Monday, March 18, 2013

Nats vs. Tigers - 3/18

Photo by USA Today

Chase here filling in for Mark as he tends to a family issue. Today the Nationals see the Detroit Tigers and their powerful lineup once again. This time it's Jordan Zimmermann on the mound to face reigning A.L. MVP Miguel Cabrera, Prince Fielder, and Victor Martinez.

The Nats feature a lineup you could see many times this season with nearly everyone expected to play on Opening Day in the mix. After making their third round of cuts this morning, this should become the norm moving forward.

Zimmermann was solid last time out with just one earned run through 4 2/3 innings of work against the Mets. He'll look to keep that up and have the same success his teammate Ross Detwiler had against Detroit just yesterday.

The game is not on TV today unfortunately, but you can follow along on the radio. Anyways, here are the lineups...

WASHINGTON NATIONALS vs. DETROIT TIGERS
Where: Space Coast Stadium, Viera
Gametime: 1:05 p.m. EDT
TV: None
Radio: Tigers WXYT radio via MLB Gameday Audio
Weather: Mostly cloudy, 74 degrees, Wind 8 mph out to LF
NATIONALS
CF Denard Span
RF Jayson Werth
LF Bryce Harper
3B Ryan Zimmerman


1B Adam LaRoche
SS Ian Desmond
2B Danny Espinosa
C Wilson Ramos
RHP Jordan Zimmermann

TIGERS
LF Andy Dirks
RF Torii Hunter
3B Miguel Cabrera
1B Prince Fielder
DH Victor Martinez
C Alex Avila
CF Don Kelly
2B Omar Infante
SS Ramon Santiago
(RHP Max Scherzer)

157 comments:

Section 222 said...

Anyone have a list of the 8 guys still in camp who are not part of the 25 we expect to Go North? I'm including in that 25, the starting 8, our 5 SPs, 6 locks for the bullpen, Tracy, Bernadina, TyMo, Lombo, Ramos, and H-Rod.

Dave said...

Update to my season-ticket saga:

A ticket rep at the Nats confirmed for me that one of the crucial links in the partner-signup process was broken. It was taking folks to just the plain season-ticket website from nationals.com, rather than to the place for folks to get their Nationals account number.

So I wasn't crazy. It really, truly wasn't working.

Allegedly, it's working fine now.

Positively Half St. said...

Somebody please explain what happened in the Chris Snyder release. Ken Rosenthal said that a number of teams were interested in him, and then the Nats simply let him go to the Angels in a "release and sign" arrangement. Please tell me that the Nationals received something for doing this. If the guy had some value, then the Nats should not have given him away just to be nice. I understand that he could have opted out in a week, but there was no guarantee that the Angels would have won the bidding.

Drew said...

Section 222:

I'm guessing Owings, Rivero, Moldanado, Leon, Abad, Chris Young, Accardo.

Must be another pitcher or two.

peric said...

As I said previously when it comes to the two lefty relievers. Davey may try to keep one or both! Unlike Rizzo he likely doesn't believe he can get by with right-handers who are effective against lefties. That was made clear when spoke about that Dodgers roster as his weakest as a manager.

Rivero has no options left. Maldonado probably moves between major and minor league camp like a coach. Given the guy's weight and age its surprising he can still catch at this level.

I wonder if they just might option Storen and keep Abad and HRod? I don't think Accardo because he's a righty but ...

Ghost Of Steve M. said...

Positively Half St., my guess is nobody was willing to trade with Rizzo and he tried that route so he gave Snyder his release.

Its another case of Rizzo doing right by the player.

Ghost Of Steve M. said...

peric said...

I wonder if they just might option Storen and keep Abad and HRod? I don't think Accardo because he's a righty but ...


Why would they option Storen?

Ghost Of Steve M. said...

Drew, I think Leon was sent back in the last cuts.

Drew said...

What is Christian Garcia's roster status? I know he's out indefinitely, but has he been reassigned?

Ghost Of Steve M. said...

Drew, I confirmed Sandy Leon on March 14th was sent to AA Harrisburg.

peric said...

I think the problem with Owings, is where do you put him? Marerro only plays one position and that is first base so he's it in Syracuse.

Owings needs reps and I am guessing the Nats had to promise him he would get them if he signed. Maybe Potomac? Or Harrisburg? But what about Skole and Rendon? If Rendon goes to Syracuse then its not as much a problem with H'burg. If he ends up in Potomac that will ruin Luke's suggested average age for Potomac.

As for Rivero. He's out of options. If he clears waivers he gets reassigned to Syracuse at third base. Or they keep him as a UTL guy.

As for a spring trade? I was thinking Lombo and the Shark. But the Shark has not had a good spring, but I suspect Lombo is still in play in spite of Ladson's reports.

peric said...

Why would they option Storen?

Like Brown, he hasn't had the best spring. For all we know he may still be recovering from the surgery he had last season. He has options and both HRod and Abad do not. And let's face Davey wants a left-hander. They have their closer in Soriano. Two setup men in Clippard and Mattheus. Throw in H-Rod and they are pretty well covered.

Ghost Of Steve M. said...

I'm worried about Bryce Harper as he is now 0-1 and right on the "TWilliams line".

JD said...


Rivero has done nothing to merit consideration. Abad has done almost nothing in that regard as well. It's nice to have lefties but I think one would rather have decent righties than crappy lefties. no?

Barring injuries I don't see any more roster flexibility which means Henry grabs the last bullpen slot and gets one more chance to make a positive contribution.

Ghost Of Steve M. said...

Peric, I for one expect a last minute surprise from Rizzo/Davey but I don't see Storen sent to AAA.

Has Davey said Storen is his guy?

Ghost Of Steve M. said...

Jordan Zimmermann with great movement on his 4 seamer today! Quickly through 3 innings and lots of weak grounders!

Michele, any radar readings? Wondering how many changeups he's throwing.

JD said...


From what I understand Rendon, Skole and Leon are going to Harrisburg; Marrero and Owings to Syracuse (Owings will play left field). Rivero will also go to Syracuse if he clears waivers as will Solano and Corey Brown.

A DC Wonk said...

From a previous thread (still warming up slowly for the season ;-) )

NatsJack, thanks for the report on the fans of other teams. I really enjoy it when the fans of other teams are friendly and cordial. I wished all fans would be that way.

I want to put a plug in for Milwaukee Brewers fans -- or, at least, the handful of them that I sat near during a Septempter Nats-Brewers game. They seemed like Saturday Night Live stereotypical pleasant upper-midwesterners.

JD said...


Ghost,

I didn't see any Radar readings when I was down in Viera; interestingly enough I was at the game JZimm was pounded by the Cards.

Ghost Of Steve M. said...

JD, oh yes, the "dead arm" game against StL. Davey should always try to have his rotation set to where JZim never faces StL.

If you get seats behind homeplate you can usually get to spy the scouts radar readings.

Ghost Of Steve M. said...

Sounds like our veteran Werth was in 2nd gear on a ball knocked down by the wind that droped in for a hit and instead of getting an easy double was caught between 1st and 2nd and thrown out. The Detroit broadcasters scolded him and just said he was "jogging" to 1st.

Ghost Of Steve M. said...

JZim just made the 4th inning look even easier slicing through Torii Hunter, Miguel Cabrera and Prince Fielder 1-2-3 in less than 10 pitches.

MicheleS said...

ALR BOMB! listening on radio today

SonnyG10 said...

Ghost Of Steve M. said...
Sounds like our veteran Werth was in 2nd gear on a ball knocked down by the wind that droped in for a hit and instead of getting an easy double was caught between 1st and 2nd and thrown out. The Detroit broadcasters scolded him and just said he was "jogging" to 1st.
March 18, 2013 2:00 PM


Shame on Jayson. Some role model he is. He needs to take a cue from Bryce.

Ghost Of Steve M. said...

NatsJack/SonnyG10, for anyone listening on the radio, the Detroit announcers took him to task and didn't let up as the one announcer told a story about what his father taught him about running everything out. I guess they then saw a video replay and exclaimed "he was jogging to first"!

Luckily it's Spring Training but what they didn't say was what NatsJack just said that 2nd base was occupied. Whoops!

Ghost Of Steve M. said...

JZim gets these 3 batters out on 5 pitches. His actual pitch count in the 4th was 8 pitches to get through Torii Hunter, Miggy and Prince.

Anna Peregrina said...

Wow, JZ is sure on a roll! Gameday doesn't track pitches properly, but how many has he thrown through five?

Ghost Of Steve M. said...

Best 5 innings of the Spring by any pitcher so far by JZim.

baseballswami said...

Mark my words - JZimm will be the first Nat to throw a no hitter.

JD said...


Ghost & Sonny,

I am sure you've both been to spring training before so you know that the level of intensity is just not there. The idea is to get your work in and get your timing right. No one slides hard breaking up a double play, no one at least not a veteran will risk pulling a hammy trying to beat out a throw.

These games matter more to the fans than the players; that's for sure.

Faraz Shaikh said...

I still think Gio is more likely. May change opinion once I see them in action.

Ghost Of Steve M. said...

NatsJack, I'm just the messenger from the radio broadcast. Walk up to the Tiger broadcasters and let them know. With new technology we can communicate these comments so I'm happy to hear how you saw it vs how they portrayed it.

baseballswami said...

I think JZimm because he is going to be the most pitch- efficient to go the full nine. And because he has Wisconsin ice-fishing water in his veins.

MicheleS said...

FYI.. Changes coming to the Post...

Paywall coming to WaPo

SonnyG10 said...

ghost/NatsJack, whoops indeed. I'm being influenced by the Tigers broadcast also.

Section 222 said...

Listened to the game during lunch. Sounds like the Tigers announcers were unfairly rough on Werth, but boy are they giving the Nats a lot of love, especially JZ. At one point, they said something like, "can you imagine going into a three games series with the Nationals rotations lined up Strasburg, Gonzalez, Zimmermann? Oh boy, you'd be wondering if you could even win a game." Lots of nice things to say about Det too. And Harper, Desmond, Zim, Span, our bullpen. Talked about this game as between two teams that might end up meeting in the World Series.

Ghost Of Steve M. said...

baseballswami said...
Mark my words - JZimm will be the first Nat to throw a no hitter.


With his changeup, I would agree with you.

MicheleS said...

Glad we have eyes on the ground to clear up the Werth stuff. Hate when other teams don't report what is going on fully... although as 222 said, the DET broadcasters are gushing over JZ

SonnyG10 said...

Yea, 222, they're giving the nats a lot of love. Nice to hear from the opponents.

Ghost Of Steve M. said...

SonnyG10 said...
ghost/NatsJack, whoops indeed. I'm being influenced by the Tigers broadcast also.

March 18, 2013 2:31 PM


Like I said, me too.

MicheleS said...

Ding! We have a kobernus sighting. sounds like he is playing in the OF

Faraz Shaikh said...

True on both counts but GG has already thrown complete games which JZ has yet to do. GG also has a better BAA than pretty much everyone on staff. JZ is more contact pitcher. Anyways, it just takes one lucky day to throw a no-hitter so it might be RD for all we know.

waddu eye no said...

sofa - just caught your comment from this AM.

"G.F.Y.N.G. would mean something else entirely,"

uh, yeah. natsie corrected it, but one more time:
gyfngpfb@gmail.com

hope to meet some of you sunday

Holden Baroque said...

Maybe Charlie & Dave have spoiled some folks, making them predisposed to accept even opposing radio announcers uncritically.

Just turned it on here--boy, do these guys leave a ton of dead air. Seriously, I kept checking my connection, I thought my speakers had gone out until I heard some crowd noise..

Ghost Of Steve M. said...

Yes, agreed, the Tigers broadcasters were loving some JZim.

Ghost Of Steve M. said...

Sec3, something strange to the sound lapse too on that Tigers broadcast. They made the HR call and a second or two went by before you got the crowd cheer.

baseballswami said...

Faraz -- JZimm has never been allowed to go a full game yet. This should be the year.

Faraz Shaikh said...

Swami, I realize that but the BAA argument still stands. GG was the best in the league I believe.

If the question was a perfect game, I might be inclined to choose JZ or SS over GG but for no-hitter, I have to go with GG.

Holden Baroque said...

Ghost, yes, and sometimes listening over the Internet introduces some lags that aren't in the broadcast. These guys just don't fill in as much as I'm accustomed to. I can sure hear the Loud Beer Man fine. It's a style, I guess. Don't care for it on the radio, myself. YMMV.

Holden Baroque said...

"If the question was a perfect game, I might be inclined to choose JZ or SS over GG but for no-hitter, I have to go with GG."

Wait, are we starting a pool? I'm taking Znn for the Next Nats No-No, but for the Perfecto, I'll finesse with None of the Above.

Ghost Of Steve M. said...

baseballswami, JZim has 1 complete game. Just happens that it was a road complete game 1-0 loss.

NatsNut said...

Michele,
About the news that Washington Post might be getting a paywall. I say it's about time. Repeating my comment here:

This would apply to me because WaPo is my home page and I'm on this site pretty much all day, every day. I have been getting a major quality product for free with this site for YEARS. I will have NO PROBLEM paying for access if it keeps WaPo alive.

Section 222 said...

No hitters are mostly luck, but I can see any of our big four (Stras, Gio, JZnn, and Det) throwing one this year. Look at least for one of them to take a no-no into the 8th ... and get pulled as soon as he gives up a hit.

After what happened to Johan Santana last year, I'm not sure I really want any of our guys to throw a no-hitter, especially if it means going over 100 pitches. Santana threw a no-hitter on June 1, his second straight nine inning shutout. He threw 134 pitches in that game (though only 96 in the previous game). At that point, he had a 2.38 ERA and 7 of his 11 starts had been quality starts. After that game, only 3 of his last 10 starts were quality starts, and he had an 8.27 ERA (He finished with a 4.85 ERA.) He was shut down after August 17 with back issues. As far as I can tell, he still hasn't pitched this spring.

Talk about a cautionary tale....

NatsNut said...

My vote goes to Z'nn for first no-hitter. He's more of a bulldog than GG. Right Scooter?

Unknown said...

Well the bullpen looks goood

Holden Baroque said...

I'm not seeing this, but it does not sound like this is exactly Soriano's fault--dinks, bloops, past ball, first to second on fly balls to center ...

Holden Baroque said...

*passed ball

A DC Wonk said...

Poor Phillies. Haladay struggling. Oh well. Cliff Lee seems on the downward slope also. Well they still have Hamels and....uh....Lannan as stoppers.

Halladay has a lot of mileage on that 36 year old arm. Prior to last year (when he was injured) he threw 2200+ innings in 10 years.

(tick tock? ;-) )

Holden Baroque said...

OK, *now* it's starting to sound like his fault...

Unknown said...

It concerns me a little that two days in a row our starters hold them to a total of 1 run and then....

Unknown said...

I guess Soriano is "working on things"

Unknown said...

He has not won me over yet

JD said...


Sec 222,

Generally speaking 120 pitches shouldn't be a problem for any pitcher who is healthy and is 25 years old or older. The problem with Santana was that he was coming of an injury which cost him most of the previous year and up to the no hitter he wasn't close to throwing so many pitches.

I recalled that Terry Collins was tortured by that game because given the Mets history (no no-no's ever) he felt that he had to stay with Santana but admitted later that he was rooting for the Padres (I think it was them) to get a hit so he can take him out.

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

If the Washington Post thinks I'm going to pay money to read Kilgore's or Wagner's substandard prose, they've got another think coming. I'm sure I'm not alone in that sentiment. Hell, I'll start reading that lady in the Moonie paper before I pay for the Post.

JD said...


MichelleS,

Who cares? the game doesn't count in the standings.

Rabbit34 said...

See what's happening in this game! This is why I don't think we will be .500 this year. There is no run support with the lineup we have. Even great starting pitchers need runs to win. Soriano should move his locker farther from Storen!

Ghost Of Steve M. said...

MichaelS, today the Nats starter held them to 0 runs. Typical JZim run support and bullpen.

MicheleS said...

NatsNut.. no problem with the Paywall either.

Mac if you aren't reading Amanda, you are already missing out.

Holden Baroque said...

JD, you mean Michael S, I think, right?

MicheleS said...

JD.. Michael S not MichelleS... i could care a less about a spring training gam.

baseballswami said...

Dead arm? Over thinking? Working on things? At least JZimm was a beast and ALR went yard.

Holden Baroque said...

Even the ones with swell gams, Michele?

Ghost Of Steve M. said...

Kris Medlen gave up NINE earned runs today!!!! Barves!!!

MicheleS said...

SOFA.. LOL! I will take JZ's swell gams.

baseballswami said...

Oh, Rabbit- again? You take your Zoloft today?

MicheleS said...

Rabbit.. reverse lock again.. Will expect that Soriano is stellar then this season and the bats will beat other teams into submission

Holden Baroque said...

Speaking of gams, how come we never hear about a player having a "dead leg"?

Holden Baroque said...

Kris Medlen gave up NINE earned runs today!!!! Barves!!!

Clearly, if the Phillies can avoid injuries enough to finish .500, they have the division locked up.

baseballswami said...

Who pitched for the Phil's? I see a 15 spot up there against them.

Unknown said...

"Kris Medlen gave up NINE earned runs today!!!! Barves!!!"
Fantastic. This is why I can go all in on WBC. I am too conditioned to rooting against certain players.

Ghost Of Steve M. said...

Swami, Rodrigo Lopez for the Phoolies

3on2out said...

Oh Rabbit! If you were only a betting mammal. I would put up the mortgage on my warren!

baseballswami said...

Should we know who that is,Ghost? Audition for a spot? Reliever? Prospect?

Holden Baroque said...

Rodrigo Lopez has been around a while.

JD said...


Since all the starters (with the possible exception of Haren) are sharp and the lineup is set and all the extra spots are pretty much set I am ready for the real games to start (if it only wormed up by about 30 degrees).

These ST games are getting a bit tedious.

baseballswami said...

JD- the weather in DC needs a little more work before it's ready for opening day.

JD said...


Swami,

I know. It's snowing again here in NJ. Makes me wanna go back to Florida and see more tedious ST games.

NCNatsie said...

Re Santana's no-no and its aftermath:

Whatever the reasons, I don't recall any statistics suggesting there is a generalized trend for a pitcher to be worse after a no-hitter than he was before. Anyone else know of any? If it's just Santana, that would be something close to the ultimate small sample problem.

MicheleS said...

Oh Lord.. Henry

baseballswami said...

I think it was just Santana- the particular injury, situation, etc.Sounds like Henry is back to his old tricks today.

3on2out said...

The Tiger announcers can't believe Henry is on the Nationals roster with his numbers. Walks and wild pitches. Not acceptable for a major leaguer. Or a minor leaguer.

Holden Baroque said...

I think I have Henry's new run-in music.

Unknown said...

Henry had it all the way

Holden Baroque said...

The Tiger announcers can't believe Henry is on the Nationals roster with his numbers.

That's OK, I'm a little surprised to hear them working this game.

Ghost Of Steve M. said...

Sec3, funny! Henry, uh, not so funny.

Ghost Of Steve M. said...

Medlen gives up 9 runs over 5 innings and snags a win. Only in Spring Training. Barves win 17-10 over Phoolies even though it looks like Falcons over Eagles.

ehay2k said...

Henry is working on things:

1.) Throwing strikes
2.) Forgetting about the guys stealing behind me
3.) Not hitting the batter

Section 222 said...

JD, fair points. And in a no-no, a pitcher is going to face only a few more batters than in those 6 inning, 100 pitch efforts that we generally see from our guys. On the other hand, the most pitches Gio threw last year was 119 (in his 10-0 shutout against the Cards). And he threw over 110 pitches only 4 times all year. He'll be 27 this year. Det will be 27 also, but he threw 90 or more pitchers in only 9 of his 27 starts last year. Stras (starting his age 24 season this year) and JZnn, also 27, have TJ surgery in their fairly recent past. So I'm not thrilled about them going for 120 pitches yet, and I'll continue to hope that neither has a no-no going after seven unless they've been super efficient. It's true that Santana's issues may have been sui generis, but I'd rather not risk it. And I'm sure Davey isn't going to pull them if they have a no-hitter going, regardless of how many pitches they've thrown.

JD said...


Sec 222,

I've done some reading on the topic and I came away convinced that 100 pitches is a fairly arbitrary limit which is not really based on anything scientific.

As long as pitchers are ramped up responsibly in their generative years (case studies show that 25 is the magic age where you can take the training wheels off) and the Nats are super conservative in protecting young arms you are then able to get many more innings from your pitchers.

Once a pitcher is considered to have 'matured' the coaches should keep a pitcher in until he shows signs of fatigue as long as he is effective. Signs of fatigue include flattening out of the curve, fast balls staying up etc. Pitch counts should be secondary (within reason).

I am expecting a fairly substantial increase in JZimm's work load this year and gradual increases for STras and Det. Gio should probably be about the same and Haren will be unlimited health and effectiveness permitting.

Section 222 said...

JD, somehow my comment has disappeared but I'm glad you saw it before it did. I haven't seen anything that suggests you are wrong about 100 being arbitrary. But everyone follows it, so there's that. Of course, whether a pitcher has a chance to go beyond 100 pitches depends a lot on how well his offense has performed by the time he gets there. If the team is ahead, he may get the shot at going into the 8th. Still, with our bullpen, I'd be a little surprised if Davey pushes these guys past the magic number all that often.

Steamer said...

I see know one is saying nothing about Soriano if it was someone else you guys would be talking bad about them

Theophilus T. S. said...

Henry had a great game, two walks and a batter who got between him and the backstop. Wowza.

JD said...


Theo,

If they DFA Henry it wouldn't bother me one bit.

Section 222 said...

You're probably right Steamer. The difference is that vets get a lot more rope from fans in ST. Span, Werth, and ALR aren't doing much so far. Even Desmond hasn't been that great. But they've established themselves over the years and all the data points to the conclusion that ST stats actually mean nothing. Soriano falls into that category of getting the benefit of the doubt.

ST stats probably mean nothing for Espi, Storen, and H-Rod as well. But since they aren't veterans and have been disappointing in the recent past, they get a lot of scrutiny. That doesn't mean it's deserved though. If I remember correctly, Storen was lousy in ST in 2011 and was lights out almost from the get go once the season started. None of our likely 25 Opening Day guys, (with the possible exception of H-Rod) are going to lose their jobs over ST performance, but that won't stop us from watching what they do like hawks.

Anonymous said...

I was at the game and Jason was not dogging it. It was a goofy play in that initially it seemed possible the outfielder might shoestring it but the ball dropped and then for a second looked like it would get by the outfielder.

Jason was running hard and rounded first when he thought the ball would get by and second would be open. But the outfielder kept it in front of him and had a great throw behind Jason, who scrambled to change direction but couldn't get back.

My only theory on the Tiger announcers is, as someone theorized, they weren't following him until late in the play and assumed he was loafing. He can faulted for misjudging the play but not for loafing.

Anonymous said...

I was excited to get my first look at Soriano in a Nats uniform but he was falling behind every batter and just was not sharp. There were flashes of the closer of last year but nothing sustained.

Henry was Henry walking batters, throwing a wild pitch to advance the runners and then hitting another batter. It was vintage, awful Henry. And what added to my annoyance is that the worse he pitched, the slower he pitched. It was slow-motion agony.

Gonat said...

Luckily for Henry after he walked the 1st 2 batters and HBP'd the 3rd batter to load the bases he got to face 4 fringe players.

He has to be killing Rizzo. Many people said it's Henry's job to lose and unfortunately he is trying to lose it.

Theophilus T. S. said...

Much as I would like to watch -- in person -- Rizzo had Rodriguez his bus ticket to Washuca Falls in the Summer A league, the problem is no one has made a legitimate case for the 25th spot on the roster. Young, possibly, if you can imagine him as a relief pitcher -- and I can't, and I'll be he can't either. Can Rendon pitch?

Theophilus T. S. said...

"hand," not had.

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

Anyone have GIO's line fron the minor league start today?

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

Anyone have GIO's line fron the minor league start today?

Theophilus T. S. said...

This will be Ghost of Steve's Rizzo surprise: Rodriguez put on a banana boat dead-heading to Venezuela and Micah Owings goes north as the mop-up guy and presumptive DH.

SonnyG10 said...

rmoore446 said...
I was at the game and Jason was not dogging it. It was a goofy play in that initially it seemed possible the outfielder might shoestring it but the ball dropped and then for a second looked like it would get by the outfielder.

Jason was running hard and rounded first when he thought the ball would get by and second would be open. But the outfielder kept it in front of him and had a great throw behind Jason, who scrambled to change direction but couldn't get back.

My only theory on the Tiger announcers is, as someone theorized, they weren't following him until late in the play and assumed he was loafing. He can faulted for misjudging the play but not for loafing.
March 18, 2013 5:47 PM


Thanks rmoore446. I've corrected my impression based on what NatsJack said earlier and have completely wiped the slate clean with Jayson. Its nice to have eyes on the ground to provide a clear picture of what went on.

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

Abad makes team as Henry closes his car door on his hand.

Ghost Of Steve M. said...

Theo, I'd almost be disappointed if Rizzo doesn't surprise us. Less than 2 weeks!

SCNatsFan said...

I'd be very surprised if Henry's elbow doesn't start hurting just enough for a 15 day DL stay and some rehab

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

Two words: J.C. Romero. Okay, that's two initials and a word.

Drew said...

I'd rather have Hoyt Wilhelm than Henry.

And Hoyt's been dead for a decade.

PDowdy83 said...

The optioning Drew because of a bad spring idea really sounds like a lot of the same garbage we were hearing in March of '11 when he posted an ERA in the 11s. Drew doesn't ramp up the intensity and works on specifics in the spring like A LOT of relievers. Throw the stats out the window.

Drew said...

Let's just throw Henry out the window.

Nothing says Natitude like defenestration.

Doc said...

Personally, I'm not Soriano that they signed Rafael.

Henry is gonna be OK. The opposing batters are afraid, and that's good!!

Holden Baroque said...

See, now, if baseball had designated goons, like in the NHL or NBA, Henry would have a job for life.

Holden Baroque said...

Or gold shoes. Gold shoes say Natitude.

Holden Baroque said...

HEY CHASE! OR MARK! If you're checking in ... How about a honkball Sharkadina thread? Dank u.

Gonat said...

PDowdy83 said...
The optioning Drew because of a bad spring idea really sounds like a lot of the same garbage we were hearing in March of '11 when he posted an ERA in the 11s. Drew doesn't ramp up the intensity and works on specifics in the spring like A LOT of relievers. Throw the stats out the window.

March 18, 2013 8:11 PM
___________________________________

There's only 1 person here suggesting Drew to Syracuse.

Laughable and it just shows his true grasp of this team.

baseballswami said...

SCNatsFan- I think it's an absolute lock that HRod ends up on the DL to start the season. McCatty may have to hurt him.

Holden Baroque said...

Shark up, 2 on, no outs, top of 1

baseballswami said...

Productive out. Bernadina looks as ripped as ever. Hasn't played in a while since getting HBP.

NCNatsie said...

Way to go, Drew. That may be the first time the word defenestration has ever appeared in a baseball blog. I'm prague of you.

Holden Baroque said...

That may be the first time the word defenestration has ever appeared in a baseball blog.

Not sure about that, we'd better double-czech,

Holden Baroque said...

He may have implied it was the first time, but it's just in-you-window.

ehay2k said...

Ugh, all these window puns and my eyes are glazing over.

baseballswami said...

It is a symptom of boredom caused by the lack of either a live Nats game or Team USA still being in the WBC.

NCNatsie said...

I know. It's a pane.

Drew said...

Windows reflect poorly on Henry.

Now let's sash-ay to the next post...

natsfan1a said...

I sashay in here to read about baseball, and I find a post jammed with window puns. What's a grille to do? I could answer in kind and try to keep them at bay. Nah. I'll just slide on back here in the morning and hope for the return to baseball. Or honkball. Or something. Either that, or it's curtains for me.

natsfan1a said...

Dang, Drew took my pun. Off to the NIDO for me.

Section 222 said...

I haven't laughed out loud in a long time reading this blog. Thanks guys!

natsfan1a said...

Er, I don't know how to add a new column before the totals column. Help?

natsfan1a said...

Daggone it. The gremlins ate my punderful post. Oh well. It was magnificent. Trust me.

Holden Baroque said...

Try this, 1a.

natsfan1a said...

Aw, thanks, sec3. Could you make my pun post reappear as well? :-)

Holden Baroque said...

Great Maker, these announcers are idiots.

Holden Baroque said...

If I do, you wind-owe me one.

Arrrr arrr arr!

natsfan1a said...

Indeed. Not watching now but earlier I remarked to my husband that I could see (well, actually, hear) why people made liberal use of the mute button when watching prior games.

natsfan1a said...

LOL, I'd buy you one just for that, but, well, infinite tab and all.

Sec. 3, My Sofa said...

If I do, you wind-owe me one.

Arrrr arrr arr!
March 18, 2013 10:00 PM

Section 222 said...

That is one heckuva pickoff move the Dutch pitcher has. Then again, it was Hanley on base.

Holden Baroque said...

How perfect would it be to have Shark put one in the Bay?

Holden Baroque said...

I'd have settled for "put one in the outfield."

NatsLady said...

Swami, Bernadina played in two exhibition games this week. He got hits in both of them (vs. San Diego and vs. Seattle). Netherlands won both games.

baseballswami said...

Oh, cool- glad he is ok!

NatsLady said...

Manassas, here is the report on Gio's game.

87 pitches (59 strikes);he allowed seven hits, mostly in the early innings, and walked none while allowing a run. He struck out nine and sat at 92-93 miles per hour with his fastball.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/nationals-journal/wp/2013/03/18/gio-gonzalez-sharp-in-minor-league-game/

Holden Baroque said...

Dutch are going to need some rally cigars ... rally paint ... rally chocolate ...

NatsLady said...

That's a lot of seagulls.

NatsLady said...

Dominican will go to the Finals and Bernie will go to Florida. Strong effort by an underdog team to get as far as they did. Eury Perez is the final Nat standing (well, er, sitting on the bench) for the WBC.

baseballswami said...

Sorry to see that the amazing Honkbal underdog run is over. And, as to the Barves-- Andrelton Simmons is a fine young player.

Joe Seamhead said...
This comment has been removed by the author.

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