Edgy MD

It strikes me that David Wright hasn't played for the Mets since May 2016. Bruce arrived that summer and has since played 215 games as a Met, wrapped around 43 as a Cleveland Indian. But now it looks like the first time they will share a lineup will with St. Lucie. Transactions, 8/14 DirectionGOINGTransactionSent To St. Lucie On Rehab AssignmentPosition Group=#0000FF] Outfielder[fimg=90]https://metsrostercentral.files.wordpress.com/2017/04/bruce-jay-2017-19.jpg[/fimg]NameJay BruceDoB4/3/87B/TL/L

No more EL GORDO for Blevins.

The star-crossed Mets come to beautiful Oriole Park at Camden Yards to take on the star-crossed, snake-bitten and witch-cursed Baltimore Orioles. The Orioles have already been eliminated from the division race, earlier than any team in like a million years. That doesn't mean the Mets can just throw their gloves out there. Oh, no. In fact, the Orioles are pitching Andrew Cashner, who — at 3-8 with a 4.83 ERA — would seem like the short end of the matchup most of the time. Tonight, though, against Jason Vargas ... not so much. Then again, the Mets are HOT! Cashner really looks his part. A burly, scuffy, out-of-his-depth grinder clinging to the hems of his major league pitcher status. A lot of heart, a lot of mullet, but not a lot of break on his offspeed stuff, and not a lot of fannies in the seats when he's pitching. [fimg=319]https://deadrabbit.barstoolsports.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/13/GettyImages-921407418.jpg[/fimg] [fimg=381]https://imagesvc.timeincapp.com/v3/mm/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn-s3.si.com%2Fs3fs-public%2Fstyles%2Fmarquee_large_2x%2Fpublic%2F2016%2F07%2F29%2Fmarlins-andrew-cashner-shaves-beard.jpg%3Fitok%3DLrRKjIct&w=1100&q=85[/fimg] [fimg=320]https://imagesvc.timeincapp.com/v3/fan/image?url=https://puckettspond.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/10/844937016-new-york-yankees-v-texas-rangers.jpg.jpg&[/fimg] [fimg=380]http://www.trbimg.com/img-5b5506d7/turbine/bs-sp-orioles-cashner-20180723[/fimg] It tells you what kind of esteem that Buck Showalter has garnered in Bal'mer that he's still employed to run this show. Here's the lineup he's been typically throwing out there since Manny Machado left and took the sun with him, and before I post it, I'm going to ask you to sit down and brace yourself. This is ugly. c: Caleb Joseph (.216 / .251 / .342 // .593) 1b: Chris Davis (.158 / .242 / .299 // .541) 2b: Jace Peterson (.196 / .313 / .318 // .631) 3b: Renato Núñez (.248 / .319 / .396 // .715, but .292 / .361 / .462 // .823 in 19 games since coming over from Texas) ss: Tim Beckham (.229 / .289 / .361 // .651) lf: Trey Mancini (.234 / .301 / .396 // .697) cf: Cedric Mullins (.385 / .500 / .538 // 1.038 in four games, but .267 / .332 / .425 // .757 in 59 games for Norfolk, the stolen affiliate) rf: Adam Jones: .283 / .313 / .428 // .741 dh: Mark Trumbo: .266 / .320 // .468 // .787 So there you have it. Adam Jones has been decent-ish for a centerfielder, but now he's a rightfielder. Mark Trumbo would make an OK thirdbaseman, but he's a DH. Cedric Mullins has started fast, but it's not like he has phenom pedigree. He looks like an NFL halfback, though. The best guy in their lineup since Manny Machado left has been Manny Machado's heretofore unknown replacement. Beckham and Mancini hit once a week. Joseph and Peterson have most definitely been holes in the lineup. And Chris Davis has been a black hole. And the Orioles have him signed for four more years at $17 million per. Orioles fans are always hopeful, but they don't quite know which peg to hang that hope on going forward. This seems like the nature of being a bridesmaid in the AL East. They can build a team that can hang with the Yankees and the Red Sox for a few years now and then, but then they seemingly end up paying for it for five or 10 years in the wilderness. They're a team with a lot of character and color in a town with a lot of character and color, and then the bottom falls out, they have a huge payroll obligation, and they turn back into the Padres East. And yeah, they took two of two from a punchless Mets (scores of 2-1 and 1-0) at Citi Field back in June.

Nice to see he still compulsively wipes his nose on his uniform. That gave me the feels.

He went 0-2 with a walk in Game Two. I'm sure as heck rooting for him. Did you here the crowds exploding on Tiger Woods' approach shots this weekend? Or check out Jonny Venters, coming back after 5 1/2 years and 3 1/2 Tommy John surgeries? Comebacks are great human drama and great expressions of the human spirit. Why would I want to deny David Wright an opportunity?

David Miranda wasn't the biggest name from the 2018 draft class, coming in Round 25 out of Florida Atlantic. But when the lefty outfielder got promoted from Brooklyn to Columbia on August 5, he became the first member of his class to reach the full-season leagues. You'd figure he'd be scrambling just to keep his head above water, but today, he soared, going 5-for-5 against The DelMarVa Shorebirds. His offensive show included a double and the eventual game-winning RBI in the eighth, putting Columbia on top 8-7, which was the final score. The big night has launched Miranda to a jaw-dropping .545 / .583 / .636 // 1.220 line through 24 South Atlantic League trips to the plate so far. David Miranda. He has the right to remain awesome. [fimg=600]https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/30693072_152936463693463_r.jpeg[/fimg]

BRILLIANT!!!

The hit-it-to-Gregorius strategy was fun, but it ran its course.

A BOO-BOO BY DIDI!!

Yeah, strap in.

Loogie gets Stanton. If the Yankees get a little rally thing going, though, it could well be Stanton coming to the plate as a tying run.

I don't know who Mark Simone is, but I get the idea that his claim to be "Mr. New York" is spurious.

. [bigpurple:1ddgi45v]K K K K K K K K K K K K[/bigpurple:1ddgi45v] That's the way it's done.

Frayed Knot wrote: How do Yankee fans live with that crap? Simple: Because they believe it benefits them more often than not. Needs more work. #ConfortoBOOM

Frayed Knot wrote: How do Yankee fans live with that crap? Simple: Because they believe it benefits them more often than not. Needs work. #NimmoBOOM

. [bigpurple:1e3imaxw]K K K K K K K K K K K !![/bigpurple:1e3imaxw]

. [bigpurple:ax535phd]K K K K K K K K K K[/bigpurple:ax535phd]

LIKE THAT!!

Let's tear this bullpen apart.

DOWN goes Giancarlo!!

I enjoy when the high fastball is getting it done.

I think someday, perhaps quite soon, slow-mo replay and umpire reviews are going to show the world that almost all sliding players break contact with the bag for infinitesimal moments.

How do Yankee fans live with that crap?

Conforto, a 2017 All Star.

Also notable that it's the relative neophytes who have provided the offense for the Mets, while the vets have been punchless through the first two innings.