Frayed Knot

="metsguyinmichigan"]We know the team is heritage-acknowledgement challenged. They heard the complaints and they're making an effort . By honoring some other team's heritage it seems to me. I don't get too worked up over this stuff one way or the other so this is not something I'm going to go to the mat over, but I don't see how this promotes NYM history or tradition.

Mets finally hit something the Arizona OF can't come up with as Sullivan nails a 2-out triple.

Also televised on both ESPN & WGN (8:00 EDT). I'll probably drop in on it to see how things are going.

The good news, still only 1 run off Ollie thru 4. Bad news: runners all over the place on 90+ pitches and 5 walks. Oh yeah, and we're getting shut out again.

Well, no one had Wagner on top of their list although that's looking like that'll be the answer. Talking about him pitching tonight and again on Friday before being activated for Sunday.

Of course it (slotting) is a stupid process - although the quote about the teams adhering to it consistently "having the worst farm systems" is more a case of shoe-horning the wanted results into the pre-determined answer me thinks. The Yanx haven't been rated any better than the Mets in recent years and they bust through the slotting "recommendations" all the time.

Hall's defense is more a case of 'jack of all trades, master of none'. IOW, he's good enough to play a variety of spots while not really being top-notch at any of them - but just the fact that he can handle both SS & CF puts his value on 'D' much better than the usual run of the mill utility guy who mostly stick to corner spots. And because of that, I'm not sure how you don't find room for a guy like that on your team. He's been DFA'd - rather than just flat-out released - so I expect someone will deal for him before the 10 days are up. Hardy being demoted is a surprise - although I haven't been following his season too closely and the guy they brought up to replace him is a highly touted prospect.

Good block of the plate by Santos yields a questionable out call.

When we turn leadoff doubles into no - or maybe one - run early in a game knowing that missing that kind of opportunity is going to come back and bite us. We're basically not good enough to let those slide by without regretting it.

Francoeur - 2.5 Sullivan - 1.4 Redding - 1.2 Stokes - 0.4

But Jeter bats always play such beautiful music ... and they never warp or become out of tune even when wet from a soft rain. Besides, the Mets don't have any electric bats at this time.

Tuesday, August 12 - Astrodome: Astros 8 - Mets 7 -- Jerry Koosman vs Don Wilson* Mets bat around in the 4th and get 5 runs via a 3R-HR by Kranepool and a 2-out/2-RBI 1B from Agee to take a 5-1 lead. But Koosman gives it all back and more culminating with a 3R-HR by Curt Blefrary in the 6th to make it 6-5 Astros. Kooz stays in the game long enough to give up another run in the 7th on a Joe Morgan (yes, that one) triple and steal of home. Taylor gives up another to make it 8-5 so that Agee�s 2nd 2-RBI hit of the game in the 8th only closes it to an 8-7 deficit. Mets get two on in the 9th against Gladding but he gets Gaspar to fly out for his second consecutive save. Game Time = 2:38 (that�s 2 hours + 38 in a game with 15 runs, 20 hits, 8 walks, 13 Ks, and 4 errors) 62 - 50; 3rd place; 9.0 games out of 1st, percentage points behind StL (Cubs beat Padres 4-0; Cards lose to Dodgers 5-2) * Houston starter Don Wilson was a lot like Cincy�s Jim Maloney who the Mets faced eight days earlier; a hard-throwing, somewhat wild pitcher from that era who had a good but shortened career and is somewhat forgotten these days. The two shared even more in common during a series between Houston and Cincinnati early in this same season when Maloney's no-hit game over the Astros was followed the next night by Wilson no-hitting the Reds. Also, like Maloney, Wilson had a problem with the bottle. Still going strong through the 1974 season (his final game that year was a 2-hit CG) Wilson was found dead in January �75 sitting in his car in the garage with the engine running. The incident, which also killed his young son and hospitalized his daughter who were in the attached house, was ruled an accident. It was a few weeks before he would have turned 30.

Oh gee, and an error burns us AGAIN!

OK, I give up, why is the Diamondbacks' mascot a lion?

Case in point, instead of having the pitcher lead off here and most likely having this be a 2-out double it's a 1-out double and the odds that we'll get out of this inning unscathed are MUCH lower .. and all because Jerry has no confidence that anyone on the staff can retire the #8 hitter.

="Fman99":35vnax0b]="Frayed Knot":35vnax0b]And I'm guessing this one is because our IWs have been working out so well recently?[/quote:35vnax0b] What are IWs?[/quote:35vnax0b] Intentional walks. It seems to me that we've been burned by approximately the last 487 of them we've called for. OK my math may be a little off, but it's become almost automatic when a 8th place hitter comes up with men on which suxx because: - we've been giving up far too many hits to pitchers - even when you do get the pitcher out you've still done the other team a favor by clearing that spot for them to start the next inning. It's one thing to do that move selectively. It's another to do it almost as a reflex. LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Aug 11 2009 09:26 PM Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Aug 11 2009 09:28 PM Reed-inspired fail. IWs = IBBs = Intentional walkies! And, yeah, we'll keep doing that, regardless of result. That, and the 5-infielders-with-bases-loaded-after-a-blown-save thing. John Cougar Lunchbucket Aug 11 2009 09:27 PM Oeltjen Joe DiMaggio Frayed Knot Aug 11 2009 09:28 PM Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Aug 11 2009 09:33 PM Case in point, instead of having the pitcher lead off here and most likely having this be a 2-out double it's a 1-out double and the odds that we'll get out of this inning unscathed are MUCH lower .. and all because Jerry has no confidence that anyone on the staff can retire the #8 hitter. LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Aug 11 2009 09:29 PM Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Aug 11 2009 09:30 PM F*ck this guy and his rapist-robber grandpappy. (Can we please stop throwing him fastballs? He can hit the fastball.) Ashie62 Aug 11 2009 09:30 PM Oeltjen Joe Cockmaggio Fman99 Aug 11 2009 09:30 PM Yeah, had I seen IBB's I would've known what that meant. Well, this has been scintillating and all but it's time for me to hit the satchel. LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Aug 11 2009 09:34 PM ="Fman99":frrxm28s]Yeah, had I seen IBB's I would've known what that meant. Well, this has been scintillating and all but it's time for me to hit the satchel.[/quote:frrxm28s] Nobody likes a quitter. It's folks like you what make collapses. Edgy DC Aug 11 2009 09:38 PM Hey, the Schneid is off the interstate. Ashie62 Aug 11 2009 09:38 PM ="LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr":1r8b1k8t]="Fman99":1r8b1k8t]Yeah, had I seen IBB's I would've known what that meant. Well, this has been scintillating and all but it's time for me to hit the satchel.[/quote:1r8b1k8t] Nobody likes a quitter. It's folks like you what make collapses.[/quote:1r8b1k8t] When you gotta hit the satchel, you gotta hit the satchel, Ya know whatta I mean? Frayed Knot Aug 11 2009 09:40 PM OK, I give up, why is the Diamondbacks' mascot a lion? LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Aug 11 2009 09:42 PM Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Aug 11 2009 09:43 PM ="Edgy DC":3jhcp9u8]Hey, the Schneid is off the interstate.[/quote:3jhcp9u8] I'm just glad he didn't get lost running to third on that. It's been a while, no doubt. Good game from Sully. Ashie62 Aug 11 2009 09:42 PM Rattlesnake can kill a lion LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Aug 11 2009 09:45 PM ="Frayed Knot":11qyo2lp]OK, I give up, why is the Diamondbacks' mascot a lion?[/quote:11qyo2lp] Peyote and marketing departments don't mix well... or all that creatively. Frayed Knot Aug 11 2009 09:48 PM Oh gee, and an error burns us AGAIN! PiggiesTomatoes Aug 11 2009 09:49 PM Granted, wins are more enjoyable than losses but there's barely an element of entertainment with these fucks. I'm having trouble liking these guys. Hey. look, Luis had his head up his ass (again). LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Aug 11 2009 09:53 PM Luis isn't taking his Schaefer loss very well. Valadius Aug 11 2009 09:58 PM Paging Casey Stengel... paging Casey Stengel... nobody here can play this game... LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Aug 11 2009 10:15 PM Walked leadoff man! metsguyinmichigan Aug 11 2009 10:21 PM Have the players quit on Manuel, or are they just over-matched? LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Aug 11 2009 10:25 PM Those aren't necessarily mutually-exclusive. PiggiesTomatoes Aug 11 2009 10:34 PM Couldn't listen to the DB TV announcers so I switched to WFAN and Howie Rose made a very good point late in the game. That point was that Mets pitching woes have been such that when the team takes the field the only time the players must feel they have a reasonable expectation of winning is when Santana takes the mound. Howie was very direct in referring to The Tall Glass of Water as a tremendous disappointment. Master OTO, Wayne Hagin, next chimes in wondering out loud how things were going to get better. I believe that's accurate and a factor as to why recent play has been so sloppy. I know they're professionals but that must be mentally taxing. Not that I wouldn't give a nut to be so taxed. Valadius Aug 11 2009 10:40 PM We are, for the most part, throwing out guys in the everyday lineup who are either: A) Way past their prime Not ready for the big show C) Not major league starter material with the exception of David Wright, who has magically lost his ability to hit home runs, and Luis Castillo, who has forgotten how to play defense. John Cougar Lunchbucket Aug 12 2009 08:27 AM I was so CAHNfident in our inability to win this game I turned it off during the pitching change with the tying run at the plate and went to bed. Woke up not the least bit surprised to find we didn't score then, or for the rest of the evening. With the possible exception of Cory Hotline, they are playing with near total indifference, and a night after Jerry aired them out for that. Edgy DC Aug 12 2009 08:45 AM ="PiggiesTomatoes":1q09tndh]Couldn't listen to the DB TV announcers so I switched to WFAN and Howie Rose made a very good point late in the game. That point was that Mets pitching woes have been such that when the team takes the field the only time the players must feel they have a reasonable expectation of winning is when Santana takes the mound.[/quote:1q09tndh] See I hang this on the batting woes. And I make no exception for Cory. They are overmatched --- a month of Daniel Murphy batting cleanup will move future researchers to do some serious head scratching --- but that should make them more focused on strategemeric thinking, not less. That said, every time Livan starts a game, I think, "Oh, yeah, he's still here," so disengagement has spread to me. I'd really like to talk to Sheffield about why on earth he wants to go down with this ship. Fman99 Aug 12 2009 08:47 AM ="PiggiesTomatoes":2oa4i2aa]Couldn't listen to the DB TV announcers so I switched to WFAN and Howie Rose made a very good point late in the game. That point was that Mets pitching woes have been such that when the team takes the field the only time the players must feel they have a reasonable expectation of winning is when Santana takes the mound. Howie was very direct in referring to The Tall Glass of Water as a tremendous disappointment. Master OTO, Wayne Hagin, next chimes in wondering out loud how things were going to get better. I believe that's accurate and a factor as to why recent play has been so sloppy. I know they're professionals but that must be mentally taxing. Not that I wouldn't give a nut to be so taxed.[/quote:2oa4i2aa] Wayne Hagin:announcing::Mets:playing baseball

="Frayed Knot":28lz9e4s]And I'm guessing this one is because our IWs have been working out so well recently?[/quote:28lz9e4s] Well, I guess this one did work -- so long as we define "working" as rigging it so that the top of the lineup leads off next inning. Fman99 Aug 11 2009 09:18 PM ="Frayed Knot":3kbs49m6]And I'm guessing this one is because our IWs have been working out so well recently?[/quote:3kbs49m6] What are IWs? LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Aug 11 2009 09:21 PM FRENCHED, AGAIN! And stranded. Fman99 Aug 11 2009 09:23 PM ="LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr"]FRENCHED, AGAIN! And stranded. PHPBB FAIL Frayed Knot Aug 11 2009 09:25 PM ="Fman99":35vnax0b]="Frayed Knot":35vnax0b]And I'm guessing this one is because our IWs have been working out so well recently?[/quote:35vnax0b] What are IWs?[/quote:35vnax0b] Intentional walks. It seems to me that we've been burned by approximately the last 487 of them we've called for. OK my math may be a little off, but it's become almost automatic when a 8th place hitter comes up with men on which suxx because: - we've been giving up far too many hits to pitchers - even when you do get the pitcher out you've still done the other team a favor by clearing that spot for them to start the next inning. It's one thing to do that move selectively. It's another to do it almost as a reflex. LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Aug 11 2009 09:26 PM Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Aug 11 2009 09:28 PM Reed-inspired fail. IWs = IBBs = Intentional walkies! And, yeah, we'll keep doing that, regardless of result. That, and the 5-infielders-with-bases-loaded-after-a-blown-save thing. John Cougar Lunchbucket Aug 11 2009 09:27 PM Oeltjen Joe DiMaggio Frayed Knot Aug 11 2009 09:28 PM Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Aug 11 2009 09:33 PM Case in point, instead of having the pitcher lead off here and most likely having this be a 2-out double it's a 1-out double and the odds that we'll get out of this inning unscathed are MUCH lower .. and all because Jerry has no confidence that anyone on the staff can retire the #8 hitter. LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Aug 11 2009 09:29 PM Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Aug 11 2009 09:30 PM F*ck this guy and his rapist-robber grandpappy. (Can we please stop throwing him fastballs? He can hit the fastball.) Ashie62 Aug 11 2009 09:30 PM Oeltjen Joe Cockmaggio Fman99 Aug 11 2009 09:30 PM Yeah, had I seen IBB's I would've known what that meant. Well, this has been scintillating and all but it's time for me to hit the satchel. LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Aug 11 2009 09:34 PM ="Fman99":frrxm28s]Yeah, had I seen IBB's I would've known what that meant. Well, this has been scintillating and all but it's time for me to hit the satchel.[/quote:frrxm28s] Nobody likes a quitter. It's folks like you what make collapses. Edgy DC Aug 11 2009 09:38 PM Hey, the Schneid is off the interstate. Ashie62 Aug 11 2009 09:38 PM ="LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr":1r8b1k8t]="Fman99":1r8b1k8t]Yeah, had I seen IBB's I would've known what that meant. Well, this has been scintillating and all but it's time for me to hit the satchel.[/quote:1r8b1k8t] Nobody likes a quitter. It's folks like you what make collapses.[/quote:1r8b1k8t] When you gotta hit the satchel, you gotta hit the satchel, Ya know whatta I mean? Frayed Knot Aug 11 2009 09:40 PM OK, I give up, why is the Diamondbacks' mascot a lion? LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Aug 11 2009 09:42 PM Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Aug 11 2009 09:43 PM ="Edgy DC":3jhcp9u8]Hey, the Schneid is off the interstate.[/quote:3jhcp9u8] I'm just glad he didn't get lost running to third on that. It's been a while, no doubt. Good game from Sully. Ashie62 Aug 11 2009 09:42 PM Rattlesnake can kill a lion LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Aug 11 2009 09:45 PM ="Frayed Knot":11qyo2lp]OK, I give up, why is the Diamondbacks' mascot a lion?[/quote:11qyo2lp] Peyote and marketing departments don't mix well... or all that creatively. Frayed Knot Aug 11 2009 09:48 PM Oh gee, and an error burns us AGAIN! PiggiesTomatoes Aug 11 2009 09:49 PM Granted, wins are more enjoyable than losses but there's barely an element of entertainment with these fucks. I'm having trouble liking these guys. Hey. look, Luis had his head up his ass (again). LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Aug 11 2009 09:53 PM Luis isn't taking his Schaefer loss very well. Valadius Aug 11 2009 09:58 PM Paging Casey Stengel... paging Casey Stengel... nobody here can play this game... LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Aug 11 2009 10:15 PM Walked leadoff man! metsguyinmichigan Aug 11 2009 10:21 PM Have the players quit on Manuel, or are they just over-matched? LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Aug 11 2009 10:25 PM Those aren't necessarily mutually-exclusive. PiggiesTomatoes Aug 11 2009 10:34 PM Couldn't listen to the DB TV announcers so I switched to WFAN and Howie Rose made a very good point late in the game. That point was that Mets pitching woes have been such that when the team takes the field the only time the players must feel they have a reasonable expectation of winning is when Santana takes the mound. Howie was very direct in referring to The Tall Glass of Water as a tremendous disappointment. Master OTO, Wayne Hagin, next chimes in wondering out loud how things were going to get better. I believe that's accurate and a factor as to why recent play has been so sloppy. I know they're professionals but that must be mentally taxing. Not that I wouldn't give a nut to be so taxed. Valadius Aug 11 2009 10:40 PM We are, for the most part, throwing out guys in the everyday lineup who are either: A) Way past their prime Not ready for the big show C) Not major league starter material with the exception of David Wright, who has magically lost his ability to hit home runs, and Luis Castillo, who has forgotten how to play defense. John Cougar Lunchbucket Aug 12 2009 08:27 AM I was so CAHNfident in our inability to win this game I turned it off during the pitching change with the tying run at the plate and went to bed. Woke up not the least bit surprised to find we didn't score then, or for the rest of the evening. With the possible exception of Cory Hotline, they are playing with near total indifference, and a night after Jerry aired them out for that. Edgy DC Aug 12 2009 08:45 AM ="PiggiesTomatoes":1q09tndh]Couldn't listen to the DB TV announcers so I switched to WFAN and Howie Rose made a very good point late in the game. That point was that Mets pitching woes have been such that when the team takes the field the only time the players must feel they have a reasonable expectation of winning is when Santana takes the mound.[/quote:1q09tndh] See I hang this on the batting woes. And I make no exception for Cory. They are overmatched --- a month of Daniel Murphy batting cleanup will move future researchers to do some serious head scratching --- but that should make them more focused on strategemeric thinking, not less. That said, every time Livan starts a game, I think, "Oh, yeah, he's still here," so disengagement has spread to me. I'd really like to talk to Sheffield about why on earth he wants to go down with this ship. Fman99 Aug 12 2009 08:47 AM ="PiggiesTomatoes":2oa4i2aa]Couldn't listen to the DB TV announcers so I switched to WFAN and Howie Rose made a very good point late in the game. That point was that Mets pitching woes have been such that when the team takes the field the only time the players must feel they have a reasonable expectation of winning is when Santana takes the mound. Howie was very direct in referring to The Tall Glass of Water as a tremendous disappointment. Master OTO, Wayne Hagin, next chimes in wondering out loud how things were going to get better. I believe that's accurate and a factor as to why recent play has been so sloppy. I know they're professionals but that must be mentally taxing. Not that I wouldn't give a nut to be so taxed.[/quote:2oa4i2aa] Wayne Hagin:announcing::Mets:playing baseball

And I'm guessing this one is because our IWs have been working out so well recently?

And, once again, a hit is followed by an error and the error is followed by walks. Lucky to get out of that with only one scored.

Leadoff doubles I like. 1st inning sac bunts followed by Ks on pitches 2-feet outside ... not so much.

"Castillo led the Mets in July with 28 hits, a .368 batting average, a .447 slugging percentage and a .478 OBP, as well as 4 stolen bases. " OK, that's kind of disturbing.

Grudzeyechart has had 40-some ABs in Twins minor league teams this year. There was lots of over the winter talk about him because people were convinced he was one of those worth eating $18mil of Castillo's contract for. Turns out he wasn't.

]Interesting that "John Ricco" and "Adam Rubin" have the same number of letters. There's a conspiracy afoot. And both are NY-area natives who went to college in the Philly area. In fact, has anyone ever seen Rubin & Ricco at the same time? HUH?!?

"Make Ricco the new GM if he promises to explain better than Omar did why they got Francoeur." Interesting that the so-called "stats" guy was apparently the one to tout Francoeur.