Friday, July 8, 2011

Game 90: Rockies at Nats

Photo by Mark Zuckerman / NATS INSIDER
The Nats take on the Rockies (and the rain) tonight at Nationals Park.
After their blown game against the Cubs last night, several Nationals players pointed out the importance of bouncing back strong tonight against the Rockies and putting that fiasco behind them. So the impetus is on John Lannan to put together a strong start. In that respect, the Nats are in luck: Lannan has posted a 1.92 ERA over his last eight outings, never allowing more than three runs during that span.

Lannan will be working with Wilson Ramos as his batterymate, with Ivan Rodriguez still sidelined by a strained oblique muscle. This is Ramos' fourth straight game behind the plate, and though he did start five consecutive games earlier this season, you've got to believe Davey Johnson would like to use someone else tomorrow or Sunday. Pudge is either going to need to prove he's healthy enough to play, or Jesus Flores is going to need to be recalled from Class AAA Syracuse. [UPDATE AT 3:30 P.M. -- The Nats just announced they've placed Pudge on the 15-day DL and recalled Flores. Full story coming.]

The forecast tonight isn't pretty: There's a line of storms fast-approaching as we speak, though it is supposed to be dry around scheduled first pitch. More rain is expected later in the evening, so it could make for a long night.

Updates to come...

ROCKIES at NATIONALS
Where: Nationals Park
Gametime: 7:05 p.m.
TV: MASN2
Radio: WJFK (106.7 FM), WFED (1500 AM), XM 189
Weather: Chance of storms, 82 degrees, Wind 9 mph out to LF
STARTING LINEUPS
NATIONALS (45-44)
LF Roger Bernadina
2B Danny Espinosa
3B Ryan Zimmerman
1B Michael Morse
RF Jayson Werth
CF Rick Ankiel
C Wilson Ramos
SS Ian Desmond
P John Lannan

ROCKIES (41-47)
CF Carlos Gonzalez
SS Jonathan Herrera
1B Todd Helton
LF Ty Wigginton
2B Mark Ellis
RF Cole Garner
3B Ian Stewart
C Chris Iannetta
P Jason Hammel
5:20 p.m. -- Tonight's first weather update: It's been pouring for the last hour or so, and batting practice was canceled for both teams. That said, club officials have been told there's a proverbial "window" of clearing right around 7 p.m., so they are proceeding as though this game will begin on-time. That, of course, is always subject to change.

5:30 p.m. -- And, in unfortunate injury news: Cole Kimball has learned he'll need season-ending surgery for a torn rotator cuff.

6:42 p.m. -- The tarp has been rolled up, the infield has been prepared and this game will begin on schedule at 7:05 p.m.

7:07 p.m. -- And, right on cue, we are underway. John Lannan starts Carlos Gonzalez off with a fastball for ball one. And just as Lannan throws that pitch, the sun emerges from the clouds overhead. Good omen for the Nats?

7:11 p.m. -- Very nice top of the first for Lannan. He cruised right through the frame, retiring the side on 11 pitches, getting Gonzalez to ground out, Jonathan Herrera to fly out and Todd Helton to strike out looking at a 3-2 breaking ball.

7:25 p.m. -- The good news: The Nats put their first three men on base in the bottom of the first, with Roger Bernadina doubling, Danny Espinosa drawing a walk and Ryan Zimmerman beating out a chopper to short. That loaded the bases for Michael Morse, who lofted a flyball to center to bring home the night's first run. Now, the bad news: That still left two men on with one out for Jayson Werth. (Does this guy ever come up with the bases empty?) Werth's at-bat ... well, it resembled pretty much all of his at-bats over the last two weeks. He wound up striking out swinging mightily at a 3-2 fastball from Hammel. Both runners were in motion, though, and stole their respective bases without drawing a throw. So, I suppose technically speaking, he did advance the runners, right? Rick Ankiel completed the inning with a pop-up to second. So the Nats take a 1-0 lead, but it easily could have been more than that.

7:33 p.m. -- Wow, Lannan has struck out three of the first six batters he's faced tonight. Not sure he's ever done that before. At any level, professional or otherwise. Looking sharp so far.

7:39 p.m. -- It's a good thing Lannan is pitching well. Because he's absolutely dreadful at the plate. With a check-swing groundout to third just now, he's fallen to 0-for-32 for the season. He's starting to put a serious run together at topping Jason Bergmann's 0-for-40 performance from 2008. Still 1-0 Nats after two.

8:07 p.m. -- Oh man, scary moment here in the top of the fourth. Ty Wigginton smokes a comebacker and it caught Lannan right in the face. He fell to his knees, then got up with his hand to his face and immediately headed toward the dugout, bleeding from either his nose or just under his left eye. Ryan Mattheus has come out of the bullpen to take over in an emergency. Will update you on Lannan's condition as soon as we find out.

8:15 p.m. -- Obviously a tough spot for Mattheus to enter, and he pitched like it. Allowed two more runs to score (one on a balk) and all of a sudden, the Nats trail 3-1 in the middle of the fourth.

8:22 p.m. -- Wilson Ramos gets a run back for the Nats, drilling his eighth homer of the season to make it 3-2 at the end of four. No word yet on Lannan, but in watching the replay, he was bleeding from the left side of his nose. He was up on his feet really fast and was walking pretty quickly off the field and down the dugout tunnel alongside trainer Lee Kuntz.

8:36 p.m. -- Here's the official update on Lannan, and it's encouraging: He's been diagnosed with a "nasal contusion." No fractures. The club is listing him as day-to-day. Bunch of people breathing a sigh of relief right now, I'm sure. Meanwhile, we go to the sixth, Nats still trailing 3-2, and Sean Burnett is in.

8:54 p.m. -- Burnett gets through the sixth, with an assist from Espinosa, who turned a 4-3 double play. Now he's back out for the top of the seventh.

9:03 p.m. -- And another scoreless inning of relief from Burnett, who really needed that. Should be a nice confidence-booster for him. The Nats bullpen has done an admirable job in the wake of Lannan's early and surprising departure. The lineup, however, hasn't done much against Hammel. Still 3-2 at the stretch.

9:14 p.m. -- Big-time chess match in the bottom of the seventh between Davey Johnson and Jim Tracy. With one out and Desmond on first, Davey sent Matt Stairs up to pinch-hit. But then Tracy pulled a double-switch, getting Hammel out and bringing in left-hander Matt Reynolds. So Davey countered with Jesus Flores. Flores nearly came through, coming about a foot wide of an RBI double down the left-field line. Instead, the ball landed foul. Then Desmond was caught taking off for second too soon. And then Flores struck out. So it remains 3-2 going to the eighth, with Tyler Clippard on.

9:30 p.m. -- A 1-2-3 bottom of the eighth, with Ryan Zimmerman lofting a flyball to the right-field warning track to end the inning. Nats down to their final three outs, still trailing 3-2.

9:47 p.m. -- Man, did Clippard walk a tightrope act there or what? He walked two and uncorked a wild pitch in the top of the ninth and was all over the place. Really surprised Davey didn't have anyone warming in the pen. Somehow, Tyler pitched his way out of it. He got Mark Ellis to pop out, then got Jason Giambi to fly out. Wound up throwing 37 pitches over two innings. We go to the bottom of the ninth. Last chance for the Nats, down 3-2.

9:56 p.m. -- That's your ballgame. Nats lose 3-2, though they did have a chance. Morse led off the ninth with a bloop single. Brian Bixler came in to pinch-run as Werth came to the plate. And Werth proceeded to strike out swinging at a slider in the dirt. And when the ball trickled away, Bixler took off for second. And was thrown out. And then Ankiel struck out on three pitches. Ugly way for this one to end. The Nats are back to .500.

163 comments:

Sunshine_Bobby_Carpenter_Is_Too_Pessimistic_For_Me said...

Too bad about Pudge. Maybe Kid Flores will show enough to stick this time.

GYFNG!!

Natsochist said...

Cross-posted from the series preview thread:

Mark - is there any place where we can receive weather updates on tonight's game? I've got tickets and plan to attend, but it was pouring outside my office window a moment ago, and as you referenced above, the skies don't look great.

Dave said...

Pudge to the DL. Let's hope Jesus Flowers still has what he used to have before his injury.

Manassas Nats Fan said...

Lets win the series as I always call for, This time if we have a chance to sweep let's do it.

When Pudge comes off the FL, Send Stairs packing

Bzl. said...

Is it my imagination, or does Lannan attract rain delays?

JaneB said...

The rain is biblical over here. Looking at the ipad app for weather, the probably radar track makes it looks like the stadium is in line for a long night indeed. I'm gonna watch from home tonight.
We can take these guys. Everyone is tired, but Lannan has been terrific.
GYFNG!

natsfan1a said...

LannEn scoffs at rain delays. Let's take (at least) two, NATS!!

(And welcome back, Jesus!)

Waddu eye no said...

Natsochist-
1. Great name
2. Weather.com can show you the Doppler map. It's what the team and grounds crew use in the "green room". Decent way to estimate, but I've seldom seen or heard timely notice from the team on any media/ web outlet.
3. Hope mark z can get the word out. If he can't , who can?

David Moore said...

I would bet on the rainout. It could rain for hours. Anybody for a doubleheader tomorrow?

Sunderland said...

If we were playing the Pirates this game would have been called off three hours ago. Every other opponent? We'll work to get it in no matter how much it inconveniences paying customers.

natsfan1a said...

Waddu eye no: yeah, but what does Bob's Bootleg Weather use? ;-)

Waddu eye no said...

Btw
Isn't it barbershop nite for the anthem? One of our fellow insiders ? If so- a friend of mine got rained out of an anthem gig but they were able to reschedule him.
And the game he came back to sing was the one with a short delay followed by morse's walkoff HR

Tim said...

@ Waddu Eye... I think you're right about the anthem. He posted that a couple of days ago.

I think we could get Michele & Jane to sing the anthem... maybe after some Maalox with a bourbon chaser. :-)

GYFNG!

Go away rain!

Not Werth It said...

July Showers bring Jesus Flowers. It would be nice to get this one in and not give the hurting rockies a night off to recooperate.

Go grounds crew!
Go Nats!

jeffwx said...

Nix and Stairs for B.J. Upton

Nats Outsider said...

I am sitting about two blocks from Nationals Park, and -- for the moment at least -- the rain has mostly stopped. The sky still looks threatening, but the downpour seems to have abated.

sparky said...

I just read on a Rays blog that they are hoping to get a 43 year old LH overweight and rarely successful pinch hitter and a journeyman 4th outfielder in trade for BJ Upton.

jeffwx said...

Marquis and Burnett for Josh Reddick.
Red sox desperate for pitching.

Nats have plenty of pitching in minors for next year..They can still be competitive without either and not worth keeping them for the slim possibility of getting a wild card berth.

Anonymous said...

Gameday info: 202-675-6287. Press 5
As of 4:40 game still on. Too early for cancel or late start.

jeffwx said...

I saw the upton for Nix trade possibility on MLBtraderumors but thru in stairs so to make it fairer for Nats.

Nats Outsider said...

BJ Upton? Can someone explain to me why the Nats need another .213 hitter? And if they got Upton, would that mean that Bernardina would go back to being a platoon player? I just don't see what sense this makes for the club.

Natsochist said...

@Oldguy - thanks! That's exactly what I was looking for.

@Waddu - Glad you like it - I find it an appropriate handle for just about anyone who's followed the team since their return to DC.

jeffwx said...

Heavy rain to move in w/in 10 mins.
but a break between 6 and 8, then more waves coming thru.

Nats Outsider said...

The rain is back, hard, and it has suddenly gotten *really* dark in the stadium area. The street lights have even snapped on.

I think the odds have flipped over to rainout.

jeffwx said...

You platoon Ankiel with Upton, while helping to make Werth low BA look better.

jeffwx said...

FIND COVER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU ARE AT THE PARK

jeffwx said...

LIGHTENING LIKELY

Anonymous said...

jeffwx said...
"You platoon Ankiel with Upton, while helping to make Werth low BA look better."

Great idea!! Let's carry the idea one step further: We could turn Lannan into a designated pinch hitter, which will make Stairs look better.

JaneB said...

waddu ey no...thanks for the reminder!

SECTION 222! have a great anthem tonight! And a good time, too!

jeffwx said...

It's critical the Nats figure out a way to make the Werth signing look good. Winning is overrated Put a couple hogs next to a pig, and the pig starts looking pretty good.

Rain should stop w/in 1/2 hour...play ball for a little while

sjm308 said...

No Rain, No Rain, No Rain hmmm didn't work for me in the 60s (woodstock didn't have rain dates) and looks like its not working now and I have laid off the wacky stuff for over 40 years now.

Oh well, Go Nats!!

jeffwx said...

And the trade wouldn't be fair if you didn't include Stairs.
BTW, BJ is batting .234/320/416, 14 hrs, 48 rbis, 20 sb which would be pretty awesome for a Nats hitter. Nats aren't gonna get much more than that for what they can give away and for what the owners are willing to pay right now.

gonatsgo said...

As of now , 3 of our starting pitchers have a better batting average than Matt Stairs. Desi and Werth are about even. Is there any reason at all why Desi should be pulled for Stairs? I haven't seen Werth pulled for a pinch hitter. It is completely inappropriate for Stairs to replace anyone other than a pitcher - and then, only a couple of our pitchers - most are better than he is. He should NEVER be put in again in a spot that is important. He should retire as of Sunday after the game. Just for the record - I know I am screaming into the wind and nothing is going to happen, but sometimes I just gotta' vent!

Nats Outsider said...

Last weekend, my daughter and I went to the double header. We stayed in our (cheap) seats for the first game, but during the second game, we moved down to a much better location, in the back few rows of sec 129. Apparently, the people in the row right behind us had done the same thing, because *several* ushers and a supervisor came to evict them when the ticket holders arrived. They were neither friendly nor subtle about it. The ushers raised their voices and (I think) ejected the interlopers from Nationals Park. No one bothered us, but it made me think twice about doing the same thing again.

I am a volunteer usher at some theaters in the DC area, and we were always taught to treat such incidents as mistakes. ("Excuse me, sir, could I have look at your tickets? Thanks. Oh, it looks like these are for the balcony. Let me show you to the right seats.") Sometimes (okay, rarely) they *are* mistakes, but we are trained not to cause an incident. That's not how the Nats Park ushers seem to behave.

Sunderland said...

Outsider - I've sat in seats I don't belong in 100 times in Nats Town. Your interlopers must have done something else to warrant that treatment.

Nats Outsider said...

They didn't do anything else that I saw, although they were already in their seat by the time we moved in (around the bottom of the first inning.) For all I knew, they had purchased those seats. In any event, the ushers didn't mention any other offense. Just get-up-those-seats-aren't-yours. My daughter admitted to cringing over the possibility that we were next.

I dunno. I've moved down before too, tho not 100 times. But then, I've never been caught.

Anonymous said...

Stay the course Outsider, you're teaching your daughter well, never pay full price.

Nats Outsider said...

The "No Rain" chant seems to have worked. The rain has stopped near Nationals Park and the sky is much lighter. I can even see a couple of spots of blue.

Nats Outsider said...

Anonymous said...
"Stay the course Outsider, you're teaching your daughter well, never pay full price."

Oh, it's much better than that, Anon!! **She** paid for the tickets; a Father's Day present.

Anonymous said...

I was at the game Tuesday night against the Cubs we were sitting in seats that did not belong to us. An usher asked to see our tickets we said that they were not for here. He said you better getting moving and said we have people watching you(on the red porch there were sharpshooters because michelle was throwing out the first pitch) he got very angry at us immediately and was really rude. We went to another section and asked if we could sit there and he said sure. Not bad for only paying $5.

MicheleS said...

Tim.
there is not enough boubon or maalox on this planet to get me to sing. I would never punish nats fans with my horrible voice.

Morse Screwed Again said...

Ethier replaces Victorino on NL All-Star roster

Grandstander said...

Like everything else in life, it depends on the person. Some ushers run a tight ship, others don't care as long as you move for paying customers. I have an usher who knows me and go to mos games for $5, hence the name. I've only been asked to move during crowded games. Sweet deal.

I'm fair weather fanning it tonight though. Good luck to all those braving the weather!

Tim said...

I see CarGo leading off. He's got a hurt wrist. Bust him inside!

Rox pitching has been hurtin'. Let's hack some gorse, as the sayin goes!

JaneB said...

Michele, phew. I'm safe then. I can't sing either! But I'll drink bourbon and maalox with you anytime, ma'am.

Anonymous said...

Is it wrong to wish for Ethier to suddenly get injured and placed on the 15-day DL? And hey, why not the other guy who beat out Morse, Todd Helton, we're even playing him tonight! Let's just see who's the better First Baseman, Mr. Hellton.
Let's go Zimmerman!!

Anonymous said...

Oops, it should be Helton.

NatinBeantown said...

I hope Werth spends the whole AS break in Atlantic City, relaxes, and then comes back in the 2nd half and rakes.

baseballswami said...

He's got a few bucks to spare in AC.What happened to John Lannan? He turned into fierce pitcher sometime between the beginning of the season and now. Did it start on June 1st when he beat the Phils? He is looking sharp! I like the early hitting - hope it continues.

Manassas Nats Fan said...

Can someone enplane this to me. When our pitcher hang sliders and curves the other team smashes them. When the other team does it our guys take a strike. I simply don't get it.

UnkyD said...

I'm calling for an end to any trade talk, concerning LannEn!!! With Stras and JZ, the rotation for '12 looks solid at the 1,2&3 spots...

NatinBeantown said...

So Harper went 0-4 with a K and a GIDP yesterday, and is sitting tonight (if they get the game in). Just one game, of course, but I'm appreciating the FO's strategy of giving him increasing sizes of humble pie. Whenever he gets to DC, he'll be ready.

Eugene in Oregon said...

Mark @ 7:25 update says: "the Nats take a 1-0 lead, but it easily could have been more than that" and he's absolutely right -- you might even change the 'could' to 'should'.

Whether you use the older Thorn/Palmer or the newer (but steroid era) Tango, et al. run-expectancy tables, the average run production for a bases-loaded, no-outs scenario is greater than 2. And while I know that you can't generalize from a sample of one, I've noted in many, many games this season that the Nats are not producing the number of expected runs when they get multiple men on base with fewer than two outs.

I don't have the time or the math/computer skills to do it, but it would be interesting to see what the Nats 2011 run-expectancy table would look like in comparison to the league average.

gonatsgo said...

unkyd - I agree that LannEn needs to stay - I am looking forward to our 1) Zimmnn 2) Strassie 3) LannEn Awesome, with Clip and Store in the set-up and closer spots, too. Bernie making some good contact these days!

Gonat said...

NatinBeantown said...
So Harper went 0-4 with a K and a GIDP yesterday, and is sitting tonight (if they get the game in). Just one game, of course, but I'm appreciating the FO's strategy of giving him increasing sizes of humble pie. Whenever he gets to DC, he'll be ready.

July 8, 2011 7:48 PM
______________________________

Bryce Harper is already in Phoenix for the All Star Futures game.

I've done that... said...

Dang. There's a reason they call it "chuck and duck, John.

FS said...

WOW what happened to Lannan? He took a line drive right at his face. I hope he is okay. That looked scary.

UnkyD said...

Rats.

Gonat said...

Pudge-Kimball-Lannan. Some say it comes in 3's. Let's all hope John is OK.

Soul Possession, PFB Sofa said...

I think that got him right in the nose. He didn't look like he was hurt all that badly, surprisingly, on his way off the field.

Man, that is gonna hurt for a while.

natsfan1a said...

Jeez. Went out to dinner with a friend, and came back to read this. Hope he's okay.

Gonat said...

Tailor made double play ball there to Mattheus that is botched followed by a balk. Unreal.

nationals7 said...

Give the fellas a little time to adjust... Desi got nailed too..

JaneB said...

They are rattled. And who wouldn't be? Sending good thoughts to LannEn.

Now we have to win the game for him. Easy for me to say. I'm just sitting around.

I forget this isn't just fun and games.

Anonymous said...

Anybody at the game, on twitter , have any info? Scary.

Soul Possession, PFB Sofa said...

Rattle THAT!

gonatsgo said...

I kind of wish that Ankiel had gotten Balking Bob with that foul ball. Werth just crushed two pitches and got nothing to show for them. Good sign? Ramos!!!!!

baseballswami said...

This will be a gut check for Matheus. You want to play in the big leagues? Step up, young man, your team needs you right now!

JaneB said...

TV will have news faster than people in the stands will have.

Soul Possession, PFB Sofa said...

gonats, the Buffalo crushed his pitch. Werth hit a couple of balls harder than he has been. Which is good. I'm just sayin.

Soul Possession, PFB Sofa said...

Debbie Taylor's source in the clubhouse says LannEn is ok.

nationals7 said...

Earlier convo: ushers n seats.. on occasion we slip to other seats... hard to beat breeze in 408... saw folks in 114 call usher & "tattle" on two folks who had sat down.. usher went & chased them out.. funny, they (the ushers) don't have such morals when they get some greenback... which I have seen many many times.

Anonymous said...

Actually the Twitter is usually the fastest source. If anybody hears anything else, please post. Nice inning by Mattheus.

nationals7 said...

Sec3,..why LannEn?

Soul Possession, PFB Sofa said...

report is no fracture, so far, from the clubhouse.

Gonat said...

Sec 3, is Ramos the Buffalo or the Crusher? The guy needs a nickname that can stick.

gonatsgo said...

Regarding seating "upgrades" - seems like you don't have much of a problem if you stay in the cheap seats and just seek shade or a better view. The closer you try to creep closer, the more testy they get. Unless it's after a rain delay - then you can pretty much do what you want.

Soul Possession, PFB Sofa said...

nationals7, you're new around these parts, ain't ya?

Several weeks ago, Mark misspelled his name on the lineups, and John went on and beat the Phillies for the first time in his life. So we keep the convention alive as long as it works, upper-casing the E for emphasis.

Anonymous said...

nationals7 -- one day riggs wrote Lannan's name wrong on the lineup card as Lannen - he was in beast mode himself that game and so it's considered a good luck charm to call him that.

natsfan1a said...

On the broadcast just now, they said that Lannan is "okay" and that nothing is broken, so that's good news. I guess I can go back to my hostessing duties now.

nationals7 said...

Sec3, tnx. Miss some threads sneaking down to better seats :-)

Soul Possession, PFB Sofa said...

Gonat, Ramos's teammates, or at least Bo Porter, call him the Buffalo. I kinda like FP's coinage: Wilson "Red Porch" Ramos.

masnstinks said...

Lannan takes one to the face, Mattheus balks, Desi gets spiked, Danny fouls one off his foot. Is it Halloween? Kind of surprised they pinch hit for Mattheus. He looked like he was locking in.

Mark Zuckerman said...

Sec3: To be accurate, I wasn't the one who misspelled Lannan's name. The Nats' OFFICIAL lineup card in the clubhouse misspelled it. That was the same day he beat the Phillies for the first time.

Gonat said...

Anon at 8:33, bingo. It was to change his mojo on that start against Philly since he never beat them before so Riggles spelled his name incorrectly.

Anonymous said...

Who is pitching the rest of the game, folks??

natsfan1a said...

Dang, scooped by sec3. On LannEn, I thought Riggleman misspelled it on the lineup card? Seriously. Mark would *never* do that. :-)

Soul Possession, PFB Sofa said...

hmmm. There's a lesson for you kids blogging at home: never trust my memory.
Thank you, 8:33. I stand corrected. And apologies to Mark for the orthographic libel.

natsfan1a said...

Dang, now I'm scooped by Mark. Time to hang up my keyboard... ;-)

Soul Possession, PFB Sofa said...

Officially: John Lannan has "a nasal contusion" and is day-to-day.

Does that make him a black-and-blue nose?

nationals7 said...

NOT BURNETT

natsfan1a said...

Ouch, sec3. Okay, back to hostessing. Later.

gonatsgo said...

Pitching by committee? Burnett? ouch.

Soul Possession, PFB Sofa said...

well, 1a, at least you weren't obliged to print a retraction.

Anonymous said...

natsfan1a must be having a party. Burnett gives up a hit. Shocker!

nationals7 said...

1a-.have fun!

baseballswami said...

Danny is just soooo good. Who is pitching next?

nationals7 said...

I love this site - blog - free for all- Folks are baseball fans- joy for me

Gonat said...

8:36 p.m. -- Here's the official update on Lannan, and it's encouraging: He's been diagnosed with a "nasal contusion." No fractures. The club is listing him as day-to-day. Bunch of people breathing a sigh of relief right now, I'm sure. Meanwhile, we go to the sixth, Nats still trailing 3-2, and Sean Burnett is in.
8:36 p.m. -- Here's the official update on Lannan, and it's encouraging: He's been diagnosed with a "nasal contusion." No fractures. The club is listing him as day-to-day. Bunch of people breathing a sigh of relief right now, I'm sure. Meanwhile, we go to the sixth, Nats still trailing 3-2, and Sean Burnett is in.
8:36 p.m. -- Here's the official update on Lannan, and it's encouraging: He's been diagnosed with a "nasal contusion." No fractures. The club is listing him as day-to-day. Bunch of people breathing a sigh of relief right now, I'm sure. Meanwhile, we go to the sixth, Nats still trailing 3-2, and Sean Burnett is in.
____________________________

Great news!!! With the All Star break, LannEn will have a long break and probably could get 10 to 11 days rest and pitch on the 18th or 19th versus the Astros.

baseballswami said...

What the heck happened to the offense? Come on, boys, swing those bats!!! nationals7 -- me too, I am alone watching the games and it makes me feel like I'm watching with friends. Is that just very pathetic? Werth getting very loud cheers for his hit! Nice looking swing, too. But with 2 outs and Ankiel up.

Anonymous said...

I know Ankiel has had some hits since he has been off the dl, but he really likes to swing for the fences, doesn't he?

nationals7 said...

Swami, absolutely!

JaneB said...

jayson gets on base...and we don't get him home. Argh!

One of my favorite Jim Riggleman moments, in fact, was when he misspelled LannEn and John finally finally beat the dragged Phillies.

Anyone have any ideas why we never see Bixler anymore? He was coming through in the clutch, when he was allowed in.

Anonymous said...

Burnett again. uh, oh.

Gonat said...

Steve M. said...
Knoxville Nat, yep, LANNEN on the Lineup card today, not Lannan....I hope we like this new player!!!!

June 1, 2011 11:41 AM
__________________________

Here is where I first saw it. I checked Knoxville's post and he spelled his name Lannen which may have been a coincidence in an earlier post but it was John's WIN on June 1st where the legend of LannEn started.

I don't know if Riggleman ever commented on it given superstitions. Anyone want to ask Jim now?

Nats Outsider said...

Nationals7 said, "they (the ushers) don't have such morals when they get some greenback... which I have seen many many times"

I've never seen that at the Nats, though I've certainly seen it elsewhere. In the sections where I like to move down to (behind the Nats' dugout), there are often two ushers, which would make it hard to tip one of them and, well, too visible to tip them both.

nationals7 said...

Coffey's ready :-)

nationals7 said...

Coffey's ready :-)

masnstinks said...

Watching the game and hoping that John Lannan is really ok. After the events of last night, being behind in the game just doesn't seem as crucial as it usually does. Healthy people in the bleachers with their families and friends, cheering on their team -- it's just all good. I love the Nats and the game of baseball. I hope we win, but if everyone goes home safely, we're good. That being said - if Sean Burnett could just find the strike zone again?

nationals7 said...

Outsider- truly - I have seen it at every game I've attended this year.

FS said...

What? Ty stole a base on Ramos? How is that possible?

gonatsgo said...

And the inning is done! Now for some hitting! (Before the 9th inning if possible, please)

gonatsgo said...

Watching the replays of Ramos hr tonight makes my heart hurt that he was forced to bunt last night. I am still stewing over he and Danny not getting a chance to swing away in that game.They both have some nice pop and have been known to be clutch.

Anonymous said...

Stairs :(

JaneB said...

It is like watching with friends. Friends who will commiserate with you when you say, "not Stairs!" I would have gone nuts in some games without you all. Though some would say I already was nuts.

GYFNG!

JaneB said...

Incredible. I am grateful to the Rockies manager for getting rid of Stairs!

baseballswami said...

JaneB - Nats fans = Nuts!

Anonymous said...

Well - that was awkward.......

gonatsgo said...

JaneB, Swami -- alcohol helps.

Anonymous said...

If Tyler Clippard were twice his age I would want to marry him.

gonatsgo said...

Oh, Zim - that was so close!!

nationals7 said...

Now. We wait.

Soul Possession, PFB Sofa said...

Has Morse been dropping his back shoulder more than usual lately?

UnkyD said...

HACK. THAT. GORSE.......
HACK. THAT. GORSE......

nationals7 said...

Phew!!

nationals7 said...

Please not Stairs

nationals7 said...

..... til tomorrow...

Soul Possession, PFB Sofa said...

That.
Was.
Pathetic.

baseballswami said...

Ugh. What an ugly bottom 9. Today - one future hall of famer on the dl, one starting pitcher hit directly in the face, one promising reliever having shoulder surgery. A few more really bad at bats. Let's quickly go home before something else bad happens. Tomorrow is another day...

CBinDC said...

Well I see Davy followed up last nights performance with another charmer ......wow here we go back to the bottom again .......how do you have bases loaded no outs and get just one run ????? WHY DOES JAYSON WERTH LOOK SO LOST ........What REALLY has been the positive effect of Davy so far .....I can not see it ....so enlighten me please I really want to know what I am not seeing ???

FS said...

WOW I know he is trying but this is beyond embarrassing for Werth.

Anyways, glad to know that Lannan is okay.

Anonymous said...

3 outs in 4 pitches. Just disgraceful. Davey Johnson is not getting it done. Jason Werth should be pinch hit for. Why is a guy batting .215 hitting? Because he gets millions a year? I am really sick of this team. Last nights 8 run lead blown will lead to us getting swept. SICK SICK SICK!!!

Grandstander said...

I think tonight's loss was even worse than last night. Just pathetic baseball all around. Werth needs to go to AA to straighten himself out over the break. He is seriously lost at the plate. Now that the unseen stars in Nix, Morse and Espinosa are starting to cool off some, this team is being totally exposed.

Soul Possession, PFB Sofa said...

But we'll be back tomorrow.
Grace, Yesterday's Futility Notwithstanding, Grows

JaneB said...

CBinDC, the positive effect of Davey is this: there's a manager. When Riggs quit, there was none. He's a manager with at least a passing understanding of who is in the clubhouse, instead of someone from outside. It was nit a chosen move. It happened. We have to move on.

Soul Possession, PFB Sofa said...

CBinDC, Davey gets on the plane. Which is nice. So there's that.

Anonymous said...

cbindc you nailed it. Davey is a joke. He is outmanaging himself. Was that a hit and run with Werth or did Bixler just have his head up his A-----? And if it was a hit and run, aren't you supposed to do that with someone who can hit?

JaneB said...

Love that, Sec 3! Totally love it.
GYFNG!

Soul Possession, PFB Sofa said...

No a H&R. Bixler, who is fast, saw the passed ball and took a shot. Unfortunately, it didn't get far, and neither did he.
You *have* to make it if you do that.

Soul Possession, PFB Sofa said...

and the captcha for that: outwas

Thank you Master Yoda.

Soul Possession, PFB Sofa said...

*Not a hit and run...

CBinDC said...

The culture of losing is not behind this team yet .....and this is again a point where the season can go to hell FAST..........just like 2005 against the Cubs where they blew a game they should have won and then went into the tank ..........history can repeat if you do not watch out ....BTW why now is Debbie Taylor only allowed to ask questions in the post game presser ????

JaneB said...

To take from tonight: John LannEn will be fine. Sean did a good job. Reynolds messed with Davey and we didn't see Stairs get struck out.
Tomorrow in another day.

Anonymous said...

Thanks Sec 3. Than that mean Werthless and Bixler both screwed up. And then YES Werthless swung at that awful pitch. UGHHHHHH he is bad.

UnkyD said...

Davey will be fine.
Jayson will be fine.
LannEn will be fine.
We're not going back to the bottom.
Sick of this vastly improved team? There are plenty others...

Let the venting continue..... G'nite, Gracie....

Soul Possession, PFB Sofa said...

and for my second correction of the night: out Bixler was, so passed ball it was not, yes.

Soul Possession, PFB Sofa said...

10:13, it's not just that he swung at the last one, but that he didn't swing at the first fastball.

Anonymous said...

unkyd. Not sick of this team. I luv this team. I'm frustrated. Definitely sick of Werth though.

Soul Possession, PFB Sofa said...

Gory, yeah. Face's not glass.

NatsLady said...

Someone needs to tell Werth NOT to take the first pitch strike. He is giving away 1/3 of every AB when he does it. Drives me CRAZY.

This one was unlucky. Not as bad as last night, no way, just a game like other losses we've had, nothing special. No errors, no walk-off homerun, a base running mistake, etc.

Bullpen hung in there.

Remember, we could be the Astros. In fact, we were the Astros.

If I were DJ, I would say to Marquis, you are pitching eight innings, you are pitching eight innings, I don't care if they score 23 against you. Now get out there and kick butt.

UnkyD said...

10:17.... Good. It certainly IS frustrating...

Um.... Guilty confession..... I've kinda begun to look forward to the exploding heads, after these losses... Sorta predictable, like the couple of extended family members, who start in withe the snide snipeing, after the 4th of 5th glass of wine, at a holiday dinner... Absolutely NO offense intended, there... Just enjoying getting to know everyone :-)

GYFNG, anyone?

dryw said...

I for one am in for a little GYFNG. Tomorrow is another day, and it seems unlikely that another starting pitcher will have a strong performance shortened by a ball to the face. (Very glad John's wasn't as bad as it could have been!) We're still at .500 in July. We're still a much improved team over last year. (or any year)

So, yeah....

GYFNG!!!

Feel Wood said...

"7:33 p.m. -- Wow, Lannan has struck out three of the first six batters he's faced tonight. Not sure he's ever done that before. At any level, professional or otherwise."

He has. 4/17/08 @ Mets. First inning: Reyes single, Church double, Wright lineout, Delgado K, Pagan K. Second inning: Clark K, Casanova K, Castillo groundout.

Three of the first six, four of the first seven. He went on to strike out 11 in 6 innings pitched. The Nats ended up losing 3-2 in the 14th on a walk-off wild pitch by Joel Hanrahan.

dryw said...

But, um...Jayson? Get out of your head, please.

FS said...

Give me the good news. Purke signs with Nationals.

If I am not mistaken, since last update, three more players have been signed by Nationals.

Dave said...

Is that true? Has Purke signed? Is that why he was here?

(Avoiding the post-game melee today. Y'all have fun.)

Mark Zuckerman said...

FS and Dave: Purke was here tonight, sitting next to Rizzo in the front row and then touring the clubhouse postgame. But there's no indication he's signed yet. This isn't uncommon: The Nats have brought several draft picks to the park in recent years, giving them the grand tour, etc., in hopes of ultimately signing them. Purke probably won't make his decision until closer to the Aug. 15 deadline.

Dave said...

Mark, I thought that might be the case. I got excited fir a moment, then figured this might be part of the Nats' sales job.

Grandstander said...

It's part of their pitch. For what Purke will want, you can be 100% positive that one's going to the deadline.

Anonymous said...

It's a good sign when a draftee visits the clubhouse during negotiations. Recall that Crow never even returned Bowden's phone calls in 2008.

m20832 said...

Well, today is another day and there's a ball game to watch and critique this eve. Glad LannEn is ok. Wicked shot to the nose. I had to shut my eyes for a minute there and say a little prayer for John.
GYFNG!!!

Manassas Nats Fan said...

Here is a list of the 14 players. I have their Average without RISP followed by RISP average.

Bernadina 280, 222
Espinosa 230, 299
Zimmerman 240, 273
Nix 300, 208
Morse 310. 302
Werth 217, 215
Ramos 290, 177
Desmond 221, 231
Stairs 189, 077
Ankiel 257, 128
Flores 200, 000
Pudge 177, 289
Cora 223, 263
Bixler 184, 333
Hairston 245, 270
LaRoche 185, 140

A few hit better with men on most hit worse. As FP says the pressure is on the pitcher then, but many of our batters don't know that. Werth has been up far and away the most with men on, and he bats no differently if someone is in scoring position or not.

Manassas Nats Fan said...

Big Cat and I talked during the game, and unlike many who think a hitting coach makes no difference, Big Cat and I disagreed with that. I trust his opinion as he played professional ball, and knows that coaches make a difference, when everyone is having a problem. If only one or two are than, the coaches will make little difference.

Has anyone noticed how many ducks on the pond Werth has left. he has been up 15 times more often with runners in scoring position and has a tome less RBIs than Espinosa.

Win tomorrow and we are still ,500 at all star break, not bad, but with timely hitting we would be way ahead.

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