Who should start NLCS Game 1?

[Benjamin Grimm]

Who would you like to see start Game One on Sunday?

I realize we don't know our opponent yet, so that may be a factor. But based just on what we know about the Mets pitchers, who would you go with?

[Gwreck]

I go Severino 1, Manaea 2. That way they each go on an extra day’s rest.

[Edgy MD]

With six workable starters, they can pair them off in a three-game rotation. Each starter has a backup available if his partner falters early.

Also making that an appealing scenario is that the team is working with three righties (Megill, Senga, Severino) and three lefties (Manaea, Peterson, Quintana), so midgame switches can futz up lineup decisions that had been made on a lefty/righty basis.

[metirish]

I go Severino 1, Manaea 2. That way they each go on an extra day’s rest.

I go with this too

[Frayed Knot]

It's possible we do get that one - two but with Senga as an 'opener' for two innings or so in one of them. That way when Severino, say, is hopefully finishing up his strong six the game would already be in the 8th before you have to tap into the regular part of the pen.

But however it plays out, I agree that those two should be the main attraction.

[Fman99]

I presume we'll get Senga as the game 1 opener, again, and then Sevvy->Manaea->Quintana for games 2 through 4. With Megill & Peterson in combination as long men/following the ghost forker

[Benjamin Grimm]

I expect Senga would be allowed a larger pitch count in his next start.

[Gwreck]

The reason I don’t go Senga in game 1 is that Peterson might be more useful as a reliever in games 1/2 (or even 3). And if you don’t need him, then he backs Senga in game 3 or 4.

[MFS62]

I like Senga because he throws different pitches than any other starter the opponent might see, and that could mess up their swings into at least the second game.

Later

[roger_that]

I like the wacky option of a L/R 3-man rotation. Immediately, it removes 99% of pressure on the bullpen, which in turn means you can keep both McNeil and Acuna on the roster and drop some reliever (Ottavino?) who may not see action anyway. But the L/R thing really screws up the opposition's lineup, and you don't even have to pull the opening starter early if he's doing ok and feels good. You might pull him after 2 innings, but maybe you let him go for 4 or 5, depending. What would such a rotation look like, do you suppose? Which combo first, second, and third? Start a lefty consistently? I'd probably go for a righty opener, and then bring in the lefty guns for the middle innings, and then righties out of the pen.

[batmagadanleadoff]

I'd start a lefty. Unless I was starting a righty. Or I'd start a righty. Unless I was starting a lefty. I'd also like to wait until Saturday to see how my pitchers are feeling it. It would also help a lot to know who the hell the Mets are playing. I'm so wacky.

[batmagadanleadoff]

Which combo first, second, and third? Start a lefty consistently? I'd probably go for a righty opener, and then bring in the lefty guns for the middle innings, and then righties out of the pen.

What's the difference? Why would this even matter today?

[kcmets]

I voted Senga. Do I get a sticker to put on my sweatshirt?

[roger_that]

Which combo first, second, and third? Start a lefty consistently? I'd probably go for a righty opener, and then bring in the lefty guns for the middle innings, and then righties out of the pen.

What's the difference?

Between a lefty and a righty?

Well, you see, son, some people throw naturally with their right hands while others, equally gifted, throw better with their left hands. This will all be clear to you someday.

Personally, I'd prefer starting with the righty because that maximizes the problems for the opposition-- the Mets would be switching handedness twice: righty opener, followed by lefty long reliever, followed by righty closer. You encourage the opposition, whoever it is, to use up their pinch-hitters early or face a lot of L/L or R/R matchups. Again, this is complicated but you can understand these ideas if you try hard enough for long enough.

[Centerfield]

I was thinking Senga should have thrown a simulated game yesterday to get stretched out a bit. I guess he can even do it today. That allows him to go longer in game 3 if he gets the start.

[batmagadanleadoff]

Which combo first, second, and third? Start a lefty consistently? I'd probably go for a righty opener, and then bring in the lefty guns for the middle innings, and then righties out of the pen.

What's the difference?

Between a lefty and a righty?

Well, you see, son, some people throw naturally with their right hands while others, equally gifted, throw better with their left hands. This will all be clear to you someday.

What's clear is that you make mountains out of molehills and like to ask stupid questions. Because you're mainly interested in seeing who you can get to respond to your stupid questions, instead of the actual responses themselves. And the Padres hit significantly better against righties than they do against lefties. Son. Also, all righties aren't the same and all lefties aren't the same. Tylor Megill might be a righty, but he's still Tylor Megill. Son.

Hey, maybe the Mets could play one of those games like when they swapped Orosco and McDowell, depending on who was batting. Also, did you ever figure out who was the Mets 11th centerfielder on the depth chart? The fate of the free world hangs in the balance until we have a clear and definitive answer to that stupid question.

Now I have to go over to the other insane thread where they're pulling the last hairs out of their heads in angst and desperation and studying Marv Throneberry's entrails and the coffee grinds from Napoleon's time in Elba to figure out whether Sunday's game will start at 2:00PM or 2:15PM. Any minute now, they're gonna bring in the cadaver dogs to help out. Simply riveting.

[metirish]

Per Martino it is looking like Senga will start game one ( he blocked me years ago, but another account tweeted it )

[MFS62]

... ( he blocked me years ago, but another account tweeted it )

There HAS to be a story behind that. But whatever you said, he deserves it.
Later