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File photo by Mark Zuckerman / NATS INSIDER The Nats try to win this series from the Padres at Petco Park. |
With Jordan Zimmermann (seven straight quality starts) on the mound, the Nationals have to like their chances today. They will, however, be fielding a depleted lineup. Ian Desmond is sitting with a sore thigh (you might have noticed him struggling a bit to get around the bases last night) and Roger Bernadina is again out with a sore hamstring.
Jim Riggleman is going with the unconventional, new lineup again. Jayson Werth leads off. Zimmermann hits eighth. Alex Cora, starting at shortstop in Desmond's place, bats ninth.
Enjoy the final game of the trip -- I'll be back covering the team live and in person Tuesday against the Cardinals...
NATIONALS at PADRES
Where: Petco Park
Gametime: 4:05 p.m.
TV: MASN2
Radio: WJFK (106.7 FM), WFED (1500 AM), XM 187
Weather: Partly cloudy, 67 degrees, Wind 9 mph out to RF
STARTING LINEUPS
NATIONALS (29-36)
RF Jayson Werth
2B Danny Espinosa
LF Laynce Nix
1B Michael Morse
C Wilson Ramos
CF Rick Ankiel
3B Jerry Hairston
P Jordan Zimmermann
SS Alex Cora
PADRES (29-37)
SS Jason Bartlett
3B Chase Headley
RF Brad Hawpe
LF Ryan Ludwick
1B Anthony Rizzo
C Nick Hundley
CF Will Venable
2B Alberto Gonzalez
P Tim Stauffer
93 comments:
Again, LOVE this lineup.
Also, ESPN had a column the other day about "faces of the franchise" around 2015 or so, and the only argument made was between Harper and Strasburg.
Am I wrong in believing the face of the franchise is, and will be until he retires, Ryan Zimmerman?
7 straight quality starts is unreal. JZimmermann is the ace, no doubt.
Stranded in Philly- Yeah I would think Ryan Zimm will be the "face of the franchise" for many many years to come.
No reason yet to believe that he'll flee Washington the first chance he gets. I, and hopefully many other Nats fans, would be devastated if they ever let him go to another team.
Am I wrong in believing the face of the franchise is, and will be until he retires, Ryan Zimmerman?
Zim himself has said he wants to see progress toward winning. If he doesn't he will likely be wearing pinstripes by then . And Anthony Rendon might just be ready to take over at third base. The Nats will likely trade/flip Zimmerman for prospects/players and not wait for the draft picks. This year was one year where keeping the picks meant more than a trade of Dunn.
Gooooooooo JZim and the Nats!!
3 HRs by Mickey Morse; 2 from fox hole face GI Danny---world's best 2nd baseman!!!
Following up on Stranded_in_Philly's plaintive cry: from NationalsProspects this morning:
Ryan Zimmerman took his rehab tour up to Syracuse against the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees and delighted the home-team radio announcers to the refrain of “Can we keep him?
Hope this lineup can continue to barrel it up like they did yesterday. Only one K with a ton of shots that were right at somebody. Continue that and eventually they'll fall in.
"They will, however, be fielding a depleted lineup." Well I think anyone paying attention the last couple months is already aware.
The plane ride home will be sooo much nicer for our boys if it comes after a victory, a 6 - 5 road trip, and word that in all likelihood Ryan Z will join them at the ballpark for Tuesday's game.
Liked last nights lineup, but it wasnt quite optimal. Today, though, i think riggs has done it. This lineup makes the best use of the guys who are available. I am hoping nix, and maybe ankiel, can come up with some big hits today. I can see us exploding for, maybe 4 runs?
The "fantasy draft results" from FanGraphs for their "Face of the Franchise" were interesting:
1. Evan Longoria.
2. Troy Tulowitzki.
3. Mike Trout.
4. Ryan Zimmerman.
.
.
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12. Bryce Harper.
.
.
.
28. Stephen Strasburg.
FanGraph's Matt Klaassen:
Ryan Zimmerman. Matthew and The Dark Overlord took my first two choices, and I’m not quite brave enough to go the prospect route like Carson and pick Bryce Harper. I guess I’ll have to “settle” for Zimmerman despite his injury. I wanted a relatively young hitter at a tough position, and Zimmerman is only 26. The only thing Tulo really has on him is positional value — Zimmerman is a great defender, excellent hitter (who seems to be getting better, and good baserunner. It was tough to pass on guys King Felix, Hanley, Votto, and Chen, but once I thought about Zimmerman, I had to take him.
No need to point it out, as alllllll Nats Fans know, but but we're .001 percentage points from leading the NL in fielding.
A few more errorless games and we're there!!!!!!!!!!
Anonymous at 1:44
I don't see management trading Zimmerman in any but the most unlikely of circumstances. The bigger concern for me would be for injuries to derail his career to the point where he's not on the field enough to carry a franchise.
Just to be irritating: Here comes Trevor Holder!
Hello, Nationals Delivery Service? Yes, I'd like three orders of hacked gorse, and could you make that to-go, please? 'kay, thanks.
Oh, and I'd like one of those curly w's on the side.
I don't see management trading Zimmerman in any but the most unlikely of circumstances. The bigger concern for me would be for injuries to derail his career to the point where he's not on the field enough to carry a franchise.
Your concerns probably top the list for Mike Rizzo and surely that will not help Zimmerman's contract negotiations. The problem is Zimmerman gets to make a choice. He would certainly be coveted by teams like the Yankees, Bosox, and Phillies just to name a few.
Zimmerman is a rare enough commodity that Rizzo would be highly unlikely to just "let him go" as happened with Dunn. Rizzo, Clark, Kline would likely look at him the same way the FanGraph's guy did: as a more valuable player than Pujols and even Strasburg.
However, again, Zim himself could certainly decide to look elsewhere. If we are tired of losing imagine how that man feels.
Yep.... The gorse is looking mighty high, in Padreville...
Per the Channel 50 website, today's game will be shown on channel 50.
I do not understand the expectations of high scoring game tonight by our Nats. I mean we are playing in Petco, against a pitcher who beat us two weeks ago, and a depleted lineup.
Anyways, I would love this team score some runs tonight and Curly W as main dish, not on the side.
"In the year of our Lord 1314, patriots of Scotland - starving and outnumbered - charged the fields of Bannockburn. They fought like warrior poets; they fought like Scotsmen, they hacked the gorse and won their freedom."
Aye, their spirit lives on, each time Mickey Morse takes cudgel in hand and hacks the gorse like the warriors of olde.
Freedom! (or at least three runs....)
Wilson Ramos needs to come with the following disclaimer:
Attempts at stealing has a 50% chance of a slow walk back to the dugout...
Drew8
I'm not an expert on Scottish history, but would you consider the whole Mary Queen of Scots situation an RISP equivalent?
Why can't the uniforms be the uniforms? I don't get it.
Padres' announcers just mentioned that San Diego has already signed 19 of their draft picks (who, by the way, will be playing for the Eugene Emeralds as of June 17). That apparently includes the Padres' top two picks.
Anyone know where the Nats stand on signings? I know the top two or three may be a while, but what about others?
Eugene - and that is what happens when you aren't drafting Bora$ clients.
Just have to say, I am beginning to like FP.. he focuses on the game (not on himself) and makes fun of Bob when he needs to..
According to BA, no Nats signings yet.
Jason's last AB was very, very ugly.
According to my eyes, Jayson Werth's AB with men on 3rd and 2nd and 1 out just sucked. What a horrible at-bat.
Zimmermann and Cora did their thing and Riggleman called a great hit & run to set up Werth.
What is the deal with Werth? He gets two strikes on him so fast, it seems. I k ow no one knows. What are the viable theories? It's like he isn't seeing the ball at all.
WERTH, really Jayson, really?!?
JZim must want to scream in frustration.. He is pitching a gem and they can't get him 1 lousy run!
"....somethings need to change around here...."
" problem is obvious..." Jayson Werth
First thing that needs to change is the way Jayson Werth is hitting with RISP. Anyone of his stature, especially with his contract, shouldn't be mouthing off while hitting .224 and RISP.
MicheleS
Both pitchers have earned the right to scream in frustration.
Knoxville Nat...
AMEN!!!! Geesh, get a hit once in awhile and then maybe you earn the right to mouth off!
Jordan Zimmermann is going to have to drive in a run today AGAIN!!!!
Look at how hot Chris Marrero and Antonelli are plus this Valdez kid is coming on too. Not a great game by Ryan Zim but get those 0'fers out of the way in Syracuse.
http://syracuse.chiefs.milb.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=t552&t=g_box&gid=2011_06_12_swbaaa_syraaa_1
Earn that paycheck JAYSON!
Do you remember when Werth did mouth off? Its when he got on a little streak and got above .250
Now he has to look in the mirror and mouth off to himself.
2 at-bats today with RISP and less than 2 outs and nothing to show for it.
This is painful. Werth can't buy a hit, even when he rips one. Danny goes down. Oh, my aching Nat.
Has any Nat hitter, with te exception of Morse, ever heard the words "clutch hit"?
Werth sure makes Rizzo look like a dope. We are stuck with this turkey for seven years.
If we here at Nats Insider take up a collection, do you think we could buy the Nats a run? It seems that someone's going to have to....
This was close to a picture perfect game from the pitching perspective and fielding ... almost. They are very weak at 3rd with Hairston and Cora is no Desmond or Espinosa.
Werth and Morse probably about the same value as players. Werth is not hitting at all well but he has managed to get on base this season.
Well managed game. Well played. Just no hitting. Still think Marerro could use another year or two in Syracuse. He's matching Aubrey. Antonelli and Valdez who are both older may be different stories. Throw in Harper, Norris, and Kelso and you have the 7 best hitters currently in the Nat's system. But are they major league ready?
As frustrated as Nats fans are at not scoring a run can you imagine how the Padres fans feel right now? They score even less than the Nats.
HTFB!
Anon, I hope that you never sit next to me at a bar. Werth will come around. He saved a run earlier when the Padre's 3B coach didn't send the runner, knowing Werth would have put him down. A month, or so, I said to the naysayers that Morse was a streak hitter, and as such would come around. Werth will do the same, and then you can go back under your rock.
This game gives new meaning to the word "futility".
We can still win in the ninth. Or in extra innings. The point is we can still win. We can.
So here's the plan -- Stairs pinch hits for Coffey. Home run. Wins the game. Tomorrow Stairs retires with full honors. Zimmerman returns to the team on Tuesday, no need to send anyone down.
LET'S GO NATS!!!!
Just say goodbye to Matt now, everyone.
Dang Jason Marquis is not available to pinch run!
Okay, so I was wrong. But this gives Werth a chance to redeem himself.
We got a run!!!!
Way to start a rally (to end your career?), Matt Stairs!
How many runs has Chris Denorfia stolen from us this series? Thank god we scored a couple...
let's go storen!
SWEET!!!!
Matt Stairs sensing Brian Bixler from Saturday night may have saved a spot when Zim comes back decided to actually do something meaningful.
Amazing. I still feel bad for Jordan Zimmermann, pitches an absolute gem and only walks away with 10 Strikeouts and no runs and no decision AND the good news is a WIN!!!!
Hurrah! Now a day off, Ryan comes back, and we see them at home in two short days. And we get Mark Z back, which makes it all even better. Go Nats!
Wonderful! Give credit to Nix (throughout, but especially for driving in that second run) and -- although I still hope he retires to tomorrow -- Stairs. And the pitchers -- today's, yesterday's and Saturday's. They essentially had to be perfect and they almost were (certainly close enough). Go Nats!
I love the defense.. Who knew we would say that! JZim did an awesome job..definitely showing he is a #1 starter!!!
Let's make sure Aex Cora gets some props today. He was in position to score two other times before finally getting driven in by Nix.
And some props for Hairston for some good glove work while RZim has been out.
104.2 consecutive innings without an error. Jordan Zimmermann drives his ERA down to 3.10 and below 2.95 when you take out inherited runners scoring.
Someone mentioned yesterday that JZim could be an All Star except for his W/L record. 8 straight quality starts and a dominant full 7 innings with 10 K's.
This team's future is coming in to clearer focus and this is 58 games without Ryan Zimmerman.
Well, I got my side of curly w along with plenty of hacks (even if missing the gorse for the most part), so I'm a happy camper. I think my blood pressure may have risen precipitously, but it was totally worth it.
Awesome to get the series and road trip win - the first such trip win since May 2008, I believe. Can't wait to see the winning road trip feature on TWIB next weekend! (Yeah, I'm a dork.)
Agreed re. the credit, Eugene. I also felt that Werth's last at-bat was somewhat redemptive (his earlier at-bats, of course, having left him in need of redemption). And good for Stairs for getting the rally going.
Steve M. said...
Still a long long way to go in baseball terms and if you disregard stats and look at last 8 starts, Jordan Zimmermann has been a top starter but they won't put in a starter with a losing record which is why Marquis is in the conversation and if he has 10 wins on July 1, he might be the guy as keep in mind he is a former All Star so in the world of snubs, the Nats have 5 guys who are performing great and 3 of them consistently in: Clip, Storen and Marquis then 2 who have been red hot in JZim and Morse.
June 12, 2011 9:01 AM
_______________________________
This was the only mention of JZim's stud-ness in term's of this team's All Star.
He is a true star of the team that every scout is talking about. More proof that he is a true #2 pitcher and if he gets some run support and bullpen help, he should be 9 to 10 wins already. Sure, if if if and shoulda coulda woulda but this guy is amaZing.
No one will listen but the player who consistently use to hit with RISP is Jesus Flores. However, Ramos is a tremendous catcher and I know he will be there. But if you want some offense he and Zimmerman will deliver. Ramos doesn't make any adjustments to get under the ball when swinging. It's all line drives or into to the dirt swings. Since he's only a rookie, I'm sure he will learn to elevate the ball especially in close games like today...
As my wife says, we only need one, as long as it is one more than them. Any more is a bonus, gladly accepted, though not expected.
Nice road trip guys and I hope we are now the best fielding team in the league.
We have come a long way from even earlier this year.
Loved how JZim handled that Rizzo kid and didn't treat him like Pujols.
Also was neglective for not mentioning JZim as the team's top player yesterday in the All Star discussion. He is now Top 10 in WHIP and closing in on Top 15 in ERA.
RISP
104.2 consecutive innings without an error is amazing. A year or two ago, I doubt whether they could have gone 104 pitches without committing an error. Way to go, D.
Is this kid, Danny, really that good? Or it just shows too much on a crappy offensive team like ours.
JZ has been pretty great for us. This time he struck out batters and went deep in the game. Good job boy. Excited to see him and SS go back to back on a regular basis and win.
I did not know much about our defense this past road trip. But good to know that they have done their job without Zimm at 3B. Let us not forget our catchers. 7 CS on this road trip I think and allowed 3 SB. Not too shabby?
Anyone now off the top of their heads when the last time the Nats ripped off a decent winning streak? Nothing ridiculous, just like an 8-gamer. I think we're due.
Anyone now off the top of their heads when the last time the Nats ripped off a decent winning streak? Nothing ridiculous, just like an 8-gamer. I think we're due.
They are still 6 games under .500 and in the NL East. This was a great series. They struggle to stay above 10 games below .500. So far they succeed.
But to do what you suggest given the current roster they would need Stephen Strasburg and Bradley Peacok major league ready and in the rotation with Jordan Zimmmerman. Precluding any injuries to those three. Then a 10+ winning streak would not be out of the question.
FlapJacks, I like it. Let's have a winning streak!
FlapJacks in Olney said...
Anyone now off the top of their heads when the last time the Nats ripped off a decent winning streak? Nothing ridiculous, just like an 8-gamer. I think we're due.
June 12, 2011 8:41 PM
Flapjacks : Last major winning streak was 8 games from Sunday, Aug 2, 2009 to Aug 9, 2009 after Riggleman became the interim manager.
The 2005 Nats team holds the team record for longest winning streaks of 10 games from June 2, 2005 to June 12, 2005.
The Nats also won eight straight in August 2009 before the Braves clipped their wings.
Even thought they can't hit a lick, the improved pitching and defense are very encouraging, especially with the waves of talent coming in the next two years.
Now add a splash of Strasburg, a cup of Zimmerman, a dash of Rendon and a stick of Harper.
Purke-olate. AddMeyer your work and look forward to Goodwins.
Nats are now third in the majors in fielding. Rizzo said that was one area he was going to address for sure, and he has.
Desmond had 8 errors early and still is at 8. Desi has 4. Two of the errors came to Pudge for catcher's interference.
Definitely the improved D & P are encouraging. Now for some consistent O.
Did somebody say flapjacks? I'll have blueberry, please (but not IHOP - sorry Charlie & Dave).
I bow before the king of puns, Drew. :-)
I am more excited about Rendon and Harper. They both seem capable of doing well when they come up, especially Rendon. Do you guys think once his injury issues are resolved, he will be as ready as Ryan was back in 2005?
dream lineup will have werth (long contract), harper, ryan, rendon, danny, ramos at least. hopefully ian will continue to improve his game and be part of this franchise, so will morse.
I think when Ryan comes back we are gonna go on a run. Maybe win 8-9 in a row.
RIGGLEMANS RANGERS....EXPECT IT
(Bumper Sticker?)
I don't believe the Nats have won more than 3 consecutive games since the end of the 2009 season. They might have gone four in a row a few weeks ago, I just can't remember. Other than that maybe four game win streak, not more than three in 228 games.
For what it's worth, Ladson has a piece in which Marquis says he wants to stay with the Nats.
Beyond hoping for a multi-year contract, Marquis says he likes his teammates, his coaches and the club's direction. He says the team is being built to be good for a long time.
Unless the Nats do go on that 9-game run and get into this thing, I still would be inclined to sell high on July 31.
I hope Marquis is 12-2 when the bidding begins.
It's a thrill to see them pull this one out and come home from the road trip with a winning record.
But before we go making irrationally exuberant predictions about what it means, remember that 3 of those wins came against the worst offense in MLB. The Nats are coming home to face the second best offensive team in the NL.
As to the question about streaks, the longest in 2010-11 were/are:
4 game win streak, Sept. 21-24, 2010(3 vs Astros, 1 vs Atl).
And a 4 game streak this April, 3 from the Brewers, 1 from the Cards.
Farm Report:
At least somebody's hitting. At Syracuse, 2b Antonelli's average has climbed to a scorching .364 and Marrero's is up to .296.
At Harrisburg, Brad Peacock took a hard-luck loss, but his numbers are still astonishing. Again tonight the guy struck out 10 and walked just one. For the season, Peacock is 7-2 with a 2.33 ERA. Get this -- in his 12 games (10 starts) he has 101 strikeouts and just 16 walks.
In Hagerstown, Robbie Ray got a no-decision. He was touched for three earned runs in five innings. His ERA ballooned to 1.03.
At Harrisburg, Brad Peacock took a hard-luck loss, but his numbers are still astonishing.
He leads the board in AA in all pitching categories according to milb.com. He still may need another pitch but we'll have to see how he plays in AAA.
For what it's worth, Ladson has a piece in which Marquis says he wants to stay with the Nats.
The last starter joins the fold ... at this point I suspect Lannan has the most value because of his age, he is a lot younger, his left-handedness, and his velocity has up-ticked a notch.
What a fun but nerve racking game to watch. Good to win the road trip. Go Nats!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I may be making this up, but I seem to recall Boz writing a column a couple of years ago about now matter how good the team, they will have a losing streak sometime during the season, and no matter how poor the team, they will occasionally string together a good streak.
Since then, I've been patiently waiting for the Nats to pull off one, doesn't ever seem to happen. Doesn't need to be a winning streak per se, but how about a stretch where they go 12-3?
Flapjacks, the old saying is you are never as bad as you are during a losing streak and never as good as you are during a winning streak.
It was actually Bobby Valentine who came up with the quote: ‘You’re never as good as when you’re in a winning streak, and you’re never as bad as you are when in a losing streak.’
Let's hope we continue our trend of playing up to the better teams. No matter what the record is - this team may not have the best offensive talent but they grind out every game - each person on the 25 seems invested and committed. There are obviously things we don't know about the organization or the clubhouse -- players seems to love it. There is something to be said about a good work place environment and liking your co-workers.
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