Blue Jeans Posted October 1, 2006 Share Posted October 1, 2006 VS. Let's Go Mets Probable Starting Pitchers: Game 1: Derek Lowe @ Orlando 'El Duque' Hernandez Game 2: Hong-Chih Kuo @ Tom Glavine Game 3: Steve Trachsel @ Greg Maddux Game 4 (If necessary): John Maine @ Brad Penny Game 5 (If necessary): Derek Lowe @ Orlando 'El Duque' Hernandez/ Tom GlavineMets vulnerable against lefties The matchup the Mets didn't want has come to pass. The Dodgers bring the NL's other great offense to town, with a lefty who no-hit the Mets for five innings the last time they saw him in the rotation. The Dodgers, on the other hand, probably were hoping to face St. Louis instead of New York. These are the two best teams in the National League, and it's a bit of a shame that they can't face each other in a seven-game series instead of a fiver. When the Dodgers are up • Look for a lot of offspeed stuff from Mets pitchers in this series. Of the Mets' four starters, only John Maine has even an average fastball, so Tom Glavine, Orlando Hernandez and Steve Trachsel will all work with their secondary pitches. The Dodgers also have several very good fastball hitters in their lineup, including Nomar Garciaparra, Jeff Kent and platoon player Marlon Anderson. Martin • Russell Martin, probably the fourth-best hitter in the Dodgers' lineup, may not see many pitches to hit batting eighth, but that's where he's been all year. Manager Grady Little could give his offense a little lift by sliding Martin up in the order. • The Dodgers may also want to shuffle their order when Glavine, who has been death on lefties this year, is starting for the Mets. Sliding Martin up to the two-hole and pushing Kenny Lofton down would be one possibility. Matt Kemp would have been a nice platoon partner for Lofton here, but he's not on the postseason roster. When the Mets are up • The offensive side of the Mets' roster leans heavily to the left, yet the Dodgers are carrying only one reliever who's effective against left-handed hitters in specialist Joe Beimel. Mark Hendrickson is in the bullpen as well, but he gave up a .370 OBP to left-handed hitters and is best suited for long relief. So expect the Mets' left-handed hitters to go to town when Hong-Chih Kuo's not pitching. • The Mets need to do their damage up top, because below David Wright in the five-hole, the lineup is substantially weaker, especially when the Dodgers start Kuo, their lone lefty. If Cliff Floyd can't go and the Mets take Lastings Milledge and let him play right or left field, they'd be better balanced on offense and would get a major boost on defense. Reyes • The Mets are going to run. Jose Reyes and Carlos Beltran are fast, effective base stealers, and the Dodgers' starters don't control the running game, even though Martin has a good throwing arm behind the plate. Keys for the Dodgers • Kuo is the pivotal guy for L.A. The Dodgers aren't likely to win three games started by right-handers Derek Lowe, Brad Penny and Greg Maddux, given how powerful the Mets' left-handed hitters are. A win in Kuo's start is critical. Penny • Penny might be just as pivotal; he left his last start after an inning due to back pain, and will end up getting over a week's rest before he's scheduled to start again. But even if he pitches, will he pitch well? He pitches off his fastball, but he's been catching way too much of the plate recently and elevating the ball too much, and he hasn't had time to work these problems out on the field. His probable replacement, Mark Hendrickson, has been hurt and mediocre since he was acquired from Tampa Bay. • Get Paul Lo Duca out. Lo Duca usually hits second, and he's the one weak point in the top five spots in the Mets' lineup, so he's a pitcher's best chance to reduce the damage of Carlos Delgado, Beltran, and Wright. • Get into the Mets' bullpen. The loss of Duaner Sanchez really stung the Mets, and they haven't replaced those innings, although Aaron Heilman has resumed his good setup work of a year ago. If the Dodgers can get a Mets starter out early, the Mets don't have anyone who can keep them in a game for three or four innings while their offense goes to work. Keys for the Mets • Starting pitching. With Pedro Martinez out, the Mets are forced to go with Trachsel in the playoff rotation, although manager Willie Randolph had already decided to use Trachsel instead of Maine before Martinez was scratched. The Mets don't have a shutdown starter in their rotation, but their offense should be good enough to win any game where their starter holds the Dodgers to 3-4 runs. • Hit the righties. If Kuo is on, he's going to hold the Mets to a run or two at most while he's in the game, so the Mets need to bash the Dodgers' right-handed arms, both in their starts and when Little goes to his bullpen after Kuo is out. Heilman • Stay out of the back of the bullpen. To the extent that the Mets can either win big or can hand tight leads directly to Heilman or Guillermo Mota, and then to Billy Wagner, they'll be in much better position to win the series. Darren Oliver, Heath Bell and Roberto Hernandez are just what the Dodger hitters want to see, as L.A. has a good mix of hitters who work the count and hitters who crush flat fastballs. Prediction These two teams are even on paper, but the fact that the Dodgers only bring two pitchers who really shut down lefties and the questions about Penny tilt things slightly in the Mets' favor. Mets in five. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GorillaNJ Posted October 1, 2006 Share Posted October 1, 2006 Thing that sucks about that is you know there will be atleast one really late game. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue Jeans Posted October 1, 2006 Author Share Posted October 1, 2006 Thing that sucks about that is you know there will be atleast one really late game. Oh well, it's playoff baseball. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RandolphScott Posted October 1, 2006 Share Posted October 1, 2006 Debating if I should fuck off my paper and go to the game? Decisions Decisions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue Jeans Posted October 1, 2006 Author Share Posted October 1, 2006 Yeah, definately go to the game... duh. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Herc Posted October 1, 2006 Share Posted October 1, 2006 ahem, there are two other games you're forgetting Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue Jeans Posted October 1, 2006 Author Share Posted October 1, 2006 ahem, there are two other games you're forgetting I'm getting to it, congrats on the division KP. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Herc Posted October 1, 2006 Share Posted October 1, 2006 I'm getting to it, congrats on the division KP. thanks you too, hopefully we meet in the NLCS (i think we will) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gateb Posted October 2, 2006 Share Posted October 2, 2006 Maddux vs. Glavine should be interesting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mws44 Posted October 2, 2006 Share Posted October 2, 2006 Maddux vs. Glavine should be interesting. I read in my local paper today that the Dodgers want to save Maddux for when they return home. So we won't see Maddux vs. Glavine. Would have been a good one though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue Jeans Posted October 2, 2006 Author Share Posted October 2, 2006 The Dodgers have already started to stratagize against us... this is how it's going to look. El Duque- Lowe Glavine- Kuo Trachsel/Maine- Maddux Trachsel/Maine- Penny They've got a real edge... they put a LEFTY starter who pitched a 7 inning GEM against us against our best pitcher in Glavine... El Duque and Lowe, Penny against anyone... this should be tough. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rawRen1 Posted October 2, 2006 Share Posted October 2, 2006 The Dodgers have already started to stratagize against us... this is how it's going to look. El Duque- Lowe Glavine- Kuo Trachsel/Maine- Maddux Trachsel/Maine- Penny They've got a real edge... they put a LEFTY starter who pitched a 7 inning GEM against us against our best pitcher in Glavine... El Duque and Lowe, Penny against anyone... this should be tough. As a Dodgers fan, I hope and pray that they don't start Brad Penny in this series because he would surely get slaughtered. Brad Penny has a 6.50+ ERA since the allstar break... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue Jeans Posted October 2, 2006 Author Share Posted October 2, 2006 As a Dodgers fan, I hope and pray that they don't start Brad Penny in this series because he would surely get slaughtered. Brad Penny has a 6.50+ ERA since the allstar break... I hope you're here to talk about the series with us, ren Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rawRen1 Posted October 2, 2006 Share Posted October 2, 2006 I hope you're here to talk about the series with us, ren All three Dodgers fans on this board will be here, me, myself, and I! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue Jeans Posted October 2, 2006 Author Share Posted October 2, 2006 All three Dodgers fans on this board will be here, me, myself, and I! That's a lot of support Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gateb Posted October 2, 2006 Share Posted October 2, 2006 Can we get a righty OF please?! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue Jeans Posted October 2, 2006 Author Share Posted October 2, 2006 Can we get a righty OF please?! Beltran, Milledge, ...Floyd throws righty. Gateb, check out the video up top. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gateb Posted October 2, 2006 Share Posted October 2, 2006 Beltran, Milledge, ...Floyd throws righty. Gateb, check out the video up top. Yeah, I've seen it a few times before. I meant corner OF, you think Edge will be on the post-season roster? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue Jeans Posted October 2, 2006 Author Share Posted October 2, 2006 Yeah, I've seen it a few times before. I meant corner OF, you think Edge will be on the post-season roster? Most likely for defense, running, pinch hitting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue Jeans Posted October 2, 2006 Author Share Posted October 2, 2006 plax, we're all set up in GD with all the rest of the playoff info... mind if i copy and paste what you wrote into there? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plax 4 Prez Posted October 2, 2006 Share Posted October 2, 2006 um... I guess not, but I'd rather have the Mets series in the Mets section, cause I'm going to the Mets official MB with a link to here so they could see the Mets banner, and buttons Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plax 4 Prez Posted October 2, 2006 Share Posted October 2, 2006 LETS GO METS!!!!! Hello fellow Mets fans... I'm the Mets moderator here at sportswrath.com, where we support all new york team including the NY Giants/Jets/Rangers/Islanders/Knicks/Nets/ and even a section for the Yanks We also have a General Discussion area, Nascar, college, politics and religion... all kinds of cool shit!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Virginia Giant Posted October 2, 2006 Share Posted October 2, 2006 Go Dodgers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NeMesiS Posted October 2, 2006 Share Posted October 2, 2006 Oh the Mets are going to Kill the Dodgers... I'm telling you guys, its going to be another NY vs NY rematch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NeMesiS Posted October 2, 2006 Share Posted October 2, 2006 plax, we're all set up in GD with all the rest of the playoff info... mind if i copy and paste what you wrote into there? The Mets Game is going to conducted here in the Mets section. We want for Mets fans to feel right at home... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now