Frayed Knot

I remember reading the chili section of some cookbook which was talking about the evolution of chili and how this version branched off from and differed from that version, etc. It then added a note that somehow this chili train jumped off the tracks and some rogue element wound up in Cincinnati with no record of how it got there or why it ended up so oddly different from all other recipes.

OBP is important for ANY hitter because that stat simply shows the pct of time the batter is NOT making an out -- and if you're not making outs you are contributing to runs scored and if you are making outs you're not.

I'll take the mid-August Braves series

Marlins have one leftover game with the Braves tonight while the Phils & Mets rest before their 3-game matchup. A Fish win tonight would make it an exact three-way tie for NLEast supremacy.

Knight is slated to go to Beijing with the 'lympics team.

Yeah, but everything was Willie's fault so why not this too? Wags is apparently feeling better and won't even need an MRI so it sounds like he's good to go against the Phils

Wagner to have his shoulder looked at during the off day.

Pelfrey - 2.0 Reyes - 2.2 Wright - 0.2 Delgado - 1.5 Castro - 1.6 Cancel - 0.9 Wagner - 0.6 Sanchez - 1.0

Perez - 2.5 Muniz - 0.5 Wright - 2.0 Delgado - 1.0

Between the great reviews, over-the-top hype, and the death at a young age (even if caused by stupidity) the race for the Supporting Actor Oscar is already over. If you can bet on these things somewhere it's probably worth a c-note at least, even if the payout won't be too much.

I didn't have a good feeling about this game the longer it dragged on. Nice win, but Wagner's K-K-K meant it wasn't really a BIG game anyway.

Between the reduced capacity and the increased demand that usually accompanies a new stadium there's really no need for the tiered pricing plan. They're most likely anticipating sell-outs all year - and if this season ends well it's virtually guaranteed.

Where the frick is Delgado going?

="OlerudOwned"]Brandon Phillips is something bordering ridiculous. Gary claiming he's never seen that backhand flip to 1st before. Does he not remember Robbie Alomar ... or is he only saying he's never seen it done succesfully before?

You calling Castro on Monkey? In all it's 3 runs in 3 innings off one of the tougher young pitchers in baseball and we've run his pitch count way up in the process. Could have been better but I'll take that kind of start.

Jeff Wilpon was pretty direct about it back when they were first unveiling the stadium plan -- those last couple thousand seats are the most expensive ones to build but then generate the least amount of revenue. And virtually every newer baseball stadium has reduced the number of seats as compared to the multi-purpose monstrosities they replaced.

Dumbest swimming injury since Mike hit his head on the wall of the limestone quarry while trying to prove it still belonged to the cutters. I actually knew someone who paralyzed himself diving into a pool he didn't realize was so shallow - so Barton's luckier than he probably realizes.

Beltran - 2.2 Easley - 0.5 Anderson - 0.5 Schoeneweis - 0.8 Heilman - 0.5 Smith - 0.3

It's almost like Beane is banking on the Angels to start showing their age next year exactly when the A's (he hopes) will be poised to pounce. Nice idea if it works but it's a helluva gamble. btw, we've faced Blanton twice and have yet to score a run off him. - He picked up a win while shutting us out for 7 IP in 2005 - and then took a ND by shutting us out over 8 IP in 2007 in a game the Mets won 1-0 in the 9th on Castro & Wright doubles

Muniz - 0.5 Sanchez - 0.4 Wagner - 0.5 Wright - 3.0 Delgado - 2.6 Tatis - 2.5 AReyes - 0.15 Easley - 0.2 Evans - 0.15

I suggested during the game last night that 'it seems like' (always a dangerous phrase in baseball) that Johan gives up an awful lot of "Give-Back" runs - runs allowed right after the Mets score themselves. So working off of TransMonk's quickie research I've added some comments/context: * March 31st vs. Marlins - Mets score 6 in the top of the 4th, Santana gives up 2 in the bottom of the 4th Those were the only 2 runs he gave up as he went 7 for the win - so both of his runs allowed were give-backs * April 12th vs. Brewers - Mets score 2 in the bottom of the 1st, Santana gives up 1 in the top of the 2nd Those two were the only runs the Mets scored while Santana was in the game, He gave up 5 and Mets lost 5-3. 1 of 5 = Givebacks This was the first game at Shea booing game * April 18th vs. Philly - Mets score 3 in the top of the 8th, Santana gives up 3 in the bottom of the 8th Mets scored twice early withOUT give-back runs from Johan. The 3 in the 8th made it 5-4 Mets although it was the pen that allowed some of his runners to score. 3 of 3 = Givebacks * May 4th vs. Arizona - Mets score 1 in the top of the 4th, Santana gives up 1 in the bottom of the 4th This give-back turned a 2-0 lead into 2-1. Santana = ND as Dbacks tied it off the pen before the Mets won it in the 9th 1 of 1 = giveback * May 10th vs. Reds = Mets score 3 in the bottom of the 3rd, Santana gives up 1 in the top of the 4th & Mets score 2 in the bottom of the 5th, Santana gives up 2 in the top of the 6th * These give-backs turned 4-0 Mets into 4-1, and then 6-1 into 6-3. Mets and Johan win - all 3 runs are givebacks. * May 17th vs. the Yankees - Mets score 2 in the top of the 7th, Santana gives up 1 in the bottom of the 7th Turns 6-2 lead into 6-3. Mets & Johan win. 1 of 3 = givebacks * May 22nd vs. Braves - Mets score 2 in the top of the 2nd, Santana gives up 1 in the bottom of the 2nd Give-back came after the only 2 runs the Mets scored. Later gives up 3 more for the loss. 1 of 4 = givebacks * May 27th vs. Marlins - Mets score 3 in the bottom of the 1st, Santana gives up 1 in the top of the 2nd & Mets score 1 in the bottom of the 5th, Santana gives up 1 in the top of the 6th 2 of 3 = give-backs. Mets & Johan win 5-3 * June 6th vs. San Diego - Mets score 1 in the top of the 6th, Santana gives up 2 in the bottom of the 6th Those are the only runs scored in the game as Mets & Johan lose 2-1 2 of 2 = givebacks * June 17th vs. Angels - Mets score 1 in the top of the 1st, Santana gives up 3 in the bottom of the 1st Mets don't score again, Johan gives up 2 more later on. 3 of 5 = givebacks * July 17th vs. Reds - Mets score 2 in the top of the 4th, Santana gives up 5 in the bottom of the 4th Last night - 5 of 5 = givebacks After all that I'm not sure we've proven anything here as the idea that Johan gives up a larger than normal pct of his runs as givebacks still lacks any overall context - although it does seem high. In all I think it's just somewhat frustrating that he's not been as good as hoped and that, even during his wins, he manages to pitch just poorly enough in spots so the games remain on edge. Run support hasn't been his friend either, but for a guy with a 3.10 ERA there should be at least a few slam-dunk games and too many giveback runs can keep that from ever happening.

]Reds have a $10mil/yr FA closer blowing it. Now we just have to make sure this is a once a night deal.

A younger Griff might have climbed that wall and snagged it. Reds have a $10mil/yr FA closer blowing it. Ever hear of that before?

Eh, I knew we'd get to someone (like hell I did)