Game Thread: Chipper’s Last Trip to Queens (by JonathanF)
The Mets are a very generous organization. For example, they gave Tom Glavine a jet ski in an elaborate ceremony for his 300th win — a pitcher who earned 242 of them (up to that point) for another team.
They gave $46 million to a man who played 166 baseball games for them, Mo Vaughn. To be fair, though, he had a WAR of -1.5, so it might have been worth it.
They have paid, thus far, $52 million to a player, Jason Bay, who in 276 games actually has a positive 1.3 WAR. (Much to my surprise.)
But they aren’t only generous to players. They have employed doctors whose diagnostic credentials are slightly less lofty than Dr. Gregory House. Ask Jose Reyes, or JJ Putz, or Billy Wagner, or Ike Davis.
And of course, there’s Bernie Madoff, whom owners helped out to the tune of $162 million, depending on your accounting. The Mets’ generosity is legendary.
And of course there are the Phillies, whose string of NL East Championships would be fairly meager without the outstanding aid the Mets gave them in 2007 and 2008.
It’s true that their generosity is not unlimited – they broke a 13 year old’s heart in 1969, but that was a long time ago.
Tonight they will honor Chipper Jones, and why not? It’s of a piece with their outstanding record of generosity outlined above. But what should they give him? A few posts have mentioned some worthy candidates, but I have one more suggestion.
In my little town about 15 miles north of Citi Field, we have an annual event in which small children paint the windows of stores on the main street in honor of Halloween. Since the painting takes place a couple of weeks or so before the event, there are often baseball/Halloween-themed windows, usually featuring the Yankees, unfortunately.
But in 1999, just after the Braves disposed of the Mets in 6 games, some 8 year old painted a Braves player stuffing a Mets player into a box which was spurting blood out the other side with the legend, in a childish scrawl: Woodchipper Jones. I’ve thought of him as Woodchipper ever since.
If the Mets had a sense of humor to go with their generosity, a woodchipper to destroy the bats which have destroyed them would, IMHO, be appropriate.
(From previous thread) Simmons is in Rome, not Lynchburg. So everyone root real hard for Asheville these next two nights.
September 7th, 2012 at 10:35 amMan — that is one creative eight-year-old.
September 7th, 2012 at 10:42 amAwesome, Jonathan.
I guess that kid saw “Fargo.” So if the Mets represent the Steve Buscemi character, do we get to shoot them in the face, too? (Metaphorically, of course)
You going this weekend?
September 7th, 2012 at 10:44 amThat is funny. There are some good writers on this board.
You forgot one other thing. They took Jeffy off of our hands.
I think they should give Chipper Mr. Mets head, as he IS the true Mr. Met.
Will Chipper sign over his minority ownership role of the Mets while he is there?
September 7th, 2012 at 10:44 amDeus Ex Krakena.
LOL. Brilliant, Stu.
Great recap, JoanathanF!
September 7th, 2012 at 10:45 amOh no, did I break the italics?!
September 7th, 2012 at 10:46 amWhew.
September 7th, 2012 at 10:46 amBrian J.
TC says this of Simmons:
“The deciding Game 3 will take place Friday night in Lynchburg, with Aaron Northcraft scheduled to face Wilmington’s Leondy Perez. Andrelton Simmons will continue his rehab, starting at shortstop.”
I assume he’ll head to NY from Lynchbug after the game.
September 7th, 2012 at 10:50 amPost All Star Numbers – lets see if this copy/past job will work
Werth .354/.425/.496 Bourn .233/.333/.327
September 7th, 2012 at 10:59 amHarper .232/.301/.428 Prado .263/.313/.408
Zimmer .338/.405/.552 JHey .279/.351/.485
Laroche .291/.348/.532 CJ .288/.364/.516
Morse .288/.325/.460 FF .271/.395/.475
Desmond .301/.363/.482 Bmac .195/.282/.323
Espinosa .296/.346/.488 Uggla .179/.308/.327
Suzuki .266/.319/.431 Janish .189/.269/.238
And dont forget this great Met investment
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703426004575339013108198050.html
September 7th, 2012 at 11:02 amYep, you’re right. My apologies. Makes no sense, though. Why have Simmons make one start for Rome and then two for Lynchburg?
September 7th, 2012 at 11:07 amWe’re the free game today on mlb.com.
September 7th, 2012 at 11:10 am@10 I heard on the radio awhile back in Boston that that reason the Mets gave Bonilla that ridiculous contract was because of the pyramid scheme their owner was involved with, and he was getting such an insane return that it made more sense to take the money they would have given him normally and spread it out for several years. The return from the “investment” was higher than the interest rate Bonilla got.
September 7th, 2012 at 11:19 am@9 – Bourn better not get “all the money” – at least not from us.
September 7th, 2012 at 11:20 amThanks, all. (And thanks to AAR for the edits.) ububba: I’m not going tonight, and the weather forecast for tomorrow is so lousy that I’m not waiting for Rick Camp to hit a homer at 4 AM. So if I go, it’ll be Sunday — and maybe get that pinch-hit appearance by Larry, Jr.
September 7th, 2012 at 11:26 amGood stuff. Jonathan, I really think if Chipper sits a game out it will be Saturday. I just can’t imagine him riding the pine on his last day in NY.
I was surprised to see how bad Vaughn was with the Mets — I thought he just couldn’t stay on the field. Then I checked BBRef, and he was -2.5 WAR defensively in his one full season. And again I find myself wondering about these defensive stats — is it even possible to attribute two and a half games to the difference between Mo Vaughn’s glove and that of, say, Freddie Freeman (who I think we think of as an average fielding 1B)? I maintain that there’s something in the dynamics of team defense that is being mistranslated in the attempt to individualize it.
September 7th, 2012 at 11:34 amJust got a bit of a jolt. From Bill James’ “Ask Bill” feature this morning:
I just saw that Bob Creamer died last month. Any thoughts?
Asked by: macthomason
Answered: 9/7/2012
Oh, I missed that; I’m very sorry to hear. He was a marvellous writer, obviously, and a great gentleman. I met him in ’82, had lunch with him in New York, and met him about six or eight times after that. He was one of those people who didn’t have a mean bone in his body. I’m sorry to hear that he has gone on.
September 7th, 2012 at 11:37 amHahaha this is classic. That would be awesome but I doubt the Mets are that witty. I’m expecting something good though.
September 7th, 2012 at 11:41 amwho I think we think of as an average fielding 1B
I don’t know about “we”, but “I” think of Freeman as an elite fielding 1B who should win some GG in his career, while some fancy stats think of him as a lousy fielding 1B with no range.
September 7th, 2012 at 11:41 amI don’t think he’s nimble enough to be elite. I think he’s among the best big, slow guys who play the position, but it matters that he’s a big slow guy.
September 7th, 2012 at 11:42 am11- Brian – It was convenient to start Simmons just North of Atlanta, but Rome had last night off. Apparently Low-A does the same goofy scheduling for the playoffs that MLB does. Prime time TV, you know.
Anyway, they moved him to Lynchburg to get some more PAs before rejoining the big club Saturday.
September 7th, 2012 at 11:51 amLost amidst this torrent of brilliance was Rusty’s “Tommy John Doe” surgery (@30 previous thread).
Clapclapclapclap.
September 7th, 2012 at 12:15 pm#15
September 7th, 2012 at 12:54 pmIf you head to Flushing on Sunday (if the weather allows, of course), hit me up. Pretty sure I’ll be there.
@22, Thanks justhank. Whenever I have a random thought, I run straight to Braves Journal first.
It’s hard not to think about Mac doing this kind of stuff day in and day out. It’s great to see so many people stepping up to keep it going.
September 7th, 2012 at 12:57 pmJust a note for music fans to remember Joe South and the “Games People Play” today.
September 7th, 2012 at 1:49 pm•That’s not good. “@iDrumZ: @ajcbraves So Hudson has a higher BA than Janish, Uggla, and McCann right now.”
September 7th, 2012 at 1:54 pm#25
You know, that guy played on a lotta great records & wrote a lotta hits for other people, too.
Here’s King Curtis (playing with a few folks you might’ve heard of) doing his instrumental throw-down version:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lIErVdrBX0o
September 7th, 2012 at 2:10 pm@27 Wow! Thanks!
September 7th, 2012 at 2:57 pmHeading for a Cincinnati game tonight, may get rain.
Will have a full scouting report on Votto later.
Did not realize this from Richard Justice:
“Lowest NL ERAs since All-Star Break, minimum 10 starts: 1. Mike Minor 2.56. 2. Lucas Harrell 2.59. 3. Clayton Kershaw 2.62.”
September 7th, 2012 at 3:12 pmAre innings or pitch count more important after Tommy John Doe surgery? Medlin much more efficient than Strasberg who has 100 pitches or so in 6 innimgs.
September 7th, 2012 at 3:42 pm#30 – No one really knows.
September 7th, 2012 at 4:08 pmIn Strasburg’s case, some argue that his “inverted W” when he pitches puts additional stress on his elbow and shoulder. Also, he throws harder than Medlen although I don’t know if that makes any difference. So the Nats may feel more need to be more conservative with Strasburg than the Braves do with Medlin. But, let’s face it, the Nats have a lot more invested in Strasburg-both financially and emotionally-than the Braves do with Medlen. Not saying the Braves are just willing to use Medlen up but he isn’t a symbol of the franchise the way Strasburg is.
But, frankly, if the Braves thought at the beginning of the year that Medlen should only pitch X innings, they should not change that just because they are in a pennant race. IMO, they have some obligation to protect Medlen’s career even if they don’t think he will be a dominant pitcher.
September 7th, 2012 at 4:53 pmThe player should have some say in the decision. How often do you hear retired players lament never having won a ring? Players often say it’s the team success, not individual honors they play for.
Look at the Braves as an example. Would Glavine or Maddux give up the World Series win for another Cy Young?
Chipper won the World Series his first year, but so far he nor any other Brave has won another. No Cub since forever played in, let alone won a World Series. There’s no guarantee the Braves or the Nats won’t fall off the edge of the baseball world after this year and fare the same as the Cubs.
It’s Strasburg’s career. I think he should have some say even considering the bucks the Nats have invested. I’m sure there are actuarial tables somewhere to point out the foolishness of my opinion, but I’m strongly on the carpe diem side.
September 7th, 2012 at 7:00 pmFinally succumbing and reading a little about the Strasburg thing, I got the sense that the Nats are being coerced, to some degree, by Scott Boras to stick to the innings limit.
September 7th, 2012 at 7:18 pmOh.
September 7th, 2012 at 7:44 pmThey’ve got us right where they want us.
September 7th, 2012 at 7:52 pmCome on, Larry.
September 7th, 2012 at 7:54 pmD’oh! Get ‘em next time, Chipper!
September 7th, 2012 at 7:55 pmThat wasn’t good
September 7th, 2012 at 7:55 pmThis team is just comical.
September 7th, 2012 at 7:56 pmPutrid.
September 7th, 2012 at 7:57 pmRight now guys aren’t picking up their teammates either, thus the constant doughnut after getting the bases loaded with less than 2 outs
September 7th, 2012 at 7:57 pmIt’s Strasburg’s career. I think he should have some say even considering the bucks the Nats have invested. I’m sure there are actuarial tables somewhere to point out the foolishness of my opinion, but I’m strongly on the carpe diem side.
Publicly, he supports the decision. Practically, there is virtually no way that they could pull this off effectively without getting buy-in from Strasburg — and, of course, Boras.
September 7th, 2012 at 8:00 pmYeah, based on what Adam posted, I’m willing to concede that what Boras wants probably carries a lot of weight with both his client and the Nats. Still …
September 7th, 2012 at 8:15 pmjason!!!
September 7th, 2012 at 8:17 pmJASON!! OUR FIRST RBI SINCE MONDAY!!
September 7th, 2012 at 8:17 pmStrasburg is out after 3 with 5 runs and 67 pitches tonight. 6 hits and 3 walks.
September 7th, 2012 at 8:17 pmNice, Jason.
September 7th, 2012 at 8:17 pmWe’re so much better at hitting when the bases aren’t loaded.
September 7th, 2012 at 8:18 pmMan that ball hung for him
September 7th, 2012 at 8:19 pmCould do with a little less walks, Paul, but so far so good.
September 7th, 2012 at 8:34 pmMaholm’s walking a fine line tonight. It would be nice to score more than one run a game to give our pitchers some leeway.
September 7th, 2012 at 8:35 pm52- Yeah, and it’d be nice if I grew wings and flew, but that ain’t gonna happen either.
September 7th, 2012 at 8:37 pmAnother sign of their generosity is Bobby Bonilla’s contract. Google that if you want a good lesson in how to do retirement planning. Bonilla now teaches financial planning to current MLB players.
September 7th, 2012 at 8:37 pmBleagh.
September 7th, 2012 at 8:42 pmNo team, going back to 1918, has ever won three straight 1-0 games.
September 7th, 2012 at 8:52 pm@54 Mets were getting 15%/year from Madoff, it was no brainer.
September 7th, 2012 at 8:52 pmChipper is choking.
September 7th, 2012 at 9:04 pmOh, dear, Chipper.
September 7th, 2012 at 9:04 pmThe idea was for THEM to make the errors. At least Heyward backed up the play quickly to keep the runner at second.
September 7th, 2012 at 9:05 pmChipper, Mets fans aren’t going to love you because you gifted them a couple of wins as a final impression.
September 7th, 2012 at 9:07 pmI still loathe Chad Durbin. Just in case you were wondering.
September 7th, 2012 at 9:10 pmFredi’s pulling every string he can.
September 7th, 2012 at 9:12 pm“Fredi’s pulling every string he can.”
http://bravedecisions.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/frediot2.jpg
September 7th, 2012 at 9:14 pmDavid, that would be a bad time for a passed ball.
September 7th, 2012 at 9:15 pmWe can’t hit lately, but we do get lucky.
September 7th, 2012 at 9:16 pmHuzzay!
September 7th, 2012 at 9:16 pmWonderful, Dan. I’d forgotten that flowchart.
September 7th, 2012 at 9:17 pmAnother Dan does good.
September 7th, 2012 at 9:19 pmThere’s the error!
September 7th, 2012 at 9:19 pmUggla’s stupidity fails to top the Mets’ ineptitude.
September 7th, 2012 at 9:19 pmWOOOO SAC FLY
September 7th, 2012 at 9:20 pmAnd there’s another run! We’re apparently allowed two a game now.
September 7th, 2012 at 9:20 pm@56: And the record is safe.
September 7th, 2012 at 9:21 pmthanks for the free run
September 7th, 2012 at 9:21 pmGet ‘em on, get ‘em over by getting picked off yet inducing an error, get ‘em in with a pop-up to right.
September 7th, 2012 at 9:21 pmGet’em on, Get’em over, Get’em to make an error.
September 7th, 2012 at 9:21 pmOkay, now that the Braves know they’re not playing for a record, maybe they’ll loosen up and score some runs.
September 7th, 2012 at 9:22 pmWait, the score just changed. It was 1-0 a moment ago. I’m not sure what it is now. There’s something weird in the upper left corner of my screen… it looks like a “2.” But that obviously can’t be right.
September 7th, 2012 at 9:22 pmWhat a pathetic throw by Hairston.
September 7th, 2012 at 9:24 pmGood job, Jonny.
September 7th, 2012 at 9:31 pmLynchburg won 2-1 tonight, and Simmons homered for their first run. Now let’s get him up to New York tomorrow.
September 7th, 2012 at 9:31 pm79 — They must have agreed on playing a one game doubleheader, there’s no other reasonable explanation I can think of.
September 7th, 2012 at 9:31 pmOnce you have two runs, of course, there’s no more need for offense: cue Janish.
September 7th, 2012 at 9:32 pmJanish is someone who plays shortstop for a living, rather than a supersub who had barely played it professionally before this year. That feels like a good thing to do in the late innings.
September 7th, 2012 at 9:36 pmYep.
September 7th, 2012 at 9:37 pmI don’t disagree, AAR, but does he come in to a 1-0 game before the ninth?
September 7th, 2012 at 9:38 pmProbably. I just don’t really feel comfortable with Prado playing all 9 innings at short in a game that close.
September 7th, 2012 at 9:40 pm“@ajcbraves So Hudson has a higher BA than Janish, Uggla, and McCann right now.”
Simmons’ return will take care of one-third of the Axis of Suck.
September 7th, 2012 at 9:42 pmOh great, it’s one of those “lousy catchers can do some damage to us in the late innings” moments.
September 7th, 2012 at 9:45 pmLook, Simmons was never supposed to be an offensive force. There’s a really, really low probability that he continues to flirt with .300 after he comes back.
September 7th, 2012 at 9:46 pm91- Still more likely that he hits than Janish, who doesn’t even flirt with .200.
Fine work by O’Flaherty. Time for the Desu ex Kimbrelia.
September 7th, 2012 at 9:49 pmSweet! Nice job, EOF.
September 7th, 2012 at 9:50 pmDamn, that was a nice changeup. O’Failurety is such a luxury.
September 7th, 2012 at 9:50 pmI’m pretty confident though that he’ll hit for more than Jason Bay.
September 7th, 2012 at 9:50 pmYou’re definitely right about that, Brian.
September 7th, 2012 at 9:50 pm@ 91: But he has hit for average in the minors. He should provide as much offense as Alex G did last year or Janish does now, and it will shore up the offense wherever Prado plays. (Glass half full syndrome)
September 7th, 2012 at 9:52 pm“Look, Simmons was never supposed to be an offensive force. There’s a really, really low probability that he continues to flirt with .300 after he comes back.”
That may be true, but Simmons is going to be better than .507 OPS, 39 OPS+ Janish.
September 7th, 2012 at 9:56 pmUGGLA!!!!
September 7th, 2012 at 9:56 pmMaybe Uggla really is figuring out this hitting thing.
September 7th, 2012 at 9:56 pmTripleheader!
September 7th, 2012 at 9:56 pmThe pessimist’s take: he’s played exactly 44 games above High-A, and his minor league ISO is under .100: in other words, he’s a guy who’s managed to hit a fair number of singles in the low minors, but that isn’t exactly a guarantee of major league success.
OH MY GOD DAN UGGLA JUST HIT A HOME RUN
September 7th, 2012 at 9:57 pmLordy, Lordy! A double and a homer in the same game! What hath Dan wrought!
September 7th, 2012 at 9:57 pmsometimes the fly balls go far enough. usually not though…
September 7th, 2012 at 9:58 pm100: That fly Uggla hit earlier was tagged to deep left center.
Okay, Craig, seal the deal for VentO’Brel.
September 7th, 2012 at 9:58 pm105: I meant to say that “fly out” he hit earlier…in addition to the double and the homer.
September 7th, 2012 at 9:59 pmIt looks like Janish will not even get to bat.
September 7th, 2012 at 9:59 pmNo drama, please, Craig.
September 7th, 2012 at 10:03 pmThis ump rang up Overbay on a pitch that was further out than one or two of those balls to Fred Lewis.
September 7th, 2012 at 10:04 pmSometimes, life isn’t fair. Kimbrel in the 9th inning is one of those times. I love it.
September 7th, 2012 at 10:07 pmDeus Ex Krakena.
(And, having watched the play while not on Braves Journal, scanning this thread and seeing 80 had me laughing aloud.)
September 7th, 2012 at 10:07 pmKimbrel things were done.
September 7th, 2012 at 10:07 pmzero runs allowed through November, let’s do it.
September 7th, 2012 at 10:07 pmHonestly, is there anything better than beating the Mets? I’m drawing a blank.
September 7th, 2012 at 10:08 pmThat’s a win, y’all!
September 7th, 2012 at 10:08 pm@114
Beating the Phillies and eliminating them from the playoff race.
September 7th, 2012 at 10:13 pm@114 Something about Keystone light and Penn State football.
September 7th, 2012 at 10:15 pmNumber of runs given = zero.
September 7th, 2012 at 10:17 pmBethany, taking us back to my favorite thread of all time…
September 7th, 2012 at 10:21 pmPSU is dominate.
September 7th, 2012 at 10:25 pmBless you, Bethany.
September 7th, 2012 at 10:25 pmAh, beautiful job Alex ^_^
September 7th, 2012 at 10:31 pmMan, that was a looong time ago. Dix was the resident perv? When did sdp show up?
September 7th, 2012 at 10:32 pmRecapped.
September 7th, 2012 at 10:35 pmI was at least resident. Baseball is slowly losing its grip on me. I even cut back from three softball leagues to two this year, and plan to whittle that down to one just as soon as one of my teams fails to defend its title (5 years running so far).
Tonight I watched the Braves on TV for the first time since May, second time overall this season AND I did not participate in any fantasy baseball league. Somehow, none of this is the result of an existential crisis as far as I can tell.
September 7th, 2012 at 10:38 pm