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IGT: 06/04/2014 Mets at Wrigley

Benjamin Grimm Jun 04 2014 01:57 PM

This is the first IGT I've started in 2014. Let's see how it goes... Starting Pitchers New York: Matsuzaka (2-0, 2.45 ERA) Chicago: Jackson (3-5, 4.81 ERA)

d'Kong76 Jun 04 2014 02:14 PM Re: IGT: 06/04/2014 Mets at Wrigley

NY Mets at Chi. Cubs When: 8:05 PM ET, Wednesday, June 4, 2014 Where: Wrigley Field, Chicago, Illinois SportsDirect Inc. The Chicago Cubs harnessed a rare bit of late-inning magic in the opener of a three-game series against the visiting New York Mets, and they'll try to capitalize on the momentum when the series continues Wednesday. The Cubs rallied for a 2-1 win Tuesday, improving to 4-10 in one-run games and 1-28 when trailing after eight innings. The Mets have gotten used to nail-biters - they've played four one-run games in their last five contests, including a pair of walk-off losses. New York is still one of the hotter teams in the National League, having won six of its last eight, but the Mets were an alarming 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position and stranded 10 men Tuesday. Cubs right-hander Edwin Jackson will try to keep New York's bats at bay. Jackson has pitched better at home this season, going 2-1 with a 3.45 ERA in five starts after posting a 4-8 mark at Wrigley Field a year ago. TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, SNY (New York), WGN (Chicago) PITCHING MATCHUP: Mets RH Daisuke Matsuzaka (2-0, 2.45 ERA) vs. Cubs RH Edwin Jackson (3-5, 4.81) Matsuzaka has been fairly effective as a reliever this season and he gets his second crack at the starting rotation. He made a spot start in the second game of a doubleheader with Arizona on May 25, limiting the Diamondbacks to two runs and three hits over six innings to earn the win. The 33-year-old from Japan is 0-1 with a 4.50 ERA in one start against the Cubs - he allowed three runs in six innings in a loss to them in 2012. Jackson turned in a promising start May 17 against Milwaukee, striking out 11 over seven scoreless frames, but has since endured back-to-back losses. After a terrible outing at San Diego last week, the 30-year-old gave up two runs over 5 1/3 innings in a loss at San Francisco on Wednesday. Jackson is 2-2 with a 3.93 ERA in six starts against the Mets. WALK-OFFS: 1. Jackson has not yet allowed a homer in 31 1/3 innings at Wrigley Field in 2014. ... The Mets rank 14th among 15 NL teams with 40 homers in 41 games. 1a. The Mets sucked last evening with RISP. 2. Mets 1B Lucas Duda is 7-for-23 with two homers during a seven-game hitting streak. Duda is 2-for-11 against Jackson. 3. Cubs C John Baker is 0-for-13 throwing out base stealers this season after allowing two stolen bases in the series opener.

Edgy MD Jun 04 2014 02:30 PM Re: IGT: 06/04/2014 Mets at Wrigley

The Muns have gotten us as far as they're gonna take us, I fear.

Benjamin Grimm Jun 04 2014 02:55 PM Re: IGT: 06/04/2014 Mets at Wrigley

Wow... it looks like this is the first IGT I've started since June 8, 2011.

sharpie Jun 04 2014 02:59 PM Re: IGT: 06/04/2014 Mets at Wrigley

good guys: 1. Matt den Dekker (L) CF 2. Daniel Murphy (L) 2B 3. David Wright (R) 3B 4. Curtis Granderson (L) LF 5. Bobby Abreu (L) RF 6. Lucas Duda (L) 1B 7. Anthony Recker (R) C 8. Ruben Tejada (R) SS 9. Daisuke Matsuzaka (R) P bad guys: 1. Emilio Bonifacio (S) 2B 2. Justin Ruggiano (R) CF 3. Anthony Rizzo (L) 1B 4. Starlin Castro (R) SS 5. Nate Schierholtz (L) RF 6. Chris Coghlan (L) LF 7. Mike Olt (R) 3B 8. John Baker (L) C 9. Edwin Jackson (R) P

Frayed Knot Jun 04 2014 03:01 PM Re: IGT: 06/04/2014 Mets at Wrigley

Andrew Brown rumored to be a call-up for Thursday's game, most likely at the expense of either Carlyle or Eveland, but for tonight it's the same short bench situation: d'Arnaud, C Young, Campbell & Flores

Frayed Knot Jun 04 2014 06:25 PM Re: IGT: 06/04/2014 Mets at Wrigley

Little stuff, which largely has not been going our way lately, did in inning one tonight: Muffy's single off Castro's glove; the called strike three NOT called on David; the GiDP NOT turned (again, Castro); and then the Castro's error on Abreu and another close pitch on Duda not called. Result = 3 runs on 2 hits Now we just have to keep Operation Shut-Down from happening again

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Jun 04 2014 06:43 PM Re: IGT: 06/04/2014 Mets at Wrigley

And sometimes, the little stuff flows the other way again. We are currently approximately on pace for a 5:50 game.

Ashie62 Jun 04 2014 07:27 PM Re: IGT: 06/04/2014 Mets at Wrigley

Yes...12 pitchers later...

Edgy MD Jun 04 2014 07:30 PM Re: IGT: 06/04/2014 Mets at Wrigley

Tejada4Cleanup!

Frayed Knot Jun 04 2014 07:38 PM Re: IGT: 06/04/2014 Mets at Wrigley

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: And sometimes, the little stuff flows the other way again. Well, it's not like the Cubs are getting on or having longer innings on account of plays the Mets aren't making. DiceK simply isn't very sharp tonight. We are currently approximately on pace for a 5:50 game. IOW, 'bout normal for games these days.

Frayed Knot Jun 04 2014 07:42 PM Re: IGT: 06/04/2014 Mets at Wrigley

Now THAT* was a break going our way! * hard shot off Matsuzaka's ankle right to Tejada for a 1-6-4-3 inning-ending DP

Fman99 Jun 04 2014 07:49 PM Re: IGT: 06/04/2014 Mets at Wrigley

Watching the Cubs play I am struck at how much better the Mets look. These guys can't get out of their own way, it seems.

Mets Guy in Michigan Jun 04 2014 07:50 PM Re: IGT: 06/04/2014 Mets at Wrigley

Frayed Knot wrote: Now THAT* was a break going our way! * hard shot off Matsuzaka's ankle right to Tejada for a 1-6-4-3 inning-ending DP Goofy Cub fielding helps us, too!

d'Kong76 Jun 04 2014 07:51 PM Re: IGT: 06/04/2014 Mets at Wrigley

Kinda comical when the over-shifters get in each other's way and it still doesn't work.

Mets Guy in Michigan Jun 04 2014 07:58 PM Re: IGT: 06/04/2014 Mets at Wrigley

We completely suck with the bases loaded.

d'Kong76 Jun 04 2014 07:59 PM Re: IGT: 06/04/2014 Mets at Wrigley

Loaded loaded loaded, keep those bases loaded

Mets Guy in Michigan Jun 04 2014 08:10 PM Re: IGT: 06/04/2014 Mets at Wrigley

Dammit.

Frayed Knot Jun 04 2014 08:15 PM Re: IGT: 06/04/2014 Mets at Wrigley

Going back to the cycle where on the days we pitch well we don't hit, and on the days we hit we don't pitch.

Mets Guy in Michigan Jun 04 2014 08:18 PM Re: IGT: 06/04/2014 Mets at Wrigley

Absolutely incredible.

Frayed Knot Jun 04 2014 08:21 PM Re: IGT: 06/04/2014 Mets at Wrigley

We can't hit w/bases loaded and then don't even make the opposition get hits when they have them loaded.

Mets Guy in Michigan Jun 04 2014 08:37 PM Re: IGT: 06/04/2014 Mets at Wrigley

Cubs walking Wright to load the bases because they know that we won't score...

Edgy MD Jun 04 2014 08:37 PM Re: IGT: 06/04/2014 Mets at Wrigley

The bases are loaded and so am I!

Edgy MD Jun 04 2014 08:42 PM Re: IGT: 06/04/2014 Mets at Wrigley

Fooey.

Edgy MD Jun 04 2014 09:10 PM Re: IGT: 06/04/2014 Mets at Wrigley

This isn't a game. This is a crucible.

MFS62 Jun 04 2014 09:17 PM Re: IGT: 06/04/2014 Mets at Wrigley

Watching the Mets hit with the bases loaded reminds me of something Samuel Beckett wrote: "Fail. Fail again. Fail better." Later

Edgy MD Jun 04 2014 09:24 PM Re: IGT: 06/04/2014 Mets at Wrigley

d'Amn it, Travis. Get angry, already.

Edgy MD Jun 04 2014 09:30 PM Re: IGT: 06/04/2014 Mets at Wrigley

Ceets, remember when I said that a game characterized by walks and strikeouts and few balls in play made for a lesser appeal?

Edgy MD Jun 04 2014 09:37 PM Re: IGT: 06/04/2014 Mets at Wrigley

Torres closes the inning with a whiff and seems confusit whether to leave the field. To the ninth!

Frayed Knot Jun 04 2014 09:37 PM Re: IGT: 06/04/2014 Mets at Wrigley

Frayed Knot wrote: Now we just have to keep Operation Shut-Down from happening again You know Operation Shurdown, right? That's the one where we score in the 1st inning and never (or rarely) afterward and blow any lead you had - Lather. Rinse. Repeat.

Zvon Jun 04 2014 09:41 PM Re: IGT: 06/04/2014 Mets at Wrigley

I'll join you for the 9th. No one should have to go through this alone (meaning me).

Edgy MD Jun 04 2014 09:46 PM Re: IGT: 06/04/2014 Mets at Wrigley

Wow. Ends with a lefty hitting into the shift.

Zvon Jun 04 2014 09:46 PM Re: IGT: 06/04/2014 Mets at Wrigley

Glad to have joined you. A wild pitch, huh?

Zvon Jun 04 2014 09:53 PM Re: IGT: 06/04/2014 Mets at Wrigley

Frayed Knot wrote: Now THAT* was a break going our way! * hard shot off Matsuzaka's ankle right to Tejada for a 1-6-4-3 inning-ending DP Is this why he didn't get through 5?

Frayed Knot Jun 04 2014 09:56 PM Re: IGT: 06/04/2014 Mets at Wrigley

No, he didn't get through 5 because he was pitching like shit.

Benjamin Grimm Jun 05 2014 04:02 AM Re: IGT: 06/04/2014 Mets at Wrigley

Benjamin Grimm wrote: Wow... it looks like this is the first IGT I've started since June 8, 2011. Maybe I'll try again in another three years minus four days.

Ceetar Jun 05 2014 07:45 AM Re: IGT: 06/04/2014 Mets at Wrigley

Edgy MD wrote: Ceets, remember when I said that a game characterized by walks and strikeouts and few balls in play made for a lesser appeal? Yeah. Last night was certainly not an appealing game, although I haven't really had the time to sit down and _just_ watch a Mets game in about a week. I know I sat down to watch "the rest of this half inning" in I think the third and it seemed to take 6 years to not score. Perspective plays in too though. If this was a battle for first place, don't you think we'd feel differently? They're under .500 so it feels like a battle of ineptitude, for any number of reasons. But if the walks and strikeouts and stranding runners were happening in a back and forth battle for first, wouldn't it feel more like a pitcher's duel than a game of offense hot potato? I just enjoy the mind games of the pitcher-batter matchup. The "should I swing?" struggles, the pitch that hits the corner. The just-missed meaty fastball that gets fouled off to make it 0-2 and puts a batter in a tough spot. The tailing slider that makes a hitter look foolish and walk back to the dugout. The balance of bouncing a curveball to make a hitter flail versus the chance it'll bounce away from the catcher allowing a runner to advance. The 10-pitch battle AB where a pitcher just can't quite get it past a batter and the batter's fighting off good pitches just waiting out the pitcher to either float one or walk him. I'm sure I'm not alone in this, particularly because of all the pitcher gifs I see posted of great pitches. The pitcher is doing the most interesting thing on the field on any given day. But of course, that's the ideal. Dice-K and Jackson are crazy slow (the time between pitches is more of a bore than walks/Ks) and often struggle to even throw strikes. It's not so much a pitcher-batter mental joust as it is batters waiting around for reasonable pitches to offer at.