Tonight at 7:10, the Mets take on the Nationals in the first game of a three-game series at Citi Field.
This may be the last chance for the Mets. If they can’t take this series, it will be very, very hard for them to get out of the hole they’ve dug for themselves.
The last time the Mets played the Nationals just last week, they lost two of three. The two losses were both of the one-run variety. They lost the first game 4-3 after a comeback attempt in the ninth inning fell just short. Then the next night, they lost it in the tenth on a wild pitch by Pedro Beato with the bases loaded. Luckily, R.A. Dickey and David Wright were there to save the day in the getaway game. Wright hit two home runs and Dickey allowed four runs in 7.1 innings en route to a 9-5 win.
Despite the promising sign at the end of the last Nationals series, they have continued to falter. They were swept by the Dodgers at Citi Field to fall below .500 for the first time all season. That makes this series so critical for the Mets.
Pitching Matchups:
Game 1: Monday 7:10
Chris Young (2-4, 4.11 ERA) vs. Jordan Zimmerman (7-6, 2.35 ERA)
Game 2- Tuesday 7:10
R.A. Dickey (13-1, 2.84 ERA) vs. Gio Gonzalez (12-5, 3.32 ERA)
Game 3 Wednesday 12:10
Jeremy Hefner (1-3, 5.85 ERA) vs. Stephen Strasburg (10-4, 2.85 ERA)
Notes:
- Ian Desmond is heading to the DL with an oblique injury. Desmond has been the the biggest offensive threat for the Nationals this season, hitting 17 home runs and driving in 53. He was batting .286 with a .825 OPS. He also has 15 stolen bases. He could be out for well over a month.
- The Mets don’t get any breaks with the pitching matchups in this series. They are forced to face Washington’s three best pitchers. This is going to be a very tough series…
- Daniel Murphy is on fire. He has his average up above .300 once again after going 4-for-5 last night. Since June 26, Murphy is hitting .440.
- The Mets have a 6.36 ERA since the All-Star break.
31 comments
srt
7/23/2012-10:29am at 10:29 am (UTC -4)
Oh boy…look at those pitching match-ups.
Hefner vs. Strasburg – LOL
If we’re lucky, we’ll pull out the middle game with RA on the mound as Gio looked like he’s been struggling his last few starts as well.
trs86
7/23/2012-11:12am at 11:12 am (UTC -4)
Hefner based on what I have seen is not deserving of an authentic MLB hat, let alone a Mets uniform. So far he has proven he couldn’t even be Batista’s caddie. I am depressed that I even have to watch him take the mound.
wanny
7/23/2012-11:28am at 11:28 am (UTC -4)
Hefner will outduel Strasburg by pitching a one hitter to Strasburg’s two hitter. Then, the second inning will come and Hefner will unravel while Strasburg strikes out 9 of the next 15 Mets before departing after 6 with a 7-0 lead.
trs86
7/23/2012-11:33am at 11:33 am (UTC -4)
Eh, I give Hefner 3 innings before the bullpen has to warm up.
Stickguy
7/23/2012-11:51am at 11:51 am (UTC -4)
man, I knew you would be on here riding Hefs jock. What did he do, sleep with your dog and kick your wife?
I did this number crunching someplace recently but of course can’t find it. But, overall for the year, in a couple stints up/down and in/out of the rotation, he is sitting with a WHIp of 1.36 (and only 4 BBs in 32 IP). Batista would do 4 in 1 IP, no sweat, and was rocking a WHIP of what, 1.8?
So Hef has not been putting an inordinate amount of runners on.
and parsing out his work (SSS in play too!), he started his ML career with 2 respectable long relief stints (3 IP, 0 ER, then 5 IP, 2 ER)
Then he had 3 starts. 1st, he went 3 innings pitching very well, sat through an hour+ rain delay, and got hit around after that (must SPs would not have come back out). Final line, 3.2/6 ER).
but, then he reeled off 2 straight QCs vs. phi and wash (both 6 IP/3 ERs).
then he got to sit for 9 days, and used as a RP again. 6 appearances, all 1 inning at least, some more, and in 4 of them he gave up no runs.. The other 2 (first and last) he gave up a couple of runs.
back to minors, pitched well starting again, then he pitched the other day (2 IP 2 ER).
like I said, overall 32 IP with only 4 BBs and a 1.36 WHIP in far from regular work or role.
and remember, from reading about Harvey, calling up a prospect that is not dominating, and using him at all irregularly, will cause his career to be ruined before it starts, and likely the earth to spin off it’s axis.
so anyway, to wrap this up, I don’t see at all that Hefner has not been better than Batista.
srt
7/23/2012-11:58am at 11:58 am (UTC -4)
‘…sleep with your dog and kick your wife’ LOL.
The big difference I think between Harvey and Batista is I believe Harvey doesn’t walk the park as Batista does. That and Batista is about the slowest SP I’ve ever seen. I’m talking Traschel slow.
Point is what choice do we have right now? The only other SP we could possibly throw at there is Schwinden. We’ve seen where that got us.
Unless Sandy is going to pick up a SP from the scrap here in the next week, we’re looking at Hefner starting until Johan returns.
trs86
7/23/2012-12:11pm at 12:11 pm (UTC -4)
I guess but I certainly don’t have to like it or expect anything but demise.
trs86
7/23/2012-12:08pm at 12:08 pm (UTC -4)
Cherry pick if you want but he has a .319 .329 .507.836 slash line as a starter with 12 ER in 15.2 innings (6.89 ERA). That’s bad. As a reliever it is almost 5.00.
Batista even following his last outing finished with an ERA 1.5 lower as a starter and better as a reliever as well pitching in much more high pressure situations.
Again, I am not championing the cause of Batista and you might as well go with Hefner as he is younger and maybe can improve but damn he has been awful and I keep seeing people want him on the mound. Hey I hope I am wrong but this is a guy who has a 5.00 ERA in the minors last year as well so I am not letting one or two starts in AAA or against a hapless Phillies team mean a damn thing.
srt
7/23/2012-11:59am at 11:59 am (UTC -4)
Hey TRS…..Figgy is available again. The Yankees released him last week.
He’s got some ML experience (ducking…..)
trs86
7/23/2012-12:09pm at 12:09 pm (UTC -4)
LOL, what’s the difference? I guess Hefner is the new Figgy? People want some underdog to champion the cause and the grass is always greener and all that crap.
srt
7/23/2012-12:11pm at 12:11 pm (UTC -4)
Seriously, I can’t disagree with you on Hefner. He’s a triple A pitcher with nothing really to recommend he’ll ever stick on a ML roster.
Problem is, he’s just about the only arm we’ve got left on the 40 man we could remotely think about starting. Not unless we’re going to take a chance on another arm down there not yet on the 40 man.
Either that or pick up some scrub from the scrap heap this week.
trs86
7/23/2012-12:13pm at 12:13 pm (UTC -4)
We should be scrap heap scrumming right now. Zach Duke, Lannan, there are guys out there that could at least hold down a fort. Besides, does anyone expect Johan back in 2 weeks?
trs86
7/23/2012-12:18pm at 12:18 pm (UTC -4)
The thing that gets me is that there is still a group getting on Sandy for not making a deal yet. What in the hell is he supposed to do to get 2 starters, a RH bat and a competent bullpen in 10 days and make gains enough to actually compete? If they can’t win this series someone how then he needs to unload, not reload.
Stickguy
7/23/2012-12:24pm at 12:24 pm (UTC -4)
wait, you don’t get it? If he had just made a move for a RP before the ASG (put aside for the moment that teams wren’t looking to trade any then), the Mets would be in fine shape, and none of that other stuff would matter.
it is all because Sandy was sitting by the pool instead of working the phones, because after all, his mission is to make the team worse, and not try to win. He hates winning.
NJstuckinTX
7/23/2012-12:33pm at 12:33 pm (UTC -4)
Lunatic Fringe…
And honestly, there isn’t much he could do, though i’m sure he could have scrapped together some minor league mishmosh to get something better than Bautista.
I hope murph keeps on plugging away and plays himself into a nice little prospect…
Stickguy
7/23/2012-12:39pm at 12:39 pm (UTC -4)
so basically, he could have traded for the same stuff he was calling up?
And agreed about Murphy. he could be a prime trade chip.
wanny
7/23/2012-12:57pm at 12:57 pm (UTC -4)
Why do we want to trade Murphy, a young controllable player who can hit? Isn’t that the type of player we should try to acquire?
And before we proclaim Valdespin the OF of the future, remember that there are scouts (reportedly) who feel that he makes Murphy look like Ryne Sandberg in the IF. I’m not ready to annoint him after 80 at bats.
And what is Murphy bringing back in return that makes it worth it?
NJstuckinTX
7/23/2012-11:33am at 11:33 am (UTC -4)
Stras’ ears are HUGE!
This series, I unfortunately believe, will be the Stras that broke the camels back.
Stickguy
7/23/2012-12:46pm at 12:46 pm (UTC -4)
anyway, why is Buy/Sell either/or? how about both?
sell your excess or redundancies, and buy your needs.
Or, if you are giving up on making a run with the current group, still look to bring in a major piece for the future. Of course, if that is someone like Upton, it helps yo right now too, so it really depends if you are unloading ML roster talent to get him.
might not be Upton, but I would be happy if they could move some parts for kids (Byrd, Hariston, and in honor ox Tex, Murphy), but also trade parts (including prospects) for a player that can realistically be considered part of the nucleus to build around.
And in this case, a catcher (not expecting that!) or much more likely, a RH hitting OF. Someone somewhere keeps mentioning Fowler from Colo. Not sure if that makes sense, but what if they could work out a deal for a Rh hitting OF in a swap for Murphy, to a team that is hard up for a 3B and needs a lefty? Similar contract status say.
expand it to fiddle some prospects of course.
but hell, if you could get a better RH OF now, and for the next couple years, you can fill in at 2B with Spin/Turner/Cedeno temporarily, and potentially have spin or havens for the future.
NJstuckinTX
7/23/2012-12:56pm at 12:56 pm (UTC -4)
What you said!
Though, I do see Spin as an OF project of the future.
And Murphy might be able to hit HRs again, playing in Colorado.
Stickguy
7/23/2012-12:57pm at 12:57 pm (UTC -4)
maybe they could work Familia into the deal, right?
NJstuckinTX
7/23/2012-1:25pm at 1:25 pm (UTC -4)
If there is a way to get something good (Upton, Elsbury, etc.) you can’t get that for crap. Needs to be pieces of substance.
And take the above ramblings with a grain of salt and 2 peppercorns, as they aren’t going to make that kind of splash.
wanny
7/23/2012-1:01pm at 1:01 pm (UTC -4)
Murphy for kids? Why? Is he a grizzled old vet in the last year of control who is about to make a zillion bucks? And why kids? With the hope that they might be able to hit like Murphy some day?
He’s young, controllable and can hit. Turner is roster filler. Valdespin has rocks for hands in the infield and is universally not beloved by scouts. Cedeno? Replacement level player.
NJstuckinTX
7/23/2012-1:23pm at 1:23 pm (UTC -4)
Well, I wouldn’t trade him for trading’s sake. He’s the guy that probably has the most value (other than spin) that this team could part with an not kill the team. If you can get something of value (Preferably a RH Catcher of substance, RH anything of substance, or even a controllable closer or even starter, I’d think I would consider that for sure.
Yes, he hits nice and has made strides on the D front. But he certainly isn’t untouchable. If a team wants to overpay to get him, you give him a high five, buy him a drink, tell him he looked much more grizzled while sporting the mustache and you move on with what he brought back.
wanny
7/23/2012-1:26pm at 1:26 pm (UTC -4)
sure, i would entertain it if someone wanted to overpay. but i wouldn’t be shopping him around for a part time catcher or middle reliever. this team has a better chance at being a real contender some day with murphy in the lineup than it does at competing this season with turner at 2b and another jon rauch or tim byrdak in the pen.
NJstuckinTX
7/23/2012-1:32pm at 1:32 pm (UTC -4)
Yes, I agree and good points. Was more a comment about upgrading the team from a longer term perspective. Trading for Shoppach or some other rental that is gone the following year.
Murph is about the only major leaguer that has value. I wish that we could get something for nothing, but I don’t think that fly unless on the interweb’s fantasy blogs…
Stickguy
7/23/2012-2:19pm at 2:19 pm (UTC -4)
what he said.
trs86
7/23/2012-2:36pm at 2:36 pm (UTC -4)
Here’s my problem. Even if we considered V-spin part of the solution, did we see his arm throwing from the OF? CF? Uh, think Juan Pierre. 2B is most likely his best position and I guess you could say the same for Murphy.
Stickguy
7/23/2012-12:56pm at 12:56 pm (UTC -4)
Met fans do seem to be particularly bi-polar. Win a series vs. the Rays, and WS here we come. Have a bad stretch, and the sky is falling.
teams do have good/bad patches. And just because they are scuffling now does not mean they will never come out of it. Sure the SP is a tad rough at the moment, but who knows what that will look like in even a couple of weeks?
and sometimes you get those MiL guys that come up and in a small sample but up very good numbers (see Gee, 2010). Well, a hot month is about all they need out of someone.
darknova306
7/23/2012-6:14pm at 6:14 pm (UTC -4)
Expecting the rotation to be stellar all year was absolutely asking too much, and without spotless starting pitching the team doesn’t have nearly enough to compete.
wanny
7/23/2012-1:27pm at 1:27 pm (UTC -4)
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/mets/mets-fading-pennant-race-closing-racial-divide-clubhouse-article-1.1119829
this guy sure does have a fascination with this topic. this is about as much of a non-story as can be and is filled with nothing but further support of its irrelevance.