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File photo by Mark Zuckerman / NATS INSIDER Petco Park in San Diego hosts the Nationals for a four-game series. |
Espinosa took a pitch off his left hand to end yesterday's game in San Francisco and appeared to be in serious pain at the time. But the second baseman insisted to manager Jim Riggleman he was fine and wanted to play tonight, and sure enough, he's back in there. Werth, meanwhile, missed the last two games with a sore ankle after tripping over the bullpen mound at AT&T Park tracking down a hit.
Livan Hernandez starts the opener of this series, facing a Padres lineup that remains baseball's least-productive but could get an infusion of power with today's call-up of top prospect Anthony Rizzo. The 21-year-old first baseman is batting seventh in manager Bud Black's lineup.
I'm not in San Diego for the series, but please enjoy another late-night game from the West Coast and the ongoing conversation as always...
NATIONALS at PADRES
Where: Petco Park
Gametime: 10:05 p.m.
TV: MASN
Radio: WJFK (106.7 FM), WFED (1500 AM), XM 187
Weather: Mostly cloudy, 64 degrees, Wind 8 mph LF to RF
STARTING LINEUPS
NATIONALS (27-35)
CF Rick Ankiel
SS Ian Desmond
RF Jayson Werth
LF Laynce Nix
1B Michael Morse
2B Danny Espinosa
C Ivan Rodriguez
3B Alex Cora
P Livan Hernandez
PADRES (28-35)
CF Chris Denorfia
SS Jason Bartlett
3B Chase Headley
LF Ryan Ludwick
RF Brad Hawpe
C Nick Hundley
1B Anthony Rizzo
2B Alberto Gonzalez
P Aaron Harang
97 comments:
So. Our Everyday CF-LO sits.... Against a RH pitcher.
Sigh...
But NatsJack and his wonderful assistant thinks that is just fine ... and so does fpcsteve. And people wonder where the "losing culture" originates? Its the fans.
Unkyd, I'm so sick of your negativity.
We need Ankiel's veteran leadership on this club. Riggs has stated over and over again that he can't abandon Ankiel and his .200 average and .539 OPS. And when you look at that plus defense running 5 different lines to shag a fly ball, well, it's clear we need to find ways to get him in there.
I mean, yeah, Bernadina is supposed to be our CF-LO, but he's only batting .248 with 9 steals, including 2 in his last 2 games. But he's still kind of young. I think you need a 32-year-old former pitcher playing out there to really anchor the defense.
I mean, look, you don't want Ankiel to sit on the bench so he's rusty when he comes in to sub. By keeping him playing 3 or 4 days a week, he's been able to bat a cool .100 after coming in as a sub. If he's rusty, those numbers could go down and he could become unreliable.
Nope, I trust Riggs' opinion on this. His culture of winning is definitely becoming infectious throughout the clubhouse and he seems like he knows what he's doing. I'm looking forward to a great offensive effort from our boys tonight in the cozy confines of PETCO Park.
Anky leading off. I'm going with the under.
@Grandstander, maybe Rig will find a way to double-switch Werth out for his switch-hitting phenom Cristian Guzman in right field? Guzman might be looking for work at this point.
Balmore O's Draft Pick Dylan Bundy, reportedly one of Ted's extended family, says he would plunk Prince Oppo Boppo 4 times if he was blown a kiss by the hitterish guy!
Nasty thought by a Bundy, yet I see some positive familial progression here, from serial killing to serial beaning.
What happened to when a "...kiss was just a kiss...'. I guess Uncle Ted put the kibosh on that tradition.
I'm with you Grandstander!
Down the road the negative folks will find another club and manager to trash because they will hate the success in DC. I have come to view them as our vampires, that only come out when they can be nagative.
It just seems so productive, long-term, to play Bernie, instead. And it's what they said, when they brought him up. Can you imagine the advantage to having him as first off the bench, in a couple of years in the OF? But he needs all the AB he can get, to be that guy. I don't hate Ankiel, but he's not about making us good in '13.... Not to mention that he's sporadically productive, at best, on offense, while showing an affinity for plane geometry when tracking fly balls... I just don't see any reason to play him over Bernie...... And leading off?
Educate me, someone....
dj in Fl. said...
I'm with you Grandstander!
A NatsJack relation who failed to read the "tongue-in-the-cheek" post by Grandstander ...
Sorry to be the harbinger of bad news? But 9 out of 10 posters on Nats blogs are screaming through their monitors at this latest joke of a lineup card from Riggleman.
You're distinctly in the minority dude.
Thinking positive, I'm going to spend the remainder of the season watching Espi do some more damage with the bat (and Gold Glove fielding), Mickey Morse hit 25+ HRs, JZim do his thing, and Livo continue to entertain!
I mean sometimes you just have to be like a Cubs' fan and have some fun! This team will get better, and better. When they get really good, I'll probably start acting like an old Dodger fan again.
Educate me, someone....
That's the same as asking how and why Cristian Guzman ended up in right field ... with Michael Morse and Bernadina both sitting on the bench ... but hey there's no harm in trying?
Oops, Grandstander.... I dOn't think dj saw the tongue in your cheek ;-)
I didn't either, Unkyd. I was all set to come to your defense as being a non-neg. :-)
Thinking positive, I'm going to spend the remainder of the season watching Espi do some more damage with the bat (and Gold Glove fielding), Mickey Morse hit 25+ HRs, JZim do his thing, and Livo continue to entertain!
And I wouldn't mind seeing if Antonelli is the real deal. And maybe get Espi some reps at shortstop ...
But you can't even look forward to seeing some of the youngsters learn the ropes in the majors with Riggleman at the helm. I suppose we should be thankful we get to see Ramos and Espinosa at all. And if not for LaRoche's decision to go on the DL "Mickey" Morse would be riding pine under Riggleman. If he comes back that's where you find Michael Morse.
Riggleman doesn't give fans anything to look forward to .. you have to start watching the minor league games to get a feel for what the future might be like ...
I am LOVING seeing this team begin to happen, and the sky's the limit on my expectations for the not-too-distant future! I even believe Cora and JR have been serviceble bench guys, as there isn't another youngster ready for extended time on the 40. But Stairs and Ankiel don't seem to bring anything to the table... JR, Cora, Werth, R Zim, Pudge, Livo... Plenty of comparatively productive Veteren Leadership, there, no?
Thanks, 1A! :)
Unkyd.... my sentiments exactly..... there are changes that I'd love to see on the 40 man and the active roster and Ankiel and Stairs are at the top of the list....I just don't see the need for all the venom... positive change is coming and the organization is attacking it in a manner that will be lasting.....
Ankiel has has 2 key hits in the last 2 games. On this team that is considered a HOT hitter.
I am wondering more about Nix who has gone cold. He is 5 for 27 over the last week and is generally in those favorable Righty/Lefty matchups.
Bernadina is the guy that deserves a Righty/Lefty matchup too.
Andrew said...
The Rendon pick looks solid. It would seem to me to be good for Rendon to determine once he signs and is assigned to camp that he knows his future position. Do you think the Nationals should make it a priority to get Ryan Zimmerman's contract extended like Tulowitzki and Braun?
June 9, 2011 8:11 AM
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I got to ask Mike Rizzo this same question on his 106.7 Radio Show and I also told him I asked this question earlier to Mark Zuckerman.
Rizzo was good about answering it mostly talking about his desire to wrap Zimmerman up long-term. He then asked what Mark's response was to the question except I had already hung up.
I would have told him about Mark's thoughts that Zim could be the 1st baseman of the future and I agree with Mark that I could see that probably 4 to 5 years out. I also think Mark is right that Bryce Harper is the future RF and Werth moves to LF.
Gonat said...
Ankiel has has 2 key hits in the last 2 games. On this team that is considered a HOT hitter.
I am wondering more about Nix who has gone cold. He is 5 for 27 over the last week and is generally in those favorable Righty/Lefty matchups.
Bernadina is the guy that deserves a Righty/Lefty matchup too.
June 9, 2011 8:37 PM
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I don't consider Nix cold, just slowly heading back to what his career numbers are.
He was just talking about his successes here saying that his back is feeling good and that he suffered from back pain the 2 previous seasons so maybe he will get hot again!!!!
Just got back from camping on the Eastern Shore. No wi-fi at the Homestead campground and just barely had a slow connection thru my Sprint Android HotSpot, so I couldn't post very well. Didn't get to see any of the Giants games and really looking forward to watching tonight's game.
I like to support all the National's people including the GM, Manager and FO, but I am puzzled why Ankiel gets so much playing time. I wonder if Riggleman is influenced by what he saw as a mistake he made last year when he played Guzeman when he was on a hot streak and did not play Adam Kennedy. When Guzz cooled off, and Riggleman put Kennedy in the game, Kennedy was so rusty he wasn't worth a darn. I remember Riggleman saying he made a mistake doing that.
You guys are really funny tonight. You need to do stand up.
Good news, it appears LUNA has a new commercial and we won't see that really bad "Free Flooring" commercial.
Padres color guy: "Rick Ankiel is not your typical lead-off hitter"
Glad FP and Carp are so impressed with Rizzo's .365 BA and that he "HAD" to be called up. Antonelli is right there with his Batting Average and nobody says he "HAS" to be here.
Also, have to love Matt Stairs delivering the lineup card tonight. Is that his audition to be a Coach?
Ank gets thrown out...so naturally Werth gets a triple right after...
It looks like another night of the Nats running the bases like Helen Keller on crack.
Zim back with a 2 for 4 night in Woodbridge tonight with a RBI.
Why really is Ankiel playing now everyday WHY WHY WHY .......WHY did he try to steal third ???
BTW FP yes you can say that he cost a run
TimDz said...
Ank gets thrown out...so naturally Werth gets a triple right after...
June 9, 2011 10:17 PM
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I would bet he ran on his own. Luckily he didn't do it with no out or 2 outs as the time to try it is with 1 out. Espi did that earlier this year with 2 outs.
Ankiel is no leadoff hitter and he shouldn't be trying to steal bases either. For that matter, he shouldn't even be on the roster. Yet, Riggleman loves him.
Anybody notice a manager and hitting coach were fired today
The Oakland As fired their manager today. That could start the ball rolling. If the Padres sweep this series, there is always a chance we get rid of Riggleman.
Well, there's my 2-1 final.
When you're looking to Matt Antonelli for salvation, you're really, really desperate.
Yes, he's batting .358 this year, but that's in 83 ABs. He's been kicking around the minors for 6 years. In three seasons of AAA ball, he has 700+ ABs and a whopping .222 average. If he's really a totally different guy, he's going to need to prove it over more than 20 games.
So this post has now been hijacked by anon who wishes Riggs fired and repeats that anytime he can. While I enjoy listening to actual baseball talk from natsjack/unkyd/sunshine/anon8 and of course the positive vibes from A1A and JaneB, I have mentioned many many times that WE GET IT, you want Riggs gone and it really doesn't need to get mentioned every single post. I think I counted 5 anon posts in this one blog and they all basically said the same thing.
So getting back to rooting for our nationals and the players we have, it looks like Werth and Espinosa are both OK. Who do you think goes when Zimm comes back? Will it be Stairs or will they put JH on the dl?
One last rant on ANONs - I wonder if you have ever been fired in the middle of your job. And do you ever think how a person might feel when being let go. I also wonder when the last time a coach/manager was fired in the middle of a season and that team came back and won anything of importance (We are not going to the World Series this year in case you had not noticed). I am sure it has happened but if you are going to get rid of Riggs, to me the honorable thing is to let him finish off his contract and not renew him. I am not for that but if the FO does determine to go a different direction, that is the way I would do it. Just a little more class which obviously is not in an anon personality. Just to cut your favorite arguments off, I know I know, a new manager won't play favorites (really??), he will bring our young players up (really??), the sun will shine and the Lerners will lower prices on beer (really???)
Go Nats
WOW did LIVO ever save his self with that catch ....that had tragic written all over it
Livo.....
The man...
The legend...
Gotta be a web gem or top 10 play...
How is it that MLB didn't post that Livo catch as a highlight? It was awesome, not just because it was like a frog snatching a fly out of the air but because it saved his life. I love love love Livo!
Did anyone else enjoy watching Livan toy with Anthony Rizzo as much as I did? The kid laughed on his was back to the dugout. K of the year so far.
For the record, there is no way Riggleman gets fired this year. He has the respect of the players and the front office. He might not be the guy to carry us through 2013 but he is certainly doing a great job with the skeleton crew that he was handed.
Let's enjoy the progress that we are seeing and stop clamoring for an immediate contender. Things are looking up.
mfc - well said and agreed. Still frustrating to see us lose certain games with lack of hitting but we are making progress.
Livan's catch has to be the catch of the day and I loved his reaction as he lay on the ground. Deep breaths to make sure he still had all his body parts. If he doesn't make that catch there would have been serious damage.
If livo was throwing hi 90's he'd never have had time to catch that comebacker. Thank God for a pitcher, not a rocket launcher. At least for that at bat
Anky is the worst good outfielder in baseball.
Grandstander,
Still think we need Ankiel's leadership? Maybe someone can lead him on better routes to ANY ball hit to the wall. Good Lord he is awful personified.
All I can say RISP
I'm sorry, I still miss the guy.
http://deadspin.com/5810351/milwaukees-nyjer-morgan-provides-the-post+game-interview-of-the-season
HHover said...
When you're looking to Matt Antonelli for salvation, you're really, really desperate.
Yes, he's batting .358 this year, but that's in 83 ABs. He's been kicking around the minors for 6 years. In three seasons of AAA ball, he has 700+ ABs and a whopping .222 average. If he's really a totally different guy, he's going to need to prove it over more than 20 games.
June 9, 2011 10:53 PM
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Some would say the same about Laynce Nix. He has not been swinging well of late and that double was bloop opposite field when the 3rd baseman and SS ran into each other.
Let's take the little victories where we can find them when it comes to the offense. Antonelli is the best hitter they have in Syracuse right now.
I really think MASN is no longer showing that Riggleman Small Ball/Smart Ball commercial.
That is too funny if they tossed it to the trashcan.
Quick Livan meltdown. Who saw that coming.
Anon8
Sure, it's nice that he's put together a little hitting streak. The question is whether it merits a call up. Do you really think it does--that it outweighs his career performance?
Sec3
I loved that interview, but I'm still happy he's giving it in someone else's uniform.
On another note:
That's two WTF plays from Ankiel tonight. I know that the advanced metrics don't love Bernie's defense, but jeez....
Ok here goes the question again again again
LaRoche hitting at 172 was still playing because of defense
Ankeil hitting what 199 is in because of defense yet I have not seen anything in his play the last week or two that still backs up that theory I would say that he has WAR running negative right now.
This is broken record because this logic does not work yet here we are with players who in theory should add but do NOTHING but subtract
As easy as it might be to pick on Ankiel, he was making a good route to that ball, it hit the corner of the sign and bounced back.
I can't believe he tried to steal third. 1 out, a pitcher struggling to throw strikes, a runner in scoring position and you try to steal third?
Really...Really?...C'MON!
FP tried to cover after Werth's double that would have scored him, but it was a "try" at best.
Burnett is toast .......his head is gone maybe he should talk to Ankeil as to what to do next .....how can you keep saying all year that really I am throwing it great just the results suck
You could say the Nats lose to the level of the opposing team. At least no Debbie Taylor that is a good thing
Sorry but hang this on Livan. Can't give up 6 runs to the Padres. They are worse than the Nats on offense.
It was nice of the Padres to get the insurmountable two-run lead early, so I could watch the end of the basketball game.
Anemic hitting breeds heresy.
Good news from pitchers down on the farm: Sammy Solis got his first win. Also posting wins tonight: Rosenbaum, Martis and yes, Detwiler, who evened his record at 5-5.
Now, Ross, about that 5.13 ERA....
So hear we are again falling into last in everything another season wasted
Drew8, nothing to get much excitement about Detwillers outing giving up 2 runs in 6 as JD Martin shut out this same team yesterday. Detwiller did fine but still not a dominant performance once he got into the lineup the 2nd time around.
And Rizzo will do nothing ...really nothing ...no moves ...no changes ....really???
@HHover
I am not one of those pushing loudly for Antonelli's call-up, but I can certainly understand the logic. At the start of today's game the Nats roster included players hitting .218, .205, .200, .120, and .108. Those are position players, not pitchers. And I don't think any of those averages have risen based on their performances tonight.
For better or worse, the Nats chose to sign Antonelli to a minor league contract and he's now on their AAA club. If he's there purely to provide a player to field a time, fine -- leave him there. But if you have any notion that he's ever going to play in the majors, why not bring him up and swap him for one of those batters hitting .108, .120, or .200? Sure, he may regress to his mean, but you'll never know unless you give him a chance. And it's not like he'd be taking a roster slot from a great player.
Werth really can't call anybody out after this game.
...to field a team...
OHHH why not it would seem Werth has been doing very well tonight you watching another game
It would be nice to see 1 clutch hit other than Michael Morse. Who is going to step up with a bat?
For anyone who was worried about Detwiller being used as a reliever, Rizzo isn't concerned about Stammen being used as a reliever.
Just seems to me that something needs to be shaken and stirred with the Nats. Why not Antonelli and DFA Stairs? Why not Detwiler and send Stammen back.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't the bullpen supposed to be one of this team's strengths?
Sunshine, yes. When is HenRod going to be used properly? He is a stopper and sometimes a flopper, not a one inning guy. He gets off tempo all the time.
This was discussed early this morning or yesterday I think about using this bullpen properly. It is so true.
It gets tiresome hearing the future talk every time the subject of how bad they play now is brought up.....imagine going to a restaurant having a lousy meal and they explain that next year it will be much better once we get a real chef
Eugene
Antonelli is Brian Bixler, except worse. Both are career minor leaguers; both have been called up for cups of coffee (Bixler for a couple more than Antonelli); both briefly outperformed their career numbers in Syracuse this year. Look at their career numbers and you'll see Bixler is the better player--he's a .280 hitter in AAA.
Which means you can call up Antonelli if you want, but you should expect him to have even less impact on the big league club than Bixler has.
And I know Johnny Holiday is a DC institution but his Used car salesman act on every loss is also worn out
CBinDC said...
It gets tiresome hearing the future talk every time the subject of how bad they play now is brought up.....imagine going to a restaurant having a lousy meal and they explain that next year it will be much better once we get a real chef
June 10, 2011 12:38 AM
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Not a good analogy but this is what you do in sports teams where you can see progress. I was an Oriole fan for years and never could say that and I really can see the light here.
Lousy strikeouts from Nix and Morse and then Danny Espinosa robbed of a HR. You just know this isn't your night.
Anonymous8 said... Some would say the same about Laynce Nix. He has not been swinging well of late and that double was bloop opposite field when the 3rd baseman and SS ran into each other.
June 9, 2011 11:43 PM
Anonymous8 said...
HHover said...
When you're looking to Matt Antonelli for salvation, you're really, really desperate.
Yes, he's batting .358 this year, but that's in 83 ABs. He's been kicking around the minors for 6 years. In three seasons of AAA ball, he has 700+ ABs and a whopping .222 average. If he's really a totally different guy, he's going to need to prove it over more than 20 games.
June 9, 2011 10:53 PM
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Some would say the same about Laynce Nix. He has not been swinging well of late and that double was bloop opposite field when the 3rd baseman and SS ran into each other.
Let's take the little victories where we can find them when it comes to the offense. Antonelli is the best hitter they have in Syracuse right now.
June 9, 2011 11:43 PM
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Nix may end up the night 1-4 with that seeing eye plop but is now swinging a horrible bat of late. Everything is overcooked and getting into bad hitters counts. He wants to jack everything out of the park and swinging way too long.
He was one of the positives and quickly becoming a negative.
Ramos with a mighty blast and Ankiel with a 2 hit night.
Ramos did something that Matt Stairs hasn't been able to do----A PINCH HIT HOME RUN
The Padres rapidly are becoming as big a nemesis to us as the Marlins: lousy against everybody else, but they beat us. Like a drum.
Let's go Marquis. Better come with shutout stuff Friday night.
I get the feeling that F.P. is kinda mailing it in. In the post-game, Knight asks him if the Nationals have any "options" in the minors as far as relievers. F.P. had to sheepishly admit he didn't know what's going on in the minors and was here "to talk about the ballgame." Great preparation, F.P. The guys on this site know more about the Nats' farm prospects than the team's color guy. Embarrassing.
Yes FP they do have a great many options in the minors for relievers. Enough so that they don't have to go outside.
But that still won't help them. They will still find ways to lose as their manager continues to create lineups that are more about "class pets" and less about winning ball games.
I am not one of those pushing loudly for Antonelli's call-up, but I can certainly understand the logic. At the start of today's game the Nats roster included players hitting .218, .205, .200, .120, and .108.
And NatsJack says I repeat myself? You guys (and NatsJack are well to use latin that DaveBinMD hates: hoc est ridiculum? Dudes c'mon. Sure bring up Antonelli but in your heart-of-hearts do you really believe Riggleman will use him or try to get him in the lineup to induce some hitting? Or will he go with Cora, Ankiel and Hairston? What does your heart tell you?
FIRE RIGGLEMAN TODAY!
Thanks for the link, sec3. I LOL'd.
Unhappy game results email this a.m. Gotta get working on that series split, guys. How did Espi look? Sounds like his hand is probably okay? Glad that Livo's okay, too, as it sounds like he dodged a come-backer.
I kept the faith as long as I could last night and didn't go to bed until after the top of the 8th.
Only the 6th game all season they played poorly.
One encouraging note (unless you count Danny playing encouraging which I guess I should), Michale Morse had two more hits and better yet he struck out swinging at a pitch that was a strike. I am not sure how many of those we have had this year. We have very many swing at balls, and taking strikes, but very few swinging at a strike.
Our pitching has been the duct tape holding the team together through the first third of the season. When they show chinks in the armor, we are pretty much dead in the water. Last night, our starter and our bullpen were iffy - that, combined with our usual lack of offense, stranding runners -- ok, bases loaded, NO outs and we score one? -- and strikeouts on bad pitches. It seems like we should be playing better against a team with a record as bad as ours. It also seems like every time we turn around, we are playing another first place team ( cardinals coming up, folks). Good to see Werth back in the line up , with his 10th different batting stance of the season, and Danny playing( really thought that hand was broken) and Ramos stepping up. Let's put it all together tonight -- Go Nats!!
it is amazing that all 4 of our starters have era's in the 3.00's(Maya not included) Considering the horse dung we have had on the hill the last 4-5 years. Someday....someday....we are gonna win. And Riggs and Eck won't be a part of it. I know, I know....Eck is working hard....and he's a good man. Sigh
Sunshine_Bobby_Carpenter_Is_Too_Pessimistic_For_Me said...
I get the feeling that F.P. is kinda mailing it in. In the post-game, Knight asks him if the Nationals have any "options" in the minors as far as relievers. F.P. had to sheepishly admit he didn't know what's going on in the minors and was here "to talk about the ballgame." Great preparation, F.P. The guys on this site know more about the Nats' farm prospects than the team's color guy. Embarrassing.
June 10, 2011 1:17 AM
__________________________________
As they say "AWKWARD". I was hoping FP would say the only options seem to convert a starter like they did to bring Stammen back to the bullpen to help the Nats like maybe doing with Oliver Perez or Ross Detwiller as lefties.
Then you really have to question how this bullpen is used. Does anyone think HenRod is more than a guy who can pitch to 1 or 2 righthanded batters? Or is it Pudge thinking he is more than a flamethrower and starts having him pitch sliders and changeups and just gets himself in trouble? I want to see HenRod pitching when Ramos is behind the plate.
That game could have looked worse. Stammen did good coming in for the last out in the 7th and finishing the 8th.
Glad Houchins isn't a high pick.....
@Big Cat. You know my theory on working hard. I prefer someone who works effectively much more than someone who works hard.
Speaking of working hard, did Debbi Taylor work so hard in San Fran she had to take the night off?
Actually, just read a sampling of Houchins' tweets. Sounds like a white kid who hangs out with black kids... Hope he gets that EVERYTHING he says now, is gonna be filtered by everyone. Hope it's that, and not a genuine throwback bigot... SO hard to imagine attitudes like that, in this day and age....
Clam up, Son.....
Speaking of people who need to go - I can't believe Debbi Taylor is still doing what she does -- "so, what was your approach" Back to you Bob and fp. She is absolutely horrible. Put her on the list with Ankiel - he of the creative routes, who cannot play a ball off of a wall, and Stairs, well, enough said.... Time to clean house around here, shake things up, rattle some cages - feel free to add some colorful, but decent adjectives and figures of speech, anyone? anyone? Bueller? anyone? To add to my random thoughts on a Friday morning at work -- kudos to Tracee Hamilton in the post this morning with her suggestion that all Bryce Harper needs is to watch Bull Durham and learn a few things from Crash Davis - think he has ever seen the movie? BH gets his name in the post more than ever this week for his pucker up. Boring week in sports? Looking forward to having Zim -- as in first initial R -- back this next week. It will be a welcome sight!
Back to you baseballswami.
I've discovered a new way to observe a baseball game. You go out by out. Whenever someone you like gets out, you say nothing and when some one you don't like makes an out immediately post your brilliant observations (but be sure to do it in the cowardly anonymous post).
I am just as tired of seeing Rick Ankiel in lineups especially when Bernadina is on the bench but he DID get two hits last nite and he really isn't the second coming of Lastings Milledge in CF.
And like Big Cat, I know Riggs will not be the manager when this club turns the corner and becomes play off caliber. But unlike some posters, I realize this is a franchise under construction (a construction that only began the day Jimbo was fired) and Riggs is the caretaker of a flawed, yet improved situation.
I still would like to see some changes to the 40 man and active rosters and expect to see some by the All-Star break. I think I'll post this 16 times today.
Oh yes... I'm pretty sure the scout that recommended drafting Houchins is in hot water, as well.
NatsJack in Fla -- Don't get me wrong, even though I regularly will call for heads to roll, I am a tried and true nats fan and pull for them all the way. Sometimes you just have to laugh, though, to get through it. There are many positives that I see - this is a work in progress and this team does have a lot of potential. I guess it's natural to want it now, though. I am trying to see some good things that happen in every game and not just the oops's. Go Nats!
masnstinks said...
It also seems like every time we turn around, we are playing another first place team ( cardinals coming up, folks).
=======
I'm not too worried about that, we seem to play first place teams like we mean it. We're 5 v 5 against first place teams in the last 10 games. I'm worried about the last place teams, for some reason we play them like it doesn't matter.
After reading the Anon posts that continually call for our manager's head, I wonder why the first place Cardinals have mentioned Jim Riggleman as a possible successor to Tony LaRussa, once LaRussa decides to call it quits. Have the consistently division-winning Cardinals suddenly lost their minds? Perhaps the Cardinals' front office should read these comments. That'll change their minds. Whoa! Gotta get my camera. Another pig just flew past my window!
Does anyone know (or direct me to) what Houchins said? I know it was foul, but I'd like to see to judge for myself whether he's a bigot or just a really dumb kid.
JimHoy.... google his name.... one site posts the tweets that got him in hot water... they do sound like a thoughtless "homeboy" trying to hard.
Let's see if this link copys:
http://flotn.blogspot.com/
Agree with NatsJack, although sadly, wouldn't be surprised to hear the kid's a jerk... Thinking positive, giving benefit of the doubt...
http://flotn.blogspot.com/2011/06/nats-draft-bigot.html
There it is! Tanx, FS...
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