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US Presswire photo The Nationals go for the sweep tonight at Petco Park. |
Jackson certainly doesn't want to be perceived as the weak link in the majors' best rotation, so you've got to believe he's motivated to come out tonight and show the Padres who's boss. San Diego sends right-hander Edinson Volquez, the former Reds ace, to the hill. He'll face a Nationals lineup that once again is without Ryan Zimmerman and will feature Chad Tracy at third base and in the No. 3 hole.
A victory tonight for the Nationals would be historic: No D.C. baseball club has ever opened a season 15-4. They have a chance to do just that and sweep the Padres in the process. Enjoy the game and the late-night conversation...
WASHINGTON NATIONALS at SAN DIEGO PADRES
Where: Petco Park
Gametime: 10:05 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN2, MLB.tv
Radio: WFED (1500 AM), WNEW (1580 AM), XM 184
Weather: Mostly cloudy, 63 degrees, Wind 8 mph in from LF
NATIONALS (14-4)
SS Ian Desmond
2B Danny Espinosa
3B Chad Tracy
1B Adam LaRoche
RF Jayson Werth
CF Rick Ankiel
LF Xavier Nady
C Wilson Ramos
RHP Edwin Jackson
PADRES (5-14)
RF Will Venable
LF Chris Denorfia
3B Chase Headley
C Nick Hundley
1B Yonder Alonso
2B Orlando Hudson
CF Cameron Maybin
SS Jason Bartlett
RHP Edinson Volquez
UMPIRES
HP Scott Barry, 1B Gary Darling (cc), 2B Lance Barrett, 3B Paul Emmel
Go Nats! (and NY Rangers)
ReplyDeleteGo Devils, Nats and Sens :)
ReplyDeleteNOW I'm angry
ReplyDeleteOh and please let Claiborne fall to my Bucs. Lots of sports praying to do tonight ha ha.
ReplyDeleteNeither line-up is really going to strike fear in the hearts of either pitcher.
ReplyDeleteFrom the twitter world on RZ (UGH):
ReplyDeleteAdam Kilgore@AdamKilgoreWP
Zimmerman's shoulder felt the same swinging today. Plan is to get treatment (likely cortisone shot) in LA. I can't see how he avoids DL.
Amanda Comak@acomak
Ryan Zimmerman said things in his shoulder/AC joint felt the same when he tried to hit. Still a wait-and-see game. Will get treatment in LA.
Eugene in Oregon said...
ReplyDeleteNeither line-up is really going to strike fear in the hearts of either pitcher.
Indeed. What's the over/under on the following:
"What is the earliest inning in which we can say that both teams have hits"?
(E.g., last night, SD got their first hit in the third, Nats got their first hit in the fifth -- if I'm remembering correctly -- and so the answer would be: "5")
Takers, anyone?
I think the Padres might as well just play the bench and give the regular guys a rest. EJax is gonna come in ready to go. He's gonna sit them down, boom boom boom, regardless of who they play tonight. Might as well give the regulars a rest, I say.
ReplyDeleteGYFNG!
Okay. I have to share a DORK moment! I tweeted in a question to MLB Network and they answered it!
ReplyDeleteMicheleS@AshburnNatsFan
@MLBNetwork #AsktheAnalyst. Rip, when are you going to start drinking the #Nats koolaid? Al, how good is the #Nats pitching staff?
Rip said that if the Nats are in it at the All Star break he will drink the Koolaid... I plan on reminding him. Al really likes the staff.
"Adam Kilgore@AdamKilgoreWP
ReplyDeleteZimmerman's shoulder felt the same swinging today. Plan is to get treatment (likely cortisone shot) in LA. I can't see how he avoids DL."
If he goes to LA for the cortisone shot, he probably won't go on the DL. He'd come back to DC if he's DL bound. They have cortisone here, too. And the whole point of a cortisone shot anyway is so he can perform activities without pain. Why would he get a cortisone shot if he's not playing?
Atta way, Michele (but that's not dorky). :-)
ReplyDeleteHoping to see a happy game results email tomorrow morning, 'cause there's no way I stay up for this. Go, NATS!!
MicheleS, way to go. BRip is the only one on MLB Network including the janitor that hasn't been on the Nats bandwagon and this dates back to before the season started.
ReplyDeleteI guess BRip is more concerned that he would upset the O's fans if he acknowledged the Nats as a contender.
Edwin just needs to keep the ball down in the 1st inning.
ReplyDeleteReally is a Fairy Tale Beginning to the Season, but really believe that when this team hits some pretty heavy chop, they'll fasten their seat belts and ride it out. They might not win it all, but this is a good and tough group of guys--a rare blend--and they're gonna make us proud.
ReplyDeleteNats had multiple hits in the 2nd inning last night. I'll take inning 2. With the Pad's hit wiped out by a dp.
ReplyDelete1A, I actually have the day off tomorrow again(burning the vacation days) so I will be watching tonight.
ReplyDeleteGonat, when we are in it at the break, I plan on sending BRip a Nats Glass and Koolaid packets. His Orioles heart will break...
Oh, btw, I joined a new gym a few months ago. They have tv sets all around the place so you can watch while you're working out. Since I started going, they've often had a couple tuned to ESPN, and once in a while to MLB Network. Today they had one tuned to MASN, showing the replay of yesterday's Washington-San Diego game. Whatta bunch of front-runners! I like it. :-)
ReplyDeleteDo I recall correctly that the docs usually like players to sit for 48 hours after a cortisone shot? If true, we likely won't see Zim until next week in DC.
ReplyDeleteGood planning on the day off, Michele, and the "gifts" for Ripken. :-)
ReplyDelete@MicheleS: I'll help with the postage on Billy Ripken's mid-year present. Talk about a guy not with the program...
ReplyDeleteNot working until tomorrow night, blessedly.
Took the afternoon nap, in pajamas already, do I have to watch hockey until the pre-game show?
Here's a thought before our game. I turned the O's game on for a minute, and saw with some pain that Nick Johnson was 0 for 23 for the season. I hate me some O's, but I really want Nick to shine. No such luck; he is now 0 for 24.
ReplyDelete+1/2St.
Man I hope they win tonight and set a new record for Washington baseball teams best start of season. I would bask in that glory for the rest of the season. GYFNG!!! The best 25 came north!!!
ReplyDeleteYou can watch Phil Humber try to make history on MLB...
ReplyDelete1a, in addition to my long-term mission of introducing as many curly-W baseball caps into central Europe as I can (as thank-you gifts when I go to Germany and Austria), I have another mission.
ReplyDeleteWhen I go into a restaurant with sports on the TV or TVs, I always ask that they put Nats games on if the Nats are playing.
People just need to be educated.
(As to my earlier-mentioned mission, you would be surprised how many Europeans who wouldn't know a baseball if they got beaned with one wear New York Yankees caps. These are people who don't know what the Yankees are and have never seen a baseball game in their lives.)
I'm assuming you guys saw this story from Sports Illustrated? http://tinyurl.com/7vqjvg4
ReplyDeleteAnd this one from the New York Times on April 17 (I'm quoted!). The Nats are getting some national attention. http://tinyurl.com/6npbjzw
Well we don't use the cheap doctors for treatment:
ReplyDeleteAmanda Comak@acomak
Zimmerman's going to the Frank Jobe clinic in LA tomorrow for exam/treatment, Davey said.
@NatsNut, it's not your imagination. I think Carp has a quota of uses of "serious jammage" in every ballgame.
ReplyDeleteThat and the premature home-run calls are two rather annoying tics of his.
Natsnut... Carp's "serious jammage" has become serious irritating. I wish he'd find something original to say.
ReplyDeleteWhy doesn't Davey just play Lombo at third? He did ok, maybe not great but ok, and I thought he wanted to get Lombo AB's? Switch hitter, if I recall.
ReplyDeleteAs long as they don't send Zim to Dr. Andrews it's okay....
ReplyDeleteWell, the nats are aiming to be 15-4, and the skins just selected RGIII. What a great night to be a washington sports fan!!!
ReplyDeleteSo much for history, Humber has given up 2 hits in the 1st
ReplyDeleteOK, NJ, thanks. That was a great play.
ReplyDelete"Serious jammage" is only one of Carp's many verbal failings. Among other overused idiocies:
ReplyDelete"How far is that one going to go?" for a warning track out.
"Good take" by (Fill in the blank) on a pitch two feet outside.
That idiotic, clenched-mouth, all-knowing head nod when FP says something ridiculously obvious such as, "It's a night game tonight, Bob."
"We've got the Hyundai 7th Inning stretch. It's brought to you by Hyundai." Oh. I thought it was sponsored by Ford.
My favorite, though, is the night two years ago when they broke for an inning break and they ran a shot of the Kennedy Center. Bob remarked, "Great night to be out on the town if you're going to the Lincoln Center."
Talk about a guy who is AAAA.
LOL nice record keeping there Sunshine.
ReplyDeleteI'm exhausted from the week, and have big weekend commitments. I've just told my family I am going to bed and under no circumstances is anyone to turn on the TV past 10:00. My daughter said, "Yeah. Because if you see the first pitch, you're a goner." Then she paused and said, "I guess, me too. Because EJax is gonna mow 'em down tonight."
ReplyDeleteI hope I don't watch. I really do. But even now my will is wavering....
How about Orioles btw? I know not most of us like them around here but 11-7, tied for first in AL east is not a bad start either. Their starters have been doing well too I believe.
ReplyDeleteTell us how you really feel about Sunshine Bobby, Sunshine.
ReplyDeleteLet's not forget -- "back door breaking ball," "front door breaking ball," and "he goes up pumping." Pumping?
Flipping channels, Nick Johnson getting boo'd by O's fans. They let him play 1st base tonight and he couldn't field a ball that brought in 2 runs and the 1-0 lead in the 6th turned to a 2-1 deficit.
ReplyDeleteNick is batting .000 0-25 Probably will be DFA'd shortly
FS- Hard to believe the O's pitching will continue to do well. But who knows :-)
ReplyDeleteGo Nats!
terpman33 said...
ReplyDeleteWell, the nats are aiming to be 15-4, and the skins just selected RGIII. What a great night to be a washington sports fan!!!
Indeed. Between RGIII, Wall leading the Wiz to 5th straight, an OT 7th game victory over defending Cup Champ Bruins . . . and a 14-4 Nats start . . . indeed, a great night to be a DC sports fan.
For the DC Sports fan:
ReplyDeleteNew Boz Koolaid
Btw, I haven't logged in for a while. When/why was the log in name thing changed?
ReplyDeleteCWJ.. Go to the Desmond Erases Doubt With Hot Start thread and that will give you the reasons why
ReplyDeleteJaneB, repeat after me:
ReplyDelete1. "I am powerless over the Nats--my life has become unmanageable."
2. "Came to believe..."
Aw, screw it.
It's on MASN2 and MLB-TV. It's going to be a Friday. Call in sick...
Don't ask, CWJ. If you got on, you're wayyyy ahead of the game. I had to e-mail Mark in desperation, then create a whole new persona on G-Mail, whatever that is, just to get back.
ReplyDeleteNow that I'm logged in, I am never going to log back out. I'll never get back in.
Oh, gotta go. My rotary dial phone is ringing.
cwj: infected by rabid anons.... Mark hadda do it...
ReplyDeletecwj: infected by rabid anons.... Mark hadda do it...
ReplyDeleteYou forgot that he called me out as the main culprit. My bug-a-boo was all the whining about the anion's. I thought they were entertaining. Certainly better than All-O's all the time local chatologist Poopy McPoop.
I'm still waiting for Mark to chastise multiple posters as he did me a year or so ago ... to the cheers of the crowd. And Mark? I was RIGHT about Lannan and YOU WERE wrong.
NatsLady.....Lombo is scared to death playing 3rd. He was so thankfull for LaRoches pick last night. Davey knows what he's doing.
ReplyDeleteTeahen is a pretty fair third baseman with a left-handed bat ... he's not on the 40-man roster but I can see them adding him. He must have heard the news because he drove in 6 RBI and hit his first home run, a grand slam in Syracuse. It may make sense to put him on the roster ... if they decide Moore is best playing every day in Syracuse. But Moore is 25, kind of old for a prospect even in Syracuse ... 2 years older than Marerro.
peric, were you right about Rizzo sending Harper to AA this year?
ReplyDeleteAre you always right?
Hmm... RZimm is going to get a shot in LA? I bet that's because: a) it's easier to stay on the west coast than fly back to DC, get a shot, then fly back out to play in the series against the Dodgers; b) there is some risk that the flying could increase inflammation; and c) because the doctor in LA probably knows how to administer the shot into the right shoulder!!
ReplyDeleteSeriously, this does look like a dig at the team doctor.
I really think that the New Yorker article on the Nats was an embarrassment to the magazine. In addition to the other comments, they got the ERA wrong. They start a sentence talking about the starters, then list the team ERA at 2.21. It's just very misleading.
Perhaps a dog wrote it?
Well, at least we have BBTN at 9:30 too! Tired of draft.
ReplyDeleteSunderland I am not always right ... but I can at times be uncanny ...
ReplyDeleteI was thinking the Nats future first baseman is now perhaps only a year or so away ... and he can play third. I guess I may be right.
Courtesy of Adam Kilgore:
The Nationals chart what they call “quality plate appearances,” which means the hitter showed plate disciplined, hit with the situation in mind and/or barreled up the ball. Skole, a fifth-round pick last year out of Georgia Tech, recently had a streak of 23 consecutive quality plate appearances. “That’s significant,” Harris said.
sm13 said...
ReplyDeleteNats had multiple hits in the 2nd inning last night. I'll take inning 2. With the Pad's hit wiped out by a dp.
Right. I was thinking of the last game I saw, which was the last night game -- i.e, two games ago, where it was the 5th inning that both teams had hits on the board.
I'll go with inning 4.
Anyone else?
peric said...
ReplyDeleteI'm still waiting for Mark to chastise multiple posters as he did me a year or so ago ... to the cheers of the crowd. And Mark? I was RIGHT about Lannan and YOU WERE wrong.
April 26, 2012 9:16 PM
_________________________
You have never been right about Lannan. You can't let go of always having to be right. Let it go man.
Skole, a fifth-round pick last year out of Georgia Tech, recently had a streak of 23 consecutive quality plate appearances.
ReplyDeleteWell, it certainly helped that yesterday he walked five times (just one game)! (In a 24-2 victory!)
(He also went 1-for-3)
Teahen is a pretty fair third baseman with a left-handed bat ... he's not on the 40-man roster but I can see them adding him. He must have heard the news because he drove in 6 RBI and hit his first home run, a grand slam in Syracuse. It may make sense to put him on the roster.
ReplyDeleteWait, are we talking about the Mark Teahan who hit .207/.277/.305 with 3 HR in 51 games for the White Sox last year. Or the one who hit .190/.261/.286 in 27 games with Toronto. Oh, they're the same guy.
We have several guys who can play third base in place of Zim. DeRosa, Tracy, Lombo. The question is who can hit. Teahan is no improvement at the plate over DeRosa, Tracy and/or Lombo, one big night in AAA notwithstanding.
peric - please stop. This blog is actually NOT all about you. You were not called out as the "main culprit." You were mentioned only because you were an abrasive anon whose name was known.
ReplyDeleteYou have a lot of baseball knowledge - much more than I have or ever will. I appreciate it when you share that knowledge in a civil manner. It is your habit of challenging everyone, in the most argumentative fashion, if their opinion differs from your own that makes me not want to read your posts. You appear to have a vindictive streak a mile long and can hold a grudge for an apparent eternity. For example, Mark Z writes an opinion, like about whether LannEn will get sent down, and you hold it against him forever as if he guaranteed it wouldn't happen and had you bet the farm on it.
You may have been right (I could look it up, I am not interested in searching out posts that may or may not have been you, given the anonymity of them), but the way you call people out, no one cares to give you the credit in any case.
You have once again bloodied your hand by holding your rapier by the blade.
The author of that New Yorker piece, Steve Coll, is a great writer. His 2004 book "Ghost Wars : The Secret History of the CIA, Afghanistan and Bin Laden, from the Soviet Invasion to September 10, 2001" is one of the best books I've ever read. He lives in DC and must be a Nats fan to have written the piece. I think he meant well, and it was kind of cool to have an article about the Nats in the New Yorker. Unfortunately, as one of the commenters on the site said, it seems that the renowned New Yorker fact checking department let him down. There were a number of embarrassing errors.
ReplyDeleteOh, and will take the under: 2 innings for both teams to get a hit.
ReplyDeleteKnowing a few stats about baseball is not the same as knowing about baseball.
ReplyDeleteI have the TV on. And now it seems I have to dig out the last few New Yorker issues, I haven't had time to read.
ReplyDeleteI am powerless over the Nats addiction. I am.
And my daughter heard that music, and came running into the room wearing her lucky Curlie W hat. There are worse addictions. At least this one comes with tasty Koolaid.
Oh sorry I brought that up :(
ReplyDeleteAnyway thanks for the explanation.
JaneB.. we are all powerless. Your are among friends with the same addiction. Consider us the support group.
ReplyDeleteYeah I created some Google thing so I could post here again.
ReplyDeleteThat was a good idea by Mark.
Anyway, looking for Jackson to bounce back. Which is weird to say because despite an ERA of 4.26, opponents are hitting less than .190 against him, and his K/BB rate is very good.
At times ERA can be deceiving, especially this early.
Okay. Just saw the Majestic commercial,how come we can't find a Nats Michael Morse shirt? We even asked at the park last week, and they acted like we were asking for some name they'd never heard of.
ReplyDeleteAnd what's on the fiver of the New Yorker piece on the Nats? I didn't see apiece by Steve Coll when I quickly looked through the April 30 and 23 issues...
And Mike Pelfrey needs TJ surgery? I guess we aren't the only ones with injuries.
Jane, face it, we are in thrall to the power of the Curly W Crew and their magic power arms. And happy to be.
ReplyDeleteI know I will regret it tomorrow morning as I did Wednesday morning.
Thank you, heavy air in SD (Denorfia's flyout to Ankiel).
JaneB..
ReplyDeleteNew Yorker Link
Say WHAT? Bring up Bryce early for the offense, says FP, if Zimm goes on the DL....
ReplyDelete(thanks for the support, MichelleS)
It's an addiction as bad as caffeine. I have to get up at 5:15 AM, and I'm still sitting here in front of the TV.
ReplyDeleteI just have to go cold turkey after one more at-bat. At least the LA games are on the weekend.
1-2-3 by EJax, just too many pitches thrown. I didn't like what I saw. The Padres players helped him out swinging at balls out of the zone and the #2 batter crushed that pitch which carries in other ballparks over the fence.
ReplyDeleteOne thing about Lannan..he was BORING..pitching around guys to get to the pitcher..moping around with that dog-eyed what is that smell expression on his face...his games lasted way too long...even when he won he lost
ReplyDeleteMichelleS posted the New Yorker link earlier today -- it's a blog, available online only.
ReplyDeleteFP says it's easier to hit in the majors than in AAA. So bring Harper up. Why not? Oy. It's going to be a long night.
FP is nuts. No to Harper until he is ready and he has to be crushing it in AAA
ReplyDeleteThanks for the link, MichelleS. It was a lovely piece...and they corrected the error. I'm jealous of his bobblehead.
ReplyDeleteI love FP but I thought that was nuts too.
JaneB said...
ReplyDeleteSay WHAT? Bring up Bryce early for the offense, says FP, if Zimm goes on the DL....
April 26, 2012 10:19 PM
______________________________
FP wanting to get a rise out of us. LOL
Anyone else notice that Strasburg is dipping tobacco?
ReplyDeleteI haven't seen it at all when he's pitching. But with most of the shots of him in the dugout, he seems to have a "cud of chaw" as Dizzy Dean would have said :)
Weird thing to bring up. But I thought he gave up the chew.
In the immortal words of Morty Seinfeld... "pinko commie rag."
ReplyDeleteWatching the Padres broadcast on ExtraInnings, and the announcers just had to bring up "DC fans wanted to add an l-e-s-s to Werth's name last year" Ugh.
ReplyDeleteGonat- Remember though that Jackson is a horse who can throw well over 100 pitches per start.
ReplyDeleteHe does seem to be a slow starter though.
Ump has a pretty big strike zone.
ReplyDeleteoffense is off to a slow start as usual. hoping a stellar outing from EJax will take care of that.
ReplyDeleteanyways, just found out that Carlos Lee has a nominal weight clause on his contract, 'don't be fat' clause? LOL, just thought I would share.
Harper's not the one who needs to come up right now, Moore is, if anyone.
ReplyDeleteJust read the New Yorker piece. Very nice, but I was very surprised at the factual mistakes. Calvin Griffith was not the father, he was the son, for example. And weren't the "Senators" actually the Nationals until the 1950s (as somebody here said today or yesterday)? And didn't MLB agree in 2004 to move the Expos to DC?
ReplyDeleteAnd here I am still awake, having missed the chance at the inning break to turn off the TV.
Cwj, after the whole cancer thing with Tony Gwynn, Stras said he was going to stop. It didn't last long.
ReplyDeleteDave- Yeah I'm gonna stay up for this game :-)
ReplyDeleteDave, face it. We will both be with the game till its over, along with lots of our imaginary friends.
ReplyDeleteEdwin's ginna get out of this, watch him.
Kilgore did a long article in January 2011 about Strasburg trying to quit chewing tobacco At the time, he hadn't kicked the habit completely. Sorry to hear the addiction was too tough for him to beat.
ReplyDeleteFunny tag out of O-Dog. Hudson's a real throwback kinda guy. I've always liked him.
ReplyDeleteGonat- Yeah nicotine is hard to break. In fact, I'm chewing at this very moment :-)
Cool thanks for the link Sec 222!
ReplyDeleteCwj said...
ReplyDeleteGonat- Remember though that Jackson is a horse who can throw well over 100 pitches per start.
He does seem to be a slow starter though.
April 26, 2012 10:28 PM
_________________________________
He is very fortunate he is facing the Padres and not the Dodgers.
You predicted correctly JaneB! :-)
ReplyDeleteAnd now that EJ got out of that jam, I'm calling it a night. I rely on you, imaginary friends, for some comment-thread play-by-play
ReplyDeleteGonat- True enough. Instead it'll be Detwiler, Stras and Gio against the Dodgers. The 3 horsemen :-)
ReplyDeleteNight Dave. Check the box score tomorrow morning to see the details of another Nats victory :-)
ReplyDeleteSo we left Wilson on base. I figure we leave a few more, and then we start getting runs. That's the way it usually works.
ReplyDeleteCwj said...
ReplyDeleteGonat- True enough. Instead it'll be Detwiler, Stras and Gio against the Dodgers. The 3 horsemen :-)
April 26, 2012 10:37 PM
____________________________
Yep, that is Detwiler's test for the #5 to get the other team's #1.
Wow! Great throw on a dribbler to nail the pitcher at 1st!
ReplyDeleteDefense by pitchers is sometimes ignored I think.
Good job Edwin!
Nice play by EjaX!
ReplyDeleteGonat --
ReplyDeleteAnd we are very fortunate that eJax is pitching against the Padres and will not be pitching against the Dodgers, at least in this next series.
On the other hand, who knows? The Reds are a pretty good hitting team in general and he totally shut 'em down, and then gets pounded by the anemic Stros.
Nice cat-like move off the mound by eJax on that Volquez bunt.
Updated info on Spring training site in Lee county
ReplyDeleteLee County MTG
Gonat- Detwiler against Kershaw should be interesting.
ReplyDeleteI really believe Detwiler is the "true" #4 starter, talent-wise.
Steady Eddie, his game against the Reds was one of the best pitching performances I have seen. I was at that Reds game and couldn't tell from my angle how much movement he had on his pitches. When I got home, I watched the replay on TV. Something special.
ReplyDeleteHis other starts, not too special. He has been missing his spots and not getting the movement that he needs.
Cwj said...
ReplyDeleteGonat- Detwiler against Kershaw should be interesting.
I really believe Detwiler is the "true" #4 starter, talent-wise.
April 26, 2012 10:51 PM
_____________________________
I am in the cautiously optimistic camp on Det. Right now, 16 impressive innings. That's not a lot of innings.
Pew. EJax puts em away despite blind umpiring.
ReplyDeleteThat was very uncharacteristic of Wilson, never seen him jaw at an umpire like that.
ReplyDeleteHP umpire costing Jackson a few extra pitches.
ReplyDeleteBut unless he completely runs out of gas, I say let Jackson go 7 tonight.
Then again, the BP is rested, so who knows :-)
I meant phew. It's sleep deprivation from the other night.
ReplyDeleteAnnouncers keep talking about Padres bringing in the fences. I was reading a Padres blog earlier today -- to see what, if anything, they had to say about Nats' pitching -- and the predominant sentiment was: "Great, bring in the fences and we'll lose 9-3 instead of 3-1." and "Just what Matt Kemp needs for his nine yearly visits to San Diego."
ReplyDeleteMicheleS-- well, it was an absurd "ball". A catcher sometimes needs to work the umps briefly when they totally blow one, never know when you may need a makeup call later on.
ReplyDeleteBut that was really nice to see EJax not lose his cool and still blow away the Padres' best hitter. Most of the Nats' other pitchers in past years would have given up a dinger after that.
Volquez leads the Majors in walks. A 5.9 BB/9
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of fences, isn't Dodger Stadium considered a pitcher's park?
ReplyDeleteNats Park seems fairly neutral.
Nice double by ALR! Too bad its two outs. C'mon Jayson!
ReplyDeleteyou have dimensions different than any other team..take advantage..build a team of singles hitters ala the Cardinals with Jack Clark and 7 rabbits...bring in the fences? why not lower em too? fewer home runs = a quicker game...i like it
ReplyDeleteHeavy SD air gives and then takes away. If Tracy is frustrated after that, Padres hitters must give up on hitting em out. LaRoche shows what you gotta o, hit a laser off the fence.
ReplyDeleteDodger Stadium is a pitcher's park, especially at night, but it's due more to the marine layer that deadens the ball than the fences.
ReplyDeleteSteady Eddie- I've noticed Stras and Gio get a little flustered when the ump misses a call.
ReplyDeleteOy, Jayson, live by the seeing eye single, die by it.
ReplyDeleteDodgers Stadium was ok for hitters when they had Cey - Garvey - Reggie Smith & Dusty Baker LOVED THOSE GUYS..adn they had some wonderful starting pitching (the bullpen never matched the starters talent)
ReplyDeleteI am pretty sure I would be out of a job in no time if I made as many mistakes as a major league umpire does calling games.
ReplyDeleteSorry guys, this just isn't pretty.
ReplyDeleteThat was almost a Henry type slider!
ReplyDeleteMaybe I am spoiled with what we got last 4 starts with Det, Stras, Gio and JZim.
ReplyDeleteehay2k - we will probably never meet but if we do, the first beer is on me.
ReplyDeleteWell he did throw three consecutive pitches in the exact same location. And hung that change up to Alonso.x
ReplyDeleteYou know your offense sucks when you have to bring the infield in during the 4th inning.
ReplyDeleteWin or lose, I like Jackson. He was a great signing by the Nats.
ReplyDeleteBartlett swung at 3 straight balls under the strike zone. Thank you very much!
ReplyDeleteThree sliders in the dirt -- three strikes. Nice.
ReplyDeleteF&I- shows some confidence in the pitcher...even if he gives up a knock and 2 runs still believ he is good enough to keep the team in the game..for a team with the best record in the NL "You know your offense sucks when you have to bring the infield in during the 4th inning" is a bit much.
ReplyDeleteOh man, Jackson pitched out of it!!!
ReplyDeletewow, thank you bartlett and ejax. had my heart racing there.
ReplyDeleteAgree, Cwj. He can be a little erratic at times, but a guy with his stuff as a 4th starter? Excellent signing.
ReplyDeleteAnd great play by Desi! All-Star!
Edwin!!
ReplyDeleteMy heart rate is right up there, same as if I'd been watching on the treadmill. That counts for exercise, doesn't it?
How do the players keep it together? It's as big a mystery to me as anything else they can do.
THAT was as impressive as the second and third pitches of the inning were not.
ReplyDeleteEjax...
ReplyDeleteLiving dangerously ...,
Darn it.. FIOS lost the picture of the last out!
ReplyDeleteAnd now the offense needs to get Jackson some runs.
ReplyDeleteCwj said...
ReplyDeleteWin or lose, I like Jackson. He was a great signing by the Nats.
April 26, 2012 11:13 PM
_____________________________
Are you on Rizzo's payroll? "GREAT" signing? I think it was a decent signing. Only time will tell us how good it was.
MichelleS try the low def channel.
ReplyDeleteMicheleS -- it was a slow bouncer, Ian had to go to his right and in, kinda threw it off balance - a looper to ALR for the third out. (Yes, my heart skipped a beat). While any SS makes that play, it was not routine -- still a pro-play.
ReplyDeleteGonat- Sorry I don't understand? Rizzo's payroll? Me?
ReplyDeleteI don't get it. Just thought he was a good pickup is all.
Geez, 14-4 and we still get testy and negative. Harder habit to break than tobacco, apparently.
ReplyDeleteNailbiting stat of the night: Padres have already stranded six runners.
ReplyDeleteeverybody swinging for fences in a no-HR park. I don't understand the game plan.
ReplyDeleteFinally a walk!
ReplyDeleteI am so glad this is the last game at PetCo, tired of hearing about the fences.
ReplyDeleteHey all -- Jayson Werth is apparently tied for the league lead in walks. If that's the case, with Zim out, what do we think of him batting third?
ReplyDeleteNice work by E-Jax there. And aren't we lucky that the Alonso double didn't get out of the park?
ReplyDeleteThat 3-1 pitch to EJax hasn't been a strike all night unless you swung at it. Should've walked.
ReplyDeleteWonk, I thought Werth's streak was bases loaded walks...maybe I heard wrong.
ReplyDeleteDC Wonk, you know Davey, he's thought of it but doesn't want to mess with whats working. Statistically, absolutely, you are right but then who bats 5th and 6th?
ReplyDeleteFor those who went to sleep and reading this later:
ReplyDeleteWe go into the bottom of the fifth, 0-0, top of the order due up for SD, EJax has already thrown 70 pitches (40 for strikes).
Redskin fans at PetCo with an RGIII poster. Very nice. Should have worn their Nats gear, tho.
ReplyDelete@MichelleS, I totally agree. Both teams play on the same field. It's just a slightly different game they're playing. Just like the game is different at the Great American Ballpark. Deal with it. The obsession with the fences is booorrrrrinnnggg.
ReplyDeleteGonat said...
ReplyDeleteDC Wonk, you know Davey, he's thought of it but doesn't want to mess with whats working. Statistically, absolutely, you are right but then who bats 5th and 6th?
You're right, I assumed Davey thought about it, and wondering why not. I guess "not mess with what's working". Whoever's batting 3rd can bat 5th or 6th.
My thinking was simply: if he walks so much, it'd be nice to have him bat _before_ ALR.
JaneB said...
Wonk, I thought Werth's streak was bases loaded walks...maybe I heard wrong.
Yes, they said both stats: (1) that he lead league in walks; and (2) they assumed he led the universe with three bases loaded walks at this early point in the season
That was a great inning by EJax.
ReplyDeleteTheir top of the order - three outs. Our top of the order -- three runs?
ReplyDeleteJackson's throwing a lot of pitches tonight, but wow he has shown some great stuff once again.
ReplyDeleteA pretty darned good signing ;)
Gonat- Notice I said "darned good" rather than "great" signing :-)
ReplyDeleteDC Wonk, yep, Davey is playing chess.
ReplyDeleteAnd in the bottom of the fifth, EJax makes quick work. (Does this guy have a rubber arm?) Just 11 pitches -- two groundouts and a 4-pitch strike out with that diving unhittable slider.
ReplyDeleteThat wicked slider? EJax has already retired 8 guys on ground-outs (only 1 by fly out)
what happened to good Desmond?? First pitch swingning everytime
ReplyDeletecwj -- don't back down too fast! ;-) It might be a great signing. Time will tell. If he's an innings eater and throws as well as he has been so far -- it'll be a great signing.
ReplyDeleteOkay, I was wrong about the three runs.
ReplyDeleteJust a bit inside
ReplyDeleteDC Wonk- Thanks :-) Yeah I personally consider it a great signing. I just didn't want to get into an argument with Gonat about GMs and $$
ReplyDeleteA DC Wonk said...
ReplyDeleteand throws as well as he has been so far -- it'll be a great signing.
April 26, 2012 11:40 PM
___________________________
He's thrown 1 gem and 2 crappers so far. Why sugarcoat it? Its decent.
Oh what a play by LaRoche!
ReplyDeleteWhat a WebGem, LaRoche to EJax!
ReplyDeleteTop of the seventh...
ReplyDeleteGO TIME...
Another awesome play at first by LaRoche and Jackson!
ReplyDeleteI am going on the record right here and right now: I want Adam LaRoche and his glove in D.C. next season.
ReplyDeleteCorky
Bottom of the sixth. EJax on five pitches gets two groundouts -- but on the next pitch, obviously misplaced, Hudson hits a triple.
ReplyDeleteThe third out was a sparkler by ALR! ALR had to go to his right, Ejax ran to cover the bag, but the grounder was so slow that ALR had to scoop it and throw it with his glove in one motion to get him out. By half a step.
A nine pitch inning: three ground outs and a triple.
Hey maalox folks -- how's the tightrope look? ;-)
My tv shows that the side of Jackson's foot touched the base before the runner. Good (accurate) call by the ump
ReplyDeleteWerth crushes a homer!!!!!
ReplyDeleteJayson Werth! NICE
ReplyDeleteJayson Werth!!! Smack!!
ReplyDeleteI've never liked calling six innings, three runs a 'quality start' (particularly as average runs per game has dropped well below five), but six innings, no runs certainly deserves that label.
ReplyDeleteNo doubt about that one!
ReplyDeleteHe just drilled that pitch!!
ReplyDeletefinally!
ReplyDeleteWerth crushed that.
ReplyDeleteHe's thrown 1 gem and 2 crappers so far. Why sugarcoat it? Its decent.
ReplyDeleteWell, one of the crappers was just one bad 1st inning, followed by four great inning.
And, in any event: I think tonight is close to qualifying as a gem, no? He's thrown six shutout innings thus far. Yes, 70 pitches first four innings, but only 20 pitches for the 5th and 6th innings.
Well, one swing for the fences worked.
ReplyDeleteOne might have to do it.
Cwj said...
ReplyDeleteDC Wonk- Thanks :-) Yeah I personally consider it a great signing. I just didn't want to get into an argument with Gonat about GMs and $$
April 26, 2012 11:45 PM
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4 starts into the season is all I am saying. Way too early to call it a GREAT signing, but I am all ears to hear why you think it was a great signing.
He has had 1 complete game gem and two 5 inning clunkers and this start is a very fortunate outcome so far.
Great is Stras, Gio, JZim. I would say Det has been very good.
These are my opinions.
What's kinda funny is that Werth's home run could be the game.
ReplyDeleteThings might get interesting in the bottom of the 7th and 8th, we'll see.
Assuming lead, I say leave in Jackson for the 7th. Mattheus for the 8th, and of course Henry for the 9th.
E-Jax at 91 pitches. But looks like he'll be back for the seventh. ALR made a great play to end the 6th, but E-Jax deserves some credit too. He flat out sprinted to first and made an athletic touch of the base. I'm impressed with him tonight. Not great control, but lots of groundballs, and great work with runners on base.
ReplyDelete(I hope I didn't just jinx him).
ReplyDeleteOK, repeat after me: he's just gotta keep his slider down, and he'll cruise through the 7th.
DC Wonk, the results on paper look real good tonight. The Padres are horrible. He missed his spots and has been helped by 1 WebGem and a 1 very good play by Desi. Very fortunate.
ReplyDeleteGreat throw by Tracy
ReplyDeleteGonat- Understood, and I'll get back to that in a second.
ReplyDeleteIt was pretty clear in the first couple innings that eJax didn't have his best stuff tonight. Yet here he is with a shutout in the 7th. That's professional pitching, right there.
ReplyDeleteto pitch over 6 shut out innings in the major leagues youre usually gonna get a good defensive play or 2...bullpen is fresh..he's doing great
ReplyDeleteIt's funny, I watched Werth take that first inside corner (maybe) pitch and thought, "you know, this guy does better when I'm not watching him, I'm going into the attic storage closet to get that new box of tissues we need." And sure enough....
ReplyDeleteThis team is bring out all my superstitions in full force. I went to five games on that home stand wearing the same Stras jersey and red Senators cap, and they won all five.
I want ALR back, too.
ReplyDeleteThank you Edwin. Hope Clip has his stuff.
Bummer - - EJax's night, 6-2/3, ends with an infield hit by Denorfia -- it was a hit because the ball hit the plate and bounced high enough in the air that Ian couldn't get him out. The old Baltimore chopper.
ReplyDeleteWatching MLB.TV and the Padres fill in makes Carp look like a genius. Dick's off for this series. And two sideline reporters?!?
ReplyDeletei hate those kind of hits. anyways, lets hope for best.
ReplyDeletebtw does anyone has a problem where mlb scoreboard website stops refreshing itself after 12 AM?
Come on Clipp!
ReplyDelete