Edgy MD

Excuse me, that's what I said! (Checks watch, throws back third scotch.)

What does everybody like about Atlanta? I honestly could go my whole life without ever seeing another powder blue jersey. I accept it for The Royals, as it is part of their standard palette, but even then, it feels like the printer is low on toner. The Pirates look like they are here to fuck somebody up. If they actually become a good team in that kit, they will make it their standard.

Right now, he's failing to impress, but he's getting his job done as guy-who-takes-a-hit-for-the-bullpen.

The lefty brings out a lineup shakeup, and the DGAaNG brings out the backup catchers. And for The Diamondbacks, the backup catcher is ... our old friend James McCann! # ARIZONA POS. # NEW YORK POS. 1 Ketel Marte (S) 2b 1 Francisco Lindor (S) ss 2 Ildemaro Vargas (S) 1b 2 Bo Bichette (R) 3b 3 Geraldo Perdomo (S) ss 3 Luis Robert, Jr. (R) cf 4 Adrian Del Castillo (L) dh 4 Mark Vientos (R) 1b 5 Jose Fernandez (R) 3b 5 Marcus Semien (R) 2b 6 James McCann (R) c 6 Francisco Alvarez (R) dh 7 Alek Thomas (L) cf 7 Brett Baty (L) rf 8 Tim Tawa (R) lf 8 Luis Torrens (R) c 9 Jorge Barrosa (S) rf 9 Tyrone Taylor (R) lf Eduardo Rodriguez (L) sp Nolan McLean (R) sp

What's to worry about? I mean, most people don't catch on the first time they are called up. He looked bad in his strikeout today? Well, maybe, but most people don't look good when they strike out, and it's not like he's striking out three times a day. He's made some good contact, and if Jorge Barrosa could cool his jets a bit, things might be looking pretty differeint. He had only 24 games at AAA (during which, he did pretty badly). Vientos was pretty bad, and then he was very good, and then he was kinda bad again. Baty was kinda bad and then he was kinda OK. Establishing oneself is a process that can take many paths. Maybe he will need to return to AAA, but maybe not. It is probably too soon to decide, but 43 years ago folks were having the same conversation about Darryl Strawberry. Only then, the forum was a bunch of stone tablets and shit.

The Mets return to night games as they try to take the series clincher from Arizona. Lefthander Eduardo Rodriguez goes for D-Backs against Nolan McLean, rematching their face-off in the World Baseball Classic Final. The first something-thousand fans will receive a Gary Carter Bobblehead, which will just force you to take your hands out of your pockets, so bring a bag.

Benge broke through with maybe the fourth- or fifth-best struck ball of the series for him.

OK, tying run on (counting ...) triple deck!

Well, Luis Robert just got on board with the not catching part of your plan.

Although that moral victory is in serious jeopardy now.

And yet, they are winning the post-second inning portion of the game.

Also no. Andrew Hoffman goes suspiciously to the back of his neck before each pitch.

Baty is greasing the ball. The Diamondbacks can't handle anything he hits.

Who gave Seawolf permission to move?! Nelson has no-hit stuff here. Or, from another point of view, the Mets have no hit-stuff.

Barrosa is cooler than Fonzie.

I'm grateful for the error, because Nelson is plowing through the Mets lineup with ease.

David Peterson — not a cold-weather guy.

This is one bunting team.

It didn't hurt the team because Carroll had already put the brakes on, but that barehand attempt by Benge was ill-advised.

Shades of Lee Mazzilli's Head Rolls.

Met going with the same lineup behind Peterson. Diamondbacks insertion Jose Fernandez and Tim Tawa to counter the lefty. Fun will be had by all! # ARIZONA POS. # NEW YORK POS. 1 Ketel Marte (S) 2b 1 Francisco Lindor (S) ss 2 Cobin Carroll (L) rf 2 Bo Bichette (R) 3b 3 Geraldo Perdomo (S) ss 3 Jorge Polanco (S) dh 4 Gabriel Moreno (R) c 4 Luis Robert, Jr. (R) cf 5 Nolan Arenado (R) 3b 5 Brett Baty (L) rf 6 Ildemaro Vargas (S) 2b 6 Mark Vientos (R) 1b 7 Jose Fernandez (S) 1b 7 Marcus Semien (R) 2b 8 Tim Tawa (L) lf 8 Carson Benge (L) lf 9 Jorge Barrosa (S) lf 9 Francisco Alvarez (R) c Ryne Nelson (R) sp David Peterson (L) sp

I am slumping, trivia-wise, but I'm picking Buck Showalter for Manager of the Year with The 'Backs.

Well, I misread his line. Still, I celebrate the callup, for it is good.

The Mauricio callup made all sorts of sense to me. The only other options on the roster were Hayden Senger, MJ Melendez, and Nick Morabito. Senger is a catcher. Melendez is 0-for-4 at Syracuse. Morabito is hitting, but he's only got seven games above AA. Mauricio can help. The idea that bench time stunts development is a doctrine, not a law. Opportunities will present themselves, especially with Mendoza avoiding lefty-on-lefty and righty-on-righty matchups late in games with several players, and pinch-running liberally for his catchers and for Polanco.

Possibly. Maybe even probably. But his hands on defense were one of the most beautiful shows in baseball. Seeing a zombie version still out there going bang and clang is kind of unholy.