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Photo by Mark Zuckerman / NATS INSIDER The forecast doesn't look promising tonight at Nationals Park. |
The forecast, plain and simple, does not look good. There's a 100 percent of rain until 7 p.m., then a 40 percent chance from 7-8 p.m., a 15 percent chance from 8-9 p.m., then a 90 percent chance the rest of the night. Is that enough of a window to get this game in? I don't know.
Then again, we all remember how bad the forecast looked a couple weeks ago for Strasburg's return from Tommy John surgery. And they wound up playing the full game. So who knows?
I'll do my best to update everyone along the way, so please check back throughout the afternoon and evening...
BRAVES at NATIONALS
Where: Nationals Park
Gametime: 7:05 p.m.
TV: MASN
Radio: WJFK (106.7 FM), WFED (1500 AM), XM 184
Weather: Rain, 70 degrees, Wind 4 mph in from RF
STARTING LINEUPS5:20 p.m. -- Your weather update: It's actually looking a whole lot better right now for baseball to be played tonight, perhaps even on schedule. There's only a 10 percent chance of rain from 7-10 p.m., before it spikes back up to 60 percent or higher the rest of the night. The tarp is still over the infield, and neither team took BP outdoors today. But for now everyone's preparing as though they will play. And as for the decision whether to start Stephen Strasburg or not, Davey Johnson indicated he won't be handling the right-hander any different than anyone else tonight. "I've turned the page," Johnson said. "As far as I'm concerned, he's healthy."
NATIONALS (76-79)
SS Ian Desmond
CF Rick Ankiel
3B Ryan Zimmerman
LF Michael Morse
RF Jayson Werth
2B Danny Espinosa
1B Laynce Nix
C Wilson Ramos
P Stephen Strasburg
BRAVES (88-68)
CF Michael Bourn
LF Martin Prado
3B Chipper Jones
2B Dan Uggla
C Brian McCann
1B Freddie Freeman
SS Jack Wilson
RF Jason Heyward
P Tim Hudson
6:17 p.m. -- The latest: The Nationals now say they expect the start of tonight's game to be delayed. However, they do expect the game to be played at some point this evening.
6:50 p.m. -- Hey, the sun has come out and there's a partial rainbow over the scoreboard. First pitch is scheduled for 7:15 p.m.
7:19 p.m. -- And we are underway with a 94 mph strike from Stephen Strasburg to Michael Bourn. Officially a 14-minute delay to start this game.
7:37 p.m. -- Well, that wasn't a very encouraging top of the first. Strasburg allowed three runs (two earned) on four singles and nearly served up a three-run homer to Jason Heyward that landed a few feet short of the Red Porch. He needed 38 pitches to finish the inning, but he wasn't helped by either Jeff Nelson's tight strike zone or Ryan Zimmerman's defense. Zim let a smoked Jack Wilson grounder go right through his wickets for a run-scoring error that prolonged the inning. It's 3-0 Braves already. Yikes.
7:45 p.m. -- Not much happening for the Nats in the bottom of the first. Ian Desmond reached on a true Baltimore Chop: right off the plate and high into the air. But he never advanced, in part because Zimmerman struck out looking at some borderline pitches from Hudson. Interesting that Hudson is getting the close calls already from Nelson and Strasburg isn't.
7:52 p.m. -- Much better stuff from Strasburg in the top of the second. He retired the side on only 11 pitches, though his command is still kind of all over the place. He's thrown only one of four curveballs for strikes so far. Forty-nine pitches (29 strikes) through two. Still 3-0.
8:02 p.m. -- The Nats get a run back in the bottom of the second thanks to a couple of hits from two rookies who are finishing strong: Danny Espinosa and Wilson Ramos. Espinosa doubled off the wall in right field to extend his hitting streak to 11 games. Ramos then singled to right with two outs to drive his teammate in. It's 3-1 after two.
8:11 p.m. -- Strasburg is still all over the place with his stuff, but he's retired seven of the last eight Braves he's faced. His pitch count sits at 62 (37 strikes) through three innings. Figure he gets one more inning and that's it for tonight.
8:29 p.m. -- That should do it for Strasburg. He retired the side in the fourth, and with his pitch count at 75, he's probably done for the night. Wound up retiring 10 of the last 11 batters he faced. His final line: 4 ip, 5 h, 3 r, 2 er, 0 bb, 3 k. He still hasn't walked any of the last 114 big-league hitters he's faced, dating to Aug. 2010.
8:32 p.m. -- Meanwhile, the Presidents just ran their race, with Jayson Werth and several relievers trying to interfere with the proceedings. Then after the race ended, the presidents all held up signs that read: "We will miss you Bob." Carpenter? I honestly have no idea who that was meant for.
8:36 p.m. -- Strasburg is indeed done for tonight. Collin Balester has entered to pitch the top of the fifth. Chris Marrero has also come in to replace Laynce Nix at first base, a double-switch since the No. 9 spot is due up in the bottom of the inning.
8:40 p.m. -- Mystery solved. According to Teddy himself (or, at least, his Twitter handle) the Bob who will be missed is Bob Wolfe, who has been the Nats' executive vice president the last five years. Not Bob Carpenter, whose status for next season remains undecided.
8:49 p.m. -- And Balester is done after allowing three of four batters to reach safely (two via walk). Enter Atahualpa Severino to face Brian McCann with two on and one out. And Severino promptly gives up a two-run double to right-center. So it's now 6-1 Braves in the top of the fifth as this game slogs along.
9:28 p.m. -- OK, this is starting to get interesting again. The Nats finally started to pounce on Hudson in the bottom of the sixth. Morse started it off with a one-out double, after which the Braves trainer emerged from the dugout to check on Hudson. The right-hander stayed in the game but immediately gave up singles to Werth and Espinosa. Ivan Rodriguez came up to pinch-hit, drawing a standing ovation from the crowd, and advanced the runners with a grounder to third. Ramos then delivered his second RBI single of the night, cutting the lead to 6-3 and finally knocking Hudson out of the game.
9:33 p.m. -- And Cristhian Martinez gets Marrero to ground out to end the sixth.
9:40 p.m. -- Say this for Yunesky Maya: He's the only Nats pitcher tonight who has been able to retire Dan Uggla. Even struck him out to end the seventh. Still 6-3 Braves.
9:52 p.m. -- Tonight's paid attendance: 28,817. With two home games left on the schedule, the Nats are going to end up drawing slightly more than 1.9 million fans this season. That works out to roughly 24,000 fans per game. Honestly, that's more than I expected. On Opening Day, I predicted only 1.56 million.
10:05 p.m. -- There goes Werth's 20th homer of the season, into the left-field bleachers off Jonny Venters to open the bottom of the eighth. It's now 6-4 as the Nats try to chip away at this lead. They're running out of outs, though.
10:15 p.m. -- Oh my lord, that was the worst attempt at a rundown I've ever seen. I don't even think I can accurately describe this one. Suffice it to say, blame goes to everyone in the Nats infield who somehow allowed Bourn to score on a play in which he was completely hung up between second and third. It's 7-4 as we go to the bottom of the ninth.
10:29 p.m. -- It's over. Nats lose 7-4 and the Braves, for the moment, hold a 2 1/2-game lead over the Cardinals for the NL wild card.
86 comments:
Rain rain, go away. Little Stephen wants to play. Come again some other day (but not on the weekend because I plan to attend both days - 'kay thanks).
I'd hold Stras out right now. MLB has control of the game and they are going to play. As much as I would love to see this match up,I am willing to wait. I remember way back in 2007 when the Nats played the Padres in a heavy mist. Zimmerman hit a ball into the upper deck of RFK off David Wells. It was lousy playing conditions and Manny Acta was more concerned about someone getting hurt than he was about winning the game. I'd put in Lambardozzi at short, Cora at third, and Morra at first. This is a perfect time for Livo. Why not. Prudent is the better part of valor.
I know we are suppose to focus on tonights game against the Braves and another start (hopefully) from Strasburg but please allow me one more thought on Brad Peacock. As I've watched his first two starts and watch his delivery from the CF camera I can't help but notice his uniform #41 and think about what a former #41 did for a Mets franchise that had struggled for years. I'm not saying that Peacock is going to be another Tom Seaver but I can certainly hope, pray and dream that he too has a long and successful career. In a Nationals uniform of course!
NatsLady said...
We've had our share of one-sided trades...
Clippard for who?
Jonathan Albada-homina-homina, I believe.
Always hard to look at trades in hindsight, because we lose a proper sense of how important the performance of Capps was at the time. Did he make the difference between going to the playoffs or not? If he was the final straw that did it, that might be worth $3-5m to the Twins. Plus, in this particular case, if Mauer never develops physical problems and catches 130 games a year, they still might not care. The part that the Twins missed (imo) is Ramos's improvement. Not sure many people saw this coming. I love the guy, but even last year when he came up, I still figured Norris would be the catcher that we would build around. Then, by the spring of this year, Ramos was one of the guys taken in ESPN's Top 30 draft (I forget what it was called, but where sportswriters got to choose any guy in the league to start their team). But yeah, I liked it at the time and love it now.
Hey, another Ram-Moose guy. Definitely better than the Buffalo, imo.
Mark - Any chance the Nats make up the Dodger game if Kemp is one RBI or one homer or a couple of % points away from the triple crown?
Anon @ 4:13 p.m.,
Nope.
JaneB
Tomorrow. Section 143 Row P. I will be in my Werth jersey. Dogs are yorkie pops.
There is also a .001 percent chance of a de-orbiting NASA satellite crashing into the park. I'm bringing an umbrella and a Kevlar helmet.
Dawn said...
Since Oswalt joined the Phillies (a good team) he has re-gained his mojo, didn't seem to be very inspired his last couple of years with the Astros (not a good team). Wandy may be worth a few prospects, he has talent and could be "inspired" by joining a talented staff that includes Strasburg & J.Zimmermann. Then again,the Nats already have a similar pitcher who is 6 years younger in John Lannan.
September 23, 2011 4:07 PM
See, people look at the last "feel good" moment and forget the 5 starts before that.
John Lannan in June 2011 vs Sept 2011. 2 different guys.
John Lannan overall with a high 3's ERA is about a 1/4 run higher than Wandy Rodriguez. Lannan is a 1.487 WHIP vs Wandy at 1.300. Wandy also pitches in a hitter's ballpark. Best of all is how well Wandy pitches against the Marlins.
Here's the HUGE difference. This year Lannan has only averaged 5 1/2 innings per start and Wandy has averaged 6 1/2 innings per start so that is the bigger difference between the 2. I still think Lannan is a #4 and Wandy projects as a #3.
Lannan is much younger so hopefully he will continue to improve. Through mid-August, Lannan had improved to a solid #3 and slightly better and since then has fallen back to a #4.
Best scenario is add a solid #3, be it Wandy or someone else, so Milone and Peacock can continue to improve in AAA.
Rain, rain, go away. Come again after Sunday.
I assume everyone knows about the Nats' Inclement Weather update number -- 202-675-6287, press 5.
Stew Magnuson said...
There is also a .001 percent chance of a de-orbiting NASA satellite crashing into the park. I'm bringing an umbrella and a Kevlar helmet.
----------------------
We've checked our calculations and -- the way the Braves' luck has been running -- we think you're safe so long as you're not sitting in their dugout or bullpen.
Michelle S, got it. I can't find my tickets so I will see if they are will call or if they can be re-printed. I'll look for you! I'll be wearing my Hernandez jersey.
And Knoxville -- I was talking about the Seaver uni number last night, too! May our instincts about the kid be right on the money.
Headed down now. We will see what happens, but I like the idea of putting out Livan and holding Stras for tomorrow.
GYFNG!
I agree with DCJohn. Pitch Hernandez tonight and Strasburg tomorrow. Milone for Sunday. Detwiler, Lannan and Peacock in Miami.
Steve M.... I feel the same about Lannan.... those constant 2-0 counts every inning....8 hits in 5 innings....45 pitches by the end of the second inning.... he's been a bull pen killer for the past 2 months.
On another note, I only got to watch 4 innings of todays Fl. Instructional League game with the Braves today but Sammy Solis was perfect for his two innings facing only 6 hitters, no hits, no walks and 2 K's.
On the flip side the Braves started somebody named Tommy Hanson and he got lit up in his two innings.... 5 runs, 6 hits including a jack by Mike Taylor and a real bomb from Randolph Oduber.
The baby Nats didn't dress any of the draft picks for this game (except Deione Williams). I saw Bryce Harper doing some light running along with Anthony Rendon.
Danny Goodwin looks like he could use some physical maturing and Alex Meyer is huge.
The Nats are in Vero Beach tomorrow morning to play either the national Chinese team ot Italy, whoever is based there this year.
JaneB, and all: we had this discussion last time there were rainy conditions and Stras pitched. They want him to start again on Wednesday and that won't happen if he doesn't go tonight.
What I do hope is that they don't get him warmed up and pitch one pitch and then have a long rain delay, and he's shut down. That is the worst of both worlds. Same for Hudson (on the Braves' side). If there is enough window for five innings, Stras will pitch.
Skies are lightening up here in Lorton. Radar indicates rain will move out soon.
Game on.
re: Lannan. A few good starts over the course of a season don't do it for me either. We have other lefties that could have a good shot at the rotation or go for Wandy. I say, as I said before, trade Lannan, give him a fresh start in some other division or the AL.
He's a 4 or 5 in someone's rotation and if he gets more consistent, fine, good for that team and their pitching coach.
NatsJack in Florida said...
"Steve M.... I feel the same about Lannan.... those constant 2-0 counts every inning....8 hits in 5 innings....45 pitches by the end of the second inning.... he's been a bull pen killer for the past 2 months."
A lot of his career has been like that. A very frustrating pitcher to watch.
In other news, Frank Howard is a hound. No, not that kind, silly. Nice to hear that *some* local team sought him out for a role.
natsfan1a,
Is there story behind why Howard isn't associated with the Nats in a similar fashion? Always wondered, never asked before.
Don't know what the story is there, Eugene.
@NatsJack said...Danny Goodwin looks like he could use some physical maturing and Alex Meyer is huge.
Is Danny Goodwin the CF also known as Brian Goodwin or someone else?
See, it never rains on Strasburg's parade.
captcha is "stopron" so lets stop those runs!
SteveM, I think you hit it on Lannan. The fact he barely gets into the 6th inning while Jordan Zimmmermann and Wandy Rodriguez get you (with much better ERA) into the 7th inning is where this team has to focus.
Then you have your dream bullpen of 7th inning set-up(TBD) to Clip to Storen as you have said was the key to the Braves (until recently).
When your starter has you through 6 full and sometimes into the 7th inning, you have options with your 7th inning setup or situational pitchers to get you through the 7th inning.
Ray Knight says Davey likes 6 starters for next year. Anyone know if Davey is proposing a 6 man rotation for the Nats. Someone suggested that as a way to get Strasburg into September.
Does that mean a 6 man bullpen or 1 man short on the bench?
Strasburg is amazing. He makes the rain stop!
I'm going to be selfish, I want Strasburg to pitch tonight AND next Wednesday (with Pudge catching!). Remember who is pitching (enter biblical name), clouds should part and disperse in time.
Sorry I'm not at Nats Park, but I'm in Cinema Arts in Fairfax, about to watch "Moneyball." I hope St. Stephen is at his best and that the bats help him out. I've got Sunday's game.
GYFNG!
Have fun and will expect a review later, Dave. ;-) Haven't checked the local schedules but thought about trying to catch the flick next weekend.
Just saw "Moneyball" - awesome movie. You have got to see it - and after you do, I want to discuss the relationship between Rizzo and Riggs again with anyone who sees the movie. Insight galore.The rest of you can ignore it or go see the movie - which you should.
But -- hurry up and see it, please. natsfan1a - behind the scenes under a magnifying glass. Awesome.
Hard to imagine a 6 man rotation as a reality outside of September baseball. Interestingly if you did the 6 man rotation it gets Strasburg 6 completed innings on average through the entire season on 162 innings. How do you like that math?
Add to that adjusting the rotation after the All Star break and maybe some tandem starts in September and you get Strasburg starts into the post-season.
The other advantage is Detwiler seems to do much better on 6 days rest and could be a starter in that configuration. I think Lannan would also pitch better on 6 days rest.
Six days between starts isn't rest, it's a [bleeping] vacation!
Here they have a top MLB crew ump'ing the game and the homeplate ump has blown 2 strike calls already.
Kid don't have it tonight guys. Hate to lose the winning strak this way. DAMN!
That was ugly. 2 earned. 1 error on Zim and 2 errors on the homeplate ump.
Well, not the start I was expecting. Strasburg got hit hard there, and didn't have his normal command. Which is to be expected at this stage of coming back from TJ. I also think FP is right that maybe he was signaling something, since some of those change ups were tagged.
Huh Davey? said...
Ray Knight says Davey likes 6 starters for next year. Anyone know if Davey is proposing a 6 man rotation for the Nats. Someone suggested that as a way to get Strasburg into September.
Does that mean a 6 man bullpen or 1 man short on the bench?
------------------
HELL NO! these wips already only go 5 innings as it is. They are not using 35 man rosters nxt year are they? No Cance no way they use a 6 man Rotation
I'm finally getting to see Strasburg pitch, and he is having trouble hitting his spots....
Mark, I'm just not seeing the Umpire's Strike zone as much different for either pitcher. Zimm struck out on a strike, IMO there was no question about it. Just sayin.
On Frank Howard - not sure why they club and Frank have been unable to reach an agreement on a relationship, but they are obviously saving a place for him - in addition to the statue in the centerfield plaza, and the Frank Howard bobblehead last year (or the year before? I forget), no player has worn number 33 since the club moved from Montreal to DC. Maybe if the Loudon Hounds replace the P-Nats as the team's high-A affiliate, he'll get called up eventually. I think they just need to make it happen.
Ra-Moose!
Ok, I am sticking with it.
Living here in Knoxville MASN gets blacked out when the Nats play either the Braves or the Reds and a such I watch the games on whatever network carries those two teams. For all those complaining about Carp and/or FP let me tell you listening to Chip Carey and Joe Simpson just isn't any treat. nails on a chalk board sounds better.
Strasburg getting good results but really doesn't have his command tonight. Could be the mound isn't helping. Both pitchers seem uncomfortable with it. Also isn't at normal velocity. 96 is the highest I recall seeing, and numerous 93s. I am not saying it is something to worry about. Could be that he is throwing a lot of two seamers.
The president's had signs that said. "We will miss you bob"
Late to the party (as usual). Will have to watch Strasburg's innings tomorrow on the archive. Did he have a proper warm-up with the weather conditions? Not that it matters, it's likely to rain next year.
Anon @8:33 So Carp will be gone? How long was he here?
Ah, thanks, Mark Z.
Mortals are such a letdown.
NatsLady - seemed so. I suspect that he just didn't have it tonight, although the muddy mound clearly seemed to annoy him. 30 some-odd pitches to get through the first. He wasn't helped by the D and there were a couple borderline pitch calls, but he was hit hard too. Pretty much nothing after that, though.
Well, Philly was fun.
What fuels these mortals be -- like gasoline on the fire.
ouch - let's talk about the presidents race instead.
Since the Nats turned a page on their history in Philly, Jason seemed like he was going to take matters into his own hands and put an end to the Teddy losing BS.
So sick of Uggla standing right up on the plate and just wearing us out. All year opposing teams have plunked Michael Morse. When is somebody gonna stick a fastball right on Uggla's left elbow? One of those where you hear the "smack!"
Looked like Stra watched the rain all day and thought we weren't gonna play......then all of a sudden he was on the mound losing 3-0. 93-95 is a whole lot different than 98-100. That weak flare to shallow right turns into a burner to left center. I would shut him down for the year if I was Davey
Adam Dunn has more K's than his average? 168 to 164. Wow.....jeeez. Another good move by Rizzo. What if you are the GM of the Sox.....do you wake up evry night in a cold sweat, knowing that you threw 60 million dollars into the fireplace?
Frickin Balester comes in and immediately walks two guys. As soon as he walked that first guy, I would of ran to the mound to take him out. Its been all year with this guy. Good riddance.
Charlie and Dave are at it again. "We have reached the age of personalized resin bags...".
Good boy, Jayson. It's a start.
So is the Mendoza Line renamed the Dunn Line?
Why are they leaving Hudson in? I mean, fine for us, but I don't get it.
Nice ovation for Pudge!
NatsLady - I agree - why are they risking Hudson?
Big Cat, Bally may have cost us this game. Reliever is NOT supposed to come in and walk guys, I'm sorry. (Except Henry, and that's way different. Bally doesn't have the stuff to get away with walks.)
Oh, boy, a Mayan adventure. Guess Davey wants to win tomorrow.
Yes, NatsLady, it was fun partying with you in Philly.
You naughty, bad girl.
Is it me, or is Morse tracking balls better out there? (Not to mention coming out of his slump.)
Anon @9:39 Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!! No one needs to know.
Wait, is this the Maya we know and hate with a 1-2-3 inning?
ok - O'flaherty,venters and kimbrel, oh, my!
Air must be really heavy, the balls are hanging up there.
ooooops!! Venters gives up a homerun to Jayson!!
That was REALLY bad!!! Hello, someone, cover the plate?????? Can someone get an error on this so Henry doesn't get a TOTALLY undeserved earned run??
Nope. Henry's fault more than anyone else's including Zimmerman dropping the ball. After he threw to second he just camped out on the grass. He was supposed to go cover home with the catcher at third.
Ouch.
That's the worst game I've seen from our best player.
Anon @10:31, yes, you are right on that. He didn't think (neither did I). Trying to remember he's only 24 and he really fooled Prado on a slider I didn't know he had.
Fortunately, it wasn't the difference in the game.
Its one thing to lose. But to stand there and watch and pitch go right down the middle in the ninth is shameful. Even more shameful than letting a ball go thru your legs in the furst inning. Awful game Ryan Zimmerman. Youve had a few this year.
Hate to pile on, but RZ also had a rally-killing GIDP. Not his best night.
Observations - the Braves might make it into the postseason after all, but will their pitching hold up? Hudson looked dinged up, their relievers are young and while they are still great, they have made tons of appearances and are starting to show it. Next - in our dugout, Livo is really an animated cheerleader pretty much all the time, Pudge always looks like he is thinking - nice to see him in the game, and Jordan looks very sad and lost. Finally - 5 games to go and the sentiment is kicking in -- Our team is a classy bunch of guys - 100% effort all season, win or lose. You never see attitudes out there, teammate conflicts, breaking things. My impression would be ( without looking it up, if you even can) that we have had very few ejections, maybe a pitcher who hit someone and the ump made an example. But,for the most part, you have got to be proud of the way this team conducts itself and represents our area. No more Nyger/Flop/Lastings -type antics. The young guys carry themselves in a very mature way -- there have been times in the past where I have been embarassed by a player ( see above names) but not this season.
I don't think I've ever heard Davey like this.
Swami-- well, Clipp breaks things, but only when he gives up a home run.
Agree, this is a fine bunch of young guys. Didn't glimpse Jordan, but it is hard to be out of it for the last month. As for the vets: Will miss Pudge a lot. Hope we can keep Livo.
Jayson starting to show why we paid big $$ for him, next year he should be just fine. (We paid too much, yes, but he will be good for us, always thinking, always helping out other guys.)
You have to pay the $$ for RZ, but he is not perfect. Stras also, hey, if it rains or the mound isn't perfect--suck it up (they can't fire me for saying that, can they?).
Dunn to Kilgore Dec. 3, 2010:
"The opportunity arose to play for a team that had a chance to win a ring, and that's the ultimate goal."
Sept. 23, 2011:
Nats 76-80.
Chisox 76-81.
(Preposting alert)Not a bad thing for SS to experience some adversity, imo. Builds character and all that. Seems like maybe the hoopla is dying down some, too. If so, maybe now he can just play his game without the added pressure of the big spotlight. That would be a good thing, (again, imo).
In other news, nice work on the Pudge ovation, people. Hope to have the opportunity to do that for Livo when I'm at the park today and tomorrow.
Also, a tip of the cap to Werth for his efforts as regards the presidents race (or, and the dinger, too). Atta way. And Maya? Kinda surprised me there. Atta boy.
(Another prepost alert): Forgot to mention McCatty's talking about the wave in an interview that aired before last night's game. It was in the context of Peacock's being distracted by the rally towels in Philly. McCatty referenced when the wave first started up in Oakland, and how distracting it was. If memory serves, he waited to deliver his pitch until the wave crested, as it were. Maybe he should talk to the Nats Pack or whatever they're called about not encouraging it - or at least not when *our* pitcher is on the bump. WTH??
Sorry to be late getting back to you all.
Baseballswami is right, "Moneyball" is an awesome movie that you all should see. Being written by Aaron Sorkin, it has a bit of "Social Network" feel to it, by which I mean it's a gripping and exciting movie about people who talk to each other a lot. Brad Pitt is very good as Billy Beane.
As far as I can recall, it pretty much stays close to the book--with the huge exception that Paul Podesta, who talked Beane into going into the moneyball direction, has become "Peter Brand." I understand that Podesta didn't want somebody playing him, so he has a different name and body shape in this movie. (Jonah Hill as Peter Brand is also very good.)
When the game's over today, go to your favorite local cinema and check it out.
Thanks, Dave and Swami. Will check the local listings and try to talk my hubby into going, perhaps next weekend. This weekend will be busy, with a "gals' day out" at today's game and my husband joining me for tomorrow's game. :-)
Re RZimm: Why is it that Carpenter always says he is looking for "his" pitch? As he strikes out with a pitch down the middle of the plate? Why not just react to the pitch being thrown? That's how I observed the Braves get to a 3 run first inning. As they kept their eyes on the pitch and swung where the ball was coming over the plate. Too many 0-2 counts as the Nats batters "wait" for their pitch.
Last night was a pretty sloppy game defensively. But Balestar walking two? On eight pitches? Hasn't Davy seen enough of these guys to know what's going to happen?
76 wins is pretty much what was expected this year. Hopefully with the baseball gods on the Nats side, they'll make it to 80 (crossing my fingers)?
GYFNG!!!
what did davey johnson say?
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