Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Game 115: Nats at Cubs (Take 2)

Photo by Mark Zuckerman / NATS INSIDER
Chien-Ming Wang faces Matt Garza tonight at Wrigley Field.
CHICAGO -- OK, let's try this again. With last night's rainout behind us, we're back at the Friendly Confines for the delayed opener of this series between the Nationals and Cubs. It's a gorgeous day, a beautiful blue sky above, but the wind is whipping pretty furious out to right field. That means the ball is going to carry in that direction, big-time, which means Chien-Ming Wang's sinker had better be sharp.

Wang's biggest mistake his last time out -- a three-run homer by Dan Uggla -- came on a misplaced breaking ball, and Davey Johnson was critical of the pitch selection. Ultimately, Wang's bread and butter pitch is the sinker. He needs to master that pitch; then his offspeed stuff should play better.

Both clubs are sticking with their same starting lineups from last night's postponed game. So Jonny Gomes remains in left field for the Nationals, even though Laynce Nix (who had been battling an illness) should be close to 100 percent again.

Plenty of updates to come...

NATIONALS at CUBS
Where: Wrigley Field
Gametime: 8:05 p.m.
TV: MASN
Radio: WJFK (106.7 FM), WFED (1500 AM), XM 187
Weather: Partly cloudy, 78 degrees, Wind 15 mph out to RF
STARTING LINEUPS
NATIONALS (55-59)
CF Rick Ankiel
2B Danny Espinosa
3B Ryan Zimmerman
1B Michael Morse
RF Jayson Werth
LF Jonny Gomes
SS Ian Desmond
C Wilson Ramos
P Chien-Ming Wang

CUBS (49-66)
SS Starlin Castro
2B Darwin Barney
3B Aramis Ramirez Blake DeWitt
1B Carlos Pena
CF Marlon Byrd
LF Alfonso Soriano
RF Tyler Colvin
C Geovany Soto
P Matt Garza
6:20 p.m. -- Lineup change for the Cubs: Aramis Ramirez has been scratched with a back injury. Blake DeWitt will replace him at third base.

6:22 p.m. -- And it's now official: Stephen Strasburg will start Friday night at Class A Potomac. Scheduled to throw three innings or 45-50 pitches. Full story coming shortly, so check the homepage for that.

7:35 p.m. -- Here's the full Strasburg story, with some good info and quotes from Mike Rizzo, Davey Johnson and Steve McCatty (who compared Strasburg to Secretariat, seriously).

8:09 p.m. -- We are underway with a foul ball off Rick Ankiel's bat. Gorgeous night for baseball at the corner of Clark and Addison. Tough to top this setting.

8:15 p.m. -- Not much happening for the Nats in the top of the first, but Ryan Zimmerman did single past a diving Starlin Castro to extend his hitting streak to 17 games. Zim is batting a stout .441 over that span, having collected 30 hits in those 16-plus games so far. Unfortunately, this one came with two outs and nobody on after both Ankiel and Danny Espinosa struck out.

8:24 p.m. -- How about that, a 1-2-3 first inning for Chien-Ming Wang. Looked really sharp, getting a pair of groundballs to short and then a flyball to center. Needed only 11 pitches, nine of them strikes. His sinker started out in the 88-89 range but ramped up to 90-91 by the end of the inning.

8:42 p.m. -- Another solid inning for Wang, who did plunk Marlon Byrd on an 0-2 pitch but rebounded to get a big 6-4-3 double play out of Alfonso Soriano to end the second inning. (Credit also to Danny Espinosa for a nice turn on the play). Through two innings, Wang has yet to allow a hit and has thrown 17 of his 25 pitches for strikes. Scoreless here through two.

8:59 p.m. -- Three innings for Wang without surrendering a hit. Only a walk and a hit batter so far. And he topped out at 94 mph on his last pitch of the third, getting another groundball to Desmond. Pretty impressive so far. Speaking of impressive, Garza has struck out five Nats already, though he has allowed three hits.

9:17 p.m. -- Four innings in the books, and Wang has yet to allow a hit. He's recorded nine of 12 outs so far on groundballs, and he's throwing almost entirely sinkers, consistently in the 92 mph range. Now, if his teammates could only score him a run or two...

9:26 p.m. -- Well, the Nats have put men on base against Garza. They just can't put more than one on base per inning. Five scoreless now for the Cubs right-hander, who has scattered three hits and two walks, striking out eight in the process. Still scoreless here as we go to the bottom of the fifth.

9:34 p.m. -- Make it five innings for Wang without allowing a hit. Just finally recorded his first strikeout of the night, getting Geovany Soto to end the inning. He's thrown 65 pitches, this after throwing 86 in his last start. He can probably go up to 100 pitches tonight, so no real danger of that yet. Eventually, someone's got to score, though.

9:40 p.m. -- Michael Morse to the rescue. Say hello to the back of the batter's eye. That's rare territory in this ballpark. Just crushed that ball for his 20th homer of the season. The Nats take a 1-0 lead in the top of the sixth.

9:42 p.m. -- And now Jonny Gomes finds the left-field bleachers to make it 3-0. His second straight game with a home run.

9:50 p.m. -- I asked a couple of longtime Chicago baseball writers how many balls they've seen land where Morse's homer did. They said they couldn't remember very many. Maybe Sammy Sosa. Rare company, indeed.

9:54 p.m. -- Oh, well. Tony Campana breaks up the no-hit bid by beating out a grounder to the right side to lead off the sixth. Espinosa nearly pulled off an incredible play, though, getting the ball off a carom off Morse and then firing to Wang just a split-second too late. Anybody other than Campana coming out of the box there, and Espinosa gets credited with the play of the year.

10:00 p.m. -- Wang gets out of the inning without any more damage, but he won't get to come back out for the seventh. Brian Bixler on to pinch-hit. So his final line: 6 ip, 1 h, 0 r, 2 bb, 1 k, 1 hbp, 81 pitches, 53 strikes. The only hit was Campana's infield single. Not bad. Not bad at all.

10:10 p.m. -- Nice job by Sean Burnett to navigate the seventh inning. Gave up some hard-hit balls, but made a nifty play on Soriano's comebacker and struck out Tyler Colvin to end the inning. Still 3-0 going to the eighth.

10:30 p.m. -- Just when it looked like Tyler Clippard was going to retire the side in the eighth, he served up a two-out, solo homer to Starlin Castro. Rebounded immediately to get Darwin Barney on a comebacker, so it's 3-1 heading to the ninth as Drew Storen begins to warm in the bullpen.

10:35 p.m. -- And we go to the bottom of the ninth. It'll be Storen vs. DeWitt, Pena and Byrd, with Soriano waiting if anybody gets on base.

10:50 p.m. -- Ballgame. Nats win, 3-1. Chien-Ming Wang earns his first major-league win since June 28, 2009 when he pitched for the Yankees. Drew Storen earns his 30th save, becoming only the second Nats closer to reach that mark (joining Chad Cordero, who did it twice).

145 comments:

m20832 said...

We want Winning! GYFNG!!!

Harry Carey's Ghost said...

Nats win! Nats win!

Carpe Diem said...

@Mark Z. Wang's biggest mistake his last time out -- a three-run homer by Dan Uggla -- came on a misplaced breaking ball, and Davey Johnson was critical of the pitch selection. Ultimately, Wang's bread and butter pitch is the sinker. He needs to master that pitch; then his offspeed stuff should play better.
______________

It was Wang's throwing error that brought Uggla to the plate in that situation. Since it didn't hit Wang's ERA, his tradional numbers looked good from the outing and anyone who agonized watching it, still wasn't pretty.

Davey and McCatty say he improved, tonight has to be a real marked improvement.

MIcheleS said...

Got my PNats Tickets! Can't wait..

Now lets get a win tonight! GYFNG!

DCGuy7 said...

PNats friday night, yeah! got my tix. AND, their sked says it's Desmond bobblehead night there.

question: does that mean a bobble of Desi in a PNats uni?

JaneB said...

GYFNG!
SYFBS! (Sink, you freaking ball, sink!)

SonnyG10 said...

GYFNG!!!

UnkyD said...

GYFNG!
SYFBS! (Sink, you freaking ball, sink!)

Love it, JaneB!!!!!

gonatsgo said...

Ditto!

NatsLady from Wrigley Field said...

Nice evening. Wang throwing long warmup session, first to bullpen catcher, now to Ramos. Cat's eyes on every pitch.

baseballswami said...

I hope he is throwing the equivalent of an inning - that evil first inning - so that when he comes in it feels like the second inning.But - if he gets in trouble, what do they do? Early hook, or let him work it out? At this point, they either have to use him or get rid of him and they probably need to see if he can pitch out of trouble. Third start - should be interesting.

Gonat said...

The Nats should take some balls to right field and try to take it into the jet stream out there!!!!

Gonat said...

17 game hit streak for Zim!!!! Now, GO BEAST MODE!!!!

baseballswami said...

Glad to see Morse taking some pitches - the first couple of guys went up swinging.Now let's see how CMW looks.

Wally said...

You know, I understand all the 'Wang-angst' from the standpoint of 'he's not coming back, so why waste any time with him'. I think that is certainly a plausible feeling.

But I don't get it from the standpoint of 'look how he is pitching now, he is never going to make it back to the bigs'. Pitchers recovering from TJ are not expected to post quality results untl their second year back, at least. JZ last year, for example, was not very good. But everyone is ok with it because we expect them to take time to recover arm strength, control and command. By all accounts, Wang has had a more difficult surgery, and missed twice as much time. Plus, he still has only thrown 30 innings or so of rehab. It sucks that it has to happen up here. I guess they could have optioned him and seen if anyone claimed him off waivers.

But I am rooting for him to make it back. He was a top pitcher for several years but all during his arb years. Never saw a big payday (comparatively speaking). It would be a great story, and maybe hope to all the pitchers with shoulder issues.

Gonat said...

Steve M. said...
Donald said... On a different note, Rizzo said the Nats have their lead-off CF in the minors already and Span was just going to be a stop-gap anyway. Who was he referring to -- Hood, Perez, Brown? August 9, 2011 8:30 AM

Good question. Did he say that on 106.7?

'Already in the Minors'.... so not talking about his new 1st round Draft pick Brian Goodwin. I would have guessed Eury Perez last year as he hasn't had a great 2011. I don't think Hood is going to be a CF. Maybe it is the maturation of Roger Bernadina or new pickup Eric Komatsu. Can't be Bryce Harper as he doesn't project out as a leadoff. Corey Brown is finally hitting his weight.

I love the statement like that with no names named and the funny part is of all the names I named only Komatsu has been consistently batting leadoff in the Minors (a week and 1/2 with Harrisburg).

Eury Perez has spent the bulk of his time with the PNats batting 9th I believe and when his bat was hot he batted some leadoff. Eury Perez hasn't been getting on base and really struggling with RH pitching. So unless Eury gets back to form, I don't know if he ever makes it. I know Baseball America projected him last year as the 2013 leadoff for the Nats.

My 3 biggest disappointments in the position players in the Minors are Eury Perez, Derek Norris and Corey Brown as all appeared to be fast-tracked.

August 9, 2011 10:26 AM
__________________________

Michael Taylor is the A ball (Hagerstown) LF who bats leadoff. If Rizzo said CF leadoff, not sure if he was talking about Taylor and not sure how close Taylor would be to declare him the CF of the future.

Gonat said...

Wally, JZim is long-term here. If we knew Wang was under contract next year, then it makes total sense.

This has been debated fairly well on both sides of the ledger.

So far so good from Wang.

gonatsgo said...

That was very encouraging. Now for some offense!

Joe Seamhead said...

That was vintage CMW! SYFBS ,

Anonymous said...

Go, Go Gomes!

Wally said...

Gonat - yeah, I know. Just adding my two cents.

Btw, that Rizzo statement on CF- I don't think he really means it. I have sensed that occasionally Rizzo just offers up a platitude or a PR-type statement that justifies something they did or did not do. I think that this is one of them.

We'll know for sure if they go hard for someone in the offseason. I bet they do.

baseballswami said...

Matt Garza is going K-K-K-Krazy with our hitters so far. He does that Clip-like high fastball and they are chasing it.

Gonat said...

Wally said...
Gonat - yeah, I know. Just adding my two cents.

Btw, that Rizzo statement on CF- I don't think he really means it. I have sensed that occasionally Rizzo just offers up a platitude or a PR-type statement that justifies something they did or did not do. I think that this is one of them.

We'll know for sure if they go hard for someone in the offseason. I bet they do.

August 9, 2011 8:30 PM
__________________________

Thats a great point on the CF. He could be just back-tracking with some public relations CYA.

Candide said...

Still early, but liking what I'm seeing from Wang.

Wally said...

Hardest hit ball by Wang! (I reread that twice for double entendres, but there is no way to get rid of them with CMW).

Gonat said...

Wang got out of jam there w/ the LannEn-like tailor made double play!

I think Mike Rizzo is smiling!

Gonat said...

Wally, I just checked on this Komatsu kid that Steve referred to in Harrisburg. He is batting .310 and tonight stole 2 bases.

Ya never know!

Gonat said...

Great play by Ian Desmond on Starlin Castro's grounder as that has been the ball that Desi has booted in the past when the runner cuts in front of him.

Wang just got Rizzo smile even wider!

Anonymous said...

Looks like 7 ground-ball outs in 3 innings. Not bad.

Nats Fan in TX said...

Mark, GameDay had Wang at 93 mph against Castro, is that tracking with what you're seeing?

Wally said...

Gonat - i would love that. Kind of hard to think that the CF of the future is available for two months of Jerry Hairston, but I would be thrilled if he was. The rap that I heard about him, tho, is that he probably won't stay at CF in the majors. Good trade, tho.

Nats Fan in TX said...

And... just saw the post, very impressive by Wang!

Mark Zuckerman said...

NatsFan in TX: The stadium gun here had Wang's last pitch at 94 mph.

Gonat said...

Wally said...
Gonat - i would love that. Kind of hard to think that the CF of the future is available for two months of Jerry Hairston, but I would be thrilled if he was. The rap that I heard about him, tho, is that he probably won't stay at CF in the majors. Good trade, tho.

August 9, 2011 9:03 PM
_________________________

I thought this was a make-up trade as the Brewers wanted Hairston and Rizzo may have told them how they got a freebie (Cutter Dykstra) for Nyjer and needed a Top 25 guy for Hairston. Otherwise, why would the Brewers do that? Komatsu had good numbers for them in AA.

My guess is that is what Smith wanted for Span, a little make-up for giving up Ramos for Capps.

flynnie said...

Sweet! Let's Go CMW! Let's Go Nats! SYFBS!

FS said...

after all that talk and hope of landin buehrle, carpenter, and darvish, what are the chances Wang is our #4 next season? LOL

Anonymous said...

FS, lets get through 6!

flynnie said...

Sparkly defense so far.

Wally said...

I heard Melvin say that the Brewers had two other CFs in the system they liked more than Komatsu (I don't remember their names). So he felt like he was dealing from organizational depth. I'll try to find it.

But who knows what to believe from those kind of reports. I have a hard time believing that teams do much 'make up' trading, given how competitive things get, but maybe I am wrong.

flynnie said...

4 lovely innings of shutout ball by CMW, and, unfortunately, the other guy.

Anonymous said...

GRRRRRR.... Peter Frickin Angelos just sent me the jinx text via MASN. Do they hate the Nats that much or just hire idiots who know nothing of baseball tradition?

Soul Possession, PFB Sofa said...

Mark, fess up--you're trying to get a rise out of us, aren't you?

Anonymous said...

Angelos really just hates the Nats that much AND he is an idiot who hires idiots.

Wally said...

Gonat - this is what I was thinking of.

'In trading Komatsu, the Brewers were dealing from a position of relative strength. Minor League outfielders Caleb Gindl, Komatsu and Logan Schafer all must be added to the 40-man roster in the coming offseason to protect them from the Rule 5 Draft.

Komatsu was batting .293 with a .393 on-base percentage at Double-A Huntsville.

"We like Eric, but we have Schafer and Gindl ahead of him, obviously, because they are at Triple-A," Melvin said. "Schafer and Gindl have the ability to play
center field, too. Erik is a good hitter -- he has a compact swing -- and we hate to give him up. But there's a little bit of depth for us with having [Ryan] Braun and [Corey] Hart, still having Gomez and having Nyjer Morgan with us next year. We probably dealt from depth."

Gonat said...

Mark, what do you estimate Wang's pitch or innings count at?

mAsNGELO$ is all about getting you to tune in.

K.D. said...

Well I thought Wang would be better this outing but not this good. Unfortunately Garza is dealing a hot hand too, hitters need to start stepping out on him, he rhythm is quick, need to mess it up and quit trying to pull the ball. Good game.

Gonat said...

Wally, that is excellent research. Still, Hairston only needed an A ball guy in trade so that is Melvin justifying on his end.

JimHoy said...

5 innings and only 2 walks for Wang.

The Cubs announcer mentioned how many Japanese media people were on hand for this game. I kept hoping someone would tell them Wang is from Taiwan, but that doesn't appear to be happening.

Soul Possession, PFB Sofa said...

Gonat, he's at 65 pitches, 42 strikes, through 5.

flynnie said...

Big Bang Wang - Out 3! You see that batter grab the sweet spot in fury? This is wonderful!

Joe Seamhead said...

Wow! What a duel. I'm so happy for CMW, Mike Rizzo, and for Nats fans everywhere.

Candide said...

BEAST MODE!!!!

Soul Possession, PFB Sofa said...

WHOA! Big Beast Mode!

Wally said...

MIGHTY MORSE!!!!!

k.d. said...

Morse is in BEAST MODE!

Joe Seamhead said...

Hit yourself in the head, Mikey!

Drew8 said...

Upper deck Gorse Hackage!!

baseballswami said...

Beast Mode!!!! And now JW with a hit! I like it!

Candide said...

GO GO GOMES!!!

Wally said...

GOMES!!!!!

Anonymous said...

GOMES!!!!

MicheleS said...

BEASTY and GOMES!!!!! WOOO HOOOO!!

NatsLady, You must be having a ton of fun!!!

Soul Possession, PFB Sofa said...

Gomes! Gomes! Gomes!
Gomes! YFN Gomes!

Smatt1001 said...

Light it up, Gomes!!

Anonymous said...

Sorry Wally, forgot one of the exclamation points...

Gonat said...

Uh, who is this Gomes guy listed in the NOT HOT? We can thank Mark Zuckerman for this one!!!!

Drew8 said...

Gomes hackage!!

JaneB said...

Gorse hacking! Morse! Gomes! And I am loving the less nervous, sinker ball pitcher in our uniform!

Wally said...

Anon@9:43 - no problem. You can add it after the next one.

JaneB said...

I'm jealous of NatsLady being there tonight.

We need Wang to keep it up another inning at least. Not saying nuthin more about it.

Anonymous said...

That extra day of rest must have been very good for Wang.

UMP SUCKS said...

Wang earned that 3rd strike on Campana. That was bull.

Wally said...

Morse has been good at first, but Laroche is a cut above defensively. And I don't think Morse can be blamed for that ball.

Well done, CMW. I hope Davey has someone up in the pen, tho. Coming off this kind of rehab, he could lose it quickly.

Gonat said...

Wally, well said on Morse. Wang wasn't going the distance regardless but this was fun and the Ump did blow that strikeout call on Campana. Should be inning over.

Joe Seamhead said...

The Cubs don't know what's Wang!

RickH said...

Okay, that's six innings. Can we call Wang's outing a success?

flynnie said...

Big Bong Wong mellows out the Cub's bats! And here's to Davey for calling that shift - Espi was in right field, and that turned out to be perfect!

baseballswami said...

Right, Gonat - they were not going to let him push the pitch count too high and risk 2 years of work. Fantastic job!

Wally said...

Whew, huge sigh of relief from me. I was nervous there, espcially with Wang leaving the ball up and getting some fly balls.

I don't care about his pitch count, I would say 'good job and have a seat next to Livo'.

Also, this just in, Danny is very good out. Almost had an out on that hit.

Wally said...

Sorry, posted that last one before I saw Bixler

JaneB said...

Is Wang on a pitch count? I can't believe I am typing this, but I wish we'd see him another inning. I so love being wrong about him!

Also: I love FP. I learn from him. I am glad we have him.

Soul Possession, PFB Sofa said...

So, I didn't notice anything, but I would have expected a Wrigley crowd to acknowledge the first hit.

Maybe it was too early?

SCNatsFan said...

Everything bad I've said about Wang and those who have evaluated him and said he was ready for the majors (and I've disagreed with) I apologize to. Happy to eat a big plate of crow,

Drew8 said...

Good lord, Sean Burnett.

At least it's not Voldemort.

Wally said...

Mark - any estimate of the distance on Morse's HR?

Mark'd said...

WowWang. Glad to see that performance, it takes some of the sting out of the previous starts. Hope this is s start to build on!

Gonat said...

You know what else was great about the rainout? Extra day of rest for Clip and Storen!!!

By the way, there goes the 1 hitter!

Wally said...

Drew8 - not while I am drinking!

baseballswami said...

Uh, Oh -- Sean Burnett - I am hearing the theme from "Jaws" in my head. Or maybe the shower scene music from "Psycho". Either way - scared.

JaneB said...

It's official. Sean dosn't scare me anymore.

Joe Seamhead said...

Good call,Davey,to get an inning out of Sean Burnett.
What a treat for us all to see CMW give us such a great quality start.

Soul Possession, PFB Sofa said...

So, the bullpen really, really needs to keep their boot down. CMW with his first win in years, 1 hit, 6 shutout innings -- AND Strasburg coming back? Gotta be the lead story tonight if they win.

Anonymous said...

Chien-Ming Wang just got a call from Cashman. No, not the GM of the Yankees....its cash-man his agent telling him that a armour car full of cash is around the corner. Thanks Rizzo!

Wally said...

Here he comes to save the day
Mighty Morse is on the way

baseballswami said...

Nice. Maybe the old Sean Burnett is back, although that first one did fly a long way.

Leslie said...

Let's see Wang's next strat to PHI with more expectations. Wang will prove his coming back with perfect shape to everyboby. Just see.

MIcheleS said...

Drew8..

The Voldemort comment made me bust up laughing! But I am thinking HE WHO MUST NOT BE NAMED - at this point.. HROD!

Gonat said...

Joe Seamhead said...
Good call,Davey,to get an inning out of Sean Burnett.
What a treat for us all to see CMW give us such a great quality start.

August 9, 2011 10:13 PM
________________________

Baseballswami called it right, you can only write that in hindsight.

I only watched with one eye open!

Mark'd said...

LOL ON BURNETT

Anonymous said...

This wouldn't be a real game if the bullpen didn't give up a run and cause some heart palpitations

Mark'd said...

Kardiac Kids

Will said...

Anyone have a distance on Morse's shot? Bugs me that hittrackeronline.com has Mike Stanton as the "mayor" of Nats Park...damn Fish.

Gonat said...

I am cheating watching split screen with the Yankees. Who says that move by the pitcher when you have a man on 1st and 3rd doesn't work? It just did as Granderson just got caught stealing on a pickoff move by Walker to end the game.

Gonat said...

Oh my, for a split second I thought Fonsie got that one.......

KARDIAC KIDS

Soul Possession, PFB Sofa said...

OK, cue Harry's Ghost in 3... 2... 1...

baseballswami said...

Our stopper and closer just pitch in the tradition of Chad "The Chief" Cordero -- he always made it exciting!

Soul Possession, PFB Sofa said...

Nats Win! Nats Win!



gotta do everything myself around here...

JaneB said...

I am so happy for Wang, and all the people who are following his return to the majors.

gonatsgo said...

It's nice when the relievers have even a little bit of wiggle room. They are going to give up a run here and there - if the offense shows up,it doesn't lose the game. All of our pitchers did a good job tonight holding down a pretty good offense that has been hot in their own park. Starlin Castro was on that "hot" list I am pretty sure.

Gonat said...

Dave Jageler will sub for Bob Carpenter this weekend with FP.

Soul Possession, PFB Sofa said...

I think we're allowed a little pointless optimism here.
Zimmermann
Strasburg
LannEn
Wang
Pick'em

That could work.

Joe Seamhead said...

Gonat, we have to get an inning from him now and then.Burnett has been awful when coming in with guys on base. When that first batter hit that shot to Werth I almost lost my dinner.
Unsung hero of the game tonight has to be shared by Espy and Desi for their great defense.

SCNatsFan said...

I am sure it is big news in the Far East with Wang's win. Happy for him, great to see someone who rehabbed for 2 years getting a W.

Forget Zim, sign him to an extension first!

Soul Possession, PFB Sofa said...

Yeah, yeah, I know: Pedro Astacio, Ryan Drese, John Patterson, Shawn Hill, it's only one game...

Tomorrow.

baseballswami said...

Drew Storen will be 24 in two days. I find that to be nothing short of amazing. 30 saves - been in the bigs for a little over a year.

Soul Possession, PFB Sofa said...

Gonat, Dave in the TV booth!?? Exxxx-cellent!

Gonat said...

Joe Seamhead said...
Gonat, we have to get an inning from him now and then.Burnett has been awful when coming in with guys on base. When that first batter hit that shot to Werth I almost lost my dinner.
Unsung hero of the game tonight has to be shared by Espy and Desi for their great defense.

August 9, 2011 10:59 PM
Joe Seamhead said...
Gonat, we have to get an inning from him now and then.Burnett has been awful when coming in with guys on base. When that first batter hit that shot to Werth I almost lost my dinner.
Unsung hero of the game tonight has to be shared by Espy and Desi for their great defense.

August 9, 2011 10:59 PM
_________________________________

That is hilarious. You had me laughing. I can't even watch Burnett and HenRod pitch any more.

Agree on all the Desi and Espi and throw in Zim too. Outfielders were in perfect position all game long.

Sec3 has me laughing too with the new rotation for September 2011 or is that April 2012?

Andrew said...

466 feet on Morse

Soul Possession, PFB Sofa said...

I was thinking 2012, but now that you mention it, we might get a week of that, after all...

Hmmm...

Gonat said...

You have to see the pickoff by Walden in the Yanks game.

http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2011_08_09_anamlb_nyamlb_1&mode=video

Soul Possession, PFB Sofa said...

So, if you won the dinner with Drew Storen...he's a Stanford man, smart guy (it's not Cal, but it's pretty good), what do you ask him?

FS said...

Glad we won and Wang got a win. Bullpen held the lead together.

On another note, why do Braves not use their best relievers against other teams such as Marlins? Two on and two out in bottom 7th against Florida, Atlanta chooses to go with Varvaro instead of Eric or Venters against Buck. I don't want to believe matchup bs.

Gonat said...

Sec3, I definitely bone up on Quantum Physics and talk some quadratic equations with geometric spectrums and then ask him how he uses all of that in regards to his pitching.

Soul Possession, PFB Sofa said...

FS, do you know they were available?

Gonat said...

FS said...
On another note, why do Braves not use their best relievers against other teams such as Marlins? Two on and two out in bottom 7th against Florida, Atlanta chooses to go with Varvaro instead of Eric or Venters against Buck. I don't want to believe matchup bs.

August 9, 2011 11:11 PM
__________________________

It should have been OFlaherty for the 7th. Wonder what happened. That sure bit them.

K.D. said...

Great pitching, even better defense and a couple of bombs for the Good Guys. Congratulations Mr. Wang your hard work has paid off. Nice win!

Gonat said...

FS, my buddy said the goal was to not use Kimbrel tonight as they are trying not to use him as much and push O'Flaherty to the 8th and Venters to the 9th. So much for that.

Gonat said...

Tweet of the Day from Mr. Strasburg:


@stras37
Stephen Strasburg Pretty sad seeing 12 year olds pimp home runs and throwing all curve balls. Times have changed... #llws

FS said...

last time Eric pitched was Sunday and before that Wednesday. Venters has pitched couple of times since last Wednesday. I mean you would have those pitchers with 0.00 ERA since July 1 on the mound with two on, wouldn't you?

Gonat said...

FS, Agreed and sounds like the move a Manager will be 2nd guessed.

Gonat said...

and Heyward gets picked off. Embarassment.

Gonat said...

There's Kimbrel. So much for rest for the weary.

Drew8 said...

Marquis gets bombed again in Arizona:

9 hits and 7 runs (mercifully only 4 earned) in 4 innings pitched.

In two starts he has allowed 11 earned runs in 8 innings pitched for a rancid 12.37 ERA.

We've seen this horror flick before.

Cwj said...

Fun watching Wang, which is funny to say out loud :D

Ray Knight mentioned, and I agree, that Burnett should be pitching the 7th inning. I haven't looked up the stats but he does seem to pitch well when used for 1 or even 2(!) innings.
I truly don't buy into the whole lefty specialist thing.

Burn-Clip-Store :)
GO NATS!!!!

Cwj said...

Drew8- Marquis was given away just in the nick of time :)
To his credit, he pitched fairly well for our Nats this year. I wish him well.

NatsLady in Chicago said...

I hope you all were watching Wang on TV. That was one of the most remarkable games I've ever seen. In reviewing all the posts on Mark's question about next year's lineup, I don't thing I saw ONE that mentioned Wang in the rotation. Hello!

Of course, there is still a ways to go, but, speaking of free agents we might want to sign...

flynnie said...

Hey, NatsLady - How are you celebrating? Safe travels home!

NatsLady said...

Am celebrating by getting a good night's sleep with sweet dreams of 2012. Long drive home tomorrow.

SonnyG10 said...

Wow what a great game. I think we have a major sinker-baller upgrade...Wang over Marquis. Great support for Wang in getting his first Nats victory. And Michael Morse is absolutely a beast!!!!!!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Good job, Wanger!

flynnie said...

Well said, SonnyG10 - for one game. I don't recall Marquis giving up 6 runs in the 1st 3 for the Nats like CMW did in his 1st 2, and Marquis wanted to stay here his family in NY, which may account for the bad starts he's had. But Wang was magnificent last night, and may he continue to be so. To throw sinkerballs after shoulder surgery is unheard of, and may the medical miracle be confirmed in start after start!

flynnie said...

@Gonat - Thanks for the heads up on the Walden pick-off of Granderson with Yankees on 1st(Granderson) and third (E. Nunez)to end the game, giving the Angels the win with Texeira at the plate and Soscia tossed for being right by an ump that was wrong twice. That's the 1st time I've ever seen the fake throw to 3rd and then 1st work.

Gonat said...

Flynnie, me too. To end a game like that makes it all the more incredible. Now announcers can't say that play never works!

Gonat said...

Cwj said...
Drew8- Marquis was given away just in the nick of time :)
To his credit, he pitched fairly well for our Nats this year. I wish him well.

August 9, 2011 11:54 PM
___________________________

Change of scenery is a factor. His team rallied around him, down 7-1 and came back to win 11-9. His amazing team luck continues. His team's win for him. That's what is most important, WINNING

m20832 said...

And We Like WINNING!!! Especially on the road! The cubbies were Wang'd!!!

C'mon Ross, put your A-Game out there tonight and beat them again!

GYFNG!!

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