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Photo courtesy Florida Marlins The Marlins host the Nats in a weekend series. |
Whatever the Marlins' ballpark is being called this week, I'm not there. I'm back in D.C. this weekend to attend a family member's bar mitzvah, so you won't be getting any firsthand accounts of this series. I will, however, attempt to watch Sunday's game on TV and share some insights along the way.
Two things you should pay close attention to in tonight's series opener: Zimmerman and Scott Olsen. Zimmerman is at last back in the starting lineup after sitting out seven games with a strained hamstring. It would appear the combination of time off and warm South Florida weather has allowed Zim to return to his regular duties.
Olsen, meanwhile, returns to the mound looking to build off his seven shutout innings from last weekend against the Dodgers. (For those who weren't aware, Olsen and Stammen have swapped spots in the rotation in an attempt to break up Olsen and fellow lefty John Lannan. Because of yesterday's day off, Olsen is still going on normal rest. Stammen will now go tomorrow on six days' rest.)
Enjoy the game. I'll put together another game thread tomorrow so everyone can discuss among themselves...
NATIONALS AT MARLINS
Where: Sun Life Stadium
Gametime: 7:10 p.m.
TV: MASN2-HD
Radio: WFED-1500 AM, WWFD-820 AM
Weather: Partly cloudy, 78 degrees, Wind 12 mph RF to LF
STARTING LINEUPS
NATIONALS (12-10)
CF Nyjer Morgan
2B Adam Kennedy
3B Ryan Zimmerman
1B Adam Dunn
LF Josh Willingham
C Ivan Rodriguez
RF Roger Bernadina
SS Ian Desmond
P Scott Olsen
MARLINS (11-11)
CF Cameron Maybin
LF Chris Coghlan
SS Hanley Ramirez
3B Jorge Cantu
2B Dan Uggla
C Ronny Paulino
RF Cody Ross
1B Gaby Sanchez
P Ricky Nolasco
37 comments:
Welcome back Zimm!
I like breaking up the lefties, Riggleman is always thinking.
Did anyone see Sports Weekly this week, where Manny Acta said the Nationals were "wrong" to make Ryan Zimmerman the "Face of the Face of the Franchise" while being so young. I am so over Manny!
Maybe it's self evident, but can someone explain the theory of "breaking up lefties?"
If you break them up into small chunks, and then rub the baseballs with them,it helps your screwball.
Olsen and Lannan are both left handed. When you start them back to back, you loss some of the advantage. Since their are far more right hander pitchers, starting left handers on consecutive days might not be the best idea.
If you "break up the lefties" you don't have to tell Stammen he's getting demoted.
Make sure you don't drop your relative in the chair.
tconstant, I did see it. If memory serves, Manny also said that he thought Zimm handled it well. It *was* a lot of pressure for a relatively new player, IMO.
Uh, the flip side is that he's wishing that they might have made that Adam Dunn style move a little bit earlier on in the Manny Acta, like Year One so that the team he had might have won enough games to get him a bit more success.
He probably, with justificaiton, wishes that they had spent more on some additional players to take some pressure off Zim his second year rather than just letting Sori walk and not really spending to fill in the gap. Lerners kind of just pocketed the money got from not having Soriano instead of making the Dunn and Marquis moves of the last two years to help make us a little more competitive.
off the subject....but have I missed any news about Elijah Dukes? Is he still at home waiting for the phone to ring, or did he hook up with a team?
Yep. Guys like Mark would post it if he caught on some where. People are not willing to take on the baggage for a AAA player it seems. I'd be thinking about some independent ball if I were Dukes to further work on rehabilitating himself but he probably has some serious economic needs given his lifestyle and child support issues.
Posted that I thought the Mariners should sign Dukes to a AAA contract. Got tremendous blowback from that fan at Japers' Rink. There's a lot of ill will towards him given his past.
Dukes told the baseball world a lot about himself by not playing winter ball and by showing up to camp still unable to deal with breaking pitches.
He had a lot he needed to work on the be successful in the bigs, and he also had personal issues to deal with. He set his priorities (as he should) and decided what was the right thing for him to do.
I really think that had a lot to do with why he was let go so abruptly. He knew what he needed to work on, he did not work on it, he came to camp, it was obvious he was not improved, cut him loose.
There have been no reports of anyone offering him anything. Two years ago, only the Nats were willing to offer him a job. He did OK, the pitchers adjusted, his hitting regressed, his fielding never really improved.
I would have thought by now someone would have offered him a minor league deal (he's younger than Taveras, Maxwell and Bernadina). But no one apparently has.
And the Z man is BACK!!
As far as 'breaking up lefties', I thought it was a way of making them into righties.
Z man is back in STYLE! Nice Homer there! And that will go a long way to help cover Olsen who doesnt have his best stuff tonight.
Breaking up lefties? Isn't that kind of like sending down Jesse English telling him its a strategic move and that they need him work. Then activating Ron Vilone another lefty, a guy English beat out for the opening day roster but someone Riggleman decided not to use? Vilone has pitched in two games in Syracuse. English has yet to pitch in a game. I expect Riggleman will call for Vilone in a week to 10 days requiring a roster move to put him on the 40-man. Even though he was clearly outmatched in ST but many others?
Yep that's breaking up lefties in Riggleman's mind.
It's nice that Zim doesn't want to worry Riggs by running on the basebaths. Just a nice, steady jog every at bat...
Oh yes, Zim is baaaaaaaaaaaaaaack baaaaaaaaaaaaack baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack!!!!
Great opposite field HR by Zim!!!
"a guy English beat out for the opening day roster but someone Riggleman decided not to use?"
a guy English beat out for the opening day roster however English was a guy Riggleman decided not to use?
"Even though he was clearly outmatched in ST but many others?"
Even though he was clearly outmatched in ST by many others?
4 walks 1 K.
2 h, 0 ER
Nolasco done after 4? Will he pitch the 5th? (94 pitches already...)
PS Olsen only has 3 BBs? not 4?
What was that on Pudge's wrist on that closeup in the dugout an inning or so ago?
I don't like saying this but Rizzo kinda messed up with Bruney. Dude just destroyed our shutout...
Oh, I think Dunn just learned not to get too far from the bag so quickly ... Desmond's throw was inside, but not necessarily too far for a stretch if Dunn is still on the bag.
Although, to be fair, that would have been an insane play go pull off.
Clip 'n save struggling tonight.
MORGAN - ELVIS WIG!!! Now that its on the road.
Morgan again looking like the best centerfield in baseball!!!
Clip is looking great. Just sucks coming in with a couple on the bases!
What a play by Nyjer! Nyjer works well with Bernadina in RF.
Bob Carpenter on Clip--Good Good, Bad Bad, Good.
Tonight it was 'Clipper 'n the Rye'
Can't argue with 13-10 even with Vilone on the way.
That puts the Nats in 2nd in the NL East at the end of the first month of the season. Break up the Nats!
Acta would have much, much preferred that Austin Kearns would have been the face of the franchise. Manny and Austin, together again in pursuit of a third straight 100-loss season. You go, guys.
SBCITPFM - That is hilarious only Kearns is the new Indians All Star as he is their new cleanup hitter and batting .370
Now will they lose 90+ games and will Kearns be batting .250 in 2 months?
http://masnsports.com/byron_kerr/2010/04/exclusive-one-on-one-interview-with-bryce-harper.html
Not sure if anyone posted Byron Kerr's 7 minute interview with Bryce Harper.
I missed the game last night, but found the highlight of Nyjer's catch this morning. My favorite part is Clippard's reaction, which is "WOW!"
Video of Nyjer's 7th inning catch
I was surprised Riggs used Clippard last night. Burnett (who can get righties out) desperately needs work.
I hope Clippard's arm holds up...
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