Frayed Knot

Strasburg goes 1st - to absolutely no one's surprise. Several HS pitchers picked in the top 10 which has been away from recent trends. If you want to bring some excitement to your next corporate outing ... don't ask Bud Selig to do the honors. I swear the guy could dampen a parade of Hooters girls without even trying. At the pace they're moving tonight's game might be over before they get around to the two NYM picks that'll go up today (#s 72 & 103)

Frayed Knot (ooh, that's me. I almost forgot I took this one) plus GWreck & MGiMichigan need to kick their KTEs in gear for the upcoming series against the bastardized-DH league opponents.

J.J. Putz had arthroscopic surgery today to remove a bone spur and fragments of bone from the back of his right elbow at the Hospital for Special Surgery, according to the Mets� game notes. He is scheduled to start throwing again in about six weeks. - Anthony McCarron, NYDN

So Church gets to go against the LHP but not Murphy.

="GYC":uvpmlp1g]I will edit this post with the KTE once I am home from work. Sorry for the lateness, but it'll be done before first pitch.[/quote:uvpmlp1g] I like it so far. Benjamin Grimm Jun 09 2009 09:24 AM In the Daily News this morning, they listed the pitching matchups for the three-game series. I noticed that on Monday, both pitchers will have ERA's in the 2.00's. On Tuesday, they're both in the 4.00's and on Wednesday they're both in the 6.00's. themetfairy Jun 09 2009 09:36 AM A Thursday matchup would be fugly.... Benjamin Grimm Jun 09 2009 09:40 AM Oops, I got my days wrong! I meant Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, not Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday. LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Jun 09 2009 01:12 PM Lidge won't be reading the KTE in uniform-- he's been DLed with a sprained right knee, retroactive to Sunday. (Taking his ninth inning duties: Madson, presumably. Taking his roster spot: catcher Paul Bako, up from AA Reading... which is good for him, because if last weekend's meals provided a representative sample, the food sucks there.) duan Jun 09 2009 02:28 PM can someone bump up the kte thread. baby's due soon so I know kte is too! GYC Jun 09 2009 03:10 PM Right, here we go. Sorry for the delay. And this will be a short one, too. Sorry. The series caught me off-guard and at an unpredictably busy time in my life. As Gary Cohen / Daily News / Grimm pointed out, this series features evenly matched starting pitchers, at least when you look at ERA. Game 1 is the matchup of sub 3.00 ERA pitchers: JA Happ (4-0, 2.48) vs. Johan Santana (7-3, 2.00) Happ moved into the rotation on May 23rd against the MFYs at their homer-happy park. He went 6 IP, 2 ER, 4 K to no BB and 4 hits in a no decision and eventual loss. His second start was only 5.1 IP and 3 ER against those Natinals,but he did pick up the win. His most recent start was his best: 7 shutout innings and a win against the Padres. In two relief appearances this year against the Mets, May 1st and May 7th, Happ has thrown 5.2 scoreless innings, totaling two hits, one walk, and three strikeouts. Both were in games the Mets won. Game 2 is started by pitchers with sub 5.00 ERA pitchers: Cole Hamels (4-2, 4.40) vs. Mike Pelfrey (4-2, 4.85) Hamels is coming off a complete-game shutout against the Dodgers that took only 97 pitches to finish. After a rough start to the season where his ERA didn't see the 5.00s until May 14th, Cole has been on a roll sans a 6-inning, 6 run game against the Nationals on May 30th. He's barely been walking batters and has been keeping his strikeout numbers up. Hamels has yet to face the Mets this season due to injuries and whatnot. Last year against the Mets, he let up 10 runs (8 earned) in just 12 innings. With a 3.79 ERA against the Mets in his career, they've more or less pushed him around (comparatively). Game 3 is your (ugh) matchup of sub 7.00 ERA hacks: Jamie Moyer (4-5, 6.27) vs. Tim Redding (0-2, 6.97) Moyer has been getting slapped around this season, but may be getting his shit together now. 7 innings, 2 runs in his last start (@LAD), 6 innings, 1 run before that (vs. WAS), 6 innings and 4 runs against Florida, and 6 innings, 3 runs at Cincy. His last start against the Mets saw him leaving before the third inning was over and with 7 runs charged to his name. It was 5.2 IP and 5 runs in his other start against the Mets this year. Sorry, guys. That's the best I can do now. Have to leave. Feel free to pick up my slack if you wish. Edgy DC Jun 10 2009 01:55 PM Sure. I'll add something. Raul Ibañez is offering you his stool. Gwreck Jun 10 2009 02:18 PM I found it interesting that Jimmy and his .268 OBP got bumped to 6th in the lineup. I might've moved him to 8th, personally. Edgy DC Jun 10 2009 02:44 PM Rollins leads the National League in at-bats. Thats a heck of a drain on the lineup he's been. LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Jun 10 2009 02:51 PM Ibanez versus blogger? Oh, this is a fun one. ]"I'll come after people who defame or slander me," he said Tuesday night before the Phillies played the New York Mets, according to the report. "It's pathetic and disgusting. There should be some accountability for people who put that out there." I drive... I DRIVE A DODGE STRATUS! ]"You can have my urine, my hair, my blood, my stool -- anything you can test," Ibanez said, according to the report. Ibanez margaritas, anybody? (I'm going to need a better blender-- mine clogs way too easily. ) ]"Unfortunately, I understand the environment we're in and the events that have led us to this era of speculation," Ibanez said, according to the Inquirer. Em... apparently, you don't. [in case you're wondering... he does invoke the "mother's basement" business.] Edgy DC Jun 10 2009 02:56 PM Love the mother's basement quote. LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Jun 10 2009 02:57 PM ="Edgy DC"]Love the mother's basement quote. "That should be the message: desire, character, work ethic..." "At the same time, you can't just walk down the street and accuse somebody of being a thief because they didn't have a nice car yesterday and they do today. You can't say that guy is a thief." The interview's basically begging for a game of Fire Joe Morgan bingo to be shaped around it.

5 more HRs tonight 105 in 29 games 3.62/game = 293 for the season Record is 303 in Coors Field 1999 Also, Teixeira, Cano, Damon & Cabrera are on pace for their best HR seasons of their career (by 8, 7, 10 & 9) Jeter & Swisher are on a pace to about equal their bests Leaving the only regulars who aren't on a personal record pace as the 35 y/o Matsui, plus ARod & Posada who both missed about half the season so far.

BTW, that Cards-Rox series which I assumed was a 3-game sweep, wasn't. It was actually a 4-game series with the getaway game today ... and now it's a 4-game sweep by the Rockies. And in StL too.

Hey, you saw one just the other day by John Lannan, in 2 hours, 1 minute no less. Don't get too greedy. But the thing about complete games is that they've been going down more or less steadily since the '90s -- the [u:27jv1otk]18[/u:27jv1otk]90's -- and it's not likely to make a strong comeback anytime soon. The funny thing is that those who like to point to 'good old days' of the baseball they grew up with (whether it be the 60s, 70s or 80s) could have their era of complete game pcts called wimpy by those remembering the decades before them ... and on back.

]... The only strange thing? Home runs are flying off his bat at twice his career rate (25.3 % of flyballs versus 12.8 of flyballs). Basically, 9-11 more home runs than you'd normally expect out of him at this point in the season-- and ABSOLUTELY nothing else-- are the difference between 2009 and any other good Ibanez year. I'd be tempted to say; 'Goodbye Safeco, hello CBP' except that 11 of his 19 HRs so far have come on the road. ]Yeah, but we got valuable Alfonzo/Bordick insurance (Jorge Velandia) for [Nelson Cruz], so we'll call that trade a push. Who knew? Odd history to this guy. Was signed at 18 by the Mets; was dealt away two years later having never played in a U.S.-based minor league (or at least no record of him doing so); has been traded twice since and still has only 1 season w/more than 300 ABs (and that one just barely) so his 200+ this season is already his 2nd highest even though he turns 29 in a few weeks. Always has shown power but still spent big chunks of the last 4 seasons in AAA including most of last year.

I usually like to take a look around the league at this point (1/3 of the season) because I think it's the earliest reasonable spot to look at a player's pace and project how that will look full-season. Doesn't mean it'll be accurate in the end, only that you've probably passed the ridiculous projections you'd get one were to do this in April. So below is a look at where each team was at their 54 game mark (some have played games since) plus I pulled a random player from each team who looked to be on some interesting pace and show where [u:1f7s83ao]his projected result[/u:1f7s83ao] would look at the end of the season. Philly: 32 - 22 Raul Ibanez: 57 HRs - 438 Total Bases; that�s versus career highs of 33 & 323 Mets: 29 - 25 David Wright: 9 HRs, 162 Ks, 39 SBs, 24 CS. I think it�s safe to say that he�s having a very odd year. Braves: 26 - 28 Jeff Francouer: 657 PAs, 21 BBs. He�s just never improved since the day he came up Marlins: 24 - 29 Josh Johnson: 223 IPs, 12 HRs allowed Nationals: 15 - 39 Team wins = 45, Adam Dunn HRs = 51 -- and that (one player�s HRs > team wins) has never happened in MLB history Cards: 31 - 23 Albert Pujols: 51 HRs; .346/.470/.698 (IOW: Yawn, just another boring year from Prince Albert) Brewers: 31 - 23 Trevor Hoffman: 48 IP, 18 H, 3 BBs (41 y/o) Reds: 28 - 26 Micah Owings (P) 27 Hits, 15 XBHs Cubs: 28 - 26 Aaron Heilman: 78 games (alas, no starts) 75 IP; 69 Hits; 51 BBs; 4.68 ERA Pirates: 25 - 29 Freddie Sanchez: 57 2Bs Astros: 24 - 30 Miguel Tejada: 666 ABs, 45 Ks Dodgers: 36 - 18 Orlando Hudson: 51 2Bs, .329/.410/.468 Giants: 28 - 26 Bengie Molina: 594 ABs, 6 BBs Padres: 25 - 29 Adrian Gonzalez: 66 HRs (21 at home) DBacks: 23 - 31 Mark Reynolds: 225 Ks Rockies: 22 - 32 Todd Helton: 39 2Bs, 21 HRs; .311/.376/..500 Not worth near the amount of money they�re still paying him off that monster contract from like 8 years ago, but he�s still plugging away. Red Sox: 32 - 22 David Ortiz: 3 HRs; .187/.281/.289 Yankees: 32 - 22 255 HRs hit (150 at home) and 225 HRs against (135 at home) Blue Jays: 30 - 24 Marco Scutaro: 63 XBHs ($2.65mil/2 yrs contract); Vernon Welles: 60 XBHs ($124mil/7yrs) Rays: 26 - 28 Evan Longoria: 99 XBHs Orioles: 24 - 30 Adam Jones: 33 HRs, 108 RBIs, .345/.399/.605 (I don't think they miss Eric Bedard) Tigers: 29 - 25 Justin Verlander: 291 Ks / 242 IPs Twins: 26 - 24 Joe Mauer: 36 HRs, .425 BA, 48 Ks Royals: 23 - 31 Zack Greinke: 273 Ks, 39 BBs White Sox: 25 - 29 Jim Thome: 108 Hits, 99 BBs Indians: 22 - 32 Carl Pavano = 189 IPs - vs 145 for �05-�08 combined Rangers: 32 - 22 Nelson Cruz (originally signed by the Mets) = 48 HRs Angles: 28 - 26 Brian Fuentes (K-Rod alternative): 45 Saves / 9 Blown Saves / 4.95 ERA A�s: 24 - 30 Matt Holliday: 57 XBHs vs 84 in �06, 92 in �07, 65 in �08 (miss Coors much?) Mariners: 26 - 28 Endy Chavez: 414 ABs; .283/.331/.355 That would be pretty good for the type of CFer he can be, except that he�s doing it mostly in LF which isn�t as good.

Giants actually pick 6th overall. BA's mock draft doesn't have him going quite that high but does speculate about him getting picked by the other local team (and the one with Sacramento as their top farm team) at 13th overall. http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/draft/draft-preview/2009/268298.html

It helps that whilst Met fans wuz crying over the sweep in Pittsburgh and deeming barely acceptable their 2 of 3 over the Nats (and ranting about how good teams "don't let that happen", etc) the Cards were getting swept by the Rockies.

Slightly. 100 HRs in 28 games: 53 by Yanx, 47 by opponents. That's still a ton but, at 3.57/game, the pace is down from when it was closer to 4/per. And that's just lower enough to where they're no longer on pace to break the Coors Field 1999 mark.

That would be this one (from November 2001): For those not around at the time, this post was in response to a subject heading breathlessly stating that 'The Canseco Brothers Were in a Fight'. The link was to a story about how they were fighting together against some guy in a bar but WGB/JCL turned it around, imagining a scenario in which they would fight each other JOSE: C'mon, bro. Gimme back my syringe. OZZIE: Wait your turn, pretty boy. I'm the one who needs the juice. JOSE: You sure do. OZZIE: What do you mean by that? JOSE: You know what I mean. OZZIE: Up yours, bro. JOSE: Ozzie? OZZIE: Yeah? JOSE: How was that bus trip from Newark to Allentown? OZZIE: Probably about as fun as bouncing a ball off my head for a home run. JOSE: At least I reached the bigs this year. OZZIE: If you call your ass nailed to the Comiskey bench the bigs. JOSE: Busher! OZZIE: Wife-beater! JOSE: Coattail-rider! OZZIE: Potential-waster! JOSE: Jealous much? OZZIE: Well, Mom always liked me best. JOSE: Someone had to. OZZIE: You're some 40-40 man -- 40 I.Q. and 40 inch waist. Or is speeding tickets and domestic disturbance arrests? Errors and mullets? JOSE: Gimme the damn juice, Ozzie! OZZIE: Juice this! JOSE: Why I oughta...

Hernandez - 4.0 Cora - 1.0 FMartinez - 0.9 Wright - 1.7 Murphy - 1.1 Church - 1.0 Schneider - 0.3

Castillo - 0.5 Wright - 1.0 Takahashi - 0.5 Nieve - 1.0

Mark Reynolds hits a 3R HR in top 18 I have no idea who'll try to close it for the Snakes. Atlanta got a rocky performance out of heralded rookie Tommy Hanson but finally put some runs on the board themselves after getting shut out twice and salvaged one from the Brewers. So we picked up a game on them and maybe one on the Phillies depending on how their night game w/the Dodgers turns out. At the moment they're up 3-1.

="Edgy DC"]Ozzie Canseco. I was going to mention identical twins Jose & Ozzie. Ozzie was drafted by the Yanx who had the wisdom of making him into a pitcher, thus setting him on a very different career path than Jose. Of course he may have also taken a very different, ummm, nutritional path as well.

Nice 2-out tack-on run. This was beginning to look like one of last year's games (or last week's) where we score early and then try to sit on the lead for 2-1/2 hours. If it wasn't for Livan walking the ledge a bit in some of these innings this game would be much more of a nail-biter.

Nice choice, because very few things say 'SUCK' more than Meister-Brau. I guess that was one of those deals where they figured they'd slap a faux-German name on some piss-water and hope to fool enough people with it.

The return of Ryan Church. Be nice if we got last year's early guy back. Gotta save ourselves from losing two series in a row to lower teams. Cora, 2b Martinez, lf Beltran, cf Wright, 3b Murphy, 1b Church, rf Schneider, c Valdez, ss Hernandez, rhp

No one's been even remotely specific about Reyes. I think 3 more weeks is probably minimum. Delgado is likely end of July at best. With Putz we're probably looking at Sept 1 or so. On the other hand Wagner is already throwing off a mound both at home and at Met camp in Florida. He is expected to face hitters by the end of June and a Sept 1 return was labeled "very conservative" by a team source.

I was certainly thinking of an adult picture but damn that's quick. Looks identical enough - at least as much as one can tell from that small and old a photo. If so, the LH/RH split implies "mirror twins", twins that are otherwise identical but from an egg that splits after development has already started. So things like handedness, birthmarks, etc. appear not in the identical spot but on opposite sides as if seen in a mirror. If he is identical (and particularly since he's left-handed) you wonder why he didn't go into pro baseball. Maybe an injury intervened although simply choosing something else wouldn't be unheard of. Albert Belle (IIRC) was an identical twin as was pro golfer Curtis Strange and both brothers wound up handling their twin's finances. Ryan Howard is a twin although that's a fraternal situation which can produce a very different sized and skilled person.

... find us a photo of John Maine's twin!! Adam Rubin: Someone had noted to Maine before the first pitch that the pitcher�s twin brother, who attended the game, looked about 10 years younger than him. Maine then engaged someone in lighthearted banter about the hard life he�s led to explain the seeming age discrepancy. No word whether said twin is identical or fraternal, nor does Baseball-Reference list anyone who fits the slot.

Ryan Church was activated after last night's game. To compensate, the Mets have announced an end to the Emil Brown. He's been DFA'd -- although something tells me he won't have a lot of problem getting through waivers and into Buffalo. This gives Fernando Martinez more time to stick around and show what he's got. With IL games in AL parks coming up it'll give Sheff a chance to DH