BBTF's Game Chatter Discussion :: Atlanta Braves (56-70) @ New York Mets (69-57), Wednesday, August 20, 2008, 7:10pm

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Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Atlanta Braves (56-70) @ New York Mets (69-57), Wednesday, August 20, 2008, 7:10pm

ATL: Jair Jurrjens (22, RHP, 11-8, 3.15)
NYM: Mike Pelfrey (24, RHP, 11-8, 3.91)

The Primer Chimp Posted: August 20, 2008 at 09:00 AM | 104 comment(s)
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1. Russlan is an overhyped Met BTFer Posted: August 20, 2008 at 12:45 PM (#2910173)

The Mets are only a couple games back of the Brewers in the loss colums for second place in the NL. Most of us have assumed that an NL Central team will win the WC but is that necessarily the case?

2. Sam M. Posted: August 20, 2008 at 12:55 PM (#2910189)

I don't think it's necessarily the case, but I look at it this way: if the Mets have enough juice to overtake the Brewers in the standings, then it's likely they are going to win the division and not need the WC. IMHO, Milwaukee is good enough that it's pretty unlikely that even one of the flawed NL East teams is going to outkick them to the finish line, much less that two of them will do so.

3. Conor Posted: August 20, 2008 at 04:27 PM (#2910485)

I don't think it's necessarily the case, but I look at it this way: if the Mets have enough juice to overtake the Brewers in the standings, then it's likely they are going to win the division and not need the WC. IMHO,

Yeah. This is why the BP playoff odds report gives the Mets a 1.7% chance of winning the wild card.

I wonder what the odds are that the Mets finish with a better record than the wild card winner. Certainly higher than 1.7%.

4. Raskolnikov Posted: August 20, 2008 at 05:15 PM (#2910577)

Mets sign Al Reyes. I like the move. Between him and Ayala, we have a chance of reclamating a decent reliever.

5. Bob Koo Posted: August 20, 2008 at 05:31 PM (#2910609)

Gah, Anderson Hernandez is in the starting lineup for the Nats. That does not bode well for the chances of a Phillies loss.

6. Raskolnikov Posted: August 20, 2008 at 07:16 PM (#2910693)

Pelfrey looks good.

7. Sam M. Posted: August 20, 2008 at 07:16 PM (#2910694)

That right there was the Mike Pelfrey who can be a consistent all-star caliber pitcher. Hard stuff, great movement, down. Two grounders, and a strikeout of a great hitter. Grade: A+.

8. Raskolnikov Posted: August 20, 2008 at 07:20 PM (#2910706)

Yes, Reyes steals. Now we need a Reyes run.

9. Sam M. Posted: August 20, 2008 at 07:25 PM (#2910713)

All set up for Carlos I to give us a big early lead. Do it.

10. Raskolnikov Posted: August 20, 2008 at 07:26 PM (#2910714)

Yes, Murphy up.

11. Sam M. Posted: August 20, 2008 at 07:27 PM (#2910716)

Now the kid really can become a Legend, can't he?

12. Raskolnikov Posted: August 20, 2008 at 07:28 PM (#2910718)

Oh so close.

13. Raskolnikov Posted: August 20, 2008 at 07:30 PM (#2910721)

MURPHY!

14. Raskolnikov Posted: August 20, 2008 at 07:31 PM (#2910723)

I don't care how or where, but Murphy *has* to be in the starting lineup next year.

15. Sam M. Posted: August 20, 2008 at 07:31 PM (#2910724)

Man crush. Total, absolute man crush. And hey, I can actually have the other kind, too!!!

16. Raskolnikov Posted: August 20, 2008 at 07:31 PM (#2910725)

YES!

17. Raskolnikov Posted: August 20, 2008 at 07:32 PM (#2910728)

Thank goodness Tex is gone. Tex would have gotten that.

18. Sam M. Posted: August 20, 2008 at 07:32 PM (#2910729)

Oh, Chipper!!!!! Thank you, Larry.

19. manchestermets Posted: August 20, 2008 at 07:33 PM (#2910730)

Larry!

Rask, assuming that Church is fit next year, then a Church Beltran Murphy outfield looks good to me.

20. Sam M. Posted: August 20, 2008 at 07:33 PM (#2910731)

Base hit??? Well . . . that's generous. At least they gave the error allowing Murphy to advance.

21. Sam M. Posted: August 20, 2008 at 07:34 PM (#2910733)

a Church Beltran Murphy outfield looks good to me.

Poor Tatis. No room for the guy who in many ways saved our season, eh? :-)

22. Raskolnikov Posted: August 20, 2008 at 07:34 PM (#2910734)

Yeah, but Fernando should be ready mid-2009. Do we want to move Church or Murphy midway next year.

Yea, errors!

23. Raskolnikov Posted: August 20, 2008 at 07:35 PM (#2910736)

FLOODGATES!

24. Sam M. Posted: August 20, 2008 at 07:35 PM (#2910737)

Wow. This is ugly, but that throw really should have been caught by Kramden (I mean Norton).

25. Sam M. Posted: August 20, 2008 at 07:35 PM (#2910740)

You can't stop Pelfrey. You can only hope to contain him.

26. manchestermets Posted: August 20, 2008 at 07:36 PM (#2910743)

Sam, I'd happily have Tatis on the bench but y'know, Anderson and Easley have to be catered for.

27. manchestermets Posted: August 20, 2008 at 07:36 PM (#2910744)

Pelf!

28. Raskolnikov Posted: August 20, 2008 at 07:38 PM (#2910752)

Boo. 40+ pitches on Jurrjens. Let's knock him out early.

29. Sam M. Posted: August 20, 2008 at 07:38 PM (#2910754)

Jose makes two outs. Hoser.

30. Sam M. Posted: August 20, 2008 at 07:41 PM (#2910760)

Yeah, but Fernando should be ready mid-2009.

I'm not sure there's any real reason to believe that. Show me he can stay on the field consistently first; that's part of him showing he's "ready."

That was . . . un-smooth.

31. Sam M. Posted: August 20, 2008 at 07:43 PM (#2910763)

That, OTOH, was smooth. Nice play, David. Show up Larry.

32. Raskolnikov Posted: August 20, 2008 at 07:45 PM (#2910765)

Pelfrey looks great.

I'm still waiting for Fernando to explode. I predict that will happen sometime from tonight to midway next year - then he will be ready.

Tonight would be a good night to get an extended look at Ayala and Stokes.

33. Dan Posted: August 20, 2008 at 07:45 PM (#2910766)

Church won't be the starting RFer if/when he makes it back this year.

34. Srul Itza Posted: August 20, 2008 at 07:46 PM (#2910767)

Best thing about a 5 run lead:

not even chipper can hit a 5 run homer.

35. Raskolnikov Posted: August 20, 2008 at 07:47 PM (#2910771)

Hey guys, let's take some pitches on Jurrjens.

36. Raskolnikov Posted: August 20, 2008 at 07:48 PM (#2910773)

That was not a good half inning.

37. Sam M. Posted: August 20, 2008 at 07:51 PM (#2910781)

Church won't be the starting RFer

If that's related to Church's health, fine.

If that's a decision based on the merits, it's idiotic. Tatis has been wonderful, and saved the team from the ravages of Marlon Anderson as a corner outfielder. But he is nowhere near the player that a healthy Ryan Church is, especially when you consider defense in the equation.

If all Manuel means is that Church won't play every day -- which if you read carefully, is all he actually says -- then OK. I have no problem with playing Tatis against some LHP. But Church should be the most-of-the-time RFer.

38. Raskolnikov Posted: August 20, 2008 at 07:51 PM (#2910782)

Speaking of exploding, Fernando 2-2 with a 2B tonight so far. Show us something, kid.

Beltran is so good.

39. Raskolnikov Posted: August 20, 2008 at 07:55 PM (#2910789)

Agh, why do our catchers drop the ball all the time.

Good throw, Murphy.

40. Sam M. Posted: August 20, 2008 at 07:56 PM (#2910790)

Dear Brian,

It helps, when applying the tag, to catch and hold the ball. Just a thought.

Your pal,

Sam

41. Sam M. Posted: August 20, 2008 at 07:56 PM (#2910793)

I love that from Omar. What a reaction! "Oh, God. Let's get that." Awesome.

42. Raskolnikov Posted: August 20, 2008 at 07:57 PM (#2910794)

Tatis is pretty good so far. If he keeps his form, Tatis/Evans/Pascucci should suffice to balance our lefty-laden roster next year.

43. Raskolnikov Posted: August 20, 2008 at 07:59 PM (#2910797)

I don't like this. We aren't tiring out Jurrjens - and this game is still too close.

Let's drag out a long AB, Murphy.

44. Sam M. Posted: August 20, 2008 at 08:00 PM (#2910804)

You have to give Jurrjens some credit -- he's started to throw more strikes. Which you have to expect, since he is, after all, a pretty damn good pitcher.

45. Sam M. Posted: August 20, 2008 at 08:02 PM (#2910807)

Geez . . . this really hasn't been Chipper's day with the leather, has it???

46. Raskolnikov Posted: August 20, 2008 at 08:02 PM (#2910808)

Great job, Larry.

47. Sam M. Posted: August 20, 2008 at 08:13 PM (#2910835)

Nice. Don't let them start to chip away at the lead. No building on that first run.

48. Sam M. Posted: August 20, 2008 at 08:22 PM (#2910854)

I'd have to really think about this, but off the top of my head, I think that Jeff Francoeur is the last player of any substantial reputation in the majors whom I would ever want on my team. He's terrible, and I see SO little likelihood of improvement because of his approach and how he's actually regressed. The raw physical talent is there, in a way, but . . . .

49. manchestermets Posted: August 20, 2008 at 08:23 PM (#2910856)

Is it my imagination, or has Gary Cohen been less annoying recently?

50. Sam M. Posted: August 20, 2008 at 08:26 PM (#2910864)

That's not annoying at all!!! Wright just broke a tie for 7th all-time on the Mets' HR list with his 121st, moving ahead of Fonzie. Next up is McReynolds, with 122.

51. Sam M. Posted: August 20, 2008 at 08:30 PM (#2910873)

Mets' All-Time Home Run Leaders

1. Darryl Strawberry 252
2. Mike Piazza 220
3. Howard Johnson 192
4. Dave Kingman 154
5. Todd Hundley 124
6. Kevin McReynolds 122
7. David Wright 121
8. Edgardo Alfonzo 120

David Wright surpasses Straw on Sept. 23, 2012. My birthday.

52. manchestermets Posted: August 20, 2008 at 08:31 PM (#2910877)

The Saturday game of the series against the Pirates in 1999 was my first ever game - I was visiting my company's NY office for my first US trip and it seemed like there was nothing but baseball on TV, so I got into it and ended up going to a game. That was fun, and look where it got me. Watching this game, when I have to catch a train in 7 and a half hours...

53. Raskolnikov Posted: August 20, 2008 at 08:31 PM (#2910880)

I once claimed Francoeur was the Braves' Rey Ordonez. That suggestion was not received well by the Braves Primates.

54. Sam M. Posted: August 20, 2008 at 08:34 PM (#2910888)

Not good, Mike. I think he got irritated by that bunt. This is a very dangerous moment. Chipper . . . .

55. Sam M. Posted: August 20, 2008 at 08:35 PM (#2910891)

Bad time for Old Pelfrey to reappear, eh?

56. Barry Gibb Posted: August 20, 2008 at 08:36 PM (#2910893)

I once claimed Francoeur was the Braves' Rey Ordonez

Except that Ordonez was a great fielder.

57. Sam M. Posted: August 20, 2008 at 08:38 PM (#2910895)

Awesome. Awesome. Awesome. Got ahead in the count, then got McCann to swing at the sinker. Awesome.

58. Barry Gibb Posted: August 20, 2008 at 08:38 PM (#2910897)

Wait, McCann took that first pitch for a strike? What a terrible call, that wasn't even close to the zone, it just looked like McCann went.

59. Sam M. Posted: August 20, 2008 at 08:39 PM (#2910900)

Frigging Schneider. BLOCK THAT PITCH.

60. Sam M. Posted: August 20, 2008 at 08:39 PM (#2910903)

Thank you, Brian. That bit of incompetence cost us a run.

61. Raskolnikov Posted: August 20, 2008 at 08:42 PM (#2910910)

This is too close, I don't like the way this game is headed.

62. Barry Gibb Posted: August 20, 2008 at 08:44 PM (#2910913)

Oh, please don't worry Raskolnikov. The Braves will probably not score again. I say probably because even the Braves odds of scoring late in the game go up when the Mets bullpen is involved.

63. Raskolnikov Posted: August 20, 2008 at 08:45 PM (#2910916)

Fernando now 3-4. Dylan Owen with a good start in AA.

64. Sam M. Posted: August 20, 2008 at 08:50 PM (#2910925)

Can't we pretend this is a tennis match, and the Mets already won 6-3? Game over.

65. Raskolnikov Posted: August 20, 2008 at 08:50 PM (#2910926)

Awesome 7th inning. If Pelfrey gives us 1 more, we can close it out with Stokes or Ayala.

66. Sam M. Posted: August 20, 2008 at 08:51 PM (#2910927)

Now, THAT was a much tidier inning. Throwing strikes, and having the Braves swing at them, works. Nice job, Mr. P.

67. Chris Dial Posted: August 20, 2008 at 08:52 PM (#2910929)

Now, who thinks Pelfrey comes out in a minute? If that wouldn't be the dumbest thing we could do.

In my book, Pelfrey goes until he gets into *alot* of trouble.

68. Raskolnikov Posted: August 20, 2008 at 08:52 PM (#2910931)

Our rotation has been extremely consistent.

69. Srul Itza Posted: August 20, 2008 at 08:54 PM (#2910936)

In my book, Pelfrey goes until he gets into *alot* of trouble.

I didn't know that you wrote alternate universe fiction, Chris.

Of course he's coming out. Manuel has to figure out who his 8th inning pitcher is going to be.

70. Sam M. Posted: August 20, 2008 at 08:55 PM (#2910938)

Of course he's coming out.

He's only thrown 89 pitches. I think there's a decent chance he pitches the 8th, or at least starts it. Zero chance he starts the 9th, though.

71. Raskolnikov Posted: August 20, 2008 at 08:57 PM (#2910941)

Even though he popped out, that was a good AB by Reyes.

72. Sam M. Posted: August 20, 2008 at 08:58 PM (#2910944)

That would have been a lot more valuable PA by Fake Reyes against Jurrjens, working his pitch count up. Not nearly as helpful against a reliever.

73. manchestermets Posted: August 20, 2008 at 09:00 PM (#2910948)

It's good to see young players habitually working counts though.

74. Raskolnikov Posted: August 20, 2008 at 09:00 PM (#2910949)

BTW, if Omar listens to me as he should, he would sign Usain Bolt as a pinch-runner for the Mets in September. I predict he would be 100 for 100 in stolen bases.

75. Sam M. Posted: August 20, 2008 at 09:00 PM (#2910950)

I guess hoping the Nats would do something helpful v. the Phillies was too much to ask, eh? Sigh.

76. Sam M. Posted: August 20, 2008 at 09:02 PM (#2910956)

BTW, if Omar listens to me as he should, he would sign Usain Bolt as a pinch-runner for the Mets in September. I predict he would be 100 for 100 in stolen bases.

I predict he wouldn't. At most, he would get 25 chances as a pinch-runner in a month, since that's how many games the Mets play in September. Stealing 100 bases would be quite a feat in that time.

Yes, I know I'm a smart ass.

77. Raskolnikov Posted: August 20, 2008 at 09:05 PM (#2910961)

25 chances, that's 75 for 75 in stolen bases, I'll take that.

78. Sam M. Posted: August 20, 2008 at 09:05 PM (#2910962)

Atta baby, Mike. Strikes and more strikes in the 8th.

79. Raskolnikov Posted: August 20, 2008 at 09:06 PM (#2910967)

K! Two more and call a night, Pelf.

80. Sam M. Posted: August 20, 2008 at 09:07 PM (#2910969)

Awesome. Bad call, but I'll take it.

81. Raskolnikov Posted: August 20, 2008 at 09:07 PM (#2910971)

Well done, Pelf. The last two half innings for the Braves lasted 10 secs each. That's sick.

82. Sam M. Posted: August 20, 2008 at 09:09 PM (#2910974)

8 3 3 3 3 2

Not perfect, but one heck of a start. 97 pitches. Interesting call to see if he goes the 9th.

83. Chris Dial Posted: August 20, 2008 at 09:12 PM (#2910982)

It's an easy call. Let him start the 9th.

84. Srul Itza Posted: August 20, 2008 at 09:13 PM (#2910986)

I figured it out. Manuel lost track of the innings, and thought last inning was the 7th. That is why Pelfrey stayed in.

85. Sam M. Posted: August 20, 2008 at 09:16 PM (#2910991)

Throw strikes, Mike. STRIKES.

86. Raskolnikov Posted: August 20, 2008 at 09:16 PM (#2910993)

87. Raskolnikov Posted: August 20, 2008 at 09:17 PM (#2910996)

That's the 2nd time he's K'ed Larry. That tells you he's got great stuff.

1 more, Pelf.

88. Sam M. Posted: August 20, 2008 at 09:17 PM (#2910998)

Hey, baby!!!! You've come of age when you come back from 3-0 to K the arch-nemesis.

TWO DOWN!!!!

89. Raskolnikov Posted: August 20, 2008 at 09:17 PM (#2910999)

The pitching line won't look it, but Pelfrey was dominant tonight.

90. Raskolnikov Posted: August 20, 2008 at 09:18 PM (#2911001)

BALLGAME!

91. Joshemy Posted: August 20, 2008 at 09:18 PM (#2911002)

Got home for the ninth.

BIG PELF!

92. Raskolnikov Posted: August 20, 2008 at 09:18 PM (#2911003)

Utterly shut down the Braves tonight. Wow.

93. Sam M. Posted: August 20, 2008 at 09:18 PM (#2911004)

Twelve wins for Pelfrey.

13 games over .500 (first time all year).

First complete game of Pelfrey's career.

This has been a GOOD NIGHT!!!!!!!!!

94. Karl from NY Posted: August 20, 2008 at 09:18 PM (#2911006)

Time of game 2:08. I approve, but now what do I do the rest of the night?

95. Chris Dial Posted: August 20, 2008 at 09:19 PM (#2911007)

Awesome, Jerry. Way to hang with him! You're learning!

96. Sam M. Posted: August 20, 2008 at 09:20 PM (#2911008)

Boys, I think we got us a rotation anchor. The only question now is just how good he's going to be . . . and if he stays healthy, of course.

97. Chris Dial Posted: August 20, 2008 at 09:20 PM (#2911009)

And nice game, Pelfrey!

98. Srul Itza Posted: August 20, 2008 at 09:20 PM (#2911010)

108 Pitches, 9 innings.

He needs to start preaching the gospel to the rest of the rotation.

99. Srul Itza Posted: August 20, 2008 at 09:21 PM (#2911013)

For those of you scoring at home, that's 12 pitches per inning.

100. PreservedFish Posted: August 20, 2008 at 09:24 PM (#2911019)

Awesome game.

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Atlanta Braves (56-70) @ New York Mets (69-57), Wednesday, August 20, 2008, 7:10pm

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