Tonight brings on Round Two of the 2012 Subway Series between the New York Mets and the New York Chickens…who said that? Not me…
Such a remark after how the last series ended up going seems a bit hasty, but nonetheless we already have a story heading into tonight; one mediocre pitcher’s trash talking. We’ll see how Frank Francisco responds in-game because this is the absolute wrong way to curry any favor with the Yankees organization or fan base, if that is even possible.
Citi Field as been kind to the Metropolitans all year, and after dropping all three games in the Bronx a few weeks ago, the favorable home numbers (22-15) for the Mets will generate a ton of drive heading into the series opener tonight.
You have to go into this series figuring that the fire in Mets’ belly is on the verge of completely boiling over. Jon Niese and Andy Pettitte square off tonight to get things going. Niese will be tossing for a literally streaky Mets team. It seems as if they only show up every other series, which would be “bad news bears” for the Mets after getting swept by the Bronx Bombers, sweeping the Rays, getting swept by the Reds, and finally sweeping the Orioles earlier this week.
The Mets need to break the patterns and build a huge streak. Coming into the series winning those three in a row, they mustn’t lose hold of the momentum that they absolutely need to send them careening into the first place Washington Nationals.
The O’s scored just three times in this week’s series, so pitching will continue to be paramount, especially in the first two games of this series to set a grander stage for knuckleball extraordinaire R.A. Dickey on Sunday.
Lineups
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New York Mets
1) Andres Torres CF
2) Ronny Cedeno SS 3) David Wright 3B 4) Scott Hairston LF 5) Lucas Duda RF 6) Justin Turner 2B 7) Ike Davis 1B 8 ) Mike Nickeas C 9) Jon Niese LHP |
New York Yankees
1)
2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8 ) 9) |
Matchup
NYM: Jon Niese (4-3, 3.82 ERA) Of late, Niese has really begun to stabilize, even after a rough go last time out against the Reds. He’s fanned 30 over his last 25 innings and is starting to develop some personal craft on the mound. He’s also just walked three over his last three starts. The stability factor will be important against the Yanks tonight. If he settles into a groove, it will allow the Mets to get something go on offense. The bullpen blew it his last start against the Yanks. He went seven innings and allowed just two unearned runs in arguably his best start of the season. He’ll need a repeat performance and a little help from his friends.
NYY: Andy Pettitte (3-2, 2.77 ERA) It is no joke to say that Andy Pettitte, at age 40, is putting up some of the best numbers in his whole career in his first seven starts of 2012. His strikeout rate is up and he is simply a stopper that isn’t letting anybody on base. He successfully held the Mets at bay on June 10 despite not factoring into the decision. He punched out eight in six innings of work. Don’t expect him to have an issues with the left-handed bats of the Mets lineup tonight. Lefty hitters are hitting a meager .163 against him.
Stache Keys to the Game
- This is already a series of words. As Metsblog pointed out from Mike Puma’s article, “At least somebody isn’t afraid to talk trash about a cross-town rival.” If the Mets are so afraid, they should lose tonight? Wrong. The Mets need to show everyone what they are made of on such a big stage tonight.
- The right-handed bats really need to step up big tonight in case the plentiful lefty bats turn into duds. David Wright needs to come up with at least two huge hits as well.
- Hey Frank Francisco, if the Yankees are such chickens, tell your teammates to sock it to them tonight, because if it all goes well, you hopefully won’t have to pitch!
Slated for a 7:10 PM ET start, catch the game live on SNY and WFAN 660.
