Frayed Knot

I think Sully's one of those guys who - while not slow exactly - just isn't as fast as he looks like he should be. I didn't mind that send by Razor (1 out, we're not going to score being passive, etc.) but Rowand fielded that ball pretty shallow and made a good throw. Redding was a bit unlucky at first - a lot of bleeders and seeing eye hits - but then, after the damage had already started, he started getting hit hard and the carnage was in full force. Several of those DPs shouldn't have happened. Sheff mis-read the shit out of that one fly ball and Francoeur needed to freeze on the liner.

Sawx release John Smoltz. You just don't get as much for your $5mil as you used to. 8 starts; 40 IPs; 37 ER; 68 baserunners; 2-5; 8.32 ERA

No word yet on Matz or on the other Top-10 unsigned picks, but: The Mets have signed 13th-round pick Zach Dotson for $500,000. A lefthander from Effingham County High (Springfield, Ga.), Dotson has the potential for three solid-or-better pitches. He had committed to Georgia. That 'half-mil' price tag has to be significantly over "slot" for whatever that's worth. Rumor had it that he might go to Japan to play if he didn't get his price but he changed his mind when he realized that he'd have to change his name to Nissan In other team news, the #3 overall pick Donovan Tate signed w/SD, leaving 11 1st round picks who have yet to sign. It's going to be a busy hour.

Sullivan - 1.0 Murphy - 1.5 Dessens - 1.5

Are you kidding? Immediately man!!! Thumbs in large casts will be visible from like a mile away!! Might need help getting the door open though.

Uni alert - #29

="MFS62":268edg6n]="Ashie62":268edg6n]Goodbye Cora..you served us well[/quote:268edg6n] Please 'splain, Lucy. I'm at work and not watching the game. What happened?[/quote:268edg6n] Will have surgery on the torn ligaments in [u:268edg6n]both[/u:268edg6n] thumbs and is done for the season. Surgeries will be done at separate times - I guess so he doesn't have casts on both at the same time and be helplessly klutzly for weeks on end. themetfairy Aug 17 2009 07:59 PM This one is finally put out of our misery. What a fucking lackluster performance from these guys. Fman99 Aug 17 2009 08:48 PM ="Frayed Knot":1yqbark2]="MFS62":1yqbark2]="Ashie62":1yqbark2]Goodbye Cora..you served us well[/quote:1yqbark2] Please 'splain, Lucy. I'm at work and not watching the game. What happened?[/quote:1yqbark2] Will have surgery on the torn ligaments in [u:1yqbark2]both[/u:1yqbark2] thumbs and is done for the season. Surgeries will be done at separate times - I guess so he doesn't have casts on both at the same time and be helplessly klutzly for weeks on end.[/quote:1yqbark2] Beats trying to wipe your ass with your foot. Trust me on this one. MFS62 Aug 17 2009 09:22 PM ="Fman99":2fwzd1h1] Beats trying to wipe your ass with your foot. Trust me on this one.[/quote:2fwzd1h1] Thank you for that Kodak moment. Please spare us a link. Later John Cougar Lunchbucket Aug 17 2009 09:42 PM Was unable to give away my ticket but crashed the Greg-and-Jason gathering and later had a Gwreck encounter. The remaining fans in the 9th, led by us I think, had a good AN-DY GREEN cheer happening. I had no idea how Sully was out by so much in the first, I mean, looked like another bad send by Razor by the time it finished but I thouight he'd have made it. Little bit of bad luck on the DPs, but we sure did a little with as many hits, walks and errors they gave us in the first 4-5 innings. Redding has been a complete disaster this year. Frayed Knot Aug 17 2009 09:51 PM I think Sully's one of those guys who - while not slow exactly - just isn't as fast as he looks like he should be. I didn't mind that send by Razor (1 out, we're not going to score being passive, etc.) but Rowand fielded that ball pretty shallow and made a good throw. Redding was a bit unlucky at first - a lot of bleeders and seeing eye hits - but then, after the damage had already started, he started getting hit hard and the carnage was in full force. Several of those DPs shouldn't have happened. Sheff mis-read the shit out of that one fly ball and Francoeur needed to freeze on the liner. Gwreck Aug 17 2009 10:09 PM Just a top-5 ugly game this year. How about giving Elmer Dessens a start next time around? MFS62 Aug 17 2009 10:22 PM ="Gwreck":34qetejl] How about giving Elmer Dessens a start next time around?[/quote:34qetejl] How about not? Later Gwreck Aug 17 2009 10:37 PM And so we go with Livan again? Ok, I guess. The season's lost anyway. But in the absence of prospects who would benefit from getting MLB experience, I'm not exactly opposed to skipping Livan next time. MFS62 Aug 18 2009 07:59 AM ="Gwreck":2z6al8a7]And so we go with Livan again? Ok, I guess. The season's lost anyway. But in the absence of prospects who would benefit from getting MLB experience, I'm not exactly opposed to skipping Livan next time.[/quote:2z6al8a7] I agree, but in the absence of such a prospect, I'd rather give the start to Figueroa insted of Dessens. Later Benjamin Grimm Aug 18 2009 08:05 AM Does anyone know if John Maine is still alive? John Cougar Lunchbucket Aug 18 2009 08:20 AM I think he's out for the year. Speculation is the Mets could nontender him this winter so it could be auf wiedersehen. Irish got me all excited for the new season of PR, sorry. Benjamin Grimm Aug 18 2009 08:22 AM I developed a fondness for German while I was on vacation, so no need to apologize! I think Maine's past is far better than his future; a non-tender wouldn't trouble me in the least. Should be an interesting winter. (I think it will also be a frustrating one.) metirish Aug 18 2009 08:29 AM ="John Cougar Lunchbucket"]I think he's out for the year. Speculation is the Mets could nontender him this winter so it could be auf wiedersehen. Irish got me all excited for the new season of PR, sorry. I'm looking forward to it , just need to find where the Lifetime channel is on my dial.... this didn't make for good reading in the News the other day Project Runway Edgy DC Aug 18 2009 08:31 AM Could you guys get a private thread or something? Thanks! metirish Aug 18 2009 08:36 AM ="Edgy DC"]Could you guys get a private thread or something? Thanks! not every man can pull off red pants , I commend you on that ...... Gwreck Aug 18 2009 11:35 AM ="John Cougar Lunchbucket"]I think he's out for the year. Speculation is the Mets could nontender him this winter so it could be auf wiedersehen Seriously? I haven't seen any updated medical reports on him recently but that seems a bit rash, no? He's not exactly an expensive player ($2.6 M this year, and if they go back to arbitration he's not going to get more than the minimum raise). John Cougar Lunchbucket Aug 18 2009 12:00 PM I dunno. He's been unreliable about as long as he's been reliable for us by now. I forget where I saw the nontender speculation (Rubin, prolly) but I guess we should prepare for it. Boneyard is full of once-promising guys with bad shoulders.

Pelfrey - 3.6 Rodriguez - 1.0 Stokes - 0.3 Feliciano - 0.3 Castillo - 2.1 Francoeur - 1.0 Murphy - 1.1 Pagan - 0.3 Sheffield - 0.3

Meanwhile, 3 of our (scant few) baserunners have been erased.

And Jon Matlack missed one start after getting hit with a liner that had some who saw it thinking could be fatal. And that's the problem with concussions or other head injuries, no two are alike so there's no reason to treat them that way. Maybe Wright needs this or maybe he doesn't, I just get the feeling that the decision was made for a variety of reasons only some of which are medical just so they can shield themselves from comments of those who's medical knowledge stems from watching reruns of ER & House.

="Benjamin Grimm":11zqobe7]Oh, geez, I hadn't realized that until now. Two Greens means more potential Schaefer-tallying confusion.[/quote:11zqobe7] Small potential. Farmer Ted Aug 17 2009 02:48 PM I'm thinking Livan knocks it dead or he's dead. metsguyinmichigan Aug 17 2009 03:04 PM Does Livan have a higher batting average than the other Hernandez? Gwreck Aug 17 2009 03:10 PM ="Farmer Ted":397w8b6e]I'm thinking Livan knocks it dead or he's dead.[/quote:397w8b6e] Problem is a lack of alternatives. Unless we want to go back to Redding or Figueroa. Vic Sage Aug 17 2009 03:16 PM i put the over/under on that lineup at 3 runs. Make that 2 runs. I mean 1 run. yeah, 1 run... and i'll take the under. Nymr83 Aug 17 2009 03:41 PM ="Gwreck":38t6ptt0]="Farmer Ted":38t6ptt0]I'm thinking Livan knocks it dead or he's dead.[/quote:38t6ptt0] Problem is a lack of alternatives. Unless we want to go back to Redding or Figueroa.[/quote:38t6ptt0] theres Dillon Gee Edgy DC Aug 17 2009 05:04 PM I'm fine with Figgy. Kong76 Aug 17 2009 05:16 PM I trust you mean to finish up the season if needed. metsguyinmichigan Aug 17 2009 06:22 PM Get a run back -- and give it right back again..... metirish Aug 17 2009 06:34 PM I don't think Keith has a clue what he is talking about tonight , trying to wing it talking about the 97 Marlins team , not good. Kong76 Aug 17 2009 06:38 PM It was kind of funny when Gary listed Colorado as a road trip destination and then Keith chimed in about Denver too. He's eccentric lol. themetfairy Aug 17 2009 06:52 PM Keith's grudging respect for Murphy at first is significant. Meanwhile, it's 6-1 Giants in the 6th. Ugh. metirish Aug 17 2009 06:55 PM Livan probably done with.....I think Keith may have erred when talking about Sullivan and saying that he is really more of a corner outfielder and not a CF as he is playing there tonight....I think he said it not knowing that CF is in fact his position as it were...not that it matters a jot . LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Aug 17 2009 06:57 PM 6 runs, 12 baserunners in 5 1/3 innings. Maybe it's the heat, but I can't quite tell whether that was a good Livan start or a bad one. Frayed Knot Aug 17 2009 06:58 PM Meanwhile, 3 of our (scant few) baserunners have been erased. Ashie62 Aug 17 2009 07:30 PM Goodbye Cora..you served us well MFS62 Aug 17 2009 07:42 PM ="Ashie62":jnm4o04x]Goodbye Cora..you served us well[/quote:jnm4o04x] Please 'splain, Lucy. I'm at work and not watching the game. What happened? Later themetfairy Aug 17 2009 07:51 PM There won't be much in the way of Schaefer suds awarded for this one. Frayed Knot Aug 17 2009 07:59 PM ="MFS62":268edg6n]="Ashie62":268edg6n]Goodbye Cora..you served us well[/quote:268edg6n] Please 'splain, Lucy. I'm at work and not watching the game. What happened?[/quote:268edg6n] Will have surgery on the torn ligaments in [u:268edg6n]both[/u:268edg6n] thumbs and is done for the season. Surgeries will be done at separate times - I guess so he doesn't have casts on both at the same time and be helplessly klutzly for weeks on end. themetfairy Aug 17 2009 07:59 PM This one is finally put out of our misery. What a fucking lackluster performance from these guys. Fman99 Aug 17 2009 08:48 PM ="Frayed Knot":1yqbark2]="MFS62":1yqbark2]="Ashie62":1yqbark2]Goodbye Cora..you served us well[/quote:1yqbark2] Please 'splain, Lucy. I'm at work and not watching the game. What happened?[/quote:1yqbark2] Will have surgery on the torn ligaments in [u:1yqbark2]both[/u:1yqbark2] thumbs and is done for the season. Surgeries will be done at separate times - I guess so he doesn't have casts on both at the same time and be helplessly klutzly for weeks on end.[/quote:1yqbark2] Beats trying to wipe your ass with your foot. Trust me on this one. MFS62 Aug 17 2009 09:22 PM ="Fman99":2fwzd1h1] Beats trying to wipe your ass with your foot. Trust me on this one.[/quote:2fwzd1h1] Thank you for that Kodak moment. Please spare us a link. Later John Cougar Lunchbucket Aug 17 2009 09:42 PM Was unable to give away my ticket but crashed the Greg-and-Jason gathering and later had a Gwreck encounter. The remaining fans in the 9th, led by us I think, had a good AN-DY GREEN cheer happening. I had no idea how Sully was out by so much in the first, I mean, looked like another bad send by Razor by the time it finished but I thouight he'd have made it. Little bit of bad luck on the DPs, but we sure did a little with as many hits, walks and errors they gave us in the first 4-5 innings. Redding has been a complete disaster this year. Frayed Knot Aug 17 2009 09:51 PM I think Sully's one of those guys who - while not slow exactly - just isn't as fast as he looks like he should be. I didn't mind that send by Razor (1 out, we're not going to score being passive, etc.) but Rowand fielded that ball pretty shallow and made a good throw. Redding was a bit unlucky at first - a lot of bleeders and seeing eye hits - but then, after the damage had already started, he started getting hit hard and the carnage was in full force. Several of those DPs shouldn't have happened. Sheff mis-read the shit out of that one fly ball and Francoeur needed to freeze on the liner. Gwreck Aug 17 2009 10:09 PM Just a top-5 ugly game this year. How about giving Elmer Dessens a start next time around? MFS62 Aug 17 2009 10:22 PM ="Gwreck":34qetejl] How about giving Elmer Dessens a start next time around?[/quote:34qetejl] How about not? Later Gwreck Aug 17 2009 10:37 PM And so we go with Livan again? Ok, I guess. The season's lost anyway. But in the absence of prospects who would benefit from getting MLB experience, I'm not exactly opposed to skipping Livan next time. MFS62 Aug 18 2009 07:59 AM ="Gwreck":2z6al8a7]And so we go with Livan again? Ok, I guess. The season's lost anyway. But in the absence of prospects who would benefit from getting MLB experience, I'm not exactly opposed to skipping Livan next time.[/quote:2z6al8a7] I agree, but in the absence of such a prospect, I'd rather give the start to Figueroa insted of Dessens. Later Benjamin Grimm Aug 18 2009 08:05 AM Does anyone know if John Maine is still alive? John Cougar Lunchbucket Aug 18 2009 08:20 AM I think he's out for the year. Speculation is the Mets could nontender him this winter so it could be auf wiedersehen. Irish got me all excited for the new season of PR, sorry. Benjamin Grimm Aug 18 2009 08:22 AM I developed a fondness for German while I was on vacation, so no need to apologize! I think Maine's past is far better than his future; a non-tender wouldn't trouble me in the least. Should be an interesting winter. (I think it will also be a frustrating one.) metirish Aug 18 2009 08:29 AM ="John Cougar Lunchbucket"]I think he's out for the year. Speculation is the Mets could nontender him this winter so it could be auf wiedersehen. Irish got me all excited for the new season of PR, sorry. I'm looking forward to it , just need to find where the Lifetime channel is on my dial.... this didn't make for good reading in the News the other day Project Runway Edgy DC Aug 18 2009 08:31 AM Could you guys get a private thread or something? Thanks! metirish Aug 18 2009 08:36 AM ="Edgy DC"]Could you guys get a private thread or something? Thanks! not every man can pull off red pants , I commend you on that ...... Gwreck Aug 18 2009 11:35 AM ="John Cougar Lunchbucket"]I think he's out for the year. Speculation is the Mets could nontender him this winter so it could be auf wiedersehen Seriously? I haven't seen any updated medical reports on him recently but that seems a bit rash, no? He's not exactly an expensive player ($2.6 M this year, and if they go back to arbitration he's not going to get more than the minimum raise). John Cougar Lunchbucket Aug 18 2009 12:00 PM I dunno. He's been unreliable about as long as he's been reliable for us by now. I forget where I saw the nontender speculation (Rubin, prolly) but I guess we should prepare for it. Boneyard is full of once-promising guys with bad shoulders.

]Middle name: Mulligan. [golfjoke]You think maybe his parents want a second crack at that one?[/golfjoke]

Woo-Hoo, nothing like back-to-back DHs against an expansion club to get your comeback started. Sunday, August 17 - Shea Stadium: Mets 3 - Padres 2 (Game 1 of DH) -- Jerry Koosman vs Joe Niekro It�s a good thing this team could pitch because they�re not exactly piling up the runs against the vaunted pitching staff of the expansion San Diego Padres. At least this day (unlike yesterday) they�re facing pitchers who actually won more than a dozen games before their careers were over. In game 1 here they find themselves down 2-0 when a 3R HR from backup catcher Duffy Dyer* with one out in the 5th inning puts them ahead. Given the lead, Koosman then cruises through the 6th, 7th, 8th & 9th facing the minimum while allowing only one single. Game Time = 2:09 Sunday, August 17 - Shea Stadium: Mets 3 - Padres 2 (Game 2 of DH) -- Don Cardwell vs Clay Kirby Same score, different path to get there. Mets get out-hit 11-to-5 in a game where the Padres leave at least one runner on in every inning against Cardwell - although the game remains scoreless until the 7th. Bud Harrelson�s 2-RBI triple on the last pitch Kirby throws in bottom 7 breaks the ice. JC Martin - hitting for Cardwell - knocks a Sac Fly to get Harrelson in (good day for back-up catchers). Koonce replaces Cardwell with a 3-0 lead but allows a run and retires none of the three batters he faces. Taylor then comes in with a run in and 2 on to get three straight outs (one inherited run scores) and finish the 8th, then go [GO - 1B - GiDP] to wrap up the 9th. Game Time = 2:37 66 - 51; 2nd place; 8.0 games out of 1st, 1/2 game up on 2nd place StL (Cubs split a pair w/San Fran, Cards beat Atlanta) Not easy to sweep a 4-game series while scoring a total of 10 runs!! Of course it helps when the pitching allows only 5 (3 earned). * Dyer had only 8 PAs this season prior to this series and was starting only his 2nd game of the year (the first was Game 2 of yesterday�s DH). And although he�d end the season at a pedestrian .257 BA / .295 OBA in 74 ABs, he knocked in 12 runs with his 19 hits, 7 of which went for extra-bases (3 2Bs, 1 3B, 3 HRs). He�d go on to start in 18 games between mid-August and the end of the season as the DHs piled up (this one here was the 3rd in 10 days) and Hodges started to sit Grote more often. JC Martin also started 2 down the stretch and finished some games via double-switches as he seemed to be more in the PH role. Aaah, the glories of smaller pitching staffs and extra catchers!

I thought that year contained one of our better Rankings discussions - or at least one of the better preserved ones http://cranepoolforum.net/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=745

Deee-livered!

Don't bunt, steal instead.

I was just about to say that I don't think we've had a walk-off since about May sometime.

Sergio Romo in to pitch for the Giants ... does he go out with Ashley Simpson?

="Farmer Ted":jupihupn]Switched over to NESN in between innings to catch a Red Sox score. Frank Viola doing color and sounds pretty good. Any openings at SNY?[/quote:jupihupn] I've heard him before. He might rival Johnny Franco for the most identifiable Noo Yawk accent working in the media. G-Fafif Aug 16 2009 03:54 PM ="dgwphotography":2hba0iah]I remember seeing both Kranepool and Harrelson sporting mustaches...[/quote:2hba0iah] Been listening to the radio broadcast of Tom Seaver's final start before he was traded. One of things I learned, from Bob Murphy, was Dave Kingman just shaved his mustache because he realized (according to Murph) that he couldn't grow a good one.

Santana - 2.0 Green - 0.6 Sullivan - 1.0 Castillo - 1.8 Murphy - 0.6 Tatis - 0.8 Sheffield - 0.5 Rodriguez - 0.2

One problem is that they've painted themselves into a bit of a corner by having Carter's #8 & Piazza's #31 exist in this state of de-facto retirement, and it seems to me that the longer they live in a world where they won't retire those jerseys at the same time they refuse to re-issue them the more skittish they'll become to do either.

Mets return home with a Saturday DH following two straight off-days (I assuming they were off Friday because of a rain-out). I don�t know if Gil Hodges called any kick-ass meetings in the meantime to start the homestand out on the right foot or to air the team out after its poor play on the road, but if he did he did it the way every manager should do it as to reap the highest rate of success: wait until the day your ace is starting! Saturday, August 16 - Shea Stadium: Mets 2 - Padres 0 (Game 1 of DH) -- Tom Seaver vs Tommie Sisk And Seaver lived up to the moniker tossing an 8-inning 4-hitter leading to a perfect 9th from Ron Taylor. Mets bats, meanwhile, �broke through� in the 5th on a one-out Harrelson single, a Seaver bunt, and an Agee single. In the 7th Grote leads off with a single. This time Hodges calls for Harrelson to bunt and then has Seaver swing away (line-out). The Padres, learning their lesson from earlier, IW Agee to get to Bobby Pfeil - except that Pfeil singles in the 2nd run. Pfeil - starting at 3B that day - collects 3 of the Mets� 9 hits. Game Time = 2:30 Saturday, August 16 - Shea Stadium: Mets 2 - Padres 1 (Game 2 of DH) -- Jim McAndrew vs Dick Kelly Game 2 goes pretty much the same way as game 1. McAndrew tosses 7 innings of 1-run, 3-hit ball followed by 2 shutout/1-hit innings from McGraw (I guess Irish eyes were smiling that day) A Cleon Jones HR leading off the 4th tied the game. Then in the 7th Hodges won the switcheroo war when the Padres intentionally walked Harrelson with a runner on 3rd and 2 outs in order to get to McAndrew. Hodges PH�d Shamsky prompting a SD pitching change which in turn prompted a PH change as Grote replaced Shamsky and wound up delievering a 2-out single and the go-ahead run. Game Time = 2:25 64 - 51; 3rd place; 9.0 games out of 1st, pct points behind 2nd place StL, 4.5 ahead of 4th place Pittsburgh (Both Cubs and Cards won Saturday after both losing on Friday)

Well seeing as how this is the beginning of their longest home stand of the year I think we can spare the posse. BTW, just out of curiosity, does anyone know anything concrete about the effects of air travel following a concussion (either immediate or long term) or is this just one of those things we all "know" is bad simply because it sounds like it is?