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Photo courtesy George Burkes Justin Maxwell connects for his first homer of the season. |
Here, though, are two more dates of consequence you may not remember: April 4, 2008 and Oct. 1, 2005. What's the significance? The first date represents the last time the Nationals held a winning record (3-2). The latter date represents the last time they had a winning record before that (81-80).
So April 17, 2010 could prove to be a milestone moment in franchise history. With a victory today over the Brewers, the Nats would improve to 6-5. Progress, people, progress.
Unfortunately, your trusty beat writer won't be there to chronicle this momentous occasion in person. I'm taking the weekend off, my first true days off since February. I'll be back at Monday for the start of the Rockies series, but in the meantime, I'm going to put up the traditional gameday thread so all of you can still converse about the day's events.
So enjoy today's game, and perhaps the next time we speak, we'll be talking about a winning ballclub in Washington...
BREWERS AT NATIONALS
Where: Nationals Park
Gametime: 1:05 p.m.
TV: MASN-HD
Radio: WFED-1500 AM, WWFD-820 AM
Weather: Mostly sunny, 62 degrees, Wind 20 mph LF to RF
STARTING LINEUPS
NATIONALS (5-5)
CF Nyjer Morgan
2B Cristian Guzman
3B Ryan Zimmerman
1B Adam Dunn
LF Josh Willingham
SS Ian Desmond
C Ivan Rodriguez
RF Justin Maxwell
P Livan Hernandez
BREWERS (4-6)
2B Rickie Weeks
SS Craig Counsell
LF Ryan Braun
1B Prince Fielder
3B Casey McGehee
CF Jim Edmonds
RF Corey Hart
C George Kottaras
P Randy Wolf
28 comments:
Enjoy your weekend Mr. Zuckerman, you deserve it!
... good on you Mark, and all the best to Mrs. Zuck and all the little Zuckers.
Go Nats!!
Maxwell still strikes out way too much, and he was upset when he got sent down. This guy stinks...[/sarcasm]
I know it's only one at-bat, but is it possible for some unreasonable fans to give him a chance now?
I know I'm behind, but why is Desmond bunting in the second inning?!?! Of his 6 hits (out of 29 AB) going into the game, he had a double, a triple, and a home run. It just doesn't make any sense to me. I know, in hindsight, that it was successful, but still.
Orangel Line delay - two hours from Vienna to the yard. But after you get in a seat with a beer in hand and a lead on the board all is okay again.
Somebody pinch me.
What a stretch of games these Nats have put together. They have a respectable (even if it's not outstanding) bullpen, an offense that gets hits and scores runs, and when they get 6+ inning by their starters they're a tough team to beat.
In 2009-10 the only DC teams to have a winning record after 11 games: The Capitals (7-3-1) and the Nationals (6-5). Who'd have thunk it?
Well considering the Wizards have gone back to being the Bullets and the Deadskins are a joke, this is really nice to see.
@Sam,
"I know it's only one at-bat, but is it possible for some unreasonable fans to give him a chance now?"
He is way too old to be considered a "prospect" and he has already been given way too many chances? Do you honestly believe he deserves any more? If he does the job fine, but he if fails Riggleman's interceding for him like some avenging angel, then will you then still claim he deserves yet another chance?
Have a good weekend, Mark! BTW, you missed one heck of a game. I talked my husband into going, and we were both glad we did. That is now officially one of my fave in-person Nats games, and I love Livo more than ever.
Nice to see the Mets pennant under ours on the flagpole, too. :-)
That Zimmerman play late on the ground ball -- forget who hit it -- was stunning. Seemed to uncork the trhough while lifting himself up off the ground. Absolutely phenomenal. Worth the price of adminssion alone.
Agree. The Zimmerman play was one for the highlight reel.
Another gold glove for Zim in the offing.
Has anyone heard anything relative to Jordan Zimmerman? His 60-day DL period is up in a day or two?
Viva Livan!
aeoliano, jordan zimmermann won't be back until late august, early september at best. it's possible he won't pitch until next year.
The best thing about this pretty good start is that the team really hasn't played very well (except the last 2 games). Rizzo made great moves and brought together a tough team that has experience (Pudge) and toughness. Bottom line is these dudes know how to win and have enough talent to do so. SO pumped for the Nats of the future!
OK MarkMeister,you can come out of hiding tomorrow! The Nats are over .500--fooled ya, haven't they? GOOOOOOOOOOOOO Nats!
This is amazing. Ubaldo Jimenez just NO HIT the Braves so the Nats are now tied with the Braves for 3rd base.
Livan threw the ist shutout of 2010 and Jimenez just completed the 2nd shutout and 1st No Hitter of 2010 and these 2 pitchers face off on Thursday now at Nats Park!!!!!!!!
@greg,
I believe, based on reports, Zimmermann may be quite a bit ahead of Wang. Possibly why they put him on the 60-day DL in early February.
Alert: LOL..ex Nat Felipe Lopez is pitching for the Cards in the top of the 18th inning!
Michael - If the Cardinals had scored in the bottom of the 18th, Felipe would have been the winning pitcher. Strange they didn't have him pitch the 19th!!!!!! Mather did not do well. LOL
which reports are those based on, aeoliano? nothing i've seen has said that.
tommy john surgery takes 12-18 months to recover from. he had surgery in august. if he was to return before august, that would be quite impressive. and quite unusual.
I was clicking around and landed on the St. Louis game. They had a tight shot of the batter, then Lopez. After they pulled out, I realized that F-Lo was pitching. He did better than Mather. :-)
To the hardest-working man in the blogosphere, I hope you are having an enjoyable weekend off. You deserve it. Of course, you're missing the sweep action...but there will be more opportunities for those. I too wish you a terrific weekend.
yeah Lopez pitched pretty well, why not let him go another inning? I didn't get that. What a great game.
Jimenez vs. Strasberg, now that one needs to be on national TV! Catchers will need extra mits.
Doc - Next Thursday should be a good one at Nats Park will be Jimenez vs. Livan!
You would have thought that Livan's shutout complete game would have held up for another week and Ubaldo Jimenez one upped him!
Thursday's game won't be on National TV, but I expect a few more members of the National Press to be there!
Saturday was a beautiful day to be a Nats fan, Mark. Crisp weather, they kicked the crap out of the Brewers, Livan was masterful. One of the better Nats wins I have seen live. They were just ROLLING.
Keep up the good work.
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