The Nationals just put out their starting lineup for tonight's game against the Braves, and Josh Willingham is surprisingly not in there. Not sure what, if any, conclusions can be drawn from that, but it should be noted Willingham in his career vs. Atlanta starter Tim Hudson is 1-for-20 with seven strikeouts. My hunch is that's the reason for his benching, not a trade.
That said, I'm about to head down to the ballpark and will update everyone once I know anything more.
In the meantime, here is Jim Riggleman's lineup...
CF Morgan
2B Kennedy
1B Dunn
3B Zimmerman
RF Bernadina
C Rodriguez
LF Harris
SS Desmond
P Hernandez
25 comments:
Willie freakin' Harris!
Perhaps we can start some kind of fund. Maybe get everyone to kick in $10. And then we can pay Riggleman to start Mike Morse over Willie Harris. How much do you think it would take?
Could this be any indication of a pending trade? I read where Peter Gammons is saying that the Red Sox have a very high interest in the Hammer.
Harris in lineup...eyes, bleeding!!!
if they trade the hammer, super willie could start every day! yay!
How about after Harris goes 0-4 with two Ks looking, one of the reporters asks Riggleman-- "Why did you start Harris over Morse tonight?" And when Riggleman says, with a hint of derision: "well, obviously because Harris is a leftie and we were facing an excellent right handed pitcher tonight," the reporter follows up: "yes, but going into the game, Morse was hitting .368/.415/.605 against righties and Harris is hitting .189/.294/.352." I'd pay $10 for that to happen.
Seriously, Morse needs more at bats and if you're going to rest Hammer, why not give him a shot? Aaarrrggghhh.
Section 222:
I'll throw in another $10.
How about it, Mark?
@ Grandstander: I'm afraid it would take a lot. Perhaps we could sell it by telling Riggs that by doing so he would be saving Willie to come in later as part of a double-switch and give Zimm a breather.
OMG, I am sorry, a hitter that is hotter than Jason freaking rookie sensation Heyward is benched. Willie Harris plays third base for Zimmerman, he plays left field.
I am now convinced Riggleman is by far the worst manager in the major leagues, by far, worse than Acta!
Count me in for another $10 and I'd be booing everytime Willie's name is announced.
I'm not sure money will help. Some one needs to find the pictures!
Willie Harris and Riggleman : butt buddies.
I'm beginning to think that Slick Willie has some pictures of Riggleman in a compromising situation.
I am starting to think Morse ran over Riggleman's dog, or did something else to make him mad, but not something so serious that Riggleman could have him cut or sent down to AAA.
@Pete, I swear I'm not trying to start a Comedy Pyramid here, you must have beaten me to the punch by seconds . . .
Anonymous 2:53
Harris is an awesome player. I don't think you should be letting a muffed ball at 3rd in one game overshadow all the outstanding plays he's made in the outfield this year. Also, don't forget that he's been riding the bench quite a bit this year - IMO if he had been the starting right fielder since day one, you would have seen much better numbers in the batting average column for him. Don't hate on Harris. If you must hate - hate on the players that are in almost every day and have high error rates and don't come through in the clutch. But I'd rather you didn't hate at all.
all you guys ever do is bitch and whine on here. Sounds like a bunch a women
Anonymous 3:03-
Seriously, man. A bunch of people on a website devoted to Nationals baseball, talking about the Nationals' lineup today and the players on the Nationals' roster.
These people are way out of line, right? I mean, seriously, take it to the sewing circle, ladies. Your conversation about the relative merits of baseball players is out of place here.
Harris was the starting RF on day one. He subsequently played himself off the field. Riggleman has given him every opportunity to succeed yet he has not. His best moments come when he's used like he should be - as a late inning defensive OF replacement. He is not an infielder and he is not a starter. I don't know about others, but my beef is not with Harris, it's with Riggleman for forcing him into the lineup when others are more deserving.
But you can't argue that he's been more productive than Morse. Even if Willie was having a good year, Morse needs to play whenever Willingham or Dunn sit to make up for the power lost. If Morse were in there today, he'd be hitting 5th keeping Pudge and Roger in their normal spots (although Pudge should be hitting 8th and Roger 2nd, but that's another matter).
I think Hammer jammed his leg sliding into 2B last night.
No frigin' excuse not to start Morse. I don't think it is personal just Riggs obsession with match-ups.I cannot support Riggs as the manager of this team any longer. Rizzo announcement saying he would be back next year really disappointed me. I felt that he was adequete for the team that he was given but now I am not sure. I hope that Rizzo issued the support statement to diffuse any conjecture or distraction to the team as it descends into a near 100 loss season again and plans to buy him out in October.
I figured it out. It's all a diversion to take the spot light off Strasburg.
Which brings me to another point. Strasburg misses Sunday, Martin's done. Leaves us with Livo today, Stammen tomorrow, Detwiler Friday, and who else on Saturday, Sunday?
Maybe Chico gets a shot if they hold him back in Syracuse, but who else?
@NatsJack,
They have held Olsen back from a rehab start in Syracuse and had him throwing on the side. I think he is one of the guys coming up. My guess is they will probably call Marquis next ... not Chico. If Chico gets the call he would replace Balester perhaps as left-handed long relief.
I seem to recall quite a bit of whining here last week when Riggleman played a similar if not the same lineup in Cincy. How did that work out for the Nats? Oh yeah they won, with the 6-8 hitters leading the way.
Knoxville Nat... SSS
Heard Rizzo on ESPN 980's The Sports Fix and he said there was some trade deadline interest in Willie Harris. Aside from the usual suspects (Willingham, Dunn & Capps) he also mentioned interest in Kennedy and Guzman.
If they played him to show him to all the scouts allegedly in attendance last night, I'd say it backfired.
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