Tuesday, August 30, 2022

Games 128-130 Thread: Aug 30 - Sep 1 @ Mets

Tue 30 4p: Heaney vs. Walker
Wed 31 4p: Anderson vs. deGrom
Thu 1 1p: Kershaw vs. Bassitt

lolMets no longer? The Mets and Dodgers split four in Los Angeles back in early June, and that was before the Mets got Jacob deGrom back (we'll see him on Wednesday). But it's a different scene now in New York. While the YankMes across town are suffering from tattoo-induced leg infections, the Mets are off to the second-best record in the majors (tied with Houston), behind only the Dodgers' blistering 89-38 record. And we're seeing three All-Stars in this series (and that excludes Max Scherzer).

On top of that, the Mets are hungry, trying to stave off a Braves team that is nipping at their heels (three games back of the division lead). The Dodgers played extra innings Monday in Miami and are showing up to Queens late, not to mention we just lost Tony Gonsolin to the IL. I reckon this series doesn't bode well for the Dodgers.

The Dodgers' magic number, entering this series, is 15.

64 comments:

karen said...

GAME 1

Betts RF
T Turner SS
Freeman 1B
Muncy 3B
Gallo DH
Lux 2B
Thompson LF
Bellinger CF
Barnes C

Heaney LHP

karen said...

Anyone else feel like Belli just may lose his job to Thompson? Hope not.

Steve Sax said...

@karen: I am conflicted here but I think Thompson's resurgence merits him a longer look. Belli has had chances all year to turn it around, and it hasn't happened. (Heck, even Muncy has even been able to turn it around!)

Steve Sax said...

Nice to see Betts back in the lineup after resting for (most of) yesterday

spank said...

big test for the Dodgers against the Mets. they needs to sack up

spank said...

Boooooooooo...sack up Heaney. what the fuck.

spank said...

dayum. I didn't think Heaney would sack up. nice.


1-0 NY

Steve Sax said...

Cody Bellinger still sucks. He strands Trayce at second in the second inning.

Steve Sax said...

Heaney's 4 Ks are keeping us close.

1-0 NY through 2

Steve Sax said...

Big inning thanks to a two-run Gavin Lux single in the third.

3-2 LA through 3 frames.

spank said...

Heaney serving up bombs

3-3

Steve Sax said...

Tied up at 3, through four frames.

Steve Sax said...

Heaney's got 7 Ks but has given up two HR (both solo shots, thankfully)

Steve Sax said...

RIP Mikhail Gorbachev

spank said...

Lux rbi single. he'll yeah

4-3 Dodgers

spank said...

Dammit. Belli and Barnesy leave the bases juiced.

4-3 bottom of 7

Steve Sax said...

Lux gets an RBI single in the seventh to score Freeman. But Bellinger can't do shit again, and Barnes grounds into the third out.

Steve Sax said...

Bellinger tonight: 0-for-4 with 5 LOB

Steve Sax said...

4-3 LA going to the ninth.

Muncy leads off by flying out.

Steve Sax said...

Guys on the radio were all over Max setting up the Dodgers' fourth run with a quality AB, hitting it to the right to advance Freeman from second to third (Freeman later scored). But Max is still 0-for-4 with a run today.

Steve Sax said...

Slappy grounds out on the second pitch of his AB

Steve Sax said...

Lux works a two-out walk.

He's 2-for-4 with 3 RBI and a walk. Nice game, Gavin!

Steve Sax said...

Thompson pops to second for the third out.

Going to the bottom of the ninth, 4-3 LA.

Steve Sax said...

Very interesting move here! Jake Reed enters the game for the Dodgers to pitch the ninth.

spank said...

fuck it. throw the new guy into the fire. bottom of the 9th gal
.

spank said...

yall

Steve Sax said...

Reed has a 9.00 ERA this year, in five games with the Mets and three games with the Dodgers.

Steve Sax said...

Escobar opens up with a single to center.

Steve Sax said...

Vogelbach GIDPs! Two out

Steve Sax said...

Ballgame! Nimmo with a comebacker!

4-3 LA final

WIN

spank said...

that's a wrap. woot!

spank said...

Mookie RF
Trea SS
Freddie 1B
Slappy C
Muncy DH
JT 3B
Lux 2B
Gallo LF
Belli CF

Anderson P


Steve Sax said...

PGT from last night's game --> belatedly posted up top.

Steve Sax said...

Belli had better break out soon, or he'll be out of the lineup

spank said...

yep. looks like Outman's ready to take Belli's place. putting up some huge numbers in OKC

spank said...

Booooooo


2-0 NY

spank said...

Mookie!!!

2-1 NY

Steve Sax said...

Gotta love Mookie! But deGrom has basically shut us down through 7. Anderson made one mistake but it was a two-run HR.

Bottom 7, 2-1 NYM, man on second with two out.

Steve Sax said...

@spank 3:55p: Outman? what about Trayce?

Steve Sax said...

Cody Bellinger tonight: 0-for-2 with 2 Ks

Steve Sax said...

deGrom sits after 7. 93 pitches, 3 H and 1 ER, 9 Ks and 1 BB.

Steve Sax said...

Gallo leads off the eighth with a K. He's 0-for-3.

I don't understand Gallo.

Steve Sax said...

Oh man. We go down 1-2-3 (including another wasted Bellinger AB; he's 0-for-3, but at least he didn't K this time).

This sets it up for that trumpet guy @ Citi Field. Yay.

spank said...

Boooooo!

spank said...

@ Saxy - trayce went 0-4 last game I saw him playing. I'm not impressed.

Steve Sax said...

@spank: I hear you. I'm pretty done with Bellinger, though.

2022 Bellinger: .204/.261/.392, 77 OPS+, 1.3 WAR
2022 Thompson: .301/.388/.562, 159 OPS+, 2.1 WAR (admittedly, smaller sample size)

I don't see Bellinger making any changes or improvements since his 2019 MVP season. Maybe it's the shoulder injury from the 2020 WS. But a -1.2 WAR last year (44 OPS+!), and then another subpar season through all of August...I am starting to doubt whether he is going to turn it around.

spank said...

@saxy - I'm done with Bellinger too. time for change.

spank said...

I like Trayce Thompson as a player but I don't like all the hype with his brother around the Dodgers. keep him away from the stadium. I know I'm a hater and no fun. haha

spank said...

what has Muncy done since the Royals series. dudes batting .165

Steve Sax said...

Game 3.

I'm checking in late, the Dodgers are up 2-1, mid-3.

Looks like CT3 had a bases-loaded single to right in the second, scoring two...but then Trayce Thompson got thrown out at home on the same play? I watched the replay and apparently (acc to Nomar and Joe), Trayce was basically right on the heels of Justin Turner (what a surprise), and may have missed the call from Dino Ebel. In any event, not sure why Trayce is trying to score from first on a single to right.

Steve Sax said...

2-1 LA through 3 full

Steve Sax said...

Lux GIDPs us out of the fourth inning.

2-1 LA through 4 full

Steve Sax said...

Thompson Ks for the first out in T5

Steve Sax said...

Taylor flies out deep for the second out

Steve Sax said...

Mookie with a base hit. Two out, T5

Steve Sax said...

Trea Turner hits it to Lindor who makes a great play to force Betts.

2-1 LA, mid-5

Steve Sax said...

Three up, three down for Kershaw in the fifth.

2-1 LA through five.

Steve Sax said...

Kershaw has 6 Ks and three walks through five frames. 74 pitches. He's retired the last 13.

spank said...

Kershaw was wild that first inning. threw 24 pitches and walked in a run. had me pulling my hair but he calmed down big time.

Steve Sax said...

Chris Martin in for Kershaw in the sixth, and he promptly gives up a hit to Marte

Steve Sax said...

Martin gives up a double to Lindor. It's tied. No out.

Steve Sax said...

Ruf with a sac fly, so now it's 3-2 NYM. Two out, B6

Steve Sax said...

Boo. We lose 5-3.

spank said...

Booooooooo