I’m in a New York State of Mind
More fun games to watch yesterday. The Cubs banged out just shy of a billion home runs into the wind tunnel at Wrigley. The Mets came back from down 3 to destroy the Art Dealers 13-7. Now Two Trips is scrambling for answers and Kersha goes today.
I missed the first 2 games because of work but I can’t remember a post season not involving the Giants that I found so entertaining.
Let’s go Mets!
If you’re worried about Kersha pitching today, please refer to the POTD for re-assurance on a Mets W today……
I think the Mets win today and advance. Love Loo’s coinage involving Clayton’s last name. Yup. Lots of excitement. And little or no emotional investment. Awaiting on-the-scene footage, or at least wordage, from wilcojoe.
It all hinges on Kershaw pitching on 3 days rest. He has a history of flubbing in the Post-Season. Will this situation inspire him to a Bumgarner-like effort today or will his nerves get the better of him where mistakes will get made? The wild-card in this situation could be whoever players second base for the LaBumbos. Could an infield miscue turn the tables on Opie?
Where is Yogi when we need him? He could come up with a pithy description of how tight and tense the entire team of Dogs will be today. Psychological factors should loom huge in this game.
Chicks diggin the long ball got their fill yesterday, 21HR’s easily sets the all-time record in a playoff 4 game day.Previous a pedestrian 15 bombs were hit.
Flav, you’re too modest sometimes. You’re 11:19 post yesterday was a classic POTD.
Flav was on fire yesterday, earlier one was gold too (10:57).
That was Gibson’s take and I heard him say that to Giants radio guys 30 yrs ago:
“I had pretty good control and if I wanted to hit a guy I usually did.” And he mentioned Ron Fairly as one of guys who got that treatment, for leaning out over the plate to get a base hit to LF. Fairly got the death stare at 1b and had an idea what was coming next time up.
Also enjoy watching guys get the silent treatment after a HR. First time I remember it was watching the A’s do it to Blue Moon Odom. Then somebody threw a glove at him on the bench and they all laughed and ran over to him.
didn’t know about this. nonetheless, go mets!
“Recent Injuries (Full Injury Report)
“Steven Matz (NYM): Matz received an injection in his back to relax his muscles and is expected to return to the rotation for Game 4 of the NLDS against the Dodgers. (Back)”
You are right, Flav. Most fun I have had watching some post-season games without our Giants being involvoed. I have not watched much of the Jays-Texas series, as I could really give a fuck who wins that one. I want to see the young upstart team from Houston take it to the dance (and also pulling for them for Wilco).
Go Mets! Go Stros! Keep my cindarella dream alive!
Classic post, loo. Well played.
In spite of the Giants not being there, the playoffs have been very entertaining so far, for those in the nation that have TBS and FS1. I do, fortunately, but I’m sure many don’t. Plus, no national radio coverage of the divisional playoffs, other than we that have the MLB app on our phones.
Baseball, yer marketing skills ain’t awesome.
Somebody wrestled ESPN radio away from KNBR so it is not on the AM dial, but in the bay area (where I may be the only one without TBS/FS1) it is on 95.7. apparently it was the ratings boost from the 2012 WS for KNBR that the other network had to take espn radio away for survival.
Skeptical of Stros going far with Gregerson as closer. Off season I’d imagine they look to upgrade pen.
Would they deal someone out of their ml ready OF for Romo, who is still death on RHs?
It would have to be a pretty damned good package, as I don’t see the Giants trying to deal Romo. But for the right deal, I am sure they would be interested.
Giants IF is set, it’s OF (and rotation of course) that’s unsettled; I’m thinking trade might work better than paying an FA. Romo I think would be the guy whose loss could be most easily absorbed with Casilla coming back and as you say bring back value.
Other than Belt, of course…I’d rather keep him and let Posey C as much as possible.
The Astros wanted Romo in the offseason according to reports in the local paper, so yes I think that could be a possibility. They ended up signing Neshek (a poor mans version of Romo) instead. Their first priority will be a proven flamethrower. Hell anyone that can hit 92 would be an improvement over their current staff.
Yep…I remember when the Astros were chasing Romo hard. Hey, for the right package, I would not have a problem with that trade.
The irony is the back-up shortstop for the Mets (who used to be the starter) looked better at the plate in this series than the injured guy was looking before the injury. Yeah, tougher pitcher tonight, but it wouldn’t surprise me if the back-up guy gets an important hit. He’s the guy that wept during a game when he thought he’d been traded, then two days later he hit a walk-off HR. That’s some great storybook stuff.
That so funny loo. Any way I was born in Chicago, so go Cubs!! There is going to be a lot of retaliation next spring between the Mets and Dodgers, and the Cubs and Pittsburgh, should make for an exciting spring.
Cubs storm back from 2 zip to take 4-2 lead. Go Cubbies!
The situation is really set up on a tee for Kershaw tonight. It’s his chance to attain greatness in the post-season, which has eluded him so far. If he blows it, then he’s really going to have the sports media world all over him.
But the awesome thing about sports is how the moments present themselves, how the stage gets set. In the World Series last year, the stage was set so well for MadBum in Game 7, and he went out and delivered a performance for the ages. Part of the greatness of sports is the anticipation. Nobody knows what’s going to happen tonight. It’s pretty darned exciting. Unfortunately, Kershaw is a Dodger, so I’m fully rooting against him; but he’s got a reputation as a good guy, who does a lot of charity work. If he goes 1-7 in the post-season, that’s kind of a sad thing. But, then again, he was strongly defending Utley’s slide, so I’m fully OK with a 1-7 for Kershaw.
Great post. Totally agree
Jesus, Schwarber….
This Schwarber kid is country strong. What a bomb.
Man, the Cubs hit a lot of HRs! Getting hot at the right time.
The Astros are the one team in baseball that could overpay for Brandon Belt. Besides their dearth of hard throwing back end relievers, they really need to do something about first base. Chris Carter, despite a strong finish to the season was completely inept the entire season. I have counted three plays in the postseason alone that Belt would have easily turned into 3-6-3 DP’s, but Carter struggled just to get the lead runner.
If I’am Luhnow, I offer up any two prospects not named Alex Bregman for Belt and Strickland. A total overpay but worth it for the ‘Stros.
Stros may have the prospects but should the Giants even consider trading Belt it would be for a sure-thing #2 starting pitcher. Many teams, Giants most certainly included, have got the short end of the stick swapping a highly talented starting player for a pretty good pitcher. The Cepeda-Sadecki trade comes to mind immediately. Sure thing #2 with an ERA under 3.00, controllable for at least a couple more years and about the same age as Belt could be tempting ~ particularly if the guy has had no problems with arm trouble or other chronic injury problems.
Great sign at Wrigley: “I ain’t afraid of no Goats”
First series clinching win at Wrigley Field EVER. Wow. Chew on that one for a while. Mets-Cubs would be an interesting series.
From a ratings standpoint, I don’t think the networks could have asked for a better matchup.
Chicago-New York? Hell yeah. Ratings heaven.
Assuming the Mets do their part of course.
I wonder if the Cards think about giving Matheny his walking papers. He’s been unable to grab a title with some pretty damn good teams. Probably not, but maybe. He’s a good manager.
Over the decades, in fact throughout NL history, the two most dominant teams for over a hundred years have been the Cardinals and the Giants. St. Louis has won more Ring-things than anybody else in the league, while the Giants have won more games than ANY other team in baseball history. So taking that level of competitiveness in excellence between these two, as a Giants fan i am delighted to see the Cubbies go to the league finals.
Cubs.
I’m happy for the Cubs and their fans too. They are the definition of long-suffering. One of my favorite players as a kid was Ernie Banks, one of the most enthusiastic players ever. I have a Danbury Mint statuette of him on my desk at work these days.
Anyway, good luck to the Cubs. It’s nice to see some new faces in the playoffs. Of course, if the G’s were in I wouldn’t give a crap about any of that. :-p
Matz throws hard with what looks like a filthy curve.
Yeah, Cubs. My Dad used to go to Cubs games when he was a teenager right off the farm trying to help support his Father-less family during the Depression. Damn. Go Cubs. And, I’ve always hated the Mets, but I will really really like them if they win tonight. Can’t see them winning game 5 in LA against Greinke, so they’d better get it done tonight…. and I wasn’t going to watch any of these games, right….. 🙂
cubs or mets–either’ll be ok as the NL pennant winner and WS rep. So beat LA. And I can’t say I’m sorry to see the Cards go down. Houston may have a problem. I hope not. Go Stros.
Cubs. Happy for them and their fans. AGAIN, reinforcing the too-easy-season theory. Cards had the best record in baseball, if I am not mistaken. Yes, they had many, many injuries and prevailed. But adios.
Just saw “Black Mass.” Liked it a lot. Sort of like “Mystic River” but better. I’ve not been a Johnny Depp fan; grew quickly tired of his mugging for the camera in those pirate movies. But he is very good in this. Better yet may be the guy who plays John Connolly, FBI agent. Played by somebody named Edgerton.
You take away the pirate movies and he has a pretty good and diverse body of work.
brief off topic: that newest viagra ad, latest woman who wants “you” to take the drug to improve “your” stamina–is she, while she suggests that she is good on both sides of the ball, wearing a Frank Gifford jersey?
That is one nice piece of sleuth work xoot. In a million years I don’t get that one.
Hmmm. Interesting observation. Call me odd, but she does nothing for me. And THAT’S saying something.
According to Wiki, Gifford fathered his first child in 1952 and his last in 1993, in between a couple affairs including one with Johnny Carson’s wife and a flight attendant that was caught on camera. That’s a sex life that would make Don Draper blush. Defineltly some subliminal meaning there. Nice catch Xoot!
The goddamn dog-ears refuse to die.
The Mets must stab them with their steely knives.
Cespedes never was a CF. His glove isn’t great. Yet Oakland let him start in CF his first day in the US and then let that go on for quite a while. On the other hand, there are times when Cespedes boots a ball and then throws the runner out as the guy’s trying to take an extra base. Hope he crushes a 3 run HR tonight.
Well, overall, the Mets did better than I thought they would, extending the Dodgers to 5 games. I’m seeing Cubs vs. Dodgers now, unless Syndergaard has a 3-hit shut-out in his back pocket.
I still think the Mets can get to Kersha. I’ve said it too often here, but his delivery is quasi-balk-illegal. MURPHY HOMER.
the bums ace will wear down earlier than usual tonight. go mets!
Get to Kersha and the Doggers are d-o-n-e.
Listening to Mets announcers via MLB app; no video. Don’t mind radio at all.
Schwarb’s monster bomb tonight reminded me of one of my favorite post season moments. This guy:
Vin Scully, too.
Loo sent me a card-flip camera thing of this home run. It’s in my car, I let people flip through it now and again. Usually if there’s an awkward silence or something. 🙂
One of those moments where you remember exactly where you were. What a game The Thrill had that night (series too!)
Zimmer looks like someone just told him his dog had died. Mr. Intensity!
This is a bonehead move for Terry Collins to start this rook, who hasn’t pitched in a long while.
If Justin Turner’s baseball career gets cut short, he could have a nice career as Notre Dame’s mascot.
Good one WJ..
I was gonna go with Austin Powers, Fat Bastard role myself..
Oops, I meant de Grom when talking about a game 5, not Syndergaard.
Wrong Norseman.
who was that minor league player who quit to become a writer who described, in his farewell essay to baseball, the scorched hardwood smell he noticed when he foul tipped a fastball straight back? (very good piece; he intends to be a writer, if I recall correctly) anyway, it’s not easy for the ump to miss a foul tip
Yep, he definitely intends to be a writer if I recall correctly. sorry. got distracted
Only just missed it. Good swing.
Murphy’s swing.
One of those times when I hate to be right.
Early this afternoon:
“The Bums would love to get 6 out of Goober- they’d die for 7 so they can finish with Hatcher and Jansen. This is the must game for both- I don’t see Greinke getting beat again. The Mets need a huge game from Matz and/or another melt down from Kershaw.”
If you like Duffy, check this out…
http://www.theplayerstribune.com/matt-duffy-giants-dad-photo-gallery/