Attrition In Atlanta

If Turner Field in Atlanta could talk, it would probably say “Well, this is it for us after this year. Remember, if we can’t beat ’em, beat ’em up.” And the Braves aren’t going to beat anybody much this season, because they ain’t very good. But I’m sure if the ballpark was a living, breathing thing, then certainly it would have been responsible for putting the hit out on Terry Collins by getting a truck to crash into his taxi cab. And it was definitely responsible for Yoenis Cespedes being taken out of the game after he aggravated his injury sliding on the dirt at Turner Field. There’s no disputing that Turner Field hurt Cespedes … technically. The ballpark is evil and I want to be the one to knock the first wrecking ball into it.

Cespedes: "I hope to be ready by tomorrow, but right now it hurts."

— Mike Puma (@NYPost_Mets) April 23, 2016

I’m sure that the Mets would lose every game here in Atlanta for Turner Field’s farewell season … except for the inescapable fact that the Braves are terrible, and that Bud Norris is a pitcher with an ERA over six since the start of last season. Curtis Granderson started the party on Friday night with a grand slam in the second inning, and it was all the Mets really needed. (And I’ll just get this out of the way now: Anyone who chats with me about baseball and calls it a “Papa Slam” will have their testicles surgically removed by the first vagrant that will accept ten dollars from me to do it … in a moving taxi while going along ninth avenue.) Granderson added another dinger off of Norris and the Mets would go on to win 6-3.

Matt Harvey pitched well enough to win, and if he was Bud Norris he would have gotten a pat on the back for his efforts. But Harvey labored through his five innings, giving up two runs after the Granderson slam, leaving everything up, and running his pitch count to 101 innings. To be fair, an error and a misplay by the middle infield extended his pitch count, and he did have five strikeouts. But it was a hot and cold effort at best. He’s making strides for the better, but it looks to be a slog right now for him and I’m not sure he’s going to be himself for a little bit. It makes it extra important that Jacob deGrom, who was just activated at the expense of Rafael Montero and will pitch on Sunday, pick up the slack a little bit just to give the Mets a shot in the arm.

I shouldn’t “say shot in the arm”. Or that’ll be the next calamity to happen while the Mets are in Atlanta. And we all know who will pull the trigger.

Finally happened! An Iowa giant. pic.twitter.com/Tofhyr0cMe

— Chipper Jones (@RealCJ10) December 5, 2014

Crap.

Today’s Hate List

1. Turner Field
2. Cecil Wiggins
3. Danny DeVito
4. Bud Norris
5. Freddie Freeman