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USA Today Sports Images Gio Gonzalez was dominant over seven innings of 1-run ball. |
Hitting lowlight: It's not often you get a golden opportunity against Kimbrel, so you've got to make the most of it. The Nationals couldn't in the top of the ninth of a 1-1 game. Despite a leadoff single from Zimmerman and a subsequent double from Adam LaRoche, the Nats couldn't push across the go-ahead run. Desmond struck out looking at a 2-2 fastball, perhaps the biggest infraction of the inning. Roger Bernadina then grounded into a 5-2 fielder's choice, leacing it all up to the struggling Danny Espinosa. Espinosa swung at Kimbrel's first pitch and flied out to left, killing the rally.
Pitching highlight: Against a tough veteran with such a track record of dominance against the Nationals, Gonzalez had to be on top of his game tonight. And he was. Not only did the left-hander get good results — one run on three hits over seven innings — but he was all over the strike zone. He issued only one walk and, most impressively, threw 72 of his 105 pitches for strikes. That's an extraordinary strike percentage for Gonzalez, and a great sign for him. He even helped himself out at the plate, roping the night's first hit by either team. That single left Gio sporting a .294 batting average for the season. Stunning.
Key stat: Since returning from a five-day break to let his fractured wrist heal, Danny Espinosa is 2-for-15 with six strikeouts.
Up next: The series wraps up at 1:35 p.m. Sunday when Nate Karns takes the mound for his second career start (hoping to go at least five innings this time and qualify for the win) against left-hander Paul Maholm.
206 comments:
«Oldest ‹Older 1 – 200 of 206 Newer› Newest»Day game tomorrow. Go win the series.
And theres Henry Rodriguez with the slightest bit of stress added. How can some of you keep protecting this guy. I dont get it.
Mark, you MUST ask Davey about the hitters' approach at the plate in the 9th. Do they change anything with 2 strikes?
Nats fans should run Davey Johnson out of town after this debacle. Better off letting Danny Espinoza pitch the 10th. He can't hit, maybe he can pitch. Most pissed off I have ever been watching this team, and it started on HRod's first pitch. Johnson is a joke.
You can't have two useless pitcher on the 25man. Either Duke goes HRod goes.
Counting the days until Anthony Rendon is here...
And yes, you knew from the pitch he threw that this game was over.
Rodriguez doesn't belong in the majors.
The Nats don't belong in the playoff discussion.
No heart, no win. Again.
Wash, rinse, repeat.
Gonna be a long season.
As long as we keep trotting out players - Espi, Tracy, HRod, Shark on a regular basis - that can't help us win we will continue losing.
If this doesn't spur Rizzo to make changes then you shouldn't renew hat contract. He and Davey can't believe this is just bad luck that s causing this.
And for manage f the year Davey seems to have lost the feel for this club.
The top of the 9th, I will not forget...Desi looked liked a WIMP taking that strike. Kimbrell, CLEARLY did not have his stuff tonight. Bernadina, you already know if he does not KO, he hits a weak crap ass ground ball right to the infielder. Just sickening to watch Gio pitch his guts out and Desi, twice hits like a 90 pound weakling.
Shark is WORTHLESS at the plate and Espi...... is the reason, I have lost all respect for Rizzo and Davey. God danmmit, you DO NOT PLAY INJURED PLAYERS, only dirt bag organizations do this. Now, if Espi is not hurt, then he SUCKS and should be done, So which is it gang???
On that note, Werth is still hurt and will back on Tuesday.... shame on the Nats and the Lerners to allow this crap. I now think rizzo is a sleaze ball and Davey is simply a horse ass
Davey is now one of the worst managers in this game, he is DISHONEST about injuries and bringing in Hrod who is a WORTHLESS sack of you know what says it all to Davey's arrogance and STUPIDITY!!!
Not getting why Espy was hitting with men in scoring position...
man oh man, its like watching a movie you have seen before...you know what's going to happen but for some reason you keep watching...still love em but they are killin me!!!!!!
SCNatsFan
get use to it, we have an a-hole manager and a scum bag GM
At the same time, Hrod should not have pitched. This game should have been won in the 9th. Just big fail all over.
H-Rod was the best option there. It sucks, but it was. He used everyone he had before H-Rod except Duke. Would you have preferred Duke?
Werth is not still hurt. Give me a source on that. I haven't seen anything saying he's not feeling well. In fact, I read today he said he was feeling good and his hamstring wasn't bothering him. Can we get facts please?
Espinosa will be replaced by Rendon soon enough.
"phil dunton said...
Nats Lady, Can you find some way to blame this loss on Michael Morse? I am sure you can.
June 01, 2013 10:26 PM"
Now that is funny because all you can do is laugh. All the people that came out after 2 good Henry starts and the records show he had no High Leverage appearances this season.
He creates his own High Leverage but had come into start an inning in High Leverage.
Again, on Rizzo.
Great game Braves!!
paul brandt I love the boys too, I despise the GM and manager, they are dirty people toying with these young men's careers forcing them to play hurt
They are LIARS as to saying they had depth because if they did YOU DO NOT HAVE TO PLAY INJURED PLAYERS, HELLO!!!!!
Apparently me getting screwed over with the damn Yankees/Sox game on fox was a good thing.....
MICK. STOP TYPING IN CAPS AND SAYING THINGS THAT ARE'T TRUE. NOBODY IS "FORCING" THEM TO PLAY HURT. SHOW ME WHERE WERTH IS STILL HURT. SHOW ME. I READ SEVERAL TWEETS TODAY WHERE WERTH SAID HE FELT GOOD.
Dave, the Braves played Kimbrell in the 9th in a tie game...why not pitch Soriano, better yet, why not have Clip???
I don't know how many times Henry has to show he cannot handle pressure. Obviously Rizzo needed to see it be more time.
Mick, s that you or the Coronas talking? lol.
It's not all bad NatsNation - we can win the series tomorrow. And we can do it without our starting catcher, RF, and LF, an injured 2b, and 2 starting pitchers out.
The way the Barves acted after the win tonight, you would have thought they won the World Series.
The 3 appearances before this had Henrys Fan Club saying he was better than Storen and some saying as good as Clippard.
My question is all the people bashing him now where were you after his last 3 starts.
I bash him all the time. He stinks. Walks the 1st batter on 4 balls that werent even close.
Clip was unavailable. He threw over 30 pitches last night. Soriano was needed because he would've had to pitch if we took the lead. Otherwise, Henry would have had to pitch anyway once we got the lead.
David...I'm sorry, i am 100% convinced its true...lok at Espi, please explain that and tell me why Im wrong, if I am wrong on Espi...then you are saying he is 100%. if that is the case, he is one of the worst hitters in baseball/ Even the MLB announcers state he is hurt
Davis was available
B.J. Upton gets the walkoff. Now why couldn't one of our sub-Mendoza guys come up with a key hit, or in Bernadina's case, a fly ball?
Davey is a lier. He said things would change. They haven't stll same terrible hitting.
Desmond according to Charlie Lau's philosophy is selfish you never ever ever take a 3rd strike with a man on third less than 2 outs. He classified it selfish. That was in the 70s now a days seems normal and hitters never seem to care about changing.
All Shark needs is a fly and he chops down on pitch. That absolutely last thing you do.
Espi is useless.
Shark's at bat was classic suiside squeeze begging to happen, but Davey is so boneheaded herefuses to do it even sets up a win.
As for HROD his walk to open inning with walk almost guarenteed a lost as a steal was about 100% sure to happen.
I blame lost abou 10% Ian 10% Hrod 10% shark and 100% Davey
Ian Desmond lost this game. He had 3 balls up he could have lifted and just stood there. Please don't say he was fooled. This team stinks and lik3.an idiot I keep watching. Davey is pathetic
ehay2k I do not drink any more.... it is very bad and I do not mean mean from the play...it s bad because Rizzo and Davey are doing what low down organizations do, forcing players to play hurt
Dave.. do you honestly think any player is going to tweet publicly that he is still hurt and feels forced to play?
Let the record show that with runners on second and third with no out the Nats manager played as if he was going for a big inning and got nothing. Lets also point out that the bottom of the lineup was coming up for the Nats. With a runner on first, no outs, the Braves played for one run and got it. Draw your own conclusions, I have mine and it isn't pretty.
Manassas that's 130 percent
9th inning was chance for Desi to show he is an All star, taking on a high fast ball is unfing believable!!!!
Knoxville Nat
BINGO!!
I have my own conclusions as well
mick, nice job at 10:30pm, am sure you feel better after your post, i do after reading it...this team is just pissing me off...i chucked the remote and almost hit my dog, felt terrible...i did miss her but she had that look like...nats lost again, right?
I think we should've done the squeeze. Not defending Davey there. But this speculation and the notion that we're "forcing" players to play hurt is just plain silly. Absolutely silly. For one, Werth will be back Tuesday. He's been out over a month. He says he feels well. There is NO REASON to believe he's still hurt, except speculation from yourself. None.
SCNatsFan, hes using Yogi math.
Secret wasian man
Desi looked so weak taking that called 3rd strike
I'm glad Henry came in. It saved me the pain of watching the bats try to hit again.
Henry was probably the white flag. With the short bench and high recent bullpen use, we couldn't afford a marathon, and after they couldn't push across even one run in the ninth, our odds weren't so good.
Either that or Davey was passive-aggressively trying to get Rizzo to make a move. I often wonder, given Davey's extreme conservatism in using minor-league call-ups and odd bullpen usage at times, if he and Rizzo aren't in agreement over the current roster construction.
Desi's pretty cold lately, and Kimbrel fooled him. Can't really have an approach if you're fooled. And god knows Bernadina and Espi don't have much in the way of pitch recognition either.
I kind of worry about the morale of the clubhouse. How do you think they felt watching Gio battle , then watching the game end up in the hands of Espi and HRod? It's like they are playing with one hand tied behind their back. It's bad enough they have to persevere without injured players. But they also have to try to compensate for players who don't belong on the team. Jayson might be able to help everyone deal, but he is not there. Talk about adversity- this is it to the max. They really need a boost right now, something to go their way, a player back, something. Tough times in Nats land these days. Tough, tough times. Back at it tomorrow. The rookie. Man, Gio, holding this team down like that.
I know i did that intentionally a la Yogi Berra
The third strike was high. If he swings at balls, you all say "STOP SWINGING AT BALLS, SWING AT STRIKES." If he doesn't swing at balls, you say "WHY AREN'T YOU SWINGING???" Can't win. That was not a bad take. Pitch FX will show it as a ball.
Whyyyyyyyy is Espi playing!!!!!!???????
mick - congrats on stopping the drinking - it's hard to do.
I'm not sure who is forcing whom to play hurt. I think the players put more on themselves to play hurt than management does. They definitely try to hide injuries - look at Stras yesterday.
But, the team doctor has had some spectacular mis-diagnoses over the years, so some blame lies there.
And, when Eck sees Espi swing, he probably thinks it "looks too smooth" for him to be injured.
Another game tomorrow.
You could read my mind answered him
Keep in mind that if that inning keeps going the Braves may score 5 runs off of Henry. We are lucky that the bleeding stopped at 1 run.
Still wonderin where the Henry Fan Club is. Wheres the guy comparing him to Storen. Yah Drew comes in those pressure situations all the time and Henry mostly gets the ball when the Nats are ahead or behind by 3 runs in the 6th or 7th innings.
You trot out the same players, you get the same result. Right now this s a .500 team with one of the best starting rotations in baseball.
2 chances for fly ball. Between to batters the ball traveled 9 feet. Its over folks. Mick I'm sure we will rehash the same stuff after tommorows game. Bats suck
With 2 strike if real close you just flick it foul George Brett fussed at his players for not knowing that. Should have learned that by high school.
He has hidden pictures. why no squeeze?
Look at Mark's post "No DL for Strass" He probably needs the DL, but no, Rizzo and Davey will destroy this young man and when they do, they will always say, look at what we did in 2012, we shut him down.
Secret wasian man your right and we will see Davey out coached again at some point
Clone Proctor. Those pitches were close. You gotta hack. Cant stand there. Stop drinking the koolaid. Team is awful
I think I heard (from Charlie and Dave?) that Davey wanted Werth to play a full game, and play full out, in his rehab assignment before he brought him back. People rightly want the team to protect injured players--that's what he's apparently doing with Werth. Werth can say he feels good but I guess hasn't played a full game.
First batter tells me all I need to know, good first man, the good inning, walk first man take him out.
Not rocket science.
I lik Henry ss he has talent, just not forced to have control
Even if the team is a .500 team (and I think that's only true when we have all these backups in), .500 is not awful. When Werth and Harper and Det get back, we'll be well above .500.
Just think of it this way: Soon the National Nightmare of Danny Espinosa will be over. The clock is ticking on Rendon. That's cause for optimism.
I thought Manny Acta was the dumbest manager of all time but i was wrong. Davey Johnson is the dumbest by a wide margin.
Storen pitched like the old Drew. I suppose that is a positive along with Gio who was fantastic. Gio deserves better players around him and a better manager.
"I think I heard (from Charlie and Dave?) that Davey wanted Werth to play a full game, and play full out, in his rehab assignment before he brought him back. People rightly want the team to protect injured players--that's what he's apparently doing with Werth. Werth can say he feels good but I guess hasn't played a full game."
Werth has played 7 innings. He's gonna play a full 9 tomorrow and see how he feels. He's felt good so far.
phil dunton ... Davey is simply arrogant and way past his prime
The sad thing is, we could of stole another one from the Braves and been 3 and a half back. Davey is too old. His Jed Clampett "aw shucks" approach has worn thin. He needs to go. Eck too
Another thing. I noticed a while back that HRod doesn't ever look at base runners. It is unbelievable. He "one looks" all the time when a runner is on second and doesn't even bother to look when a man is on first. McCatty needs to go too. WORLD SERIES OR BUST!! I just puked all over my shoes
Squeeze? Called for it as soon as Ian refused to swing at strike 3
By the way, what a great play by Bernadiana on the GW single as Bernadina almost got him at home.
For those blaming Desi, he was the guy who got the Nats only RBI on a great 2 out single.
It happens. This is on Davey as you have to try the Suicide Squeeze and on Rizzo because Henry shouldn't have ever been traded for in the 1st place and then you just make it worse by not cutting him 2 years ago.
Forgot to mention Eck needs to go.
I don't understand how Boswell and half the sports writers in America thought the Nats are a World Series Team. They're not even a playoff team. They're not very good. Not terrible, but the record is a reflection of what they are. A mediocrity. The Braves and the real champions (Cards, Giants) will be battling it out this year while the Nats go back to being backbenchers. There is not enough talent in this team to consistently beat the good teams. Injury or not, they're not great. Rizzo and Davey did a terrible job assembling this year's team. Davey will be gone, but Rizzo? He's not George McPhee, but he's beginning to resemble the failed Cap GM in his inability to judge talent. Sure, he managed to get Strasburg and Harper. It was lucky that the Nats were so bad when Rizzo took over. Anything would have looked better. And now? They are worse.
Roger did make good attempt, but no holding close by HROD let runner score.
Ian got first RBI, but that is not a consideration in the 9th.
Whyyyyyyyy is Espi playing!!!!!!???????
We dont know what they are as we have not seen starting 8 in who knoes how long?
Braves stat that was mentioned... worst hitting outfield in all MLB. Even, so, they are up in the East and have other players who step up...we have nobody who steps up on this team
The problem with not putting Stras on the DL is the short roster again. I am trying to remember the last time we actually had a full bench, full pen. Can't remember. Pen is already shaky because HRod is always a question mark. He has just enough good outings to keep hope alive, but don't we all just put our heads between our knees when he shows up on the mound? Bench is underperforming and short. Lineup is struggling with injured players out and having dead weight. Just so much to overcome right now. You are all saying Espi is just hurt, but hurt dies not make you have no sense of the strike zone. The game folded in the ninth with runners on and no situational hitting. In other organizations , the hitting coach is usually on the hot seat, as well as the manager. Sure, lots if factors outside control, but lots if ineptitude also. So sad to watch these highly talented, hardworking guys just out of sync.
and the worst part, Braves manager tossed and the asst coach out coaches Davey
Espi is playing because you aren't 27 ny more and little cat is only 17.
Whyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy is Espi f-ing playing!!!!!!!!!!!!??????????????
What exactly are the holes on this team when healthy? The outfield is great. Desmond is a good SS. ALR and Zim are good. Suzuki/Ramos are good. The rotation is good. Bullpen is a question mark. This is very likely a playoff team when healthy.
Why is taking a pitch there "selfish" exactly? Every player would want to put a ball in play there, it's not like he did it on purpose. He thought it was outside and something he couldn't work with. He was just wrong. Not everything is a nefarious personal flaw.
I don't think Espi should be playing, at all. But if he didn't want to be playing, don't you think his agent Scott Boras would be raising unholy he'll on his behalf? It wouldn't be hard to plant an anonymous story with a national reporter to get the idea out there. Questioning their wisdom for this decision is reasonable, but there's absolutely no reason to think they're forcing him or anyone else out there.
As to who else could've pitched - there's Erik Davis, for example. Would've liked to see him get a shot. But I suppose it would've been cruel to give him that much pressure in his first appearance.
Why no squeeze?
Manassas Nats' Fan said...
Espi is playing because you aren't 27 ny more and little cat is only 17.
to my point... play Lombo at 2nd and Moore in the outfield. right, we have depth??? This proves my point that Rizzo and Davey are liars
This is on Clippard too. If he could stop walking guys or get 3-2 on most them then he wouldn't have to throw a ridiculous amount of pitches to get through an inning and be unavailable the next day.
They were basically healthy in April. They were at the same point, respective of the Braves, that they are in now. You can keep saying that they're great. The evidence says they're not.
The Braves jumped out to a 13-1 start. That's why. They cooled down. We'll heat up. You play 162 games for a reason.
I wanted the suicide squeeze with Shark, too. Was Soriano not available so Davey felt like he had to try to get more? I like how the team is battling with a short bench. Once Rendon, Werth, Ramos (can we please rest Suzuki before he's dead?) and Harper are all healthy, this will be a different team? Enough to make post season? Perhaps not, but better. Nice to se Abad battle.
EmDash thte pitch to Desi was a high fast ball, and Kimbrell was off tonight
as to "t wouldn't be hard to plant an anonymous story with a national reporter to get the idea out there." give it time.... I bet when te ship sinks, a story will come out
Woe is me. Guy has a torn rotator, a busted wrist, is blind(my opinion)and has no confidence at all. Yet we keep running him out there. It is painful to watch this guy fail. Is Rizzo running things here...or Davey? Riz, if you read this blog, call off the dogs, set Espi down. DL him....anything. My God....do you watch the games?
As much as I'd like to see the Nats go to the WS, that thought is just wishful thinking. They are six games behind in the playoff race, 5.5 games behind the Braves. The other teams that they trail are better than them. This lineup, even when healthy, is hardly impressive. Reality says, middle of the pack.
Good hitters foul off pitches not to their liking.
Hrod should be gone now, again, if we have depth in the minors, lets see it. Hrod is a testimonial to Rizzo's stupidity
Espinosa's days are limited guys. Just remember that. Rendon is playing 2B at AAA for a reason. If there's any cause for optimism, that's it.
Every night someone says season over, and the next day they just play another game. Funny how that works.
"Hrod should be gone now, again, if we have depth in the minors, lets see it. Hrod is a testimonial to Rizzo's stupidity"
Find me a GM who hasn't made a mistake.
Almazar80 I totally agree. the only positive is that the starting pitching is soild. If the Lerners are smart, they will bring in a decent and honest GM to get a few bats in here and a young manager who is not full of himself
Desi's take looked like a strike that could easily drive to right, but Carlie Lau says you cannot just let it go a simple grounder to second is a run, but batters efuse to make an out to score a run. He would rather hope it is a ball and get a itch he likes. That is what Charlie Lau says makes plays like that selfish.
If we feel like this, imagine how THEY feel. I dread Danny at the plate and I dnt want to but I do. Imagine how they felt!
I dnt one who we out in at that point but Henry and yet, as someone else here art of said, it felt like we were conceding where went it. As it always does,
Somehow much of this is self fulfilling prophesy and how much is real?
Still. I love then and I'm sticking by them.
David Proctor said...
"Hrod should be gone now, again, if we have depth in the minors, lets see it. Hrod is a testimonial to Rizzo's stupidity"
Find me a GM who hasn't made a mistake.
your missing my point.... yes every GM makes a mistake, I have no problem with the Hrod experiment in 2011 and 2012 . The issue is Rizzo never admits a mistake and why that clown is on this roster is stunning, a good GM would have cut him long ago.
So the Barves are in first place and it took them 10 innings tonight to win and we practically handed it to them. Last night we kind of got lucky to get that one. They are not all that great. One play here or there and we would have won tonight. I repeat-- the Barves are just not that great. If we play even one step up from inept, we would beat them. As bad as we feel our team is playing, they hover around .500, miraculously. If they can just hold on a little longer and get the lineup together or get these role players going a little more. Man- some of these losses have been just turning on the littlest things! 2-1 in ten innings? Painful. Feel so bad for Gio.
As always I assume we will tomorrow.
How many games do the hitters have to lose vefore we change things like Davey promisrd. FIRE ECK How could that hurt at all?
If they suck after that fire the next one.
Bernadina's predictable ground ball is also sickening.
You all are NUTS if you think this was a bad game or in any way "turns the season." I am composing my post, but seriously, we lost by ONE run, in extras, in THEIR house, and we lost because the way the lineup turned, Danny and Bernadina were up against CRAIG KIMBREL.
Pitching was excellent. Defense was excellent. We lost by .0000000002%, and just having Werth, if nothing else, will make that up.
We can win tomorrow. Then an off-day, and come home to, may I remind you, the Met and the Twins.
Mick,
I honestly just think H-Rod made the team because of Christian Garcia's injury. I think Garcia was going to win that last spot. I guess we'll see what happens after Garcia completes a few rehab games.
I'd be surprised if we win tomorrow with Karns on the mound. Especially since Duke will probably be piggybacking.
Sorry but both Espinosa and Rodriguez bring very little to the Nats.
The Nats should just send Espinosa back to the minors to try and learn to hit again and as for Rodriguez he needs to join Maya wherever he is these days, but that isn't with the Nats anymore.
David... good point
It's entirely possible that the Braves aren't playing well at the moment. When both teams were on even strength earlier in the year, they were better. Nats have some good parts, but as a total package, they are closer to mediocrity than greatness. Yes, the starting pitching is great. So what? You need to score, which is something that seems to be a lost concept to this team.
Nats lady... agree on Mets, maybe, but, I think the Nats right now will get blasted by any AL team and that includes the Twins
Swami, I feel worse for Gio the day Davey pulled him--I haven't forgiven Davey for that. Gio did his job, today, but so did Hudson. The welcome surprise to me was Abad. I've had a good feeling about him since spring training but I didn't expect he would be anything over a LOOGY. Yes, we could have used Matthues, we will be saying that for the next six weeks, but Abad sure is nice to have around.
Twins have no pitching. They have a little offense, but Willingham is in a slump. And, repeat, they have no pitching.
David, going to disagree. Karns goes five, Duke gives you two, Davis for the 7th and Clip for the 8th, and Untuck for the 9th. We can get some runs against Maholm.
Natslady: You're not getting it -- you're in Denial. this is a 500 ball club with bad players and bad management.
And the Fangraphs stats couldn't put it back together again.
Wake up!
Sometimes I think our mascot should be Charlie Brown instead of screech. Hoping the rookie has his good stuff tomorrow. Very proud of Gio and Stammen so far this series. Very frustrating and humbling game. They will be back at it tomorrow. Is there any other sport that is such a grind? Takes so much intestinal fortitude. And all we do is watch.
Almazar80 Exactly and as I said Braves stat that was mentioned... worst hitting outfield in all MLB and that is scary, if they start hitting they will clinch the East by Labor Day.
I am glad that the last thing I'm reading before going to bed is NatsLady's comment at 11:12. The rest of this thread was pretty hard to take.
Karns was impressive his first start. But this is the Braves -- if Karns isn't hitting the black like he was last time out, the result may in fact be a lot different. But that's baseball.
One thing for certain: we will not be scoring a lot of runs against Maholm. Not with this bad hitting team that already has poor, very poor, pitch selection issues. maholm will tie them in knots. Now, can Karns and the bullpen hold the Braves to 2 runs or less? I highly doubt that.
NatsLady the game was excellent, but we were position to win and 4 people gave it away. Thats all.
Anyone hear Davey'presser?
Why no squeeze did anyone ask the question? That was. No brainer call, that a number of us called for it.
" When both teams were on even strength earlier in the year, they were better"
3 games is such an awful sample size. ALR was cold as ice, as he always is. As was Zim. Neither were performing anywhere near their career numbers. The starting pitching also wasn't very good and even you agree that that's our strength. To try and draw conclusions from 3 games (or even 55 to be honest, although 55 is much less egregious) is silly.
Haha Natslady is addicted to fangraphs. Knows little else. Blames Morse for everything -- apologizes for everyone else. She sees things one game at a time, but can't see the bigger picture. She likes Espinosa and thinks Werth is God's answer to Babe Ruth.
Her posts are amusing -- little else.
I enjoy Nats lady's post, they are very good and informative. But, Nats Lady is reminding me of the Black Knight in Monte Python's Holy Grail with her optimism with this ball club...."It's just a flesh wound!"
"Running away, eh? You yellow bastards! Come back here and take what's coming to ya! I'll bite your legs off!"
lol
I like you post Natsjack. Yes, it really starts to feel that's an ego thing for Rizzo and DJ. They thought they put together the best 25 but it hasn't work out. Time to admit it and make some changes.
David our hitting execution has been patgetic, when is the sample size large enough.
Remember my original thesis is as Harper goes the team goes, and I do believe we are 7 or 8 above .500 in games he started.
They were within half a game when they became somewhat warm and the Braves turned cold. Now that the Braves are somewhat warm, the Nats are 5.5 games back again. The thing is, if the Braves play near their top abilities and the Nats to the same, they will still lose the division to the Braves. Rizzo and Davey had a terrible winter. Made the Nats worse. People like Boz wanted to believe that the team was great. Convinced a lot of other people that that is the case. What you see on the field is reality. Mediocrity.
Just to add, that Braves series was a perfect storm of many of our guys playing below career norms and many of their guys starting off way above career norms. Since that series has ended, we've won 3, they've won 3. I think that is much more indicative.
Anyone hear the presser? Why no suiside squeeze?
If you don't see the good in this game, I feel sorry for you. Storen (about whom there was so much worry a week ago), perfect. Abad, excellent. Gio (did people say his 2012 was a fluke, yes I heard that), excellent. No errors, including RZ making an overhand throw. LaRoche, clutch double. Desi, clutch single.
Suzuki and Span both look tired, though.
The game wasn't on MASN. That means the presser wasn't aired.
Actually, after every game, Davey says...."It's just a flesh wound!"
And for all the good things that people cite, the bottom line is. THEY LOST!
Hey folks... Haven't read the comments... Thought this game was Davey... We had Kimbrel... But then Desi takes strike 3 just watching, dumb as shit move, and then Roger on the FC... First thought was no squeeze and then Espi comes in and... Does Espi.... It's a shame but it's something that our ST line up is competing with their regular line up.... I will be so glad when we get Werth and Harp back... And even Ramos.... Hopefully, DJ will make the adult decision and DL Espi or sit him and out in someone who can add to the offense (still wondering why Kobernus isn't playing more and what is the hell of calling people up and they aren't playing)...
I've counted about 9 maybe 10 losses that have been on DJ this year...
You knew HRod was gonna blow up as soon as he walked the first batter... We've seen too much good HRod lately, so it was inevitable for bad HRod to show up... But that right there is why DJ doesn't like using HRod in those situations and why Mattheus injury is the dumbest....
Almazar80 said...
And for all the good things that people cite, the bottom line is. THEY LOST!
POTD!!!
Turn on 106.7 and their talking basketball bs. Who cares about basketball. I want the presser.
Some of us choose not to get enraged about a loss. It happened, we can't change it. I'm disappointed, upset, but "yelling" on here isn't going to fix it. There are good signs from this game. I choose to focus on those. I still think this is a playoff team.
enjoy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2eMkth8FWno
Agree with you David....
Sorry, Mrs. B, but Roger--not his best day! I didn't realize until the Fox guys said it that he was our best hitter late last year. He's got it in him, then, now just FIND it!!
Agree that when it gets down to Henry, the game is pretty much over. But at least it didn't go 18 innings.
Not ready to fire the Manager of the Year and Executive of the Year after 56 games, the team playing NL's most brutal schedule, three starters injured, one - Espi - who needs to pack it in this season - and TONS of bad luck and breaks. Fire Rizzo and watch how fast someone snags him. Better days are coming - might not be until next year. But they are. Y'all sound like football fans - by comparison, you would be calling for Shanahan's head after 5 games....last year, Braves were eight out later than this - didn't seem to me they quit, or traded half the team, or fired their manager...and they nearly closed the gap on a Nats team that played north of 6 hundred ball while they pursued them....way too early to fire people or quit - except Espi needs to get the surgeries he needs and, like ALR did, come back healthy and RAKE next year.
Unknown..."It's just a flesh wound!" lol
Anyone agree HROD if he could hold runner at second better might have allowed Shark to tgrow out runner.
I'm Roger's biggest supporter and his worst critic.... I expect him to not be with the team next year.. I expect Tyler Moore to be sent down to the farm soon... I expect that by the Mets series, Rendon will be up, and Espi DL'd...
I'm just ready for the regular line up to get back... At that point, we can carry 1 automatic out.... Not so much right now....
David here is the reason I am yelling.
I am guessing there has been anywhere from 6-10 games to much like this, and othing is changing.
Davey promised a change, and I look T box score nothing has changed.
I hate being lied to
But MNF, he can't... So its kind of a moot point... But that shows a larger issue with our pitchers... Seems like any and everyone can steal on the Nats....
And unknown, I agree with your overall... Injuries have hurt us but our back ups have to . DJ has yo do whatever it takes to keep it going... If that means calling on the farm, he needs to do that...
"Davey promised a change"
Rendon got promoted to AAA and is playing 2B. That's the change. But he needs to get comfortable there first.
just venting thanks to mick at 10:30pm...haha.
the day Davey said its world series or bust was a huge mistake...puts un-due pressure on everyone in the organization. Its the goal of every club but why come out & say what he did?
next: Davey announced this was his last year coaching before the season started. Why announce it? So you get an extra rocking chair? Tell the world when the season is over like LaRussa! Its a distraction & the team is playing like it.
.
MNF - I think the change is coming with Rendon but DJ's hands are kinda tied... Had he called any and everyone from the farm, he is kinda conceding the season... I bet once Werth comes back, Espi is DL'd... He already has a short bench (which is kinda his fault) so he wants to play it safe...
Nah, Paul, the issue was the places ST and keeping HRod...
I don't pay attention to the talk... As that's all it is...
I got nothin...seen LL BB handle the top of the 9th better to score a run.
I wish we could have heard DJ's press conference....
Amanda tweeted that Davey looked bad.
"Davey Johnson looked like a man who'd been through the ringer tonight. "We had our chances... We're just not doing it.""
The Harper injury I dont get. It is not structualyy. But not getting better. What is tge deal. He is 20 and if it is not structual it would seem it could heal faster.
I think is the same thing we used to call water on the knee. Is it?
David I read her tweet, wish some would write what he said.
Wish MASN would have Nats extra after Fox games.
Davey must know by know that his boast means nothing. In fact, it just shows the whole world what a flawed team that he and Rizzo created. Not impressive at all. Will the Lerners give Rizzo a new contract? He's not a bad GM, but there are better.
http://www.masnsports.com/nationals_pastime/2013/06/johnson-discusses-nats-missed-opportunities-in-2-1-10-inning-loss.html
There are some quotes from Davey. Don't see anything about a sac squeeze.
I will have to type that all in as my phone cant go links.
The suicide squeeze chance to me ( and big cat were discussing in case I an got out), but we knew Davey would do it.
He appologized last year for doing it.
I doubt DJ is happy.... He is biding his time until he can do something, is what it sounds like... It was different when Ryan was out... He still had everyone else but now its really telling..
Oh well, on to tomorrow.... We got Malholm, see should be able to hit him... Let's win the series.. Hopefully Kearns has his good stuff!!!
Go Nats!!!!
The thing we have to consider when discussing the team's construction is that the season so far is near worst-case scenario for everything. Two starting pitcher injuries, our area of least depth. An important reliever. A co-starting catcher. The most important and productive hitter. Another starting outfielder. Another injury for the already-injured starting 2b. Third baseman was on the DL for awhile too. In addition., the entire bench has hit far below previous levels and are dead weight. Duke was a perfectly fine reliever last year but has seemingly forgotten how to pitch. Haren sometimes seems to be recovered from last season, and sometimes seems to have gotten worse.
Teams have to have depth, but no team can be expected to plan ahead for 7 of 25 players to be DLed or should be DLed and 5 or 6 others to fall off a cliff without missing a step.
Based on that article he was frustrated, but didn'get the feeling he was going to change anythinh.
Really dis appointed in what I saw as the most crucial mismanagement in the last few weeks wasn't even addressed.
I guess I am a fan not a reporter because I want answers to questions no one will ask.
@EmDash that is why I am so hopeful, all things that have hone wrong and we are only 5.5 behind.
Still hate they didn',t suicide squeeze.
I understand not squeezing with Desi. I don't understand not squeezing with Shark. Especially since he could possibly even beat it out. He bunts all the time. Why not then?
Oh well. The game wasn't lost because we didn't bunt, it was lost because we couldn't hit.
Can't wait until Rendon is finally up.
Yeah, given the state of the pen it's kinda shocking Davey didn't go with the squeeze. It sounds like he hates that play, but there's a lot to hate about the current situation and a win via suboptimal tactics is still a win.
I wouldnt bunt with Desi either. He just needed to drive the last strike to the right fielder to score Zim. Not look at a called K.
Why did they not have Rendon working at second as soon as he wnt to the minors. That seemed strange to me.
My question is why haven't they been using Kobernus....
I heard it explained like this MNF: Rendon has really not played very many professional games. As soon as he got to the minors, he was injured. They wanted to put him in a comfortable position defensively so he could work on his swing and not his defense. Now that he's clearly shown he can hit, they're moving him to 2B. After he learns that, to the big leagues he goes.
Eric the only problem of course was the infield was in so it would only work as a suicide squeeze, but Roger can get a bunt down.
Davey suppose to have a degree in math, but if he thought the odds were better either Roger or Espi could drive in a run conventional better then Roger doing a suicide squeeze he needs to give his degree back.
johnson-discusses-nats-missed-opportunities-in-2-1-10-inning-loss
They used Kobernus today as a pinch hitter. He struck out.
Shark should have absolutely bunted... Desi should NOT HAVE looked at strike 3... Just dumb ass situational hitting...
In car it hasn't been posted, grade 1 (least severe) lat strain for Stras.
http://m.washingtonpost.com/blogs/nationals-journal/wp/2013/06/02/stephen-strasburg-has-a-grade-1-lat-strain/
Cueto was out for over a month with the same kind of injury... hopefully Stras' heals faster...
I guess that make sense David, but I guess I am old andcant for things to happen tomorrow, because I might not have a tomorrow.
Al Kaline was my kind of player. Scrrw the minor lesgues and learn on the fly.
Actuall they a 5 game under .500 team since game 9. Not good.
Again... Why haven't they been using him... Prime spot to put Lombo in the OF and Kobernus at 2nd... No point in calling up folks and not using them...
Whose the hitting coach? Do they not review situational hitting? Or do only we rehas it forever?
“I’ve progressed each day,” Werth said of the hamstring. “I feel better and better and I think we’re at a point. I scored from second on a base hit and I’ve been moving around and playing the outfield. That last 10 percent is really what I was looking for and I think I’m at a spot where I can be confident and play my game without worrying about getting injured.”
He's still on track to return Tuesday. Good news.
2B is a fairly difficult position to learn. Give him at least 2 months.
Awesome thanks David
Calling him up and not playing him is stupid. Bench hitter beter bringing Owings (or is on the DL)?
Werth returns on Tuesday... Shark goes to RF, and Lombo to 2nd base...
Any other player we know been DLed with same thing as Harper?
I just don't understand why we call the guy up and don't use him.... Talking about Kobernus...
This party I'm at is so lame... I'm ready to go...
I know it's happened but i can't think of any off the top of my head. It's not really a typical sports injury. It occurs more in things like car crashes and traumatic things like that. It might happen in Football, not sure.
Mrs B, I agree, but we did use Kobernus today. He pinch hit.
Pinch hitting isn't fair for him... He isn't seasoned enough where he can come in and make contact... Thought he had a decent at bat but he needs playing time...
That's actually my biggest gripe in all of this...
If we are a 500 team, with all these injuries, that puts us in a better position, I think.... I just can't wait for the regs to return....
Seems this hung around way longer than I ever expected, but then again said car crashes, and that was more like what happened.
It has really turned things upside down
Last year he sparked the tean, this had had exact opposite effect.
When we lose a game we were in position to win, I can never sleep.
I wonder if players ever have this problem.
"When a man is on base, he focuses to the hitter and doesn't worry about the runner," Rodriguez said through interpreter Abad. "Today, the situation, tie game, he's worried about the hitter and he wanted to do everything perfect."
The Nationals have tried to get Rodriguez to work on holding runners, but they appear to have given up.
"He can't do it," Johnson said.
I can't imagine H-Rod is still with us when Christian Garcia returns. Even Davey sounds frustrated with him.
Fife and Wade (Dodgers' pitchers) both went on the DL in April for bursitis... Not sure how long they were down...
Based on what it is (inflammation of bursae--sacs of fluid that prevent friction where bones meet at a joint) I can imagine it taking time to heal. Seems like even simply walking could aggravate it.
He wasnt to concerned about the hitters walked 2 and gave up hit to upton.
Notice he is as bad as Espi but came through.
DJ can't be surprised at the hrod.... This has been hrods MO... This is why DJ never wanted to use him high pressure situations...
I don't give a shit if he can throw 100+, if he can't find the SZ, he is useless....
I hate when we play games on Fox... I think we have lost all of them this year...
We won in Pittsburgh on Fox
Did I just read a tweet that Eck was fired?
1 game.. Smh... Don't make me jump like that MNF... These people are looking at me like I'm crazy....
Misread, someone wants him fired.
MrsB if it was only 1 game, we wouldn't rant like this. Want me start listing all the games because ourhitting let us down? Iam guessing 12-15 like this.
He'll leave when DJ leaves... But after loss, peeps want to fire rick....
I wanted to fire every game win or lose for four years
He doesnt fix problems, that is whhat a coach should do.
As I said I have hard time falling asleep after losing one,I believe hey should have one.
Still replaying Bernie's non suicide squezzes windering how that wnt wrong.
Replaying Ian sac fly to right and how that went wrong.
Then wondering if any Nat is doing the same thing. Or am I the obly indane one?
Davey really is a moron. He just is. He contradicts himself all the time, and makes the stupidest decisions ever. If u don't see this u r not paying attention to reality. Espi needs to be gone. Hrod gone. Duke gone. rendon needs to ve a factor, look at manny m, he's a similar player.
I would hire Peric, but he's too pro espi and anti span. So I vote ghost for gm and seam for manager. (he's just so damn polite)
Only one with fat fingers too.
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