Frayed Knot

If you're not gonna hit, and you're not gonna pitch, and you're not gonna run ... you might as well not do 'em all at the same time.

Either the umps gave the wrong call or Castillo simply assumed it was a catch and never looked at the ump (or he looked at the wrong one).

Phils @ Dodgers now in the 12th. Phils pushed across 2 to take the lead but Lidge coughed up a HR to Furcal w/1 out in the 9th and it's been tied ever since. That's 13 saves vs 6 blown for Lidge. It's a new year Brad.

They should play Hoagy Carmichael music!

A couple of hefty lefties hooked up in da Bronx today as Sabathia faced David Price. Price left in the 6th with a lead in only his 3rd ML game this season. But the Yanx tied it up at 5 after he left. But then the Rays stuck a 4-spot up against Mariano (relieved by Phil Coke) in top 9th (oooh that's gotta hurt) which was enough to survive the 2 runs the Yanx got in the bottom. 9 - 7 Tampa is your final. Phils & Dodgers scoreless in the 4th. Blanton v Kuroda

The one time I actually want Jerry to bunt and he won't do it: 5th inning, 1-run lead, 2nd & 3rd, none-out, and the power trio of Redding, Cora & Castillo due up. It would be tough squeezing w/Redding since he's probably no good at it (he grounded out) but trying it w/Cora would have been the best option IMO. Turns out that he grounded out too and so we took a bagel in the inning when Castillo couldn't come through with a hit. I mean if you're not going to squeeze there ...

Nice night all around on Friday as we pick up a game on the entire East division * Dodgers beat the Phils despite Lidge coming in with a 1-run lead [u:02dce69533]AND[/u:02dce69533] getting the first two outs in the 9th - R Furcal struck out looking - O Hudson grounded out to pitcher - C Blake singled to left - J Loney walked - R Martin safe at first on error by third baseman P Feliz - A Ethier doubled to deep right * Milwaukee's Yovani Gallardo (he's really good) shuts the Braves out on 2 hits (8 IPs) neither one of them by McLouth making his Braves debut * and the Giants hang on (barely) to beat Florida despite getting only 2 runs on 12 hits & 2 walks. Cantu grounds to SS w/the bases loaded for the final out. Elsewhere: * Yanx get rained out w/Rays * Zack Greinke gets bounced around by the Jays. 7 runs (5 earned) in 5 innings balloons his ERA to 1.55 * Ichiro's 28 game hit streak snapped. 0-4 plus a walk, including a 10th inning K to end the game * and how 'bout Carl Pavano? Complete game 3-hitter in Chicago! Now 6-4, 4.62

Green - 1.25 Feliciano - 0.5 Beltran - 2.0 Wright - 1.5 FMartinez - 1.0 Murphy - 0.5 Castillo - 0.75

Redding - 3.6 Castillo - 1.0 Wright - 2.9 Rodriguez - 0.8 Parnell - 0.5 Stokes - 0.5 Green - 0.7

="mario25":3rg4hxky]Murphy 0-4 tonight, he is battting .240. He is not hitting up to support a mediocre glove.... He needs some time in Buffalo.[/quote:3rg4hxky] Fine, but that brings up the old Abbott and Costello question: Who's On First? Kong76 Jun 05 2009 08:32 PM FK: Who's On First? <<< That don't matter in roto. Edgy DC Jun 07 2009 12:26 PM Stop giving up on Murphy. John Cougar Lunchbucket Jun 30 2009 09:16 AM ="John Cougar Lunchbucket":2ymvmoks]We can't live with a 700 OPS at first base for much longer. How much more time do you give him?[/quote:2ymvmoks] bump. OPS = 680 Benjamin Grimm Jun 30 2009 09:19 AM Well, at least it's not 700. Geez, the Mets have so much going wrong it's hard to know how to prioritize what to do. It would be nice if they had an exceptionally smart GM. smg58 Jun 30 2009 09:31 AM I don't understand how somebody with his K/AB ratio could have such a low average, unless he's either getting really unlucky or getting nothing on his swings. But if the latter were true, how come he has more home runs than Wright? DocTee Jun 30 2009 09:53 AM DeRosa could've played first...and his 12 homers would lead the team. just sayin' Frayed Knot Jun 30 2009 10:45 AM ="smg58":3bysbapl]I don't understand how somebody with his K/AB ratio could have such a low average, unless he's either getting really unlucky or getting nothing on his swings. But if the latter were true, how come he has more home runs than Wright?[/quote:3bysbapl] Lotsa pop-ups/short-flys LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Jun 30 2009 11:51 AM ="smg58":2qn8pr2p]I don't understand how somebody with his K/AB ratio could have such a low average, unless he's either getting really unlucky or getting nothing on his swings. But if the latter were true, how come he has more home runs than Wright?[/quote:2qn8pr2p] How about "unlucky/more lift on his swings"? YEAR BABIP LD% FB% GB/FB 2008-- .386 33.3 25.5 1.62 2009-- .258 17.5 40.7 1.03 Getting the ball in the air more usually has a depressive effect on BA and other rate stats, unless you unless you've got more power than Muff does (see: Justin Upton's numbers this year). DM's actually hitting HRs at about the same rate as last year, in terms of HR/FB (7.7 to 6.5)... it's just that he's hitting more flyballs, hence the lower average and slightly-higher homer numbers. Barring something funky happening, the BABIP should come up a bit in the second half. [Wright, on the other hand, is getting a ridiculous amount of the stuff he makes contact with to drop (.455 BABIP... and that's come DOWN in recent weeks). Also, his HR/FB has dropped a LOT (5.1, as compared with a career rate of 14.3).] Edgy DC Jun 30 2009 11:57 AM I think this week (at least) has been a grand tour of the number of ways Daniel Murphy can hit the ball hard and make an out. Triple Dee Jun 30 2009 12:09 PM ="Benjamin Grimm":cdlg41sl] It would be nice if they had an exceptionally smart GM.[/quote:cdlg41sl] Well, it's a good thing they have a GM who has a reputation for making aggressive trades. LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Jun 30 2009 12:30 PM ="Edgy DC"]I think this week (at least) has been a grand tour of the number of ways Daniel Murphy can hit the ball hard and make an out involving superhuman defensive play from Melky Cabrera and/or a Yankee substitute. /Fixed

Gets 'im with an absolute Bastard pitch to end it!!

It's Luis Lopez, but is it 'Super Luis Lopez Ultra'?

Frayed Knot wrote: (and no one got thrown out at 3rd in the process) I spoke too soon

FINALLY!!!! (and no one got thrown out at 3rd in the process)

="Edgy DC"]Hate only using our pitchers one inning at a time and keeping Francisco Rodriguez in reserve. This is a war of attrition. I don't mind keeping Frankie in reserve in this case since it's bottom of the lineup time right now.

metirish wrote: I've never been to a minor league game but I'd imagine this is what a great AAA game looks like. No, this is what a mediocre AAA game looks like. I didn't notice any mention of it being national 'Get thrown out at 3rd Base' day on my calendar. Either that or it's national 'Strand a Runner' day.

It's not a good sign when you're not even scoring off the Nationals' bullpen!!

Fernando Nieve[/url:15wjz92a] -- (I like how quick someone jumps on the sponsorship thing) Nieve is a soon-to-be 26 y/o Venezuelan, signed as a teenager by Houston 10 years ago. The Astros were the first ones all over Venz - inking (among others) Johan, Bobby Abreu, Richard Hidalgo. So they get this guy as a teen, he spends parts of 8 seasons with them - plus probably more in Vz leagues - and he gets claimed off waivers having never reached their big club.

Situational and middle relief pitching should be the one area where in-org guys will suffice.

Now we just have to hope it stops raining in DC. Considering what they waited through trying to get Wednesday's game in -- in-stadium waterfalls and a near 4-hour wait; plus what they played through on Thursday -- delayed start for game 1, truncated game 2, and steady and often heavy rain throughout both; this game could either be played in shitty conditions or not started until midnight.

Adam Rubin: J.J. Putz will have surgery Tuesday to address the bone spur in his right elbow, although it's not considered a season-ending injury, sources confirmed to the Daily News. Putz signaled Thursday after pitching in Pittsburgh in pain that he could not continue without getting the matter addressed.

No not Sudoku. Remember that Chico hates baseball because it's not intellectual or cultured enough. He likes a quiet stadium because it gives him more time to read Proust.

="Fman99"] Was this song even popular? Not really, it just happened to be the one that popped into my head. I think I was listening to talk-radio yappings about how "everybody knows" that the season is over [because we know more than the doctors do ... and that Reyes will never walk again ... or that Wright will get hit by a comet this morning ... or that Fred secretly wants the Mets to fail ... etc] and the "everybody knows" phrase planted itself in my head which led to the song. Plus, I knew that there are enough Leonard Cohen fans here to make it workable. Or maybe the idea sucks because I reached too far and the thread will quickly die a painful death, I'm OK with it either way. I suppose if I knew how to find and attach YouTube videos it might help but I didn't think of it. so while I'm here: Everybody knows that the pen is leaking everybody knows Jerry bunts too much Everybody knows Ollie�s just a head case so don�t go get your panties in a bunch Everybody knows it�s beyond discussion that we�re due for another Church concussion and a broken nose as the DL grows

... something to get all our pessimistic views and negative energy out. So today's assignment is to play add-a-verse with Leonard Cohen's 'Everybody Knows' using updated lyrics so as to bemoan to current NYM situation. I'll start and anyone can just add on to it as they see fit. Everybody knows that Delgado�s crippled everybody knows that Jose is lame Everybody knows that the bench is ancient and everybody knows that Omar�s to blame Everybody knows �bout the doc's malpractice it�s a lock just like death and taxes that�s how it goes when your season blows

="Nymr83":w3ud1pbq]If DeRosa can be had at a reasonable price i think you do that whether you like Murphy or not because he can backup every infield position, thuogh its worth noting that he's played 1B the least of any position[/quote:w3ud1pbq] The reason DeRosa has played 1B less than other positions is that he doesn't hit well enough to play there which is where we are with Murphy at this point. DeRosa career = .278/.347/.423 - and he's 34 Murphy career (such as it is) = .279/.360/.426 He'd be a nice player to have as an all-around fill-in but I wouldn't look to him to bridge the Delgado gap. At this point we've got enough other problems where I think we have to leave Muffy alone and hope he perks up. Elster88 Jun 04 2009 08:51 PM Can DeRosa catch? smg58 Jun 05 2009 11:17 AM Ryan Garko can catch, which is why he intrigues me more than DeRosa. But I'd be talking to the Indians about Cliff Lee first, and a righthanded bat second. LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Jun 05 2009 11:34 AM ="Frayed Knot"]="Nymr83"]If DeRosa can be had at a reasonable price i think you do that whether you like Murphy or not because he can backup every infield position, thuogh its worth noting that he's played 1B the least of any position The reason DeRosa has played 1B less than other positions is that he doesn't hit well enough to play there which is where we are with Murphy at this point. DeRosa career = .278/.347/.423 - and he's 34 Murphy career (such as it is) = .279/.360/.426 To be fair, though, his career numbers may not be exactly reflective of the hitter he is now. This may seem like a sample cherry-pick, but his power has really grown by leaps and bounds as he entered his thirties-- the last four years he's really been a different hitter (wOBA at about .360, slugging at a .450-.460 rate, compared to the .310/.400 he put up in his early career) than he was while scuffling about for the first half of the decade simply as a many-gloved utility freak. Mind you, it's still not more than league-average (or slightly below) 1B numbers he's putting up, but still... it's more respectable. (To counter my own point, Murphy-- presumably-- may not yet be exactly what he is going to be, either.) mario25 Jun 05 2009 08:27 PM Murphy 0-4 tonight, he is battting .240. He is not hitting up to support a mediocre glove.... He needs some time in Buffalo. Frayed Knot Jun 05 2009 08:29 PM ="mario25":3rg4hxky]Murphy 0-4 tonight, he is battting .240. He is not hitting up to support a mediocre glove.... He needs some time in Buffalo.[/quote:3rg4hxky] Fine, but that brings up the old Abbott and Costello question: Who's On First? Kong76 Jun 05 2009 08:32 PM FK: Who's On First? <<< That don't matter in roto. Edgy DC Jun 07 2009 12:26 PM Stop giving up on Murphy. John Cougar Lunchbucket Jun 30 2009 09:16 AM ="John Cougar Lunchbucket":2ymvmoks]We can't live with a 700 OPS at first base for much longer. How much more time do you give him?[/quote:2ymvmoks] bump. OPS = 680 Benjamin Grimm Jun 30 2009 09:19 AM Well, at least it's not 700. Geez, the Mets have so much going wrong it's hard to know how to prioritize what to do. It would be nice if they had an exceptionally smart GM. smg58 Jun 30 2009 09:31 AM I don't understand how somebody with his K/AB ratio could have such a low average, unless he's either getting really unlucky or getting nothing on his swings. But if the latter were true, how come he has more home runs than Wright? DocTee Jun 30 2009 09:53 AM DeRosa could've played first...and his 12 homers would lead the team. just sayin' Frayed Knot Jun 30 2009 10:45 AM ="smg58":3bysbapl]I don't understand how somebody with his K/AB ratio could have such a low average, unless he's either getting really unlucky or getting nothing on his swings. But if the latter were true, how come he has more home runs than Wright?[/quote:3bysbapl] Lotsa pop-ups/short-flys LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Jun 30 2009 11:51 AM ="smg58":2qn8pr2p]I don't understand how somebody with his K/AB ratio could have such a low average, unless he's either getting really unlucky or getting nothing on his swings. But if the latter were true, how come he has more home runs than Wright?[/quote:2qn8pr2p] How about "unlucky/more lift on his swings"? YEAR BABIP LD% FB% GB/FB 2008-- .386 33.3 25.5 1.62 2009-- .258 17.5 40.7 1.03 Getting the ball in the air more usually has a depressive effect on BA and other rate stats, unless you unless you've got more power than Muff does (see: Justin Upton's numbers this year). DM's actually hitting HRs at about the same rate as last year, in terms of HR/FB (7.7 to 6.5)... it's just that he's hitting more flyballs, hence the lower average and slightly-higher homer numbers. Barring something funky happening, the BABIP should come up a bit in the second half. [Wright, on the other hand, is getting a ridiculous amount of the stuff he makes contact with to drop (.455 BABIP... and that's come DOWN in recent weeks). Also, his HR/FB has dropped a LOT (5.1, as compared with a career rate of 14.3).] Edgy DC Jun 30 2009 11:57 AM I think this week (at least) has been a grand tour of the number of ways Daniel Murphy can hit the ball hard and make an out. Triple Dee Jun 30 2009 12:09 PM ="Benjamin Grimm":cdlg41sl] It would be nice if they had an exceptionally smart GM.[/quote:cdlg41sl] Well, it's a good thing they have a GM who has a reputation for making aggressive trades. LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Jun 30 2009 12:30 PM ="Edgy DC"]I think this week (at least) has been a grand tour of the number of ways Daniel Murphy can hit the ball hard and make an out involving superhuman defensive play from Melky Cabrera and/or a Yankee substitute. /Fixed