Friday, June 15, 2012

Game 62: Yankees at Nats

Photo by Mark Zuckerman / NATS INSIDER
Nationals Park will be sold out tonight with the Yankees in town.
Rarely, if ever, have the Nationals entered a series with so much hype surrounding them. Hype, as we all know, gets you nothing once a batter steps in the box and a pitcher is handed the ball. So it's time to see what these Nationals are made of and how they stack up against the most-successful franchise in baseball history (not to mention current owners of the best record in the American League).

Gio Gonzalez gets the ball for Game 1 of this weekend showdown, seeking his ninth victory in 13 starts. The left-hander faced the Yankees five times over the last three years ... and he did not fare well (1-4, 7.27 ERA, 47 baserunners in 26 innings). That, of course, was a different Gio Gonzalez wearing an Oakland A's uniform, so we'll see how he responds in his first appearance against the Yanks in a Nats uniform.

Right-hander Phil Hughes (3-0 over his last four starts) takes the mound for New York, facing a Nationals lineup that will look a bit more familiar now without the DH in play.

Plenty of updates to come, so please check back early and often. And if you're coming to the park, be prepared for traffic, construction, Metro delays and crowded lines. In other words, give yourselves plenty of time...

NEW YORK YANKEES at WASHINGTON NATIONALS
Where: Nationals Park
Gametime: 7:05 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN, MLB.tv, MLB Network (outside D.C. market)
Radio: WJFK (106.7 FM), WFED (1500 AM), XM 89
Weather: Sunny, 78 degrees, Wind 8 mph in from RF
NATIONALS (38-23)
LF Steve Lombardozzi
CF Bryce Harper
3B Ryan Zimmerman
1B Adam LaRoche
RF Michael Morse
SS Ian Desmond
2B Danny Espinosa
C Jesus Flores
LHP Gio Gonzalez

YANKEES (37-25)
SS Derek Jeter
CF Curtis Granderson
1B Mark Teixeira
3B Alex Rodriguez
RF Nick Swisher
LF Andruw Jones
C Russell Martin
2B Jayson Nix
RHP Phil Hughes

UMPIRES
HP Marty Foster, 1B Tim Timmons, 2B Jeff Kellogg (cc), Eric Cooper

5:57 p.m. -- For those wondering why Robinson Cano isn't in the Yankees lineup, manager Joe Girardi said he's just giving his second baseman a rare day off. For what it's worth, Cano in his career against Gio Gonzalez is 0-for-9 with two walks and four strikeouts.

7:05 p.m. -- And we are underway on an absolutely gorgeous Friday night in the nation's capital. Gio Gonzalez takes the mound to a huge ovation from the overflow crowd and starts off Derek Jeter with a fastball for ball one.

7:11 p.m. -- Wow, I'm not sure the Nats could've drawn up a better top of the first than we just saw. Gio struck out Jeter on a 3-2, 95-mph fastball. Then he struck out Curtis Granderson on a 3-2, 96-mph fastball. Then Bryce Harper robbed Mark Teixeira of a base hit with a diving catch in shallow center. What a start to this game from the home team's perspective.

7:22 p.m. -- Davey Johnson, earlier this afternoon: "I need the middle of my lineup to perform." Bottom of the first. Two on, one out. Adam LaRoche strikes out swinging. Michael Morse strikes out swinging. Not what Davey was looking for. On the bright side, Ryan Zimmerman did send a solid base hit to right, an encouraging sign considering how much he's been pulling the ball lately (and usually grounding out to short). Scoreless through one.

7:35 p.m. -- He's thrown a whopping 41 pitches already through two innings, but it's tough to complain about the results Gio Gonzalez is getting so far: Five strikeouts, four of them swinging. Three of them came on fastballs of at least 95 mph. The other two came on curveballs. He's a bit wild, but the results speak for themselves.

7:59 p.m. -- And those excess pitches come back to haunt Gio in the third. Jeter doubled off the right-field wall (a classic Jeter double if ever there was one). A two-out walk to Teixeira was a real killer and set the stage for A-Rod to deliver a weak groundball through the right-side hole for an RBI single. Nick Swisher's solid base hit to left made it 2-0 and put the Nats in a hole. Gio has already thrown 63 pitches through three innings. And tonight's crazy stat: The Yankees are 17-0 this season when A-Rod drives in a run.

8:08 p.m. -- The good news: Morse delivered a big hit in a big spot, drilling an 0-2 curveball with the bases loaded back up the middle to drive in the Nats' first run of the night. The bad news: Desmond then grounded into a 6-4-3 double play on the very next pitch, killing the Nats' rally in the bottom of the third. So they now trail 2-1 through three.

8:22 p.m. -- A couple of 1-2-3 fourth innings from each pitcher, a much-needed one for Gio Gonzalez. He's sitting at 79 pitches now through four, ready to take the mound for the top of the fifth still trailing 2-1.

8:38 p.m. -- Seven in a row retired by Hughes since Morse's RBI single in the third. And not one of those batters has hit the ball out of the infield. So it remains 2-1 through five.

9:01 p.m. -- Ian Desmond finally snapped Hughes' streak of consecutive batters retired at nine with a two-out single to left in the sixth. But the rally fizzled as Espinosa struck out looking. That's nine Ks by Hughes through six, and the Nats still trail 2-1.

9:10 p.m. -- Tonight's official paid attendance: 41,685. That's a sellout, folks.

9:25 p.m. -- Well that turned ugly in a hurry. Davey Johnson let Gio take the mound for the seventh, sitting on 107 pitches, then gave him the hook after a leadoff single by Andruw Jones. Curious. Brad Lidge entered and immediately put himself in a bigger hole, walking Russell Martin. A sac bunt put runners on second and third and brought Robinson Cano out of the Yankees dugout to pinch-hit for Hughes to a thunderous roar. That roar turned into boos as the Nats intentionally walked him, loading the bases for Jeter. Lidge got what he wanted: a groundball to the left side. But it was placed just well enough to get past a lunging Zimmerman and forcing Desmond into the hole. And when Desmond's throw bounced past LaRoche, two runs came around to score. Rough play all around. Lefty Michael Gonzalez entered to face Granderson and immediately served up a 2-run double. So just like that, the Nats trail 6-1.

9:42 p.m. -- The Nats are down to their last six outs, so if they plan on getting anything going at the plate, they're about out of time. They've put just one man on base since Morse's RBI single in the third (Desmond's two-out single in the sixth). Just haven't been able to get anything going offensively tonight.

9:50 p.m. -- Nothing happening in the bottom of the eighth as Yankee pitching has now retired 16 of the last 17 Nats batters. This has turned into one of the more feeble showing from the Nationals lineups in some time. Still 6-1 as we go to the ninth.

9:55 p.m. -- Curtis Granderson destroys a pitch from Tom Gorzelanny for his 20th homer. It's 7-1 as we go to the bottom of the ninth, and Yankee fans now outnumber Nats fans still in the park.

10:06 p.m. -- That'll do it. The most anticipating series in Nationals history gets off to a ragged start as the Yankees dominate during a 7-2 victory (they scored a run in the bottom of the ninth). They'll be back out here tomorrow at 1:05 p.m.

163 comments:

MicheleS said...

I am leaving from the Burbs in about 45 minutes.. It looks like there are delays already on 395 - SHOCKER!

I will be in 131 wearing the Blue Gio Shersey! See you at the Park!!!

GYFNG!!!!!

Sunshine_Bobby_Carpenter_Is_Too_Pessimistic_For_Me said...

Love the lineup. Love the pitcher. Love the night.

To coin a phrase in anticipation, "WOOO-HOOO!!!!"
(Copyright, MicheleS, 2011).

Diz said...

Need to take 2 of 3 here.

Going to be tougher than @ Boston or @ Toronto for sure.

I'll be there Saturday! WooHoo!!!

Sunshine_Bobby_Carpenter_Is_Too_Pessimistic_For_Me said...

I'm in 128. I'll be the guy with the Sam Snead straw hat. The only guy with the Sam Snead straw hat.

NatsLady said...

Thanks for the tip. Just heard Clip on 106.7 The Fan--a station that says the "love to talk Nats." Yup, Clip says he has a little "extra" he wants to show the Yanks, namely they got the worst of it for trading him (they probably already know that).

Those guys just as bad as the Canadian, though, trying to get Clip to talk about Bryce not going out drinking after games, what is this obsession? Clip didn't take the bait, just said he doesn't need to, that's fine, (although he allowed as how you never know..)

Main thing, he kept emphasizing the clubouse attitude, the guys in their "roles" and picking each other up. Said even when a starter faulters, they still figure they can win the game.

Pretty extended interview, I got the feeling both Clip and the radio guys could have gone on longer.

baseballswami said...

Just got on the computer and so I missed it - will there be an audio link somewhere to listen to it later?

m20832 said...

GYFNG!!!!!

Water23 said...

Is the Yankees' lineup a secret?

Scooter said...

Water: they're trying to find 8 guys willing to stand in against Gonzalez!

A DC Wonk said...


Sunshine_Bobby_Carpenter_Is_Too_Pessimistic_For_Me said...

Davey -- Hi Davey! -- ought to be manager of the year in a runaway, and retire the award and name it after him. He's been on this since Day 1 of ST. He'd have brought Harper north if it were up to him, after all.


To repeat:

He's been on this since Day 1 of ST.

Yep. Didn't he say something like: "they oughtta fire me if we don't make the playoffs"

natsfan1a said...

Go, go, GIO! Go, NATS!!

And yes, yes he did. :-)

Yep. Didn't he say something like: "they oughtta fire me if we don't make the playoffs"

Grandstander said...

Derek Jeter SS
Curtis Granderson CF
Mark Teixeira 1B
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Nick Swisher RF
Andruw Jones LF
Russell Martin C
Jayson Nix 2B
Phil Hughes RHP

Eugene in Oregon said...

Granstander: Thanks. Anyone know why no Cano? Even without him, that's still a formidable line-up. I don't envy Mr. Gonzalez.

The Real Feel Wood. Accept no substitutes. said...

Where's Cano? Hurt?

Grandstander said...

Apparently he's fine, Girardi wanted to give him a day off and chose to sit him against a lefty. I'm willing to bet we'll see him on a double switch at some point in the game.

Doc said...

Yeah, JoeyG, a day off against a Lefty that he can't hit!

Wad happened to our new power source, Tyler Moore??

You'd think that offensive-minded Davey would give him another shot, maybe in LF!

Grandstander said...

I have a feeling Davey will be using a platoon with Moore and Lombo in LF. Not sure I love that defense, but it's better than having RicK AnKiel in the lineup.

LoveDaNats said...

I have never seen the park so crowded! Worse than opening day! Ready for a win! GYFNG!

MicheleS said...

It's soo crowded!! Lots of Yankees hats,but way more Nats gear!

TimDz said...

Not sure if anyone said this here, but Livo was DFA'd by the Braves...

Grandstander said...

We're about to find out what happens when an unstoppable object meets an immovable force.

timeless46 said...

Am so ready for this game to start! go NATS!!

baseballswami said...

Looks and sounds like a crowd with a lot of Natitude! Nice!

djinFl. said...

26 more innings like that and we will be real PFB happy. Just the way Davey drew it up.

Eugene in Oregon said...

Twenty-four outs to go.

Anonymous said...

GOD, I MISS TYLER MOORE ALREADY!!!!!!

baseballswami said...

Two on , one out and the middle of the order does not get it done. Please adjust.

NatsLady said...

FLores == > the "human bruise" behind the plate.

SFNats said...

Yes, by all means let's bench the Nats best hitter so far this season (ALR) and the Nats best hitter from last season (Morse), that's a ticket for success.

UnkyD said...

Throw Strikes!!!

NatsLady said...

Davey will be saying Gio is not efficient.

Gonat said...

Gio is really nibbling.

Gonat said...

NatsJack, do I owe you a Coke for that?

Eugene in Oregon said...

Twenty-one outs to go.

Too many pitches.

NatsLady said...

OK, Gio, that's better. He might only go 6 at this rate but the BP is rested.

Gonat said...

MLB is really pushing Harper & Trout for the All Star game. Is marketing the young exciting players important? Yes.

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120614&content_id=33326276&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb

Gonat said...

41 pitches for Gio. Needs a 10 pitch 3rd inning!!!

SFNats said...

It worked for SS on Wednesday. Threw 40-some pitches in the first two and then settled down. Hopefully Gio will do the same.

Eugene in Oregon said...

Watching Gio chat it up, laugh it up with the Lerner family there made we wonder what he must have been like as an 11-year-old Little Leaguer -- or as a 13-year-old middle school student!

NatsFan05 said...

Tim,

Sorry to here about Livo being let go by Atlanta. I always liked him as a Nat and wish him the best wherever he ends up.

Gonat said...

Michael Morse positioned perfectly for that liner by Granderson.

Gonat said...

Really don't like how Gio who is a power pitcher is pitching "nervous". Wasting a lot of pitches to pitch around a batter will mean a short night.

Gonat said...

2 runs in. Shaking my head. Not what I expected from Gio. 63 pitches in 3 innings and the Yanks are turning over their lineup quickly.

mick said...

I wish our fans will boo the NY fans when they cheer, drown their ass out like we did to the phillies fans

mick said...

Gonat... this why the Yankees are the Yankees. Hopefully we can be them one day and score when we have 2 on and our 3 and 4 hitters not striking out.

mick said...

Adam baby, Tyler Moore is waiting to take your spot

UnkyD said...

mikey morse, hacks the gorse
BEAST MODE
BEAST MODE

mikey morse, hacks the gorse
BEAST MODE
BEAST MODE

mikey morse, hacks the gorse
BEAST MODE
BEAST MODE

mick said...

Now that is what we were waiting for Michhael

Gonat said...

BEAST MODE!!!!

Gonat said...

Ian Desmond swinging at a 1st pitch curveball which dropped in the zone. As good as a sinker. Can't let that happen. 1 out. Need a ball up. PLEASE SCREW ON YOUR HEADS

Gonat said...

Andruw Jones batting .221 and Gio pitching him like he is batting .321 Another 5 pitches to Jones.

mick said...

HP umpire sucks for both teams. Its frustrating that we have two top teams playing and a an umpire with a garbage strike zone

Gonat said...

Now to everyone talking about the mighty Yankees, only 1 player in this lineup hitting above .279 and that is Derek Jeter.

When you want to play with the big boys you can't make excuses. Get 'er done!

mick said...

agreed Ian's at bat sucked

mick said...

what is story on Yankee bullpen? I have no clue

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

Nats 1 for 5 RISP with another double play. Quit doing that. Hit like Arod off the end of the bat in ahole. Uanks 2 for 3 with RISP.

mick said...

disagree with FP, that same pitch has been a ball last inning. HP ump just sucks

Gonat said...

Davey in his pre-game interview said "This is a war. Today is just another battle in the war".

Gonat said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Gonat said...

Manassas Nats' Fan said...
Nats 1 for 5 RISP with another double play. Quit doing that. Hit like Arod off the end of the bat in ahole. Uanks 2 for 3 with RISP.

June 15, 2012 8:18 PM
____________________________

Not sure you meant to write ahole or a hole, but you got me laughing because ARoid is how you wrote it.

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

I forgot to count GIo leaving Flores on the second 1 for 6 RISP

mick said...

I am impressed with Hughes

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

my bad but funny

mick said...

Ok can GIo go at least 6 with pitch count at 79 in 5th?

mick said...

come on Ump????

baseballswami said...

The Nats achilles heel - the young guys get on and then the middle of the order fails. The inning we scored, Zim's ab was not productive, Morse came through, then it stalled again. When we have chances to scores runs in bunches, we don't. We had a chance in the first and should have scored more than one in that inning.

mick said...

we need at least a run in the bot of 5, top of order up

Gonat said...

Toronto just lost another pitcher. Drew Hutchison pulled after 9 pitches. Drabek has a torn elbow ligament (uh oh). Then there was Morrow with the oblique.

mick said...

swami.. you took the words out of my mouth

mick said...

good gracious... is it something in the Canadian water? lol

Gonat said...

baseballswami said...
The Nats achilles heel - the young guys get on and then the middle of the order fails. The inning we scored, Zim's ab was not productive, Morse came through, then it stalled again. When we have chances to scores runs in bunches, we don't. We had a chance in the first and should have scored more than one in that inning.

June 15, 2012 8:29 PM
__________________________

Agreed and its no different than 53 of the previous 61 games.

baseballswami said...

I do feel badly for toronto -- and not JUST because I wanted them to win tonight ( really). gio should be able to go further, who knows? He may just go out there and throw 2 more innings very efficiently. He is getting squeezed, a bit.

baseballswami said...

Somebody tell John Lannan to stay near the phone....

Gonat said...

mick said...
good gracious... is it something in the Canadian water? lol

June 15, 2012 8:31 PM
________________________________

You have to feel sorry for him. Initial reports on Drabek was elbow strain.

Keep in mind that Drabek has had 1 Tommy John surgery already in his career.

Grandstander said...

Anyone know the deal with Bernadina? Is he available tonight?

Gonat said...

Zim with a horrible at-bat. Flailing out of his cleats on the outside pitch.

phil dunton said...

Zimmerman--How did Mr. Clutch morph into Mr. Choke?

mick said...

Gonat, did not know Drabek had Tommy J surg

I have a feeling tonight's game was over after the 2 lousy at bats in the second inning by LaRoche and Morse. That bottom of 5 was one of the worst at bats I have seen by our 1-3 hitters.

mick said...

having said that, Hughes is very under rated

mick said...

I have no confidence in Zim right now

Gonat said...

Grandstander said...
Anyone know the deal with Bernadina? Is he available tonight?

June 15, 2012 8:39 PM
____________________________

He's not available tonight. He has a girlfriend.

mick said...

This would have been a great game for Chad Tracey to hit

mick said...

I am done with this crappy UMpire

Gonat said...

When did Gio finally figure out that he should pitch to contact instead of nibble, nibble, nibble.

Now the Nats need to get him 2 or 3 runs!!!!

Gonat said...

As they say, LaRoche gave that a ride. So close.

Gonat said...

Why couldn't Desi put together that type of AB the last time up? Nicely done.

Grandstander said...

What, precisely, was Danny looking for there? I haven't gotten on him at all this season, but I really thought he was putting it together, only to see it all fall apart tonight. Yeesh.

mick said...

that was weak and PATHETIC by Espinoza.. My god davey, the kid can only bat right handed. Why not have started Moore who was red hot yesterday in Left field and put Lombo at 2b, HELLO DAVEY!!!!

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

Of course dDesi gets a hit when no one is on after grounding into double play.

What is Eck andEpsi working on? Espi swings at two pitches that really high, and on strike 3, one right down the middle he doesn't even think about swinging? I love to hear the coach on this one to know what he is teaching him.

Gonat said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
mick said...

Espi still swings late and with no confidence left handed. I don't get it. Moore is on fire, why not play him tonight??

mick said...

Gio did very well, not his fault.

MicheleS said...

Not sure how i feel about Lidge coming in.

mick said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
mick said...

I bet Davey, PH Moore tonight and he is not ready for that role yet. I know Davey is a great manager, but playing Espi tonight verse a right handed pitcher, when both Lombo and Moore are hitting is just crazy

Gonat said...

Espi is the only batter (beside Gio) who hasn't reached base.

Yesterday there was a spirited debate with Bowdenball and Wonk about this improved Espi.

Still swinging at high heat and still striking out way too much. 2 K's so far tonight.

baseballswami said...

Once again, though, folks -- he gave up 2 runs, you can't win baseball games if you can't outscore two runs.

mick said...

oh well, maybe we can win Sat and Sun cause we are done tonight and were out coached

Gonat said...

Wow, fake bunt by Martin to aid Wise in stealing. pRAA may think that is Little League.

Gonat said...

For those asking about Cano, wouldn't be surprised to see him pinch-hit.

Gonat said...

mick said...
oh well, maybe we can win Sat and Sun cause we are done tonight and were out coached

June 15, 2012 9:08 PM
_________________________

Here we go again. Its a 1 run lead. Can you keep the dumb comments to yourself please.

mick said...

dumb comments. both hitting and lack of hitting are contagious. we have no answer for Hughes tonight and are about to give up a at least 1 run. Its not our night, whats stupid about the comment???

Gonat said...

Gonat said...
For those asking about Cano, wouldn't be surprised to see him pinch-hit.

June 15, 2012 9:10 PM
_______________________________

And there you go.

mick said...

we are also playing championship team that knows how to hold leads and manufacture insurance runs!

Nats Fan in Brazil said...

Why Lidge? Why?

Gonat said...

mick said...
dumb comments. both hitting and lack of hitting are contagious. we have no answer for Hughes tonight and are about to give up a at least 1 run. Its not our night, whats stupid about the comment???

June 15, 2012 9:13 PM
________________________________

Think about it and re-read what you wrote at a time that the Nats are the home team and behind by 1 run.

mick said...

Umnpire SUCKS!!!!

Gonat said...

Ump fell asleep on the 0-1 to Jeter. Are you kidding me?

mick said...

HP ump is GARBAGE!!!!

Holden Baroque said...

Its not our night, whats stupid about the comment???

Questions that answer themselves.

MicheleS said...

Lidge is giving me heartburn

mick said...

so whose STUPID, ???

mick said...

Ian woof woof your a dog tonight

Holden Baroque said...

Pretty unimpressive work from Lidge. He looked tentative to me, unsure of his stuff.

Holden Baroque said...

Your stupid.

Gonat said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
mick said...

its not our night and it was clear after the 6th inning, Desmond did not help matters either, we won 6 in row and hopefully we can start hitting the ball in front of our fans tomorrow

FP sounds ridiculous saying Ian is better than Jeter.

Ian was a CLOWN tonight

Nats Fan in Brazil said...

Lidge should never been in this game! I love davey, but what a STUPID DECISION RIGHT HERE!

Holden Baroque said...

E6, but LaRoche was nowhere near that ball, expecting a much higher bounce. Some days you get the bear...

mick said...

soul... why am i stupid/

Holden Baroque said...

Ah, merde.

Holden Baroque said...

I find your lack of faith disturbing.

Holden Baroque said...

And your English abominable.

Nats Fan in Brazil said...

Worst Davey's game ever?

mick said...

Soul Possession, My Hitterish Sofa said...
Its not our night, whats stupid about the comment???

so why is that stupid, its 7-2 Yankees and what the heck is wrong with saying its not our night?

Gonat said...

and this officially now became ugly. Gio ends his night with 3 earned. Lidge ends his with 3 earned.

I will give Lidge some credit though. He had Jeter swinging on top of a perfectly placed fastball and Zim couldn't reach it.

What can you say. A game of inches.

mick said...

frankly, i find you abominable

mick said...

Lidge did not hurt us, Gio probbaly should have not started the 7th at 109 pitches. Davey had a bad game tonight, out coached, Dumb decision not to play Moore

Nats Fan in Brazil said...

Please gonat do not give lidge any credit! he is awful, has been awful and will continue to be awful!

Gonat said...

Every time the Nats fall behind, Mick goes on a tirade. You start talking stupidity when the Nats were behind 2-1.

Now you can probably put a fork in 'em at 6-1, but we play the game and see what happens. Its 1 game out of 162.

I for one thought Gio pitched "nervous" for the 1st 3 innings and it cost him and the Nats.

baseballswami said...

Lidge barely did any rehab innings and has not gotten in very much since. So you put him in a high stress situation? Sure - the offense has been pretty flat, but Gio really battled. Pretty sure he would not have given up 4 before getting 3 outs. Everyone else is very well rested.

Holden Baroque said...

One of us cares about that.

I'm not helping here, I'm going back to work.

mick said...

Gonat said...
Every time the Nats fall behind, Mick goes on a tirade. You start talking stupidity when the Nats were behind 2-1.


are you joking, what tirade? I said Gio pitched well, and tonight wa snot our night and that hopefully we can take the next two. davey had a bad game tonight too but he wins more tha he loses. where is the tirade. alos, others in here said they thought it was Davey's worst job ever, hell i least never said that.

Gonat said...

Nats212 said...
Please gonat do not give lidge any credit! he is awful, has been awful and will continue to be awful!

June 15, 2012 9:26 PM
_____________________________

He let Martin off the hook after starting him 0-2, that was bad. Davey called for the intentional walk of Cano.

Lidge should have been ahead of Jeter 0-2 and the ump blows the strike call and that changed the entire at-bat but when he comes back and gets the grounder.

I give credit where credit is due. He made the pitch and induced the grounder. The result was horrible.

mick said...

also, I think at 2-1 I had a pretty good feel of how this would end up and the 7-1 score kinda proves me right. i also said early on that Hughes was impressive and that is another reason we were done early

mick said...

Is this the most runs we have lost by this season if the score holds, I think it is. at least we still may be up 4 1/2

Gonat said...

mick said...
also, I think at 2-1 I had a pretty good feel of how this would end up and the 7-1 score kinda proves me right. i also said early on that Hughes was impressive and that is another reason we were done early

June 15, 2012 9:31 PM
_______________________________

Wow, you are amazing. You could forsee the 7th inning meltdown.

You keep digging a deeper hole for yourself and are great in hindsight.

rogieshan said...

Walking the first guy he faced was brutal, but I guess Johnson needed to see if Lidge could still get batters out in a close ballgame.

Now he knows.

Looking forward to Ryan Mattheus coming back.

mick said...

AL is 68-58 over NL

oldguyjim said...

DFA Lidge tomorrow!

baseballswami said...

But yet the AL whines incessantly about about their pitchers having to hit. sheesh. Maybe we can get to their bullpen for a huge comeback!!!!!! Really - offense very flat tonight - had chances and didn't convert. Where have we heard this before?

mick said...

Lidge can not help this team in the long run. the problem is Mattheus got rocked ;last time he pitched in AAA.

The whole key will be Storen coming back healthy. then you go with Clip, Burnett, Gorzo, Stammen, and Storen. maybe you keep Gonzales. Lidge simply did not work out and its good that we know now, while up in the standings. HRod should probably have the rest of the season ooff too and then 2013 is his make or break year

baseballswami said...

I seriously hope the offense wakes up tomorrow - Jordan is pitching .......

NatsLady said...

I agree with mick. Game was basically over when Nats left it at 2-1 in the 3rd. Then with Hughes dominant for the next 3 innings (4, 5, 6), Davey decided it was lesson time. Left Gio in for 7th--probably because Gio lobbied for it--when Gio gave up the single he tested Lidge, etc. Davey would have made completely different decisions if it had been a 2-2 game.

Sloppy work by the infield, really sloppy (and not just Desi).

You watch, Nats will win the next 2.

mick said...

Gonat... i'll just say this, i had a feel for what would transpire, you have no right to attack me about it. i never attack anyone in here and i find it disturbing when one attacks me. its as if you and others can criticize players, coaches, moves, but if anyone else does, you go after them. think about that

mick said...

there you go Nats lady! lets win Sat and Sun

mick said...

Jordan needs a good game

mick said...

Yankees are playing great ball, may be playing the best ball in the AL right now. we ran into the Marlins when they were playing great.

mick said...

I hope Davey at least gives Moore an AB tonight

phil dunton said...

Laroche is looking more and more like Rick Ankiel with the bat.

NatsLady said...

Just like the Dodgers in April. Nats got swept, seemed very demoralizing. Turned out it wasn't the end of the world. Would rather lose to the Yanks now than in October.

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

I was watching game with nephew and when Lidge came in my nephew threw the white dish cloth at the TV, claiming FDavey was surrendering. Apears he was right. I am going to get Lidge's numbers recently, because I know they not good. When Mattheus comes back, maybe if things don't change a DFA might occur.

rogieshan said...

I hope how the team fares this weekend will have no bearing on whether Giolito signs or not.

It appears the problem with Lidge is the batters are laying off of his slider, forcing him to use his now average fastball.

NatsLady said...

See, Gorzy gives up his usual run. Think how frustrating this would be if it were close. :)

mick said...

Got to forget this game as soon as it ends. if I'm Davey, I move on and tell the guys, "OK we got this stinker out of our system, we have a sell out crowds at home ready to embrace us, now let's go out and take the next two"

mick said...

Nats lady... agreed on Gorzo, he cannot be a long term solution, i hope and pray Storen comes back 100%. If that happens, we are solid in the pen with Burnett, Clip, Drew, Mattheus and Gonzales, with Detweiler your long reliever.

mick said...

my beef with Davey tonight was not playing Moore tonight, especially with Hughes being a right handed pitcher. Put Lombo at 2b Moore in outfield and let Espi sit out tonight.

NatsLady said...

Gorzy is useful as long as you don't expect too much from him.

mick said...

come on boys, make the scoore respectable.. where is Moore, why not have the crowd cheer him after his game in toronto. Come on Davey!!!

mick said...

phil... was that LaRoche or ankiel batting last, lol

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

Glad we haven't had many ugly ones like this . THis looked more like the 2008, 2009, 2010 Nats.

Worse than three losses to the marlins in this one.

Desi's double play killed the momentum.
Lidge killed any possible come back.
Gio needs to not throw so many balls so he can at least 7 innings. McCatty needs to preach this.

Thanks to Eck our hitters made Phil Highes looked as good Jason verlander.

Tomorrow Zim needs to come and kick but

baseballswami said...

Is this our worst loss this year so far? Hate to see it happen to the evil empire in front of sell-out crowds on national tv :( But, it's one loss - game tomorrow. Come on Jordan! Come on offense! Gio with only 3 earned, the big score is basically on Lidge -- can he really contribute as a big-league reliever anymore? Offense looked pretty flat and has faced better pitching this year. Mick - don't hold your breath waiting for Davey to ever admit he should have made a different decision - it's never going to happen. He will blame the players, but never himself.

ehay2k said...

Missed most of the game for my son's playoff game (they won, but he was drilled in the back by a pitch and left the game.)

However, I just saw the end of Lidge's effort and I agree, he is not going to challenge many people. His slider was pretty flat, and the ones I saw looked like they started off the plate. Looked easy to lay off it. Everyone on the staff has a livlier fastball than Lidge at the moment.

So, maybe Davey knew something we didn't and basically threw in the towel. Everyone looked flat. Perhaps last night at the gala took a lot out of the Nats?

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