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File photo by Mark Zuckerman / NATS INSIDER The Nats try to give Davey Johnson his first win tonight at Angel Stadium. |
The challenge for Davey Johnson, then, is to figure out whether any tweaks need to be made to his lineup. During his introductory news conference yesterday, he said he prefers to keep a stable lineup and avoiding the everyday mixing and matching that Jim Riggleman often did. True to form, Davey's second lineup as manager is identical to his first one.
On the other end of the spectrum, the Nationals pitching staff remains in top form, and they'll hope Jason Marquis continues the trend tonight. Marquis, of course, pitched a gem Thursday against the Mariners ... only to get completely overshadowed by Riggleman's surprise resignation.
I've actually departed Anaheim and am en route home to D.C. as we speak. I wasn't originally scheduled to make that trip, but Davey's debut was too big a story to miss, so CSN was able to find a way to send me out west for the first game of the series. Enjoy tonight's game and the conversation among yourselves, and I'll be back at the ballpark for this weekend's series against the Pirates...
NATIONALS at ANGELS
Where: Angel Stadium of Anaheim
Gametime: 10:05 p.m.
TV: MASN2
Radio: WJFK (106.7 FM), WFED (1500 AM), XM 182
Weather: Clear, 72 degrees, Wind 8 mph out to RF
STARTING LINEUPS6:45 p.m. -- For those interested, CSN had a TV crew in Hagerstown last night for Chien-Ming Wang's rehab start. Click here to watch the video.
NATIONALS (40-39)
CF Roger Bernadina
RF Jayson Werth
3B Ryan Zimmerman
LF Laynce Nix
1B Michael Morse
2B Danny Espinosa
C Wilson Ramos
DH Matt Stairs
SS Ian Desmond
(P Jason Marquis)
ANGELS (39-40)
SS Erick Aybar
RF Torii Hunter
DH Bobby Abreu
LF Vernon Wells
2B Howie Kendrick
3B Alberto Callaspo
1B Mark Trumbo
C Hank Conger
CF Peter Bourjos
(P Joel Piniero)
260 comments:
«Oldest ‹Older 201 – 260 of 260 Newer› Newest»And everybody gets into it. Zimmerman pulls Morse up the line into right field, practically, for the Nats' 3rd error.
Now McCatty goes out to discuss candlesticks and live chickens, while the Coffey gets microwaved.
Was Davey calling the bullpen there or his travel agent to rebook that fishing vacation to Alaska.
Balester has no clue of where is ball is going except back to Syracuse.
Maybe just erase the recording.
Balester WP's Kendrick to second, and on what would be an ill-advised pickoff attempt, throws the ball into center field.
Walk to Callaspo, and that's enough for Davey, finally. A single, a bomb, error, wild pitch, another error, and a walk. Bad night for Colin Balester.
That throw to 1st by Zimmerman was so off target that I thought John Wall was out there at 3rd base!
Coffey hasn't pitched much lately. Love to see him take the reins a bit here and get 6 or 7 outs.
Coffey strikes out Trumbo and gets Conger on a can of corn to right.
They've been playing for over two and a half hours, and we're still half an inning from TMOTTBG.
THIS is why people hate the American League. This right here.
It feels like they are nervous to play for Johnson, they're afraid to disappoint him.
In other crazy news, Wily Mo Pena came in to pinch hit in the 9th inning against Cleveland after blowing the save and hits a 2 run WALK OFF.
Coffey never looked so good!
Someone needs to send JaneB a text to let her know they have started that wave stuff again.
Zimm gets a leadoff four-pitch walk. Nix singles again (4 for 4, baby!), and MICHAEL MORSE -- Beas... nevermind. Sac fly to the track in center. First and third, one out. I don't think they're done here.
Come on Dannyboy!
Bobby Cassevah on for Danny Espinosa. In a high leverage situation, I think. Hey, Daddy Espinosa in the stands!
MISSED OPPORTUNITIES
The Curse of Jim Riggleman is in full effect.
And Hairston, running for Nix, is WP'd to second, opening up first base. You think nobody has heard of Espinosa? They ain't pitching to him here. Intentional Walk. Bases loaded, one out, Ramos up.
Not for long. 5-4-3, on the tag.
Still 6-5, them, baja 7.
This team needs to find a way to get the magic back. A week ago, it felt like we would somehow find a way to pull a game like this out. Tonight, it seemed like that double play was inevitable.
My God, I hope this tape self-destructs.
Coffey perks up the team, and calms down the Angels. 1-2-3 seventh. (Although Desmond did get eaten up by another ground ball to his left, he recovered nicely to get the out.)
Stairs, Desmond, Bernadina due up--need at least one, boys.
Anonymous @ 1:01 The mere fact that Werth & Stairs have hits tonite gives me hope we will pull this out somehow
If one guy gets on, Morse comes to the plate with runners on with Espy behind him. That's our hope at this point.
and Matt Stairs will now have a longer stay with the Nats.
Coffey will face Abreu, Wells, and Kendrick.
And MASN craps out in PG County!
Ground ball to short, single, single, single -- it's 7-5, one out, runners at first and second, for Ryan Mattheus.
Oh MASN just switched from MASN2 to MASN1 on FIOS without notice
Oh boy. Like I said, the magic seems to have faded. Let's get it back tomorrow!
Man, I am glad Davey is having such a good time, joking around in the dugout while we play our worst game in a long time. Glad he's enjoying himself.
good night
and Trumbo makes it 9-5, Angels, with a double crushed into the gap.
Under normal circumstances, I'd consider going to bed now ...
Conger deep into the right field seats. 11-5.
FP is funny, tho. Describing Conger's swing as "Lift and Separate!" If you're old enough to get that, you are probably asleep now.
Desmond gets another hot potato at short for the --- what is that, their fifth? error.
Mercy. We go to the ninth.
The boys have been through a lot the last few days... so no surprise they struggle tonite. We got JZimm tomorrow and some good home cookin' when they get back.
I'm old enough to remember "lift & separate" and still awake
C'mon, boys--one quick touchdown and we're right back in this thing!
Werth flies to left. One out.
Those of us old enough to get it Sec3, had the luxury of a nap this afternoon, and get to sleep in this morning.
And don't have to work tomorrow
Zimmerman waves at a curve he couldn't hit with a broom. 2 outs, Jerry Hairston is it.
I mean work today!
ain't retirement grand!
Approximately 275 minutes of baseball, and the less said about it the better.
I wonder if the distractions are finally catching up with them, now that they can take a breath.
Hairston walks, Morse singles ... hey, play all 27.
This was one ugly game. Bummer.
Ballgame.
Good night Nats, let's salvage a win tomorrow for a split this trip! And kick ass at home! GYFNG!
I agree the boys need to get home, have a day off and have a chance to clear their heads.
glad you're enjoying it, danny and dj--me, I got about six hours to get eight hours sleep. Wish me luck.
Good luck Sec 3 and thanks
At the game tonight in SoCal. Just a couple of notes. Angels fans are intense. 41000 for a tuesday night game against the nats. They really show up and support the team. The infield looks horrible condition. Many of those errors were bad hops, you can see they are trying to save water or something by not watering the grass or something. DJ visiting pitchers in the middle of counts has got to be unnerving. I do not know what he thinks he can accomplish by this but it seems more of a distraction.
watching todd coffey run from the bullpen is great.
also enjoyed seeing the racing presidents at them game.
I'm glad I went to bed...
Ugh. Not a good game results email; the box score wasn't looking good, either; so I came here to read Mark's (strike that), sec3's commentary. (Good job on the PBP, btw. I LOL'd a bunch.) Maybe I'll go downstairs and see whether the DVR self-destructed, maybe I won't. As someone noted, hope our boys can pull off a W tonight, then get back for the off day and some home cooking.
Also, just figured out that there are Newer and Newest links on these long game threads. hmmm...I may have missed something in the 277-plus thread. You late-night chatters are gamers, I will say that! :-)
Also got the lift and separate but am trying to figure out just what the swing looked like. Is it about the follow-through?
Just like old times... sheeeesh, that was ugly...ugliest of the year.
I didn't like Davey smiling so much either.
GYFNG!
Here's the bottom line. We had the lead going into the bottom of the 6th. Then DJ makes two bad decisions. Leaving Marquis in and going with Balester aka "ol kerosene" Where's Riggs when you need him
At least they scored more than two runs! The offense is looking better and they did have a 5-3 lead. With JZimm pitching today, they will get the split and be back home.
GYFNG!!!!!
glad we got a new manager. THE NATS ARE BACK. They suck!!
Out the door with 5 hours sleep. Thanks Balester!
Sec3 thanks for the commentary,still dragging this AM and not the good wake up I was hoping for...
I think the field is in worse shape than we think. Curse you Bono!
We only have 1 game left here.. let's get the boys home
Will said:
Can someone remind me why Desmond is in Washington and not Harrisburg? I'm not trying to be overly negative...just, if you think Desmond is the answer at SS, why?
--/--------------_
Oh, because he just went, like close to a couple of months, without an error? Not trying...? Another natural gift for negativity, apparently.... I wasn't watching, but it was mentioned that this infield is in lousy shape.
I value everybody's opinion.... but prefacing an opportunistically negative comment with "Hey, not trying to be negative...", is, basically, pissing on my head, and telling me it's raining. At least be honest, in your negativity.
So glad I did not stay awake to see this. LOL
With Jordan on mound, we have a shot at avoiding the sweep. Come on guys, let's get them.
Tim said...
"Just like old times... sheeeesh, that was ugly...ugliest of the year.
I didn't like Davey smiling so much either."
Davey understands that the baseball season is a marathon and not a sprint. Many fans don't know that, don't understand that or forget it.
Roger that, N. Cog... Would any of us be happier, if Davey was cussing, benching folks, and pointing fingers?
As I point out, Every Single Year, after losing my Fantasy Football opener:
"MARATHON. NOT SPRINT."
I believe we as fans would be happier if DJ benched Stares...
Negativity alert.
I hate Bono. He screwed up the field in Anaheim. Made the Marlins play a weekend series in Seattle, because there was to be a concert tonight. 3 days after the series would be over. Come on Man.
I made it to the bottom of the 8th once Trumbo hit the double I was out of there.
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