Frayed Knot

Benjamin Grimm wrote: I suspect that the Mets are less desperate for help than they were a few months ago. I don't know why that would be, but it seems like it may be the case. The Why would be that the billion dollar number floated by the Madoff trustee guy seems to be no longer on the table and that the projected (maybe even maximum) penalty/give-back is less than 1/3 of that, something more like what the Wilpon/Katz crew originally expected and expect to be able to handle. Remember that this whole partial sale thing only came up when the trustee signaled that he was going to be extremely aggressive and I think ownership then took measures to prevent them from losing the team entirely. Also a story in today's NYPost (now somewhat out-of-date considering this latest scoop) about Einhorn turning rather aggressive himself, trying, for instance, to get MLB to pre-approve him for total ownership even though there was no possibility of that happening for another five years or more.

Pelfrey - 0.8 Igarashi - 0.5 Wright - 1.2 Thole - 1.0

Nights with Josh Satin never reaching the fence Hope he can hit some cuz he can't play defense ...

Capuano - 1.0 Wright - 2.0 Duda - 1.5 Reyes - 1.5 Tejada - 0.8 Bay - 0.5 Beato - 0.6 Acosta - 0.8 Isringhausen - 0.7 Parnell - 0.6

Edgy DC wrote: Wright sure did. I didn't see Tejada's play. Wright's play was the tougher stop, Tejada's had the tougher throw. And, yeah, the game is definitely tied up if Tejada doesn't make his play. Not so with Wright's although we would have been in deep doo-doo.

Gee - 2.3 Acosta - 0.7 Parnell - 0.3 Wright - 1.4 Tejada - 1.2 Harris - 1.0 Evans - 1.5 Nickeas - 1.0 Pagan - 0.6

Dickey - 4.4 Isringhausen - 0.7 Parnell - 0.4 Duda - 1.8 Turner - 0.9 Thole - 0.8 Evans - 1.0

Not sure what they're arguing about - Bay never came close.

Bay should try that oppo-field thing a bit more often cuz when he does hit it that way he rarely seems to make outs. (or maybe that's just my imagination ... once again, running away with me)

Edgy DC wrote: Shmizzringhausen takes the mound. Not sure why we have to lift Acostage. Because someone looked at their watch and saw it was the 8th inning. Now if he - and presumably Parnell - can keep runners off the bases we can get through the 9th without having to see Stanton and his triceps up at the plate.

Our offense held hostage: Day 2

"And then I get drilled in the back and I don't know why" That was a typically annoying Yanx/Sawx game last night. - 4 hours running time? -- Check (3:59 actually despite just 7 runs scored total) - 9 pitchers used? -- Check - Arguments, HBPs, ejections, bruised feelings, pre-emptive dugouts emptying? -- Check The Sox left about a million guys on base (16 I think was the final total). Sabathia didn't get crushed for once although he danced in trouble all night and it took him 130 pitches just to get through six innings. Ortiz blew a run by first mis-reading a single and then trotting to 3rd on a hit where Ronnie Paulino could have scored from 2nd even with his broken toe. Sox might have had a chance in the end if only Mariano had been required to get the ball within eight inches of the zone before getting a called strike.

Carlos Zambrano probably hits better than Bay at this point.

I'm more disappointed that the two DL stints ruined his shot at the triples record - or at least a place high up on the list one triples in a season.

bmfc1 wrote: Guys! just finished a report with "Fellas, to you." "Fellas"? No!!! I don't know who you are anymore!!

Bonifacio - SS Dobbs - 3B Stanton - RF Morrison- LF Infante - 2B G. Sanchez - 1B Cameron - CF Buck - C Vazquez - P Reyes - SS Turner - 2B Wright -3B Duda - RF Pagan - CF Bay - LF Evans - 1B Thole - C Pelfrey - P

One of the causes of our mediocrity (or worse) this season has been our less-than-stellar record against the bottom-feeders of the league. Even yesterday's double-win only brings their cumulative record versus the clubs below us in the NL standings* to 28-31. But now sixteen of the next eighteen come against the Marlins (6 more), Nationals (7) and Cubs (3) interrupted only by the two-game make-up with the Braves. * Cubs 1-2 Astros 3-3 Padres 4-3 Marlins 5-7 Rox 2-5 Nats 6-5 Pirates 4-4 Dodgers 5-2

Pelfrey faces off against Javy Vazquez Vazquez's long, mostly NL, and virtually injury-free career (26 or more starts per year for 14 years running now) means he has an extensive record against the Mets while pitching for Montreal, Atlanta, Arizona, and the Yanx This will be his 28th game (all starts) in his career. His record is 10-10 over those 27 with an impressive 3.25 ERA and 1.12 WHiP -- 177.1 IP, 155 hits, 152 Ks, 44 BBs, 21 HRs allowed with a .236/.284/.391 against slash-line. I think we need to kick his ass.

I saw Ceda in the game and thought, that guy needs a license plate ... or a saddle.

We're not exactly plastering the ball all over the park - even our few XBHs have been kind of cheesy - but the hits have been timely and the pitching good.

I sold myself short in the early IGT, I had a two-game streak coming into today (phinal Philly game, lone Braves game) so now we/me are going for four.

Going for the rare DH sweep with Jose-Jose back in the fold.

As a college SS said to have the glove for that spot just not the range, I suspect that even if Havens never turns into a plus defender at 2B that he wouldn't fall to Uggla-liscious levels of suckdom.

By coincidence, BA cranks up their way-back machine this week and ranks (worst to first) how the 2005 draft looks in hindsight for all 30 ML teams. Mets score around average via this (somewhat superficial) look although further emergence of Parnell and/or Beato could make it look better in the future. 30. Cubs -- Lone big leaguer Donald Veal (2) has a 7.16 ERA in 16 major league innings. 29. Mariners -- Late switch of No. 3 overall pick from Troy Tulowitzki to Jeff Clement (1) was a bad omen. 28. Astros -- Used first pick on Brian Bogusevic (1), had to convert him from pitcher to outfielder. 27. Dodgers -- With failure to sign top pick Luke Hochevar (1s), highlight is Trayvon Robinson (10). 26. Indians -- Tim Lincecum (42) turned down $700,000, leaving Jensen Lewis (3) as best signee. 25. Phillies -- Shrewdest move was taking Vance Worley (20), but he didn't sign until three years later. 24. Rangers -- John Mayberry Jr.'s (1) emergence may salvage something from this draft class. 23. Giants -- Didn't have picks in first three rounds but uncovered super sleeper Sergio Romo (28). 22. Orioles -- Got quality reliever in David Hernandez (16), role player in Nolan Reimold (2). 21. Athletics -- Cliff Pennington (1), Travis Buck (1s) are the best of a mediocre lot. 20. White Sox -- Like most Chisox prospects, Chris Getz (4) and Clayton Richard (8) became trade fodder. 19. Angels -- Peter Bourjos (10) is a future Gold Glover; L.A. rues not signing Buster Posey (50). 18. Marlins -- Chris Volstad (1) led five picks before second round; best choice was Gaby Sanchez (4). 17. Rays -- Blew No. 8 choice on Wade Townsend (1), rallied with Jeremy Hellickson (4). 16. Mets -- Hauled in two starters in Mike Pelfrey (1) and Jonathon Niese (7), plus Josh Thole (13). 15. Royals -- Alex Gordon's (1) resurgence was crucial because he's the only big leaguer in this group. 14. Padres -- No stars, but three useful bats in Chase Headley (2), Nick Hundley (2), Will Venable (7). 13. Tigers -- Detroit signed an MLB-best 10 big leaguers, led by Cameron Maybin (1), Matt Joyce (7). 12. Blue Jays -- After a slow start, Ricky Romero (1) has blossomed into one of game's top young lefties. 11. Twins -- Minnesota regrettably traded Matt Garza (1); kept Kevin Slowey (2), Brian Duensing (3). 10. Cardinals -- Will move up if Colby Rasmus (1) reaches potential, Jaime Garcia (22) stays healthy. 9. Reds -- Jay Bruce (1) is the headliner; Travis Wood (2), Logan Ondrusek (13) also have helped. 8. Pirates -- Andrew McCutchen (1) is Pittsburgh's best first-rounder since Barry Bonds in 1985. 7. Yankees -- Brett Gardner (3) beat expectations, Austin Jackson (8) helped land Curtis Granderson. 6. Braves -- Yunel Escobar (2) is a quality shortstop, Tommy Hanson (22) has frontline upside. 5. Brewers -- Ryan Braun (1) became one of major's most devastating bats within two years. 4. Nationals -- Got an all-around star in Ryan Zimmerman (1), innings-eater in John Lannan (12). 3. Diamondbacks -- Justin Upton (1) a worthy No. 1 pick; also got Micah Owings (3), Greg Smith (6). 2. Rockies -- Colorado hit on just one big leaguer: Troy Tulowitzki (1), baseball's best shortstop. 1. Red Sox -- Jacoby Ellsbury (1), Clay Buchholz (1s), Jed Lowrie (1s) arrived before second round

Tying up a few loose ends from our NYM-less baseball weekend: - The Sox & A's DID get their DH in on Saturday at Fenway - only took them 11 hours as there were rain delays in each. Not totally sure how they handled the tickets because I don't think they had enough time to empty the stadium between games, but the nice thing is the Sox swept the DH and are now 2 games ahead of the Yanx. - The Yanx still haven't agreed to play the makeup from this weekend next Thursday. They're already several games behind most other teams (2 fewer than the Sox) and this would ruin one of their only 2 off-days between now and the end. What they want is to not play it at all unless necessary (and it almost certainly won't be necessary) but one thing the Selig era has been good about is playing just about every regular season tilt possible and seeing as how this does NOT break the 'no 20 games in a row' rule I don't think the MFYs can force their way out of it. They can, however, whine about it a lot. - Tampa has won 3 straight and 9 of 12 to get themselves to "only" 6.5 behind the Yanx. Be nice to see them chop a bit more off both to avoid a dud AL East "race" and because the two teams have six games left all in the final nine days of the reg season. Be cool if those games turned into a 'win or go home' week. - Angels wound up losing 2 of 3 to Texas over the weekend (dropping them to 3 games behind) but seemed pretty desperate about trying to win them as they pitched both Ervin Santana & Jered Weaver on short rest in order to have them face the Rangers. Didn't work though as those were the two games they lost. - Nationals lost on a game-tying PH HR in the 9th (Yonder Alonso) then a walk-off HR in the 14th (Votto) yesterday in Cincy for their 6th loss in a row. So we snuck back into 3rd place while we were sleeping.