The Flagrant Fan Blogs: Jeanmar Gomez

<div style="text-align: justify;">For a short schedule, Thursday was a good day. Seven of nine correct is a fine tally. But as always, it was the two that got away that get all of my attention. If you reread yesterday's version, you can even see me say that <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/n/niesejo01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Jonathon Niese</a> was due for an overpowering performance. And yet, I still picked against him because it was the Cardinals he was facing at home. The Mets won easily despite facing <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/wainwad01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Adam Wainwright</a>.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">The other wrong pick was the Yankees. <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/haranaa01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Aaron Harang</a> was supposed to start. I predicted the Yankees would rough him up. Instead (and I never heard why), <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/n/noesihe01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Hector Noesi</a> got the start. He was part of the <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/player_search.cgi?results=monteje01,monter002jes&utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Jesus Montero</a> deal and has an astronomical ERA as a member of the Mariners. Noesi shut down the Yankees for four and a third and then five other relievers held onto the lead while <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/pettian01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Andy Pettitte</a> hurt his back in the fifth inning.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">But again, it was a good day. And now on to Friday:</div> <ul><li style="text-align: justify;">The Mets over the Cubs: The <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/harvema01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Matt Harvey</a> show makes a stop at Wrigley and it will be an afternoon game and is must-see TV. The kid is amazing. <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/j/jacksed01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Edwin Jackson</a> will try to keep the Mets scoreless to at least give the game to the bullpen.</li><li style="text-align: justify;">The Phillies over the Reds: The Phillies are at home and Phil Lee is having a good season with a 4-2 record. With the Phillies not playing well, few have noticed. <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/cingrto01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Tony Cingrani</a> still has not lost a game and experts are poo-pooing his fine start to his MLB career. Time will tell if they are right or not.</li><li style="text-align: justify;">The Pirates over the Astros: Neither pitcher fills me with much enthusiasm. <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/gomezje01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Jeanmar Gomez</a> has pitched okay, but I still do not trust him. <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/l/lylesjo01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Jordan Lyles</a> still sounds like the name of a country singer rather than a pitcher. The Pirates had a good series in Milwaukee. The Astros lose a DH as if their offense can afford to lose another bat.</li><li style="text-align: justify;">The Indians over the Mariners: Interesting game and one that is hard to peg. The M's won two of three from the Yankees. The Indians are pitching better. Among those pitching better is <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/j/jimenub01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Ubaldo Jimenez</a>. But it is still hard to trust him. <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/maurebr01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Brandon Maurer</a> has had some good games. Hard one to judge.</li><li style="text-align: justify;">The Orioles over the Rays: The Rays just cannot get going. And the fact that <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/rodnefe01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Fernando Rodney</a> is not locking it down at the end is killing them too. When I see a guy like Rodney who was so good last year go through this, it again makes you amaze at <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/riverma01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Mariano Rivera</a>. Rivera never had such a stretch. <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/hammeja01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Jason Hammel</a> over <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/hellije01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Jeremy Hellickson</a>.</li><li style="text-align: justify;">The Yankees over the Blue Jays: The Yankees lost two more players yesterday in Andy Pettitte and <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/stewach01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Chris Stewart</a>. <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/k/kurodhi01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Hiroki Kuroda</a> will try to keep their ship afloat against a tough Blue Jays' lineup. <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/buehrma01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Mark Buehrle</a> is having a tough season, but he could hold the Yankees in check.</li><li style="text-align: justify;">The Marlins over the Diamondbacks: The Marlins will win 50 games this season. As I have said before, the trick is to figure out which games those will be. I think this one will be one of them. <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/sloweke01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Kevin Slowey</a> can have a good BABIP game and the Marlins can squeeze a few runs out of <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/cahiltr01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Trevor Cahill</a>.</li><li style="text-align: justify;">The Braves over the Dodgers: Hyun-Jin Ryu has been very good. There is no doubt about that. But the Braves have the kind of right-hand hitting pop that can get to him I think. At least, that is my story and I am sticking to it. <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/maholpa01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Paul Maholm</a> goes for the Braves.</li><li style="text-align: justify;">The Rangers over the Tigers: I am not feeling this as strongly as I did yesterday when Darvish was the winner as predicted and Verlander got whacked. <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/porceri01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Rick Porcello</a> pitches well on the road. <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/t/tepesni01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Nick Tepesch</a> is the wild card for me. I simply have no idea how good he is or is not.</li><li style="text-align: justify;">The Red Sox over the Twins: <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/buchhcl01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Clay Buchholz</a> is really good. And it has nothing to do with tanning oil and rosin. The Red Sox had a huge comeback win against the Rays last night so they should be pumped. I really thought <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/worleva01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Vance Worley</a> would be better for the Twins than he has been.</li><li style="text-align: justify;">The Cardinals over the Brewers: I hate picking the Cardinals. I just do. In my mind, they should win this game as <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/garcija02.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Jaime Garcia</a> is usually good at home. But <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/peralwi01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Wily Peralta</a> is an unfamiliar pitcher to me. I have just seen his name every five days doing this every day. But I really know nothing about him.</li><li style="text-align: justify;">The Giants over the Rockies: How the heck did the Rockies blow a 6-0 lead against <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/cainma01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Matt Cain</a>, no less? Amazing. It is that kind of thing that will always keep the Rockies from contention in the end. <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/bumgama01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Madison Bumgarner</a> over <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/rosajo01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Jorge De La Rosa</a>.</li><li style="text-align: justify;">The White Sox over the Angels: Glub, glub, glub go the Angels as they lose day after day. Extraordinary development. <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/salech01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Chris Sale</a> will not make it any easier on them today. <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/wilsocj01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">C.J. Wilson</a> will not be head and shoulders above Sale. Did you see what I did there?</li><li style="text-align: justify;">The Royals over the Athletics: I kind of root for the Royals, just so you know. That might influence the picks a bit. But I do think that <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/shielja02.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">James Shields</a> is better than <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/parkeja02.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Jarrod Parker</a> so, all feelings aside, the pick should be correct.</li></ul> <div style="text-align: justify;">And the Game of the Day!</div> <ul><li style="text-align: justify;">The Nationals over the Padres: <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/smithbu03.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Burch Smith</a> made his major league debut his last time out. It did not go well. I am not expecting much better today. <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/gonzagi01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Gio Gonzalez</a> should enjoy Petco and have a good day.</li></ul> <div style="text-align: justify;">Yesterday: 7-2</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Week: 37-28</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Month: 122-88</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Season: 351-252</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Games of the Day: 32-13</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>

MLB Game Picks - Friday: May 17, 2013

For a short schedule, Thursday was a good day. Seven of nine correct is a fine tally. But as always, it was the two that got away that get a...

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