Friday, 7:10 p.m. -- RHP Jordan Zimmermann (2-4, 4.29) vs. RHP Ricky Nolasco (3-0, 3.35)TV: MASN2 Radio: WJFK-106.7 FM, WFED-1500 AM
Saturday, 7:10 p.m. -- LHP Tom Gorzelanny (1-2, 2.93) vs. RHP Chris Volstad (2-1, 6.00)
TV: MASN Radio: WJFK-106.7 FM, WFED-1500 AM
Sunday, 1:10 p.m. -- RHP Livan Hernandez (3-3, 3.57) vs. RHP Anibal Sanchez (1-1, 3.86)
TV: MASN2 Radio: WJFK-106.7 FM, WFED-1500 AM
MARLINS UPDATE
Though they always seem to play competitive baseball and usually exceed expectations, the Marlins may be taking the pattern to new heights this season. They're off to a 19-11 start, trailing only the Phillies in the NL East, thanks to a roster loaded with young talent.
Florida's rotation has been superb, with ace Josh Johnson (3-1, 1.68 ERA) leading the way as an early favorite in the NL Cy Young Award race. Johnson (who took his first loss yesterday to the Cardinals) won't pitch in this series, but the Nationals will still have their hands full tonight against Nolasco (8-3 career vs. Washington) and Sunday against Sanchez (5-0 career vs. Washington).
The real hidden gem of this roster has been its bullpen, which boasts a collective 2.72 ERA. Remade over the winter by GM Larry Beinfest -- who never seems to get enough credit for the brilliant job he's done working with one of baseball's smallest payrolls -- the relief corps is led by closer Leo Nunez (11-for-11 in save opportunities) and lefty Mike Dunn (0.73 ERA).
The Marlins' lineup hasn't hit for a high average (.255, seventh in the NL), but it's managed to produce 4.67 runs per game (fourth-best in the NL). Perennial All-Star (and Nat-killer) Hanley Ramirez is hitting .200 with a paltry .276 slugging percentage, but 21-year-old beat Mike Stanton has five homers and three others have four.
WASHINGTON BATTERS VS. FLORIDA PITCHERS
Nats' best vs. Nolasco -- Alex Cora (5-for-11, 2B, 3B, RBI, 2 BB, K), Jerry Hairston (4-for-11, 2 2B, 3B, RBI, 2 K), Laynce Nix (3-for-7, 2 RBI, BB, K).
Nats' worst vs. Nolasco -- Michael Morse (0-for-3, 2 K), Rick Ankiel (1-for-6, 2 K), Brian Bixler (0-for-2, 2 K).
Nats' best vs. Volstad -- Ian Desmond (9-for-15, 3 2B, HR, 5 RBI, BB, K), Adam LaRoche (3-for-8, RBI, BB, 2 K), Ivan Rodriguez (5-for-15, 6 RBI).
Nats' worst vs. Volstad -- Jayson Werth (1-for-22, BB, 7 K), Rick Ankiel (1-for-9, 3B, 2 BB, K), Jerry Hairston (2-for-8, BB, K).
Nats' best vs. Sanchez -- Wilson Ramos (3-for-6, 2B, RBI), Rick Ankiel (3-for-7, RBI, BB, 2 K), Alex Cora (2-for-5, BB).
Nats' worst vs. Sanchez -- Jayson Werth (2-for-22, 2B, 15 K), Jerry Hairston (0-for-6, 2 K), Michael Morse (3-for-12, 2B, RBI, 6 K).
FLORIDA BATTERS VS. WASHINGTON PITCHERS
Marlins' best vs. Zimmermann -- Mike Stanton (2-for-4, 2 HR, 3 RBI, K), Omar Infante (1-for-3, HR, RBI), Gaby Sanchez (1-for-2, 2B).
Marlins' worst vs. Zimmermann -- Brett Hayes (0-for-2, 2 K), Hanley Ramirez (1-for-5, 2B, 2 RBI, 2 BB, K), Emilio Bonifacio (2-for-7, RBI, K).
Marlins' best vs. Gorzelanny -- Omar Infante (4-for-8, 2B, K), Hanley Ramirez (2-for-5, BB).
Marlins' worst vs. Gorzelanny -- Wes Helms (0-for-5, BB, 2 K).
Marlins' best vs. Hernandez -- Hanley Ramirez (10-for-28, 2 2B, 3 HR, 6 RBI, 4 BB, 3 K), Chris Coghlan (7-for-12, 2B, 2 K), Wes Helms (6-for-19, HR, 5 RBI, BB, 2 K).
Marlins' worst vs. Hernandez -- Omar Infante (4-for-23, 2 K), Bryan Peterson (0-for-3).
26 comments:
first
Nats will sweep the Marlins...
The Nats did it to the World Champion Giants, so I guess anything is possible.
Need to have a healthier team though, than the one that played in Philly.
Looking at how the Marlins pitching has owned Werth, he fits in perfectly with the Nats!
The Nats are leading off with their 3 best pitchers. H-Rod looks like the real deal ... could end up closing if he completely overcomes those control issues. Clippard and Storen should be ready. Burnett ready to give it another go.
Riggleman's lineup looked confusing last night ... but the strategy became clear. He was planning on double-switching the #4 hitter Nix to shoe horn his best hitting in their.
Espinosa, the erstwhile lead off hitter and the other rookie in the lineup currently leads the team in RBI. That's not good.
You're probably going to see Cora (because he's gotten some hits), Hairston, Ivan Rodriguez and Ankiel in the lineup together which means zero offense in 5 (plus the pitcher) out of nine slots in the lineup.
Low scoring games. Nats could get swept but it won't look ugly as Marquis and Lannan won't be pitching.
So ... following up on the above ... the patented "Peric" prediction would be the Nats desperately need to win given the flagellation in Philly I expect the very best pitching performances from Zimmermann and Gorzelanny. I expect Livo to be Livo. My guess? They just might win 2 out of 3.
But expect the series sweeps by the opposition in late June, July and August with this lineup.
I must have missed the press release. When did Matt Stairs get his hit?
Larry Beinfest is a real general manager. He knows have to get most bang for the Marlins buck. Look for Nats killer Hanley Ramirez to break out of his season long slump tonight against the Nats, just like Nats killer Raul Ibanez did in the Phillies series. The Nats will be lucky to win one of three, but if they don't start hitting they'll get swept again. Could they return to DC with a 14-23 record?
Stairs got his hit in the 9th on Wed.
Should we be reading anything into the fact the Nats haven't bought Riggleman's option for 2012? His agent has been pressing about it and now Heyman just wrote we should "lock him up".
When you have someone working for you that no one else is going to try to take away from you, there's no need to "lock him up." Lock up Zimmerman, but continue to let Riggleman work as if his job is on the line every day. There's absolutely no downside to that. If he can't win while he's managing scared, there's no way he can win if he's locked up.
There are plenty of reasons not to "lock him up". Motivation is not one of them.
Just for our personal entertainment, this is what Heyman wrote:
Perhaps the Nationals ought to consider locking up manager Jim Riggleman. Washington has stayed afloat without its best pitcher (Stephen Strasburg) or best position player (Ryan Zimmerman). Kudos to Riggleman.
When you apply the "Heyman Principle" to do the opposite of whatever he thinks is right, that's the strongest case yet that we should dump Riggs.
Losing sure brings out the nasty streak, doesn't it? Next thing someone will be suggesting that Riggleman wasn't even born in the usa and needs to produce a birth certificate. And quit the bold print "shouting" - we hear you. Some baseball fans aren't happy unless they are miserable. Go Nats!!! Beat the Fish!!!
All these posts about Jim Riggleman are funny. I've said this a few times or something like it and maybe it don't mean squat. But you can't paint with oil when all you have is water colors...
Riggleman double-switched his birth certificate. Osama bin-Laden was born in New Jersey and Riggleman was born in Saudi Arabia.
I was struck by this almost profound blurb by minor league baseball expert John Sickels. It was profound because one could almost describe Mike Rizzo with a few changes ...
Here is the quote:
As a GM, I think Dayton Moore has done a lot of things right in terms of building the farm system, drafting well, and (most importantly) convincing ownership to actually put money into the team. It's amazing what your scouts can do when you actually have the resources for player development, which was the biggest problem in KC previously. On the negative side, many of Moore's moves on the major league roster haven't worked well, and in my view there seems to be an excessive fetish for ex-Braves in the organization.
We can change this to:
As a GM, I think Mike Rizzo has done a lot of things right in terms of building the farm system, drafting well, and (most importantly) convincing ownership to actually put money into the team. It's amazing what your scouts can do when you actually have the resources for player development, which was the biggest problem in Washington DC previously. On the negative side, many of Rizzo's moves on the major league roster haven't worked well, and in my view there seems to be an excessive fetish for low-cost, in deep sloping downside of their careers veteran players previously coached by JIm Riggleman on the major league roster.
... continuing this looks to be about the same for Rizzo.
Overall, it's a mixed picture, but the organization is certainly in better shape than it was five years ago. I'm neither a basher nor a booster, and am quite willing to see how "the process" works out. Maybe it is just easier for me to take that approach since I'm not emotionally invested, but that's the way I see it.
Good one, Joker! lol...
GO NATS!!!!!!!
Nats' worst vs. Sanchez -- Jayson Werth (2-for-22, 2B, 15 K)
Really? 15K's in 22 AB's?
Really?
He and Matt Stairs really do like to watch that ball as it goes by - is there something written on there that we should know about?Or is it a magic hypnotizing ball? In reference to above thread about the GM's -- from which franchise have we gotten the most "Used" players? My first guess would have to be Pittsburgh?
For awhile it was the Reds. Bowden loved him some ex-Reds.
Nyjer on the DL as he broke a finger Bunting.
At least Nyjer is making contact on his bunt attempts now.
I saw Nyger on tv -- caught stealing -- again...
Are any of our escapees from last year doing well this year? Maybe Matt Capps?
Masnstinks, caught stealing, error, weak ARM. The luck for him is in the 2 hole they have Ryan Braun on deck plus he is only facing righties. His BA is at .375 and everything else is same old Nyjer.
I think the Twins are pretty happy with Matt. When they get to use him.
J
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