Saturday, April 7, 2012

Game 2: Nats at Cubs

Photo by Mark Zuckerman / NATS INSIDER
It's a much warmer day at Wrigley Field, where the wind is now blowing out.
CHICAGO -- Wow, what a difference a couple of days makes. After a brutally cold and windy Opening Day, the conditions at Wrigley Field have taken a 180-degree turn. Temperatures will be up into the 60s by mid-afternoon, and the breeze has shifted and is now blowing out to left field.

That should mean a little more offense in Game 2 than there was in Game 1. That also puts some added pressure on Gio Gonzalez to keep the ball down in the zone and in the park. The Nats' new No. 2 starter makes his debut, looking to build off a strong spring training performance.

Right-hander Matt Garza is on the mound for the Cubs, and he'll see the exact same lineup Ryan Dempster saw on Opening Day. No changes for Davey Johnson, so that means Adam LaRoche (who, quite frankly, looked terrible striking out in his first three at-bats before drawing a key walk in the eighth inning) is once again hitting cleanup behind Ryan Zimmerman.

Plenty of updates to come all afternoon, so please check back often...

WASHINGTON NATIONALS at CHICAGO CUBS
Where: Wrigley Field
Gametime: 1:05 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN, MLB.tv
Radio: WJFK (106.7 FM), WFED (1500 AM), XM 185
Weather: Sunny, 60 degrees, Wind 12 mph out to LF
NATIONALS (1-0)
SS Ian Desmond
2B Danny Espinosa
3B Ryan Zimmerman
1B Adam LaRoche
RF Jayson Werth
LF Mark DeRosa
CF Roger Bernadina
C Wilson Ramos
P Gio Gonzalez

CUBS (0-1)
RF Reed Johnson
3B Joe Mather
SS Starlin Castro
LF Alfonso Soriano
1B Jeff Baker
C Geovany Soto
CF Marlon Byrd
2B Darwin Barney
P Matt Garza

UMPIRES
HP Kerwin Danley, 1B Doug Eddings, 2B Paul Nauert, 3B Dana DeMuth
1:07 p.m. -- And we're underway with a strike from Matt Garza to Ian Desmond. The Nats are wearing their "Ohio State" uniforms (red jerseys, gray pants). Sorry, I'm just not a fan of this look.

1:13 p.m. -- Great play by shortstop Starlin Castro to make a diving stop of Danny Espinosa's hard grounder to the hole and then fire a strike to first base. But Espinosa just barely beat it out for an infield single. It didn't matter in the end, though, because Ryan Zimmerman grounded into a routine 6-4-3 double play to end the top of the first. Here comes Gio Gonzalez...

1:27 p.m. -- Well, I suppose that could've been a lot worse than it was. When you issue two walks, allow two stolen bases and uncork a wild pitch, you should feel pretty fortunate to give up only one run. Pretty ragged inning there for Gio. He did show off that brilliant curveball to strike out Reed Johnson, but then he was all over the place. Walked Joe Mather and Jeff Baker. Allowed a single to Starlin Castro. Then a wild pitch allowed Mather to score. Then he lost all track of Castro and let him steal second and third uncontested. It's 1-0 Cubs after one.

1:42 p.m. -- Much better stuff from Gonzalez in the second inning. He did allow a one-out single to Darwin Barney, but he struck out both Garza (trying to bunt) and Johnson (on another wicked curveball). Still 1-0 after two.

1:48 p.m. -- Gio is pretty good at making fun of his offensive skills. Or lack thereof. I'll tell you what, though: He just scorched a shot to deep center field that had extra bases written all over it until Marlon Byrd made a nice catch just in front of the warning track. Gio looked absolutely devastated.

2:13 p.m. -- Maybe LaRoche was ready to return after all. He just destroyed a 95 mph fastball from Garza and clanked it off the right-field foul pole, at least 30 feet up. The two-run bomb was LaRoche's first home run since April 24, 2011 and only his fourth ever in a Nationals uniform. It puts his team up 2-1 as we now go to the bottom of the fourth.

2:32 p.m. -- Well, that wasn't the kind of debut performance Gio Gonzalez wanted. He allowed five men to reach base in the bottom of the fourth, including a two-out, two-run triple by Reed Johnson, then an RBI single by Joe Mather. One more single by Starlin Castro, and Davey Johnson emerged from the dugout with the hook. Gio's final line: 3 2/3 IP, 7 H, 4 ER, 3 BB, 6 K, 1 WP, 74 pitches, 46 strikes. The Nats trail 4-2 and they're going to have to ask a lot from their bullpen today.

2:45 p.m. -- A great opportunity for the Nats in the top of the fifth, but they can't finish it off. With runners on second and third and two outs, Ian Desmond scorched a line drive to deep left. Alfonso Soriano, though, made a lunging catch in front of the warning track to deny a sure, two-run double. So it remains 4-2 Cubs at the halfway point of this game.

2:59 p.m. -- You don't often see Ryan Zimmerman bark at an umpire. So you know he must have had a good case when he started yapping at Kerwin Danley after the latter rung him up on what appeared to be an outside fastball in the top of the sixth. Garza then got Werth on a check swing to end the inning. Werth's season totals, if you're wondering: 0-for-6, 3 Ks (and an RBI walk, of course). It's still 4-2 Cubs in the bottom of the sixth.

3:11 p.m. -- Nice job by Craig Stammen to keep this game within reach for the Nationals. The right-hander tossed 2 1/3 scoreless innings in relief of Gonzalez and pitched his way out of a tight jam in the bottom of the sixth, striking out Joe Mather and getting Starlin Castro to ground out with two men in scoring position. So it remains 4-2 as we go to the seventh. The good news for the Nats: Garza is out of the game. First up out of the Chicago bullpen: Rafael Dolis.

3:20 p.m. -- Interesting, Steve Lombardozzi enters the game on a double switch and is playing ... left field. Guess that grand experiment hasn't been abandoned after all. Ryan Mattheus now pitching for the Nats, who are down two runs and down to their final six outs.

3:53 p.m. -- Well, we've seen this before, haven't we? Kerry Wood enters for the eighth inning trying to protect a lead. And the Nats take their frustration out on the Cubs bullpen. It started with Danny Espinosa, who fought his way through a fabulous at-bat, fouling off six pitches (including four with two strikes) before launching an opposite-field homer into the left-field bleachers. Then began the merry-go-round. Zimmerman singled. LaRoche singled. Carlos Marmol entered and walked Werth. Chad Tracy (the Opening Day hero) did it again with a two-run single to put the Nats ahead. Bernadina doubled in a run. Marmol walked Ramos and was yanked to a chorus of boos. Lombardozzi added another RBI single off Shawn Camp. Yes, it's now 7-4 Nats. Incredible.

4:10 p.m. -- Tyler Clippard navigates his way through the bottom of the eighth, so the Nats are now three outs away from another come-from-behind win. And, interestingly enough, Henry Rodriguez is warming in the bullpen to pitch the ninth with his team up 7-4. Looks like Davey Johnson is going with that "B" bullpen today after all. Though keep in mind, he could always have Brad Lidge available to bail out H-Rod if he gets into trouble.

4:18 p.m. -- Here comes Henry. Fasten your seatbelts, folks...

4:29 p.m. -- It's all over. Nats win 7-4. Ryan Mattheus gets the win. Henry Rodriguez gets the save. Chad Tracy gets the 2012 NL MVP award. The Nationals are 2-0.

285 comments:

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Sunderland said...

So are we to expect HRod in a closing situation? I'm a big Henry fan, but I'd go easier on the Maalox with Lidge closing.

TimDz said...

The way he was squaring up the bat, I'd put Zim in the clean up slot, Werth third and ALR in fifth.

JaneB said...

I recall from last year that everyone said ALR was, historically, a slow starter. I hope that's true. Because even on TV it looked ugly.

Here's to Gio locating that ball, and out guys connecting with it, with runners in scoring position.

GYFNG!

natsfan1a said...

How much live pitching did LaRoche see in ST? I seem to recall him sitting out a fair number of games but maybe I'm misremembering.

baseballswami said...

ALR -- ok , so he is a slow starter - so why does he have to bat clean up? Can he not bat somewhere lower in the order? As I recall, most of the live pitching he saw in ST was in the minor league side. I just hate to see him in that rally killer spot when he is just not ready to hit yet. He hasn't really played healthy in a very long time.

Whatsanattau said...

He was part of the winning rally on Thursday. Bats left between two righties.

Kirbs said...

Hopefully zim will get ahold of a couple pitches again...and hopefully ALR will touch the ball........

NatsBrat said...

Davey knows!

I just hope he knows more about ALR than what we are seeing now. A nortorious slow starter who had very few reps in ST---this could be an ugly wait.

Good thing The Beast can play 1B, and maybe LH Tracy has something to offer,like his last 2B hit.

Gooooooooooooo Nats!

NatsJack in Florida said...

Even with the bad ankle, ALR continued to get AB's over on the Minor League side. He probably got more AB's there than he would have playing in the ML ST games. He just never ran.

Soul Possession, PFB Sofa said...

Don't you think anybody nicknamed "The Buffalo" and "Red Porch" ought to at least get serious consideration for hitting cleanup at Wrigley with the wind blowing out?

baseballswami said...

I get the whole left, right thing but I think with hitters and pitchesr that can be taken too far.

Anonymous said...

Morse getting treatment today in Ny and it's not a red flag, huh? I am entirely too emotionally involved in the everday ins and outs of this team.

Anonymous said...

ALR should not be hitting 4th until his stroke returns. He would have struck out 4 times yesterday but the ump missed what should have been the called 3rd strike in the 8th on a full count, giving LaRoche a free pass on what should have been the final, rally ending out in the Nats 8th.

He should be hitting 7th or 8th until he starts making contact, at least. Having him in the 4-hole almost certainly cost the Nats some runs yesterday, and probably cost SS his first win of the season. I like ALR, but do not ask him to do something he is not yet up to.

Laddie_Blah_Blah

natsfan1a said...

Thanks for the info on LaRoche AB's, NatsJack.

natsfan1a said...

You left out Pipo, but, yeah. :-)

Section 3, My PFB Sofa said...

Don't you think anybody nicknamed "The Buffalo" and "Red Porch" ought to at least get serious consideration for hitting cleanup at Wrigley with the wind blowing out?
April 07, 2012 11:50 AM

Muddy Ruel said...

Okay, I'm gettin' a little tired of these sorry nicknames -- Meat-hook, Werthless and now CockLaRoche! Come on! We had better nicknames in my day -- Big Train, Cool Papa, Three Finger, even Ol' Stubblebeard.

Nats1924 said...

162-0???

Nats1924 said...

And for the record, thank goodness masn's Debbie Taylor is gone. She was awful

Anonymous said...

Why would anyone pitch to Zim with Laroche behind him?

MicheleS said...

Does anyone know if Gio has ever faced the Cubs in Interleague?

Sunderland said...

Why would anyone pitch to Zim with LaRoche behind him? Maybe it is because people who play MLB baseball respect LaRoche more than people who just watch baseball.

natsfan1a said...

MicheleS, you can click on links on this page for details, but basically: 5 IP, 0 W, 1 L, ERA 10.80, 3 K.

Soul Possession, PFB Sofa said...

Why would anyone pitch to Zim with LaRoche behind him?

Because Desmond is already on first base.

Joe Seamhead said...

Gosh, why doesn't Davey Johnson call you guys to learn how to set a batting order, what with all of your experience, and of course your greater success then he has had in his career?
GYFNG!!!

MicheleS said...

1a.. thats ugly, so here is hoping he can turn that around!

GYNGIOG!

Anonymous said...

than.

Greater THAN.

Erik said...

Orioles vs. Nationals in 2014 World Series in a Battle of the Beltway!!!

Orioles Lineup:

2B Jonathan Schoop
RF Nick Markakis
SS Manny Machado
CF Adam Jones
C Matt Wieters
3B J.J. Hardy
DH Mark Reynolds
1B Nicky Delmonico or FA/Brian Roberts Trade
LF Nolan Reimold or FA/Brian Roberts Trade

SP Dylan Bundy
SP Cole Hamels
SP Jake Arrieta
SP Zach Britton
SP Brian Matusz

Closer Dan Klein
RP Jim Johnson
RP Bobby Bundy
RP Chris Tillman
RP Wei-Yin Chen
RP Parker Bridwell
RP Brad Bergesen or Troy Patton


BN Robert Andino
BN Chris Davis
BN L.J. Hoes
BN Xavier Avery
BN TBD Catcher

Nationals Lineup:

SS Ian Desmond/Danny Espinosa
2B/DH Anthony Rendon
RF Bryce Harper
1B Michael Morse
3B Ryan Zimmerman
LF Jayson Werth
CF B.J. Upton
C Wilson Ramos
SS/DH Danny Espinosa/Ian Desmond/Lombardozzi

SP Stephen Strasburg
SP Gio Gonzalez
SP Jordan Zimmerman
SP Matt Purke
SP Detwiler/Wang/Meyer

Closer Drew Storen/Henry Rodriguez
RP Tyler Clippard
RP Henry Rodriguez
RP Alex Meyer
RP Sean Burnett
RP Robbie Ray
RP Sammy Solis

BN Stephen Lombardozzi
BN Chris Marrero
BN Jesus Flores
BN Brian Goodwin
BN Mark DeRosa

Who gets traded first:
-Brian Roberts
-Jesus Flores

Sunderland said...

Three batters in, and FP has declared that Desmond's steal of 2nd yesterday was yesterday's play of the game. And then he also declared Zim's pick and tag of Soriano trying to swipe 3rd was the play of the game. Hoping to have 4 or 5 more from FP during the next couple innings.

Cwj said...

Much better second inning by Gio.
He was clearly a little nervous there in the 1st.
No doubt he will try hard to impress us loyal Nats fans this year :-)

Go Gio!

Anonymous said...

Hey -where is everybody?? Gio stee-rugglin'

Cwj said...

Anon 1:44- Yeah it is a little quiet here today...

MicheleS said...

looks like he has settled down..Love the smile after he flew out to center

Cwj said...

Gio's curveball is awesome. I'm quite impressed :-)
He threw it 27.8 percent of the time last year (3rd most in MLB) and I can see why.

jeffwx said...

Yes, comment. I had to get rid of cable for financial considerations. I need your commentary.

how about this...You can never have enough pitching ? or can you. Nats have to put a middle of the rotation 5 Mill/year pitcher to the minors. Maybe the pitching was strong enough w/o Jackson. Maybe when you have enough pitching, you may want to shore up other weaknesses to create balance. eg: Center Field...take away a couple of pitcher trades, live with a balanced pitching and trade /take chances on some hitting to shore up holes in outfield. (yes and keep Morse at First).
This lineup won't hunt.

Cwj said...

I'll still post my player projections that I "divined" for the 2012 season :-)
But until then here's what I came up with for Gio Gonzalez:
18-9, 3.24 ERA, 33 GS, 206 IP, 175 H, 87 BB, 210 SO.
Leads the Nats in wins and Strikeouts.

JaneB said...

The curve all IS awesome, isn't it? So is that smile. I wish Marlon had bobbled the ball like it looked like he might.

Anyone else notice that you HEAR the ball get hit or caught before it shows up on the screen? So disconcerting.

MicheleS said...

Good for Adam!! Woo Hoo!!!

NatsJack in Florida said...

His name is ALR!!!!

Cwj said...

Way to go LaRoche!! 2 run homer with 2 out!

JaneB said...

Okay. He can hit clean up. Nice to see Nats fans in the crowd too.

Cwj said...

Did you see Matt Garza's reaction in the dugout after he gave up the homer to LaRoche?
Jeez, calm down. It's not like he gave up a grand slam on the last day of the season.

I'm SO glad the Nats are filled with happy, smiling, yet highly competitive players.

natsfan1a said...

LaRoche to Insiders (including me): I got your AB right here.

Cwj said...

The umpire just cost the Nats 2 runs.
It was a clear strike before the triple :(

JaneB said...

Yikes. My stomach is killing me. How do pitchers stay in their own skin?

Is it too early for bourbon? Maalox tastes bad on its own.

UNTERP said...

Cwj said...

The umpire just cost the Nats 2 runs.
It was a clear strike before the triple :(

Not really. Ump hadn't called that a strike all game. Also, Gio caused his own misfortune with a walk, but that's who he is...

Anonymous said...

---and we gave up for top notch prospects for this guy!

Anonymous said...

four

Anonymous said...

Gio getting squeezed but not handling it well

JaneB said...

I predict Gio will be lights out Thursday. He will.

UNTERP said...

JaneB said...

Wait on the bourbon. I smell a come back and you know I'm the king of spiked Koolaid...

Anonymous said...

Sure am glad we gave up 4 players for THIS!!! Great move Rizzo. This guy has ZERO control. Gets behind every hitter. WOW...just WOW!!!

Anonymous said...

Anonymous... make sure you make your judgement of a player after four innings pitched... because that's an intelligent way to value a player...

JaneB said...

Seriously, Anon @2:29.do you not know this guy's record? He is terrific. Just not today.

Cwj said...

Some bad luck, timely hits, and a bad umpire contributes to Gonzalez getting yanked in the 4th.

He was wild early, settled down, then appeared to get frustrated when the umpire refused to call his outside fastball a strike.
Gio's 6 strikeouts are a sign of things to come though.
Shake it off and get 'em next time Gio!

jeffwx said...

hey i think Tom Milone could do that.
Peacock too.

jeffwx said...

Milone's got excellent control too.

Anonymous said...

When did we sign Oliver Perez???

Cwj said...

Neg Anons- Yep, those prospects are gone.
Either get over it, or become an Oakland As fan.

dj in Fl. said...

Cubs announcers noted the home plate umps personal strike zone. They said calling them consistent for both teams, is not the same as calling the strike zone as defined in the rule book.

natsfan1a said...

I'm with JaneB and Cwj. Shower this one off and we'll look forward to seeing you next time, Gio.

natsfan1a said...

Now to get in Garza's head a little bit...

Cwj said...

Millone projects as a Lannan with better control.
Peacock a long reliever (According to FanGraphs)

Chances are neither will come close to winning 31 games over a two year span or become an All-Star.
Gio has done that, and he's only 26!

jeffwx said...

just saying if you're gonna give up the farm you better get what you really need. Otherwise, you go with the farm until what you really need is available. You don't have many opportunities in this game to give up the farm. Rizzo gone in 2013.

Cwj said...

Oh hey there Natsfan!
I was worried the Neg-Anons were going to pile on :-)

jeffwx said...

What about AJ Cole...
Milone has remarkable control
And then there was Norris.
A lot to give up for anybody.

Section 222 said...

I like the quick hook from Davey, and letting Stammen bat. We have a strong and rested bullpen. No need to let Gio labor and get beat up more. Posting this before Stammen's AB though. :-)

Cwj said...

Jeff- Not if the Team wants to win now and next year.
Who knows how Cole will do even 4 years from now?
He's merely another prospect. Sometimes you just have to give them up to win games.

hmmm... said...

for is greater then four.
four what it's werth.

jeffwx said...

I hope you are right Cwj. I think it was a high risk trade because it is possible the trade gives you maybe 5 more wins this year and less as we go out in time. You get a Michael Bourne, Hunter Pence type lead off hitter outfielder for those 4 guys...probably adds up to more wins in the next two years.

baseballswami said...

Way to stop the momentum Craig Stammen!!

Cwj said...

Now hopefully the very deep bullpen will keep the Nats in the game.
These 1 and 2 run games are going to kill us fans by the All-Star break though :-)

JaneB said...

Ok. Rodneys commercial is waaay better than the Luna commercial. Just sayin'...

NatsJack in Florida said...

Craig Stammen has never pitched horrible for the Nats. Actually, he had always fared very well and could be starting on several staffs in either league.

Cwj said...

JaneB- Agreed.
Ugh, I hate those Luna commercials.
Did they own a share in MASN? Certainly seems like it :-)

Smatt1001 said...

Is it just me or is the strike zone off this afternoon?

NatsJack in Florida said...

ALR..... Did somebody say he can't hit?

baseballswami said...

Strike zone is very inconsistent today. If our guys ever stop taking turns having hitterish days and all hit on the same day, we will be fine.ALR today -- I guess I will take back everything i said about him batting 4th.

Cwj said...

NatsJack- Yeah I like Stammen.
For some reason I kind of forgot about him until the end of ST.
He seems tailor made for (quality) long-relief, I think.

Kirbs said...

Werth(less) can't even see a breaking ball. Def can't hit one.

Erik said...

Jeff-I wouldn't try to make sense on this website. You will be branded as a "troll". Many here are quite delusional. I think Gio will be good and don't have strong feelings one way or another about the trade, but I am not the GM. Giving up 4 prospects for a guy with such bad control is very, very risky. His job is to get the big moves like this right. He is 0 for 1 with Werth, so Gio will have a big say in determining his success as a GM here in Washington. Werth will be a $126 million bench player by next year if he keeps this up (which we all know he can). You heard it here first.

Cwj said...

Yeah the strike zone is way off today.
I think MLB should just use Pitch Track for balls and strikes :-)

natsfan1a said...

Ryan, is that you? :-)

Is it just me or is the strike zone off this afternoon?

Mick said...

Umpire SUCKS, I wish Ryan would have smacked that chump!! Werth SUCKS Period, I am done with him after 2 games, he is sooooo bad at the plate.

jeffwx said...

Yup..We shouldn't give up a lot of leads with our pen. Just need to increase your chances of being in the lead after 6 to bring in Clip,HROD, Lidge, Storen....
Just a little more hitting...must we wait for Morse and Bryce. I'll buy cable in July. They both should be playing up here by then.

Anonymous said...

Six more years of pain watching Werthless. Rizzo should be fired for signing that turkey.

natsfan1a said...

jeffwx, don't know what your budget might be but have you looked at mlb gameday, audio or video? I don't have the video but other commenters who do seem to like it.

Mick said...

Anony: Rizzo has done well, every GM makes a mistake, however, signing WerthLESS was a whopper. The value of the signing is that it showed GOOD free agents that Nats will pay money.

Cwj said...

Jeff- Agreed about the bullpen and hitting.
I'm pretty sure Harper will be up by July if the offense remains weak.
But I'll be very happy to see Morse in the lineup soon.
I think he'll be back next week? Not sure.

jeffwx said...

Desmond, Espinoza, Zimmerman,Morse,Harper,Werth,LaRoche,Ramos
in July....we'll score enough to get by.

Off to the bar to watch the end. I like Jane's prediction and the weak Cubs bullpen. Even Werth could get hot hitting against them.

Mick said...

what the hell

Section 222 said...

Actually FP, a good throw by Ramos gets him on that play.

Mick said...

Werth couldn't hit the side of a barn, he SUCKS!!!!!

JaneB said...

Mark Z wrote: So you know he must have had a good case when he started yapping at Kerwin Danley after the latter rung him...

When I read that I thought, "Kerwin Danley caught that ball I didn't want him to catch!" But then I looked at the Cubs line up and saw that THAT was Darwin Barney (I've never heard of him before). No wonder I was confused.

But I'm mad at Kerwin, not confused about THAT. And under no delusions that it even matters....

Anonymous said...

This game has come to grinding halt.

jeffwx said...

Yeah but it takes Morse a while to start hittin. Maybe cable will be werth it in June ?
Here's an idea for Rizzo... Overpay a free agent who can hit without Ryan Howard behind him.

Mick said...

lol Jeffwx

JaneB said...

Where'd my channel go?!?!?

Anonymous said...

MASN broadcast frozen...

Mick said...

we have a shot, 4-2 game 9 outs left verse the Cubs, the friggin Cubs!!!

baseballswami said...

I like the way Stammen pitches to induce weak contact. He got in a little jam there but stayed calm and got out of it. I kind of wish they had let him swing away earlier instead of bunting - he is a very good hitter with lots of hits and rbis considering his limited appearances.

natsfan1a said...

wth - did everybody else's broadcast freeze up?

Kirbs said...

Stammen did a great job. Held it for at least a chance.

Anonymous said...

I have verizon and masn is just fine.

Kirbs said...

Yes.

Anonymous said...

DeRosa and Zim were hitting like crazy before the season started...

natsfan1a said...

Guess so. WGN has Law and Order. Thx, Mr. Angelos. :-)

Anonymous said...

Nats hitters making this very easy on the Cubs pitcher.

natsfan1a said...

I also have Verizon = frozen.

Arlington BigFish said...

I have Verizon Fios, & mine's frozen.

Anonymous said...

Morse! We need you!!!

Cwj said...

Comcast/Xfinity here and mine didn't freeze either...

Erik said...

I think Peter Boy is having a nice little chuckle with his MASN cohorts right about now. This is really ridiculous in this day and age!!!

natsfan1a said...

Other MASN station has push/pause (seems apropos).

Anonymous said...

MASN HD is frozen. Non-HD is fine.

Dave said...

I've got Verizon, and MASN HD is frozen. Standard def okay, but sucky on big screen. Kinda like the game.

natsfan1a said...

Thx, Anon and Dave. Didn't occur to me to check standard def. Works for me, too.

natsfan1a said...

I have some hopes of the game un-sucking, Dave. :-)

baseballswami said...

The official slogan for the season is "Ignite your Natitude" -- mine is "Frustration - Learn to Embrace it!"

Dave said...

Mattheus looked good, so that's something.

I think. Picture's pretty blurry.

Anonymous said...

Mark DeRosa is Matt Stairs II.

Mick said...

gotta score in 8th

SayNoToClint said...

Get you s**t together, MASN/FiOS. I shouldn't have to watch games in SD.

Anonymous said...

A lot of money Werthless and Z man. Not doing anything, 75 wins only this season.

UnkyD said...

Time to hammer Wood, again...?

Cwj said...

Dave- Yeah Mattheus was awesome, even on the HD :-)

Anonymous said...

Nats showing off their very talented pitching staff today ... even with the off day by Gio Gonzalez. You are seeing why I think they win the division ...

Hopefully, folks (like JayB) will stop beating the dead horse over Chad Durbin ... he might as well be Chad Gaudin. This guy was unhittable as the Syracuse closer he CAN CLOSE for the Nats. But, then so can HRod, and so can Lidge and then there's 98 MPH Storen.

Why do you want 4 closers? And what do you do with them? Just watch Davey Johnson this is a bullpen he designed. And that is one thing as a manager he is very, very good at.

Anonymous said...

Ok - it's only the second game, folks - breathe.

Mick said...

all right Danny!!

SayNoToClint said...

Danny! (Still not in HD). But Danny!

natsfan1a said...

Look in their dugout, Danny. You know, like in the commercial. :-)

RickH said...

Way to go Danny!!!

baseballswami said...

Danny!!!!!!

UnkyD said...

Espi The Hammer!!!

natsfan1a said...

Hey, who threw that back? :-)

natsfan1a said...

hehe, I was typing the "look in their dugout" before he teed off on it.

natsfan1a said...

I'll take a low-def dinger any day.

Mick said...

this AB will define Werth for the season....

RickH said...

A.L.R.

Anonymous said...

Time for Werth to earn those millions now.

Erik said...

PH for Werth!!! PH for Werth!!! PH for Werth!!!

Dave said...

Who was saying yesterday that LaRoche sucks? Not so much.

natsfan1a said...

Woo! Zimm! Woo! LaRoche! No, don't take him out. :-( Oh, Marmol? Okay, go ahead then.

baseballswami said...

The big moment always seems to fine Jayson Werth, doesn't it?

Anonymous said...

Werthless! Ouch.

Anonymous said...

The Danny commercial was just on!

Section 222 said...

Quick, pick the non-pitcher Nat you would least like to have up at this point. at least he's not facing Garza.

come on Werth. prove us wrong.

natsfan1a said...

Perfect timing on the Danny commercial.

natsfan1a said...

I'd like to order one wild pitch, please.

JaneB said...

Bases loaded! A walk is as good as a hit here, so back offa Jayson.

MicheleS said...

Fios is still frozen. UGH and I love my HD signal.

SayNoToClint said...

MicheleS, switch to 77 -- low def is better than no def.

JaneB said...

Thanks for the tip that the game is on regular TV!

JaneB said...

Chad!

natsfan1a said...

Try the standard def, Michele.

Mick said...

I love this dude!!!!

Dave said...

Chad Tracy: this week's hero.

SayNoToClint said...

TRACY in low def!

natsfan1a said...

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!

Anonymous said...

Hard to tell in SD, is that Chad Tracy or Ted Williams??

Section 222 said...

That was a professional at bat Mr. Tracy! Hats off to you.

JaneB said...

He has had more clutch, off the bench hits than Matt Stairs had all of last season! What an upgrade.

Wally said...

Chad Tracy has been HUGE so far. He was on every pitch there.

C'mon Bernie, add another here.

This ump sucks, pardon my French.

MicheleS said...

SO I am thinking Chad Tracy is our payback for last year's bench (i.e. Matt Stairs)

Oh and UNTERP.. way to call the comeback!

natsfan1a said...

Now, that's a hairy chest. :-)

Anonymous said...

Sweet Mother of all that is Holy....GO NATS!

RickH said...

Love it!

Smatt1001 said...

Let's go Nats!! Break it open!

MicheleS said...

I have it in SD.. If we keep hitting like this, I will keep in is SD all year!

GO BERNIE

baseballswami said...

Who is this guy and where did he come from? Japan? Really? Bernie!!!!!!

SayNoToClint said...

F.P. just called Tracy's at-bat a "big boy" at-bat. And nice insurance run from the Shark.

Mick said...

gang, we should come out 2-0?

natsfan1a said...

Bernie!!

JaneB said...

And Sharkadina! And may I say thatnWerth's WALK is why we are up two, instead of one.

Drew said...

Sacre bleu! Way to battle, boys!

Wally said...

I think I am watching Bizarro Nats. Even Carp made me laugh : " I like Chad Tracy, because he delivers on Saturdays".

Bernie, way to add on.

UnkyD said...

I love how these fellas make all the negs produce a mouthful of bile, for 7 innings, then make them swallow it to go "WOOHOO", on the 8th!!!!

HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!

waddu eye no said...

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

MicheleS said...

HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!


Just finishing the sentence....

natsfan1a said...
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!

Anonymous said...

No HD, late game heroics from guys I never heard of, feels like 2005

natsfan1a said...

Does this mean that we have to watch every game in low-def now?

Wally said...

I WANT MORE RUNS, LOMBO!

Erik said...

Is that all 10 runs with 2 outs today? Gotta love Major League Baseball!!!

natsfan1a said...

Thanks, Michele. Lost my train of thought. ;-)

JaneB said...

Marmol has helped us like this before, hasn't he?

Smatt1001 said...

And there goes Marmol!!

Mick said...

2 run lead at least, we should win this

Big Oil said...

YESSSSS. I know it's a long season, but I love this team. Unreal AB's this inning.

MicheleS said...

JaneB.. July 4th last year. Werth, walk off on the Marmol wild pitch

natsfan1a said...

I heart Marmol.

Mick said...

maybe I am paranoid, but I am not a huge Lidge fan, why not have Tyler finish up the last 2

UnkyD said...

Two out, nobody on.... 7 consecutive hitters(so far)...

No Quit in these clowns... Keep up with the bile-spewing, Negs... I have a feeling these guys like it!!! :)

SayNoToClint said...

Nice hustle by Lombo

Wally said...

Hey Mick, you're killing me on the superstition thing.

Yo Lombo, attaboy!

whatsanattau said...

Too bad our bench isn't better.

Mick said...

or, go with Sean B and then Tyler in the 9th

MicheleS said...

Mick.. We will be seeing HROD in the 9th if there is a save situation (I think they are alternating days or at least that was the plan

natsfan1a said...

Are those Cubs fans saying, Lomboooo?

Section 222 said...

Marmol has helped us like this before, hasn't he?

Yup.

Mick said...

Wally, get use to me... I am a nervous nellie, LOL

Anonymous said...

The Bullpen B Team kept the Nats in it today...

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