nd double of the game means the Mets are at least now out-hitting Ian Desmond for the day (5-4).

Beato's afternoon: single, force-out, double, IW, single, force-out, double We're now into, 'oh well we'll get a better draft pick next June' territory

And now Pagan watches a ball drop at his feet for a double - one batter after Tejada bobbles a sure GiDP and only gets one out. And then that's followed by a ball through an infield that was drawn in to counter the fact that they handed the Nats two outs in this inning alone. And we won't even mention the earlier three runs scored on errors and balks, or last night's two runs which were both unearned. This squad doesn't even remotely resemble a major league team at this point.

And the final answer is: fly out with the bases loaded. btw, that's the 8th time the Mets have faced Todd Coffey this year. They have 0 runs on 2 hits. I think there are HS teams with better records off Mariano Rivera

Two runners via consecutive one-out walks. So whattaya think ... GiDP or back-to-back pick-offs? ... Oooh, I'm sorry, the answer was first-pitch pop-out

Ceetar wrote: Whew, got 'out' of it. 3-1 Natty's. It hardly matters considering we haven't scored as many as 3 runs in any game this series - or scored a run off the Nats' pen in like half a season.

bmfc1 wrote: 2d balked in run this season (the other was a game ender against ATL). I would have guessed we were up to 15 or 16 at this point.

So what's the record for runs-balked-in in a season? The Nats now have their runs in this game because of balks and because Pascucci couldn't pick up a ball that had essentially stopped rolling.

bmfc1 wrote: Davey must have remembered that Bay homered off Milone in DC last time but Bay still hit a shot. And must have forgotten that Bay K'd twice today off him.

OK [u:11u68q02]THAT TIME[/u:11u68q02] the wall cost Bay a HR

It's now reached the point where the opposing manager pulls his pitcher following a two-out bloop single. I guess that's now a sign that your guy is losing it.

And then we spend another half-inning where no batter gets the ball past the fucking pitchers mound. Good thing Terry shuffled the line-up so we get these "kids" in who obviously care more.

Oh shit, we got the leadoff guy on again! Now we'll never score. ... aaaaaaand, rain delay.

So get the first two guys on and then don't score because the 3 & 4 hitters made three outs while not even getting the ball out of the infield. Same Shit Different Day. On the bright side, David Wright actually fielded a ground ball cleanly and got an out.

Scouting reports on Yasmani Grandal: From Baseball Prospectus [u:32b8oaeg]Prior to the beginning of this season[/u:32b8oaeg] Yasmani Grandal, C -- DOB: 11/8/88 -- 6-2/215 -- Bats/Throws: S/R Drafted/Signed: First round (15th overall), 2010, University of Miami 2010 Stats: .286/.394/.715 at Rookie (8 G) Best/Worst Tool: Hit/speed - Year in Review: The top college catcher in the draft signed a big-league deal worth more than $3 million. - The Good: Grandal is the rare catcher who has the potential to hit in the middle of the order. He has a big league-ready approach and above-average power for a catcher from both sides of the plate. He's a take-charge type who understands his role as a field general, and works well with pitchers. - The Bad: Grandal will need good secondary skills, as some scouts question his pure hitting ability. He projects as an offense-first catcher who will be no more than average defensively, as he needs to improve his footwork and has troubles with the running game. - Perfect World Projection: Above-average everyday catcher. - Path to the Big Leagues: Grandal will begin hit first full-season assignment at High-A Bakersfield, where he could amass some big numbers. - ETA: 2013 [u:32b8oaeg]From John Sickels last month[/u:32b8oaeg]: Yasmani Grandal, C, Grade B+: .296/.410/.510 with 41 walks, 57 strikeouts in 206 at-bats for High-A Bakersfield, .291/.354/.477 with seven walks, 23 strikeouts in 86 at-bats for Double-A Carolina. Has caught 34% of runners, though passed ball rate is quite high. Overall I'm pleased. That sounds like a very nice prospect. He is behind Cincy's other catching prospect Devin Mesoraco both in terms of readiness (Mesoraco was called up two weeks ago although he's only a few months older) and probably in overall ceiling as well so it makes sense that they may look to move him [Grandal]. At the same time it also makes sense that they'd ask a lot for him and they certainly aren't in the position where they HAVE TO move him and particularly not now.

Can we please stop talking about bringing in walls as if: a) that's Jason Bay's problem that it would somehow only benefit our team