 |
US Presswire file photo Can the Nats finish off a four-game sweep at Citizens Bank Park? |
In order to pull this one off, the Nats will need a solid outing from rookie Brad Peacock (making his second career start) and some timely hits against Roy Oswalt, who has struggled against this franchise in the past and has battled through an up-and-down season himself.
Couple of notable absences from the Nationals' lineup. Jayson Werth is sitting out his second straight game after getting hit in the right elbow with a throw. Roger Bernadina is again in right field. And Chris Marrero, who had started 22 consecutive games at first base, gets a night off. Laynce Nix will get some rare playing time in the infield.
Enjoy the game...
NATIONALS at PHILLIES
Where: Citizens Bank Park
Gametime: 7:05 p.m.
TV: MASN
Radio: WJFK (106.7 FM), WFED (1500 AM), XM 185
Weather: Cloudy, 74 degrees, Wind 5 mph out to RF
STARTING LINEUPS
NATIONALS (75-79)
SS Ian Desmond
RF Roger Bernadina
3B Ryan Zimmerman
LF Michael Morse
1B Laynce Nix
2B Danny Espinosa
CF Rick Ankiel
C Jesus Flores
P Brad Peacock
PHILLIES (98-57)
SS Jimmy Rollins
CF Shane Victorino
2B Chase Utley
LF Raul Ibanez
1B Ross Gload
C Carlos Ruiz
RF John Bowker
3B Pete Orr
P Roy Oswalt
hey! i'm first!
ReplyDeletegyfng
Sweep these bums! Just so they get used to the feeling next year, too. GYFNG!!!
ReplyDeleteWhy not start Morse at 1B and have Nix play LF?
ReplyDeleteEnlighten-- the only reason I can think of is they are Seriously trying to get Morse used to LF and it would be an adjustment and then a re-adjustment to go back and forth. In other words, the more reps Morse has in LF, the better, even if we don't have the exact best alignment for this particular game.
ReplyDeleteJust occured to me - Ladson said the Nats were scouting CJ Wilson. Maybe that was his or someone else's assumption. Perhaps they were scouting Coco Crisp.
ReplyDeleteI am not a number! I am a free man!
ReplyDeletewe'll see tonight if Peacock is legit or not.
ReplyDeleteGo W's!!!!!
I read all the posts of the day and watched Mark's Video. Interesting stuff.
ReplyDelete1) So glad Mark Z. said it clearly on Prince Fielder. No chance. People here get on a tangent and run wild. Now it is Matt Kemp. Laughable. Last week it was BJ Upton. Ten months before that they were ready to trade away Jordan Zimmerman, Drew Storen and Danny Espinosa for Zach Greinke. One man can make a difference however won't change a loser to a winner on his own.
2) When proposing a trade, I don't think you trade more if you can subsequently work out an extension. You have to propose a trade on the current deal. BJ Upton and Matt Kemp are Free Agents after next season currently.
3) OldGuy, good points. This team needs very little tweaking.
Nats1924 said...
ReplyDelete"we'll see tonight if Peacock is legit or not"
Agree. If he gets roughed up, the Nats should release him.
With Vance Worley and Kyle Kendricks pitching well, Phils may decline Oswalt's option for next year. If he is healthy, he could be a good pick up for the rotation. He is getting old, but I have always liked him. JZimm reminds me of a young Roy.
ReplyDeleteN. Cognito said...
ReplyDeleteNats1924 said...
"we'll see tonight if Peacock is legit or not"
Agree. If he gets roughed up, the Nats should release him.
N.Cog is en fuego.
The Philadelphia newspapers have a story and chart today about the "Phillies Killers of the Year." No, it's not a crime report. It is about which players have done in the Phillies the most in 2011. You will notice some familiar names at the top of the list. :-)
ReplyDeletehttp://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/phillies_zone/The-2011-Phillies-Killers.html
Danny has gotten most of the praise for us when talking rookies, but Ra-moose has put up arguably a better season. 3.1 WAR in 420 PAs (Ramos) v. 3.7 in 630 PAs (Espy). So Wilson has had over 200 less PAs.
ReplyDeleteIt is nice to not have to choose between the two, and no knock on Danny. Just that Wilson's season seems to be getting lost in the shuffle.
Moose? I thought he was The Buffalo...
ReplyDeleteN.Cognito,
ReplyDeleteYou kill me !!!!
I thought he was the RAM. Ramos has tremendous upside. Glad Wally pointed that out. I am an OPS lover, Ramos is 3rd on the Nats at .777 only behind some guys named Beast & Zim. 3rd in OBP now and ahead of Werth.
ReplyDeleteAs I researched this, I was surprised that Bernadina is now 6th in OBP on the team.
Hope Peacock fires a fastball at Howard's chin.
ReplyDeleteThe reason to play Nix at 1b instead of Morse probably has as much to do with the fact that Nix has been fighting achilles and groin injuries and can't move very well as any other factor.
ReplyDeleteHoward's not starting, Captain, and Morse is in left field to learn more left field, which is why he's been there for about a month now.
ReplyDeleteSeriously, Bo Porter was referring to Ramos as The Buffalo, for some reason—at least he was earlier in the year.
ReplyDeleteYep, I think the Buffalo is what they said Ramos looked like. Is that supposed to be a compliment?
ReplyDeleteHere is a earlier post about the Buffalo.
ReplyDeletePAY TO PLAY said...
Ramos has quietly moved his OBP into the mid-.330's and his BA to almost .270. He has also flourished in the 8 hole which is dead space on many NL teams. He will maybe play 4 more games this season based on the Pudge and JayFlo schedule so this will be close to his final slash line. Absolutely one of the bright spots over the season including his great defense.
September 22, 2011 10:27 AM
John C, good point.
ReplyDeleteI liked the point Mark made regarding pitching depth for next season, and I hope Rizzo wins this argument over DJ. I'd rather see the Nats stash the not-quite ready starters in SYR in a five-man rotation than keep one or two of them with the big club in spot-starter/long relief roles.
ReplyDeleteStretch them out & get them regular innings - It will serve both the pitcher & the orginization better in the long run.
Cards up 6-2 on Mets in the 8th...
ReplyDeleteKeeping track of the race for 3rd place said...
ReplyDeleteCards up 6-2 on Mets in the 8th...
September 22, 2011 6:43 PM
_______________________________
Thanks! The Magic Number is 5, it could be 4 shortly!
Gonat said...
ReplyDeleteKeeping track of the race for 3rd place said...
Cards up 6-2 on Mets in the 8th...
fwiw -- I'm rooting for the Cards in that game for a different reason. I don't care so much about the Nats finishing 3rd or not. But if the Cards win, the pressure will be on Atlanta, and I want to see how our young 'uns do against a Braves team that's still in the hunt and needs to win. (Side bonus -- if the games matter, than rainouts will have to be made up).
fwiw, for the person who doesn't care so much about the Nats finishing 3rd or not, the game is now 6-4 w/ 1 out and bases loaded........
ReplyDeletefwiw, the game is now tied 6-6 w/ 1 out and men on 1st and 3rd.....
ReplyDeleteMets winning now in the top of the 9th
ReplyDeletefwiw, Cardinals now losing 6-8 heading into the bottom of the 9th. The Cardinals magic may have run out. A leadoff walk, an error, another walk, double, bloop, etc. Willie Harris with the go ahead RBI single.
ReplyDeleteOn Ramos's nickname, I just made it up. Seemed to flow from his name, not trying to create a new one for him. Although, not necessarily a big fan of Buffalo.
ReplyDeleteBraves v. Cards? Have to admit I am pulling for the Braves. If it isn't going to be us, I guess I root for our division. Plus I can't stand TLR.
Oswalt doesn't throw that hard, but the ball really seems to pop out of his hand.
A DC Wonk said...
ReplyDeleteGonat said...
Keeping track of the race for 3rd place said...
Cards up 6-2 on Mets in the 8th...
fwiw -- I'm rooting for the Cards in that game for a different reason. I don't care so much about the Nats finishing 3rd or not. But if the Cards win, the pressure will be on Atlanta, and I want to see how our young 'uns do against a Braves team that's still in the hunt and needs to win. (Side bonus -- if the games matter, than rainouts will have to be made up).
September 22, 2011 7:01 PM
______________________________
If you did ANY RESEARCH at all you would know that with a 2 game lead in the Wild Card as of right now, the Friday and Saturday night games matter to the Braves as their Magic number is 6 games. Most likely all the games will matter.
Why do you feel you have to spoil the party for some of us who are sick of losing and 3rd place sounds better to most of us than 3rd.
Sometimes I think you are just the complaining type.
Cards lose, having given the game away in the bottom of the 9th (walks, a botched double play by Furcal, couple of hits with RISP).
ReplyDeleteHaven't seen that in a while. Hope Zimmy's ok.
ReplyDeleteOuch.. that had to hurt Rzim. I do like seeing Peacock's Pop in the stands.. it looks like the local fans are being nice to him..
ReplyDeleteAll six outs for Peacock have been in the air. 4 flyouts, and 2 pop outs.
ReplyDeleteSeems to be sitting 90-91.
Ankiel has been a good signing. I was negative on it at the time, because I thought Bernadina offered the same skills at less cost, with some chance for higher upside. But the guy has earned his keep. I wouldn't mind seeing him come back as the 4th OF.
Go Desi, Go Desi! Just don't let our side match the brain fart!
ReplyDeleteBrilliant 12-pitch AB by Flores, to no avail.
ReplyDeleteNats: 2-for-3 with RISP thus far tonight. Gotta love it!
ReplyDeleteFP said something interesting: when you've lost 3 straight, and you fall behind 2-0 in the 4th game, it seem like a huge hole to climb out of.
If you did ANY RESEARCH at all you would know that with a 2 game lead in the Wild Card as of right now, the Friday and Saturday night games matter to the Braves as their Magic number is 6 games. Most likely all the games will matter.
ReplyDeleteWhy do you feel you have to spoil the party for some of us who are sick of losing and 3rd place sounds better to most of us than 3rd.
Sometimes I think you are just the complaining type.
I wasn't complaining at all! Folks talking about rooting for the Cards, and I said that I was, also, and added another reason to root for them.
Yes -- most likely all their games matter, but if the Cards had one, there'd be even more pressure on the Braves.
Lighten up . . . I was joining in the fun, not complaining.
Sheesh.
Feeling torn about the wild card race. Hate the cards,(agreed with you Wally), but want the Mets to stay behind us. Last game of their series, though, so it won't matter after tonight. Ecstatically happy about our lead in this game!!!!!!!!! Ramos' ab might be a key factor later as it seemed to tire Oswalt and frustrate him. He has a bad back - they are not going to push him onto the dl in a game they don't have to win when they need him for the post season. I hope the rest of the hitters start pushing him, too.
ReplyDeletePeacock - who is this kid?
ReplyDeletegonat, for what little it's worth, I didn't get "complaining" out of that.
ReplyDeleteand with all due respect to FP, who played places in I have to pay to get in and has forgotten more baseball than I know, I don't think the Phillies are one of the teams that gets down on themselves. "Culture of Winning" and all that.
*in places
ReplyDeleteQuestion: Peacock has zero ground outs so far (and five fly outs). Is that normal for him? (I'm so used to seeing ground-ball pitchers lately: Lannan, Milone, etc.)
ReplyDeleteAnybody know?
DC Wonk ... I didn't see your comment as complaining.
ReplyDeleteThere was some love for FP on the WaPo chat with Hamilton today.. I hope he stays
ReplyDeletePeacock: only 40 pitches for the first four innings. Yowza!
ReplyDelete(Perhaps Davey gave him a pitch count, and he wants to get the most innings possible from it ;-) )
(Sec 3 -- thanks)
Anonymous said...
ReplyDeletePeacock - who is this kid?
Brad Peacock MiLB stats
and why is it giving me grief for target="_blank"
ReplyDelete?
I think Peacock is more fly ball than ground ball pitcher, but this ratio is a little unusual.
ReplyDeleteHey..A ground ball out!
ReplyDeleteBoy, we're seeing some ugly fly ball outs the last night or two...
ReplyDeleteIt sure looks like Peacock is the real deal. But the fly ball/ground ball ratio is pretty worrisome. Eventually, those fly balls will have to drop.
ReplyDeleteSpring training is 5 months away, and it already looks to be a pretty exciting competition for the starting rotation.
ReplyDeleteActually, it would not surprise me if the calculation is made simpler before then by a trade involving one of the Nats' good young arms.
An observation / opinion on the Phillies. Since the've already punched their ticket into the playoffs, I think Manuel may be evaluating his final starting slot for the playoffs.
ReplyDeleteOswalt may have the inside track for the #4 (behind Halliday/Lee/Hamels) due to experience, but it's not guaranteed. Worley & possibly Kendrick could steal it with a good finish, with the losers moving to the bullpen (that needs help).
You know what I love about Milone and Strasburg -- they don't play around, they pound the zone. They throw strikes. Between them they have 30 innings and only three walks.
ReplyDeleteLooks like Peacock is doing that tonight, too. (He had 2.9BB/9 IP in the minors this year).
That fifth inning of his was great -- good fastball, nice curve (although I think he got away with a hanger), and a good change-up, too.
Ya gotta love seeing him putting them down like that the second time through the order.
So, who else is going Saturday?
ReplyDeleteWhat the heck?! As soon as I write that he walks Oswalt on four pitches?
ReplyDeleteOK, blame me, I jinxed him. Or something.
Sheeeesh . . .
Sec3.. I am going Saturday (Pups in the Park). I think JaneB is going as well. (Also going tomorrown night - and may go on Sunday)
ReplyDeleteIs Carp serious, lint flying from the "terrible towels" makes it hard to breathe? Been to a playoff and World Series game, never bothered me. How about young Peacock, his parents have got to be excited.
ReplyDeleteCan someone explain why he got pulled? He only had 69 pitches.. just wondering if I am missing some strategy????
ReplyDeleteMaybe Carp meant to say there was "serious lintage."
ReplyDeleteWhew!!!
ReplyDeleteDon't Charlie and Dave know people are listening in their cars??? Too funny-- ribbing their tech guy who travels with a clothesline and dries his laundry at his place of work.
ReplyDeleteCarpenter implied the Philly fans don't do their laundry, and the towels stink. Pretty good shot, actually. And Peacock lost the strike zone all of a sudden, and Davey got tired of watching it (and didn't want to let him risk an L).
ReplyDeleteWell . . . the good thing about that inning is that Oswalt was on his feet for like 15 minutes when he could have been resting between innings. (Now, that's _really_ stretching to find a ray of sunshine, eh? ;-)
ReplyDeleteBut, bottom line: still just one hit, no runs, for Phils after six.
(and, RickH, thanks)
Thanks Sec3
ReplyDeleteAnother question: Carp and FP were making a big deal out of the fact that the Nats are 55-22 this season when scoring first, for a .714 win percentage.
ReplyDeleteMy first thought was: is that good? How does it compare to other teams?
Anyone know?
Michele -- It was about taking care of Peacock's psyche. Any frustration from taking him out without letting him work out of his own self-created jam is far outweighed by what Peacock would take from a win and, over the winter, the memory of a masterful game -- this is a good lineup and they got one cheap infield single in 5 2/3? -- pitched in a tough hitters' park.
ReplyDeleteWhy put the weight of a potential blown lead and maybe sweep of a former nemesis -- and win over 18 games of a season series -- on Abu credibly promising young talent?
"Abu" out of "a"? That's weird even for autocomplete.
ReplyDeleteHow'bout that Ryan Mattheus? Guy's a keeper.
Depends on the inning they score first, how many runs and whether they are the home team. When Desi scored and Nats were ahead 2-0, Fangraphs said Nats were 70-30 to win. So .714 is nothing special.
ReplyDeleteA few Phillies fans choking on lintage...hmmmm...feeling slightly ashamed.
ReplyDeleteWE OWN THE PHILLIES!
ReplyDeleteBEAST!!!
ReplyDeleteNo team has a winning season record against the Phillies. Except one.
ReplyDeleteHoly moley -- can you imagine what the Philly blogs are saying about Manuel leaving Oswalt in after that visit?!
ReplyDeleteSweeping the Phils in front of four straight sell-out crowds?
SWEEP! SWEEP!
ReplyDeleteso so sweet!!!
ReplyDeleteHow'bout that Ryan Mattheus? Guy's a keeper.
ReplyDeleteYeah -- no kidding. He's out for weeks, and his very first pitch is a wicked front door curve for a called strike? (And gets the two outs he needs on three pitches?) Really nice -- welcome back!
I am sooo glad that the Nats do not need to use Clippard. I want him well rested for the Atlanta series.
ReplyDeleteUgh. They DID put Clip in. No, no, no!
ReplyDeleteI'm just going through this whole week with a Phills eating grin on my face! Way to go Mister Morse!
ReplyDeletePhils fans are booing at the end of the inning.
ReplyDeleteNats Outsider said...
ReplyDeleteUgh. They DID put Clip in. No, no, no!
I think because he was already warmed up from the inning before.
BTW, Rollins and Victorino both went
0-for-the-entire-series!!
Wonk.. just looked at the blog that was posted in the previous thread.. Those people are foul mouthed and crude. Most of the words 4 letter in nature and they offer no commentary. yuk..
ReplyDeleteThere are probably fewer Phillies fans in the park now than at the equivalent point of a Phils game here.
ReplyDeleteKewl.
I think the people on that blog are the people that invade our park...
ReplyDeleteI went on a couple of Philly blogs to see how they were responding. They don't like Danny Espinosa very much.
ReplyDeleteI'm getting on here late, but I was following the whole thing on my iPhone app during my church choir rehearsal.
ReplyDeleteAll I can say is
GYFNG!
Is a 6 run lead big enough?
ReplyDeleteSlaten. He has some room
ReplyDeleteNice of DJ to put Slaten in so Storen can get a save!
ReplyDeleteI wonder what it's like to watch them dominate like this........ in June/ :-)
ReplyDeletenot a save situation.
ReplyDeleteTwo quick outs. I'll take it.
ReplyDelete6 pitches, 2 outs. Pretty efficient. Maybe he thrives in low-pressure situations.
ReplyDeleteThat is one BIG POT of Coffey! He makes Livo look skinny!
ReplyDeletethis is just davey's way of SAVORING the sweep. make it last. Plip the Phans a bird.
ReplyDeleteCorrection (or, rather, amplification):
ReplyDeleteRollins and Victorino and Utley all went 0-for-the-entire-series!!
(And, hey, did you get a load of Davey responding to a rain of boos by applauding and laughing at the Phillie fans?)
So -- eight straight and Strasburg going tomorrow?
Sec 3, it would have been a save if Slaten gave up his usual 3. ;-)
ReplyDelete(... feeling old as I just realized that I remember John Mayberry's father, as a rookie, playing with the Astros...)
ReplyDeleteDag! There went the shutout!
ReplyDeleteSo how many innings did the Fillies go without scoring against the Nats?
Come on, Big Pot. Let's get this guy out and go home.
Davey, it is not wise to meddle with the baseball gods, for they are subtle and quick to anger.
ReplyDeleteEND this now! seriously.. I do NOT want to break out the Maalox tonigh
ReplyDeleteNope, sorry. Got the previous day's shutout confused with last night's 7-5.
ReplyDeleteWow. I hope Coffey finds that strike zone pretty soon. I don't like this much excitement this late at night.
Oh Great.. Drew is up.. GEESH..
ReplyDeleteHow SWEEP it is!!! (Sorry.)
ReplyDeleteThank got that ended!
ReplyDeleteSeason series win against the Phillies. 10-8 for the season.
ReplyDeleteKeep it going, boys. I swear, a +.500 season is not a ridiculous thing to think about now.
Swept 'em. Find those blog links, I wanna read about this one!! I luvs me some good cuss words.
ReplyDelete"GOD" - getting fat fingered with all this anxiety!
ReplyDeleteHuh? The Phillies shoot off fireworks after getting swept?
ReplyDeleteFP said it best: "It's a new era." I have been following this game since the 40s and I will say again what I have been saying for the last couple of years. This team has been better than its record for some time.
ReplyDeleteI now begin to believe that I might in fact find some people to share those two seats I just bought a half-season ticket for in section 220 (in addition to the full season I own with some partners in 313).
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteSo looking forward to next season. We have never had this much YOUNG talent competing for so many spots.
ReplyDeleteThanks Phillies for the fireworks tribute to the only team to beat you consistently this year.
What's up with the fireworks? Thanks for sending us off with that nice display. Didn't realize the Phillies were so hospitable!
ReplyDeleteBoo for Charlie Manuel. He should have take Oswalt out so Clip could have his hold and Storen his save.
ReplyDeleteSeriously, why does the manager go out and discuss it with the pitcher-- is Roy gonna say, "Take me out, boss, I'm whipped?"
Davey's way is better, you decide what you are doing and if you come out so is the pitcher.
Fillies fans are fools, Davey is not trying to rub it in their faces, he is taking Slaten out because he succeeded (!) with the lefties and now he doesn't want him to fail.
(Fireworks are because it's the last Fillies home game. At least for the season. We can only wish they won't play too many more in the postseason...)
I think I just heard Davey say something about the Phillies fans waving the white flags. I think he was talking about Peacock maybe getting a bit distracted by the towels, but I like the notion of their waving the white flag late in a Nats game.
ReplyDeleteYeaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! That was awesome, although I did worry about Davey angering the baseball gods. Heard the first three innings on the radio, driving home from an appointment. LOL'd at Charlie and Dave's laundry commentary. Saw the last three innings at home. Loved when Morse hit the dinger and all of the rally flags stopped and dropped at once. I rewound and watched it a few times. :-)
ReplyDeleteRe. this weekend, will be there Saturday and Sunday.
Here you go, NatsLady. Enjoy!
http://www.thegoodphight.com/
This is looking really bad for the fans like me, who usually buy the cheap tickets and then move down after the 3rd or 4th inning to better unoccupied seats.
ReplyDeleteThe way things are going, next year I may actually have to pay the price of those good seats. Oh, the horror!! ;-)
Six more games -- let's get five more wins!!
You can say all you want about playing the Phillies B team, their A fans were in the seats and had to watch us embarrass their team. Priceless. I hope it leaves a lasting bad taste in their mouths.
ReplyDeleteI swear I say Davet smiling when he walked out to yank Slaton.
Outsider, actually, I posted that link in a prior thread. Nice piece. Inspired me to pen a little ditty.
ReplyDeletePhillies Killer, Qu'est-ce que c'est? / fa fa fa fa fa fa fa fa fa far better / Run run run run run run run away /
Nats1924 said...
ReplyDeletewe'll see tonight if Peacock is legit or not.
Go W's!!!!!
......
Well, I'd say he is Legit.
Natsoutsider, it'll cost you cash, but won't it be great when the seats get sold because people are excited?
I can't believe this is over in a week! Arch! I can't think about it.
How much do I love Michael Morse? And all of the Nats (even Doug Slaten, though I hope not to see him on our mound again).
Such a nice game! See some of you this weekend. Michelle S... How will I know you and your pup?
First of all - these baby pitchers are just so sincere - their interviews are refreshing and not full of cliches.The Phillies should be ashamed ( especially the aforementioned big three hitters),at being schooled by basically three AAA pitchers.Pitchers who are fighting to stay in the bigs - a powerful motivation. Our farm system on display! One minor thing I noticed tonight - Ryan Zimmerman rarely shows much emotion either way. After Morse's HR (still giddy, by the way), he was beating him on the head and almost giggling. After the game he had a huge smile. It was nice to see him let go and enjoy it - he was not all that productive, but he didn't care about that. 10-8 against the phils this year - so nice. Maybe their fans will start to think twice about spending all of their cash to come down here and get embarassed. After all, that money they are spending pays Danny Espinosa, who they hate. I think Danny is the type of player who will enjoy that in the coming years.
ReplyDeleteOur finest hour. Period.
ReplyDeleteI thought Zim's walk off grand slam against the Phils in OUR park was our finest hour. The finest hours are multiplying!!!
ReplyDeleteI am sensing a week of reminiscing coming up. Ramos' walk off. The win streak in June. 6 more games - I can't believe it.
ReplyDeleteI go for Desi when it was bottom of the ninth, 2 out, 2 strikes and they were ON THEIR FEET (in our Park)...!
ReplyDeleteDa Fish got trouble. I remember this guy....
ReplyDeletehttp://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/09/22/report-leo-nunez-has-been-playing-under-fake-identity/
Couldn't happen to a nicer team. Go Nats!
NatsLady @ 10:50 p.m.,
ReplyDeleteSo that means the Marlins will have to forfeit all the games in which he's played, right?
A DC Wonk said...
ReplyDeleteI don't care so much about the Nats finishing 3rd or not.
What does that statement mean? Can someone explain that?
Seems clear to me that Wonk doesn't think it matters if the Nats finish in 3rd place this year as there are other priorities.
By the way, the Nats magic number to 3rd place is 4 games.
Gonat said...
ReplyDeleteA DC Wonk said...
I don't care so much about the Nats finishing 3rd or not.
What does that statement mean? Can someone explain that?
It means (or, rather, I meant) I want the Nats to play well against tough motivated competition (i.e., Braves), and that's more important to me than whether back into 3rd place because the Mets are losing. Perhaps I should have written it as "don't care as as much as" -- but in any event, I didn't write "don't care at all."
I'm not sure what the point of your post is. Your understanding of my post was not my intent -- which might be because you misunderstood, or because I wasn't clear enough, or, more likely, both.
No biggie. Just a misunderstanding. I just wanted to clear up that I wasn't complaining -- my intent was to give _my_ main reason for wanting the Cards to beat the Mets, and, perhaps, to give others an additional reason.
All we have to do is not assume negative motivations here. Let's give each other the benefit of the doubt in this imperfect medium, ok?
All we have to do is not assume negative motivations here. Let's give each other the benefit of the doubt in this imperfect medium, ok?
ReplyDeleteWhat he said.
To: Mr. Ivan Rodriguez
ReplyDeleteFrom: A Grateful Nationals Fan
Sir, thank you very much for being part of our team. I hope you understand why we have to go forward without you... Thanks for supporting our pitchers, thanks for teaching our catchers... Thanks for all the joy, the smiles.
Good luck going for 3,000 hits. Some team will be GLAD to have that arm for nailing base-stealers! Whether or not you get the hits, never mind, you are a hero to us. Come back when you can, you will be a wonderful coach.
Just back from back-to-school-night and thus missed the end of the game. Great win. I see some queries about "why fireworks?" Forgive me if someone already answered this, but the Nats' four-game sweep represented the Phillies' last four home games of the year and I'm sure the fireworks were preplanned. Now, of course, the Phillies will get some home games in the playoffs, but isn't it sweet -- oh, so sweet -- to have taken their last four scheduled home games away from them? Well done.
ReplyDeleteI was listening to Dan Steinberg as a special guest on 106.7 and he was talking about the 1st ever Washington Post survey to DC area residents on local sports.
ReplyDeleteThe discussion turned to the Nationals as they discussed the Nationals have never had a winning season which is true.There was some chuckling and very little respect and the discussion was back to the Redskins. Lavar Arrington actually confused Ted Lerner with Peter Angelos. What a joke.
The Nats best finish was 2007 was 4th place, every other year has been last place. 3rd place means a lot to me personally and almost any way you get there is fine with me. It would be great for the Nats to start to gain respect from the local sports radio guys and some real relevance locally.
How do you do that? Turn around the culture of LOSING.
Ian's slash line -- since the All Star Break -- is:
ReplyDelete.282/.331/.412
(Which doesn't include today's 2-for-4-with-a-double)
Those stats almost look like a halfway decent leadoff man, no?
Eugene - I did not realize that - I thought the Braves were going there after us. That is waaay cool. Not so cool - I am so jacked up that I cannot sleep. Tomorrow morning ( almost this morning) is not going to be pretty. I just loved the quiet fans, hastily heading for the exits.... Utley, Victorino,Rollins making the long walk back to the dugout.... this is not helping me calm down.
ReplyDeleteGonat, I understand, but really, almost nobody cares what sports talk radio guys think or do. They really are irrelevant.
ReplyDeleteHey, you know what's nice:
ReplyDeleteGet a load of our baby starting pitchers:
Tues aft: Milone 6 IP, 4H, no runs
Tues nite: Detwiler, 7.1 IP, 3H, no runs
tonite: Peacock, 5.2 IP, 1H, no runs
And tomorrow: Strasburg
Sec 3, My Sofa said...
ReplyDeleteGonat, I understand, but really, almost nobody cares what sports talk radio guys think or do. They really are irrelevant.
True -- but is _is_ grating when, e.g., on Wednesday, driving to work, pumped up about the Nats double-header sweep of the Phils, listening to WTOP, and hearing the sports lead off with "Redskins resume practice today ..."
Unfortunately, it's just going to be that way, and will stay that way, until the Nats make the playoffs, no matter how long it takes.
(And, while I don't think it's likely to happen in 2012, I also don't think it's out of the question).
I suppose. I stop listening to sports talk radio sometime in the 70s.
ReplyDeletebaseballswami,
ReplyDeleteThe Phillies travel to Atlanta for the final three games of the season. Between now and then, the Phillies have three games in New York against the Mets.
Get some well-deserved sleep (all of you).
@NatsLady 10:50, that news makes me feel all Smiley inside.
ReplyDeleteGonat said...
ReplyDelete"How do you do that? Turn around the culture of LOSING."
Sometimes I think you are just the complaining type.
N. Cognito said...
ReplyDeleteGonat said...
"How do you do that? Turn around the culture of LOSING."
Sometimes I think you are just the complaining type.
NC, you're good
;-)
I suppose that if I had some respect for them, I might give a rat's patoot what the local sports radio guys think about that Nats. But I don't, so, um, I don't.
ReplyDeleteGonat said:
It would be great for the Nats to start to gain respect from the local sports radio guys and some real relevance locally.
And as for the radio guys' relevance, ummmm....crickets
ReplyDeleteOh wait. Sec3 already said that. Um, cosign?
ReplyDeleteThere are a million drones in this area that do pay attention to sports talk radio. Every yer they think this is the Redskins year, maybe the Wizards can really be good, and U-MD basketball has a real shot.
ReplyDeleteThey ignore, mis-represent and under-report sports they don't understand, and our guys don't understand baseball and hockey and NASCAR.
So they do contribute to the generally held notion that the Nats ain't much good are ain't nothing to get excited about. The Yankees, now that's a baseball team. They don't care what it costs. They know how to build a winner.
sunderland . . . unfortunately, you're right
ReplyDeleteSunderland......I get not understanding baseball and hockey..... but how hard is it to understand an activety where whoever turns left the best wins?
ReplyDeletecosign, my sister.
ReplyDelete