Series Thread: Colo. Rox @ NY Mets (9/8-10)

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

Series preview: Mets vs. Rockies - Mets Blog - ESPN New York


FIRST PITCH: The days are running out on the 2014 season. Heck, one team already held a retirement ceremony over the weekend.

As for the Mets, they've got games to play, with their final extended homestand of the season beginning Monday night at Citi Field against the Rockies. The dream of a 90-win season -- or was it just a "challenge"? -- ended long ago, and even the goal of ending this string of losing seasons would require a miracle 13-6 finish. Oh, and forget about seeing Noah Syndergaard, because the Mets didn't include him on their final list of September call-ups.

But there are games to be played, and the Rockies, the Nationals and the Marlins will all be at Citi Field during this 10-game homestand.

First up, Jonathon Niese (8-10, 3.68 ERA) starts Monday against Colorado right-hander Jordan Lyles (6-2, 4.35).

 

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

Monday night Rockies - Mets lineups:

Mets
Juan Lagares, cf
Kirk Nieuwenhuis, lf
David Wright, 3b
Lucas Duda, 1b
Travis d'Arnaud, c
Curtis Granderson, rf
Wilmer Flores, ss
Dilson Herrera, 2b
Jonathon Niese, lhp

Rockies
Corey Dickerson, lf
Josh Rutledge, ss
Nolan Arenado, 3b
Michael Cuddyer, 1b
Drew Stubbs, cf
Michael McKenry, c
Brandon Barnes, rf
D.J. LeMahieu, 2b
Jordan Lyles, rhp

 

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

Mets with a nice 3-2 walkoff win in the bottom 9th.



Rapid Reaction: Mets 3, Rockies 2 - Mets Blog - ESPN New York

Colorado Rockies vs. New York Mets - Recap - September 08, 2014 - ESPN

Curtis Granderson finally getting comfortable with New York Mets - ESPN New York

 

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

Welcome back, Murph! ...... Let's Go, Jake deG.

FIRST PITCH: The Mets were nine games under .500 when they lost their lone .300 hitter to a calf injury.

They went 8-5 in the 13 games Daniel Murphy missed.

Murphy figures to return from the DL for Tuesday night's game against the Colorado Rockies, and general manager Sandy Alderson said Murphy will take back the second base job that Dilson Herrera held in his absence. The Mets are still trying to win games, and as Alderson said, while Herrera has played well for a 20-year-old, "he hasn't done enough to displace Murphy."

Jacob deGrom (7-6, 2.79) makes his 20th Mets start, and tries to improve on a season already good enough that he should get Rookie of the Year consideration. He'll face another rookie, Rockies right-hander Christian Bergman (2-2, 5.23).

 

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

9/9...Tuesday night lineups.....

Daniel Murphy (calf) returns from the disabled list. David Wright (shoulder) is back out of the lineup and will be examined by doctors. Dilson Herrera goes to the bench with Murphy's return.

Juan Lagares, cf
Daniel Murphy, 2b
Eric Campbell, 3b
Lucas Duda, 1b
Travis d'Arnaud, c
Curtis Granderson, rf
Wilmer Flores, ss
Matt den Dekker, lf
Jacob deGrom, rhp

Charlie Blackmon, cf
Michael Cuddyer, rf
Justin Morneau, 1b
Nolan Arenado, 3b
Corey Dickerson, lf
Wilin Rosario, c
Josh Rutledge, ss
DJ LeMahieu, 2b
Christian Bergman, rhp

 

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

• deMets beat deRox....

Rapid Reaction: Mets 2, Rockies 0 - Mets Blog - ESPN New York

Colorado Rockies vs. New York Mets - Recap - September 09, 2014 - ESPN


• deCaptain is on deShelf....

So, who's on third? - Mets Blog - ESPN New York

David Wright of New York Mets shut down for season - ESPN New York



• deGrom for deROY.....

Jacob deGrom's standing right near best in game - ESPN New York

 

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

5.5 games back in the wild card.... (stranger things have happened)....

FIRST PITCH: The Mets are even with the Yankees in one respect: Both teams are now 5½ games out in their respective wild-card races.

Still, that seemingly speaks more to the Bombers being out of postseason contention than the Amazin’s being in it.

With 17 games remaining, the Mets have a 70-75 record.

The SF Giants seemingly are firmly entrenched in the No. 1 wild-card spot at 79-65.

Pittsburgh currently occupies the second wild-card spot at 75-69. Atlanta (74-71), free falling Milwaukee (74-71) and Miami (71-72) also are ahead of the Mets.

The Pirates and Brewers play three more times, meaning that’s at least two additional wins for one of those teams. And Pittsburgh and Atlanta play four times, meaning that’s a minimum of two wins for one of those teams.

So .500 seems like a more realistic goal for the Mets. If the Mets fall short of breakeven, they would finish with their sixth straight losing season, which would be tied with the Houston Astros for the longest active streak in the majors.

• Meanwhile, the Mets -- winners of six of their last seven games -- on Wednesday try to complete a three-game sweep of the Colorado Rockies for the second straight season at Citi Field.

Rafael Montero, who joined the Mets from Triple-A Las Vegas on Sunday, gets a spot start that allows the other members of the rotation to receive an extra day of rest. Montero (0-3, 5.23 ERA) opposes left-hander Tyler Matzek (5-9, 4.32), a fellow rookie.

Montero last pitched last Wednesday in Vegas’ Pacific Coast League playoff opener at Reno. He allowed three runs on seven hits and four walks in a 103-pitch effort spanning 4 1/3 innings.

Matzek is coming off a three-hit shutout against the San Diego Padres. He became the first Rockies pitcher to go the distance in a scoreless effort at Coors Field since Jhoulys Chacin on April 15, 2011 against the Chicago Cubs. Overall, Matzek has an active 21-inning scoreless streak.

 

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

• David Wright has been shut down for the remainder of the season after undergoing an MRI and examination of his troublesome left shoulder at the Hospital for Special Surgery on Tuesday. The captain is not expected to require surgery to address what was labeled “persistent inflammation” in the rotator cuff.

• Wright finishes the season with a .269 average, career-low eight homers and 63 RBIs in 535 at-bats. He went homerless in his final 189 at-bats, which is the longest drought of his career.

Wright had experienced discomfort since jamming the shoulder while sliding headfirst on a steal on June 12 on a muddy surface at Citi Field. He missed a week late in the first half and then received a cortisone shot heading into the All-Star break.

“David did what captains do -- he persevered, he kept going, he gutted it out,” Sandy Alderson said. “Numbers or no numbers, he did what we expected. He made a major contribution to the team by continuing to perform. And when a player is injured, all you can expect from him is honesty about the injury and willingness to go out there and make the effort. There’s no question David did that throughout the last two and half months.”

• Alderson and Terry Collins said they would huddle to determine the best infield alignment in Wright’s absence. Dilson Herrera figured to see vastly diminished playing time with Daniel Murphy having returned from a calf injury on Tuesday. Now, though, one option is to use Murphy at third base and Herrera at second. Otherwise, the likely option is to use Eric Campbell at third base -- although Josh Satin and Wilmer Flores also are capable of manning the position, too.

Murphy last played third base, his natural position, in 2011 when Wright missed time with a stress fracture in his lower back.

Read more on Wright in the Post, Daily News, Newsday, Times, Journal, Star-Ledger, Record and at MLB.com.

 

[Nasty_Magician]

5.5 games back in the wild card.... (stranger things have happened)....

Crazy to think although I'm not holding my breath. I will be happy with .500. Would be thrilled with anything more.

 

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

Mets remaining schedule after today's game w/ Colo. (10 @ home & 6 on the road)

Sept. 11 Washington
Sept. 12 Washington
Sept. 13 Washington
Sept. 14 Washington
Sept. 15 Miami
Sept. 16 Miami
Sept. 17 Miami
Sept. 19 at Atlanta
Sept. 20 at Atlanta
Sept. 21 at Atlanta
Sept. 23 at Washington
Sept. 24 at Washington
Sept. 25 at Washington
Sept. 26 Houston
Sept. 27 Houston
Sept. 28 Houston


* they have their work cut out, and are really gonna have to earn it.

 

[Nasty_Magician]

Washington has absolutely owned us so that's not too promising.

 

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

Washington has absolutely owned us so that's not too promising.

I'm actually more worried about the Braves & the Marlins this time around...as both have more at stake.
And funny as it may seem, I view the Wright situation as a possible blessing in disguise for these final 2+ weeks.

But as the saying goes....we shall see.

LGM!!!

YGB!!!

 

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

9/10...wednesday night Mets-Rockies lineups.....

Daniel Murphy returns to third base for the first time since July 21, 2011, which allows Dilson Herrera to start in David Wright's absence. Rafael Montero gets a spot start, allowing Bartolo Colon and the rest of the starting pitchers to get an extra day of rest without being skipped.

Juan Lagares, cf
Wilmer Flores, ss
Murphy, 3b
Travis d’Arnaud, c
Eric Campbell, 1b
Curtis Granderson, rf
Herrera, 2b
Eric Young Jr., lf
Montero, rhp

Rockies
Charlie Blackmon, rf
Drew Stubbs, cf
Justin Morneau, 1b
Nolan Arenado, 3b
Corey Dickerson, lf
Michael McKenry, c
Josh Rutledge, ss
DJ LeMahieu, 2b
Tyler Matzek, lhp

 

[Used 2 B Hu]

I have tickets to Sunday's game, in the left field Promenade. Never sat there before, but it looks like a good place to see the game. Too far back to get any possible homers, though.

Plus, it's the Nats. Huzzah.

Don't care where they wind up record-wise, I think they've already exceeded expectations. Won't lose 90!!

 

[Used 2 B Hu]

Intresting...listening to the game on radio, Howie Rose just said the Mets in 73 were in EXACTLY the same position as this year's Mets: same record, same number of games out, same number of teams in front of them.

 

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

Bring us home a win on sunday, H_i_e

 

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

Mets win 2-0 /sweep Colo.
(The Mets tossed consecutive shutouts for the first time since June 29-30, 2012 at Dodger Stadium)

Rapid Reaction: Mets 2, Rockies 0 - Mets Blog - ESPN New York

Colorado Rockies vs. New York Mets - Recap - September 10, 2014 - ESPN



• Rafael Montero earns his 1st big league win...

Montero notches first win in majors - Mets Blog - ESPN New York

 

[Nasty_Magician]

Watched a decent amount of this game, the pitching is just unreal. Really like D'Arnaud, I think Herrera is the real deal, need to get 2 legit bats, not Chris Young gamble type bats.