2012 PTP Mets: We'll crash into a wall or each other for a win!

The Steve Stone (above) skippered New York Mets are tied for first place after an impressive, at times thrilling, first half.

This post will re-cap two enjoyable weekend series played at Casa De Goldy (thanks, Goldy), while providing a general mid-season analysis, as well.

-----SERIES 1: Nick at Goldy (San Fran)-----

GAME ONE:
Although my day went great overall, game one couldn't have gone worse! Goldy pounded my team, 17-2. Jose Reyes had five hits, and was a triple shy of a cycle. Brandon Phillips had two doubles, while Andre Ethier added three Rbis in a multi-hit performance. My staff ace, Matt Latos, was battered for seven earned before several relievers failed me.
What's worse ***my shortstop Ruben Tejada and left fielder Elvis Presley crashed into each other and both came up injured***. Tejada for seven games and Presley for 15. This injury comes just games after Nyjer Morgan went down for 21 games after colliding with the center-field wall and the team traded for star slugger, Matt Kemp.
GOLDY 17, NICK 2
W T.Hanson, - L - Latos

GAME TWO:
A Placido Polanco (of all people!) ninth inning error, allowed two runs to score for the visiting Mets. Behind a wasted Chacin start, Goldy's team jumped to a 3-1 lead on three solo homers from Geo Soto, Sparkles Male Model and the tough-luck Polanco. Chase Utley hit two doubles and drove in a run.
NICK 4, GOLDY 3
W - Cordero, L, BS - Axford, SV - Putz

GAME THREE:
WIAC grad Jordan Zimmerman (represent, represent!) finished a very strong first half by pitching a dazzling seven shutout innings before Drew Storen and J.J. Putz locked down a team-effort shutout. A first inning solo homer from Chase Utley was the only run scored in this pitcher's duel. In the loss, Brandon Beachy went 8 innings yielding just one run while striking out 15 Mets.
NICK 1, GOLDY 0
W - Zimmerman, L - Beachy, SV - Putz

After scoring 17 runs in game one (and then spending a long night in the Castro District), Goldy's team managed just three in the final two games. Although down a couple players due to injury, the Mets were smiling widely as they boarded the plane headed for Miami.

-----SERIES TWO: Nick at Torto (in Miami)-----

GAME ONE:
The Mets new leadoff hitter, Todd Helton (what?), hit a base-clearing double in the top of the ninth to boost the Mets over the stunned Marlins and closer Sergio Romo. Injury fill-in Bryan Peterson laced two hits, including a two-rbi double. Ryan Hanigan and Matt Kemp each collected three hits in the win, while Mike Stanton hit a homer and Prince Fielder had two doubles in the loss.
NICK 6, TORTO 5
W - Storen, L - Romo

GAME TWO:
An eighth inning, Rod Barajas three-run double - off the oft-rattled Christian Martinez - proved to be the difference in a game two's comeback Marlins win. Chris Heisey hit another round-tripper as did Lucas Duda. Matt Kemp hit a two-run homer and drove in three runs, while Blake DeWitt had three hits in the loss.
TORTO 6, NICK 5
W - Hawkins, L - Martinez, SV - Lannon

GAME THREE:
Marlins ace Roy Halladay was injured and removed after just one batter (thankfully) against the Cardiac-kid Mets who grabbed a game-three, 5-4 win and a series victory. New York scored all five runs in the eighth and ninth after trailing all game. The Mets continue to get big production from likely (Ultey and Holliday) and unlikely sources (Bryan Peterson had two RBI and Willie Harris added a lead-off ninth inning double). Princey had a two RBI and a double and Jimmy Rollins collected two hits and two steals in the loss.
NICK 5, TORTO 4
W - Storen, L - Romo, SV - Putz

Fun with stats!!!

HITTING

• Matt Holliday had a 15 game hitting streak and 14 RBI
  
• Chase Utley is hitting .328 with 10 RBI and 3 SB
  
• Nyjer Morgan was great, batting .341, before injuring himself
  
• Matt Kemp has started hot, hitting .308 with a homer in just two series
  
• After a slew of injuries to key players, Bryan Peterson has come up huge, hitting .375 with four steals.

PITCHING

• Jordan Zimmerman is 3-1 with a 3.05 ERA, anchoring a solid starting five
  
• The bullpen has been HUGE!
• J.J. Putz has converted 6 of 7 saves with a 1.64 ERA
• Drew Storen has won four games and saved two others

The real baseball season approaches....

How remarkable is Wiffleball's logo? You be the judge. Be gone Picasso, Van Gogh, Matisse, Da Vinci.....a new era has begun.

This inspires a PTP logo of similar variety ....I see a silhouette of athlete tossing three dice in the direction of a box with a pencil and stack of papers by its side.

Presidents Day has left me with some extra time at work.

Crooklyn Dodgers 1/4 season stats update.

Dee Gordon brings back "90s sexy"

After preserving my record 11-0 streak to start a season by besting Nick 2 of 3 games I decided to give you all a quick status update. Nothing of real significance to take notice of, except the fact that my catchers are raping the ball.

Al Pujols: 12-35 (.375)

Spencer catchers: 16-27 (.593)

Ruiz: 7-12 (.583)

J-buck: 9-15 .(600)

Dee Gordon 4 sb

Andy mccutchen 2 sb

Rick Ankiel 10 RBI

Gallardo: 1.93 ERA. 14 ip, 3er ** he has 0 walks on the season to go with 14Ks

Gallardo: 14 k

Gallardo: 0.71 WHIP

Are You Not Entertained?

Fish is not much of a movie buff. In fact, for about a decade in the late 90’s, early 00’s, I believe the only two movies he watched (outside of the Star Wars and Indiana Jones trilogies) were The Gladiator and, sadly, Castaway.

Our matchup last Saturday brought to mind one of the closing scenes of The Gladiator. The Emperor, losing credibility amongst the people to the popular Spaniard, chose to fight him one-on-one. Just before the battle, however, he confronts Maximus, ruthlessly stabbing him in the back of the shoulder with a shiv to even out the fight.

Let’s just say I was the Emperor, after years of dominating PTP Fish played the role of the Gladiator, and that rancid PTP draft job we pulled on Fish was the shiv…..

Game 1 – Dempster @ Kershaw

Dempster, surprisingly, held his own against the sexy southpaw , handing a 1-1 ballgame to Josh Johnson in the 7th inning (runs scored on RBI doubles by Jay Bruce (Keith) and Hunter Pence (Fish), respectively). In the 8th and the 9th, however, Justin Upton broke the game open, crushing a two-run and a three-run homerun in consecutive innings. Mike Morse added two RBI’s as Fish forced Kershaw to mop up his own mess in the complete game defeat.

Keith wins 8-1

Game 2 – Carpenter @ Cain

We were battling ya’ll. This one went a full 11 ½ innings without a run crossing the plate. Carp went 10 strong and Cain went 9. In the bottom of the 12, typical of the way my season is going, Fish rolled consecutive doubles by Clint Barmes and Johnson (don’t know his first name – doesn’t matter) with two outs to end the game.

Fish wins 1-0 (12)

Game 3 – Bumgartner @ Jurrjens

Fish started strong in the bottom of the first with a three-run jobber by lefty killer Allen Craig. A Danny Murphy RBI double in the 2nd cut the lead to 3-1 and a Tulowitski RBI double in the 6th cut the lead to 3-2 before Fish came back with two runs in the bottom of the 6th on RBI’s by Jamey Carroll and “Oh God, please don’t kill me!” Wilson Ramos. He led 5-2 through seven.

For some reason (nostalgia, I suppose) he decided bringing in Carlos Marmol would be a good idea. After cruising through the 8th, Marmol was tagged for three runs in the top of the 9th, courtesy of jacks by big cocksuckers the likes of Mike Morse and Jay Bruce. I was able to take the game in the top of the 10th thanks to consecutive run scoring doubles by Danny Murphy and “Razor” Ramon Hernandez.

Keith wins 9-5 (10)

Keith wins series 2-1

METS SWEEP AGAIN; IMPROVE TO 9-0!

(Left: The freshly-bearded and flat-brimmed Joey Votto - left - says he's never felt more comfortable at the plate and in the clubhouse, while Matt Holliday - above - says he senses something very big this year for New York's "other" team)

GAME ONE: Luebke v Bumgardner
Jason Bourgeois (3x5 with two doubles and two RBI) led an impressive team effort that featured a hit from every Met in the lineup. The surging Mets scattered 14 hits and scored seven runs in the game. Joey Votto and Chase Utley each added two hits and a RBI. Lefty Corey Luebke earned the win in a solid five innings. For Keith, Daniel Murphy had two hits and scored the lone run.
NICK 7, KEITH 1
W – Luebke, L – Bumgardner, SV – Cordero


GAME TWO: Zimmerman v Garza
Red hot Matt Holliday launched a solo home run in the top of the seventh that proved to be the only run of the contest. The story for 7+innings was Mets starter Jordan Zimmerman tossing a PERFECT GAME. Zimmerman yielded just one hit (a Daniel Murphy triple), no walks and no runs in the win.
“Only Ewoldt would pull a guy after walking no one and giving up one hit,” said
Zimmerman while playfully head-locking the manager and fellow WIAC-grad. "Everyday at the park just seems to be nothing but sunshine, wide-smiles and lolly-pops, honestly."
J.J.Putz pitched gangster-style earning a two inning save. Joey Votto had another
multi-hit game as did Ruben Tejada.
NICK 1, KEITH 0
W – Zimmerman, L – Garza, SV – Putz

GAME THREE: Mosely v Lohse
Ruben Tejada hit a game tying triple just two batters before "The Hawk" Mark Kotsay scored him on a game-winning single in the eighth. Justin Upton hit two homers and drove in four for Keith’s team, a team that led at two different points in the game. Chase Utley and Matt Holliday each hit home runs, while Nyjer Morgan went 3x4 for the Mets. Drew Storen pitched a nearly perfect two innings in relief, earning the win.
NICK 6, KEITH 5
W – Storen, L – Josh Johnson


***Fun with stats***

• Through this winning streak my team is hitting .328 and has a team ERA of 2.91.
• Pablo Sandoval and Matt Holliday still have their hitting streaks going, both at nine games.
  
• Of most surprise, my team has had only three errors on defense over this span.
  

Rocky Start

Despite a roster oozing with talent, the Colorado Rockies have stumbled out to a 1-5 start following a disappointing six game home stand.

“Obviously not the way we wanted to start the year,” shares undisputed team leader Chris Carpenter. “But a couple of breaks and we’d be looking at a 6-0 start. Skip will get us back on track.”

The team remains extraordinarily optimistic the season will turn around quickly, largely due to this balanced clubhouse, featuring an impressive array of five-tool veterans and up-and-comers….

Starting Lineup
Justin Upton -OF
Jay Bruce - OF
Jon Jay – OF
David Freese – 3B
Troy Tulowitzki – SS
Daniel Murphy – 2B
Michael Morse – 1B
Ramon Hernandez – C

Bench
James Loney
Dan Uggla
Dexter Fowler
Miguel Tejada
Eli Whiteside

Rotation
Chris Carpenter
Madison Bumgartner
Matt Garza
Kyle Lohse
Ryan Dempster

Bullpen
Craig Kimbrel
Josh Johnson
Marc Rzepczynski
Heath Bell
Brian Wilson
Octavio Dotel
Leo Nunez

AMAZING METS IMPROVE TO 6-0 AFTER ANOTHER SWEEP!

Big Panda Pablo Sandoval, Matt Holliday, Chase Utley and a cast of others help power Nick in 3-0 sweep against league nice guy, Carlo.

***EDITORIAL***The series was fun to play, well-mannered and balanced perfectly between compliments and apologizing. Games two and three were played, gangsta style, on paper with crooked lines drawn in. For as much time as I sit around thinking about PTP, you'd think I'd have a clean set of charts and a few scoresheets. Nope...only loose-leaf paper will do for Carlo and I.***

GAME ONE: Dustin Mosely v Zack Greinke

Six doubles and a Pablo Sandoval three-run homer helped power Nick’s Mets past Carlo’s squad in game one. Zack Greinke was not sharp, lasting just four innings and surrendering seven runs. Mets starting pitcher Dustin Mosely was hit around, but earned a complete game win, pitching to contact all night. Matt Holliday hit two doubles and drove in a run. In the loss Matt Kemp hit two doubles and drove in two runs.

NICK 9, CARLO 3

W – Mosely, L – Greinke

GAME TWO: Vance Worley v Mike Leake

Ryan Hannigan broke up a 6-6 tie in the bottom of the eighth inning with a base shot that plated, Chase Utley, the eventual winning run. The Mets hammered Car’s starter, Mike Leake, for six runs, all earned, in the second inning. Sandoval hit another long ball, his third on the year, while Josh Thole, Vance Worley and Alex Presley all singled in runs. Carlo’s team tied the game in the seventh, scoring all six runs, off a tired Vance Worley and shaky reliever Christhian Martinez. Neil; Walker and Ryan Howard each homered for Carlo in the loss.

NICK 7, CARLO 6

W – Martinez, L – Kerry Wood, SV – Storen

GAME THREE: Mat Latos v Anibal Sanchez

A five run sixth and a three run seventh provided much of the Mets’ offensive punch in a game three, 11-3 blowout. The win is the Mets sixth straight to start the fresh season. Alex Presley hit a triple, a double and drove in four runs, while Chase Utley added four hits, two RBI and a stolen base. For Carlo, Neil Walker had two hits and two RBI. Latos lasted just five innings for the Mets, but four relievers - including the game’s winner Drew Storen - pitched the other 4 innings nearly flawlessly.

NICK 11, CARLO 3

W – Storen, L – A. Sanchez

***Stats watch...Matt Holliday and Pablo Sandoval each have a 6-game hitting streak going. So that's fun. Of course, now that I typed this out, they will each go hitless in their next game.***

Marlins Come Home, Mario Masticated

Mar swung by the Tortomasi estate Sunday afternoon. Despite some Sunday Wells-Fargo work-related interference, games got played.  Mar won the traditional home-away roll, and selected to keep playing on the road.  And so, the Marlins finally got their home opener.

Billy impales Don Shula's arrogant head during the ceremonial opening pitch at legendary Florida Stadium

Game 1: R.Vogelsong @ I.Kennedy
A pitchers' duel all the way to the end, both Vogelsong and Kennedy pitched gems.  Mar got on the board on an unearned run, after a Ryan TheRiot error put a man on, and later that inning, was scored by a Starlin Castro single.  Things got rough for Mar in the 8th, after he had pulled his starter the inning prior.  Ernesto Friereri had a rough one in relief, walking Prince and McCann, and then allowing a game-tying RBI-single from Chris Heisey.  To add insult to injury, after getting his 2nd out, Friereri gave up a 3-run blast to Ryan TheRiot (of the 3-point HR zone vs. RHPs).  With the game 4-1, Torto unleashed closer Sergio Romo who got thru the 9th unscathed.
Torto W 4-1

Game 2: J.Karstens @ J.Collmenter
Another pitchers' duel up front, this one got wild at the end.  Torto plated a run in the 2nd (McCann RBI-double), and again in the 5th (RBI single by TheRiot).  Up 2-0, things got away from Mar in the 8th again, with Ernest Friereri on the mound again.  A nightmarish inning, in this sequence - Out, BB, SB, 1B, HR (Prince), BB, 2B, 2B, Out, 1B, Out.  That mess lead to 6 runs, and an 8-0 deficit for Mario in the 9th.  With Matt Belisle on the mound, Mar made game of things, rattling off 6-runs of his own and batting around in order before Starlin Castro cost him his final out.
Torto W 8-6  

Game 3: R.A.Dickey @ H.Kuroda
Yet another pitchers' duel, but this one held thru to the end.  The story here was Hiroki Kuroda, as he went 8 dominant innings, allowing only 2 hits and 1 walk.  The Marlins got 3-runs off a solid Rah Dickey performance, allowing only an RBI-double by Rollins, and solo HRs by Chris Heisey and Lucas Duda. Romo slammed the 1-2-3 door in the 9th.
Torto W 3-0

Torto wins series 3-0. 

Some Marlins fun-facts in this young season:
- Ryan Theriot and his two game-winning HRs already has him outplaying his paygrade massively
- Mike Stanton continues to struggle, but cut down his K-rate, only striking out twice in these 3 games
- Prince's power is 'as-advertised', with 4 HRs in 9 games
- The front 4 starters have been phenomenal, with the worst ERA coming in at 2.51 from Josh Collmenter

METS OFF TO A 3-0 START

(above: The Fun Loving 86 Mets)

METS START SEASON PERFECT!
Exuberant new 2012 squad gains a 3-O sweep, on the road, over a talented Dodgers team.

GAME ONE:
A Spencer-Nick rivalry aint a Spencer-Nick rivalry without a low-scoring, extra innings pitcher's dual and game provided just that. Mat Latos and Yovanni Gallardo each dueled 7+ innings, leaving a tied game for the bullpens to sort out. The Big Panda, Pablo Sandoval, untied the game in the top of 11 off reliever Ryan Madsen on a base-shot after a Matt Holliday (3x5 on the day), one-out double. Sandoval actually drove in both runs, plating Nyjer Morgan in the first. Drew Storen and J.J. Putz eached pitched two perfect innings for the Mets. In the loss, Albert Pujols collected three hits and Carlos Ruiz added two, despite being injured for 5 games on a fouled-tip.
NICK 2, SPENCER 1
W- Putz, L- Madsen

GAME TWO:
Tied 3-3 in the seventh, Chase Utley drove in a two-run double that proved to be the difference in a game two, 8-5 win. The Mets added two more runs in the eighth on, wildly enough, two triples, one from the newly-bearded Joey Votto and another from pinch hitter Bryan "Lacy" Peterson). Off to a great 2012 start, Pablo Sandoval blasted a three-run homer in first. For Spencer, Carlos Beltran went 2x3 with a homer and Danny Espinosa also hit a round-tripper. Christian Martinez was roughed-up in one inning of work, but collected the win, while Drew Storen shut the door.
NICK 8, SPENCER 5
W - Martinez, L - Melancon, SV - Storen

GAME THREE:
For a couple seasons, many PTP owners have avoided lefties all-together until recently when, of course, Fish said it was okay. Lemmings! Game three's 11-2 drubbing may get the "right-right-right" camp even more fuel for the fire. Southpaw Cole Hammels was abused for eight earned, lasting just two innings, while right-hander (and WIAC grad) Jordan Zimmerman sailed to a win. Beard-convert Joey Votto had five hits (record?) and a walk. Lefty killer, Mark Kotsay, added three hits. Each starter had at least one hit. For Spencer, John Buck had two hits and Dee Gordon drove in a run with a double. Aaron Harang, professional mopper, tossed an effective seven innings in relief.
NICK 11, SPENCER 2
W - Zimmerman, L - Hamels

Marlins On the Road for 6, Homer Their Way to 5 Wins

The Mermaids can't wait for Coach T and his Marlins to get back home for some games

Game 1: Halladay at Carpenter
Solid pitchers’ duel to open the season. Home runs were the difference in this one. Prince Fielder crushed the first HR of the young PTP season off Carp in the 3rd, for a 3-run blast. Keither got 3 back off Halladay in the bottom half of the 3rd, in the strength of 3-straight hits, followed by some sac bunting and flying. Bats went quiet the the rest of the game, with both pitchers going the distance. Unlikely power threat, Ryan Theriot belted a 9th inning HR off Carpenter, and Halladay got the CG with a 1-2-3 bottom of the 9th.
Torto W 4-3

Game 2: Kennedy at Bumgarner
All Torto in this one against Keith’s southpaw, Madison Bumgarner. J.D. Martinez got things started with a solo shot in the 1st, then followed it up with a 3-run shot in the 7th. Theriot picked up a pair of RBIs on an single in the same frame. Game over.
Torto W 6-1

Game 3: Collmenter at Garza
Lots of scoring in game 3, started off with Keith’s first HR of the season, a Mike Morse 2-run shot. Plenty of scoring followed, leaving the game at 7-6 Torto after 8 innings. The Marlins picked up a pair of insurance runs in the top of the 9th, on a Brian McCann deep drive turned to a wind-aided triple into deep left-center in Coors field. Keith fought back in the bottom of the 9th, getting a 2-run pinch hit HR from Jay Bruce off my closer, Sergio Romo, only to have the top of his order go down quietly after that, 1-2-3.
Torto W 9-8
Torto wins series 3-0

Goldy stopped over at Casa de Torto on Saturday afternoon, where his lifetime record was 0-6. Slobbery dogs and the boisterous noise of Jax and Jace have created a strong home field advantage.

Game 1: Kuroda at Beachy
The Marlin’s HR power was on display for this one, as Torto got 4 balls to leave Pac-Bell/AT&T Park (Princey, Stanton, Heisey, and JD Martinez). Kuroda pitched 7 innings of high-WHIP, shutout ball, getting great help from double play balls and terrible Goldy B-Rolls. Goldy’s Giants mustered 3-runs off Kuroda’s successor , lefty long, John Lannon, but it was too little too late.
Torto W 10-3

Game 2: Saunders at Lincecum
Goldy brought out the 1st half of the ‘Cum brothers for game 2, and got his first win at Torto’s house, and the first win of the young season. The Giants jumped all over Average Joe Saunders getting 4 runs in 2 innings (including a HR from Sparkles Denorfia) before Torto’s quick hook pulled the guy for his top flight long reliever, Tyler Clippard. Goldy picked up another 3-runs off Clip, but Torto managed to chip away a bit, on a 4th inning 3-run McCann HR, a run-scoring Princey groundout, and a McCann RBI single. Goldy used Bill Brasky Bray and Kensley Jansen to shut it down the rest of the way.
Goldy W 7-5

Game 3: Halladay at Marcum
Halladay was on again, as was Marcum, setting up a terrific Game 3 pitchers’ duel. Goldy got to Halladay in the first for a single run, on a B-Phillips RBI-single. That was all he’d get. After several failed deep drive attempts off Marcum, Prince Fielder finally got it done in the 6th, taking a Marcum pitch 420 feet deep into the left center seats for a 2-run shot. That’s all the scoring that was needed for Halladay to go the distance (2nd straight CG), who retired 12 or the final 14 batters for the win.
Torto wins 2-1
Torto wins series 2-1

Some fun Marlins stats thru 6 games:
1) The squad's pop has been 'as advertised' so far - 10 HRs including 3 for Prince, and 3 for JD Martinez (in only 6 AB)
2)  Princey has only 4 hits on the season, all xtra-base hits - 3 HRs and a 2B
3)  Stanton is well on pace to break the single season record for strikeouts (set by Stanton last season with 55), with 13 already.
4)  Defense has been surprisingly respectable, only 1 error.  Numerous hits given up on ranges in the OF though...
5)Clippard has already been got to a few times, but is still striking fools out at a 19.3 per 9IP rate