Tonight, the Mets begin a three-game series with the Cubs at Ciri Field. First pitch is at 7:10.
Since we last left the Cubbies, they have played… surprisingly better. They took three against the Astros (is that an accomplishment?) and also played well against Atlanta in a four-game set.
These are the same old Cubbies, however. They’re towards the bottom in baseball in every major offensive category, and their pitching isn’t much better.
Hopefully the Mets can get their revenge this weekend against the team that took two of three from them last week and head into the All-Star break with momentum in their favor.
Pitching Matchups:
Game 1- Tonight 7:10
Johan Santana (6-4, 2.76 ERA) vs. Travis Wood (3-3, 3.05 ERA)
Game 2- Saturday 4:10
Dillon Gee (5-7, 4.34 ERA) vs. Jeff Samardzija (6-7, 4.77 ERA)
Game 3- Sunday 1:10
Jonathon Niese (7-3, 3.35 ERA) vs. Chris Volstad (0-7, 7.94 ERA)
Notes:
- Andres Torres has a back problem and could miss some time in this series.
- The Cubs through 81 games were on a pace to finish the season 62-100.
- The Cubs’ starter for Sunday is currently Chris Volstad, but that could change. Ryan Dempster, the Cubs’ ace, is on the DL, but is begging his manager to start him on Sunday. Dempster, 35, has a 2.11 ERA in 81 innings this season.
- Volstad has been really, really bad. He hasn’t made it past the sixth inning all season and hasn’t allowed less than three runs in a start since his first outing of the season. In his last start against the Braves, Volstad lasted just 4.1 innings and allowed six runs on seven hits.
- SNY will have the call the whole weekend. No FOX. No ESPN.
39 comments
Stickguy
7/6/2012-10:51am at 10:51 am (UTC -4)
No Fox? Damn, I was looking forward to that when I saw the Saturday was a 4:10 game. Nuts.
Hopefully they don’t rush Dempster back, but knowing the mets, they might have a better shot at beating up on him instead of Volsted, who they might make healthy!
Saturday should be fun. If the NY forecast is the same as in S. jersey, it could be triple digit temps for the first pitch. Expect to empty the pen that day! But at least guys should be able to get loose quickly.
And I don’t want to be greedy, but screw this. Sweep the Cubs, and steam into the break on a high note! But short of that, 2-3 against a bad team at home (wait, they just did that!) is bare minimum.
Stickguy
7/6/2012-10:54am at 10:54 am (UTC -4)
also, this would be a fine time for Duda to get his head out of his ass and start crushing the ball. Given that he isn’t exactly Clemente out in RF< he better start putting up some numbers or he won't be out there much longer.
but I still think they need to just shift him over to LF now (he actually had much more experience there prior to this season), and just stick bay in RF for whatever little amount of time he will be back.
oleosmirf
7/6/2012-11:44am at 11:44 am (UTC -4)
nah you have to play him against the righty, since he is still a better option than Hairston. Kirk in CF and Valdespin in LF.
I just hope when Bay returns he is platooned and not starting over Baxter. I can accept Bay in the lineup since how bad the splits are in the OF.
What I can’t accept is Hairston on the bench vs. LHP or Bay in the lineup over Baxter against a righty…
Stickguy
7/6/2012-11:52am at 11:52 am (UTC -4)
so true
Bay was not back long the last time (7 games) but he was even worse than before he went down (and that was hard to do).
It is clear he needs to be brought back slow only vs. LHP, but I fear they are going to try the failed experiment of letting him play every day.
only good thing? The team is so lefty heavy, that having a defense only guy is not as bad as if he was another lefty starting vs. LHP
oleosmirf
7/6/2012-3:38pm at 3:38 pm (UTC -4)
although I forgot Wood is a lefty.
Stickguy
7/6/2012-3:58pm at 3:58 pm (UTC -4)
I see terry is rolling out his stone hands, no hit RH lineup again tonight.
I would rather have Ike in there for defense (the Turner experiment has been rough). And Cedeno over Murphy the way he has been hitting? pushing it.
other than that, OK!
oh, and put Torres on the DL and call up another RP. especially with a brutally hot WE coming up, you may need the arms.
oleosmirf
7/6/2012-5:00pm at 5:00 pm (UTC -4)
I would much rather see Murphy at 1B than Turner and Valdespin in CF instead of Kirk.
That’s my only gripe. Ike looked so bad against Lee and Hamels (I know Wood is not in their league), but still Ike is useless against lefties.
I am almost to the point where I’m wishing Bay was back, but I know that Terry doesn’t have the balls to platoon him…
NJstuckinTX
7/6/2012-6:06pm at 6:06 pm (UTC -4)
Agreed. Cementing Murph at 2B has to stop.
srt
7/6/2012-4:43pm at 4:43 pm (UTC -4)
Here’s hoping we put up a better showing during this Cubs series than we did the last one.
Stickguy
7/6/2012-4:52pm at 4:52 pm (UTC -4)
wood abused them last time. let’s hope they aren’t mentally exhausted this time, and make him pay!
asod75
7/6/2012-4:53pm at 4:53 pm (UTC -4)
I’m not usually one for trade proposals, but I came up with one that might make some sense. It has been said the Royals want a MLB player in any deal for Broxton (they should just settle for a prospect or 2), but how’s this. Mets send Dillon Gee and either Jeurys Familia or Collin McHugh to KC for Broxton and CF Lorenzo Cain. Cain has spent most of this season on the shelf with injuries, but is just about ready to return. He’s fairly young, a RH hitter with some pop and speed. I know he’s not the big RH power hitter most of us want, but he’s intriguing to say the least. It would allow the team to rid themselves of Torres and basically keep Kirk as a platoon player, which he seems to be at this point. Thoughts?
Stickguy
7/6/2012-5:00pm at 5:00 pm (UTC -4)
I don’t think they have the SP depth to trade away Gee. To be fair, I am not the familiar with Cain, but you don’t make it seem that he is some big part of the future, more like another spare part?
Not sure how much Broxton is really worth. But, a guy like Mchugh, of Familiar (not one of my favorites) is worth the risk.
hey, how about Omar Q? he is a ML player that they seem desperate to keep from being exposed to waivers, even though he never plays now.
asod75
7/6/2012-5:59pm at 5:59 pm (UTC -4)
Cain was one of the players Brewers sent to KC for Greinke. Righty stick with decent pop and wheels. Last year hit .312/.380/.497 at AAA with 16 homers, 81 RBIs and 16 steals. Absolutely tore the cover off the ball in spring training and was the team’s opening day CF before going down with an injury. He’s on the mend, currently rehabbing at AAA, and now expendable as the Royals have an uber prospect named Wil Myers on the way. If Royals would take Familia plus another minor leaguer (McHugh maybe), this would be an intriguing deal. I see your guys’ point in not trading Gee at this time.
oleosmirf
7/6/2012-5:22pm at 5:22 pm (UTC -4)
can’t trade one of our SP…
asod75
7/6/2012-5:56pm at 5:56 pm (UTC -4)
Well, I’d do Familia plus another minor-leaguer for this deal, but KC stupidly wants an MLB player in a deal for Broxton (they should just take prospects). The reason I said Gee is Harvey is just about ready, but as soon as we make this deal, guaranteed Chris Young goes down, so I see your point.
NJstuckinTX
7/6/2012-6:04pm at 6:04 pm (UTC -4)
There was a trade back in the day that at the time drove me nuts, and it was faith KC too. When bannister was traded for the guy that eventually went to jail for something or other in the Dominican. Never trade SP that is more than serviceable for RP.
asod75
7/6/2012-6:07pm at 6:07 pm (UTC -4)
Yeah Bannister for Ambiorix Burgos. A great Omar deal. I guess it would be different if both Wheeler and Harvey were knocking on the door at AAA.
NJstuckinTX
7/6/2012-5:54pm at 5:54 pm (UTC -4)
I like the concept of the trade, but None of the current SP can be included. I wold be more inclined to include Murphy or Parnell than I would Gee. Losing Murph isn’t a complete killer for me and swapping out Broxton for Parnell is an overall upgrade.
SaltyGary
7/6/2012-5:56pm at 5:56 pm (UTC -4)
Hah looks like we are on the same page or at least have no need for Murph?
NJstuckinTX
7/6/2012-6:02pm at 6:02 pm (UTC -4)
End of the day, Murph is not a long term solution and if Cain can be, great. Plus there are about 15 2B options on this team at this point…
NJstuckinTX
7/6/2012-6:00pm at 6:00 pm (UTC -4)
Further to this, Familia is much less important to this team than Gee is. Familia, Murphy, McHugh and a lesser piece for those 2? Familia, Havens, Parnell and another for those 2?
asod75
7/6/2012-6:05pm at 6:05 pm (UTC -4)
I wouldn’t deal Parnell at this point. I’d rather he team up with Broxton and Francisco in the pen. I wouldn’t be opposed to dealing Murph along with Familia. I’m just not so sure Valdespin is ready to be every day 2B. I do think Mets have players Royals could use. Why KC wants an MLB-ready player, I’m not quite sure. They should be stockpiling prospects, particularly pitching prospects because they’re pretty weak in that area.
NJstuckinTX
7/6/2012-6:09pm at 6:09 pm (UTC -4)
With Valdy, Turner, Cedeno, etc, it’s much easier to fill the hole for Murph. I’d prefer to go that route. Parnell is good, but I view it from KC’s perspective in that they aren’t going to want flotsam back. It would take a Murphor a Parnell to get the deal done. Kirk or another might, but I doubt it.
asod75
7/6/2012-6:13pm at 6:13 pm (UTC -4)
Guess they could also include a guy like Marte, since he’s pretty well regarded in prospect circles (although the results haven’t equalled the love really) and he really doesn’t have a future on the club with Wright here, Flores and Aderlin Rodriguez in the wings.
SaltyGary
7/6/2012-5:56pm at 5:56 pm (UTC -4)
Ya know if Harvey was lighting up AAA I would say go for it, but the way things are we need to keep the SP together. I would be fine getting Broxton, maybe Murphy gets some kind of deal done?
asod75
7/6/2012-6:01pm at 6:01 pm (UTC -4)
Thing is, Harvey is getting his crap together at AAA. I believe he’ll soon be ready. But I think you guys are right, probably can’t deal Gee, because as soon as you do, then Young inevitably will go down with an injury and then it’s Hefner/Schwinden time.
SaltyGary
7/6/2012-6:02pm at 6:02 pm (UTC -4)
Terrifying thought!
Connor O'Brien
7/6/2012-6:19pm at 6:19 pm (UTC -4)
UPDATE: Dempster starting Sunday
Stick
7/6/2012-7:11pm at 7:11 pm (UTC -4)
at least he throws with his right hand.
Stick
7/6/2012-7:13pm at 7:13 pm (UTC -4)
I am warming to the idea of broxton and cain for Murphy and familia. depending on $, etc. you might have to tweak some filler pieces.
Sold! Git ‘er dun Sandy!
NJstuckinTX
7/6/2012-7:16pm at 7:16 pm (UTC -4)
I still like Quentin and street better but this has a solid value. Cainis controllable until when?
Stick
7/6/2012-7:18pm at 7:18 pm (UTC -4)
probably 4 years, he only has real time in 2010 then minimal last year and this.
I’ll trade Murphy and Familia for street and quentin instead if you want. though that does not give them anything for the future.
NJstuckinTX
7/6/2012-7:26pm at 7:26 pm (UTC -4)
Each are controllable for next year
Stick
7/6/2012-10:35pm at 10:35 pm (UTC -4)
I meant Cain
trs86
7/7/2012-8:45am at 8:45 am (UTC -4)
Skipping last night the Mets should really check in on Upton. Good defender… good speed… good power…right handed… great friends with Wright. I would certainly trade anything but Harvey or Wheeler including some MLB Gus as well.
Stickguy
7/7/2012-10:15am at 10:15 am (UTC -4)
we talking BJ from the D Backs, right?
hard to see them taking on 41.1mill thru 2015 though. Probably market value, but will they be able to handle that? or want to?
but, only 9.75M next year. Gets really expensive in 2014 but Bay will be gone.
so, speaking of Bay, they are not bring on another starting OF unless either Bay gets cut (probably not happening) or they trade Duda (cold happen), though moving Duda ends up reducing the power potential.
and one of the 2 would have to move to LF (with Bay sitting, or at best, a platoon).
so, either Duda is traded to the AL, or Bay has to become a platoon guy with Duda with BJ playing RF every day.
you could end up with an OF of Bay/Duda (baxter if duda traded) in LF, Kirk/Hairston in CF and Upton in RF.
actually looks pretty strong, other than defensively vs. LHP.
Connor O'Brien
7/7/2012-12:23pm at 12:23 pm (UTC -4)
Justin Upton not BJ
trs86
7/7/2012-1:18pm at 1:18 pm (UTC -4)
Yes That’s the one.
Stickguy
7/7/2012-1:24pm at 1:24 pm (UTC -4)
I had the right guy, just wrong first name. the RF from the D Backs.
though I bet if you want BJ bad enough, you can have him too!