Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Nats vs. Red Sox - 4/3/12

Photo by Mark Zuckerman / NATS INSIDER
Nationals Park hosts its first ballgame of 2012 today.
The sun is shining, the cherry blossoms are blooming and there will be baseball played on South Capitol Street today. How sweet is that?

Sandwiched between their Grapefruit League finale in Fort Myers and their season opener in Chicago, the Nationals make a brief cameo appearance in the District this afternoon, taking on the Boston Red Sox in one last exhibition game. Davey Johnson is playing all his regulars, though there's a twist: Xavier Nady is serving as designated hitter. Yes, a DH in a National League park. There's something you won't see again.

A couple more interesting lineup tidbits: Adam LaRoche, not Jayson Werth, is hitting cleanup against Red Sox right-hander Clay Buchholz. I've got a hunch you'll see that arrangement on Thursday against the Cubs as well. Also, Roger Bernadina is back in the lineup after coming out of yesterday's game with a knee injury. Appears he's OK.

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

BOSTON RED SOX vs. WASHINGTON NATIONALS
Where: Nationals Park
Gametime: 3:05 p.m.
TV: MASN, MLB.tv
Radio: WJFK (106.7 FM), WFED (1500 AM), XM 177
Weather: Sunny, 65 degrees, Wind 7 mph out to RF
STARTING LINEUPS
NATIONALS
SS Ian Desmond
2B Danny Espinosa
3B Ryan Zimmerman
1B Adam LaRoche
RF Jayson Werth
LF Mark DeRosa
DH Xavier Nady
C Wilson Ramos
CF Roger Bernadina
(P Edwin Jackson)

RED SOX
CF Jacoby Ellsbury
2B Dustin Pedroia
1B Adrian Gonzalez
DH David Ortiz
3B Kevin Youkilis
RF Ryan Sweeney
LF Cody Ross
C Jarrod Saltalamacchia
SS Mike Aviles
(P Clay Buchholz)
3:05 p.m. -- With a fastball outside from Edwin Jackson to Jacoby Ellsbury, we are underway. It's an absolutely spectacular afternoon in the nation's capital. Good crowd on hand, but there are some seats available if you feel like skipping out of work early and heading on over.

3:09 p.m. -- Jackson immediately fell into a 2-0 hole to Ellsbury, but it didn't take long for him to figure things out. He battled back to get Ellsbury to fly out to left, then got Dustin Pedroia and Adrian Gonzalez to ground out. A nice, tidy, 12-pitch top of the first.

3:16 p.m. -- Clay Buchholz sees Edwin Jackson's efficient first inning and raises him. It took Buchholz only eight pitches (seven strikes) to retire the side. Actually, it only took him three pitches to retire Ian Desmond (who flied out to left on the first one he saw) and Danny Espinosa (who grounded out on an 0-1 offering). At least Ryan Zimmerman worked the count a bit before striking out. Scoreless after one.

3:22 p.m. -- Another clean inning for Jackson, though all three Red Sox batters hit fly balls off him in the second, including a drive to the base of the wall in center field by Ryan Sweeney. No problem as Roger Bernadina tracked it down. 24 pitches through two innings for Jackson, 15 strikes.

3:28 p.m. -- Hmm, there have been a total of 12 batters so far in this game, none of them reaching safely. The two starters have combined to throw 39 pitches (24 by Jackson, only 15 by Buchholz). Think these guys might just be ready to get to Opening Day already?

3:40 p.m. -- Six more batters stepped to the plate in the third inning ... and six more batters retreated to the dugout. Seriously, we could be headed for a double perfect game today.

3:44 p.m. -- Yep, that'll do the trick every time. Ellsbury leads off the top of the fourth with a solid single to left. Now, if the Nats could just produce at least one hit before the afternoon is complete...

3:52 p.m. -- Pedroia follows up with an RBI double down the left-field line, scoring Ellsbury, then takes third on a deep fly ball to left and scores on a groundball to second. So the Red Sox take a 2-0 lead as we head to the bottom of the fourth. Oh, and Teddy lost the Presidents Race. He had a big lead, then was distracted by two jugglers(?!) as George zoomed past him to win. Sigh, it's gonna be another long season of this tired act.

4:04 p.m. -- Don't know about all of you, but I'd really prefer not to have to write about a perfect game today. Which is what Buchholz has going through four innings.

4:22 p.m. -- Well, the wheels kind of fell off for Jackson in the top of the fifth. He allowed four of five batters to reach, the last of them Pedroia on a double over Werth's head in right field, so Davey Johnson came out of the dugout with the hook. Sean Burnett entered and immediately gave up an RBI single to Gonzalez, making it 6-0 Boston. Jackson's final line: 4 2/3 ip, 5 h, 6 er, 1 bb, 2 k, 1 wp, 73 pitches, 46 strikes.

4:24 p.m. -- Hey, Adam LaRoche breaks up the perfect game with a leadoff single down the right-field line! He even got in a nice inversion turn around first base to test that foot.

4:34 p.m. -- The home crowd finally has reason to come to life, thanks to Wilson Ramos. Belted a three-run homer into the Red Porch. Just crushed it. That cuts the lead to 6-3 after five. Meanwhile, the Atlanta Braves just announced they signed Chad Durbin to a major-league contract. Interesting when you consider Durbin was in a Nats uniform here this morning, and the team hasn't announced that he was released.

4:42 p.m. -- A quick, 1-2-3 sixth for Ross Detwiler. Both Craig Stammen and Ryan Mattheus are also scheduled to pitch today. One of those two has won the final spot in the Opening Day bullpen.

4:44 p.m. -- Desmond sends a line drive just over the left-field fence for his third homer of the spring. That cuts the deficit to 6-4 in the bottom of the sixth.

5:06 p.m. -- A scoreless inning of relief from Stammen keeps this a 6-4 game at the seventh-inning stretch. Looks like Mattheus is warming up in the pen and will pitch the eighth.

5:28 p.m. -- Wow, the Nats have come all the way back from a 6-0 deficit and have taken a 7-6 lead. Another RBI from Ramos on a single to left. Boston reliever Michael Bowden then walked Desmond to load the bases and Espinosa to force in a run. And a sac fly by Steve Lombardozzi brings the go-ahead run home in the bottom of the seventh.

5:35 p.m. -- And Mattheus gives the run right back as Daniel Nava puts one over the center-field fence. It's 7-7 as we go to the bottom of the eighth.

5:46 p.m. -- Hmm, we're going to the ninth inning and it's still tied 7-7. Extra innings in the exhibition finale? Maybe they'll play the 10th, but that would probably be it, per the usual spring training protocols.

6:02 p.m. -- Well, so much for Henry Rodriguez's perfect spring ERA. He finally gave up a run in the ninth inning of his final tune-up. Pretty shaky frame there for H-Rod. He allowed a single, an RBI double, hit a batter and generally did not look comfortable on the mound at all. Very reminiscent of his not-so-good appearances last year. It's 8-7 Boston as the Nats come up to bat in the bottom of the ninth.

6:14 p.m. -- Wow. Espinosa delivers a two-out single up the middle, and Desmond comes racing home, appearing to beat the throw home. But ump Chris Segal calls him out, ending the game. Looks like Segal had a flight to catch. Nats lose 8-7. Final roster moves to be announced shortly, so stay tuned...

178 comments:

MicheleS said...

I get to go!!! Woo Hoo!

JayB said...

leaving soon

NatsLady said...

JayB--me too. Gotta pick up someone in Silver Spring and turn around back to the park... Great day!

baseballswami said...

Cheer loudly for the rest of us!!! Especially for our friend, Wilson - welcome him back to dc!

Mr. Doggett said...

Can't wait to bring my 2 year old to the game today. I've trained him to scream "Go Nats!" when he sees the curly W... but then he breaks out in his version of HTTR. I've got to teach him that THIS is the team to get excited about!

Go Nats!

natsfan1a said...

Have fun, y'all, and feel free to cheer extra hard on behalf of those fans who won't be there. I'll be in front of my tv but, while I *do* cheer pretty loud, I don't think they'll be able to hear me cheering in Virginia. :-)

natsfan1a said...

er, "loudly" (I'm too excited to worry about grammar, anyway. :-))

natsfan1a said...

Have fun, y'all, and feel free to cheer extra hard on behalf of those fans who won't be there. I'll be in front of my tv but, while I *do* cheer pretty loud, I don't think they'll be able to hear me cheering in Virginia. :-)

Doc said...

No Beast; no Arm and no Tinkerbell!

Oh well, time to fish, and stop cutting bait.

Goooooooooo Nats!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

JayB said...
leaving soon


Darn. When I first saw this I thought he meant he was leaving this blog.

FS said...

ugh stuck in office until evening. Wish I could go to the game by faking sickness. GYFNG!!!

natsfan1a said...

Also, if anybody stays for the Wounded Warriors/celebrity game, would be interested to read some impressions (and you can cheer for me there, too :-)).

JaneB said...

I am so crushed that I can't get there today. What a great day for baseball! But I'm glad my new Imaginary Friend Wendell is getting to go!
GYFNG!!!!

Anonymous said...

Oh I wish I could be there today! But, I'll be cheering from here and will be there live and in person next week at the Home Opener.

Go Nats!!!!

Mark'd said...

Glad Bernadina is OK. That kid has been through a lot if heart ache.

SCNatsFan said...

Wish I was there. Then again I'm going to the Masters tomorrow. Guess that will have to do... but I'll be sporting the curly W at Augusta.

NatsLady said...

Plants watered, kitty fed. On my way! Later, folks.

MicheleS said...

You all had better be there next Thursday! My Friends and Family are starting to wonder when I say I am going to be with my imaginary friends!

Stuck today with Co-workers (and other sundry people who are no fun), So not sure where I am sitting and if I will get to walk around!

Diz said...

Heading to the park in an hour! Woo-hoo!!!!

Well, I guess with Nady, Carroll, and Tracy making the roster, the healthiest 25 came north!

FS - I'll have a cold one for you....or seven.

Positively Half St. said...

Have fun, friends at the park. I will put a Nats shirt on for the schedule conflict that keeps me away.

+1/2St.

Steve M. said...

I wouldn't be surprised if JZim is a Cy Young candidate this year.

This from Amanda Comak:

For Zimmermann, one of the most positive developments this spring was the improvement of his changeup, a pitch that he's been working on for several years now but has finally gotten to a point where he's comfortable -- and effective -- with it.

He threw one to David Ortiz on Monday that the big left-hander just stared at for strike three.

"I came into spring and it was hit or miss -- and missing more than I was hitting," Zimmermann said. "Right now I feel like I could throw it down in the count or down on the zone anytime I want. The last one to Big Papi there was a changeup so I was pretty happy there.

"I think the more I face some teams and throw it to them, if I throw a lot of good ones they're going to have that in the back of their mind, 'He's got this fastball and slider and curve but you have to watch out for his changeup.' If I can just mix it in and throw it five, six times a game I think that's all I really need to throw it."

sm13 said...

What a great day for a game. I'm hoping we have this same weather for next Thursday! Maybe Morse and Drew will be back by then.

Go Nats!!

Steve M. said...

The Tom Boz article today was a great dose of Kool-Aid. This guy went from a JayB meltdown moment a couple of days before the Gio trade to now being the head cheerleader for the Nats. Maybe he wants to audition for the Clint role and walk around with the microphone.

For the Nats to exceed the 84 to 85 win consensus on their 2012 win total, they have to dominate the under .500 teams and play .500 baseball against all their other teams.

For those worried about the bench, it is going to turnover quickly. It has to because of the players on the DL followed by possible call-ups by guys like Bryce Harper and Chris Marrero.

This team will win on the fundamentals that were formed last year: Starting pitching, dominating bullpen, timely hitting, team defense, and lack of mental errors.

The popcorn is popping and almost time for "real" baseball.

MicheleS said...

I swear.. the clock is ticking SOO SLOWLY! i want to go NOW. Yes, I was the annoying kid in the station wagon going "Are we there YET!!!!"

ehay2k said...

Natslady - "kitty fed, plants watered.." ??? How long of a game do you think this will be? Oh, wait, sorry, it IS the Red Sox. ;-)

Enjoy the game!

GYFNG

baseballswami said...

How silly is it that I have butterflies in my stomach - today isn't even the real opening day.Thursday I will be unbearable. Too bad my work schedule will not allow me to go today or next Thursday, but I will be glued to the tv! I think Opening Day should be a National Holiday!!!

Cease the Opportunity said...

My chauffeur is angry with me, since I asked her to drive me to Wrigley Field for Thursday's opener. She's outside now warming up the ride. I'll see you guys in two days...

UNTERP

Wendell said...

Thanks to JaneB my son Matthew (home on Spring Break) & I are off to the game. Great seats, Jane.

Diz said...

sm13,

National Weather Service is saying that DC will be experiencing "well below" normal temperatures late next week.

Might end up being a little chilly next Thursday.

Enjoy the weather today!

http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/predictions/814day/

sjm308 said...

Off to the Park!!

Nice lineup and I am not going to be upset if they only play a couple innings. I am guessing Rizzo brought up all kinds of minor league guys just to give them the experience of playing at Nationals Park.

Should be great fun!!! Baseball with my son! What could be better?

Feel Wood said...

I think Opening Day should be a National Holiday!!!

Which one? Home opener, road game that's another team's opener, opening day in Japan, ESPN Sun/Wed night opener? You'd need a week's worth of holiday for that!

Hey, not a bad idea actually.

NatsNut said...

Sun, schmun. DRESS WARMLY! That breeze turns ARCTIC in that ballpark.

See ya'll there!

GYFNG

Theophilus said...

Diz said something about buying "a beer . . . or 7." What does that work out to? About $63?

Anonymous said...

I am wicked jealous (a little nod to the opposing club's fans) as I have to work and cannot go to the game -- though, through the miracle of radio broadcast, I will be there in spirit.

Best 25 have come North!

dfh21

realdealnats said...

PFB day for baseball in Old DC. GYFNG!

Steve M. said...

Kind of wondering if this will be the starting lineup for a while vs. RH pitching with Brett Carroll coming in for Bernadina against LH pitching:

SS Ian Desmond
2B Danny Espinosa
3B Ryan Zimmerman
1B Adam LaRoche
RF Jayson Werth
LF Mark DeRosa
C Wilson Ramos
CF Roger Bernadina
P TBD

FS said...

baseballswami, you are right. After all baseball is the national pasttime.

NatsJack in Florida said...

Hope everyone enjoys the new and improved culture exhibited by the team put together by Mike Rizzo. Between a qualified GM, a qualified Manager, and an upgrade in overall talent we can expect a playoff caliber effort for the forseeable future.

GatorJohn and I will be in DC starting with next Fridays game with the Reds. Hope to see alot of you durong that first homestand.

I'll be home watching todays game on TV.

natsfan1a said...

Do not make me pull this car over, MicheleS. :-) (Actually, I was that annoying kid, too.)

MicheleS said...

I swear.. the clock is ticking SOO SLOWLY! i want to go NOW. Yes, I was the annoying kid in the station wagon going "Are we there YET!!!!"
April 03, 2012 12:00 PM

Sunshine_Bobby_Carpenter_Is_Too_Pessimistic_For_Me said...

Only requirement for those of you going is to have fun, fun, fun.

And cheer extra, extra loud for Wilson.

I'll be there in spirit and with C&D. Welcome home, fellas!

Best 25 have come north!

Jim Kurtzke said...

Last April, I was diagnosed with cancer. Today, I'm going to the ballpark. Life is great.

Dawn said...

Wish I could be there, looks like a great day. Of course any day is a good day if there is baseball being played. Safe travels and enjoy the game.

Anonymous said...

Jim -

Sorry to hear about your diagnosis. I dealt with 2 different cancers last year and came through OK so far. Good luck with your own condition. The Nats were a big part of my coping mechanism all last year. Baseball makes everything better.

Drew said...

This week my wife and I are enjoying the splendors of Paris, where a young man's fancy turns to Chad Tracy. (Well, not really, but that one threw me a bit when I checked in for my Nats fix.) If I keep this up my bride will think I'm addicted to my support group. GYFNG!

P.S. We spent hours touring Notre Dame today but we never found a single statue to Matt LeCroy.

N. Cognito said...

Jim Kurtzke said...
"Last April, I was diagnosed with cancer. Today, I'm going to the ballpark. Life is great."

Congratulations! I wish you many more game days.

JaneB said...

Joining NCog in wishing much more baseball to Jim, and also anon at 12:57. And Drew, you made me spit out my diet coke in public, I was laughing so hard.
Life IS great, especially when "wait'll NEXT year" finally arrives.

Soul Possession, PFB Sofa said...

Drew, did you look in the campanile?

And add me please to the Many More wishes list for Jim!

Tinkerbell Wringer said...

I'm not even a real Modo. I'm only a quasi-modo.

natsfan1a said...

Me, too, on the many more wishes for Jim.

On another note, a late-breaking news item for those who will be in attendance. In honor of the visiting team, ballpark Taste of the Majors concessions will be featuring all the Popeyes chicken and beer you can eat and drink. :-)

Esmeralda said...

If I yell "sanctuary," will the bad puns stop?

UnkyD said...

Sorry, I'm a little weepy.... You guys get me all choked up about the Game. Here's JEJ...one more time....(deep breath....):

Terence Mann: Ray, people will come Ray. They'll come to Iowa for reasons they can't even fathom. They'll turn up your driveway not knowing for sure why they're doing it. They'll arrive at your door as innocent as children, longing for the past. Of course, we won't mind if you look around, you'll say. It's only $20 per person. They'll pass over the money without even thinking about it: for it is money they have and peace they lack. And they'll walk out to the bleachers; sit in shirtsleeves on a perfect afternoon. They'll find they have reserved seats somewhere along one of the baselines, where they sat when they were children and cheered their heroes. And they'll watch the game and it'll be as if they dipped themselves in magic waters. The memories will be so thick they'll have to brush them away from their faces. People will come Ray. The one constant through all the years, Ray, has been baseball. America has rolled by like an army of steamrollers. It has been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt and erased again. But baseball has marked the time. This field, this game: it's a part of our past, Ray. It reminds of us of all that once

UnkyD said...

....was good and it could be again. Oh... people will come Ray. People will most definitely come.

Soul Possession, PFB Sofa said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
sjm308 said...

Reporting live from the 1/2 street fairgrounds!

Early crowd looks to be 60/40. Red sox fans. Nice atmosphere here. Live band just started on a much bigger stage then last year.
At least7 different food trucks including Red Hook Lobster rolls.
Beer prices still crush inside prices.
Entrance is down near metro..
That's all fo now.

Thoughts to Jim, just like others.

Go nats!

natsfan1a said...

The Nats were the visiting team yesterday.

MicheleS said...

Unkyd.. i got chills reading that!

Jim and Anon, may uou enjoy many more opening days!

At the park now and it looks beautiful!

Soul Possession, PFB Sofa said...

Thank you Unk, for the Annual Invocation.
I still get a little choked up, even with the mixed metaphor.

Cwj said...

Go Nats!
Is there no Nats Extra on MASN today?

Working on my final revisions of my Nats projections (predictions :)
I'm working on some additional numbers so that everything adds up to my 87-75 prediction.

(BTW, the bench was much discussed recently. I think it's improved and above average)

Enjoy the game!
:-)

Soul Possession, PFB Sofa said...

The Nats were the visiting team yesterday.

I meant two days. April 1. Nevermind.
E-3.

Theophilus said...

Paris? Paris, VA, you mean, surely . . .. (Only place in the world where you can visit Vienna, Paris, Strasburg, Edinburg and Verona -- in one day -- w/out crossing a state line.)

Cwj said...

Well done Unkyd!! :)
I'm really pumped for this season.
Oh yeak, Unkyd my BBQ has been postponed. I'll try to find a weekend game that works for us and hopefully you can join me here. (I'll email you)

Cwj said...

* I meant "Oh yeah" not "Oh yeak" haha :-)

natsfan1a said...

Oh, now I get it. Comprehension E-1a (I guess that would be a mental mistake).

Section 3, My PFB Sofa said...

The Nats were the visiting team yesterday.

I meant two days. April 1. Nevermind.
E-3.
April 03, 2012 2:12 PM

Soul Possession, PFB Sofa said...

Theo, don't forget Alexandria.

RPrecupjr said...

Add me to the list of "Wish-I-Could-Be-Theres", but with time off this week for singing engagements and taking the day off next Thursday for OD, I couldn't get today as well. Also, add me to the "Best Wishes Jim and Anon" group as well.

Those attending should definitely stay for the Wounded Warrior game. I went to the one last year with my daughter and it was great, lots of fun, and those guys can play....very inspiring. One note...if they do it like last year, "home plate" will actually be second base, so the best (pretty much only) place to sit is in the left field bleachers, Section 101, 102, etc.

Theophilus said...

Sec. 3 -- Apologies to the Alexandrinians. There's also Warsaw.

ChicagoNatsGirl said...

AAARGGH, just got done crying for a variety of other reasons and then that darn Field of Dreams thing got me going again.

True to my moniker, we'll be at Saturday and Sunday's Cubs games (decided to leave them to enjoy their actual home opener; it's going to be cold on Thursday anyway).

UnkyD said...

Okeydokey, cwj..... My pooch situation cleared itself up..... Leaving me free to join my Imaginary Friends, at Duffy's, day after tomorrow!!!! I'll be ther by 2:00...
GYFNG!!! I hope the Moose Ovation is worthy of keeping track with stopwatch...lemmeknow.... Enjoy this beautiful day, at the park!!

MicheleS said...

Just ran into NatsLady in the team store. How great is that!

baseballswami said...

I hope we get to see stuff like the team being introduced - afraid it might be covered up by commercials... This game cannot go extra innings - I have to leave for work at 6:30 on the dot!!! GYFNG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

natsfan1a said...

Glad you'll be able to make it, Unk, and cool about running into NatsLady, MicheleS. Wish they'd have a pregame show, swami, and also hope we'll get to see some of that on tv.

Nats fan in NJ said...

Drew - Enjoy Paris!
Anon - All the best and may this be the first of many, many more "Play Ball!" shouts for you to enjoy.
Unkyd - Literally got goosebumps up my neck as I heard James Earl Jones voice reading that recitation.

GYFNG!!

NatsLady said...

Hi from Nats Park. Got Ramos jersey. Met MicheleS. Go Nats!

UnkyD said...

GOD!! How I've missed Charlie and Dave...

Cwj said...

NatsLady- Awesome!

Unkyd- Same here. Two of the best broadcasters in MLB, in my opinion.
I also like Bob and FP on the tube.

PAY TO PLAY said...

2-0 deficit and no hits for the Nats through top of the 4th.

MicheleS said...

Teddy lost

PAY TO PLAY said...

NatsLady said...
Hi from Nats Park. Got Ramos jersey. Met MicheleS. Go Nats!

April 03, 2012 3:27 PM

That is great that you got your Rammoose and met MicheleS. Doesn't get much better than that when combined with Nats Park baseball!

phil dunn in vero beach said...

You are watching the same hitless wonders I watched for thirty days here in Florida. Get used to it because this Rizzo constructed team has no offense.

Anonymous said...

phil, still 5 more innings to go.

baseballswami said...

pd in vb - you are harshing my mellow. Buzz kill....

PAY TO PLAY said...

Jim Kurtzke said...
Last April, I was diagnosed with cancer. Today, I'm going to the ballpark. Life is great.

April 03, 2012 12:47 PM

Now that is great to hear! Hard to let no hits piss you off when you have been thru cancer.

ehay2k said...

I hope the first-pitch hacks from Desmond et al are just some sort of exhibition game subterfuge from Davey. I will really get torqued if Desi, then Espi, do this in the regular season. The rest of the team really needs to see some pitches.

Also, if EJax is our weakest pitcher (and I am not saying he is) then I am OK with that.

PAY TO PLAY said...

4:04 p.m. -- Don't know about all of you, but I'd really prefer not to have to write about a perfect game today. Which is what Buchholz has going through four innings.


Luckily Buckholz won't pitch 9 so we don't have to worry about it, just an embarrassing offensive display.

Anonymous said...

Add to that, Edwin Jackson just fell apart.

Anonymous said...

We sound terrible. Saving it all for the regular season, huh? (I hope.)

Matrushka Doll

MC 703 said...

I wish I didn't have to work today otherwise I'd be there putting a dent in the Sox fan ratio.

Also, I hope this isn't a preview of our offense this year.

baseballswami said...

Jackson getting shelled / no hitting - not a good combination. Good thing it's April 3rd not 5th. I was just thinking that there are guys in that dugout( or bullpen) who are not getting on the plane to chicago tomorrow and probably haven't been told yet. That is just so sad.

Anonymous said...

All right, our first hit.

Matrushka Doll

ehay2k said...

No more no hitters. ;-)

Rodeorob said...

I guess the Nats are just giving the home crowd what they want--a win for the Red Sox!

PAY TO PLAY said...

LaRoche breaks up the No No. Nice, we jinxed Bucholz.

Anonymous said...

Same old Werthless, new swing-same results!

PAY TO PLAY said...

RAMMOOSE

Anonymous said...

Great blast from Wilson Ramos!

Matrushka Doll

MC 703 said...

OK sorry I'm backing off the ledge now I know it's just ST still. Huzzah for Red Seats Ramos!

PAY TO PLAY said...

Perfect game ended and now the shutout is gone! Its NatsLady's RAMMOOSE jersey!

baseballswami said...

Ramooooooooooose!

MicheleS said...

WILSON!! Right to the red porch

Nattydread said...

Ramos!!!

Anonymous said...

What's up with Chad Durbin? How can he sign with the Braves?

MicheleS said...

Dang. I forgot to bring cookies for Ross

Steve M. said...

Yep, Chad Durbin got his opt-out and Mattheus to the 'pen.

natsfan1a said...

Now that's a Ramos ovation!

Steve M. said...

Wilson Ramos comes through in the clutch! Very nice to see his bat connect one to the Red Porch!

natsfan1a said...

haha, Desi Dinger!

Schumatrix said...

Look at Desi!

Anonymous said...

PFB

Anonymous said...

Way to go, Ian!

Matrushka Doll

Steve M. said...

Nice to see Desi get that HR. Respectable scoreboard now 6-4

baseballswami said...

Jackson was not sharp, the Sawx are a good team. Still - the Nats are climbing back with their usual bulldog persistence. Good to see.

Steve M. said...

Anonymous said...
phil, still 5 more innings to go.

April 03, 2012 4:04 PM


Good call. From 6-0 to 6-4 in 2 innings. Still losing but not a laugher.

FS said...

respectable isn't good enough, let's win this one. GYFNG!!!

jd said...

We all understand that this game doesn't count in the standings. Right?

Just checking.

NatsLady said...

There is a new big head prez. JFK is here to help Teddy win :-):-). A fan on half street. At first I thought it was Elvis but saw the toothy grin--confirmed it was Kennedy.

erocks33 said...

to Jim, Anon and all others ... my deepest thoughts to you and your family. It's been 8 years since I was diagnosed with cancer and (knock wood) it hasn't returned. The start of the baseball season each year is truly a wondrous thing!! May you enjoy many, many more Opening Days!

Speaking of OD, I wish I could join in at Duffy's on Thursday, but my family and I will be en route to our first vacation in about 5 years. I'll be checking my phone for updates while in the air. Drink a cold one for me!!

Soul Possession, PFB Sofa said...

Enjoy the trip and travel safely, erocks. We'll hoist one apiece for you absent friends.

natsfan1a said...

Woo hoo - Nats drawing closer with another run scored!

Blowing a bubble while rounding third - now, that's pro. :-)

MicheleS said...

Apparently the guy running the scoreboard didn't know about Durbin. They had him warming up. Wow are they out of the loop!

Steve M. said...

John Lannan to AAA? How did that happen.......

baseballswami said...

That bubble right before the slide was hilarious -- and it is so good to listen to Carp and FP. AAAAH -- it might be exhibition baseball, but it's baseball at NatsPark - and it's fun!

Steve M. said...

I guess Ross Detwiler will be the 5th starter for a few weeks until Wang gets back

Anonymous said...

What did that say about Lannan?????? Are you freaking kidding me? I love Detweiler, but , really??????? Lannan is a solid veteran. WTF?

natsfan1a said...

Agreed on both counts, swami.

jd said...

When do we need a 5th starter? It could be just a temporary thing.

Steve M. said...

Anonymous said...
What did that say about Lannan?????? Are you freaking kidding me? I love Detweiler, but , really??????? Lannan is a solid veteran. WTF?

April 03, 2012 5:18 PM


Don't hold me to it but here's Rizzo's thinking. He isn't going to put Lannan in the 'pen and Wang is ahead of schedule so he sends Lannan down instead of yo-yo'ing him and Detwiler will have a few weeks until Wang is ready to start and Craig Stammen gets the last spot in the bullpen (Detwiler's spot)

natsfan1a said...

Kilgore tweet evidently the source re. Lannan. Speaking of WaPo tweets, evidently Bos is on the Tweeter now.

Oh, and we're all tied up now.

RPrecupjr said...

Steve, that also gives Davey a long lefty (Gorzy) and a long righty (Stammen) in the pen like he wants

Soul Possession, PFB Sofa said...

Maybe thinking on Lannan is what FP was saying--they've got four other guys who throw in the mid- to high-90s--why not make if five?

Player of the Game: Wilson Ramos!

natsfan1a said...

Nice slide, Wilson, and the home team takes the lead. :-)

RPrecupjr said...

And we now lead on a Dozzi sac fly....yeehah!!!

PAY TO PLAY said...

Gee thanks natsfan1a, you place Killergore as a source over our SteveM who just gave you the rationale of the move.

SteveM probably gave it to Kilgore!

Soul Possession, PFB Sofa said...

so far, at least...

natsfan1a said...

I'm going to wait to hear more about Lannan before commenting on it. Oops, I just did.

FS said...

what? that must be very insulting after publicly being handed the job of fifth starter.

baseballswami said...

Ok - so it's not april 1st , but -- Desi and Danny walked back to back. We are beating the red sox, Durbin is a brave, lannan is a chief - anything else topsy turvy today? This is just strange stuff.

Steve M. said...

P2P, thanks. As you know, unless some hear it from the paid media, it doesn't matter.

Funny how I brought up the Espinosa issue with the K's last week and then the next day Kilgore wrote his story.

Whatever.

David said...

With getting back into the game on the line, Desmond and Espinosa were both able to draw walks. I'll take that as a positive...

Anonymous said...

Can Mattheus go to syracuse now?

natsfan1a said...

P2P, I like to see links/sources, so I looked at Twitter feeds and found an earlier Kilgore tweet. I'm waiting to see something more in depth than a tweet, preferably with thoughts from the parties involved directly (FO and player).

And we're tied up again.

NatsLady said...

Well, that woke up the Bosox side. Mattheus about to lose the battle (and the game) if he's not careful.

natsfan1a said...

That is my preference as a consumer of information, and it's nothing personal, fwiw.

P2P, thanks. As you know, unless some hear it from the paid media, it doesn't matter.

Steve M. said...

FS said...
what? that must be very insulting after publicly being handed the job of fifth starter.

April 03, 2012 5:27 PM


Yep, quite the shocker but the rationale is understandable as Detwiler's role is spot starter and long-man and Wang is ahead of schedule. If it was going to be long-term, then you can understand the initial thought of Lannan as the 5th man.

A DC Wonk said...

phil dunn in vero beach said...

You are watching the same hitless wonders I watched for thirty days here in Florida. Get used to it because this Rizzo constructed team has no offense.

Can I wipe that egg off your face, Phil?

May all our games show as "weak" offense as this one.

natsfan1a said...

Yes, I could hear them awakening over the tv, NatsLady. :-)

natsfan1a said...

Lombo flashing some leather.

jd said...

NatsLady,

In a real game Matheus would never be pitching in the 8th inning of a tight game.

natsfan1a said...

Wonder whether they'd play an extra inning it it's tied up after 9.

Anonymous said...

Steve, the good news if the tip is wrong, natsfan1a will blame Kilgore and not you.

Some people just don't realize the depth of knowledge on here and just blow over it until it is written by the paid press. I guess its there right just seems short sighted.

Steve told us days before Strasburg's injury was diagnosed that it was TJ and the Ryan Zimmerman injury last year and the Prince Fielder meetings. Probably another dozen more insights before anyone else had it.

natsfan1a said...

"if" it's, rather

PAY TO PLAY said...

natsfan1a said...
Wonder whether they'd play an extra inning it it's tied up after 9.

April 03, 2012 5:42 PM

Why don't you ask Kilgore?

PAY TO PLAY said...

Davey burning his #2 catcher as a PH

natsfan1a said...

Sigh. Okay, you're all way smarter and better informed than the rest of us clueless dolts. Happy now?

natsfan1a said...

Good Lord.

Soul Possession, PFB Sofa said...

What, are we playing for points in here?

jd said...

natsfan1a,

no worries. I am not sure where they are going with this either.

Steve M. said...

MPHRod, coming in! Looks like a sign they are only playing 9

PAY TO PLAY said...

natsfan1a, not sure where you are going with it but when one of our own sticks his neck out there and you dismiss it thats your right. I stuck up for him. I don't think Steve really cares either way.

Soul Possession, PFB Sofa said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
natsfan1a said...

Thanks, jd. Just happy to see some baseball.

natsfan1a said...

Um, I'm still here, sec3, but thanks. :-)

Soul Possession, PFB Sofa said...

OK, that was ill-considered. I'm going to go watch, now.

natsfan1a said...

Me, too, while there's still a game to see.

PAY TO PLAY said...

Henry is amp'd up!

NatsBrat said...

I guess that we can assume that Lombo's arm and 3B are not a good fit. That's his 3rd, or is it 4th, throwing E from 3B.

PAY TO PLAY said...

HR hitters heading up. Ramos/Bernadina/Desi

Anonymous said...

Yikes - that was shaky Henry.

PAY TO PLAY said...

NatsBrat, just doesn't look comfortable at 3rd. I know people say small sample size, I just look at his comfort level.

Just wonderin' said...

Assuming the Lannan to AAA story is true, isn't the 5th starter often not used until the second time through the rotation? Might this just be a way to keep two relievers on the roster until the 5th starter is needed? I read the Kilgore story and the Detwiler-as-starter bit is qualified by a 'presumably'.

baseballswami said...

I know it didn't count - but that was some exciting baseball!

natsfan1a said...

Agreed, swami. It all starts counting on Thursday - yay.

natteringnabob said...

A 5th starter is not needed until Apr 14.
If Lannan is optioned today, can he return on Apr 14 (assuming Wang is not ready)?

JaneB said...

Unkyd, thanks for the JEJ. I am shocked by how much I couldn't see of the type, for the tears in my eyes AND how much I knew of it without having to read it. JEJ needs a spot in Cooperstown just by default.

I'm having to work Thursday instead of meeting you all at Duffy's. I'm happy that you get to go, Unkyd.

And wasn't Ian terrific today? I couldn't not mention that.

And tomorrow the countdown clock changes to the best number prior to going away.

Mark'd said...

Rizzo just confirmed on 106.7

Almost Drove Off The Road said...

Shocking news on LannEn

UnkyD said...

Jane B: we'll miss you....

I'm wondering if Desi has recently discovered Wheaties...?

Anonymous said...

MArk Z said...
"6:14 p.m. -- Wow. Espinosa delivers a two-out single up the middle, and Desmond comes racing home, appearing to beat the throw home. But ump Chris Segal calls him out, ending the game. Looks like Segal had a flight to catch."

I heard Segal's a rookie ump. His strike zone was inconsistent. Probably does have a flight to catch, including a change of planes in Sheboygen.

Jim Kurtzke said...

Way too much attention given to Opening Day rosters. With the DLs, inevitable injuries and undeperformances, more important to see who's there around Memorial Day. That'll be the club that takes you through the bulk of the season.

By the way, what a great game for an exhibition game.

Anonymous said...

Danny worked a walk with the bases loaded. He swung at a 2-0 breaking ball in the dirt, but then took another breaker and a fading fast ball outside the zone. Desi worked a walk today, too.

If they keep this up, they could work out at the top of the order. You know Danny wanted to hit away with the bags loaded, but he wouldn't bite on any thing out of the strike zone, except for one where he was fooled.

Maybe those bull sessions with DeRosa are paying off. Last week he would have struck out swinging on those same pitches.

Laddie_Blah_Blah

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