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Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Games 162 Game Chatter

Let’s smash all the game 162 game chatters into one thread, shall we? There is a full slate of games, but as far as playoff races are concerned, these are the games that matter (although if you want to talk about any of the other games for any reason, feel free).

Red Sox (Lester) vs. Orioles (Simon) at 7:05 PM
Yankees (TBD- no, seriously, TBD) vs. Rays (Price) at 7:10 PM
Phillies (Blanton) vs. Braves (Hudson) at 7:10 PM
Cardinals (Carpenter) vs. Astros (Myers) at 8:05 PM

Gamingboy Posted: September 28, 2011 at 11:37 AM | 1763 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: community, game recaps, special topics

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101. Don Geovany Soto (chris h.) Posted: September 28, 2011 at 05:25 PM (#3941128)

Wouldn't the player need to clear waivers? It would be great to see a lower team place a claim to screw the Sox.

Presumably it would be a player that has already cleared waivers.

102. Karl from NY Posted: September 28, 2011 at 05:25 PM (#3941130)

Reyes hits a single! .33706 average. Braun now needs to go 3-4 or 4-6 or better. I'd pull Reyes now (or before another AB.)

Collins said in yesterday's game story that he'd do whatever it took to get Reyes the title today. I have no problem with that.

103. Guapo Posted: September 28, 2011 at 05:27 PM (#3941135)

Chen has already cleared waivers.

104. Mike Emeigh

Posted: September 28, 2011 at 05:27 PM (#3941136)

I'd pull Reyes now (or before another AB.)

They did, for Justin Turner.

-- MWE

105. Mike Emeigh

Posted: September 28, 2011 at 05:28 PM (#3941139)

Reyes (bunt) singles!

Hey, with Juan Francisco playing third I'd have him bunting too!

-- MWE

106. Karl from NY Posted: September 28, 2011 at 05:30 PM (#3941143)

They did, for Justin Turner.

Who watches the game? I had my head in my spreadsheet calculating what Braun needs now, of course. :)

107. esseff Posted: September 28, 2011 at 05:31 PM (#3941145)

Edit: For Checklist

Mention of Pujols needing 2 RBI to keep alive streak of 100-RBI seasons [ ]. Bonus: Speculation of this happening in a 163rd game.

108. SoSH U at work Posted: September 28, 2011 at 05:31 PM (#3941146)

Maybe the fact that there's still so much up in the air as play begins today that's clouding my persepctive, but I can get behind ending the season mid-week. Without any of that football nonsense clouding the calendar, this seems like the right time to finish off the year.

109. Benji Gil Gamesh Rises Posted: September 28, 2011 at 05:34 PM (#3941153)

Speculation of this happening in a 163rd game.

Shame there's no big record in reach for anyone on the teams that could potentially play a Game 163.

110. Lassus Posted: September 28, 2011 at 05:34 PM (#3941154)

Reyes (bunt) singles! And is promptly removed from the game?

WHAT?

I almost hope Braun goes 5-5 now.

That is plain bulshittery, Jose.

Boo.

111. Sam M. Posted: September 28, 2011 at 05:35 PM (#3941155)

If that gets Jose the batting title, I'll be happy. But it'll be awfully bittersweet if it's the last act of his Mets' career.

112. Benji Gil Gamesh Rises Posted: September 28, 2011 at 05:37 PM (#3941160)

but I can get behind ending the season mid-week.

Me too.

I assume the "games all day" scheduling was to make this somewhat similar to a normal final day?

113. Jose Can Still Seabiscuit Posted: September 28, 2011 at 05:37 PM (#3941161)

Maybe the fact that there's still so much up in the air as play begins today that's clouding my persepctive, but I can get behind ending the season mid-week.

As I drove to work this morning I had the exact opposite though. My day is completely consumed right now and I feel like for teams not in it, the idea of a weekend fall afternoon as the final game is nice rather than people feeling like they have to leave early because they have work/school in the morning.

114. The Long Arm of Rudy Law Posted: September 28, 2011 at 05:37 PM (#3941162)

If that gets Jose the batting title, I'll be happy. But it'll be awfully bittersweet if it's the last act of his Mets' career.

Did Don Cooper go out to first base and give him a hug before he left?

115. Sam M. Posted: September 28, 2011 at 05:37 PM (#3941163)

I almost hope Braun goes 5-5 now.

Well, there's no chance of that. If he gets to 3-for-3, Braun will come out of the game, batting title in hand.

As for whether it was bad for Jose to come out, I say the heck with that. It's been 50 years with no no-hitter and no batting champ. Pulling Reyes when they did meant Braun needs at least three hits in four or fewer at-bats. That seems like a good bet to me, and I'm glad they made it.

116. Lassus Posted: September 28, 2011 at 05:39 PM (#3941165)

I'm not. It's weak. Your opinion of it is not; however, the action is.

117. Austin Posted: September 28, 2011 at 05:39 PM (#3941168)

I'm sure 99% of you know this, but the Yankees, Red Sox, and Braves games are all available on ESPN3 tonight.

Thanks - I didn't think any games would be on ESPN3 tonight. Also, the Cardinals-Astros game is the MLB.TV free game today, so everyone gets to watch whatever team they feel like watching (or, as I'm sure I'll do, flip between them based on which game is more suspenseful at a given moment).

I'm late to the predictions party, but I think that each team has a better than 50% chance of winning tonight. Based on opposing teams and SP matchups, I'd guess that the one with the best chance to lose is the Braves, followed by the Red Sox. So I'd predict one of the comebacks (probably the Cardinals) to come to fruition without a play-in game, and one of the races (probably Sox-Rays) to require a Game 163.

118. Karl from NY Posted: September 28, 2011 at 05:41 PM (#3941171)

Agreed with Sam. If the game were meaningful to a playoff race, either the Mets or their opponent, the act might be questionable. But with nothing else to play for, let Reyes have it. If Reyes were to have another AB and make out, that adds 2-2 and 3-5 to the list of possible Braun winning outcomes, so this is a fine time.

119. The Long Arm of Rudy Law Posted: September 28, 2011 at 05:41 PM (#3941172)

George Brett sat out most of the last week of 1990 to make it harder to catch him for the batting title. Willie McGee didn't play at all in the NL the last month of that season, but for a different reason.

120. flournoy Posted: September 28, 2011 at 05:42 PM (#3941177)

Pulling Reyes there has the same feel as sitting a guy hitting .3997 to preserve his ".400 average." Feels cheap. Maybe he hurt his leg beating out the play, though...

121. esseff Posted: September 28, 2011 at 05:44 PM (#3941178)

Getting to be like the 1910 AL batting race. Maybe Reyes and Braun will both get a Chalmers.

122. Harveys Wallbangers

Posted: September 28, 2011 at 05:44 PM (#3941179)

Gotta agree to some extent with Lassus and Braun being the primary competition has no bearing on my comment. I always see this phrase in the Brewcrewball threads and I think it applies, "weak sauce"

Anyway, the Pirates are starting some lefty who has struck out 2 in 12 innings meaninig he gets by on slop. Braun kills lefties and in particular guys incapable of tying him up inside.

Add to that Braun is killing the ball in September and has been crushing line drives nightly the past week and I think he has a fair chance to steal one here.

123. Sam M. Posted: September 28, 2011 at 05:44 PM (#3941180)

If the game were meaningful to a playoff race, either the Mets or their opponent, the act might be questionable. But with nothing else to play for, let Reyes have it.

If the outcome of this game were meaningful, I would not only agree with Lassus, I'd be furious about it. But this was the course of action that maximized Jose Reyes' chance of doing something no Met has ever done. Given all he's endured, the boos and the questions and the nonsense, he's entitled. And I sure as hell hope he gets it.

124. SoSH U at work Posted: September 28, 2011 at 05:45 PM (#3941181)

It's been 50 years with no no-hitter and no batting champ.

Hey, don't sell yourself short. You don't have any MVPs either.

125. Sam M. Posted: September 28, 2011 at 05:46 PM (#3941183)

You don't have any MVPs either.

The hell we don't. Doc Gooden was the MVP in 1985, whether the jagoff writers recognized it or not.

126. Lassus Posted: September 28, 2011 at 05:49 PM (#3941188)

Weaksauce is about right. Not horrible or anything, just not the way I was hoping it would go down.

127. Greg (U)K Posted: September 28, 2011 at 05:50 PM (#3941191)

I always see this phrase in the Brewcrewball threads and I think it applies, "weak sauce"

Paradoxically at times awesome sauce can be worse.

128. Karl from NY Posted: September 28, 2011 at 05:51 PM (#3941193)

If he gets to 3-for-3, Braun will come out of the game, batting title in hand.

He doesn't have to, since 3-for-4 also gets Braun the title, .33748 to .33706. And the game does bear on seeding - a Milwaukee win means they get 2nd seed and avoid the Phillies in the first round - so he could stick in for a 4th AB.

129. Sam M. Posted: September 28, 2011 at 05:56 PM (#3941203)

He doesn't have to, since 3-for-4 also gets Braun the title, .33748 to .33706.

That's true. But I bet you that if he gets to exactly 3-for-4, and is at risk of falling back below Reyes with another unsuccessful AB, he'll come out.

The only thing that tugs at me in Lassus' direction, in favor of keeping Jose in the game, is the fact that this might have been his last game as a Met. It would be a no-brainer to me if (say) he were in the middle of his contract, and not a free agent to be. But because he may be on his way out of town, part of me would have wanted a more extended chance for the fans to say a (potential) good-bye.

But as far as the batting title goes? Lift him when it maximizes his chances. Period.

130. Don Geovany Soto (chris h.) Posted: September 28, 2011 at 05:56 PM (#3941204)

The purist in me agrees with Lassus and Harveys; sitting to preserve an average does seem like weak sauce.

On the other hand, it's hard to get too worked up about it. The Mets really have so little to cheer for that I'm inclined to let it slide. And I say that as a Cub fan with a history of hating the Mets for a long-ass time.

131. Lassus Posted: September 28, 2011 at 06:01 PM (#3941212)

I guess the fact that I was actually cheering in my house and jumped at Reyes' third hit last night makes me selfishly also want him to stay in the game for my own sake.

Would a Reyes 2-3 have beaten a Braun 3-4?

132. Jose Can Still Seabiscuit Posted: September 28, 2011 at 06:02 PM (#3941213)

It's not a federal crime or anything but it's a bit of a disappointing way to go about it.

133. Karl from NY Posted: September 28, 2011 at 06:03 PM (#3941214)

Would a Reyes 2-3 have beaten a Braun 3-4?

Yes, .33766 to .33748.

But going for that risks Reyes going 1-3 (.33581) which could lose to Braun 2-3 (.33630) or 3-5 (.33688).

134. Slivers of Maranville (SdeB) Posted: September 28, 2011 at 06:04 PM (#3941217)

I'll always think it somewhat sad his career ended on the mound at YS in the 2009 WS.

Pedro last pitched in a mythical city off the coast of Brittany? For what team, the Submariners?

135. Sam M. Posted: September 28, 2011 at 06:05 PM (#3941220)

Would a Reyes 2-3 have beaten a Braun 3-4?

Yes. If Jose had stayed in and gone 1-2 in additional ABs, that would have put Braun in the position where 3-4 wouldn't have been good enough.

Reyes: .33766
Braun: .33748

EDIT: Karl beat me to it.

136. andrewberg Posted: September 28, 2011 at 06:07 PM (#3941224)

I think the reason it seems amiss is that the batting title is essentially a measure of who happened to hit the best in his pursuit of making the postseason (albeit by an antiquated metric). When Reyes comes out of a game that has not been decided, it makes it glaringly obvious that he is playing for the batting title, not to win the game. I think it’s fair for people to object to playing the game for reasons other than winning, but with the Mets already done for the year, I don’t personally care.

137. Gonfalon Bubble Posted: September 28, 2011 at 06:07 PM (#3941226)

We will spend the rest of our lives awaiting the return of the Moshiach, in Pedro form.

138. zack Posted: September 28, 2011 at 06:08 PM (#3941228)

I'm a Mets fan, who cares more than he should about the Mets' (woeful) hitting leaderboards, and you can still put me in the weaksauce category.

Also, I turned off the game as soon as he was pulled, because there was nothing else worth watching in a 2011 Miguel Batista start. So there's that, too.

139. Edmundo got dem ol' Kozma blues again mama

Posted: September 28, 2011 at 06:09 PM (#3941230)

Weak sauce but in the Moneyball era is it even legal to care about the misnomered "batting title"? :)

140. mex4173 Posted: September 28, 2011 at 06:09 PM (#3941231)

Whatever happens in Houston, I hope Carpenter only goes 5 innings. If it is because he was shelled, or because the Cards score 12 I don't really care.

141. Sam M. Posted: September 28, 2011 at 06:12 PM (#3941235)

Ah -- now they're removing David Wright after an infield hit to the third base side as well. So it wasn't the batting race at all! It's just a rule about infield hits today.

142. Random Transaction Generator Posted: September 28, 2011 at 06:13 PM (#3941236)

Mention of Pujols needing 2 RBI to keep alive streak of 100-RBI seasons [ ]. Bonus: Speculation of this happening in a 163rd game.

[ ] Someone jokes about ARod needing 14 HR and 38 RBI to keep the 30/100 streak alive.

143. Karl from NY Posted: September 28, 2011 at 06:15 PM (#3941245)

Weak sauce but in the Moneyball era is it even legal to care about the misnomered "batting title"? :)

For on-field value, of course not, Reyes doesn't become any worse a player if Braun gets a few hits tonight. But fans do care, and it does matter for Mets marketing to have the reigning NL batting champion re-signed and playing. This is a franchise whose face the journos will take any opportunity to cream-pie and they need to do everything possible that looks respectable.

144. Misirlou is bad, he's nationwide Posted: September 28, 2011 at 06:16 PM (#3941246)

I don't think Braun is playing today.

He rested Monday, and Roenicke announced then that he'd play the last two games.

-- MWE

Guess he's not observing Rosh Hoshana then. Not that there's anything wrong with that.

145. Don Geovany Soto (chris h.) Posted: September 28, 2011 at 06:16 PM (#3941247)

Ah -- now they're removing David Wright after an infield hit to the third base side as well. So it wasn't the batting race at all! It's just a rule about infield hits today.

If only they had already moved the fences in, that would've been a homer.

146. bunyon Posted: September 28, 2011 at 06:16 PM (#3941249)

If he (A-Rod) gets it, I predict the Yankees win.

147. Sweatpants Posted: September 28, 2011 at 06:18 PM (#3941254)

Ducking out when the batting title on the line is a tradition almost as old as baseball itself. I have no problem with it, but I admire the guys who refuse to take the shortcut.

One of my favorite stories from The Glory of Their Times was Goose Goslin's chase for a batting title. It was late in the last game of the season; someone ran the calculations and told him that he held a slight lead over the second-place hitter, who was on the other team that day. An out in his next at-bat would drop him to second. The manager said that Goslin could take himself out of the game if he wanted to, but then his teammates pointed out that his opponents would ridicule him for doing that. Goslin indeed went up to bat and found himself down 0-2 before he knew it - so he tried to get himself thrown out. The umpire knew what was going on and told Goslin to get in the box and hinted that he probably wasn't going to get a walk. Goslin ended up getting a single and winning the crown.

This has to be the game he was talking about, and, sure enough, the numbers work out.

148. Sam M. Posted: September 28, 2011 at 06:19 PM (#3941258)

Now they have Lard Ass Francesa on the broadcast, ripping the Mets for taking out Jose. If that's not the best evidence I'm right, I rest my case.

149. Sweatpants Posted: September 28, 2011 at 06:19 PM (#3941259)

Was it last year or the year before that Rodriguez kept the streak alive with something like two homers and five RBI in the last game of the season?

150. Lassus Posted: September 28, 2011 at 06:20 PM (#3941260)

Now they have Lard Ass Francesa on the broadcast, ripping the Mets for taking out Jose.

Now that's fighting dirty, Sam.

151. VoodooR Posted: September 28, 2011 at 06:23 PM (#3941262)

This has to be the game he was talking about, and, sure enough, the numbers work out.

Sweet. I always wondered about many of the wonderful anecdotes in The Glory of Their Times, and knew that many of them had been researched and proven apocryphal (like everything Rube Marquard said). Nice to see some of them line up exactly with what really went down, as best as we can tell.

152. Harveys Wallbangers

Posted: September 28, 2011 at 06:23 PM (#3941264)

Braun was b*tching about sitting Monday. Another thing to like about the lad.

I know Braun is disliked by a fair number of NL fans for seeming arrogance, but even if he weren't an amazing hitter a Brewer fan has to like a guy who busts his *ss down the first base line, takes the extra base, dives for balls in the outfield, clearly enjoys playing and is something of a red *ss. I lost track but Braun has to have at least ten infield hits this season just because he is busting it out of the box on rollers to the infield.

Having Fielder around has helped refine some of his less appealing qualities as nobody does 'this game is FUN' quite like Prince.

153. VoodooR Posted: September 28, 2011 at 06:24 PM (#3941265)

Goslin ended up getting a single and winning the crown.

Uh-oh. That box score indicates Goslin got a double and home run as his two hits and five at bats. No singles.

154. Sweatpants Posted: September 28, 2011 at 06:26 PM (#3941270)

I might have remembered THAT part incorrectly. I don't think it was a homer, because he called it "the luckiest hit I ever got." But I don't know if he specifically said single.

EDIT: Found the passage online. He doesn't say that it was a single. He said he got a "lucky hit." Sorry for messing that up earlier.

EDIT again: He also got the home plate umpire correct. Pretty much every detail that I can check checks out.

155. The Long Arm of Rudy Law Posted: September 28, 2011 at 06:26 PM (#3941271)

Goslin indeed went up to bat and found himself down 0-2 before he knew it - so he tried to get himself thrown out.

Wouldn't he have been charged with the at bat if the pinch-hitter struck out? I don't know anything about Goose Goslin's knowledge of statistics, so that part doesn't necessarily mean the story isn't true. Most stories involving a Goose and a Heinie are somewhat embellished.

156. Joel W Posted: September 28, 2011 at 06:27 PM (#3941273)

Last night's hero Ryan Lavarnway batting 5th tonight and catching for the Red Sox.

157. Banta Posted: September 28, 2011 at 06:29 PM (#3941280)

Am I the only one who doesn't give a rip about batting titles? I mean, triple crowns are cool, but the Mets not having a batting champ isn't anywhere close to not having a no hitter in my mind. And I have a hard time getting excited about Reyes winning it when he missed a month of the season.

158. Greg (U)K Posted: September 28, 2011 at 06:29 PM (#3941281)

I know Braun is disliked by a fair number of NL fans for seeming arrogance, but even if he weren't an amazing hitter a Brewer fan has to like a guy who busts his *ss down the first base line, takes the extra base, dives for balls in the outfield, clearly enjoys playing and is something of a red *ss. I lost track but Braun has to have at least ten infield hits this season just because he is busting it out of the box on rollers to the infield.

I'm actually surprised by this. I follow the AL mostly so I usually only see Braun through box scores, but I always assmed he was one of the more likable guys in the league.

159. NJ in NY Posted: September 28, 2011 at 06:31 PM (#3941284)

Reyes sitting out after the first hit is weak. Sorry, but it is. Just as weak as it was when Mueller did it a few years back.

160. Famous Original Joe C Posted: September 28, 2011 at 06:31 PM (#3941285)

RED SOX (90-71)
Ellsbury CF
Pedroia 2B
Ortiz DH
Gonzalez 1B
Lavarnway C
Drew RF
Scutaro SS
Crawford LF
Aviles 3B

What did Reddick do to Tito's dog?

161. Harveys Wallbangers

Posted: September 28, 2011 at 06:31 PM (#3941286)

Greg:

Oh no. NL Central fans from Chicago, St. Louis, etc regularly mock his 'bug eyes' and claim he engages in 'fake hustle'. The bug eye sneer has validity as Braun does look silly at times when he is staring a pitch down after it passes. The fake hustle accusation is absurd.

But the comments are pretty regular that Braun is an arrogant pr*ck.

162. aleskel

Posted: September 28, 2011 at 06:31 PM (#3941287)

Dellin Betances starting for the Yankees tonight.

163. salvomania Posted: September 28, 2011 at 06:33 PM (#3941290)

I guess Reyes is too young to remember Bill Madlock and Ken Griffey in 1976:

Griffey sat, leading on the last day .338 to .333.

Madlock went 4-for-4 to get up to .339, Griffey was inserted into the game once they saw what was going on in Chicago, and he went 0-for-2 to finish at .336.

I would not at all be surprised to see Braun pull a Madlock tonight....

EDIT: Although I was a little surprised to see that, before his fifth at-bat in that 1976 game, Madlock was removed for a pinch-hitter leading Griffey, .339 to .338. Even if Madlock made an out he still would've won going 4-for-5, .33786 to .33750.

164. Harveys Wallbangers

Posted: September 28, 2011 at 06:33 PM (#3941291)

aleskel:

The Yankees are starting a flower arranger? What kind of name is Dellin Betances? Did he get kicked off some Bravo reality show?

165. Greg (U)K Posted: September 28, 2011 at 06:34 PM (#3941292)

Oh no. NL Central fans from Chicago, St. Louis, etc regularly mock his 'bug eyes' and claim he engages in 'fake hustle'. The bug eye sneer has validity as Braun does look silly at times when he is staring a pitch down after it passes. The fake hustle accusation is absurd.

Heh, his bug eyes are what I like about him. Kind of sounds more like "hate your rival's best player" syndrome than any real issue with Braun.

166. Misirlou is bad, he's nationwide Posted: September 28, 2011 at 06:36 PM (#3941294)

Dunn not playing today, so he comes 6 PA short of qualifying for the batting title. Can we do the opposite of what they do when a potential batting champ is a few PA short? Give Dunn a 6 for 6, and his qualifying average is .171.

167. Sam M. Posted: September 28, 2011 at 06:36 PM (#3941295)

And I have a hard time getting excited about Reyes winning it when he missed a month of the season.

Jose Reyes: Games, 125. Plate Appearances, 586. At Bats, 537

Ryan Braun: Games, 149. Plate Appearances, 625. At Bats, 559 (with one game to play tonight).

40 plate appearances and 25 or so at bats is not that big a difference.

I can get plenty excited. The guy has been through a hell of a journey as a Met. The injuries, the criticisms, the collapses for which he took such an unfair share of the blame. Howie Rose was talking on the radio broadcast about how badly Jose Reyes wants this batting title. If as a Mets fan you can't get excited about wanting this for a guy with whom we've been through so much as fans, then I just don't know what you want -- short of the team succeeding, of course, which is like 100x more meaningful.

168. Tom Cervo, backup catcher Posted: September 28, 2011 at 06:39 PM (#3941300)

If this is true, seems likely Reyes won't be back:

SamMillerOCR Sam Miller
Francesa on Mets: "They said off-the-record they have plans at 80, 90, 100 and 110."

Cot's has them at $140M for 2011.

169. Tom Cervo, backup catcher Posted: September 28, 2011 at 06:40 PM (#3941301)

If this is true, seems likely Reyes won't be back:

SamMillerOCR Sam Miller
Francesa on Mets: "They said off-the-record they have plans at 80, 90, 100 and 110."

Cot's has them at $140M for 2011.

170. Lassus Posted: September 28, 2011 at 06:40 PM (#3941302)

I agree with Sam on #167, at least. I'm excited for Reyes as well.

171. RB in NYC (Now Semi-Retired from BBTF) Posted: September 28, 2011 at 06:40 PM (#3941304)

Was it last year or the year before that Rodriguez kept the streak alive with something like two homers and five RBI in the last game of the season?

That was 2009, he did in TB, funnily enough.

As for Goslin, I think the story has it that Goslin hit a ball that was just out of the reach of the right-fielder, so that could easily be a double.

172. vortex of dissipation Posted: September 28, 2011 at 06:43 PM (#3941310)

I know Braun is disliked by a fair number of NL fans for seeming arrogance, but even if he weren't an amazing hitter a Brewer fan has to like a guy who busts his *ss down the first base line, takes the extra base, dives for balls in the outfield, clearly enjoys playing and is something of a red *ss. I lost track but Braun has to have at least ten infield hits this season just because he is busting it out of the box on rollers to the infield.

I'm a Reds fan, and I have no problem whatsoever with Ryan Braun. He's an exceptional player, and he plays the game with passion. He has my respect.

173. esseff Posted: September 28, 2011 at 06:44 PM (#3941312)

Wouldn't he have been charged with the at bat if the pinch-hitter struck out? I don't know anything about Goose Goslin's knowledge of statistics, so that part doesn't necessarily mean the story isn't true. Most stories involving a Goose and a Heinie are somewhat embellished.

I don't know what the scoring rules may have been at the time, but under today's Rule 10.15(b), Goslin would have risked a hitless at-bat by being ejected:

When a batter leaves the game with two strikes against him, and the substitute batter
completes a strikeout, the official scorer shall charge the strikeout and the time at
bat to the first batter. If the substitute batter completes the turn at bat in any other
manner, including a base on balls, the official scorer shall score the action as having
been that of the substitute batter.

174. aleskel

Posted: September 28, 2011 at 06:44 PM (#3941313)

The Yankees are starting a flower arranger? What kind of name is Dellin Betances?

maybe it's a generational thing, but I think Dellin Betances is a great ballplayer name. Granted, the Yankees' other top pitcher has an even better one: Manny Banuelos.

175. salvomania Posted: September 28, 2011 at 06:45 PM (#3941315)

Dellin Betances

That's gotta be an anagram....

176. Harveys Wallbangers

Posted: September 28, 2011 at 06:46 PM (#3941316)

I cannot begin to gauge the market this offseason, but working on the presumption that Reyes will not get the same money as Fielder and the Brewers do pay when if they think the return is there AND the Brewers could likely have cost control in place at multiple positions if they swap Green for Casey and insert Gamel at first I would encourage Doug to take a run at Reyes.

Leave Hart at leadoff, Reyes batting second and the team could score 750 plus runs easy. Even with regression on the pitching staff that team would be right back in the 85-90 win area with better defense on the left side of the infield to boot

177. Textbook Editor Posted: September 28, 2011 at 06:46 PM (#3941317)

[ ] 3 IBBs for Adrian Gonzalez in tonight's game.

178. flournoy Posted: September 28, 2011 at 06:48 PM (#3941319)

Whatever happens in Houston, I hope Carpenter only goes 5 innings. If it is because he was shelled, or because the Cards score 12 I don't really care.

Care to elaborate? I don't get it.

179. Karl from NY Posted: September 28, 2011 at 06:48 PM (#3941320)

That was 2009, he did in TB, funnily enough.

Not so funnily, actually. MLB likes to schedule the same season-ending series repeatedly. The Mets and Braves ended against each other almost every year in the late 90's.

180. Banta Posted: September 28, 2011 at 06:51 PM (#3941322)

If as a Mets fan you can't get excited about wanting this for a guy with whom we've been through so much as fans, then I just don't know what you want -- short of the team succeeding, of course, which is like 100x more meaningful.

I guess that's where I am.

40 plate appearances and 25 or so at bats is not that big a difference.

I suppose and I guess I get more hung up when I look at the games played column, but those fewer ABs are an advantage for Reyes and they do sort of cheapen it for me. I mean, Braun's a .312 career hitter, Reyes is a .292 career. Can't help but think given 25 more ABs, Reyes is gonna perform at a lesser rate.

Which, I know, doesn't matter. He's reached the qualification for a batting title and that's that. But it all sort of leads me back to the "I don't really give a rip about batting titles."

181. boteman Posted: September 28, 2011 at 06:52 PM (#3941327)

Not so funnily, actually. MLB likes to schedule the same season-ending series repeatedly

Well, whoever scheduled the 2011 season must have had next week's newspaper.

182. Cowboy Popup Posted: September 28, 2011 at 06:52 PM (#3941328)

Dellin Betances starting for the Yankees tonight.

YES!!! Too bad the game isn't televised here.

183. Tulo's Fishy Mullet (mrams) Posted: September 28, 2011 at 06:55 PM (#3941331)

Re: Braun: as a Brewers fan I'm a big supporter, but I do wince at his Jeter-like mugging in the batter's box. I can see why some may hate his guts.

184. boteman Posted: September 28, 2011 at 06:58 PM (#3941335)

Now they have Lard Ass Francesa on the broadcast

Is that the guy with the thick accent on the radio broadcast? Who the hell is that guy? (Besides obnoxious, I mean.)

185. Sam M. Posted: September 28, 2011 at 07:01 PM (#3941338)

Is that the guy with the thick accent on the radio broadcast? Who the hell is that guy? (Besides obnoxious, I mean.)

That's him -- Mike Francesa. He's the afternoon guy on WFAN, loudmouth sportsjock, and for reasons that pass understanding, he's in the booth this afternoon on the Mets' broadcast. Talk about a chilling effect.

186. Karl from NY Posted: September 28, 2011 at 07:02 PM (#3941340)

Who the hell is that guy?

God crossed with Buddha to the power of Chuck Norris.

Francesa is roughly a sports version of Howard Stern, in terms of windbaggery and completely inexplicable ability to pull in an audience.

187. The Long Arm of Rudy Law Posted: September 28, 2011 at 07:04 PM (#3941344)

Dellin Betances

That's gotta be an anagram....

TB: silence-laden
TB nine aced Ells

188. The John Wetland Memorial Death (CoB) Posted: September 28, 2011 at 07:08 PM (#3941348)

Dellin Betances starting for the Yankees tonight.

Perfect!

Hopefully, he won't be as nervous as he was in his first game.

189. mex4173 Posted: September 28, 2011 at 07:09 PM (#3941349)

Care to elaborate? I don't get it.

Halladay's lead in IP is 5.1 over Carpenter.

190. Gonfalon Bubble Posted: September 28, 2011 at 07:13 PM (#3941355)

Francesa is roughly a sports version of Howard Stern, in terms of windbaggery and completely inexplicable ability to pull in an audience.

That analogy is a Francesa.

191. Lassus Posted: September 28, 2011 at 07:14 PM (#3941358)

That's him -- Mike Francesa. He's the afternoon guy on WFAN, loudmouth sportsjock, and for reasons that pass understanding, he's in the booth this afternoon on the Mets' broadcast.

This might be worth it to have Howie Rose lose his mind and spend 10 minutes telling Francesca what an awful, stupid human being he is before anyone managed to cut the broadcast.

(EDIT: That being said, Rose himself, though I love him, can be rather holier-than-thou on occasion.)

192. boteman Posted: September 28, 2011 at 07:15 PM (#3941363)

I imagine Howie sneaking down to the parking lot and letting the air out of the tires of his producer's car for making him endure this.

Edit: I will say that among all the choices on MLB Gameday Audio that are available to me, the Mets home broadcast team is one of the few that I can stomach; you could do much worse. Any home game involving Houston or San Diego is an automatic PASS if I have to listen to them in my car on XM, which only airs the home broadcasts. Most of the rest are "meh", while I enjoy listening to guys like Jon Miller and Vin Scully no matter who the opponent is.

193. flournoy Posted: September 28, 2011 at 07:20 PM (#3941367)

Halladay's lead in IP is 5.1 over Carpenter.

Oh, okay. I like Carpenter just fine, but I'm totally on board with him getting pulled after giving up about 15 runs in the first inning tonight to stay behind Halladay, Kershaw, and Lee in the innings race.

194. Ted Williams Carlos Williams Posted: September 28, 2011 at 07:20 PM (#3941368)

24:

Prince's HR title would have to be asterisked because Kemp will have only played 161 games.

195. Famous Original Joe C Posted: September 28, 2011 at 07:22 PM (#3941370)

YES!!! Too bad the game isn't televised here.

CP: Should be on ESPN3 (online), if you get that.

196. snapper (history's 42nd greatest monster) Posted: September 28, 2011 at 07:23 PM (#3941372)

Miguel Batista is pitching for the Mets?!?!?! When did that happen?

Just learned he is exactly one day older than me.

And there were a lot of really good ballplayers born on my B-day (2/20).

197. salvomania Posted: September 28, 2011 at 07:25 PM (#3941376)

Halladay's lead in IP is 5.1 over Carpenter.

If Carpenter goes 5.2 and gets a W, he'll tie Livan Hernandez for the fewest wins by a pitcher who led in IP (non-strike season); in 2004 Livan went 11-15 in 255 ip in the Expos' last season.

If Carpenter goes 5.2 and doesn't get the W, he'll tie Chuck Finley for fewest wins, strike season or not. Finley was 10-10 in 183.1 ip in the strike-shortened 1994.

198. Tom Cervo, backup catcher Posted: September 28, 2011 at 07:26 PM (#3941380)

Wow, CG SHO for Batista. Good for him.

199. Fernigal McGunnigle has become a merry hat Posted: September 28, 2011 at 07:27 PM (#3941381)

Dellin Betances

That's gotta be an anagram....

His name has an anagram for many possible outcomes of tonight's start:

"Ten Nil Debacles"
"Balls Entice End"
"Lend Bat Silence"

200. Tulo's Fishy Mullet (mrams) Posted: September 28, 2011 at 07:29 PM (#3941383)

Didn't Willie Wilson in 1982 take similar measures as Jose Reyes today we he eeked out a 'batting title' the last time a Brewer was seriously close to winning it?

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