Frayed Knot

I think Asdrubal has seen about 10 pitches total in his eight 2017 ABs so far.

All set up for someone (like maybe rhymes with Bes-Pes-Dus) to be the hero.

The 7th has been our best inning this season BY FAR. I don't think that's a coincidence and I expect the trend to continue.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: I get that Markakis was/is decent. But that's two doubles-into-triples by Bruce in two games. He's given back a third of his total bases already in the field. Little Jerry Time, it seems. That triple is more on Walker than Bruce AFAIC. That was just an awful relay throw where even a decent one would have made it a close play.

G-Fafif wrote: Bartolo speaks great English, he just doesn't want to be bothered to talk to reporters most of the time. Ichiro is like that; can speak English but chooses not to. His inevitable HoF induction will be interesting as it'll be the first time 99% of baseball ever hears him speak. Of course he's also vowed to play until he's at least 50 so many of those who watched him play will no longer be alive. they give the impression that they think Mets fans are a bit over the top in their emotional investment but seem to respect it ... Dealing with Met fans has got to be one of the tougher parts of that job.

Waldman has been known to flip-flop on issues if/when she gets marching orders from MFY brass, so we'll see if she back-walks this one in the coming days.

A report by 'Fox Business' talks about three groups potentially vying for future Marlins ownership. One group is being fronted by former FLA Governor Jeb Bush and another by Derek Jeter. A potential third bidder remains unnamed. http://www.foxbusiness.com/features/2017/04/05/jeter-jeb-bush-among-billion-dollar-bidders-for-battered-marlins.html

G-Fafif wrote: Azaria sat in on that panel. He is truly one of us. "I can't believe Eric O'Flaherty is still in the major leagues!" was his response to Opening Day. None of this celebrity vagueness about rooting for New York. Heard Azaria on a radio interview a few days ago. When asked if he could/would-like-to-be a real baseball announcer he admitted that he's more of a Mets fan than he is an all-purpose baseball fan. IOW, knows that O'Flaherty is still in the league because he saw him pitch on Monday but likely not as up to date on the rest of the NL. But then also claimed to record and watch 'Daily News Live' on a regular basis. "Hey", he said, "I only work three hours a week".

Benjamin Grimm wrote: This will be the sixth time Bartolo has pitched against the Mets. He last did so on July 2, 2011 as a Yankee. Before that, there were three games as an Expo in 2002 and one as an Angel in 2005. Looking up the first of those Expos games in 2002, (less big) Bart pitched a complete game for a 2-1 win that day for Montreal despite the NYM lineup getting 13 hits off him. Even that fairly recent year (in this century anyway) seems quaint as the odds of a team getting just one run off 13 hits and the starter staying in the entire game while doing so are remote. Bart threw 133 pitches; the Mets tied it at 1-1 in the 8th and had the bases loaded and one out and still he was allowed to stay in and get out of the jam (Jay Payton hit into a force at home then Ordonez K'd. Mike Piazza and Timo Perez both had 3 hits that day, maybe Terry give them the start tonight. Five days later the Mets, behind Jeff D'Amico, got to Colon for 4 runs on just 5 hits ... go figure.

Centerfield wrote: I am a bit surprised that Colon and Dickey are starters 2 and 3. I wonder if I would have tried Garcia, who pitched pretty well last season. MLB.com now has it listed as Garcia starting on Thursday with Dickey pushed to their Friday game at Pitt; not sure if that's correct or not. Garcia is good when he's good but he might be even more erratic than the fat man and the knuckleballer combined so I'm not sure the order means much of anything. Mike Foltenewicz is listed as their 5th starter for now although theirs could be a very different rotation by the end of the season.

Edgy MD wrote: Just let this be a lesson to you kids. If you want free tickets and a free ride, put on all your Mets stuff and go nuts on television. Plus you get a reminder that, in America, the solution to every problem comes in pill form.

Well, UCL tears do not heal in the definition of the tear repairing itself the way a muscle can. Ligaments don't do that which is why TJ surgery replaces the ligament with a tendon (hopefully one of yours but, if not, one from a cadaver works just dandy) which they then thread around the elbow (and through the nifty holes the doc drills into it) with the intention of the tendon becoming your new replacement ligament. But if the UCL is torn it's torn and it's not becoming 'un-torn' or even less torn. Many pitchers -- probably 'most' to some degree or another -- pitch with partially torn ones, it just depends on how bad and how you can either adjust to take some of the strain off it or just say 'Fuck it' and figure when the meter runs out on the original it'll snap and it's time to go under the hood and get new parts. The platelet rich plasma helps with the healing process around the ligament, to subside whatever pain and irritation that accompanies the injury, and hopefully strengthen the area around it so as to not tear things further at which there is no option other than the zipper scar and 18 months of vay-kay ... if you define 'vay-kay' as 18 months of tediously boring work and rehab.

I was apprehensive in the moment about sending him mainly because Inciarte was so shallow by the time he fielded the hit. With two outs that's a definite GO, but with one I was at least 60/40 in favor of holding. My problem with Wilmer's slide that I mentioned earlier was that he started too early. Home is not like the other bases where you have to hold the bag, you can slide by practically landing on the plate and busting right through it and ha the done that he would have been clearly safe without all the drama. No reason to be slowing down before you even get there.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: So... Flowers is the DEFENSIVE part of the Braves' catching squadron? It's like he's antiframing. Not to mention the later passed balls, and then how about his set-up on the play at the plate with Wilmer? I don't think I've ever before seen a catcher purposely position himself to take the throw in foul territory behind the plate only to then have to come forward to make his tag. As close as that was one could only figure that a better set-up would have gotten him the call and one that would have stood up. (also not a great slide by Wilmer ... but that's a whole 'nother problem) I think catching, bullpen, and the back of the rotation are going to be the Braves biggest obstacles this year. We certainly saw two of the three yesterday. They'll hit, they'll run, they'll defend, and they hope to have pitching depth on its way (although that last one is always iffy until it actually happens) but finding a good catcher is a toughie.

Lefty Specialist wrote: The game-ending double play was awesome- need to see the replay. Basically Freddie at 3rd started for home on the dribbler but then turned back for some reason which was odd since the Mets weren't even going to look at him or try for the harder out just out of some silly notion to preserve the shoutout. Problem was that his false start faked out Kemp at 2nd who then tried but failed to scramble back to his base. Duda wasn't even looking for a throw until he saw Kemp in no-man's land. The cameras really didn't catch it all (at least not the main angle) so that even after the final out was recorded I initially assumed that Freeman had scored and that the final score was 7-1 since shirley he crossed the plate prior to the non-force out. Only then did I realize that he never ran at all ... it was the only thing he did wrong all game.

"Strained Flexor Tendon" is the diagnosis. The plan is rest for several weeks before attempting to resume throwing in late April; that would presumably lead to minor league rehab games. There's no timetable for all of this yet, but the middle of May is sounding optimistic at this point. http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/mets/mets-steven-matz-diagnosed-strained-flexor-tendon-article-1.3017589

I'll take 'Ways You Don't Expect a Game to End' for $600 Alex

Is that the first ball ball Ender Inciarte DIDN'T catch against us?

I can't be the only one waiting for the game when Chaz Roe pitches against Wade Davis.

Mets Willets Point wrote: Flores steals a base and Flowers doesn't even try to nab him. Is that botanical courtesy? BOC

Ooops, almost forgot about this one Name the first Met to: 1. Record a base hit. -- Reyes, of course, leading off the game 2. 1st single -- Reyes 3. Double -- Duda 4. Triple -- Curtis 5. Home Run -- Yoenis 6. Run batted In - Asdrubal 7. Multiple runs batted in on a single plate appearance -- Walker 8. Steal a base -- Reyes 9. Draw a walk -- Duda 10. Reach safely on an error -- Yoenis 11. Be hit by a pitch -- Asdrubal 12. Score a run -- Reyes 13. Enter the game as a pinch hitter -- Conforto 14. Record a sacrifice hit, including a Sac Fly -- Conforto 15. Get picked off or caught stealing -- Granderson 16. Drive in multiple runs in a single plate appearance that takes the team from behind in the score to ahead -- Duda 17. Credited with a "walk-off" RBI -- TJ Rivera * Name the first Met pitcher to: 18. Record a strike out -- Syndergaaard 19. Reach double figures in strikeouts in a single appearance -- deGrom 20. Issue a walk -- Syndergaard 21. Hit an opposing batter with a pitch -- Harvey 22. Get a win -- Syndergaard 23. Get a save -- Reed 24. Appear as a relief pitcher -- Blevins 25. First pitcher to record a hit as a batter -- deGrom 26. Throw a complete game -- (probably no one) but Gsellman 27. Be credited with a "hold" -- Robles * Tiebreaker: Which Met will be the last man to bat on opening day? -- R. Rivera

Today was the sixth straight opening day loss for the Yanx, so while I wish it was a better omen of a lost season to come* ... I still liked it anyway. * just as I wish the sterling OD record of the NYM was an omen as well

G-Fafif wrote: 47 Tom Sturdivant If you want to. Since this contest is all over but the shouting I'm reduced to just doing inside jokes that half of you won't get

G-Fafif wrote: 52 Billy Wynne Unusually popular.

I liked Miller, although don't miss Morgan and don't have a beef with anyone on the current crew. (I'd prefer two in the booth rather than three, but that's a sports-wide complaint) The problem is in the way this game is presented. The Sunday Night game the only time when ESPN even pays attention to baseball they want to use this game to display all their bells and whistles, so it's almost by accident that they get around to showing you the game in between their interviews, sideline reports, pre-packaged features, and promos for other ESPN properties. ESPN, because they believes no one actually cares about baseball, thinks that those who tune in are tuning in to watch ESPN rather than whatever game happens to be scheduled.