Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Game 65: Rays at Nats

Photo by Mark Zuckerman / NATS INSIDER
Chien-Ming Wang faces David Price in tonight's series opener at Nationals Park.
Licking their wounds after a sweep at the hands of the Yankees, the Nationals don't get any break this week. The Tampa Bay Rays come to town beginning tonight, and they'll have their ace (former No. 1 draft pick David Price) on the mound for the opener of this interleague series.

With the left-hander on the mound, the Nationals counter with a right-handed heavy lineup. That means Danny Espinosa is leading off, with Tyler Moore in left field and Steve Lombardozzi on the bench. Ryan Zimmerman and Michael Morse are hitting in the prized No. 3 and No. 4 spots; each slumping hitter is currently taking a round of early batting practice with hitting coach Rick Eckstein, manager Davey Johnson and GM Mike Rizzo all watching from the behind the cage.

Chien-Ming Wang, meanwhile, gets the ball for his fourth start of the season, hoping this will be the start he completes six full innings for the first time. The Nationals could certainly use a quality outing out of the veteran right-hander.

Updates to come...

TAMPA BAY RAYS at WASHINGTON NATIONALS
Where: Nationals Park
Gametime: 7:05 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN2, MLB.tv
Radio: WJFK (106.7 FM), WFED (1500 AM), XM 187
Weather: Partly cloudy, 85 degrees, Wind 7 mph out to LF
NATIONALS (38-26)
2B Danny Espinosa
CF Bryce Harper
3B Ryan Zimmerman
RF Michael Morse
1B Adam LaRoche
SS Ian Desmond
LF Tyler Moore
C Jesus Flores
RHP Chien-Ming Wang

RAYS (37-29)
LF Desmond Jennings
1B Carlos Pena
CF B.J. Upton
RF Matt Joyce
2B Ben Zobrist
C Jose Lobaton
SS Elliot Johnson
3B Will Rhymes
LHP David Price

UMPIRES
HP Tim Tschida (cc), 1B Jeff Nelson, 2B Cory Blaser, 3B Chris Guccione

6:35 p.m. -- Some pregame news and notes ... Davey Johnson thinks Ryan Zimmerman may be compensating for his previously injured shoulder when swinging the bat. The shoulder doesn't bother him anymore, but he may have fallen into some bad habits while thinking about the shoulder. "Those things a lot of times are in your subconscious," Johnson said. "I think he's OK. It's not bothering him to the point where ... but I think, just like my creaky shoulder, you can test it, maybe carrying your hands higher, trying to free it up. And you need to get that out of your mind and get into a comfortable position. Not test it, trust it. Basically that's all. I wanted him to feel more relaxed and express his ability. And I feel sure he will."

6:37 p.m. -- Meanwhile, Davey had plenty of encouraging words for Michael Morse as well: "He came in after the game Sunday and wanted me to drop him down in the lineup, says: 'I'm killing the team.' No, you're not killing the team. You're going to be fine. You'll be carrying us in a minute. I'm not worried. I don't want you worrying."

6:39 p.m. -- Plenty of injury updates on Jayson Werth, Chad Tracy and others in this full article. And here's the news on the June 1 rainout against the Braves, which will now be made up as a day-night doubleheader on July 21.

7:05 p.m. -- And we are underway on a sticky summer night in D.C. Chien-Ming Wang starts off Desmond Jennings with a ball.

7:20 p.m. -- That was a laborious top of the first, to say the least. Despite getting two strikes on all five batters he faced (including 0-2 counts on three of them), Wang still allowed three singles and gave up a run. Fortunately, he was bailed out by a 4-6-3 double play and a flyout to left. But Wang has got to figure out how to put away hitters once he gets two strikes on them. That's a problem. 1-0 Rays as we go to the bottom of the first.

7:33 p.m. -- It wasn't a work of art, but the Nats will take the run they scored in the bottom of the first to tie this game up. Danny Espinosa started things off with a solid single to left-center, raising his average against left-handers to a stout .388. That's the fourth-best mark in the NL. Bryce Harper, on the other hand, looked silly trying to make contact with David Price's 0-2, 97-mph fastball. Ryan Zimmerman rapped another grounder to the left side of the infield for the second out, though Espinosa (who previously stole second) advanced to third on the play. Michael Morse then hit a ball just inside the bag at third base and would have been out had Will Rhymes' throw not skipped past Carlos Pena. That was curiously scored as an error on Pena (despite the fact the throw was bounced) but the Nats and Morse will happily take it. 1-1 after one.

7:37 p.m. -- By the way, I forgot to mention earlier that Jeremy Hellickson (who was scheduled to start tomorrow for Tampa Bay) has been placed on the DL with a shoulder injury. So it'll be right-hander Chris Archer (4-8 with a 4.81 ERA at Class AAA Durham) making his big-league debut tomorrow night against Stephen Strasburg.

7:51 p.m. -- Ian Desmond lofts Price's 1-1 pitch in the bottom of the second to center field ... and it just keeps going and going until it clears the fence. Didn't think he hit the ball that hard off the bat, but there it is: Desmond's 11th homer of the season, a new career-high. It's 2-1 Nats after two.

8:08 p.m. -- You had a sense Wang might be in for a tough night, and that hunch has proven true. He just gave up four runs in the top of the third, an inning that included two walks (each batter coming around to score), a two-run triple off the wall in left-center by Elliot Johnson and a two-run homer way over the center-field fence by Carlos Pena. Ross Detwiler was up and throwing in the bullpen before the inning ended, and when Wang finally did get through the frame and returned to the dugout, he was greeted by a healthy dose of boos. The Nats now trail 5-2.

8:27 p.m. -- The fourth inning began with Wang retaking the mound but Detwiler already warming in the pen. It figured to be a short leash for Wang, and that's exactly what it was. He walked Price (the opposing pitcher) to begin the inning, and though he struck out Jennings, Davey Johnson emerged from the dugout to summon Detwiler. Wang exited to some more boos. Detwiler, meanwhile, struck out Pena on a 96 mph high fastball (slightly different than the 88 mph sinker Pena crushed off Wang for a homer the previous inning) and then struck out B.J. Upton on a 82 mph breaking ball. That, folks, was a bullpen guy pleading his case to return to the rotation. Still 5-2 as we go to the bottom of the fourth.

8:48 p.m. -- Detwiler has settled things down from the pitching side, but the Nats are doing nothing at the moment at the plate. Price has put three men on base since Desmond's homer in the second, but all three were retired on double plays. So he's basically faced the minimum since then. We go to the sixth, with the Nats still trailing 5-2.

8:58 p.m. -- Detwiler has faced eight batters ... and retired all eight. Can't make much more of a statement than that. Now, can his teammates get those three runs back?

9:10 p.m. -- Weeks from now, it's entirely possible we'll look back at the bottom of the sixth inning of this game as a turning point for Ryan Zimmerman and Michael Morse. It's entirely possible we won't, but if you're going to snap out of a long slump, that's the way to do it. Zimmerman started it with a sharp single to left. Morse then delivered his first homer of the season, a lined rocket just over the out-of-town scoreboard in right-center. The umps went down the tunnel to review the play, but the homer stood. So just like that, the lead is down to 5-4, and maybe -- just maybe -- these two stalwarts are about to get their swings locked in.

9:27 p.m. -- Detwiler is done after 3 2/3 near-perfect innings. His only blemish: a hit-by-pitch. Otherwise, no runs allowed, no hits allowed, no walks issued. That's a pretty strong statement, folks. Michael Gonzalez in for the eighth, the Nats still trailing 5-4.

9:50 p.m. -- Holy cow, it's the Brendan Donnelly/Jose Guillen incident all over again! Joel Peralta was ejected before ever throwing a pitch in the eighth because of a foreign substance found in his glove! I guarantee you someone from the Nats' dugout -- someone who was with the team in 2010 when Peralta pitched here -- knew he used something illegal and brought it to Davey Johnson's attention. Just like Jose Guillen did with Brendan Donnelly in 2005 in Anaheim. The only thing missing tonight was Davey and Joe Maddon going toe-to-toe, a la Frank Robinson and Mike Scioscia. Even weirder coincidence: The crew chief tonight is Tim Tschida. He was also on the crew for that 2005 game!

9:56 p.m. -- Meanwhile, the Nats did nothing in the bottom of the eighth, so they still trail 5-4 as we go to the ninth.

10:12 p.m. -- Well, that all turned out to do nothing to help the Nationals' cause. Jake McGee and Fernando Rodney closed this one out and sealed a 5-4 Rays victory. The Nats have lost four in a row ... though they did create some intrigue for the rest of this series.

268 comments:

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CN said...

Makes a lot of sense to include Moore in the RH-heavy lineup. Nady seems to make just enough plays (pivotal HR in early-April, stepping up PH duties, catch @ Fenway, etc) to have that direct deposit continuing. I hope the team's in for a reverse lock tonight, have fun to those going to the game, stay hydrated the rest of the homestand!

Anonymous said...

Not an encouraging pitching matchup but you never know.

Man, Zim and Morse have to get it going. I realize that will not qualify as a great insight -- or any kind of insight.

It is just a plea.

It's also the annual Night OUT at the Nationals, and the Gay Men's Chorus of Washington will provide what is always one of the very best renditions of the Star-Spangled Banner of the season, so get there early!

CN said...

Saturday's game at Camden Yards is not on MASN, but on Fox Regional Sports. Anyone have any idea what channel that would be locally? I checked Fox 5 on the DVR, but didn't see the game on the guide.

MicheleS said...

GYFNG!!! Hopefully the brain trust fixed the boppers!!

natsfan1a said...

Haven't yet set the DVR for Saturday so not sure what is showing up for me (Verizon). And, not to dis a veteran in Wang, but a reverse lock sounds good. :-)

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

The Saturday game will be on Fox 5 in DC, just like the Saturday game in the earlier Nats-O's series was. It's one of the regional Baseball Night in America telecasts on Fox.

The real question is who the announcers will be. Carpenter and Billy Ripken again?

CN said...

Thanks pRAA, I must've missed it on the DVR guide, could've sworn I saw a whole bunch of infomercials during the 1 - 4 slot on Fox 5.

CN said...

With Price & Matt Moore sandwiching Helickson, looks like Tyler Moore will get two starts. Hard to see him getting sent back down when DeRosa comes back. Werth is about half way through the 12 week time table, was good to see him this past weekend w/o the wrist brace.

It has been decreed, the reverse lock is on tonight...

natsfan1a said...

If so, time to get the refreshing red Nats beverage ready for Billy. (Thanks, F.P. :-))

The real question is who the announcers will be. Carpenter and Billy Ripken again?

Anonymous said...

Really hoping for a rebound tonight. I think the sweep to the Yanks hurt a lot more than just some random 3 games spread over a season.

When you first see the Yankees on the schedule, you start making plans...getting tickets or extra tickets and building a family weekend around the series. Then they just lay these huge eggs, and you remember the national TV game against the Phils this year, lose again, the big Harper debut in LA with all the buzz...get swept...it just really makes you wonder if this team is going to do anything when the bright lights are on in the fall.

Definitely upbeat, first place and all that, but the background sound is of doing nothing on big occasions.

MicheleS said...

CN
Saturday's game is at 7 pm

natsfan1a said...

Prior to this year, my recollection is that the Nats have taken the series whenever they've faced the Yankees, in DC and in New York.

When you first see the Yankees on the schedule, you start making plans...getting tickets or extra tickets and building a family weekend around the series. Then they just lay these huge eggs

natsfan1a said...

But maybe the reference was to this season's series only, in which case, never mind. :-)

Anonymous said...

do1teach1-

You have a strangely selective memory. The series in Boston wasn't a big deal? What about opening day, or the home opener? Or the other Sunday night national game against the Braves?

CN said...

Thanks, MicheleS. I assumed it was one of those Saturday matinee affairs. I will cancel my 3 hours of sham-wow recordings for 3 hrs of Nats bam-pow baseball...

Steady Eddie said...

While Price can be a great pitcher, not so sure this lineup is necessarily in the reverse lock mode.

Espi has been a good RH hitter this year, and TMoore may still have some heat left from his Jays start. If we can get #3 or #4 going, and Harp is not in the "I have to hit 3 dingers at every AB" mode, we could do OK.

Holden Baroque said...

Yankees, Schmankees. The standings aren't ranked based on fan expectations, they're all just wins or losses out of 162. The Nats are in first place by four games.

GYFNG.

NatsLady said...

Rays lineup:

Rays Lineup

https://twitter.com/RaysBaseball/status/215177197365899264/photo/1

CN said...

This just in, Helickson is on the DL, so he'll miss tmw's start:
http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/06/19/jeremy-hellickson-lands-on-disabled-list-with-right-shoulder-fatigue/

Tcostant said...

Kimball is starting his rehab now...

http://www.fleaflicker.com/mlb/news-item?newsId=29626

Section 222 said...

NL -- Any idea where that pic of the Rays lineup comes from? It's colorcoded according to with the batters are LH (Blue), RH (Black) or Switch Hitters (Orange). Cool. Aren't the official lineup cards handwritten?

Holden Baroque said...

the reverse lock is on tonight...

That's right, we're DOOMED. DOOMED, I tellya!~

natsfan1a said...

222, looks like it's the official Twitter account of the Rays.

natsfan1a said...

In other news, I've always liked Joe Maddon, but for the next three days, I'm rooting against him. grrr... :-)

Holden Baroque said...

222, it seems to be from the Rays theyselves.

Holden Baroque said...

*sigh*. Just put it on my tab, 1a.

Section 222 said...

1a, right, I saw that. But it's a picture of an actual lineup card. I just wonder what it is.

Candide said...

do1teach1 said...

When you first see the Yankees on the schedule, you start making plans...getting tickets or extra tickets and building a family weekend around the series. Then they just lay these huge eggs, and you remember the national TV game against the Phils this year, lose again, the big Harper debut in LA with all the buzz...get swept...it just really makes you wonder if this team is going to do anything when the bright lights are on in the fall.


(...pull pin from grenade, toss into post, step back...)

So you're saying the Nats are a bunch of choking dogs in the big games...?

natsfan1a said...

Yay, a refreshing beverage from sec3!

Ah, I see, sec222. Maybe one of Maddon's innovations?

Holden Baroque said...

222, a brief bit of digging into the Rays' twitter feed shows they have done that color-coded thing before, but not every time.

NatsLady said...

222, no idea. Pulled it off Twitter. Am at work so not a lot of time to do research. :)

Holden Baroque said...

So you're saying the Nats are a bunch of choking dogs in the big games...?

More like, he's saying they would be choking dogs in big games, if they ever get that far. Based on a three-game set. Against a hot opponent. In mid-June. Because it's against a team he's personally heard of before.

Holden Baroque said...

OK, that last part may have been a bit harsh. But still. Frack the fracking Yankees. Two billion dollars, and they win one title? Please.

NatsLady said...

But it's good Madden color-codes them in case the guys forget which way they hit, y'know, like the Yanks not understanding double-switches....

Section 222 said...

Two billion dollars, and they win one title? Please.

Harper on Nationals baseball has a good takedown of Boz for saying the Yankees are a failure because they've only one one title in the last decade. He does consistently good analysis I think. One of the most insightful blogs in the Natsosphere.

Ghost Of Steve M. said...

Wow,.just read Morse asked to be moved down in the order because he is hurting the team. Davey responded with reassurance.

That's what a team leader does!

NatsLady said...

More trouble for the Fillies. Why do these guys (including our minor-leagues) not think they are going to get caught?

freddy-galvis-gets-50-game-ped-suspension

http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/06/19/freddy-galvis-gets-50-game-ped-suspension/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

pRAA said...

Harper on Nationals baseball has a good takedown of Boz for saying the Yankees are a failure because they've only one one title in the last decade. He does consistently good analysis I think

This dude is a closet Yankees fan. The Yankees are "his AL team." That's all you need to know about him.

Candide said...

Section 222 said...

Harper on Nationals baseball has a good takedown of Boz for saying the Yankees are a failure because they've only one one title in the last decade.


Good read.

Something I noticed some years ago:

People hate rich team owners when they spend a lot of money on a losing team (e.g., Peter Angelos).

People hate rich team owners when they spend a lot of money on a winning team (e.g., Steinbrenner and Sons, LLC).

People hate rich team owners when they're cheapskates with a losing team (e.g., Lerner and Sons, LLC).

The common thread: People hate rich baseball team owners no matter what they do.

The late Abe Pollin being the only exception I can think of.

MicheleS said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
pRAA said...

The common thread: People hate rich baseball team owners no matter what they do.

The late Abe Pollin being the only exception I can think of.


Oh, there are other people besides Pollin who aren't rich baseball team owners. Billions of them. All over the world.

baseballswami said...

Completely out of the picture all day with work stuff and finding that there have been multiple posts today and tons of comments to skim! I think I will need an adult beverage to get through all of them. I found the congressional quote of Bryce to be hilarious. He manages to make news in more than one section of the newspaper. Does the new catcher know about the Nats' recent catcher history? And he still signed? Is he wearing crystals and charms around his neck? I am really hoping to see the Nats play a good baseball game tonight. I am also hoping CMW doesn't have to field the ball or run. He is so unlike the other four who are so good at hitting and fielding - must be all that wussy american league play. By the way - I want to start an early campaign to get Jordan in the conversation for gold glove and Strassie for silver slugger. Strassie and Jordan are hitting 350 and 318! Limited sample size - but not that little for pitchers. Jordan has made some amazing defensive plays - a really good one his last start. Too bad there is no staff silver slugger or our staff would definitely win! I think the organization should tell Wang to just stand there.

Holden Baroque said...

Boz calling the Yankees "the biggest failure in sports" (or words to that effect) might have been the teensiest bit overstated--hyperbole for rhetorical effect; trollish, even--but he did write it, so I guess it's fair game to respond as if he were serious. Disingenuous, maybe, but fair enough.

Boz's ostensible point does kind of beg the question, though, by assuming they spend all that money to win the World Series every year. Win or lose, people pay to watch them do it. They are a brand, and their brand is that they win, even when they don't, actually. They have to look like they might win, is all, and all the Damn Yankee stuff is part of that.

Will said...

Mark, the Rays wish they had Justin Upton, but I guess BJ will have to do... (psst see the Rays lineup in post)

Will said...

Also, Mark, how did Zimm and Morse look in batting practice? Was Zimm smoking balls into the stands or did he look as powerless as he has during the games recently? What about Morse??

Holden Baroque said...

People didn't hate Bill Veeck, except maybe the other owners, but in that context, he wasn't rich, so maybe that doesn't count.

Holden Baroque said...

I don't remember people hating Gene Autry.

Holden Baroque said...

And of course, Abe didn't own a baseball team.

MicheleS said...

On Ryan and BP..from the fearless leader.

Mark Zuckerman‏@MarkZuckerman

Ryan Zimmerman crushing balls deep into the bleachers during early BP. If his shoulder is affecting his swing, sure hides it well.

MicheleS said...

Okay. if you need a laugh:

Red Hooded Sweatshirt Just watch for Chapman.

original Nats Fan said...

great news about Zim. He is still my favorite Nat.
I'm pulling for him to start knocking the ball around like he always has.

Holden Baroque said...

She may be hoodie ... young girls do get hoodies ...
Cuz of all the red ...

Gonat said...

Boz wrote this on NatsJ:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/nationals-journal/post/the-difference-between-yankees-and-nats-try-a-little-patience/2012/06/19/gJQAwMUZoV_blog.html?wprss=rss_nationals-journal

Seems a little flip flopping once Boz analyzed the vast differences. The Yankees hitters are not afraid of carrying 2 strike counts as they wait for "their" pitch.

Some of the Nats like Espi and Ank panic in 2 strike mode. There is an art to wasting a pitchers pitch and the Yankees showed it this weekend quite a few times.

It still pains me to see Danny on that 3-1 pitch on Sunday roll over that doubleplay instead of wasting the pitch.

The stats show the Yankees are the 4th best in BA and the 2nd best in OBP with a .336 team OBP. That is crazy good. They have drawn 236 walks compared to the Nats at .309 OBP with 204 walks.

Gonat said...

NatsJack in Florida said...
MicheleS......that's what I wanted to hear about Zim. Tells me it's mechanics.

June 19, 2012 6:16 PM
________________________________

It tells you he can crush balls and isn't injured. Lots of guys are BP studs. Doing it in a game is a different story.

Still think its a combo deal - mechanics and its in his head. Good to know he is healthy.

Tonight may be the night he goes 3 or 4 solid hits!!!!

MicheleS said...

Gonat. Boz Flip Flopping.. I am Shocked ;-)!!!

UnkyD said...

Be nice to see Wang out duel Price! C'mon, Chinny...you're due!!

Will said...

Michele, thanks for pointing that out. That makes me a little more sure that this is just a (prolonged) slump. Once Zimmerman get back into the swing of things (pun intended), he'll be just fine.

Good to hear that Morse is swinging the bat well. Now let's see them do it when it counts!

NatsLady said...

Kilgore has the Morse story about moving down in the order.

MicheleS said...

Wow.. MLB Network analysts Mike Sweeney and John Hart doing a good job of dismantling the Phoolies! Love it

MicheleS said...

Okay people time to take a deep breath because it could be worse:
Phil Rogers‏@ChiTribRogers

White Sox third basemen are hitting .167 with a .467 OPS. That's worse than the Washington Nationals' pitchers (.200, .526),

Eugene in Oregon said...

Seems the Nats will need to score some runs this evening.

MicheleS said...

SO what is the over/under on when we see Det tonight?

lls45 said...

MicheleS, I'm thinking the 4th inning, if we're lucky

UnkyD said...

Um...... First step? Get somebody out, right?

CN said...

just like the yankees, the rays aren't content with swinging on 1st pitch. a lot of 3 ball counts b4 the first out's been recorded

baseballswami said...

You know how I always get so annoyed at all the people who write about baseball because they are obsessed with pitches per inning? They are going to explode all over twitter if Wang ever actually gets a third out. There will be full-blown pitch efficiency panic. Detweiler for the 4th? What out or inning? He shouldn't have cut his hair - Detweiler lost his mojo when he cut his hair. It's just bad ju-ju.

baseballswami said...

Bam! Amanda Komack was first with 26 pitches! They are so predictable.

UnkyD said...

Damn.... Getting out only one down there, feels downright lucky!

MicheleS said...

Swami on the pitch count. I think CMW/Ejax are the ones that I don't think it impacts. All the others seem to start to tire out at around 110.

And Sweet Danny got a hit (of course it's from Right side)

Gonat said...

It looks like Tampa took the Yankees scouting and taking pitches until they see a strike. Unfortunately for Wang, it took the 4th pitch to 2 of the batters to see that strike.

CN said...

Great hustle on the steal and move to 3rd (on a 5-3 put out), that'ss all Danny

jeffwx said...

Nats advancing the runner all around the horn...
Morse not as fast as Harper to 1st.

Gonat said...

Danny Espinosa manufactured that run!

phil dunton said...

CMW thinks he is pitching batting practice.

baseballswami said...

Good old fashioned station to station baseball. Add to that - run hard to first even if you think you are out - you never know when they might make a bad throw. Baseball 101.

Gonat said...

Good point NatsJack and it would have been.

Gonat said...

Just snuck that HR over the fence. 5 feet to the right and it goes off of the high wall.

DESI!!!!

Gonat said...

FP loves to talk batting mechanics. This is why TyMo should have played all 3 games against NYY. PLAY THE HOT HAND

MicheleS said...

CMW DO NOT RUN THE BASES.

Gonat said...

MicheleS, a K takes care of the running part!

MicheleS said...

Phew..CMW goes down flayling. good, not go back to the mound and stay on it.

Candide said...

MicheleS said...good, not go back to the mound and stay on it.

Wouldn't it be better if he got back into the dugout after say, five or six pitches...?

Gonat said...

NatsJack, it didn't have the height from what I could see.

MicheleS said...

Candide, it would be, but I just don't trust him not to hurt himself some how.

MicheleS said...

GRRRRRRRRRR.

Gonat said...

Wang is not going to be long for this team with this performance. Another night where his sinker is a stinker. That leadoff walk comes back to bite him.

baseballswami said...

So it's going to be one of "those" nights.....

JaneB said...

Not a rhetorical question: why are we sticking with Wang? Somebody remind me, please. Really please.

UnkyD said...

Goodness.... This Wang business is deteriorating, fast...

Candide said...

I guess we're going to find out pretty soon if the stint in the BP has helped Detwiler when he returns to the rotation.

Candide said...

Good on Desmond AND Flores.

Gonat said...

JaneB said...
Not a rhetorical question: why are we sticking with Wang? Somebody remind me, please. Really please.

June 19, 2012 7:58 PM
___________________________

Same reason as Matt Stairs last year. Spent a lot of money on him and egos "hope" he will come around eventually.............Let's HOPE

Will said...

Jane, because Rizzo has invested too much time and money to give up on Wang now that he's finally healthy.

It might be a good idea to introduce the idea of "sunk costs" to Rizzo...

Gonat said...

Wang, come on. Another 3-0 count. Hoping Davey goes right to Detwiler so this game doesn't get away.

MicheleS said...

And we have our Detwiler Sighting..

Will said...

NatsJack, was there ever a bus to get on? It must have been the short bus, or maybe more like a Ford Pinto.

waddu eye no said...

Lets go dess rotweiler

JaneB said...

Sunk costs is a powerful idea, Will. I only had one foot on the CMW bus. Think Det was doing better till he feared losing his job. I hope he is seeing tonight that he (Det) maybe can get it back. Oooof. At this point, lost gameS is worth more than we are paying him.

Gonat said...

Such a shame. Should have been pulled 5 minutes ago at 3-2. What else do we need to see before you hand the game over to Tampa? Now 5-2 and inning still isn't over.

mick said...

I thought a man's home is his castle.... with 2 TV's in the house, my traitor son is a die hard O's fan and won't let me watch Nats on big screen... daughter is complaining that all I do is watch Nats and she wants to watch her show... my boss (wife) takes her side so I have to join you all

I really thought Wang would get better, i was wrong, we need to find a 5th pitcher fast

Will said...

FFS, are we gonna see another DFA this week?

By all accounts, we should.

Sunshine_Bobby_Carpenter_Is_Too_Pessimistic_For_Me said...

I have just about had my fill of CMW. He's my candidate to be this week's Brad Lidge.

Have I told you all lately how much I hate soft-tossing, pitch-to-contact guys and their 390-foot pitches?

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

Imwas not hapy game 50 when Wang replaced Detwiler, game 55 same, game 60 same, game 65 same. can anyone tell me with a straight face that Wang is better than Detwiler? I don't think so. Except maybe Rizzo and Johnson. Wang can take the Lidge route as far as I am concerned.

JaneB said...

That came out wrong. I mean, he is costing us more in lost games than his salary is worth,

Schumatrix said...

Wang's terrible. DFA that guy immediately. I'd rather have Ross pitch any day.

MicheleS said...

So the English to spanish to Taiwanese translation: STOP WALKING PEOPLE! GEEEZUS WILL YOU GET AN OUT!

mick said...

4 straight at home with big crowds is unacceptable!!!

Gonat said...

Will said...
Jane, because Rizzo has invested too much time and money to give up on Wang now that he's finally healthy.

It might be a good idea to introduce the idea of "sunk costs" to Rizzo...

June 19, 2012 8:03 PM
____________________________

He did it on Lidge. Needs to do the same with Wang and figure out something with Henry. Not the future of this team.

mick said...

I guess davey is being as fair as he can be. Wang was a flop, we invested so much in him and it was a waste, live and learn.

Gonat said...

Schumatrix said...
Wang's terrible. DFA that guy immediately. I'd rather have Ross pitch any day.

June 19, 2012 8:06 PM
______________________________

You have a short memory. Ross wasn't great either although he was better than Wang. 4 starts is enough to tell you that he doesn't have it.

Other choice is send Wang back on the DL. His sinker is not getting the spin down on it which makes it look like BP. One trick pony and the one trick isn't tricking anyone.

mick said...

Like I said, we need to win 2 of 3 at home verse Rays, this one is over, Strass and Gio have to get the next two. we can not go into Baltimore with a 6 game skid. My God, we are up 4 in division and can't take advantage of it, maybe we are not that good after all?

mick said...

may be Lannan is the guy all along?

Gonat said...

mick said...
I guess davey is being as fair as he can be. Wang was a flop, we invested so much in him and it was a waste, live and learn.

June 19, 2012 8:08 PM
___________________________

He was fair to Henry at the expense of 24 other players and the fanbase.

2 years ago that may have worked. Be fair to the W column now so we get a sniff of the playoffs.

Will said...

Gonat, we didn't pay Lidge $3mil to rehab him for two whole seasons before dumping him this year. We've paid Wang nearly $5mil now for 15 crappy starts, and still owe him $2mil more. After all this, I'm sure Rizzo was hoping for more than 5 starts before having to cut the cord this year.

In reality, he should have cut the cord in 2010.

Anonymous said...

Mike Rizzo made a great call keeping CMW around for 3 years. Great signing!!! Where would we be without him? I've said it a million times before...I miss John Lannan!!! Rizzo has now missed on Wang, Lidge, Nady, DeRosa, Zimmerman contract and Werth contract. Morse could very well follow suit. The only thing he has done right was the Gio trade...and he had to give up 4 players to get him. Why does he never get criticized by the media in Washington? Take the 2 #1 draft picks off of this team, and they are in last place and well below .500.

mick said...

you cant be mad at management, we need to find this things out now. Lidge and Wang are simply flops, go with Det and Lannan the rest of the way. Nats need one more pitcher and one more bat to be champions, I really believe that. We may have that already in our farm system, maybe one free agent signing next season

Gonat said...

That was the pitch to Zim on the 1st pitch. A challenge fastball he swung through that was dead red center of the plate. Automatic DP

Sunshine_Bobby_Carpenter_Is_Too_Pessimistic_For_Me said...

Let the Zimm Pinata-bashing begin...

Schumatrix said...

Ryan Zimmerman: the automatic GIDP. Unbelievable...

mick said...

Fear and Ignorance... without rizzo this franchise would be in last place like they were when that loser Bowden was GM.

phil dunton said...

The double play machine strikes again! At least he's consistent.

mick said...

look how many players other teams miss on

MicheleS said...

Yup.. we are down by 3 and people come out of great beyond to post..

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

texting with my friend at the game, that you know zim will hit into a double play. He said maybe we will get lucky and he will k, I won.

When are we going to move him out of the three hole. Harper's on base percentage way over .370 and having someone who right now is useless behind him is not real bright.

Once he heats up move him back.

mick said...

this is weird, in less than 5 days, all the flaws of the Nats are being exposed. I am done with Zim, no excuses, he is simply an average player

mick said...

so... is this Rosenbaum kid ready, lol?

Schumatrix said...

Why in the world is Wang still out there?

UnkyD said...

I love me some Mick! If he ran for Prez, he'd give his concession speech, if the first precinct, in the first state went against him...lol!!!

mick said...

in all fairness, it will only be panic time if Strass and Gio lose.

Sunshine_Bobby_Carpenter_Is_Too_Pessimistic_For_Me said...

Pop quiz: What's a three-word answered that means "to be Pattersoned?"

C-H-I-E-N M-I-N-G W-A-N-G

SCNatsFan said...

It sure doesn't seem like anyone is having any trouble figuring Wang out. I have to think the staff is seeing this in his time between starts also. With arms coming off the DL soon he has to be the logical candidate to go. I would love - love - to see him succeed but it doesn't seem to be in the cards - if you are playing for this year then you can't keep wasting the start.

SCNatsFan said...

mick if you think Zim is an average player then you just started following this team

MicheleS said...

Mick @8:19.. keep that in mind in case this goes crazy tonight.. Okay? I like when you are reasonable.

and lls45, Sadly, you guessed right.

lls45 said...
MicheleS, I'm thinking the 4th inning, if we're lucky

mick said...

Unkyd..

the way we are hitting right now, do you honestly think we will score 3 runs to tie and 4 to win and that is assuming we do not give up any more runs?? Yeah right, and Zim will turn it around and be the hero... I have a bridge in NY I would like to sell you lol

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

I don't keep investing on things that don't bring returns, Wang starting brings little returns. Zim batting behind Harper brings little returns. harper is not the problem.

baseballswami said...

Yes, Ross struggled some as a young pitcher will do in his first full season as a starter. The thing with him is that he has a future, not just a past reputation. If they bring him back as a starter again, they need to stick with it. He actually has the ability to still learn and improve. They can't just keep yo-yoing him around. And he needs to grow his hair back out - I'm serious - the haircuts are bad luck. And he needs cookies.

SonnyG10 said...

The Wang experiment must end now!!!! He's got to go!

mick said...

Michele.. Strass and Gio will come through

Gonat said...

mick said...
this is weird, in less than 5 days, all the flaws of the Nats are being exposed. I am done with Zim, no excuses, he is simply an average player

June 19, 2012 8:17 PM
_____________________________

The Dodgers exposed the Nats and then the Nats got back on a winning streak.

Wang just doesn't have it. Can't explain why he sinker isn't sinking.

Zim is still in his slump. Rewind your TiVo to look at that 1st pitch fastball he blew by Zim.

Michael Morse volunteered to move down in the batting order. Zim should've done the same as a team leader. He is not helping the team and is hurting the team.

mick said...

why not Lannan?

mick said...

I hope your right Gonat

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

My nephew the optomotrists asked me if I thought Zim was not seeing the ball well. I said you are the expert, he said it shure looks like he isn't to him. Just a thought.

MicheleS said...

Mick.. Lannan might (and I said Might) be the same as CMW.

mick said...

so... Upton is a free agent after this season... um.... do you go after him and is he the missing offensive piece?

ehay2k said...

Finally, our Wang Nationals nightmare is over!

baseballswami said...

It's still early. We have hit Price around a little bit. We need a nice come from behind win. Remember when we used to do that a lot?

MicheleS said...

Okay.. i am taking the dogs for a walk (kind of like Mark leaving the press box). I hope the Nats will score.

mick said...

Michele.. however, i think Lannan was mentally affected by his demotion... he could become a wild man if given the chance

ehay2k said...

MicheleS, they are not the same as Lannan is a mediocre lefty. :-P

Gonat said...

Some people say coaching has little outcome on a game. You could see in the 3rd with the leadoff 4 pitch walk that Wang was toast. After the HR by Pena to give the 3-2 lead to Tampa it was surely time to pull Wang.

Its on Davey sorry to say.

UnkyD said...

......watch this....... ;-)

UnkyD said...

.......nevermind........:(

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

We are didn't go to school on the Uanks I see still swinging at first pitches that we don't get hits with.

ehay2k said...

UnkyD, were you calling the DP?

lls45 said...

MicheleS said...
and lls45, Sadly, you guessed right.

I wish I hadn't been right...
Maybe we'll see Detwiler starting the first inning on Sunday in Baltimore.

Gonat said...

Manassas Nats' Fan said...
My nephew the optomotrists asked me if I thought Zim was not seeing the ball well. I said you are the expert, he said it shure looks like he isn't to him. Just a thought.

June 19, 2012 8:25 PM
_______________________________

No doubt. It is that fine line between mechanics and in a player's head which sure includes not seeing the ball well.

Until Zim improves his mechanics, the hits won't come in bunches. If players with bad mechanics get hits.

He is in a slump and just hurting the team in that 3rd slot.

Candide said...

Is it my imagination or area a lot of posters hitting the bourbon hard tonight? Spelling and punctuation here have gone to hell - I can hardly figure out what some people are posting.

Usually it's just mick...

mick said...

Candide... Ive been fairly tame in my comments

JaneB said...

Lannan was emotionally impacted by his demotion, but he seems to be doing better. And Det was good until Wang started to come back for rehab starts. So that was emotional, too. All I know is that Wang is getting killed. And what FP is saying makes sense: if you have only one true out pitch, all hitters have to do is look for it and swing the other times.

Ross, win this job! Hold them to this five and whether we catch up or not, maybe you get the job back.

For personal reasons, I really really want us to win this game tonight. It would so matter to a Nats fan I know who is probably here for his last game tonight. Got a big smile out of him when Ian hit the dinger.

mick said...

however, I am hiting the Corona's hard, lol

Candide said...

mick - true, that; you haven't started ranting too much yet.

mick said...

what did Davey say before the season if the Nats did not make post season... lol?

Gonat said...

What could have been tonight. One thing about my comments, I said them long before the results. Wang stayed in 5 to 7 batters too long.

When you are carrying extra long men and coming off of a sweep, I think you have to be more reactionary.

Wang didn't have anything going with his pitches tonight from the 1st batter of the game. He made a couple decent pitches and it could have been worse.

mick said...

Gonat... agreed, he did not have control of any of his pitches

mick said...

oh well, any more news on the Baltic Sea UFO? This could be the story of a lifetime!

Candide said...

Heh. Det works the count better than a lot of the guys who are getting paid for their bats.

JayB said...

These loses are on Rizzo and Davey who insist on trusted washed up Wang and Lidge. At lease Rizzo cuts them but not after major damage is done and Rizzo never admits he was wrong.....not that I care about that except Rizzo makes the same mistake year after year, Washed up vet after washed up vet. That is his weakest suit and it has cost the team at least 5 wins already.

CN said...

Easy to feel down since the team's down 3 runs & in the midst of a 3 game losing streak. Criticizing Rizzo? That's a bit far-fetched IMO. Wang certainly deserves a lot of blame for this game, as does the untimely hitting of the offense, but not all hope is lost, sheesh.

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

I am not a drinker, so I am not on the bourbon list. Just cheked the wires, and Wang hasn't been traded or DFA'd yet. I was sure it would be done by now. With Lidge it was a little slow too, I was way ahead of Rizzo on that one as I did it after Friday's game, he waied until after Satruday's game and about noon Sunday. Seems like an unnecessary delay to me.

Lets get some Runs. The Mets got almost 30 truns against Tampa at tampa, why are we hesitating on doing the same.

phil dunton said...

If they give the starter job back to Detwiler, then they need to get CMW off the roster.

UnkyD said...

UnkyD, were you calling the DP?
------------
Nope, ideas calling the rally.... Hey, I doing the best I can, over here....!

Gonat said...

JayB, this seemed prudent to give Wang a start tonight and some rope. Davey just gave him too much rope in my opinion. How lucky was Wang to finish 2 innings and start the 3rd with a 2-1 lead?

Gonat said...

phil dunton said...
If they give the starter job back to Detwiler, then they need to get CMW off the roster.

June 19, 2012 8:52 PM
_____________________________

Agreed. Eat the money and move on.

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

As I said Friday when Lidge came in Davey threw in the white flag, then on Saturday he threw it in again with Kidge, tonight he threw it in again when he brought in Wang. Too many white flags frome the manager.

baseballswami said...

Long stretch coming up without an off day. Ross will be toast now. Not a good way to begin. CMW offers no flexibility and is way too high maintenance. Something, somehow needs to change.

mick said...

JayB... in fairness, the Nats had 6 innings after Petite left the game on Saturday to get one GD run and they failed, Davey had to go with Lidge at that point. I think Wang was worth a shot, in Spring training he was on fire. However, he ends up being a flop. Rizzo has saved the franchise and has made us a young competitive team.

Having said that, I hope Zim long term deal was not a mistake and Morse was just a one year wonder

Even an ill tempered lush like me recognizes the fact that as long as you have pitching your team will always contend. You can afford to take risks on other players if your pitching is tops. Nats need one more arm where as 80 of other teams need 3-4 arms. Where i k nock Davey is sticking too long with lost causes

mick said...

80%

JayB said...

What has Wang shown in several years and several millions of dollars? Nothing....Nothing and more Nothing......Rizzo just wasted 3 years and development time for Ross D or some other younger pitcher.....THAT WAS DUMB and SO WAS LIDGE MOVE...he does it every year. It never plays out......washed up, injured has been players never work out.

mick said...

JayB... Rizzo is a hell of GM, I do not blame him. i will be all over him if he does not lock up Strass, Gio, J Zim, Bryce, Jackson, Clip and storen

Candide said...

I wasn't on the Detwiler fan bus before he went to the BP, but he's pitching like he wants his old job back tonight.

mick said...

Rizzo needs to find that one big bat, either in minors or free agency... why not BJ Upton in 2013???

mick said...

I will take Rizzo over 90% of other team GM's and needless to say Bowden was leading the Nats in to annual 110 loss seasons

MicheleS said...

Well, walking the dogs didn't work.

Gonat said...

Davey didn't put up with Stairs long after he took over. That was on Rizzo as I know the previous manager didn't want him.


Is Rizzo calling the shots on DFA's and demotions? This year its Henry, Lidge, Nady, Wang, and the long slumps of Espi and Zim.

You could see Espi wasn't ready in Spring Training. His excuses were pathetic. How did Nady even make this team? He wasn't on the 40 man and wasn't ready. Most people liked the Lidge signing and it didn't work. Henry has been a hack since the day Rizzo got him in a trade. Doubt Henry will change. Good Henry/Bad Henry ain't good enough the way I see it. Wang's numbers last year were up and down but didn't pitch on regular rest. 4th start and none of them have been good. Like I said, a 1 trick pony and the trick isn't tricking anyone.

MicheleS said...

Mick.. BJ is a free agent that is coveted by Rizzo (along with half the FA CF's on the market this year), A ton of moves will have to occur before they go after him.

CN said...

Some people expect that all 40 players on the roster need to be significant contributors with no faults, no lapses, no bad games. Just root for the damn team and take the hiccups and let them roll off your back. I'm ticked that Wang's got a WHIP of about 3.0 as a starter, but I'm not going through the rest of the roster with a fine-tooth comb.

Gonat said...

This is Zim's at-bat to break out right here! (I hope)

MicheleS said...

CN.. AMEN.. and we have Stras going tomorrow night.. AND loooky there.. Zim got a hit.

MicheleS said...

BOOM MIKEY!!!! BEAST GOES YARD.

mick said...

Davey is perfect for this team right now, but alas, I think he will be Nats Bruce B. We saw a glimpses this weekend of what playoff baseball would be like under Davey, not good. Maybe he will get the Nats to post season, but like many other good managers, Danny Ozark years ago with Phillies, will never win a playoff series. Obviously in 1986 he won it all, but over all Davey's playoff record is awful For right now Davey is perfect for this team

CN said...

It's a ball game again, now let's go talk about the game again

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

Go figure. no one Zim gets a hit.

sm13 said...

Between, Gio, EJaz, and Chad Tracey, Rizzo has a pretty good won-lost record this season.

And, as I type, Zim and the Beast combine for 2 runs -- been a while since we could say that!

JaneB said...

I am so happy for him! Beast Mode!

Joe Seamhead said...

da Beast awakens!

MicheleS said...

Mick.. Davey for this team for the next few years or as long as he wants to manage. The good thing is that with the coaching tree, we have others that can step in IF davey ever decides to step aside.

Sunshine_Bobby_Carpenter_Is_Too_Pessimistic_For_Me said...

Oh, it's so great to be Hacking That Gorse again!!

CN said...

Effing first place team with a lot of promise and ppl are effing complaining about brad lidge with Storen hurt the whole year? Gotta be effing kidding me.

New ballgame with Det holding it down, Morse provided the charge the team needed, great two-out rally to have everyone focus on the game and get rid of the woe is us attitude. Get your damn natitude going ppl...

UnkyD said...

Ladies and Gentlemen. #s 3&4!!!

Gonat said...

MicheleS, and that's how BABIP works. Those grounders sometimes find holes.

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