Frayed Knot

Niese - 4.1 Rodriguez - 0.7 Turner - 1.0 Murphy - 0.9 Pridie - 1.0 Pagan - 1.3 Beltran - 1.0

Pelfrey - 2.3 Parnell - 0.4 Paulino - 3.0 Reyes - 1.5 Beltran - 0.8 Pagan - 0.8 Tejada - 0.8

Certainly helped that Pitt looked awful. Diaz showed why his best position is hitter. But Gee was legitimately good, particularly after starting the game with 3 consecutive hits. Settled down right after that just like he did when he skunked Pitt last time after serving up an early 2R HR to Snyder. Plus the bats got enough real hits in amongst the dunks and the gifts and the goofs to make it a good night. I almost forgot what it was like to gets hits from the leftfielder. Oh, and the Cubs just scored five times in the 8th to close the Phils 7-0 lead down to 7-5.

I was hoping to know my Pirates a little better even though we just played them recently ... but it doesn't look like that's going to happen. So some quickie things you need to know about this weekend's series with the Buccos - They're one game off in their quest for their first .500 mark in two decades (30-31) and a half-game ahead of us. - it's a 4-game "wrap-around" series ending on Monday. All games except Sunday are at night. - Friday: Gee vs Morton; Saturday: Dickey vs McDonald Sunday: Capuano vs Corriera Monday: Pelfrey vs Maholm - Now that Chris Snyder is sked to undergo back surgery, their pre-season 1st, 2nd, & 3rd string catchers are all out injured leaving them with the likes of Dusty Brown (31 ML ABs - we saw him in the last series) and yesterday's call-up Wyatt Toregas (51 ML ABs w/Cleveland in 2009). Run wild boys!! - They played 2 12-inning games this past week taxing their bullpen, although a strong performance by Jeff Karstens in a losing effort vs Arizona last night helped somewhat. - Jose Tabata has mostly been leading off since Andrew McCutcheon was moved to the 3-slot - 3Bman Pedro Alvarez is still on the DL. Josh Harrison (33 ML ABs) has been doing most of the filling in and has at least one hit in every ML game he's started except one. OK he's only started 8 (he got his first ML hit at Citi) but still ...

From a BA post-draft Q&A: Q: From a pure talent standpoint (signability aside) what are your thoughts on the Mets draft as a whole? Jim Callis: I like the way the Mets came out and went after upside. They loved Brandon Nimmo and grabbed him at 13, or else someone would have taken him at the bottom of the first round. Michael Fulmer [44th overall] got overshadowed by [fellow Oklahoma HS pitchers] Dylan Bundy [4th overall] and Archie Bradley [7th overall] this spring, but he has a quality arm. If they sign Phillip Evans (15th round) and Mason Robbins (20th), that would be a nice coup. Evans & Robbins are high-school players (SS & OF) and from Callis's comment on them I take it that they're are the type that the Mets haven't been drafting in recent years and will take some cash to buy them out of college offers.

He actually did get a hit late in the game; 10 to go before the world celebration begins (7 more games on the homestand). Looks like the Yanx' bullpen mess caused Girardi to stick with big CC in a vain attempt to get through that 7th inning. 1 out, 6 hits, and 4 runs later he was finally yanked for Robertson ... who promptly gave up two hits and three more runs.

On a semi-related topic we should note Plaxico Burress walking out of prison the other day with his Phillies cap on proud display.

The rain delays in NY & Phil meant I was asleep before both games ended. How nice it is then to wake up and read about Boston's "7-run seventh" and about the Phils losing it in the 11th after that questionable negated HR that would have lost it for them in regulation.

Umps underneath discussing whether 2nd HR counts or was interfered by a fan. The area in CBP seems very unclear what's a HR and the answer is .... they're putting him (Tyler Colvin) back at 2nd base. Tie game then, one out, runner on 2nd.

Why yes, now that you asked, those were back-to-back 9th inning Chicago Cubs HRs served up by Ryan Madson. 4-3 Cubs, still batting w/1-out

- Braves hand Florida their 8th straight loss and another 1-run loss, this time 3-2. - Phils switch to hosting the Cubs. Long rain delay but they're back playing in the 8th, 3-1 Phils ... oops, now 3-2 - A Granderson HR in the 1st has the Yanx up 2-0 in the 2nd, also after a loooooooong rain delay. Sabathia & Beckett - Washington down 2-1 in the 4th in Sandy Eggo

I can barely remember a time NOT seeing Braun hit a ball squarely. But, we got out of it and now Prince Spaghetti can't be the tying or winning run next inning.

Gotta get Hart here. Big boys up next.

I dunno - but that was one helluva job by Niese right there.

I've seen much more blatant examples of obstruction not called than that one with Prince/Pagan. I didn't see how he obstructed him at all. Not that it ultimately mattered. The two-man wrecking crew up this inning.

More or less the same thing. I would have gone after him. The fact that he couldn't get him was probably the first clue that it wasn't Gallardo's night.

Edgy DC wrote: They had no business pitching to Tejada in that lame looking lineup with Niese on deckle. Heck, sometimes I wonder why teams don't play four outfielders in that situation. Really? I was thinking as they did that about how pissed I was when Jerry would (often) walk #8 hitters (early in the game especially) rather than try to set up the pitcher to lead off the following inning. #1 pitcher going (had an off night but you didn't know that then) vs a 21 y/o #8 hitting middle infielder only in the lineup due to injuries? ... it didn't work out for the Brews but I would have done the same thing. Meanwhile, that's the 2nd time in three days we've turned killer innings into only so-so ones -- 8th inning game 1 was the other.

I don't know that fans are quicker to tag non-white players as busts, just maybe throw labels around as to why a bit easier. As for Bay, they're going to have to use him at some point, not just because of the money but because it's too illogical to assume he simply forgot how to hit and will never get it back. Even if he'll never be what they hoped you gotta figure he'll be at least decent again.

Holy meltdowns Batman!! Oh yeah, and let's make sure we walk enough guys so that the lineup turns over and Braun & Prince will come up next inning too!

And the Sox hold on to win 11-6 Tonight's game took 3:22, virtually the same time as last night which also matches the average game between those teams. 2:50 is MLB average for everyone else.

Edgy DC wrote: Just tuning in here. Judging by the GameDay field view, that ball went 450 feetish? Really? Looked more like 438 to me.

Braves go on to win it in the 10th. That's 7 losses in a row for Florida, and 10 of their last 12. Soon to be just 1.5 games ahead of your New York Mets.

Phils shutout Dodgers 2-0 Howard's HR was the first goner for the Phils in a week.

Kimbrel gets a 2-0 lead and gets the first two outs in the 9th ... then blows the save with a walk, double, and a 2-RBI single. Marlins & Braves tied 2-2 in the 10th.

Edgy DC wrote: Rd. 1 (13th overall), Brandon Nimmo, Cheyenne East HS (Wy.) Rd. 1A (44th overall), Michael Fulmer, Deer Creek HS (Ok.) Rd. 2 (71st overall), Cory Mazzoni, RHP, N.C. State Rd. 3 (101), Logan Verrett, RHP, Baylor Rd. 4 (132), Tyler Pill, RHP, Cal State Fullerton Rd. 5 (162), Jack Leathersich, LHP, UMass Lowell Rd. 6 (192), Joe Tuschak, CF, Northern (Dillsburg, Pa.) HS Rd. 7 (222), Cole Frenzel, 1B, Arizona Rd. 8 (252), Danny Muno, SS, Fresno State Rd. 9 (282), Alex Panteliodis, LHP, Florida Rd. 10 (312), Matthew Budgell, RHP, Woodbridge (Calif.) HS Rd. 11 (342), Chris Montgomery, RHP, Lawrence Central (Ind.) HS Rd. 12 (372), Kenny Mathews, LHP, Diamond Bar (Calif.) HS Rd. 13 (402), Robert Gsellman, RHP, Westchester (Calif.) HS Rd. 14 (432), Xorge Carrillo, C, Arizona State Rd. 15 (462), Phillip Evans, SS, La Costa Canyon (Calif.) HS Rd. 16 (492), Brandon Marquez, CF, Odessa (Texas) HS Rd. 17 (522), Jonathan Clark, CF, Lee University Rd. 18 (552), Travis Taijeron, CF, Cal Poly Pomona Rd. 19 (582), Dustin Lawley, CF, Univ. of West Florida Rd. 20 (612), Mason Robbins, CF, George County (Miss.) HS Rd. 21 (642), Jonathan Gant, RHP, Wiregrass Ranch (Fla.) HS Rd. 22 (672), Casey Turgeon, SS, Dunedin (Fla.) HS Rd. 23 (702), Jeffrey Diehl, C, Cranton (R.I.) HS West Rd. 24 (732), Tant Shepherd, 1B, Texas Rd. 25 (762), Andrew Reed, LHP, Terre Haute (Ind.) South Vigo HS Rd. 26 (792), Casey Hauptman, RHP, Nebraska Rd. 27 (822), Randy Fontanez, RHP, South Florida Rd. 28 (852), Jharel Cotton, RHP, Miami Dade CC South Rd. 29 (882), Joshua Ake, SS, Hunterdon Central (NJ) Regional HS Rd. 30 (912), Jacob Hansen, LHP, F.P. Walshe HS (Fort Macleod, Alberta) and .... Rd. 31 (942); Chad Zurcher, SS, Memphis, Tenn. Rd. 32 (972); Carlos Leyva, SS, Cal State Dominguez Hills, Calif. Rd. 33 (1,002); Tyson Seng, RHP, Oklahoma, Okla. Rd. 34 (1,032); Jacob Lugo, RHP, Centenary, N.J. Rd. 35 (1,062); Chase Bradford, RHP, Central Florida, Fla. Rd. 36 (1,092); Ryan Hutson, 1B, Texas-San Antonio, Texas Rd. 37 (1,122); Craig Missigman, RHP, Olympic HS, Charlotte, N.C. Rd. 38 (1,152); Dustin Emmons, RHP, UC RIverside, Calif. Rd. 39 (1,182); Charley Thurber, OF, Tennessee, Tenn. Rd. 40 (1,212); Alexis Mercado, C, Otay Ranch HS, Chula Vista, Calif Rd. 41 (1,242); Mark Picca, LHP, Texas-Arlington, Texas Rd. 42 (1,272); Gregory Pron, OF, West Florida, Fla. Rd. 43 (1,302); Jacob Decker, SS, Piedmont (Okla.) HS, Okla. Rd. 44 (1,332); Clint Sharp, RHP, Howard (Texas) JC, Texas Rd. 45 (1,362); Andrew Marra, RHP, St. Thomas of Villanova, LaSalle, Ont. Rd. 46 (1,392); Richard Ruff, RHP, Quincy (Ill.), Ill. Rd. 47 (1,422); Cole Limbaugh, RHP, Childersburg (Ala.) HS, Ala. Rd. 48 (1,452); Malcolm Clapsaddle, RHP, Santa Fe (Fla.) JC, Fla. Rd. 49 (1,482); Sean Buckle, LHP, Wilson HS, Long Beach, Calif. Rd. 50 (1,512); Eddie Rohan, C, Winthrop, S.C.