Saturday, March 5, 2011

Nats at Yankees - 3/5/11

File photo by Mark Zuckerman / NATS INSIDER
Steinbrenner Field, spring home of the New York Yankees.
Big-name players don't usually make a 3-hour bus ride across the state for a road exhibition game. When the Nationals traveled to Tampa last spring to face the Yankees, hardly anyone of consequence played.

But look what we've got today: Ryan Zimmerman, Ivan Rodriguez, Ian Desmond and Michael Morse all are in the lineup. Not a bad travel roster, given the circumstances. They'll all get a shot to face Yankees ace CC Sabathia, a nice little test for March 5.

Bryce Harper, who grew up idolizing the Yankees, also made the trip and is scheduled to come off the bench, though I'm guessing CC will have long since showered and left the park by the time Harper steps to the plate.

NATIONALS at YANKEES
Where: Steinbrenner Field, Tampa
Gametime: 1:05 p.m.
TV/Radio: Yankees radio via XM and MLB Gameday Audio
Weather: Partly cloudy, 77 degrees, Wind 13 mph RF to LF
STARTING LINEUPS
NATIONALS
CF Jerry Hairston
SS Ian Desmond
3B Ryan Zimmerman
RF Michael Morse
C Ivan Rodriguez
DH Derek Norris
1B Chris Marrero
LF Jeff Frazier
2B Brian Bixler
(P Chad Gaudin)

YANKEES
LF Brett Gardner
RF Nick Swisher
CF Curtis Granderson
DH Jorge Posada
3B Eric Chavez
C Jesus Montero
2B Eduardo Nunez
1B Jorge Vazquez
SS Ramiro Pena
(P CC Sabathia)

23 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hello?
Anybody home?
Echo, echo, echo...

NatsJack in Florida said...

Any idea on what the pitching lineup is after Gaudin?

JaneB said...

Don't know a thing about Jeff Frazier...anyone care to fill me in?

sparky said...

Yes, JaneB, happy to fill you in.
Jeff Frazier is the guy mashing the ball today.
Anyone know more than that little tidbit?

Oscar Sodani said...

He's 28 and been just OK in the minors for Detroit and Seattle. Looks like a solid AAA player and not much more, unfortunately.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=frazie001jef

LoveDaNats said...

Offense seems better this year.

natsfan1a said...

The Nationals win, theee Nationals win! (Sorry, couldn't help that one.)

Harper_ROY_2012 said...

Say what you want about Harper's hitting against lefty relievers but his arm is better than anyone on the projected 2010 Opening Day roster...I think Mr. Werth better prepare himself to play CF in 2012 because Harper's cannon belongs in RF!!!

Anonymous said...

Yeah and Harper's arm misfired a couple of times on throws. He needs seasoning. NO WAY he is rookie of the year in 2012. Not with what he has shown so far. He has a LOOOOOOOOONNNNNNNNNNG way to go before he is ready for the majors dude? Thought by now you would've changed your handle? If they bring him in 2012 they risk another JMax flop. No way Rizzo and company do that. Get over it dude.

Andrew said...

Wow, Domonic Brown of the Phillies broke his hamate bone in his hand finishing a 1-16 Spring Training and an uncertain future ahead.

JaneB said...

I hate the phillies fans but I feel badly for Brown now. What a shame!

Soul Possession, PFB Sofa said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Soul Possession, PFB Sofa said...

"Wow, Domonic Brown of the Phillies broke his hamate bone in his hand finishing a 1-16 Spring Training and an uncertain future ahead."
*************

And so it begins. See you around, Bobo.

Doc said...

@ JaneB and others: Somewhat belated, but I remember Jeff Frazier from the DR Winter League.
In 137 ABs over 36 Games, he hit .299 with 7 HRs, 21 RBIs with .349 OBP, .540 SLG and .889 OPS.

Frazier's OBP was probably one of the best of Winter League Nats, maybe bested by Kevin (Don't call me Jeff)Baker.

Frazier didn't have Wilson Ramos' RBIs, but a lot of his other stats were very comprable.

Frazier is hanging in there with his BB career, and it was good seeing him do well to-day.

Anonymous said...

I remember Jeff Frazier and his brother Todd, also a pro ball player, from the Little League World Series back in the '90s from Toms River, NJ.

Geez. I'm glad it's spring training. Blowing a 7-0 is painful, even if the Nats did win.

JayB said...

Ross D on the mound today.....Rainy day and Baseball on TV....Looking for a major change in Ross from past several years...back to 2007 when he had a good fasteball and attacked hitters.

Yanks Radio was fine...better than I was expecting and much better than most away teams...they seemed to be very interested in our prospects and talked about their strengths and weaknesses.....without a media guide....pretty accurately....nice job....

JayB said...

Oh and they seem to really like "Jerry" Maxwell....sure he is going to stick this time...they both commented that is swing seemed long....sucker for change up.....it is like reading an instruction manual on how to get a .111 hitter....

NatsJack in Florida said...

JayB... last Tuesday, Ross looked great. Sharp curve and a fastball that exploded the last 10 feet.

I'll be sitting in the 5th row just to the left of the mound if you watching the CF camera shot.
Wearing a red curly W shirt with the new blue hat with a red brim.

JayB said...

Njack...I will be looking...is that your normal seat....I hope to be there in two week....By then I hope we are seeing a pitching rotation of Zimmnn, Livo, Det, Maya, nd Gorzo with Jason M and Lannan both traded for CF/Lead Off and Young A type pitching prospects with live arms.

Anonymous8 said...

JayB, I have had the same thoughts for a long time and last year was hoping the Nats would go after Lorenzo Cain who was the player the Nats could have traded for. Now Cain is a Royal and not sure if they would trade him.

Jason Marquis won't get you as much as John Lannan as he is inexpensive and has 2 years before Free Agency.

Unfortunately, I doubt Rizzo moves any starting pitching until the trade deadline.

Anonymous8 said...

Caution to the wind on Ross Detwiler. While I think he can look great for 3 to 4 innings. His career has been defined in the 5th inning and on.

Look, I hope he becomes a nice fixture in this rotation but I am still skeptical to see if he is serviceable as a starter.

I think Ross can be a lefty specialist and long reliever in the bullpen for sure as he showed last year.

JayB said...

By my eyes he showed nothing last year....he was not used in any significant situations and looked like may Chico at best....IF he has fixed his motion/head and can get the fastball back to 95MOH....he is a starter on this team and most others as well

Anonymous8 said...

JayB, you just said it with a capitalized IF. I need to see Detwiler pitch for more than 3 to 4 innings to see what he has.

Lannan had 2 great innings and then fell apart in his 3rd inning. Still a lot of Spring Training to go to see how he progresses.

Marquis had a solid start and JZim looks solid. If Livo stays as Livo of 2010, then I expect improvements over last year's rotation.

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