Master Index of Archived Threads


IGT 5/11, Braves at Mets

Kong76 May 11 2009 03:39 PM

(Sports Network) - There aren't many things in baseball that New York Mets starter Johan Santana can't do. A win over the Atlanta Braves, though, is still missing from his resume. Santana will try to help lift New York to an eighth straight victory tonight in the opener of a three-game series with the Braves at Citi Field. In his career, Santana has won 113 games, struck out 1,641 batters and captured a pair of Cy Young Awards, but the Braves are the one team he has yet to beat on the mound. That does not include his former team, Minnesota, or Colorado, both of which he has never faced. In five career starts versus the Braves, Santana is 0-3 with a 2.76 earned run average, and Atlanta as a team is batting .301 against him. However, the 30-year-old southpaw enters this start on a roll. He has won his last three decisions and lowered his season ERA to 0.91 after beating Philadelphia on Wednesday with seven innings of shutout ball. Santana also struck out 10 batters for his third double-digit strikeout game in six starts. Santana might also catch a break tonight if Atlanta's Chipper Jones decides to sit out the game. Jones left Sunday's win over the Phillies early due to a sore right elbow and went 0-for-3 in the test to halt his 29-game hitting streak versus Philadelphia. "We'll see how it feels (Monday)," Jones told Atlanta's official site after yesterday's game. "If I can throw, I'll play. If I can't, then I won't...That area is pretty jacked up right now. But I don't see it being more than a day." Jones is 5-for-11 in his career versus Santana, while teammates Matt Diaz (8- for-15), Kelly Johnson (6-for-14) and Brian McCann (5-for-13) have all enjoyed success versus the Mets ace. New York's current seven-game winning streak includes a 5-0 mark on an eight- game homestand that ends with this series. In Sunday's 8-4 win over Pittsburgh, Livan Hernandez tossed six innings of two-run ball for the 150th win of his career. "It feels great. Every time you see a starter go out there and pitch six, seven innings, you feel like you have a chance to win the ballgame," said Mets outfielder Carlos Beltran, who hit a two-run double as part of a four-run eighth inning. Omir Santos and Luis Castillo each drove in two runs as well for first-place New York, which outscored Pittsburgh 25-8 in the three-game set. Atlanta's Derek Lowe will try to win a fourth straight outing tonight for the Braves. However, he escaped with a win on Wednesday versus Florida despite allowing a season-high six runs over five innings. "That was a bad game. I did nothing. This (was) an offensive victory," Lowe said after the game. The right-hander is 1-2 with an 8.78 ERA and two saves in eight career games versus the Mets, two of those starts. Atlanta, winners in four of its last five, took two of three from the Phillies over the weekend and won Sunday's contest, 4-2. Casey Kotchman finished 3- for-5 with three RBI, giving him six runs driven in over the set. New York swept a two-game set in Atlanta from May 4-5 and won six of nine at home versus the Braves last year.

Kong76 May 11 2009 04:09 PM

Kelly Johnson 2B Yunel Escobar SS Martin Prado 3B Brian McCann C Matt Diaz LF Casey Kotchman 1B Jeff Francoeur RF Jordan Schafer CF Derek Lowe P Jose Reyes SS Luis Castillo 2B Carlos Beltran CF David Wright 3B Daniel Murphy LF Fernando Tatis 1B Jeremy Reed RF Omir Santos C Johan Santana P

Centerfield May 11 2009 04:15 PM

Delgado scratched. According to Metsblog, he's out until Friday at the earliest, and may go on the DL. This a result of his hip which continues to bother him. Troublesome.

Benjamin Grimm May 11 2009 04:44 PM

Nicht sehr gut.

Edgy DC May 11 2009 04:58 PM

]"It feels great. Every time you see a starter go out there and pitch six, seven innings, you feel like you have a chance to win the ballgame," said Mets outfielder Carlos Beltran, who hit a two-run double as part of a four-run eighth inning. That's some low standards for great.

Rockin' Doc May 11 2009 05:27 PM

There womn't be a no-hitter or shut out tonight. Braves scratch out an unearned run. The offense needs to get that one back. It would be great to see the offense actually give Santana a few runs to work with for a change.

OlerudOwned May 11 2009 05:39 PM

Soon enough, other teams are going to wise up by fielding lineups of all pitchers versus Johan.

Edgy DC May 11 2009 05:45 PM

We just got hit with a torrent down here.

OlerudOwned May 11 2009 06:11 PM

For once, the catcher is the dude behind the plate who's blind. Time to run.

OlerudOwned May 11 2009 06:12 PM

Blech.

Edgy DC May 11 2009 06:29 PM

Time to take control of this shit, right, Bertrand?

Swan Swan H May 11 2009 06:32 PM

Rope by Tatis and a Balmer chop by Reed set up 1st-n-3rd, 1 out for Santos.

Edgy DC May 11 2009 06:33 PM

Big seeing-eye single and plastic Bertrand is driving us forth.

Swan Swan H May 11 2009 06:34 PM

A run! We're upgrading to space-age polymer Bertrand!

Edgy DC May 11 2009 06:34 PM

It's a tie game. It's a new game.

Rockin' Doc May 11 2009 06:34 PM

Come on, Mets on the corners with one out. Santos lifts a sac fly to tie the game. I was so afraid of the GB DP to end the inning.

OlerudOwned May 11 2009 06:35 PM

Keep proving me wrong, Omir. It'll be the best tasting hat.

Edgy DC May 11 2009 06:36 PM

Fear is gonna killya. Ya gotsta believe.

Edgy DC May 11 2009 06:41 PM

Stop doing the wave in front of the pitcher.

Swan Swan H May 11 2009 06:41 PM

Stop doing the wave.

OlerudOwned May 11 2009 06:42 PM

Stop wave.

Swan Swan H May 11 2009 06:46 PM

They froze on Francoeur mid-swing, and he looked just like Jim Carrey as Fire Marshall Bill.

Edgy DC May 11 2009 06:48 PM

Did Santana look like he was grinding when he bounced those curveballs, or what? He's at the magic 100-pitch level.

Nymr83 May 11 2009 06:55 PM

WEAR THE MUSTACHE!!! (stupid yankee fan)

Edgy DC May 11 2009 06:58 PM

Damn, 6 1/3. But he seemed to be laboring.

Rockin' Doc May 11 2009 07:01 PM

Damn it, Jerry. Santana is the best pitcher you have, let him finish the inning. Another fine performance by Santana and he could again sue his teammates for nonsupport. Come on Parnell, get these guys out. Damn, lucky broken bat hit puts runner at first and second with one out.

metirish May 11 2009 07:03 PM

Cohen set this up all wrong , the way he was talking when they came on air was always going to be hard to live up to. Calling it event viewing and generally talking like it was a play off game......still Santana clearly not with his best stuff was better than most.

Edgy DC May 11 2009 07:09 PM

i think that boot by Reyes was a result of him thinking the ball was going to hit the bag.

Nymr83 May 11 2009 07:09 PM

Reyes fucks up. And now Diaz, murderer of lefty relievers, will bat with bases loaded.

PiggiesTomatoes May 11 2009 07:10 PM

I know the error wasn't Feliciano's fault but why's he in there against a righty?

PiggiesTomatoes May 11 2009 07:10 PM

Thanks, Jerry. DOUCHE.

Nymr83 May 11 2009 07:11 PM

2 run single, and the runners advance to 2nd and 3rd on murphy's ill-advised throw home. throw to third, muph!

Edgy DC May 11 2009 07:11 PM Edited 1 time(s), most recently on May 11 2009 07:12 PM

Yuck. How about playing matchups, man?

Nymr83 May 11 2009 07:12 PM

NOW they bring Stokes in? down 4 runs they might as well ask feliciano to find another out.

Rockin' Doc May 11 2009 07:13 PM

Coming to a bookstore near you, How Not to Manage Your Bullpen by Jerry "What Was I Thinking" Manuel.

Fman99 May 11 2009 07:16 PM

Atrocious bullpen "management" tonight. Boo, Jerry. Was he here last year? Feliciano has no business pitching to Diaz.

Fman99 May 11 2009 07:18 PM

Swan Swan H wrote: Stop doing the wave. Seriously. Take that shit to a soccer game where it belongs.

Rockin' Doc May 11 2009 07:20 PM Edited 1 time(s), most recently on May 11 2009 07:22 PM

Feliciano did his job this inning, which was to get the lefthander McCann. He got the weak dribbler that should have ended the inning. Manuel apparently went brain dead this inning. I would argue that he was pretty quick with the hook on Santana, but he further compounded that decision by leaving Feliciano in to face a right handed hitter, Diaz, in a match up that quite obviously favored the Braves,even though Stokes was ready in the pen.

Fman99 May 11 2009 07:21 PM

LONG double for Wright. Let's fire up the ol' rally caps!

Edgy DC May 11 2009 07:24 PM

Jerry set himself up for the bad matchup when he needed a good one by playing for matchups when he didn't need to so much. So say I. And my dog.

PiggiesTomatoes May 11 2009 07:24 PM

Up four runs...I'll trade you two outs for one. Very unproductive at-bats.

Kong76 May 11 2009 07:26 PM Edited 1 time(s), most recently on May 11 2009 07:27 PM

I dunno, but I'm just going to say Reyes should be hangin' his head for that inning more than Jerry (knowing I'm late to the hat for Jerry segment of this IGT).

Edgy DC May 11 2009 07:26 PM

Lowe is being pulled too early also.

Fman99 May 11 2009 07:29 PM

Kong76 wrote: I dunno, but I'm just going to say Reyes should be hangin' his head for that inning more than Jerry (knowing I'm late to the hat for Jerry segment of this IGT). Reyes booted that ball, no doubt about it. BUT... it's compounded by the fact that Jerry fell asleep at the switch from that point on. Omir gets a nice round of applesauce here.

Kong76 May 11 2009 07:31 PM

Was there someone up in the bullpen ready to go?

Rockin' Doc May 11 2009 07:36 PM

The announcers in the ESPN booth were talking as if Stokes was up and ready to go. I couldn't swear to it though.

PiggiesTomatoes May 11 2009 07:37 PM

Stokes. As mentioned, Diaz eats lefties.

Edgy DC May 11 2009 07:43 PM

Reyes still looks depressed.

Kong76 May 11 2009 07:45 PM

I was on the phone (not to the bull pen) and it all unraveled so quickly and I had the sound muted.

Edgy DC May 11 2009 07:47 PM

Reyes and Castillo fanning makes me depressed.

Edgy DC May 11 2009 07:48 PM

Kong76 wrote: I was on the phone (not to the bull pen) and it all unraveled so quickly and I had the sound muted. I'm scoring the L to you if the Mets don't come back.

seawolf17 May 11 2009 07:50 PM

Edgy DC wrote: ="Kong76"]I was on the phone (not to the bull pen) and it all unraveled so quickly and I had the sound muted. I'm scoring the L to you if the Mets don't come back. I thought metfairy gets the L for posting that Billy Joel clip?

Kong76 May 11 2009 07:50 PM

I'll take the L every 8th day after 7 wins if we can find a way to arrange it.

themetfairy May 11 2009 07:53 PM

seawolf17 wrote: ="Edgy DC"] ="Kong76"]I was on the phone (not to the bull pen) and it all unraveled so quickly and I had the sound muted. I'm scoring the L to you if the Mets don't come back. I thought metfairy gets the L for posting that Billy Joel clip? JCL gets the L for being snarky about it.

metirish May 11 2009 07:57 PM

WTF would you throw home like that Carlos?

Kong76 May 11 2009 08:00 PM

What thread is this Joel clip in? I can't keep up with ya'll sometimes.

Fman99 May 11 2009 08:01 PM

<click>

Fman99 May 11 2009 08:14 PM

<click>

Swan Swan H May 11 2009 08:21 PM

You can't win 'em all. Well, you can, of course, but no one ever does.

Edgy DC May 11 2009 08:21 PM

Kong76 wrote: What thread is this Joel clip in? I can't keep up with ya'll sometimes. The Standings (which we just lost a half game in) thread.

metirish May 11 2009 08:24 PM

Carlin - " Bob could Santana have stayed in?" Bob - " Well it's one of those debatable things , I don't know , um it's the managers call , I know as a pitcher I would want to stay in"..... Not at all liking Carlin and Ojeda.

Frayed Knot May 11 2009 09:00 PM

I can justify taking Santana out (lots of pitches, not his sharpest game from the beginning) and even, though to a lesser extent, leaving Feliciano in to face Diaz (good success against even if a small sample). Where I think Jerry worked his way into a problem was pulling Parnell after just 1 out and a broken bat hit. Yeah McCann's their best hitter w/Chipper out, but if Pedro doesn't get him there you wind up in a position with little margin for error. Of all the chances to take that inning I would have opted for Parnell v McCann.

OlerudOwned May 11 2009 09:12 PM

="Frayed Knot"]I can justify taking Santana out (lots of pitches, not his sharpest game from the beginning) and even, though to a lesser extent, leaving Feliciano in to face Diaz (good success against even if a small sample). Where I think Jerry worked his way into a problem was pulling Parnell after just 1 out and a broken bat hit. Yeah McCann's their best hitter w/Chipper out, but if Pedro doesn't get him there you wind up in a position with little margin for error. Of all the chances to take that inning I would have opted for Parnell v McCann. It certainly wasn't a vote of cahnfidence for Bobby, and I think he's pitched well enough this season to deserve one. It's one thing to play the matchups. However, the only way you're going to find out if you can trust a young dude like Parnell as a primetime relief pitcher is if you give him the chances to face lefties. If it was a string of lefties coming up, it's more defensible, but in the case the on-deck batter was someone who was basically put on this earth to hit left-handed pitching.

Frayed Knot May 11 2009 10:01 PM

Of course, managerial/bullpen issues aside, the real problem tonight was getting out-hit, out-pitched, and, especially, out-fielded. We hit a handful of at'em balls (Reyes in particular) and los Bravos certainly had their share of dinky hits but it's not like we deserved a 'W' out of it even though it was certainly possible 3/4 of the way into the game.

gerrard00 May 12 2009 04:08 AM

Fman99 wrote: ="Swan Swan H"]Stop doing the wave. Seriously. Take that shit to a soccer game where it belongs. One of the down sides of the new ballpark is that the wave can continue going after it's done a lap since there's no gap in the stands. I was nearly apoplectic when the crowd kept doing the idiot "who cares about the game wave" during pivotal at bats. I defiantly stuck to my seat, but no one noticed my quiet protest.

soupcan May 12 2009 07:38 AM

I agree with Edgy about Reyes making the error because he thought the groundball would hit the bag. If everybody knew (me included - and if I knew then you can believe it was pretty fucking obvious) Feliciano should not pitch to Diaz then why the hell would Jerry let him? Amaz-azing. The wave: Hate it, hate it, hate it. There is however a solution: The Anti-Wave. Unfortunately the Carrier Dome in Syracuse is very conducive to waves. We did figure out a way to squash them though. When a wave has gained momentum and is coming to your section, you stand up and try to get as many wave-haters as you can to stand with you before the wave hits your section. When it does come to your section- you all sit down. It throws off the timing of the next section and the whole thing then dissipates. The only problem with the solution is that you look as much like an idiot as the wave people do. Just keep telling yourself that its for the greater good.

John Cougar Lunchbucket May 12 2009 07:56 AM

Complaining about people doing the wave is actually lamer than doing the wave itself. There. I said it. My date with LWFS was a lot of fun even if the Mets kinda made us blue. Funny guy. Some bim-bettes in big sunglasses, Cubs & White Sox jerseys (one with a Cub jersey and Braves hat) sat a few rows in front of us. LWFS: "Chicago pizza isn't pizza! It's casserole!" Shot my ballpark mayo all over my box frites, if you know what I mean. As I recall it we spent the whole game wondering WTF Jerry was up to. Obviously not a crisp effort, and I'm 0-2 in the new park. Blue Smoke ribs = Good.

soupcan May 12 2009 07:58 AM

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Complaining about people doing the wave is actually lamer than doing the wave itself. There. I said it. Translation: JCL does the wave.

John Cougar Lunchbucket May 12 2009 08:06 AM

I'm actually the guy who gets up in the aisle and distracts you to start the wave.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr May 12 2009 10:21 AM

="John Cougar Lunchbucket"]Complaining about people doing the wave is actually lamer than doing the wave itself. There. I said it. "To everything, there is a season" and whatnot; I have no problem with it as a between-innings/blowout distraction (or, say, while you're making a midgame Frite run). Otherwise-- say, during a 2-2 game in the late innings-- it kinda messes up my game riddims, ya nuh see it? ] My date with LWFS was a lot of fun even if the Mets kinda made us blue. Funny guy. Some bim-bettes in big sunglasses, Cubs & White Sox jerseys (one with a Cub jersey and Braves hat) sat a few rows in front of us. The funny thing? They got upset about this-- like, girls-in-Jeter-jerseys-brand thin-skinned-- and ended up leaving just after the Braves went up 5-1 (and just after I maligned the El train and Governor Dondi). ] As I recall it we spent the whole game wondering WTF Jerry was up to. From the beginning, really. What gets me about him (as evidenced last night) isn't really rooted in individual moves -- although, yes, the bunting and the bullpen management rankle-- so much as it is no sort of consistency to his strategic aims. Even if you grant him the premise that his strategic pronouncements/aims are on-point... he generally goes on to contradict himself in-game. E.G.-- He's claimed-- and reiterated in the postgamer-- that he aims to put the best defense (especially OF) possible behind Johan... and then benches Church for Reed, rather than Murphy. He brings in Feliciano for the lefty-lefty matchup... then leaves him in for Diaz, et. al.-- if you're going to go down a strategic road, follow it to its logical endpoint, you know? This is death by half-measure. But the ribs are indeed delightful.

Nymr83 May 12 2009 12:05 PM

]I defiantly stuck to my seat, but no one noticed my quiet protest. i generally yell "fuck the wave!" so my protest is neither quiet nor unnoticed.