Friday, August 10, 2012

Game 113: Nats at Diamondbacks

Photo by Mark Zuckerman / NATS INSIDER
Stephen Strasburg makes his first career start at Chase Field tonight.
PHOENIX -- Hello from the Valley of the Sun, where the temperature as I type this is 112 degrees. But factor in the 10 mph breeze, and the wind chill is only 108. No, seriously, that's according to The Weather Channel.

Fortunately, the roof is closed here at Chase Field for the opener of the Nationals' three-game series against the Diamondbacks. This will be Stephen Strasburg's first-ever start here, though I do recall a similarly scorching-hot afternoon two years ago when the then-rookie pitched a simulated game with the roof open here while on the DL with shoulder inflammation.

For those who care to keep track of such things, Strasburg's innings count stands at 127 1/3 entering this game. Which means he's probably got six, maybe seven, more starts until the Nats pull the plug on his season.

Strasburg should have Bryce Harper behind him tonight after the slumping rookie was held out of last night's finale in Houston. One other note of interest: Michael Morse no longer has an 18-game hitting streak on the line. MLB today reversed a scoring decision from the Nationals' Aug. 2 game against the Phillies, changing a Morse single to an error on shortstop Jimmy Rollins. So he's currently riding a seven-game streak, not quite as impressive.

I made the trek west to the desert for this series, so look for plenty of updates and analysis live from the ballpark...

WASHINGTON NATIONALS at ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS
Where: Chase Field
Gametime: 9:40 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN2, MLB.tv
Radio: WJFK (106.7 FM), WFED (1500 AM), XM 188
Weather: Indoors
NATIONALS (69-43)
2B Steve Lombardozzi
CF Bryce Harper
3B Ryan Zimmerman
1B Adam LaRoche
LF Michael Morse
RF Jayson Werth
SS Danny Espinosa
C Kurt Suzuki
RHP Stephen Strasburg

DIAMONDBACKS (57-55)
SS Stephen Drew
2B Aaron Hill
LF Jason Kubel
1B Paul Goldschmidt
RF Justin Upton
C Miguel Montero
3B Chris Johnson
CF Gerardo Parra
RHP Trevor Cahill

UMPIRES
HP Dale Scott (cc)
1B Dan Iassogna
2B D.J. Reyburn
3B C.B. Bucknor

9:40 p.m. -- And we're underway. It's 111 degrees outside, but a very comfortable 82 here inside Chase Field.

9:43 p.m. -- And we're already headed for the bottom of the first after Trevor Cahill mows down the top of the Nationals' lineup. Steve Lombardozzi grounded out to first, Bryce Harper was caught looking at a perfect sinker on the inside corner and Ryan Zimmerman swung and missed a breaking ball down for Cahill's second strikeout of the inning.

9:50 p.m. -- And Stephen Strasburg sets the Diamondbacks down in order himself, retiring the side on 15 pitches, 13 of them fastballs that ranged between 96-98 mph, plus two changeups. He struck out Jason Kubel on a 96 mph heater down in the dirt to end the frame with this game scoreless.

10:03 p.m. -- Another good-looking swing for Jayson Werth, who roped a double to the gap in left-center in the top of the second. That's his 10th hit in 26 at-bats since returning from the DL, and he's starting to hit the ball for power as well.

10:15 p.m. -- That was kind of a strange way for the bottom of the second to end. With two outs and a man on first, Chris Johnson bounced a ball to the right of first base. Adam LaRoche caught the ball and turned to make what would've been an easy throw to second base for the final out of the inning. Just one problem: Danny Espinosa was nowhere to be found, didn't even break toward second base. LaRoche had make a 180-degree turn and throw to Strasburg, who was late to cover first base. They just barely got Johnson out, and Strasburg appeared to give Espinosa a glance as the inning came to an end. Scoreless through two.

11:11 p.m. -- So, I just spent the third and fourth innings in the stands with family, where I saw the Nats take a 1-0 lead on a Steve Lombardozzi triple and a Bryce Harper sac fly, then plate ump Dale Scott take a foul tip on the chin and have to be helped off the field, then Strasburg (who hadn't allowed a hit to that point) wait through a nine-minute delay while C.B. Bucknor strapped on the gear to take Scott's place behind the plate, then immediately walk Miguel Montero and give up an RBI single to Chris Johnson. Whether the delay affected Strasburg or not, who knows. But honestly, it was probably a blessing in disguise that he gave up the hit, because as much as he's laboring tonight (four walks, 78 pitches through four) there was no way Davey Johnson could have let him complete a no-hit bid. As it is, Strasburg probably won't go more than six innings now. It's 1-1 as we head to the fifth.

11:19 p.m. -- Ryan Zimmerman wants to know if they sell cortisone shots up in Friday's Front Row Grill here at the ballpark. Well, he didn't quite reach that bar high above the left-field fence, but he still tagged a pitch from Cahill a loooong way for his 16th homer of the season. Nats take a 3-1 lead in the fifth.

11:21 p.m. -- Wait a minute, they just had an announcement here on the scoreboard about a doubleheader being played against the Marlins later this month, the first-ever twinbill inside this ballpark. How exactly did a doubleheader become necessary here? They can't have a rainout in an indoor ballpark. Maybe it was a haboob-out?

11:26 p.m. -- Well, Strasburg certainly bounced back from that long fourth inning with ease. He just struck out the side, giving him six for the night (along with the four walks). He's at 93 pitches -- plus several extra warm-up tosses -- so you wouldn't think he's got much left.

11:35 p.m. -- Is there a right-handed hitter in the game with more opposite-field power than Michael Morse? Seriously, the guy just destroyed a pitch way over the 413-foot sign in right-center to put the Nats up 4-1 in the top of the sixth. That's Morse's 11th homer of the season, and nine of them have been hit to center or right fields. Remarkable. Strasburg, by the way, hit for himself to end the inning, so he's back out for the sixth at 93 pitches.

11:55 p.m. -- Make it 5-1 Nats in the seventh as Lombardozzi collects his third hit of the night and winds up scoring on a wild throw by shortstop Stephen Drew trying to complete a 3-6-1 double play. Strasburg, meanwhile, is done. His final line: 6 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 4 BB, 6 K, 104 pitches, 58 strikes. Sean Burnett in to pitch the bottom of the seventh.

12:01 a.m. -- Nice job by Burnett to retire the side in the seventh. Nats pitchers have now set down 10 in a row since Johnson's RBI single in the fourth (the D'backs lone hit of the night). 5-1 as we go to the eighth.

12:21 a.m. -- A 1-2-3 eighth for Ryan Mattheus, so the Nats have now retired 13 in a row. Onto the ninth.

12:39 a.m. -- Now the Nats are really pouring it on. They scored four more runs in the top of the ninth to make this a 9-1 rout. Lombardozzi was credited with his fourth hit of the night (he also scored his fourth run). Harper added his second sac fly. LaRoche sent an RBI double down the right-field line. Werth then delivered his second double of the game, this one a two-run hit down the left-field line. The crowd of 29,362 has grown quite restless, but most don't want to leave early because there's a postgame fireworks show.

12:53 a.m. -- It's over. The Nats win 9-1 and improve to 70-43. Seriously, stop and think about that for a moment: 70-43. Unreal.

152 comments:

MicheleS said...

YEA!! We have Mark!

GYFNG! and now we have new reasons to hate the Phillies. BEAST take this out on the snakes!

Unknown said...

Bernadina should be playing. Harper needs to sit and watch.

NCNatsie said...

We have a number for Stras. It's going to be 180 innings. Just heard it on MLB, that Rizzo has announced it.

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

WHy did MLB bother to change the scoring this late on a play (did it cost someone an earned run?

On the NLB tonight they are now reporting Rizzo says Strasburg will go to 180 innings.

Also do not forget to vote for the Shark. He is up 74-26 against a Royals Double play.

Here is the link.

http://espn.go.com/mlb/baseballtonight

Ghost Of Steve M. said...

As I wrote this morning, Bryce back in. Hope he gets back on track.

Ghost Of Steve M. said...

Mark may want to revise his Stras counter to 8 to 10 more games.

baseballswami said...

I heard between 160 and 180, definitely no more. Just had an awkward conversation with a Phan, who is embarassed by the scoring challenge. Called it rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

Harper will do fine. Just swing at strikes and not at balls and he will do fine. He widen the strike zone starting in July, now time to narrow it down again.

NCNatsie said...

The 180 number for Stras gives him basically the whole regular season, and makes it not unreasonable to tweak his work load -- especially if we should clinch early, which would allow him to pitch in the post-season.

We'll never know, but my guess would be that Boras was involved in the negotiations.

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

what is the point in changing a ruling a week late. If they changed that, The error that Wright did in the DIckey play was much more an error and actually meant someting and didn't change that.

What was MLB's point in changing the hit to an error (and why 7 days after the fact). If it was bad enough to change it should have been changed the next day.

Ghost Of Steve M. said...

Gonat tweeted time to rescore the hit/error in the Marlins game for Reyes on the Espi errant throw to a straight error.

Eugene in Oregon said...

Manassas Nats' Fan said...
Harper will do fine. Just swing at strikes and not at balls and he will do fine.
======================
He tried that in Houston the other night and they called the balls strikes anyway.

hiramhover said...

Manassas

If you read back to the source, this is suspect "news."

Rizzo did not say Stras will pitch 180 inn.

What he said, according to a tweet from Jeff Passan of Yahoo, is that Stras won't pitch more than 180 inn.

But Passan didn't report the question he asked--did he introduce the 180 #, or did Rizzo?--and Passan himself later tweeted that he thinks Stras will make only 1 start after hitting the 160 limit.

This is now being picked up by everyone--including Dave Cameron of Fangraphs, who I thought was smarter--that Stras will pitch 180 inn.

MicheleS said...

And while we are waiting for our game, time to root for the Mets not to lose. Chippa and McCann are out for the barves. Should be on MLB Network (hopefully I will watch and not throw a shoe at my nice TV to shut Mike Sweeney and Mitch Williams up about Stras)

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

In related news, Rizzo said the Nats will not play past the World Series.

hiramhover said...

pRAA - Exactly!

As for the news about the scoring change - well, the cellar-dwelling Phillies can't dethrone the Nats from atop the NL East, so they're just going to have to content themselves with this sort of crap.

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

CHipper Jones tweeted last night his bad was too hard. Now I see he isn't playing due to back stiffness. Way to go hotel in New York. The home hotel advanate I see.

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

Why would the Phillies want JRo to have an error that make no sense, unless a rum came in (and I can't remember that being part of the equation).

Don't forget to vote for the Shark

http://espn.go.com/mlb/baseballtonight

MicheleS said...

NJ.. Crickets..that's what will be at the Fish game

smurff said...

And rightly so. Enjoy it, Loria....

hiramhover said...

... but reported attendance of 28K.

mick said...

this is fun stuff.... Let's go Mets for the next 3, lol

GO NATS!!!

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

Big Cat and I were texting back and forth during the games in Houston, how we should get a group together and go to the games in Miami or Houston next year, as they have plenty of seats right near the nats dougout at both stadiums.

MicheleS said...

Manassas.. At this rate, we could go to Philly and get the same seats and not have to go to Miami or Houston.

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

Shark still at 74% after 340 votes. I am not sure when tonight's poll close since there is no show tonight.


http://espn.go.com/mlb/baseballtonight

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

I prefer to go to Miami or Houston than Philly. Never feel safe in Philly. Of course if I would quit abusing the Phillies I probably would be OK.

Eugene in Oregon said...

By some measures, the Diamondbacks are a better team than either the Giants or the Dodgers. They have a pythagorean record of 61-51; both the Giants and Dodgers are two games 'luckier' than their run differential would suggest, while Arizona is four games 'unluckier' (is that a word?) than theirs.

Baseball Reference also has a measure that combines strength of schedule with run differential; using that, the Diamondbacks are again slightly better than SF and LA.

St. Louis is in a similar situation in the Central Division (actually, even more so). It wouldn't be surprising to see at least of them -- D'backs or Cardinals -- end up winning its division. I think my money would be on the Cardinals.

The Nats are the only NL division leader that's also the pythagorean leader.

Eugene in Oregon said...

Sorry, but no road trip to Houston for anyone -- unless the Nats draw the Astros in inter-league play.

SonnyG10 said...

Manassas Nats' Fan said...
Big Cat and I were texting back and forth during the games in Houston, how we should get a group together and go to the games in Miami or Houston next year, as they have plenty of seats right near the nats dougout at both stadiums.

August 10, 2012 7:40 PM


Don't forget, Houston will be in AL next year.

Faraz Shaikh said...

before I forget, thanks for playoff odds links, hiramhover and 1a. Much appreciated.

Bigfish said...

112 degrees with a slight breeze? As a friend of mine says: that's not just an oven -- it's a convection oven.

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

we do not know the schedule yet.

I had figured you could keep 163 games if you play

Each team your own division 18 times (72)
Each team in the other two divisions of your league 5 time (60)
and 3 gmaes again 2 divisions of the other team or 6 games agains 1 divsion of the other league. (30)

there are basciall 52 series in a season. There needs to be a total of 150 series. Sometimes you will have only 1 team playing out of league, sometimes 3, and sometimes even as many as 5.

I would think it would be easy to work out.

Granted we might not draw Houston next year (but since we played AL east this year, I figure either central or west next year (and both of you do my 3 games only against 10 teams propostion. Then of course with you have to have luck of drawing them away.

Miami is more likely.

waddu eye no said...

Hmmm.
If they can change a hit to an error, can they change a strike to a ball?

Gyfng

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

Just saw the replay of the Morse non hit. Je Torre must have been drinking when he made that ruling. That ball was smoked. When Torre was playing third he never would ahve come close to stopping it. Not sure what he has against Morse. Just another reason to hate Hamels as he was the one who appealed for the ruling to save an earned run. He also appealed the Zim hit before that, and it was smoled to nbut Utley was not charged with an error. Of the two it was close to an error.

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

Apparently the umps still have harper on the radar as that ball was inside. Then the one pitchedsame spot to zim but a tad lower called a ball. Then Zim makes up for it by swinging at one in the dirt. The old saying on a breaking bal if it is at your waste most the way it will be low by the time it gets to the plate.

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

Apparently mark's feed doesn't have the pitch track which showed the harper K slightly inside not a perfect sinler at all.

NatsLady said...

Carp is a riot. On Hamels, "wah, wah, wah, wah, wah." Not much use for him padding his ERA off Morse and Rollins.

BigCat said...

Ok...Ive been very critical about Strasburgs competitive fire. I've called him a few names in the past. I am an avid Nats fan.....

NatsLady said...

The paper dolls on the seats (see shot of RIzzo) represent foster children in Arizona. Someone tell FP and Carp that, please.

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

Nice hit by Werth but we cannot do anything with it.

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

Big cat did you see the replay of the Morse non Hit. How are the pork chops. My steak was good.

NatsLady said...

Stras not looking like JZ today. Lot of full counts--oops just walked a guy.

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

After 7 batters Stras has 3 batters he had 3 balls on and a walk. that is 57% of the time at least 3 alls. I a not a walk fan as that is a free trunner, and when you go against a team with hitters that usually leads to trouble.

NatsLady said...

Nice D, though. Stras covering first base (like he should)--then he looks up like he wonders why he was the one getting the out! Why does he look flushed and sweaty in only the 2nd inning, 82 degrees inside?

BigCat said...

All this 2 seam 4 seam stuff. The name of thegame in pitching is movement. Stra throws his "4 seamer" with no movement at about 96-97. When he holds the ball with the seams(2 seamer)it is at 94-96 and runs four inches. Now, I might be an idiot...but why ever throw the 4 seamer? Also, every hitter that is worth his salt batting against Stra goes up there looking for the fastball. A lot of times you see Stra throw a first pitch curve and the ball is way low and away for ball 1. A first pitch curve with Stra should be a "strike one loppy pop." Just spin it in the zone.

BigCat said...

Manassas....the pork chops were great...garlic salt, Paprika, and pepper. Nothin but the truth!

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

Good job Harper

Swift Eagle said...

I really think the answer to all these Stras questions is that he is still on ReHab...

He won't admit it, but pitching feels different and is more difficult than it's ever been in his life


THis is why his 4 seam FB doesn't move as much, and why he's been so up and down with his FB command, and why his breaking ball and change are not as consistent..

Let's remember, he basically has a new elbow, this is why it takes a full 2 year to really be back from TJ surgery...

Holden Baroque said...

"Ok...Ive been very critical about Strasburgs competitive fire."


What? The guy is famously ultra-competitive. Davey doesn't even talk to him on game days. He does seem to lose focus sometimes, but, c'mon.

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

Lets score some runs again

Swift Eagle said...

Also, put yourself in Stras's shoes for a sec...

He knows if his pitch count gets high, he's coming out...But he also knows the most common game plan against him is to swing early in the count...

So is only choice is to try to hit corners early in the count, to avoid barrels, but stay in the zone...That's a pretty tight rope, and a couple bad calls can really blow that whole thing up...

Holden Baroque said...

The name of the game in pitching is movement.

Movement is good, but pitching is about disrupting the hitter's timing. He has a top-shelf changeup.

NatsLady said...

It's not lack of competitive "fire." He just doesn't know when to let go if something isn't perfect, like the mound, the umps, his own performance. I think FP is right, Suzuki will be good for him.

Swift Eagle said...

While I understand the need for pitch counts, I think it can mess with the pitcher's head early in the game...He can't waste any pitches early, he can't throw a brush back FB to set up an outside breaking ball...Pitch efficient is one thing, but when it effects how you actually approach hitters, it becomes a problem...

Holden Baroque said...

NL, that's what I meant by losing focus. Thanks for explaining it better.

NatsLady said...

Can't say Suzuki has much of a batter's eye, though. OK, repeating repeating, "not his job."

Cwj said...

I'm kinda surprised and disappointed by the whole "something is wrong with Strasburg" thing.
The fact is his numbers are just as elite as they were in his rookie season.
More so even, given the sample size. And they'll just get better. He's no where near his prime, yet is one of the best in the game.
Shame on the picky Nats fans who criticize a pitcher who is one of the best already! :-)

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

that was a weak hitting half inning.

Holden Baroque said...

But I always wonder why catchers who are hitting against pitchers they've caught don't have a bigger advantage than they seem to. Like Suzuki, there--he didn't recognise that curveball at all, and yet he's caught it hundreds of times, probably.

NatsLady said...

Cwj--not criticizing Stras. He is one of the great ones, already. Just worried about him.

Holden Baroque said...

"Shame on the picky Nats fans who criticize a pitcher who is one of the best already! :-) "


Amen. Phans In Nats Clothing.
If Stras is as bad as all that, nobody would care that he's being shut down.

djinFl. said...

@Cwj
Maybe when the water is back in the reflecting pool and Strass walks on it, they will cut him some slack.

NatsLady said...

Like Davey says, Stras is just learning to be a pitcher, just learning what are his strengths, how to go against the league. It's fun to watch.

Holden Baroque said...

NL, I don't think that was meant for you.

Holden Baroque said...

Mark must be visiting in the seats. Looks like the Zuckerman Effect doesn't work with the roof closed.

Swift Eagle said...

CMJ, Of course you are correct...Stras is a beast even now...But to those of us who have watched him for long stretches, it's clear he's not himself...I started watching him in college in 2008 when the Nats were losing everyday so I knew they would draft him!

He's not back yet...and I think he knows it, and that's why he's so salty whenever some little thing isn't just right...Saw some of that from Jordan last year too...

NatsLady said...

I didn't see the football game. But I understand from reports RGIII was fun to watch and you could see his talent and his potential--and then Rex Griffin came in and was a stiff, as usual. You can see what a difference talent makes. Stras is incredibly talented. You can see the Hall of Fame in him. We are not complaining or even criticizing. We are just observing how it works.

NatsLady said...

Sorry, Rex Grossman. I try not to pay attention, but you can't avoid it.

Swift Eagle said...

Lol, it's easy Nats Lady....There's the starter RG III and his back-up RG INT...

NatsLady said...

LOL, Eagle. Stras just took out the ump. Not one of the bad ones, I think.

Holden Baroque said...

So while we're waiting for the umps to come back ... I'm a little impressed Ian Desmond made this trip.

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

I hope the stall doesn't hurt Stras. Too manys still though. But as long as there is no runs free base runners don't hurt.

Swift Eagle said...

Haha...Angel is there to be the back up Ump is he???

Swift Eagle said...

Perfect chance to just let Pitch F/X call the game

Anonymous said...

Ump Delay Trivia-Who is the only player to hit a home run for 3 different teams in the World Series? No cheating.

Holden Baroque said...

Swift, maybe that's Angel's motivation--call low strikes so they don't foul as many back.

Holden Baroque said...

F&I, I'll guess The Jax.

Grandstander said...

Between this, the fake rain delay, the hot stuff, Strasburg just can't catch a break.

Swift Eagle said...

Haha Zofa, I still think Angel's motivated by Air-Time...He wants to be The Show

Cwj said...

Damn, I should have known posting a comment for the first time in over a month would be bad luck.
:D

But yeah Strasburg throws way too many pitches than he should.

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

see why I hate walks. You give them free chances to score runs once there is a hit. Both walks came after 2 outs which I guess is better, but in close games walks must be avoided. He is too good a pitcher to be nibbling for walks.

Exposremains said...

Is seems like the biggest thing that Strasburg lost from his injury is the ability not be bothered by all sorts of outside distractions.Its something that most Nats pitcher need to improve.

Cwj said...

Manassas- Yeah, walks absolutely kill.
Also agree with you about nibbling. It is incredibly frustrating.

djinFl. said...

The Diamonbacks broadcast showed Strass trying to stretch out his back after the inning. They are sure he tightened up waitng out the delay.
By the way the only have had great things to say about the Nats and certainly love Rizzo.

Swift Eagle said...

He's bothered b/c he just doesn't feel right and it's frustrating...

Ever have surgery? Afterwards you're always too hot, too cold, hungry but don't want to eat, everything annoys you..

Stras is annoyed b/c what used to be the most natural thing in the world to him doesn't feel right and he's pissed about it...Time will heal all...

Cwj said...

Yes!!!!! Zimmerman hits a 2 run bomb!

NatsLady said...

RZ!!!!! Um, Corisone??? Not today!

Swift Eagle said...

Has a Cortisone Shot ever received MVP votes??

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

Nice Zim Bomb

Holden Baroque said...

"But yeah Strasburg throws way too many pitches than he should."

And more harder else they can hitting it.

BigCat said...

Swift Eagle.....you are exactly right with Stra that he is basically still in rehab. He had major elbow surgery and from what JZimm said, one day you will feel great and the next you have no clue where theball is going. Also Eagle....you make it sound like Stra calls his pitches....I don't think so.

All this talk about pitch count and "pitching to contact" etc. Well...what the hell is that all about. You have a big strapping guy on the mound who throws 94-98 mph with a 2 seam fastball that runs and dips 4 inches and you have him starting guys off with curve balls and change ups. Every hitter is a full count. Who ever is calling the pitches should be held accountable. You tell the catcher to set up in the middle of the plate and you tell Stra to hold the ball with the seams and aim for the catchers cup and throw it hard as hell. Then when he gets ahead in the count he can throw his curve or change. You have a great infield ....use them.

Also Eagle.....did Stra fall completely off the mound towards 1st base at SD State as he does now? Ya know, when you open, or fly open like that it adds tremendous pressure on your arm.

Cwj said...

Wow, Stras came back focused and struck out the side.
I say leave him in for one more inning. :-)

Holden Baroque said...

Hey Mark, here's your answer on the twin bill:

"For the first time in team history, the D-backs will play host to a doubleheader when they take on the Marlins in a day-night twin bill on Aug. 22.

"The doubleheader came about because the D-backs were scheduled to play 23 straight games, which is a violation of the Basic Agreement between the owners and the players. Therefore, Major League Baseball allowed them to have an off-day Aug. 23 and move the Marlins game scheduled for that day to Aug. 22."

Cwj said...

Morse's power is unbelievable.
Wow, look how far he's hitting them

ehay2k said...

Wow. Morse is locked in!

Swift Eagle said...

Big Cat...

I actually think Stras and the catcher call the pitches..I agree with you, I'd like to see that in the pitching coaches hands at times, but it's not how they do it MLB

He fell off to 1B in college, but not too pronounced..I haven't noticed

YouTube of Strass at SD State

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pEOx3zTnSGQ

Holden Baroque said...

That was at least 30 feet above the 413' sign.

ehay2k said...

Which would probably equate to 13 feet above the 430' sign!

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

Morse bomb nice. Sasuki must not think he can hit bunting like that

Holden Baroque said...

S-U-Z-U-K-I

ehay2k said...

Suzuki bunted to keep away from The DP to make sure Stars got to bat last in the inning. Was smart play, I thought.

MicheleS said...

Since I have been sort of in and out on this game (sad I know), does it look like Stras is favoring his back?

Cwj said...

Okay, one more inning for Strasburg :-) Let him pitch into the 7th, I say :)

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

Good 6 innings. I doubt he will be back. The second walk to Monterro after a 1-2 count and umpire change, set up their only run.

ehay2k said...

MicheleS, after about 100 pitches, he will be favoring the pine now. :-)

Eugene in Oregon said...

Someone asked this the other night; didn't see an answer. Who was the guy (in uniform, not a player) talking to Gio in the cut-away shot just before Mr. Upton grounded out?

Cwj said...

Michele- I didn't notice anything with his back. Maybe I missed something though?...

MicheleS said...

Eugene, I saw that same guy throwing BP in the cages at the STH Picnic in the Park. He was a the All star game too.. so does he run the clubhouse?

djinFl. said...

@Michele from earlier post

The Diamonbacks broadcast showed Strass trying to stretch out his back after the inning. They are sure he tightened up waitng out the delay.
By the way the only have had great things to say about the Nats and certainly love Rizzo.

Swift Eagle said...

I haven't noticed anything with Stas's back either..Big Cat correctly noted that he is falling off towards 1B more than usual, but I'm sure he'd have been pulled if there were anything wrong...

MicheleS said...

Thanks DJ/Swift.. I just saw him stretching funny on the mound. But doesn't matter.. as Ehay said, he will be on the pine now.

ehay2k said...

That wasn't very Phat, Albers!

Eugene in Oregon said...

Trout can do no wrong, it sometimes seems. Hits a sacrifice fly and two runs score (one an SF, the other on an error).

ehay2k said...

Mark Z. Can you ask Suzuki how catchng Stras measured up to his expectations?

Cwj said...

Time for bed.
Great outing by Strasburg. I'm confident in the bullpen to hold it :-)

Night everyone.

MicheleS said...

Okay.. those 3 guys behind homeplate need to go away. Standing there, drinking beer, yapping and NOT PAYING attention to the game. GEESH

Holden Baroque said...

Michele, they are probably talking about shopping.

Swift Eagle said...

Isn't great that every shot of Davey late in the game you see Chad Tracy right next to him? "Let me hit coach, I'm ready"...Love that

Eugene in Oregon said...

Touche, Zofa. Well zaid.

djinFl. said...

"Nationals just came in and put that noose around our neck" Mark Grace D-backs color man.

Swift Eagle said...

Juuuuust a bit outside

Holden Baroque said...

Ironically, if they're discussing their portfolios or somesuch, they ARE talking about shopping.

Anonymous said...

Zection 3-Sorry for the delay on the trivia...it was Matt Williams. Heard that on a WGN broadcast a few weeks ago...forgot what a good player Matt Williams was back in the day. SF, CLE, and ARI

rogieshan said...

I agree with F.P. on Harper having the right makeup (good eye with speed) to hit leadoff. Move Werth up to the second hole when Desmond returns.

Holden Baroque said...

Cleveland. Forgot Cleveland.

I was sitting in left for his HR for the Giants.

Holden Baroque said...

Reggie didn't make it to the WS with the Angels, did he? They blew that ALCS.

Swift Eagle said...

Good time for a Squueze...

Swift Eagle said...

or a Squeeze..either one

Anonymous said...

Yeah, I think you're right about Reggie and the Angels. Just looked it up...Angels lost ALCS in 82 and 86 (which I believe was the Donnie Moore game).

Looked up Williams, as well, and surprised he didn't get more votes for the HOF. Never expected him to get in, but 1% of vote seems pretty low for a guy who had 378 HR, 4 Gold Gloves, 5 AS games and made several postseason appearances.

Grandstander said...

FP shout out to Mark!

Holden Baroque said...

Matt was up and down to AAA a few times before he stuck at the majors, as I recall. Took him a while to get that curve ball away.

djinFl. said...

The D-Backs announcers tonight....

Morse is a monster when he connects
Have we told you about their pitching staff?
Clint's done well, but Davey is manager of the year
Have we told you about their pitching staff?
They make your food taste bad tonight.
Have we told you about their pitching staff?
If there is something sly going on in the clubhouse, LaRoche is involved
Have we told you about their pitching staff?
No more 3-2 pitches once their bullpen comes in. It is close the door.
Have we told you about their pitching staff?
Come out and enjoy the air conditioning and see the best team in baseball.
Have we... well you get it
Comparing Nationals to the movie The Titans now.
" Everywhere We Go People want To Know"

Eugene in Oregon said...

Save a couple of those runs for the SF series -- I'm heading down for the first two games.

Swift Eagle said...

Another great AB from Werth and it's 9-1

Where's Henry when we need him??

This just in, Nats are damn good...

Eugene in Oregon said...

So Houston beat Milwaukee after Milwaukee swept the Reds?

sjm308 said...

F & I - I love trivia!!(not as much as our Nationals but it's close)
I am adding your question to my trivia sheet I take to the park to keep my section entertained.
I'll start you off with an easy one that is current. I will go deep into the 50s if you like.
Name the 3 current players that have hit at least 20 homeruns every season since 2002?

By the way, I don't see Peric lammenting about Werth's lack of power tonight? I am pretty sure he is hitting way over .300 and two of his hits tonight were doubles. I have to think his power will be back even more as he continues to play more.

We are up 9-1 I am headed for my nap that Peric says I need.

Go Nats!!

Eugene in Oregon said...

Mark Z: The crowd of 29,362 has grown quite restless, but most don't want to leave early because there's a postgame fireworks show.
-------------------------
Given the score, was wondering why so many people seemed to remain in the stands.

Swift Eagle said...

Oh that ALR...He's that sly trickster we all knew when we were kids...The one who never got caught...Eddie Haskel

MicheleS said...

WHO? Wil Nieves? I bet Charlie and Dave are warming up the song for him

djinFl. said...

@Eugene
The announcers are worried they might wind up with a San Deigo type explosion the way things are going.

Anonymous said...

I will say Pujols, AROD, Teixeira.

Holden Baroque said...

dj, they're only 4 back of the division, why do the announcers think they'll blow up the team?

Swift Eagle said...

Curly W #70 is in the books...And that's 3 more than anyone else...

MicheleS said...

WOOOO HOOOOOOOO!!! ZZZZZZZZZ!!! Going to bed

Holden Baroque said...

Wooooooooo Hooooooooooooooooooo
TM Michele.


Man, they are really going to miss LaRoche if he's not back next year. He makes every bad throw look like a strike.

Eugene in Oregon said...

Before the game I posted: By some measures, the Diamondbacks are a better team than either the Giants or the Dodgers.

What I failed to add was: But not better than the Nationals.

Well done. Won't get to watch either of the next two, but will be there in San Francisco for both Gio's and Jordan Zimmermann's starts. GYFNG!

djinFl. said...

Not the team Z
The fireworks
4th of july all the fireworks went off at once.

sjm308 said...

F & I - Albert is correct Arod only had 16 last year - 2 to go

Anonymous said...

Was thinking Dunn...didn't do it last year. Cabrera...he came up in 2003 and won the WS at 20 years old. I will guess Big Papi...not sure if he hit that many with the Twinkies...and Soriano. I really can't think of anybody else it could be.

Unknown said...

I LOVE MY TEAM.... jeez o flip this is insane... I hope this dream doesnt end until 2020

Faraz Shaikh said...

bet soriano is one of them.

natsfan1a said...

There was a football game last night? I hadn't heard.

NatsLady said...

I didn't see the football game. But I understand from reports RGIII was fun to watch and you could see his talent and his potential--and then Rex Griffin came in and was a stiff, as usual. You can see what a difference talent makes. Stras is incredibly talented. You can see the Hall of Fame in him. We are not complaining or even criticizing. We are just observing how it works.
August 10, 2012 10:53 PM
NatsLady said...

Sorry, Rex Grossman. I try not to pay attention, but you can't avoid it.
August 10, 2012 10:54 PM

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