Ceetar

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: You'll probably want to skip Knocked Up and The 40-Year-Old Virgin, then. I love you man, 40, knocked up in that order for me. I liked it, thought it was decently funny, light and enjoyable. No cinematic breakthroughts or innovation for sure, but they weren't going for that either. I happen to like Paul Rudd (I think?) and whatshisface from How I Met Your Mother.

For all the talk of 'getting off to a hot start', if it's worth anything, winning the series against the Phillies would go a long way towards that. Then they've got 13/16 at home, and if the home field advantage they've had holds up, (They're playing Washington, Colorado, Houston and Arizona so..) they'll be off to quite a decent start.

metirish wrote: Hows about pinch running for Ike with Hu and then using Murphy at 1st base? I don't mind it and I suppose Collins get bit in the ass if Murphy doesn't make a routine play at the bag....whatever , I like what I'm seeing so far from the skipper. I liked too that he seemed really genuinely happy to get his first win and first series win. No manager will be perfect, or do things the way I think they need to be done. I just hope he realizes what does and doesn't work as the season goes on and is willing to adjust. (Murphy's best position was third, he didn't play first in the minors much/atall)

Gwreck wrote: Ceetar wrote: and I like all the matchups with the Phillies this week. Young-Hamels? Umm, ok. Maybe the players dislike Hamels as much as I do and are ready to give him the pounding he so richly deserves. Pelfrey-Blanton? I guess. Niese-Halladay? Put down the crack pipe. Well, the Mets do tend to beat Hamels, and I think he's going to have a down year. More walks, less Ks. Hard to say Young is 'better', but I just like getting to face Hamels. Pelfrey's better than Blanton, that's an easy one. Obviously the last one is in their favor, but I do like Niese. Our offense is better, and our bullpen is better. Halladay might not be stretched out to go 8-9 effectively yet.

Frayed Knot wrote: And did it on the road ... against a division opponent ... one we've usually had trouble with ... and are behind only Philly in the East (who had a series at home with maybe the worst team in the NL). Really only 1 bad inning (pitch?) from Pelfrey and a blown Frankie save marred the whole weekend. and I like all the matchups with the Phillies this week. First place here we come.

Not Knuckleball Bock?

I wonder how much Nickeas has caught a knuckleball, too. On Dickey: apparently he is going to climb Mount Kilamanjaro this offseason. Does anyone else remember those Dos Equis "Most Interesting Man in the Whole World" commercials? Because that's what I think of each time I hear another one of these Dickey stories... I would've loved to have run into Dickey out and about in Port St. Lucie. maybe next year. I do think of that commercial a bit. I wonder what Dickey's preferred beverage of choice is..

The Second Spitter wrote: When you don't have another catcher that hits.... day off tomorrow, it's early. and yeah, Nickeas doesn't hit, and you're resting Beltran and Emaus today too.

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Zip it and make with the draft pick, Brian. Thanks. Well, he's not actually providing it, but yeah.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: Even leaving aside that it's DAVID FUCKING WRIGHT at the plate to whom you're giving another strike, you take the out. Outs, even in a tie game in extras, are the most precious quantity. Though I kinda liked his leaving Boyer in to finish (only sticking point there: why get Byrdak up, then?), Terry's in-game management these last two games hasn't exactly been highlight-reel-worthy. And you likely end up walking Beltran if you catch that. So you can go after Hu and a pinch hitter. obviously that's a lot to take in as you're running for a pop-fly, but that's why you don't over think and just catch the ball. A bit of confusion between Emaus and Reyes and Beltran and Pagan tonight. Hopefully those things get ironed out. Who we got in RF tomorrow? Harris or Hairston?

Niese 3 Wright 2 Beltran 1 Thole 1 Davis .5 Parnell .5 Reyes .25

Think Duda is sixth, otherwise same lineup.

batmagadanleadoff wrote: Edgy DC wrote: I was perfectly good --- almost celebratory --- that Beato come out for a second inning. As a general rule, using one pitcher for two innings burns your pen less than using two. Jerry never learned this lesson and it was instrumental in the 2008 collapse. Probably Willie's 2007 one also. The team ran out of bullpen arms both times. This. is close to what I was thinking when Beato came out for his second inning of work. I was kinda thinking that he looked all ajumble in the first inning, why not give him the chance to relax a bit.

Edgy DC wrote: Yeah, I may disagree with the way Ceetar has been tying so many things to Warthan, but I may come around to his position yet if I see more of that crap. I haven't brought him up yet this season, but either Ron or Keith noted that Pelfrey had just had a visit from Warthen when he gave up the slam. Gary noted that Pelfrey was a big supporter of his.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: Overmanaging? Well, let's put it this way: 12 different position players were used in a game in which nobody was injured and in which the margin, once established, never dipped below three. It's Game 1, granted. But I think Terry needs some chamomile. In a way it felt like he wanted to get the guys in there. The game felt like they were a bit nervous, still getting their legs under them, and maybe exposing as many people to it as possible helps. (note Murphy wasn't used, but all the other new guys were off the bench. Two of the more 'veteran' new relievers, Carrasco and Byrdak, were the ones not used) Still, i would've left Thole in there. I understand Hairston hits lefties well and that's kinda what his role is on this team, but I prefer to try to give Thole a chance. I was hoping he wasn't going to fall into strict platoon situations, but now iwonder how much time Paulino will get when he shows up. On one hand, Harris advancing wasn't the 'book' baseball thing to do, but pushing the envelope and playing aggressive is something this team should do, especially against poor teams like the Marlins that looked pretty bad out there even when they were fielding it for outs. Reyes starting the game working a full count seemed good. The biggest, and perhaps silliest, talk before the game was Harris in the lineup and batting second. But then he pinch hit Duda in there anyway. Seemed silly.

Beltran 1 Harris 1 Emaus .5 Boyer .5

Okay, who had Hairston as 900? anyone?

900 - Scott Hairston (anyone guess him?) 901- Chin-Lung Hu

Willets Point wrote: I think their are two tiers of cupcakes. You must be on the lower level. No Beato either. I wonder if this says something about the first two guys to go..

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Gimmee the Philly updates. My slow-moving gamecast sez bases loaded, Exxon valdez up You don't really want to know. couple of singles. station-station. tied up, bases loaded, 1 out, John Mayberry Jr up.

Benjamin Grimm wrote: Trailing by two in the 9th, Phillies get first two runners on. I will be so pissed if they pull that off. Rollins makes the stupid move of stealing third (there's no good reason to steal third as the non-tying run right?) single by Francisco, bah! 1 out, first and second.

G-Fafif wrote: Good lord, the Pirate announcers are going on about how this is the best lineup we've had in a long time. I wonder how many Opening Days they've sung a similar song. Well, if not now, when? Not exactly a high bar to beat. The problem is most of those guys look there best just before the games start getting played, and when they think back on them they sucked, but until they suck, they look good.

Gwreck wrote: Big two-run triple for Michael Bourn, plus a sac fly to follow and it's 4-0 Astros. Guess that pitching staff isn't so great if there isn't also a 'pen and offense to back it up. And I sat bourne for Manny Ramirez in (not CPF) Fantasy. shoot.

Gwreck wrote: Getting hot with anticipation for 7:30 here. 7:10! Wouldn't want you to miss the Big Man playing the National Anthem and/or the first inning. I saw someone tweet 7:18 first pitch, but taht might have been a typo. I've got it perfectly timed, after work beer, pick up pizza, open up a home brew and be ready to go at 7.

1-0 'stros. Myers 58 pitches through 6. victorino draws an odd walk and promptly gets erased CS. Halladay over 100 through 6, he's done. faces the loss.