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KTE, Mets @ Nationals, June 5-7, 2012

bmfc1 Jun 04 2012 01:58 PM Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Jun 04 2012 03:35 PM

These are giddy times for Mets fans. Yes, I used the word giddy. This season was supposed to suck but even if they end up in last place, it will always be the year of the No-Hitter. This has brought out these giddy feelings and also Mets clothing. As noted in the CPF, several of us noticed an increase in Mets garb on the streets of New York after Johan’s gem. I saw it in Times Square as I walked around with my family before seeing “Death of a Salesman” (the guy that played Art Howe in “Moneyball” lit up the theater). The Mets go to the District of Columbia to play three surprisingly important games against the Nationals. It’s time for Nationals fans to know the pain of losing. They are starting to get confident, if not cocky (a friend recently asked me if the Mets were “still in the league.” What I said was “Yes Julian and they’re only 2 games out of first." What I thought was “F**k you Julian"). A true fan knows how badly losing feels and as a result, can appreciate winning. Nationals fans have never had the expectation of being good. This means, in my mind, they cannot properly appreciate winning. As recently as last year, when they lost, they’d say “well, we suck” but when they won, they were arrogant and cocky. For example, as a game ended last year, a 50 year old man pointed to my scorekeeping son and said “I hope that you put down in big letters that the Nats won.” For example, at another game when the Nationals took the lead, another guy leaned over to my son and said “did you write that run down?” Classy! How I hate them (and this is without mentioning Nationals fans such as George Will and Charles Krauthammer: [url]http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/the-joy-of-winning/2012/05/24/gJQAnUjAoU_story.html). The Mets miss Stephen Strasburg and Gio Gonzalez but still face an excellent pitching staff. Well, they won’t “miss” them but you know what I mean. Jonah Keri currently ranks the Nationals as the 5th best team (the Mets are at #9) and says: Mike Morse returns from the disabled list, and all of a sudden you've got a Nationals roster that's starting to fill out … just as they stumble through a 1-4 week. With Bryce Harper absolutely killing it (.288/.380/.542) plus Morse and Ryan Zimmerman back and healthy, the Nats are starting to field a major league-caliber lineup that can keep the team's killer starting pitchers company, if not compete with them. If would-be utility player Steve Lombardozzi somehow continues his hot hitting (.300/.372/.400), all bets are off. [url]http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/8006366/texas-does-just-enough-stay-top-half-league-fights-second-place The Match-Ups: June 5, 7:05: Chris Young (RHP, 1st start of 2012) against Jordan Zimmermann (RHP, 3-5, 2.80, 1.09 WHIP). We saw this match-up on April 26, 2011 in DC. Young gave up 3 HRs but those Nationals (Wilson Ramos--2 HRs; Jayson Werth) are injured. Zimmermann (2 “n’s, unlike the Nationals 3B) gave up 5 runs in 5?. Against Young, Nationals 1B Adam LaRoche is 3 for 24. Against Zimmermann, Daniel Murphy is 6 for 12 with a HR. David Wright is only 3 for 16, 0 HR and 1 RBI. June 6, 7:05: Jeremy Hefner (RHP, 1-2, 5.60, 1.30) against. Edwin Jackson (RHP, 1-3, 3.17, 1.03). I have nothing to say about Jeremy Hefner other than he's tall, I hope that there isn't a rain delay after he's started pitching, and maybe he can hit another homerun. Jackson faced the Mets on April 9 (5 IP, 3 ER). He was born in West Germany. According to Washington Post columnist and Nationals suck-up Thomas Boswell, “the Nats have apparently fixed a flaw in Edwin Jackson’s delivery that led him to tip his pitches when he was in his windup.” (“Apparently”, Tom? Did they or didn’t they. If you’re not sure, say “it has been suggested” or “I hear that” but don’t vacillate.) [url]http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/washington-nationals-learn-youthful-mistakes-are-costly/2012/06/03/gJQAjGiACV_story.html June 7, 1:05: R.A. Dickey (RHP, 8-1, 2.69, 1.06) against Chien Ming-Wing (RHP, 1-1, 6.43, 1.86). R.A. will not be sorry that Jayson Werth is on the DL, although he would probably say something eloquent about it being better to face, rather than avoid, your demons, (Werth is 11 for 25 vs. R.A. with two HRs). Rick Ankiel is 9 for 23 but he’s not starting. Duda is 3 for 4 against Wang. This is only Wang’s 2d start of the season (he started against Miami on May 30 and gave up 4 ER in 4 IP) as he was on the DL with a strained hamstring. Speaking of straining your hamstring, Ming-Wing recently apologized for having an extra-marital affair: [url]http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/nationals-journal/post/chien-ming-wang-apologizes-for-extra-marital-affair-during-news-conference/2012/04/24/gIQAiAYpeT_blog.html. Batting: Starting 1B Adam LaRoche leads the team in average (.276), RBI (35), OBP (.371) and Slugging (.538). He’s also tied with Ian Desmond for the team lead in HRs (8). Desmond, who bats 5th or 6th, is tied with Danny Espinosa for the team lead in SBs (6). Of course, Bryce Harper is a must-watch (.288, 5 HR, 12 RBI). He sometimes has trouble with flyballs in RF. David Wright’s buddy Ryan Zimmerman (watch them chat when either reaches 3B) says that he “stinks” right now after returning from the DL because of a sore shoulder: [url]http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/nationals-journal/post/ryan-zimmerman-i-just-stink-right-now/2012/06/04/gJQA0PrCDV_blog.html Steve Lombardozzi, Jr. plays LF and bats first (.309, .372 OBP, 0 SB). You might remember his father, Steve Lombardozzi, Sr., who played for the Twins and Astros. Bullpen: Tyler Clippard (ex-MFY) is the current closer. Henry Rodriguez, he of the 100 MPH fastball, has been demoted. Drew Storen and Brad Lidge are on the DL. Sean Burnett, a LHP, has also closed. Old Friends: Davey Johnson is the manager. Xavier Nady is the back-up LF (Lombardozzi starts). Where you can find me: I will be in section 113 on Tuesday (row U) and Wednesday (row T). I might take a half-day and buy a ticket at gametime on Thursday. I thought you would want to know. After years of being frustrated by fans and ushers standing in the aisle while the game is on, I realized that if you sit on the Mets side of the lower level (otherwise known as the 3B side), buy seats on the left side of the section. The numbers go right to left on that side (like Hebrew). It’s further away from home but you have less interference from aisle traffic. Blog: As usual, I plug my friend Jenn’s blog. It’s now called Nationals Fangirl but it’s still Jenn which means that it has a lot of heart and she doesn’t piss me off (see above). [url]http://natsfangirl.com/

themetfairy Jun 04 2012 03:15 PM Re: KTE, Mets @ Nationals, June 5-7, 2012

Thanks bmfc1 - well done!

G-Fafif Jun 04 2012 03:31 PM Re: KTE, Mets @ Nationals, June 5-7, 2012

Now I'm even more ready to rumble for Sole Possession of First Place (don't get in the way, Marlins).

Ceetar Jun 04 2012 05:06 PM Re: KTE, Mets @ Nationals, June 5-7, 2012

Dickey-Wang. I love that matchup. one of the best in the league. (Although I bet the White Sox get some cool -Sale matchups. Sale-Price? Dickey-Sale? Wilson-Sale a pretty good baseball one.. I digress, we don't play the White Sox though) I don't know if the Nats can actually count on Lombadozzi being this good or Harper being one of the best 19 year olds ever. both facing back end of the rotations too. It'd have been nice to have both Santana and Dickey since the Yankees don't actually matter much, but whatever we can do to keep Santana healthy obviously.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Jun 04 2012 08:05 PM Re: KTE, Mets @ Nationals, June 5-7, 2012

I'd like to be able to call Lil' Lombardozzi a fraud, but his minor-league numbers at every level are all in line with what he's done so far as a Nat. Thanks for the knowledge, as always.

Ceetar Jun 04 2012 08:22 PM Re: KTE, Mets @ Nationals, June 5-7, 2012

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: I'd like to be able to call Lil' Lombardozzi a fraud, but his minor-league numbers at every level are all in line with what he's done so far as a Nat. Thanks for the knowledge, as always. Usually major league numbers are a tick lower though no? Wasn't calling him a bust exactly, but I'd probably think it's a safe bet it's between the 'utility player' that Jonah says he might be and what he's doing now.

metsguyinmichigan Jun 04 2012 08:29 PM Re: KTE, Mets @ Nationals, June 5-7, 2012

Outstanding KTE. And if the Mets can throw a no-hitter, Teddy can finally win!

Zvon Jun 04 2012 08:34 PM Re: KTE, Mets @ Nationals, June 5-7, 2012

Great KTE!

Edgy MD Jun 04 2012 09:12 PM Re: KTE, Mets @ Nationals, June 5-7, 2012

I was thinking we need a lefty bat off the bench. After Valedespin made our last out today, I'm REALLY thinking we need a lefty bat off the bench.

MFS62 Jun 04 2012 09:28 PM Re: KTE, Mets @ Nationals, June 5-7, 2012

Nice KTE. We'll be lookin' for ya'. Later