 |
Photo by Mark Zuckerman / NATS INSIDER The Grapefruit League concludes today at Space Coast Stadium. |
Jim Riggleman's starting nine today is very likely what you'll see when the Nationals are facing a left-handed starter, with Michael Morse and Adam LaRoche flip-flopped and Jerry Hairston in center field over Rick Ankiel.
The Mets, meanwhile, are going with what appears to be their regular lineup, including Carlos Beltran (who has been dealing with a lingering knee injury but will apparently avoid the DL to open the season.
No TV or radio coverage today, so check back here for updates throughout the afternoon...
METS at NATIONALS
Where: Space Coast Stadium, Viera
Gametime: 12:05 p.m.
TV/Radio: None
Weather: Partly cloudy, 76 degrees, Wind 7 mph out to LF
STARTING LINEUPS11:40 a.m. -- Maybe I spoke too soon about that Mets lineup being the likely Opening Day group. Jason Bay strained a ribcage muscle during BP this morning, has been scratched and could have to open the season on the DL. Wow, what a mess that team is going to be this year.
NATIONALS
SS Ian Desmond
RF Jayson Werth
3B Ryan Zimmerman
LF Michael Morse
1B Adam LaRoche
CF Jerry Hairston
2B Danny Espinosa
C Ivan Rodriguez
P Jordan Zimmermann
METS
SS Jose Reyes
CF Angel Pagan
3B David Wright
RF Carlos Beltran
LFJason BayLucas Duda
1B Ike Davis
2B Brad Emaus
C Josh Thole
P Chris Capuano
12:05 p.m. -- We're underway with a strike from Jordan Zimmermann to Jose Reyes.
12:13 p.m. -- Zimmermann allowed a couple of singles but escaped the first inning without allowing a run. He froze David Wright with a nice breaking ball for a strikeout. He also wasn't helped by his defense. Carlos Beltran hit a weak fly ball to medium left-center that looked like it would normally be an out. But neither Michael Morse nor Jerry Hairston got there quickly enough to make a play at the ball and it fell in for a single. That could be something that plagues the Nats this season when Hairston (not a natural center fielder) and Morse (still learning left field to an extent) are paired up out there together.
12:24 p.m. -- Nothing happenin' for the Nats in the bottom of the first. Ian Desmond, after fouling off a couple bunt attempts, lined out to center. Jayson Werth drew a walk, but Ryan Zimmerman struck out and Michael Morse grounded into a fielder's choice.
12:41 p.m. -- Not exactly a crisp performance from Zimmermann so far. He loaded the bases with nobody out in the second, then fell behind 3-0 to Capuano before allowing a three-run double to the opposing pitcher. That's not good. Then Danny Espinosa, playing in after Capuano advanced to third, booted a sharp grounder for an error. Throw in a double to the right-center gap by David Wright, and this is not what the Nats were looking for out of their No. 3 starter today. Mets lead 4-0 and Zimmermann has to have thrown at least 50 pitches already.
12:55 p.m. -- The good news: The Nats loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom of the second. The bad news: They failed to score even one run. Ivan Rodriguez scorched a liner to left on the first pitch he saw, not deep enough to score Adam LaRoche from third. Zimmermann lofted a fly ball to medium left field which may have been deep enough to score LaRoche, but Bo Porter didn't want to take a chance so he put up the stop sign. Desmond then grounded to short to end the inning with the Nats still trailing 4-0.
1:04 p.m. -- Better job by Zimmermann in the third. He struck out Lucas Duda looking, then gave up a fly ball toward the left-field corner that Morse couldn't track down and turned into a double. Morse did make up for it by nicely backtracking to the wall to snag Emaus' drive, then Josh Thole grounded to short to end the inning.
1:14 p.m. -- That will do it for Zimmermann. He's done after three shaky innings, with a final line like this: 3 ip, 7 h, 4 er, 1 bb, 2 k, 63 pitches, 42 strikes. Next time out it counts: Sunday against the Braves. Brian Broderick now in to pitch the top of the fourth.
1:23 p.m. -- Adam LaRoche has been insisting all week that his left shoulder injury (a slight tear of the labrum) has no effect on his swing. And he's backed that up. Just crushed a solo homer to right to cut the deficit to 4-1 in the fourth.
1:41 p.m. -- Nice inning from Tyler Clippard, who retired the side in the fifth, striking out both David Wright and Lucas Duda.
1:56 p.m. -- Boy, it's a good thing this game started an hour earlier than usual. Otherwise I might be worried about making my flight home tonight. We're still only in the bottom of the fifth, which is dragging along pretty good thanks to a Nats rally. They loaded the bases off D.J. Carrasco, then got one run on Hairston's fielder's choice. Carrasco then drilled Espinosa in the right elbow (right on the pad he wears). Blaine Boyer now in for the Mets, who lead 4-2.
2:20 p.m. -- It's now the seventh inning, still 4-2. Was down in the clubhouse talking to Jordan Zimmermann, who wasn't overly worried about his shaky start. Zimmermann attributed his second-inning troubles to a tempo that was too fast. Said it happens to him every once in a while and he just has to remind himself to slow things down a bit. He did seem to start figuring things out in the third. Drew Storen now pitching for the Nats.
2:22 p.m. -- Whoa, just realized Ivan Rodriguez is playing first base right now. Jim Riggleman mentioned this as a possibility yesterday. With few right-handed bats off his bench, Riggleman may feel the need to pinch-hit Wilson Ramos during the season. Rather than risk playing without an emergency catcher on the bench, Riggleman might then keep Ramos in behind the plate and move Pudge to first base, just in case.
2:55 p.m. -- Was down in the clubhouse talking to Adam LaRoche, and wouldn't you know it: Drew Storen got tagged for four runs and seven hits in two-thirds of an inning. Gave up a three-run homer to David Wright. Was yanked with the bases loaded. We'll see what Drew has to say afterward, but that's a discouraging development after three straight solid appearances. So it's 8-2 Mets in the eighth. As for LaRoche, he said his left shoulder "feels great" after receiving a cortisone shot Friday. He's not yet able to cut loose with his throws, but his overall concern is minimal: "I'm really not worried about it at all."
3:14 p.m. -- Sean Burnett wraps up a fantastic spring with a scoreless top of the ninth. Didn't allow a run in 9 1/3 innings, and didn't issue one walk until just now. Last shot for the Nats, trailing 8-2.
3:23 p.m. -- That'll do it. Nats lose, 8-2, but finish the spring with a 15-14 record: their first winning Grapefruit League record since they moved to D.C.
73 comments:
Bay gets hurt. The Duda bides.
So excited I get to see a ST game today, even if its the Rangers playing the local college team. I'm envious of all of you who got to go see the Nats take shape this year.
Mark, Thank YOu for the excellent job keeping us informed and keeping this blog civil. You have no idea how much that means to a Nats fan who isn't in the area and has to get by playing golf three times a week.
I believe the Nationals have a real chance to finish 4th ahead of the Mets and an outside to beat out the Marlins for 3rd.
Every year Florida ships out their young stars and replaces them with even younger players. For years, it has worked and the Marlins have remained a near .500 team (plus or minus). Sooner or later, the team is going to have to hit a wall when the new kids don't produce.
Maybe this is the year. Who knows.
Farid
Farid,
When you have a starting rotation like the Marlins do you will always be competitive + they have been able to develop players such as Stanton, Sanchez and Morrison; that's a team that could be real good if they spend a little money instead of lining Loria's pockets.
If the Nats ever get to a point where the farm is churning out talent like the Marlins we will be right there competing for everything because we will spend the money to get over the top.
Mark,
Since Zimmermann is starting today; does that mean he is starting on Sunday?
Yes, Zimmermann will start Game 3 of the season, Sunday against the Braves. Lannan starts Game 2, Marquis Game 4, Gorzelanny Game 5.
According to Gameday it was Morse who grounded out. Just being a pain...
Yeah, you're right. It was Morse. Brain cramp there. I was just thinking about LaRoche being their cleanup hitter ... just not today against a lefty.
Well the Mets don't look like a last place team so far today...Maybe we shouldn't be annointing the Nats 4th place. It will only make it more painful if they fail.
WOW what is going on with Zimmermann today? He's not hurt again is he?
As many pundits and observers have noted ... the Nats and their fans are going to be very happy Rizzo made that deal for Gorzelanny.
Is the team mentally packing it in? I know the players want the regular season to start, but as a fan I want to see the team end spring training on a strong note.
Zimmerman to Syracuse. Matt Chico to DC.
@David I couldn't agree with you more! I hope they aren't packing it in, that's not what I want to see. Hope they can bounce back now.
The Joker said...
Zimmerman to Syracuse. Matt Chico to DC.
Yes Chico can give up 4 runs within the 1st 4 outs just as easy as Zimm
Let's chill guys. This is not even OD. The season is 162 games long and every starter makes about 30 starts (JZimm will make 25 or so I guess). I would not worry much over this game. I still back Nationals to end up 3rd in the division.
FS
Bases loaded for Pudge, no outs.
Speaking of Svruluga Memorial Panera:
barrysvrluga:
The #Nats have moved on from Phase 1? And Adam LaRoche hits cleanup? Seven years is enough time to make real progress.
Seems like Boswell isn't the only one questioning Rizzo/Riggleman's reasoning/decisions as far as the roster and the lineup. Could be an ugly season if some of the Nats young starters don't step up as the Marlins, Rays, and A's have.
Carlos Beltran hit a weak fly ball to medium left-center that looked like it would normally be an out. But neither Michael Morse nor Jerry Hairston got there quickly enough to make a play at the ball and it fell in for a single. That could be something that plagues the Nats this season when Hairston (not a natural center fielder) and Morse (still learning left field to an extent) are paired up out there together.
______________________________
...and there is the problem with that configuration. Defense will be sacrificed to get Ankiel out of the lineup against lefty starters.
Lame, no runs scored. All we needed was one grounder from either Pudge or JZmann. Nope. Top of the 3rd now.
Here I was expecting Pudge to ground into a double or (gasp) triple play...
LOL same thoughts were going through my mind. I was happy to see bases loaded with no outs, and then saw Pudge at the plate and gave up hope of driving in any runs. And they obliged. That's baseball for you.
FS
Pudge hit it hard out of the infield (no double-play chance) and Jordan got it in the air. Regular season game Porter sends the runner at third (I hope).
"barrysvrluga:
The #Nats have moved on from Phase 1? And Adam LaRoche hits cleanup? Seven years is enough time to make real progress."
Cleanup is supposed to be an RBI spot, right? LaRoche had 100 RBI in 151 games last year. By way of comparison, the Nats' cleanup hitter last year, Adam Dunn, had 103 RBI. But Dunn played 7 more games than LaRoche did. So if the cleanup hitter is lacking this year, then the cleanup hitter the last two years was lacking too. Right, Barry?
You know what else I don't like about the Mets. I think Capuano went to DUKE.
Got back last night from my first-ever ST trip, which I enjoyed immensely. My hubby and I attended two games in Viera and did some sightseeing and birding as well. Oh, and we got to meet NatsJack, too, at the Friday game. Natsjack, we looked for you before the game on Sunday but didn't find you. I wanted to show you a picture of me taking the airboat out for a spin at the Lone Cabbage. Well, okay, a pic of me *pretending* to steer it after the ride was over. The food was good there, too (though we didn't try the alligator), and the real *brewed* iced tea was great - none of that yucky instant stuff.
Anyway, I wanted to publicly thank NatsJack for all of the tips he's shared here, as well as all of the other commenters who have shared their ST travel tips here over time. It helped me to feel somewhat like I knew what I was doing as a rookie ST fan. Oh, and I want to thank Mark for making this day necessary. No, wait. That's my fan HOF speech. Sorry. Thanks to Mark for originating and for keeping this venue going. It's still my number one go-to site, even if it does get a bit testy in the comments section at times. Didn't have regular web access while I was away, and I think I missed visiting this site most of all.
Lots of news to catch up on and developments to process. For now, I will say that one of my favorite ST game moments was after Bernadina's sliding catch at the Friday game. During that inning, Werth and Zimmerman were doing sprints out on the warning track. As the crowd applauded Roger's catch, Werth turned toward the field and doffed his cap (I assume in deference to Roger's fielding feat). That was fun.
@natsfan1a
I had to smile at your reaction to your first ST vacation. I, too, have enjoyed a one week vacation centered basically around Nats baseball but incoporating all the other relaxing aspects of central/northern Fla in March. ST vacation is the most relaxing vacation I have ever had. I think we should keep it a secret because if other over-stressed Washingtonians ever happen to experience the therapeutic effects of soaking up the sun, with beer and hot dog in hand and feet draped over the box seat in front of you just enjoying the slow pace of Spring, then we would never get tickets to Space Coast Stadium again. So, next time keep it on the QT, will you?
Anon @ 12:52:
While I have mixed feelings about a lot of what Boswell writes, we gotta kill this "Boswell hates Werth batting second" meme before it takes on a life of its own.
Let's go to the words that whoever posted the Boswell excerpts forgot/neglected to include, that came right before and right after Boswell's supposed rant:
"As soon as I saw the “Werth Will Hit Second” headline, then all the tangled explanation of where the idea started, I wondered what a column in a Philly paper __any time in the last 60 years__ would have been like on that subject.... While watching an NCAA game, I wrote that Philly-mean but-fun-to-read slasher column. It’s long, so skip to the next answer if it doesn’t interest you. Of course I would never write anything so one-sided and borderline unfair. "
And then after:
"See, I’d never make it in Philly. I couldn’t write that kind of stuff every day."
I'm not writing this as a discussion about the "Werth batting second" question, I'm just sayin' that BOSWELL NEVER WROTE THAT AS HIS REAL OPINION!
Enough already.
And by the way, to whichever "Anonymous" was spewing vitriol yesterday, learn the difference between "anonymnous" and "pseudonymous". People who write under a "handle" that's not their real name -- like "Sue Dinem", or Mark Twain, Lewis Carroll, or George Eliot -- are pseudonymous, and can be individually identified by their pseudonym.
NOT the same as anonymous.
Oops, sorry, 1:36. Um, yeah. Forgot to say that the weather was *really* bad. All of this bright sunshine and balmy breezes. What's up with that? Can't wait for that icy mix tomorrow. Yay! ;-)
In other news, also meant to note that we met lots of nice folks down there, at the ballpark and elsewhere. (Wait. Really mean folks.) Anyway, a number of them voiced their concern about the possibility of the Nats moving to a different ST locale. Don't know what might happen there, but thanks to NatsJack and other locals for having our backs and supporting the Nats in ST when not all of us are lucky enough to be able to attend the games.
This game means nothing. It doesn't provide any kind of springboard to start the regular season. Tomorrow, the Nats will be 0-0.
N.Cognito
I was gonna say the same thing but I,m tired of repeating myself.
I'm not writing this as a discussion about the "Werth batting second" question, I'm just sayin' that BOSWELL NEVER WROTE THAT AS HIS REAL OPINION!
Sorry dude, but have to entirely disagree ... well with most of your entire post as is my right ... and dude there is no difference between pseudonymous and anonymous on these blogs. I'm sorry you can't see that.
Boz was being a tad facetious, a little tongue in the cheek. And if you look at the very beginning of the comments post I think I said that? Now didn't I?
How did I know he meant to say that? When he threw in the bard about being better off with Adam Dunn batting in the spot (inference being that Rizzo's choices were less than enchanting ... )
Again, you speak of vitriol spewing but here you are with a HUGE harangue, a nasty kind of rant doing EXACTLY that! In other words "thou hypocrite!"
Storen getting hammered.
David,
So what?
@JD
Storen -> SYR
Bally -> Majors.
They won't let him keep getting hammered it will kill his confidence.
"The Joker said...
Zimmerman to Syracuse. Matt Chico to DC."
Why would you bring up Chico to replace one of the best third basemen in baseball?
;-)
Pressure off Storen and BAM!ll
Mark'd,
Yeah but it's a BAM!! that doesn't count.
I agree with both of you losing today means nothing during the season, but I still don't want to see them losing to the Mets 8-2.
Yep, we have a lot to look forward to this season as I "watch" the game on Gameday. We're down to the 25-man roster and, already, two of our "regulars" have "imploded," Zimmermann and Storen, less than 48 hours until Opening Day. Where have I seen this "movie" before? hmmmmm.
Yeah but it's a BAM!! that doesn't count.
True, the score doesn't. But this isn't the first time this spring this has happened to Storen. Dead silence on the twitter feed I am following.
IT IS important because of the effect it may have on Storen's confidence, in turn affecting whether Riggleman will use him in the regular season. Consider the early schedule in April. Its really about as tough as it can get.
I think we saw this last year when the entire bullpen was awful in spring training and the phenomenal the rest of the year. Give it a rest already...
I'd like to point out there are two David's.
I've been trying to "give it a rest" since 2005. If I remember ST 2010 correctly, I heard the same hype and "over-excited optimism" then as I do now, and we all know how that "movie" ended. Doesn't anyone here think a seven year rebuilding effort is long enough? I guess I need a new prescription for my "rose colored glasses!"
Actually, Anon 3:04, while last year didn't end up being as "rosey" as some people hoped, a 10 win improvement was a solid step in the right direction. A 7 year rebuilding effort is too long, but really Jim Bowden did very little of anything resembling rebuilding. Rizzo's rebuilding effort is moving at a much quicker pace and last years 10 game improvement was a strong start.
I see a team that has room to make it to 76 - 79 wins this year. Then you add in the potential return of Strasburg and a possible star in Harper along with 3 top picks this year and all of the other recent draft picks and the team is on the verge of wild card contention.
If you can't see signs of improvement within the organization you might need to see a better eye doctor when you renew the "rose colored glasses" prescription because you are blind and just like to complain. Like I said, I don't think they are a contender but the large makeover of the organization is reason enough for optimism.
Doesn't anyone here think a seven year rebuilding effort is long enough?
Svrluga and Boswell do for starters.
Hey Anon 3:04
Things could be worse, you could be an Orioles or Pirates fan, with your rebuilding efforts in their 14th and 18th years, respectively.
Anon,
Don't get me wrong. I feel that we are a 75 win team as constituted and I completely understand the 7 year frustration. I am just objecting to the daily microscoping of spring training games and extrapolating any deep meaning from them.
If you can't see signs of improvement within the organization you might need to see a better eye doctor when you renew the "rose colored glasses" prescription because you are blind and just like to complain.
Well, Barry Svrluga and Tom Boswell ... and I suspect a good part of the beat writers will agree that the organizationally things have improved ... that there are more and better prospects (but its still pretty sparse) are there.
HOWEVER, at the major league level Jayson Werth isn't Albert Pujols. Yet he was paid like it. The Nats starting rotation features LIvan Hernandez, Jason Marquis, and John Lannan at its top. That's pedestrian at best!!! And for many baseball pundits and scouts almost guarantees a last place finish and perhaps 100 losses.
Hey Peyton, weren't you the one who told me to stop complaining in 2008, 2009, and 2010? Most of the e-zines have already predicted another last place finish for the Nats notwithstanding all the "rosy" predictions from its nearsighted fans, and, gee, Peyton, last place is still last place, right?
why are all of you arguing with Peri (aka Anonymous)? you should know by now that if you disagree with him, he's just going to shout and call you names. Do like NatsJack does on this site and ignore any posting by Anonymous (and what most others do on other Nats-centirc sites when he posts under Peri or Periculum).
Anon 3:14 conviently left out Zimmermann. Who has All-Star potential if he holds up this year.
Anon 3:14 conviently left out Zimmermann. Who has All-Star potential if he holds up this year.
Not today but it is the last ST game...Zimmermann down for 15+ wins!
LoL, honestly Anon, how is anyone supposed to know if they told you to stop complaining before since you don't have a distinguishable user name. Also, since Mark's blog wasn't around in 2008 or 2009, no it wasn't me.
Calling Jayson Werth's $126mm Albert Pujols money is a joke in itself. Pujols is going to double Werth's contract after this season so don't compare the two. Like David said, you failed to mention JZimm and Strasburg. Yea, I know Strasburg isn't pitching this season, but he is still there. Injuries happen and that will stall the progress some. Look at the Cardinals.
And for the record, stop the madness, I will now be joining in on the ignoring of all Anonymous posters. Sorry for falling for that trap lol.
"Periculum rei venditae, nondum traditae, est emptoris. The purchaser runs the risk of the loss of a thing sold, though not delivered." Seems to sum up Anonymous perfectly.
"If I remember ST 2010 correctly, I heard the same hype and "over-excited optimism" then as I do now, and we all know how that "movie" ended."
I don't think you do remember ST 2010 correctly. The Nats finished ST 2010 with a 10-20 record. Who in the world had "over-excited optimism" then?
And yet, the Nats still improved by 11 games over the year before.
"Doesn't anyone here think a seven year rebuilding effort is long enough?"
Five years is long enough, and then Bowden got the boot. So, we started over again in 2009 with Rizzo, and we've seen steady improvement since then.
"many baseball pundits and scouts almost guarantees a last place finish and perhaps 100 losses."
Who's predicting 100 losses? I'll take that bet.
natsfan1a and anon 1:36 - before you get carried away with the joys and pleasures of ST vacations in Beautiful Viera, it isn't ever thus. We were there for 2 weeks last year with miserable, cold, rainy weather (Yanks game cancelled) and a 0-11 record for the first couple of weeks. Glad you had good weather and winning ball this year. Wish we had been there.
Storen is a worry, perhaps the worst on the club. Maybe he shouldn't have gone back to school. He has time for that.
About half-way through the comments I finally came to my senses and started skipping the anon comments. It was a little weird at first but I got the hang of it and made this much more pleasurable. I am hopeful of another gain of 10 wins this season but will be ok with 75-78 wins. Realize this game was probably the most difficult mentally for our guys but still a little worried about Storen. Zimm, not so much.
Hope that tomorrow and Thursday will have decent weather and am excited about both.
Go Nats!!
The teams of the past and the team and system of today are incomparable. So stop the trolling. Some people are negative nannies, and some are realists. JayB, a person who gets a lot of flak, is a realist. A negative realist but he's been right, this team has stunk. For reference, he said recently that this team is the best one they fielded since 2005. I happen to agree, from a SABR and overarching talent perspective this team is way better than '07-10. Is it a great team? No. But it's a slightly below average team. Riggles is no F Robby, so don't expect an overachieving nature as the 2005 squad accomplished, but there will be better baseball in DC this year. You can build a good squad overnight, but the Nats money was Confederate money. Not a lot of players wanted it. So the FO was stuck with only adding slow progress. And progress is what they appeared to have achieved.
Is CF a problem? Yes. We'll see a revolving door out there. And some wins will be lost because of it. But Rizzo will deal with that issue come May or June. Maybe that kid from Oakland puts it all together and that piece is put into place.... Or maybe they get someone. Either way, I expect competitive baseball when the other teams 3-4-5 starters pitch against us. Everything else is gravy - till 2012 or 13.
natfan1a.... thanks for the acknowledgement.... and Jim Webster is correct. Last year was absolutely the coldest and wettest winter I've experienced in the 38 years I'v been here but on the flip side.... this year has been absolutely the best.
Sorry I missed you Sunday... I had three friends and we were celebrating one guy's birthday. Ended up at Lone Cabbage.
I'm flying up for Thursdays opener and staying through Saturdays game so hopefully I'll get to see more of you. I try to always wear a Nats shirt with NatsJack on the back.
And I'd like to thank everyone else who stopped to say "Hello" this spring. Funny but not one individual identified themselves as "Annonymous". I recognized every ones posted name.
Ha! Funny, you're all anonymous to me.
@Theo, well played, sir.
and while I was up here enjoying the gray, cold, and windy non-baseball weather, I do appreciate NatsJack perceptiveness and measured insight.
I've been a baseball fan for over 50 years and I've been coming to ST for about 30 years. Thanks to you, Mark, and the community here this has been my most fun spring ever. And thank you NatsJack, JaneB, and everyone else. Play ball.. Finally. See you at the park.
How about if we *give* "anonymous" a name? We could all just agree to call him (and it's a him, you know it is), I dunno, "Will Robinson."
In support of not responding to anonymous posters--Proverbs 11:12. Thus ends the reading of the lesson. Maybe I can make it from NE to ST next year. That would be awesome. Go Nats!
I was saving my first spring training sum up for today. like natsfan1a, I also thank NatsJack for the hospitality and advice. And all who pitched in ideas of where to go and when to be there. We saw six Nats game in four stadiums and loved them all. The stadiums were little and friendly. You could SEE stuff. The flow of the game was subtly but seriously different. I have a much better appreciation for how pasta HARD it is to become a big league ball player ("paste" being our family's substitute Bad Word placeholder). Good guys don't make it. It was fun to see people working on skills and talking with each other after plays. It was fun to see pitchers jogging in the outfield in the middle of a game! It was fun to see players so close (thanks Jack). and to be in the warm, too....I would do it again in a heart beat!
So fun to see Another Sam and his brother Dave, and to meet NatsJack and raymitten. And so many other Nats fans we had never seen or heard of before, and talking baseball for hours.... Loved it. Thank you Mark Z for this connection to each other!
Go Nats
A suggestion regarding the CF platoon: against lefties, put Hairston in LF, Werth in CF and Morse in RF (since I believe he has a better arm than Hairston). That would separate the two suspect fielders to prevent the gaffe we saw to day.
My thanks to those who alerted me to the "Name/URL" option. There is one thing I can agree with Anonymous about: it would be too easy for someone to use that option in order to pose as a "sock puppet" for anyone whose ID they wanted to spoof.
And if one of our anonymii is Periculum (as seen at the WaPo), he should own up. "To live above the law you must be honest...". (Since you're so good at various allusions, from Orwell to the Federalist Papers to John Lennon, tell me who penned that one, Anonymous.)
fpcsteve.... Thanks. We all have to thank Mark for allowing us to use this forum to share our thoughts and experiences concerning the Nats and all things baseball. It has provided me with a outlet I didn't even know existed.
And you HAVE TO make it to Spring Training. Not one of us is able to even remotely explain what you are missing by not experienceing at least one. JaneB comes close but even she will tell you her words fall short of the total experience.
NatsJack, you're so right about spring training. Nothing like it. For the mind, for the soul. A great renewal. And, you get to see plenty of baseball. LOL. Again NJ, thank you for your kindness.
Post a Comment