Amazin' Avenue - Mets vs. Braves, Friday, September 28, 2012
Love the Mets
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2012-09-29T00:51:25-04:00
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2012-09-29T00:51:25-04:00
2012-09-29T00:51:25-04:00
Night Cap: Niese Out-duels Hudson, Duda Goes Deep
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<figcaption>© US PRESSWIRE</figcaption>
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<p>The Mets spoiled Chipper Jones's big night with a rare come-from-behind victory at Turner Field.</p> <p><span style="float: right; padding-left: 10px;"><img style="border: 1px solid #000;" width="290px" src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/1102529/aa_result_w3-1a.png" class="photo"></span></p>
<p>I'll get this out of the way right up front: The <a href="https://www.talkingchop.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Braves</a> are going to the postseason, at least for one game, and the <a href="https://www.amazinavenue.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Mets</a> are not. But the way in which the Mets defeated their rivals in Atlanta on Friday night was as exciting and enjoyable as it gets in the final week of a soon-to-be-over regular season.</p>
<p><span>Jon Niese</span> was finished his best season as a professional pitcher with seven very good innings against a Braves lineup that was still mathematically in the hunt for the division title when the game began. While he didn't have his best strikeout stuff, Niese allowed just four hits — which helped diminish the effect of the three walks he issued — and one run in the start. As a result, he finishes the year with a 3.40 ERA. </p>
<p>The Mets' lineup didn't do much of anything against <span>Tim Hudson</span> for the first six innings, but <span>Daniel Murphy</span> got things started with a leadoff double in the seventh. <span>David Wright</span> lined out to right, Murphy tagged up and went to third, and the Braves opted to intentionally walk <span>Ike Davis</span>. Hudson struck out <span>Scott Hairston</span>, but up to the plate stepped <span>Lucas Duda</span>. The Dude worked one hell of an at-bat, and on the ninth pitch he saw, he launched a three-run home run to give the Mets the lead.</p>
<p>Niese finished his start with a scoreless bottom of the seventh. <span>Manny Acosta</span> and <span>Justin Hampson</span> combined for a perfect eighth inning, and <span>Bobby Parnell</span> pitched a perfect ninth. While it took nearly the entire season for Terry Collins to anoint Parnell the team's closer, he should at the very least get a shot at the gig in spring training, assuming both he and <span>Frank Francisco</span> are still on the team.</p>
<p>At the beginning of the game, it felt like the Mets wouldn't even come close to living up to their <a href="http://www.amazinavenue.com/2012/9/28/3420146/r-a-dickey-and-the-door-into-summer">incredible victory</a> at Citi Field on Thursday afternoon. <span>Chipper Jones's</span> big ceremony was held before the game, and it wouldn't have been any surprise if Larry launched a home run or two en route to a victory over the hapless Mets. But Jones went 0-for-4, and Lucas Duda had the biggest hit of the night. </p>
<p style="border: 1px solid #000; background-color: #DDD; padding: 2px;"><b>SB Nation Coverage</b></p>
<p>* <a href="http://www.amazinavenue.com/2012/9/28/3425542/open-thread-mets-vs-braves-9-28-12">Amazin' Avenue Gamethread</a><br> * <a href="http://www.talkingchop.com/2012/9/28/3425622/chipper-jones-night-mets-at-braves-open-thread">Talking Chop Gamethread</a></p>
<p style="border: 1px solid #000; background-color: #DDD; padding: 2px;"><b>Win Probability Added</b></p>
<p><a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/livewins.aspx?date=2012-09-28&team=Braves&dh=0&season=2012"><img style="border: 1px solid #000;" src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/1459281/2012-09-28-fangraphs.png"></a></p>
<p>(<a href="http://www.amazinavenue.com/2012/8/6/3222397/an-explanation-of-win-expectancy-graphs">What's this?</a>)</p>
<p><b>Big winners:</b> Lucas Duda, +52.5% WPA, Jon Niese, +18.3% WPA<br><b>Big losers:</b> David Wright, -11.0% WPA<br><b>Teh aw3s0mest play:</b> The Dude's home run, +53.9% WPA<br><b>Teh sux0rest play:</b> Freddie Freeman's solo home run in the fourth, -15.3% WPA<br><b>Total pitcher WPA:</b> +32.74% WPA<br><b>Total batter WPA:</b> +17.3% WPA<br><b>GWRBI!:</b> Lucas Duda</p>
https://www.amazinavenue.com/2012/9/29/3426776/new-york-mets-lucas-duda-jon-niese-atlanta-braves
Chris McShane
2012-09-28T22:20:25-04:00
2012-09-28T22:20:25-04:00
Quick Recap: Mets 3, Braves 1 — The Duda'bides
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<figcaption>Kevin Liles-US PRESSWIRE</figcaption>
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<p>Jon Niese finished a very good season with a very good start, and Lucas Duda rained on Chipper Jones's parade with a big three-run home run.</p> <p>In his final start of the season, <span>Jon Niese</span> threw seven great innings against the playoff-bound <a href="https://www.talkingchop.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Atlanta Braves</a>. He struck out three, walked three, and allowed just one run on a <span>Freddie Freeman</span> solo home run.</p>
<p>It looked like the Mets weren't going to score against <span>Tim Hudson</span> through the first six-plus innings, but that changed when <span>Lucas Duda</span> came up to bat with two outs in the seventh. With <span>Daniel Murphy</span> at third and <span>Ike Davis</span> at first, Duda saw eight pitches against before hitting the ninth over the fence to give the <a href="https://www.amazinavenue.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Mets</a> the lead in dramatic fashion.</p>
<p>With Niese out of the game after the seventh, <span>Manny Acosta</span> retired the only batter he faced in the eighth before Justin Hampson set down the only two batters he faced. Bobby Parnell pitched a perfect ninth to finish off the win.</p>
<p><b>We knew it was over when...</b></p>
<p>Duda hit the home run. Acosta-Hampson-Parnell had the rest of the game locked down, obviously.</p>
<p><b>What else?</b></p>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">As you may have heard, the Braves threw <span>Chipper Jones's</span> big going away party before the game. Thanks to Lucas Duda for spoiling the night!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">Niese finishes the year with a 3.40 ERA. Bravo, Jonathon.</span></li>
</ul>
https://www.amazinavenue.com/2012/9/28/3426340/new-york-mets-jon-niese-lucas-duda-atlanta-braves
Chris McShane
2012-09-28T17:01:24-04:00
2012-09-28T17:01:24-04:00
Mets vs. Braves Preview, Lineups, Broadcast Info
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<figcaption>Mike McGinnis - Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>News, notes, lineups, and broadcast info for today's game between the Mets and the Braves at Turner Field.</p> <p>Today's game notes, courtesy of <a href="http://www.twitter.com/mets">@Mets</a>.</p>
<p><b>Teams:</b> <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.amazinavenue.com/">Mets</a> vs. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.talkingchop.com/">Braves</a><br><b>Date:</b> Friday, September 28, 2012 • 7:35 p.m<br><b>Location:</b> Turner Field • Atlanta, GA<br><b>Starters:</b> LHP Jonathon Niese (12-9, 3.49) vs. RHP <span>Tim Hudson</span> (16-6, 3.61)<br><b>TV/Radio:</b> SNY • WFAN • WQBU<br><b>Info:</b> Game #157 • Road Game #76</p>
<p><b>Lineup</b></p>
<p><span>Ruben Tejada</span> – SS<br><span>Daniel Murphy</span> – 2B<br><span>David Wright</span> – 3B<br><span>Ike Davis</span> – 1B<br><span>Scott Hairston</span> – CF<br><span>Lucas Duda</span> – LF<br><span>Mike Baxter</span> – RF<br><span>Josh Thole</span> – C<br>
Jonathon Niese – LHP</p>
<p><img src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/1247997/mets-notes.png"></p>
<p><b>METS AT A GLANCE:</b> The Mets have won six of their last seven
games...The team is 6-4 in its last 10 games...New York finished 36-45 at home
this year, including 9-25 in the second half...The Mets were 34-47 at home in
2011.</p>
<p><b>ON THE ROAD:</b> The Mets are 7-5 in their last 12 road games and are
36-39 on the road this year after going 43-38 away from Citi Field in
2011...David Wright is fourth in the National League with a .324 road batting
average.</p>
<p><b>R.A. DICKEY:</b> Became the first Mets pitcher with 20 wins in a season
since 1990, when Frank Viola went 20-12…Dickey joins Tom Seaver (1969, 1971,
1972, 1975), Jerry Koosman (1976), Dwight Gooden (1985), David Cone (1988) and
Viola as the only Mets to win at least 20 games in a season. </p>
<p><b>DICKEY RANKS:</b> Dickey is second in the majors and NL in wins, and leads
the National League in strikeouts (222), innings pitched (229.2), complete games
(five) and shutouts (three)…He has the second-lowest ERA (2.69) in the
NL...Dickey leads the majors with 26 quality starts.</p>
<p><b>20-GAME WINNER ON SUB .500 TEAM:</b> Dickey is the first 20-game winner on
a below .500 team since 1997, when <span>Roger Clemens</span> went 21-7 for the Toronto Blue
Jays, who finished the season 76-86 and Brad Radke who was 20-10 for the ’97
<a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.twinkietown.com/">Twins</a>, who were 68-94…Clemens won the AL Cy Young award that year with 96% of
the vote...In fact, Dickey’s .769 winning percentage would be the fourth-best in
major league history for a pitcher on a team that finished below .500...Sandy
Koufax (19-5, .792 for the 1964 <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a>) is first, <span>Tim Lincecum</span> (18-5, .783 for
the 2008 <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/">Giants</a>) is second and Bob Gibson (23-7, .767 for the 1964 <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.vivaelbirdos.com/">Cardinals</a>)
ranks third.</p>
<p><b>THIRD-OLDEST TO 20:</b> Dickey became the third-oldest pitcher to record
the first 20-win season of his major league career...Dickey (age 37 years, 334
days as of Thursday), trails only <span>Mike Mussina</span> (who was 39 years old when he won
his 20th game for the 2008 <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.pinstripealley.com/">Yankees</a>) and <span>Jamie Moyer</span> (age 38 with the 2001
<a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.lookoutlanding.com/">Mariners</a>) on that list...Courtesy of the Elias Sports Bureau.</p>
<p><b>STRIKEOUTS:</b> Dickey fanned a career high-tying 13 over 7.2 innings
yesterday, increasing his NL-best strikeout total to 222... He also struck out
13 on June 18 vs. Baltimore…Dickey struck out double-digits for the seventh time
this season, also the best in the NL...Dickey’s strikeout total is the 12th-most
in team history and the most by a Mets pitcher since 1990 when David Cone had
233 strikeouts and Dwight Gooden had 223.</p>
<p><b>DICKEY DURING THE DAY:</b> <span>R.A. Dickey</span> is 13-1 during the day this
year...Dickey’s 13 day victories are the most in the majors this season and the
most in franchise history...Tom Seaver won 12 day contests in 1975...The last
major leaguer to win 13 or more day games was the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/">Cubs</a>’ Rick Reuschel (15-5 in
1977).</p>
<p><b>AT CITI FIELD:</b> Dickey went 10-3 with a 2.59 ERA at home this
season...The 10 home wins are tied for the most in the National League and the
most by a Met since <span>Mike Pelfrey</span> was 10-3 in 2010 at Citi Field ...Dickey ranks
seventh in the NL in home ERA...He is fourth in the NL with a .225 opponents
batting average against.</p>
<p><b>JONATHON NIESE:</b> Won his career-high 12th game in his last start on
September 22 vs. Miami…His previous best was 11 set last year …Niese has tossed
seven straight quality starts and has 21 on the year (10 on the road)…Niese is
tied for 10th in the National League with his 21 quality starts...Niese also
ranks ninth in the NL with a 3.19 ERA.</p>
<p><b>CHIPPER JONES VS. THE METS:</b> <span>Chipper Jones</span> will play his final series
vs. the Mets...Jones has hit .311 (264-848) in 242 career games vs. New
York...Jones has 49 home runs (tied for the second-most by any visiting player
in franchise history), 159 RBI (3rd-most), 167 runs scored (2nd-most) and 46
doubles (7th-most).</p>
<p><b>IKE DAVIS:</b> Hit his 31st home run of the season yesterday, the most by
a Mets player since 2008, when <span>Carlos Delgado</span> hit 38 and David Wright finished
with 33...Davis is tied for fifth in the National League with his 31 home
runs.</p>
<p><b>SECOND HALF HOME RUNS:</b> Ike Davis has 19 home runs since the All-Star
break, tied for the fourth-most in majors and the second-most in the National
League...Detroit’s Miguel Cabrera has the most second half home runs (24).</p>
<p><b>ROAD HOME RUNS:</b> Ike Davis is second in the National League and fourth
in the majors with 20 home runs after the All-Star break... <span>Giancarlo Stanton</span>
leads the NL with 21 second-half home runs and <span>Adam Dunn</span> leads the majors with
23.</p>
<p><b>PER AT-BAT:</b> Ike Davis is third in the National League with a home run
every 16.1 at-bats.</p>
<p><b>HISTORY:</b> David Wright became the team’s all-time hits leader with his
1,419th career hit with his third-inning infield single off the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bucsdugout.com/">Pirates</a>’ Jeff
Locke on Wednesday…Wright, who now has 1,422 hits, passed Ed Kranepool who
finished his career with 1,418 hits while playing in 1,853 games from
1962-1979.</p>
<p><b>WRIGHT TIME:</b> David Wright’s three-run home run, his 21st of the year,
snapped a 3-3 tie in the fifth inning...Ten of Wright’s 21 home runs have put
the Mets ahead. </p>
<p><b>RECORD BOOKS:</b> Wright already became the franchise leader in RBI, walks
and runs scored this year…He also holds the club mark in doubles and extra-base
hits.</p>
<p><b>WRIGHT RANKINGS:</b> David Wright is eighth in the majors with a .392
on-base percentage, tied for ninth with 40 doubles and is sixth in the National
League with a .309 batting average...He is fourth in the NL with 79 walks.</p>
<p><b>RUBEN TEJADA:</b> Extended his hitting streak to nine games yesterday
…He’s hitting .417 (15-36) during that stretch which dates back to September
17.</p>
<p><b>DANIEL MURPHY:</b> Went 2-4 yesterday and is hitting .346 (28-81) with
five doubles, two home runs and 12 RBI this month...Murphy is one double shy of
setting a career-high...He currently has 38 doubles.</p>
<p><b>BOBBY PARNELL:</b> Closed out yesterday’s win by recording the final two
outs for his fifth save of the season...Parnell has posted a 0.82 ERA (one
earned run/11.0 innings) in 12 games in September...He has a 1.89 ERA (eight
earned runs/38.0 innings) over his last 40 games dating back to June 14...He’s
fanned 31 and issued 12 walks during that span.</p>
<p><img src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/1250115/jonathon-niese.png"></p>
<p><b>LAST START:</b> Earned a win when the Mets beat the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.fishstripes.com/">Marlins</a>, 7-3, at Citi
Field on September 21...Pitched 6.1 innings, allowing three runs, earned, seven
hits and one walk...Struck out seven in the 99-pitch outing...Has won
double-digit games for the second consecutive season...Has won a career-high 12
games this season.</p>
<p><b>HOME RUNS:</b> Niese has given up a home run in eight of his last 14
starts, dating to July 3...Has given up a career-high 21 home runs this season,
passing last year’s career-high of 20...Gave up a career-high four home runs in
his start on May 18 at Toronto.</p>
<p><b>WALKS:</b> Has allowed 21 walks in his last 19 starts, a span of 128.0
innings pitched, dating to June 3...Has walked more than one five times in those
19 starts...Prior to this stretch, Niese had allowed 18 base-on-balls over a
six-start stretch (29.2 innings pitched) from May 1 to May 28...Niese’s 25.1
innings without a walk marks the longest streak by a Mets pitcher since 2011,
when Mike Pelfrey went 25.0 innings without a base-on-balls from June 2-24.</p>
<p><b>RARE COMPANY:</b> Niese has issued 14 walks in his last 13 starts and
became the seventh pitcher in Mets history to throw at least 7.0 innings and not
walk a batter in three consecutive starts (July 8-27) in one season...The last
major league pitcher to do that was <span>Cliff Lee</span>, who did it in four straight
starts in June, 2010.</p>
<p><b>INNINGS PITCHED:</b> Since June 10, Niese has pitched 122.0 innings,
spanning 17 starts, tied for 15th-most in the NL over that time...Has pitched at
least 6.0 innings in 19 straight starts, dating to June 3 and has gone 7.0
innings in 11 of his last 18 starts...The streak is the longest for the Mets
since R.A. Dickey went 17 straight starts of 6.0 innings or more from July 8,
2011 to April 13, 2012.</p>
<p><b>SCORELESS STREAK:</b> Had a scoring streak of 14.1 innings snapped on
August 24 against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.crawfishboxes.com/">Astros</a>...The streak dated from the third inning against
the Braves on August 12th to the second inning against the Astros on August
24...This was the longest such streak of this season and of his career. SUCCESS
VS. LEFTIES: Niese has held left-handed hitters to a .239 batting average
(33-138) this season, with three home runs and seven walks...Conversely, Niese
has allowed 18 home runs and 39 walks to right-handers....For his career,
lefties are hitting .264 (121-458).</p>
<p><b>RECENT SUCCESS:</b> In his previous 21 starts dating to May 23, Niese is
10-7 with a 3.07 ERA (48 earned runs/140.2 innings pitched)...Has a 7.23 K/9
mark and 15 quality starts over that stretch...Has compiled a 2.79 ERA (12
earned runs/38.2 innings) over his last six starts dating to August 18...Has
allowed three earned runs or fewer in 22 of his 29 starts this season.</p>
<p><b>DAY/NIGHT SPLITS:</b> In 11 starts during the day this season, Niese is
4-2 with a 2.99 ERA (24 earned runs/72.1 innings)...In 18 night starts, the
left-hander is 8-7 with a 3.81 ERA (47 earned runs/111.0 innings)...Niese has
allowed 16 of his 21 home runs this season during night games...For his career,
Niese has compiled a 13-10 record with a 3.67 ERA (80 earned runs/196.0 innings
pitched) during the day in 33 starts, compared to his 21-22 mark with a 4.32 ERA
(172 earned runs/358.0 innings pitched) at night in 60 starts.</p>
<p><b>CAREER-HIGH STRIKEOUTS:</b> On June 3 vs St. Louis, Niese established a
new career-high in strikeouts with 10...His previous high was eight, done four
times previous, most recently on June 9, 2011 at Milwaukee...He was the third of
the four Mets starters this season to record at least one game with double-digit
strikeouts.</p>
<p><b>LAST WIN VS. ATLANTA:</b> Won, 6-5, at Citi Field on August 12... Pitched
8.0 innings and allowed one run, earned, six hits, one home run, and two
walks...Struck out six.</p>
<p><b>LAST LOSS VS. ATLANTA:</b> Lost, 3-0, at Citi Field on September 7.
Pitched 6.0 innings, allowed one run, earned, five hits, one home run, and one
walk. Struck out two.</p>
<p><b>CAREER VS. ATLANTA:</b> In 11 career games, all starts, Niese is 5-3 with
a 3.15 ERA (23 earned runs/65.1 innings pitched) vs the Braves.</p>
<p><b>KEY MATCHUPS:</b></p>
<ul>
<li>
<span>Jeff Baker</span> - .500 (6-12, 2B, RBI, K)</li>
<li>
<span>Jason Heyward</span> - .412 (7-17, 2 2B, 2 HR, 8 RBI, 2 BB, 4K)</li>
<li>
<span>Reed Johnson</span> - .500 (6-12, 2 RBI, BB)</li>
</ul>
https://www.amazinavenue.com/2012/9/28/3425110/mets-braves-preview-lineups-broadcast-tv-jonathon-niese-tim-hudson
Eric Simon