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IGT 10/03/15 (D) WAS @ NYM: Duffy Drier

G-Fafif Oct 01 2015 12:47 PM Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Oct 02 2015 02:08 PM

There is one word that sums up the weather forecast for the weekend: You never know. RIP, one Joaquin. Go away, other Joaquin. Start winning again, Mets. You never know when it will come in handy again. Sure you do -- next Friday. Refamiliarize yourself with the concept this Friday.

Gwreck Oct 02 2015 06:19 AM IGT #160: Nationals at Mets, 10/2/15

Does not look promising that game will be played tonight. Courtesy National Weather Service: Today Rain. High near 56. Breezy, with a northeast wind 18 to 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible. Tonight Rain. Low around 47. Breezy, with a northeast wind around 25 mph, with gusts as high as 36 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Edgy MD Oct 02 2015 06:35 AM Re: IGT #160: Nationals at Mets, 10/2/15

Should all fly down to Tampa and play the series there.

Gwreck Oct 02 2015 07:05 AM Re: IGT #160: Nationals at Mets, 10/2/15

I think we're looking at a doubleheader played Saturday in drizzle.

G-Fafif Oct 02 2015 07:35 AM Re: IGT 10/02/15 WAS @ NYM: You Never Know

For a game that might not get played, we have a surfeit of threads.

Mets – Willets Point Oct 02 2015 07:39 AM Re: IGT 10/02/15 WAS @ NYM: You Never Know

This should be the start of a weekend-long pep rally with, like, bonfires and everything.

Edgy MD Oct 02 2015 07:43 AM Re: IGT 10/02/15 WAS @ NYM: You Never Know

Problem is that this ain't the Phillies. The Nats have every incentive to put some good lineups out there for the purpose of pride. And as disappointing and dysfunctional as they are, they're still a very good team capable of beating down anybody on any day. And the Mets have almost every incentive to rest their starters two games in three. They HAD every incentive, but wasted that by biting the big one against Philadelphia, so now they have to weigh the benefit of keeping their starters out of the rain and off of the wet grass against continuing to chase the home field advantage. Tough choices for Uncle Terry. I like the bonfire idea. Turn it into Homecoming.

d'Kong76 Oct 02 2015 07:50 AM Re: IGT 10/02/15 WAS @ NYM: You Never Know

GAME: Washington Nationals (81-78) at New York Mets (89-70) DATE/TIME: Friday, October 02 - 7:10 PM EST WHERE: Citi Field, New York City, New York LINE: N/A TOTAL: N/A Covers Media Group, Ltd. After a less-than-inspired effort versus one National League East rival, the New York Mets look to get back on track against another on Friday when they open a three-game series with the visiting Washington Nationals. Division-champion New York was unceremoniously swept by cellar-dwelling Philadelphia on Thursday afternoon and has dropped nine of its last 15 heading into the final series of the regular season. The Mets dropped a 3-0 decision to the Phillies in the finale to find themselves locked in a virtual tie with the Los Angeles Dodgers for home-field advantage in the division series. Although both clubs have identical 89-70 records, New York holds the tiebreaker as a result of winning four of the seven meetings with Los Angeles. Jockeying for postseason position is no longer an issue for Washington, which has dropped seven of 10 heading into the final three contests of the campaign. Clint Robinson, who has hit safely in four straight and seven of his last eight games, belted a solo homer in the Nationals' 3-0 victory over Atlanta on Thursday. TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, MASN2 (Washington), SNY (New York) PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals LH Gio Gonzalez (11-8, 3.93 ERA) vs. Mets RH Noah Syndergaard (9-7, 3.34) Gonzalez would like to put a positive spin on a difficult stretch when he takes the mound on Friday. The 30-year-old is just 2-4 over his last nine starts after allowing two runs in five innings of a no-decision against Philadelphia on Sunday. Gonzalez is 2-0 in three starts this season versus New York, but settled for a no-decision after driving up his pitch count with four walks in 4 2/3 innings against the Mets on July 31. Syndergaard recorded his first victory in a month last time out, and he did so impressive fashion. The 23-year-old struck out 11 and retired 16 batters in a row at one point before departing after 7 2/3 innings in a 12-5 triumph over Cincinnati last Friday. Syndergaard fared nearly as well in his last meeting with Washington, permitting two runs in eight innings with nine strikeouts as New York recorded a 5-2 victory on Aug. 2. WALK-OFFS: 1. New York rookie LHP Steven Matz, who is nursing a balky back, is slated to pitch either Saturday or Sunday. 2. Washington OF Bryce Harper is mired in a 4-for-30 stretch over his last nine games. 3. Mets RHP Hansel Robles received a three-game suspension after Major League Baseball deemed that he was "intentionally throwing a pitch in the head area of Cameron Rupp" on Wednesday.

d'Kong76 Oct 02 2015 07:57 AM Re: IGT 10/02/15 WAS @ NYM: You Never Know

Now that's a fire, that's a fire, look at dat, roll Charlie around there he'll be alright now... [fimg=600:hhxfuz3n]http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Books/Pix/pictures/2009/11/4/1257355732974/Bonfire-night-001.jpg[/fimg:hhxfuz3n]

Frayed Knot Oct 02 2015 08:10 AM Re: IGT 10/02/15 WAS @ NYM: You Never Know

Edgy MD wrote: Problem is that this ain't the Phillies. The Nats have every incentive to put some good lineups out there for the purpose of pride. And as disappointing and dysfunctional as they are, they're still a very good team capable of beating down anybody on any day. And yet they just went out and scored 4 runs total while losing two of three in Atlanta - 2 on solo HRs by non-starters, then 2 more in the 8th inning of the third game courtesy of Braves' errors. Looks like we'll get Gonzalez, Scherzer, and Roark. Strasburg & Zimmermannnn have been their best starters lately but we'll miss them both. And then there's their pen which recently went from two closers to none.

Edgy MD Oct 02 2015 08:36 AM Re: IGT 10/02/15 WAS @ NYM: You Never Know

Frayed Knot wrote: Edgy MD wrote: Problem is that this ain't the Phillies. The Nats have every incentive to put some good lineups out there for the purpose of pride. And as disappointing and dysfunctional as they are, they're still a very good team capable of beating down anybody on any day. And yet they just went out and scored 4 runs total while losing two of three in Atlanta - 2 on solo HRs by non-starters, then 2 more in the 8th inning of the third game courtesy of Braves' errors. Sure, but I imagine they'll be more incentivized to hurt the Mets than the Braves. The first two games anyhow.

d'Kong76 Oct 02 2015 08:59 AM Re: IGT 10/02/15 WAS @ NYM: You Never Know

If the Nationals are better and more motivated to do some damage this weekend we have some bigger problems. Big crowds, celebratory-off-to- the-playoffs aura, home field advantage... jeez, there's even going to be bonfires! Fuck Harper and everyone who has him on their fantasy teams! (j/k about the everyone part :+))

Frayed Knot Oct 02 2015 10:05 AM Re: IGT 10/02/15 WAS @ NYM: You Never Know Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Oct 02 2015 03:39 PM

For those who care to get down in some Nationals flop sweat and roll around in it for a while, the Washington Post this past week did a HUGE -- multiple pages across three different days -- and pretty devastating piece on that team's months-long, slow-motion collapse. Matt Williams comes off worse than I imagined (the players don't like him either) and the deal for Papelbon really did upset the apple cart but, since they were able to get him for lesser players and with a break on his salary due to the Phillies' fire sale state, he wound up being their guy because despite the team's high payroll following the acquisition of Scherzer, ownership had placed a 'but not one penny higher' restriction on things. Anyway, it's long but it's a good look into a season in which sky high expectations dry up into a barely .500 record. Part 1 Part 2 Part 3

d'Kong76 Oct 02 2015 01:27 PM Re: IGT 10/02/15 WAS @ NYM: You Never Know

@cgrand3 RF #DavidWright 3B @ynscspds CF Murphy 2B @mcuddy23 LF Duda 1B d’Arnaud C Tejada SS @Noahsyndergaard P @kcmets #cpftoocool

G-Fafif Oct 02 2015 01:52 PM Re: IGT 10/02/15 WAS @ NYM: You Never Know

A. Rubin suggests Mets leaning toward an early postponement (or bang, as they say in the trade). Marlins @ Phillies already banged (or postponed, as humans say) 90 or so miles south.

G-Fafif Oct 02 2015 02:06 PM Re: IGT 10/02/15 WAS @ NYM: You Never Know

O's bang their MFY matchup as well.

G-Fafif Oct 02 2015 02:07 PM Re: IGT 10/02/15 WAS @ NYM: You Never Know

No game tonight. Day-night doubleheader Saturday. 1:10 for makeup, 7:10 for regularly scheduled night affair.

d'Kong76 Oct 02 2015 02:17 PM Re: IGT 10/02/15 WAS @ NYM: You Never Know

G-Fafif wrote: (or bang, as they say in the trade). Learned something new today. G-Fafif wrote: No game tonight. Day-night doubleheader Saturday. 1:10 for makeup, 7:10 for regularly scheduled night affair. Little disappointed, but probably for the best.

Mets – Willets Point Oct 02 2015 02:24 PM Re: IGT 10/03/15 (D) WAS @ NYM: Duffy Drier

So will the bonfire be between the games?

John Cougar Lunchbucket Oct 02 2015 02:34 PM Re: IGT 10/02/15 WAS @ NYM: You Never Know

Frayed Knot wrote: For those who care to get down in some Nationals flop sweat and roll around in it for a while, the Washington Post this past week did a HUGE -- multiple pages across three different days -- and pretty devastating piece on that team's months-long, slow-motion collapse. Matt Williams comes off worse than I imagined (the players don't like him either) and the deal for Papelbon really did upset the apple cart but, since they were able to get him for lesser players and with a break on his salary due to the Phillies' fire sale state, he wound up being their guy because despite the team's high payroll following the acquisition of Scherzer, ownership had placed a 'but not one penny higher' restriction on things. Anyway, it's long but it's a good look into a season in which sky high expectations dry up into a barely .500 record. Yeah that's one hell of a story. You could tell just by watching them they had some illness but I didn't know - beyond a easy guess that the Papelbaum thing upset the bullpen - all esle that went wrong. Werth vs. Williams “When exactly do you think you lost this team?” Powerful stuff. Good job, Barry Svrluga. If that is your real name. It is! Alright then. Here's your Pulitzer.

Frayed Knot Oct 02 2015 03:15 PM Re: IGT 10/03/15 (D) WAS @ NYM: Duffy Drier

Svrluga (pronounced just like it's spelled) is their national baseball guy (as opposed to the Nationals beat writer guy). He recently wrote a short book on the behind the scenes look at the lengthy baseball season (clubhouse/equipment guys, etc.) which was mostly Nationals-centric but would be similar with any team. Much lighter material in that one. [fimg=150]https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/posts/2015/06/51_f1ST534L._SY344_BO1204203200_/7d06fce34.jpg[/fimg] But think about how much this season killed this 'era' for the Nats. I think most observers saw them improving back in 2012 (with b-t-b 1/1 overall picks how could they not?) but they came on faster than most thought, exploding to 98 wins and a division title (just 2 & 3 years removed from consecutive 59 wins seasons) before losing a heartbreaker in Game 5 to the Cards. They then fell back to 86 wins in 2013 and no playoffs, but bounced back to 96 (although another 1st round exit) in 2014. This year they came in as the unanimous pick in the NL East and the WS choice of many and had they come even close to that it would have made the step-back year in 2013 look like the outlier. Instead, they now have as many underachieving years in the last four as they do good ones and even the good ones have ended with a grand total of no playoff advances and only 3 post-season games won. And now they have to at least partially rebuild as contracts (J Zimmermann, Desmond, Span, Fister), and age + injuries (Werth, R Zimmerman) start to catch up to the core of players that have made up these past few years. It doesn't mean they're done but, as we know all too well from the 2006-08 stretch, you come to regret those lost opportunities when you don't grab them. And with the Redskins sucking (for like two decades now) a deep run into October would have given them a great opportunity to steal at least a minor share of media attention around DC -- I think there are a decent amount of Nats fans in DC but the sports media devotes about 97% of their time to the 'Skins (except in football season when it goes up) so baseball fans are left talking among themselves. I've been a big fan of GM Rizzo (I remember writing a post here last year about how well and how often his moves had worked) but he has to take some hits here too: for shutting down Strasburg in 2012; for gambling on the bullpen this past winter (trading Clippard, trading for Papelbon) and getting burned; for going with a rookie manager for a 'win now' team; for maxing out his budget on Scherzer and leaving the team with no in-season flexibility. Part 1 Part 2 Part 3

Ashie62 Oct 02 2015 03:54 PM Re: IGT 10/03/15 (D) WAS @ NYM: Duffy Drier

Mets – Willets Point wrote: So will the bonfire be between the games? With Smores!

Edgy MD Oct 02 2015 05:41 PM Re: IGT 10/03/15 (D) WAS @ NYM: Duffy Drier

Worthy noting that Terry was looking to re-launch Yoenis this evening. Can't imagine contused fingers feel any better on a rainy autumn night like this one.

Fman99 Oct 02 2015 07:32 PM Re: IGT 10/02/15 WAS @ NYM: You Never Know

Frayed Knot wrote: For those who care to get down in some Nationals flop sweat and roll around in it for a while, the Washington Post this past week did a HUGE -- multiple pages across three different days -- and pretty devastating piece on that team's months-long, slow-motion collapse. Matt Williams comes off worse than I imagined (the players don't like him either) and the deal for Papelbon really did upset the apple cart but, since they were able to get him for lesser players and with a break on his salary due to the Phillies' fire sale state, he wound up being their guy because despite the team's high payroll following the acquisition of Scherzer, ownership had placed a 'but not one penny higher' restriction on things. Anyway, it's long but it's a good look into a season in which sky high expectations dry up into a barely .500 record. Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 GK&R were talking this series up during last night's broadcast (I watched the replay) and I went out and read them. Fascinating stuff.

d'Kong76 Oct 03 2015 06:00 AM Re: IGT 10/03/15 (D) WAS @ NYM: Duffy Drier

GAME: Washington Nationals (81-78) at New York Mets (89-70) DATE/TIME: Saturday, October 03 - 1:10 PM EST WHERE: Citi Field, New York City, New York LINE: N/A TOTAL: N/A Covers Media Group, Ltd. After a less-than-inspired effort versus one National League East rival, the New York Mets look to get back on track against another on Saturday when they open a three-game series with a doubleheader versus the visiting Washington Nationals. Division-champion New York was unceremoniously swept by cellar-dwelling Philadelphia on Thursday afternoon and has dropped nine of its last 15 heading into the final series of the regular season. The Mets (89-70) dropped a 3-0 decision to the Phillies in the finale, and are a half-game behind the Los Angeles Dodgers (90-70) in the race for home-field advantage in the division series. Should the teams end the season with identical records, New York holds the tiebreaker as a result of winning four of the seven meetings with Los Angeles. Jockeying for postseason position is no longer an issue for Washington, which has dropped seven of 10 heading into the final three contests of the campaign. Clint Robinson, who has hit safely in four straight and seven of his last eight games, belted a solo homer in the Nationals' 3-0 victory over Atlanta on Thursday. TV: 1:10 p.m. ET, MASN2 (Washington), SNY (New York) PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals LH Gio Gonzalez (11-8, 3.93 ERA) vs. Mets RH Noah Syndergaard (9-7, 3.34) Gonzalez would like to put a positive spin on a difficult stretch when he takes the mound on Friday. The 30-year-old is just 2-4 over his last nine starts after allowing two runs in five innings of a no-decision against Philadelphia on Sunday. Gonzalez is 2-0 in three starts this season versus New York, but settled for a no-decision after driving up his pitch count with four walks in 4 2/3 innings against the Mets on July 31. Syndergaard recorded his first victory in a month last time out, and he did so in impressive fashion. The 23-year-old struck out 11 and retired 16 batters in a row at one point before departing after 7 2/3 innings in a 12-5 triumph over Cincinnati last Friday. Syndergaard fared nearly as well in his last meeting with Washington, permitting two runs in eight innings with nine strikeouts as New York recorded a 5-2 victory on Aug. 2. WALK-OFFS: 1. New York rookie LHP Steven Matz, who is nursing a balky back, is slated to pitch out of the bullpen either Saturday or Sunday. 2. Washington OF Bryce Harper is mired in a 4-for-30 stretch over his last nine games. 3. Mets RHP Hansel Robles received a three-game suspension after Major League Baseball deemed that he was "intentionally throwing a pitch in the head area of Cameron Rupp" on Wednesday.

G-Fafif Oct 03 2015 08:15 AM Re: IGT 10/03/15 (D) WAS @ NYM: Duffy Drier

Lineup for a makeup: Lagares CF Wright 3B Murphy 2B Cespedes LF Cuddyer RF Duda 1B d’Arnaud C Tejada 2B Syndergaard P

d'Kong76 Oct 03 2015 08:20 AM Re: IGT 10/03/15 (D) WAS @ NYM: Duffy Drier

Rendon 2B Escobar 3B Harper CF Werth LF Robinson 1B Desmond SS den Dekker RF Lobaton C Gio P

Fman99 Oct 03 2015 09:41 AM Re: IGT 10/03/15 (D) WAS @ NYM: Duffy Drier

Seeing Cespedes in the lineup makes me super happy.

Benjamin Grimm Oct 03 2015 01:20 PM Re: IGT 10/03/15 (D) WAS @ NYM: Duffy Drier

Syndergaard pitched 7 strong innings, but left trailing 1-0 on a solo homer. Lagares with a clutch 2-out RBI to tie it in the bottom of the 7th. David Wright up, trying to put the Mets ahead.

Frayed Knot Oct 03 2015 01:27 PM Re: IGT 10/03/15 (D) WAS @ NYM: Duffy Drier

Had been a long time since we had last scored prior to the Lagares single. That 5-run 1st inning vs Phillies on Wednesday I think was the last time.

d'Kong76 Oct 03 2015 01:34 PM Re: IGT 10/03/15 (D) WAS @ NYM: Duffy Drier

Harper!

Benjamin Grimm Oct 03 2015 01:34 PM Re: IGT 10/03/15 (D) WAS @ NYM: Duffy Drier

Murphy bumbled what would have been an inning-ended double-play grounder and Harper makes the Mets pay for it with a two-run homer.

Rockin' Doc Oct 03 2015 01:41 PM Re: IGT 10/03/15 (D) WAS @ NYM: Duffy Drier

I had a bad feeling when the Mets failed to convert the inning ending double play with Harper on deck. My initial thought was to walk him and take your chances with Werth. Unfortunately, that would have put the go ahead run on second and managers just don't do that.

Frayed Knot Oct 03 2015 01:41 PM Re: IGT 10/03/15 (D) WAS @ NYM: Duffy Drier

Walking guys in front of Harper is a bad idea and the only two walks today have been one and two batters in front of Harper allowing him to come up with 2 outs rather than leading off the next inning.

d'Kong76 Oct 03 2015 01:46 PM Re: IGT 10/03/15 (D) WAS @ NYM: Duffy Drier

Benjamin Grimm wrote: Murphy bumbled what would have been an inning-ended double-play grounder Very deflating... better not be their post-season undoing.

Rockin' Doc Oct 03 2015 01:59 PM Re: IGT 10/03/15 (D) WAS @ NYM: Duffy Drier

A chance at home field advantage against the Dodgers is very rapidly slipping away as the Mets offensive doldrums continue.

Mets – Willets Point Oct 03 2015 02:25 PM Re: IGT 10/03/15 (D) WAS @ NYM: Duffy Drier

Just remember that the last team to beat the Mets in the World Series won only 87 regular season games and lost 15 of their last 18. The last team to beat the Mets in the NLCS won only 83 regular season games & finished the season losing 8 of their last 11. In short, what happens at the end of the regular season has little bearing on what happens in the postseason. The Mets have a good a chance as any team of winning it all (and if anything, karma owes the Mets for letting two shitty teams profit at their expense).

batmagadanleadoff Oct 03 2015 06:34 PM Re: IGT 10/03/15 (D) WAS @ NYM: Duffy Drier

Frayed Knot wrote: Svrluga (pronounced just like it's spelled) is their national baseball guy (as opposed to the Nationals beat writer guy). He recently wrote a short book on the behind the scenes look at the lengthy baseball season (clubhouse/equipment guys, etc.) which was mostly Nationals-centric but would be similar with any team. Much lighter material in that one. [fimg=150]https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/posts/2015/06/51_f1ST534L._SY344_BO1204203200_/7d06fce34.jpg[/fimg] How was it (if you read it)?

Frayed Knot Oct 03 2015 06:48 PM Re: IGT 10/03/15 (D) WAS @ NYM: Duffy Drier

It was just OK Very short so it's not like you're going to invest a ton of time in it either way. Some insight into some stuff but hardly anything earth-shattering.