Mets to play Bums

by Eric Simon on Oct 1, 2006 7:33 PM EDT

In a somewhat fitting conspiracy of events, the NL East champion Mets play the same team they faced when they last finished atop the division in 1988, hopefully this time with more satisfactory results.

Game 1 will be played at Shea on Wednesday, 10/4 at 4pm. We know the Mets will be using Orlando Hernandez in that game, but I don't know that the Dodgers have announced their starter as of yet. Good money is on Brad Penny, who was last seen pitching just one inning on Thursday in Colorado. That sets up a Game 2 matchup of Tom Glavine and Greg Maddux, who last started on Saturday.

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The Dodgers got big-time jobbed.

The refs gave San Diego the game today on an absolutely horrible overrule. Given the state of the Cardinals, I guess there's a good possibility that Mike and Mike (Piazza and Cameron) will be back at Shea later in a week or so.

"The Mets with the bases loaded: Chavez, great speed, Reyes, great speed, Lo Duca, good guy."

by Mr. Met on Oct 1, 2006 8:19 PM EDT reply actions

Refs. Umps.

Arbiters of all that is objectively real. Whatever.

"The Mets with the bases loaded: Chavez, great speed, Reyes, great speed, Lo Duca, good guy."

by Mr. Met on Oct 1, 2006 10:29 PM EDT up reply actions

This is a really good

matchup for the Mets. Penny's hurt, and I don't care what kind of mission Greg Maddux thinks he's on, but he's not the same pitcher that he once was. And the best part is that the trio of lefties from the Phillies and Astros will be spending lots of time on the golf course/defending themselves from steriod allegations.

by StuckInGA on Oct 1, 2006 9:53 PM EDT reply actions

honestly,

the Dodgers scare me a lot more than the other two playoff teams here. Between their strong starting rotation and their lineup, and the way they seemed to handle the Mets in the regular season, I am more worried about the division series than I would be about the LCS against either the Padres or the Cardinals. Maddux is not the pitcher he used to be, but Penny and Lowe are pretty good, and Kuo frustrated the Mets consistently. Yeah, I'm glad not to see the Phillies or the Astros, but of the teams that made it, LA scares me the most (from the NL).

by anonymous on Oct 1, 2006 10:39 PM EDT up reply actions

Dodgers

The Dodgers were a much better team than a lot of people give them credit for. I threw together a quick comparison of the two teams over at MetsGeek and was surprised to find that the Dodgers led the NL in batting average and on base percentage, and were very competitive pitching-wise as well. The Mets are a better team, but with Pedro out and the specter of Steve Trachsel starting a playoff game looming on the horizon, I don't view this series as the cakewalk some other do.

by Eric Simon on Oct 1, 2006 10:48 PM EDT up reply actions

I agree

looking at these teams. The Dodgers are simply the best of three. Penny can be dominant when right, Lowe can have you playing ground out with the infield ala Wang. We all know Maddux's resume. Their bullpen with Saito has be good. They don't have a lot of power in their lineup, but a set of solid hitters through out(Nomar, Drew, Kent). We never seem to able get Furcal out ever. This is tough match up, one we should win, but a tough match up.

its a ground ball...trickling... its a fair ball, its by Buckner, rounding third Knight, the Mets will win the ballgame, the Mets win

by DoctorK16 on Oct 1, 2006 11:15 PM EDT up reply actions

These guys don't seem too worried.

http://www.vegasinsider.com/mlb/odds/las-vegas/

"The Mets with the bases loaded: Chavez, great speed, Reyes, great speed, Lo Duca, good guy."

by Mr. Met on Oct 2, 2006 12:06 AM EDT up reply actions

LV

Mets -155 for the series. It's not really surprising, considering they have home field and basically had their way with the National League this season. Still, I stand by my assertion that it will be tougher than a lot of people think.

by Eric Simon on Oct 2, 2006 12:14 AM EDT up reply actions

Harvey Keitel

I hope the Bad Lieutenant has his money on the dodgers!

http://faithandfear.blogharbor.com/blog/_archives/2005/2/21/342339.html

Pedro offers you his protection.

by pj on Oct 2, 2006 11:26 AM EDT up reply actions

where are people getting tickets?

I cruised by the MetsGeek piece (nice article, Eric) and I was surprised to see a fair number of people had gotten tix. I had no luck at all with the online drawings -- are these just the lucky ones showing up to crow about it, or do people know something I don't?

by anonymous on Oct 1, 2006 11:11 PM EDT reply actions

ebay I suspect

that must be some serious coin their laying out.

its a ground ball...trickling... its a fair ball, its by Buckner, rounding third Knight, the Mets will win the ballgame, the Mets win

by DoctorK16 on Oct 1, 2006 11:11 PM EDT up reply actions

Tickets

I entered three times and got bupkis. My sister was selected to buy tickets to the LDS and my dad was selected to buy tickets to the LCS, which I did for him. We got two sets of two tickets to Game 7 of the LCS, which will be really exciting if the game is played. If it's not played I've lost nothing.

The alternative was buying upper deck tickets to an earlier game that was definitely going to be played, but I would just as soon watch it at home in HD than drive in from Jersey just to sit in the nosebleeds.

There's something to be said to "just be there", but I'll be happy just to watch the games.

by Eric Simon on Oct 1, 2006 11:21 PM EDT up reply actions

I got tix in LA for game 3 and 4

I'm pumped. I also bought tickets for SD(where I live) just in case and am now stuck with weekday day games because the f--king yankees have to be on in primetime.

by thekid on Oct 2, 2006 12:11 AM EDT reply actions

I got tickets for game two

Just got lucky in the drawing. Even with the drawing it was impossible to actually get decent seats - we're in the back row of the loge, and that was despite my incessantly refreshing the ticket office web page when the purchase time began.

"He even tried to pimp it," Floyd said. "He's got no pimp." Said Wright: "I don't even know what that means."

by Billy Everyteen on Oct 2, 2006 11:33 AM EDT reply actions

Game 2 confusion

Can anyone clarify whether it's Kuo or Maddux who will be starting Game 2? I'm hearing contradictory reports.

Obviously I hope for the latter.

"He even tried to pimp it," Floyd said. "He's got no pimp." Said Wright: "I don't even know what that means."

by Billy Everyteen on Oct 2, 2006 11:39 AM EDT reply actions

I could only get tickets to game 5 of the ds

which, if it's played, will be amazing.

if not, I don't have to come up from DC, but I may anyway just to watch the game in NY. my wife and I are celebrating our one-year anniversary this weekend and a mets win or two would be the perfect present.

mostly, I just could not be more excited about the playoffs. Maine, Duque, and Glavine all gave me reason over the last few days to be even more excited about it. bring on da bums!

"Let us go forth awhile, and get better air in our lungs. Let us leave our closed rooms... The game of ball is glorious." - Walt Whitman

by hugo on Oct 2, 2006 12:19 PM EDT reply actions

I'm going to Game 1 of the DS

I was selected in a "2nd chance drawing." I'm annoyed the the Yankmes get two prime-time games in a row and our Game 1 is in the afternoon.

It looks like dem Bums are throwing Derek Lowe against El Duque. The Dodgers have hit Duque, but not too damaging. Nomar obviously has the most experience against him.

by Rod Gaspar Fan Club on Oct 2, 2006 2:01 PM EDT reply actions

Game 1

I have tickets as well (cuz I bought a 6-pack.) The game is gonna be tons of fun. My wife bought me a "Mr. Met" tee-shirt and Met's belt buckle last week. I should have mustard on both by the third inning.

When the Dodgers came into town this year, I recall Howie and Tom talking about LA's poor defense. I don't know why, but it's the only part of their in-game chatter I recall. Does anyone else remember that?

by IanB in MD on Oct 2, 2006 5:09 PM EDT up reply actions