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I don't know why I still had this on my computer, but knowing them helped little as the Dodgers won 2 of 3. Paul LoDuca was white-hot!
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KTE – Trolley Dodgers Return to New York
With an off-day today (Feliz Cinco de Mayo!) for both the Mets and Dodgers, we can get an early jump on gathering some enemy intel before the Dodger Blue venture into Queens tomorrow to square off in a three-game set against the Mets - the franchise that filled their vacated slot in the senior league standings when Dem Bums bolted for LA almost 50 years ago. Still wearing Dodger blue as a tribute to the team that obeyed their manifest destiny, the Mets have quite a bit more in common with the Dodgers in 2003 than just their primary color.
The NOffense
The Dodgers enter the series with the best pitching staff in the majors (2.79 team ERA), but find themselves struggling to stay at .500 due to a fantastically anemic offense that is tied for dead last in the NL in runs scored (only 114 in 31 games – worse than the Mets even!). Similarly, the Metropolitans, who are tied for 13th in the NL in runs scored (only 4 more than the Dodgers) and hitting a paltry.234 as a team, had been bolstered by fairly solid starting pitching led by Tom Glavine and Al Leiter, until the staff and their ERA took a beating on a recent 5-game losing skid. The Dodger offense has been racked by a number of injuries lately, from the kooky ones (Brian Jordan – severe flu, Daryl Ward – infected wisdom teeth), to the normal ones (Dave “Don’t call me Bip” Roberts – hammy, Mike Kincaid – wrist), but they should be at full strength by the first pitch Tuesday night. Right-handed reliever Guillermo Mota continues to suffer from an acute case of vaginitis but shouldn’t miss any action in the series.
Stubborn as a Bull
Even better than the Dodgers starting staff has been a bullpen that entered the weekend with a NL-best 1.47 ERA. The Mets, conversely, have the highest bullpen ERA in the National League. Paul Shuey (0.68) and Tom Martin (yes, that Tom Martin – 0.77) both have ERA’s under 1.00, and Paul Quantrill (1.32), the aforementioned Mota (1.59), and Troy Brohawn (1.64) solidify the bullpen, all with stingy ERA’s under 2.00. And should the Dodgers get to the ninth with the lead…
French Toast (He’s French Canadian and the hitter’s are toast... French Toast… Get it?!? Bwhahahahh!!!!)
As stupid as Eric Gagne’s season was in 2002, he’s been even frickin’ better so far in ‘03. During a Sunday save against the Bucs in LA, he finally surrendered his first run this season, but his numbers are still staggering. In 16.1 IP, he’s given up 1 run on 7 hits, has a perfect 10 saves in 10 opps, and has walked only 4 hitters while striking out an astounding 28 for a video game-like 15.43 K/9 innings. Aside from the silly goggles, fuzzy chin hair, and that dorky Tiger Woods arm-thrust thing he does after he converts a save, Gagne’s piecing together the two finest back-to-back seasons for a reliever, since, well, a really long-ass time. Plus he’s not afraid to roll with the French pronunciation of his last name as opposed to long-time Twin shortstop and former Dodger, Greg Gagne (say Gag-nee).
Hotter than Soleil Moon Frye (No, sincerely. Have you seen her nowadays?? ga-ga…)
Paul LoDuca. 9 hits in his last 24 AB’s including a homer, 3 doubles, and 2 walks. That equates to a .375 clip and a 1.069 OPS. His 2001 power has yet to return but LoDuca still be representin’ the 213.
Colder than a Dixie Chicks tribute to Dubya
Daryle Ward. Getting more PT with Kincaid and Roberts hurting, he’s hitting a buck ninetly over the last week with an OPS of .381. Not exactly the numbers the Azul had in mind when they acquired this young lefty slugger with wicked potential.
The Matchups
Tuesday: Odalis Perez (1-1, 2.83) vs. Pedro Astacio (1-1, 9.90)
Wednesday: Hideo Nomo (3-4, 3.44) vs. Steve Trachsel (0-1, 5.45)
Thursday (likely): Kaz Ishii (2-1, 3.21) vs. Tom Glavine (4-2, 3.64)
X-Met Factor
Former Met battery Hideo Nomo and Todd Hundley, plus Tom Martin and Mike Kincaid.
X-Dodgers
Former Dodger battery Pedro Astacio and Mike Piazza, plus Roger Cedeńo.
The Skinny
Mets avoid the Dodgers two recuperating righties, Kevin Brown and Darren Dreifort who are both putting up solid 2003’s and striking out mad hitters, but the Mets draw two tough lefties in Perez and Ishii, and in ’03 the Mets are hitting only .244 with a .672 OPS against port siders. Unfortunately for the Dodgers, they draw two right-handers and are hitting only .248 with a .668 OPS against their kind, and even worse for the Los Angelinos is they’re hitting .230 with a .640 OPS away from Chavez Ravine. JG sez: Look for this to be a low-scoring, well pitched series, with quite possibly three scoreless ties.
Raise your Guiness, por favor!
Baseball fans across the globe will be watching intently on Tuesday at a chance to witness what Elias confirms would the first ever occurrence of an Irish-Dominican pitcher squaring off against and Irish-Dominican batter in a Major League game. Making things all the more interesting is that both participants share the surname Perez. Good luck to the pride of Las Matas de Farfan and of course, Dublin, Dodger pitcher O’Dalis Perez! And best of luck as well to Bani’s favorite son (and Limerick’s also), Met outfielder Tim O’Neil Perez. We’re pulling for you, Timmy!
Lets Go Mets!
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