Friday, July 26, 2013

Instant analysis: Mets 11, Nats 0

USA Today Sports Images
Game in a nutshell: Hours after an inspiring, walk-off victory, the Nationals opened a day-night doubleheader against the Mets and put forth one of their worst efforts of the season. Jordan Zimmermann labored during 6 2/3 innings, serving up a pair of early homers to Daniel Murphy. The Nationals lineup was completely shut down by Jenrry Mejia, making his first big-league start of the season. And then things really got ugly in the top of the ninth. Ryan Mattheus, making his first appearance since breaking his hand more than two months ago, was charged with three runs. Drew Storen, battling the flu, then gave up three runs on four pitches, including a two-run homer to Ike Davis. The Nats were blown out before an increasingly hostile crowd and now have to take the field again in two hours to face New York ace Matt Harvey. A loss tonight would leave the Nationals and Mets tied for third/fourth place in the NL East.

Hitting lowlight: Facing a guy making his first big-league start of the season and only the seventh big-league start of his career, the Nationals put forth another feeble performance at the plate. They put only four men in scoring position, all of them in the game's first three innings, and couldn't drive any of them in. They never really threatened again against Mejia and the Mets bullpen. So much for any carryover effect from yesterday's 9-run outburst against the Pirates.

Pitching lowlight: What's going on with Zimmermann? He just hasn't been the same pitcher for a while now. After opening the season 8-2 with a 1.71 ERA in his first 10 starts, he's now 4-4 with a 4.81 ERA over his last 11 starts, a significant regression. The Mets hit the right-hander hard this afternoon, especially Murphy. The New York second baseman crushed a pair of hanging sliders from Zimmermann for home runs, including a laser beam off the facade of the second deck in deep right-center. Zimmermann's command was off all afternoon, leading to an uncharacteristic 118 pitches over 6 2/3 innings.

Key stat: Over his last 22 games, Adam LaRoche is hitting .185 with a .264 on-base percentage and .370 slugging percentage.

Up next: These two teams will be right back out there for the nightcap of today's doubleheader, with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 p.m. Ross Ohlendorf comes out of the bullpen to start for the Nationals. All-Star starter Matt Harvey takes the mound for the Mets.

110 comments:

ExposedinDC said...

Rock......meet bottom

hiramhover said...

Feel bad for Drew- only a triple short of piching for the cycle.

Eugene in Oregon said...

As ineffective -- call it bad, inconsistent, frustrating, whatever -- as the pitching was, the failure to score even a single run was more indicative of this team's 2013 struggles. Scoring zero runs in nine innings will win you very, very few ballgames.

Tcostant said...

You know this game should have been started at noon or 12:30pm; they have a game in two hours.

If your going to the game tonight be prepared to sit on someone else garbage, because they is no time to clean. Shortsighted...

David Proctor said...

Storen's mom and dad both had some tweets expressing displeasure with Davey putting Drew out there. Apparently, Drew has a 102 degree temp.

Tcostant said...

Zimmermann is not the same since bailing on the All-star game.

Storen, see you in September when 25 man roster expands.

Stew Magnuson said...

It's almost enough to make me want to go back to being a Cubs fan. Almost

JaneB said...

As bad as this all is, the thing that worries me is Jordan pitching like he does. And where do they get off sending Drew out there at all, instead of home? It's bad.

Dr Trea (formerly #werthquake) said...

Any moron out there who seriously thought yesterday was anything more than an inevitable win is as foolish as the genius who gave a top 40 prospect for Span and destroyed the chemistry from last year.

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

If was really sick why was he there. Most peopke with 102 temp are in bed.

NCNatsie said...

Maybe what we need is a fight song. Here's one, sung by the Nats Insider Chorus.

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

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

One sure thing. I believe Strasburg has returned to the real number 1 pitcher again.

Unless of course it is Ross O

TexNat said...

HH bringing the gallows humor.

mick said...

HH Drew's folks would not like that

ha ha ha

mick said...

Nats Talk tomorrow could be interesting with Phil and Mike

phil dunton said...

Bring back H-Rod and Manny Acta!

mick said...

phil

no matter how bad it gets and I admit it is really bad

Noooooooooooooooooooooooo

mick said...

poor Davey looks like he is going to the gallows

Faraz Shaikh said...

WOW! Like JaneB said, have JZ visit a specialist!

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

Ask about Storen?

mick said...

Davey makes Norv Turner sound alive

lol

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

Damn ask about Storen. Arggggggg

mick said...

MNF


your right

brain dead reporters or they are gutless, probably both

phil dunton said...

No questions about Storen. Amazing!

nats guy said...

Pretty piss poor.

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

Davey looked lost. Maybe he is the one with the flu.

Losing 11-0 never bothers me like the first 2 Dodger games.

VP81955 said...

Nationals baseball...the non-walking dead.

David Proctor said...

JZ was fine, I thought. No, it wasn't his best performance ever, but he pitched 6 2/3 and allowed what? 3 runs? He struck a bunch of guys out, so his stuff was fine. It's not his fault that the offense sh*t the bed AGAIN.

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

It was the only question to ask as if he did have a ,102 empature then it is reckless regard to his players.

kc21 said...

Doesn't matter how our starters pitch now. Last time I checked, you can't win any games scoring 0 runs.

kc21 said...

Doesn't matter how our starters pitch now. Last time I checked, you can't win any games scoring 0 runs.

Joe Seamhead said...

There is no positive from this game. Somebody had to pitch the last two innings. We were out of it long before Mattheus or Storen came in. There was no sense in burning anybody else in the the first game of a double header. If Drew Storen really had a temp of 102, that's criminal on Johnson's part.

Concerning Jordon Zimmerman, I love the guy, but I think there is plenty to be concerned about. Sure, he got a lot of K's, but he seems to have gotten the loss of focus that has infected so many others on this team. In his last 2 starts he's pitched 8.2 innings and given up 12 earned runs. In his last 5 starts he has pitched 26 1/3 innings and given up 21 earned runs. (7.18 ERA over his last five starts).

Well, we just looked at the traffic jams on Google maps.Can't make ourselves fight it tonight. Gonna lay around the shanty, Mama, and put a good buzz on.

mick said...

David

agreed, I thought J Zim was fine and should not have come out for the 7th...it was not his best outting but it was good enough to win

nats guy said...

Who is running this mess. Lerners must be beside themselves right now. I would not want to be Mike Rizzo today. I feel very sorry for all of us connected to the Nats. Not a good time.

natsfan1a said...

Ugh. I don't think I can watch another one today. Will DVR it, though.

On the plus side, I did get my 50% off pizza from yesterday's score, so there's that. Pizza for dinner. Woo. Hoo.

mick said...

Joe S

maybe a concern on J Zim, but I really did not think he was that bad

natsfan1a said...

Just read the comments. If that's true about the fever, does seem strange to have Storen in the 'pen let alone in the game. AFLAC?

Dr Trea (formerly #werthquake) said...

NCNats - That song sounds like something from church

Eugene in Oregon said...

Just did a quick count. Nats have now scored zero runs in 10 games and only one run in 18 games. Those are 28 games in which you have almost no chance of winning (they won one 1-0 game). There have been another 19 games in which the Nats scored only two runs; they won four of those.

mick said...

Eugene

those are 1962 Mets numbers

ughhhh

mick said...

was that Nats worse loss since 2009 or 2010?

Mr Baseball said...

When are FP, Bob, Johnnie and Ray going to stop making excuses for this team. QUOTE - They are facing very good pitching staffs! I think all teams facing the teams the Nats are playing are facing the same staffs. Excuse after Excuse! This bunch needs a good kick in the butt, but this will never happen with Davey at the helm and he's here for the remainder of the year.

Also, they showed Drew in the bull pen, sitting by himself and FP and Bob stated he had the flu. Question; why we even put him in the game?

Keep wearing your red, the Jr. Phillies (Nats) are dead!!!

Joe Seamhead said...

Guys, 5 earned runs in 6 2/3 innings against this line up is " not that bad"? Grooving not one, but two meatballs to Daniel Murphy? I'm not saying he was totally awful, but this isn't an isolated game. He hasn't been the guy we saw earlier this season in 4 out of his last five starts.

nats guy said...

Even the 2006 and 2007 teams were more interesting than this. I watch them in horrified fascination. I goota stop.

mick said...

The MASN guy right now just nailed it... great summary on the 2013 season and spot on

natsfan1a said...

Thanks for sharing the link, Natsie. I'd been wondering when the video would come out. Quite a talented group of songsters and it looks like a good time was had by all.

NCNatsie said...

Maybe what we need is a fight song. Here's one, sung by the Nats Insider Chorus.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJmuEqbvviw
July 26, 2013 4:55 PM

mick said...

some one said it best a few days ago, the only song for the Nats should be Taps

mick said...

better yet

"Nearer my God to thee"

that was the song the band played as the Titanic sunk

lol

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

you could put a sinking yacht on the Anocostia River with Rizzo and Davey singing the duet

pedrocerrano said...

Drew should have been chained to his bed for the last 9.5 months

Theophilus T. S. said...

How 'bout sending both Mattheus and Storen down after tonight?

Section 109 DC said...

All I can imagine is that Drew knew the bullpen was shortstaffed with two games to play in one day,and that he volunteered--said he was okay for one inning. This poor team. They're all probably desperately trying to do anything to play well, so they do things like pitch with a fever of 102. They need our support at the season ticket holder event tomorrow.

Anonymous said...

The Beatles could contribute a two-sided .45 for the Nats' theme song: "Misery" b/w "I'm a Loser."

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

He allowed 5 not 3. That is tge difference between Ok and not.

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

Cant lose if you give up 0 eirher.

Asinconsistent as we hit our pitchers aren't good enough.

Ith the way we hit, pitching has to better than hall of ame like.

Anonymous said...

Man, this is clearly driving some posters to drink.

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

The first 6 innings were Ok.

But way too many pitches in those 6 innings.

David Proctor said...

I don't understand why we can't take advantage of opportunities. We put men on base. We had 8 hits, which isn't awful. But when we had RISP, we did absolutely nothing. It doesn't make sense.

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

If I was the Lerners I would be pissed.

Wait a minute I am not a Lerner and I am still pissed.

Steve Walker said...

Absolute. Mid. E. Ry. Good night, Nats, you suck and your season is OVER! Thanks for nothing!

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

I still have 2 games to go.

Section 222 said...

Congrats and thanks to NC Natsie. Not a great day to debut the video, but some things can't be helped.

Anonymous said...

To paraphrase Upton Sinclair in The Jungle, "It's like our hopes were buried in separate graves."

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

Reverse of rolls Mick more than positive than me. I though JZim was mediocre at best.

Bottom line none of our starters can give up the first run and expect to win. So as soon as batter 2 homers, I am not thrilled with the pitcher.

pwilly said...

That's as low as I've seen Davey in the post game presser. Of course this is as bad a stretch he's had with the Nats. Kind of makes me wonder if he's going to last the season if things don't turn around.

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

I said Davey if it is true, is guilty of total disdregard to his employee, which is not a good thing.

Just as bad, not on question at tge presser about it. That to me was my first and only question.

Whete are Woodward and Bernstein.

First no question of Diaz, now no asking Davey an obvious question.

David Proctor said...

Diaz doesn't have to answer questions and never made himself available to the media. Coward.

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

I have the running stat of that.

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

I would have to look that up but i bet the pitxhibg was 62 Mets bigger issue.

Theophilus T. S. said...

We need to consider the possibility that Z'mann has plateaued and is never going to be the elite pitcher some have imagined. He went through a similar stretch last year, rebounded mid-August to mid-September, then washed out the end of the season and espec. the playoffs.

Or, he's figured out where this season is headed and day-dreaming about deer season.

David Proctor said...

Well I can't speak to whether or not Zimmermann is going to be elite or not. I will say, I think we have the best #3 pitcher in all of baseball, without question.

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

No.

Braves game last year when we led 9-0 and it was raining.

Game 5 because they were leading into tge 9th to win the series were both worse.

Anonymous said...

Theophilus T. S. - wonderful idea. So, who you gonna bring up to replace them? Because I don't think Erik Davis and Xavier Cedeno are going to be much of an improvement.

Steve Walker said...

JZim is injured. Oh, and to make this day even more special, Harper reinsured his knee. Let him totally heal on DL, no reason now to keep playing to become RGIII all over again...

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

If he really is dick he is not really helpibg by pitchibg ineffectively.

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

I was sure you were going to use a beatle song like Fool on a hill backed bt Ticket to Tide.

Anonymous said...

David Proctor - Sorry, I'd take Shelby Miller 10 times out of 10 over J-Znn. That kid is an ace pitching out of the 3 hole.

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

You know that is one thing I hate about tge MLB administrators.

If your umps are as great as the players they don't nerd protection

Dave said...

Wow. I've been in a seminar all day and only followed the game on the At Bat app. What a wreck!

I agree with you all: I was a tiny bit surprised, event, to see Drew still on the active roster and not in Syracuse after the last few outings. But to our him out there sick? Incredible!

But as to Jordan Z, Theo, I recall him shutting down the Cardinals in relief during the playoffs last year. Did I miss something? Where was his playoff wash-out?

David Proctor said...

He got blown out in the game he started in the playoffs. The Cardinals have always had his number though, so I don't know how much that had to do with it.

Anonymous said...

Dave - Jordan's start in the NLDS was a disaster. Five earned runs in three innings. Had he pitched better, maybe game 5 doesn't even happen.

David Proctor said...

Oh yay, Lombardozzi in LF tonight.

Secret wasian man said...

Is Davey so stubborn that he won't quit? Does he really think this team needs him. Span Sorry oh no and ALR can't get out off here quick enough.

Alphabet Soup Erik said...

I would take Scherzer, Miller, Ryu and Matt Moore over Zimmermann. They all have much better stuff.

Secret wasian man said...

Zimm came in game 4 in relieve and struck out the side.

Secret wasian man said...

Get off the playoffs. Cardinals a veteran team who were facing young inexperienced pitchers. If you want to kill anybody kill Davey for nor pulling drew at 7 7 score

Secret wasian man said...

If we score even 3 and lose then let's talk pitching. But until then why beat a dead horse. Just pathetic.

Joe Seamhead said...

David Proctor, do you have the line up for game 2 ?

natsfan1a said...

I don't know, sec222. Seeing it after the game gave me a little bit of a boost. Maybe because it gives a sense of the community that has grown up around this blog.

Section 222 said...

Congrats and thanks to NC Natsie. Not a great day to debut the video, but some things can't be helped.
July 26, 2013 5:41 PM

Anonymous said...

You though it could get any worse than this afternoon's game. You were wrong. From Zuckerman's Twitter feed:

"Harper not in Game 2 lineup for #Nats after aggravating L knee diving for ball in Game 1."

natsfan1a said...

He and Stammen were both studly out of the 'pen, if memory serves.

Secret wasian man said...

Zimm came in game 4 in relieve and struck out the side.
July 26, 2013 6:10 PM

David Proctor said...

I don't think Harp's injury is serious. He wasn't limping or anything. I think he just aggravated it and Davey wants to play it safe.

At least that's the hope.

natsfan1a said...

Plus, evidently a pigeon flew through the press box. It also should have pooped on someone to really put the icing on the, er, cake. :-)

karlkolchak said...

You though it could get any worse than this afternoon's game. You were wrong. From Zuckerman's Twitter feed:

"Harper not in Game 2 lineup for #Nats after aggravating L knee diving for ball in Game 1."
July 26, 2013 6:15 PM

David Proctor said...

Clippard struck out the side too. Wasn't it like 8 in a row on strikeouts?

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

I remember diving yesterday. Remind when did he dive today. He slightly bumped tge wall. But a dive.

natsfan1a said...

That's right, David. Had to go look it up. Still haven't watched a replay. I DVR it but don't get around to watching it and end up deleting it to make room for more recordings.

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

Is Storen good for game 2?

Joe Seamhead said...

I just saw the line up on Mark's twitter update. Span leading off, Rendon back in. Lombo in LF. Oh, joy.

David Proctor said...

Storen better not be good for any game the rest of the season, as far as I'm concerned.

Anonymous said...

So, no Harper in the lineup, Span back in the leadoff spot, a pitcher who until a six weeks ago was completely washed up on the mound, just got their butts kicked 11-0 in the afternoon contest, going up against Harvey--karma couldn't be any worse for this game.

Which is why they will probably win. The baseball gods do seem to enjoy their practical jokes since they play them all the time.

Secret wasian man said...

No harp. Oh so now Davey is concerned for the well being of a player? Man is Storen gettIng with his daughter?

Eugene in Oregon said...

New post.

Secret wasian man said...

Yes proctor. If you recall game 5 minus Storen, it was the veteran pitchers who stunk. GIO and Haren oops I mean Edwin.

Secret wasian man said...

Not looking for a win. Looking for a run or dare I say it even 2. World war Z movie looks good.

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

If he sick i find that total disregard to health of an employee. One of my friends who is OSHA top lawyer said good thing baseball has the anti trust clause or it could be an actual OSHA xase except no baseball player would want to appear like a wimp.

Either way why pitch a sick person.

Totally stupid.

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

Circumstabces sure look bleak.

Easy win.

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

Can someone remind me of Harper's dive?

Theophilus T. S. said...

Karolchak -- Davis and Cedeno weren't in my mind; Barrett, Karns might be better. The point isn't who's better but who could be worse? These guys combined have an ERA of 6. No one in this organization experiences any consequences for sucking.

biggoose said...

The only real bright spot has been Lombardozzi. The more he plays the more he produces. We left him stranded on 3rd twice with less than 2 outs today. This is pathetic.

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