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US Presswire photo Ross Detwiler faces Clayton Kershaw tonight at Dodger Stadium. |
Clayton Kershaw, the reigning NL Cy Young Award winner, starts for Los Angeles. Matt Kemp, last year's NL MVP runner-up, has been playing out of his mind so far this season. And Nationals left-hander Ross Detwiler only boasts an 0.56 ERA entering his fourth start of the year.
Davey Johnson will try out a new-look lineup for this one, trying to stack up as many of his best right-handed hitters as he can. Jayson Werth gets bumped up the No. 3 spot. Danny Espinosa gets bumped down to the 6-hole. Adam LaRoche hits cleanup, but he's the only left-handed batter in the lineup.
I'm not in town for tonight's game, but I've got good news: I just booked a morning flight to LAX, and I'll be reporting live from the scene at tomorrow's extravaganza (as well as Sunday's series finale). Until then, enjoy tonight's game and the conversation...
WASHINGTON NATIONALS at LOS ANGELES DODGERS
Where: Dodger Stadium
Gametime: 10:10 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN2, MLB.tv
Radio: WJFK (106.7 FM), WFED (1500 AM), XM 189
Weather: Clear, 66 degrees, Wind 6 mph out to RF
NATIONALS (14-5)
SS Ian Desmond
3B Steve Lombardozzi
CF Jayson Werth
1B Adam LaRoche
RF Mark DeRosa
2B Danny Espinosa
LF Xavier Nady
C Jesus Flores
LHP Ross Detwiler
DODGERS (13-6)
SS Dee Gordon
2B Mark Ellis
CF Matt Kemp
RF Andre Ethier
LF Jerry Hairston
1B James Loney
3B Juan Uribe
C A.J. Ellis
LHP Clayton Kershaw
UMPIRES
HP Angel Hernandez, 1B Mark Carlson, 2B Ed Hickox, 3B Ed Rapuano (cc)
244 comments:
«Oldest ‹Older 1 – 200 of 244 Newer› Newest»The batting order makes sense tonight.
Lucky you! Just heard the local talk-sports-radio guy give a very positive spin on Detwiler ("the best pitcher you've never heard of"). This is a guy who normally only talks about Ducks football, pro-basketball, and hockey. He then gave a plug for tomorrow's Nats-Dodgers game, mentioning Harper's debut without saying anything about eye-black or blowing kisses. I was surprised and impressed.
Have a safe flight Mark!
Kershaw is due for a rough outing. Then again, so is Detwiler.
Go Nats!
I guess Davey told Lombo to man up and play 3rd base for a week and Espy he was going down in the order until he improves his OBP...
Have a 7:15 flight tomorrow a.m. (not to LAX unfortunately) so I will get about 4 hours of sleep tonight. Please, please, no extra innings!
YEA!!! Mark will be there!!! WOOOOO HOOOOOOO!!!!!
... when one of my hockey-room buddies tells me he can't 'get into' baseball this early in the year "when it's so meaningless", I simply smile and think of weekends like this: is there anywhere else to be but in front of my TV/radio/laptop? Can't think of any.
... God, I wish I lived in La-La-land!
Go Nats!!
Travel safely, both NatsLady and Mark. Glad to see CSN parting with some of my subscription fee $$$.
GYFNG!!
Johnny Holliday just GUARANTEED Clippard will get it done the rest of the year..so we got that
So glad you get to go! I was hoping they'd see the light. What a fun day!
PS...I admit I'm ascared of Matt Kemp.
The Phillies lost to the CUBS!!! Roy Halladay lost to a Pitcher whose ERA is 6.20!!!!
I like how the Cubs play so many day games...it was cool how long they went before they got lights.
Showing Harper on MASN..he looks like a 'fin hitting machine..should have been in San Diego last night
If you have Gameday, take a look at this catch in the Pirates/ATL game. Be nice if the Bucs got some runs!
Uggla catch
http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2012_04_27_pitmlb_atlmlb_1&mode=gameday
sic 'em dess rotweiler!
Kershaw has a good shot at a no hitter tonight.
Phil.. so does Ross.
NatsBlog is optimistic based on sabermetrics:
Clippard’s FIP, or Fielding Independent Pitching, this year is an incredibly low 2.34 despite his astronomical 6.00 ERA. FIP basically tells you what a pitcher’s ERA should be based on league average BABIP, timing, and home runs surrendered. FIP is a future predictor, which indicates Clippard’s ERA stands to go way, way down.
Clippard’s SIERA, or Skill-Interactive ERA, is an above-average 3.72. SIERA is designed to be an even more accurate model of evaluating pitching than FIP, and FanGraphs describes it as “an attempt to more accurately model what makes a pitcher successful.” While a bit higher than his FIP, Clippard’s SIERA also indicates that he is set to improve drastically.
Is anything wrong with Tyler Clippar?
http://www.thenatsblog.com/2012-articles/april/is-anything-wrong-with-tyler-clippard.html
I like that nickname, waddu eye no!
on dodgers broadcast not by Scully...Strasburg described as the flavor of the month and Kershaw the real deal. Kershaw is the real deal and so is Strasburg. Idiots.
NatsLady.. Hope the blog is right, because when I heard Rizzo was having a press conference, the first thing I thought was Clipp's shoulder was worse than we thought.
did you see that swing by Desmond on 2 strikes?
They didn't give Lombo a hit for that??? Booo.
Was that Pat Sajak?
Phil - Dodger's official scorer has the same idea...
Kershaw has a good shot at a no-hitter tonight
With scoring like that, he should have a shot most nights.
that 2 strike pitch to werth moved A LOT....i love the nats and have followed them since the day they were born..but my fave team is the LAD
i hope Detwiler gets the same strike zone
Ump is giving high strikes to Kershaw. Ross needs low strikes to be called - that could spell trouble.
Vin Scully "Ross is a long drink of water"
This team is going to be lucky to be .500 by June 1st. Very lucky. We have one of the worst offenses in the league and have played 4 or 5 of the worst teams in the NL and can only score 3+ runs a game. Have we even faced a top 40 pitcher yet??? Kershaw could get 20 K's tonight. I am so sick of this offense. Record setting pitching with record setting offense.
Oh, Ross. That was not wise.
relax ross.
Ouch! That was certainly an unpleasant 2-run dinger by Ethier.
Gee, I am thinking Kemp and Ethier should be IBB for the rest of the game.
F&I losing his mind tonight
I hope this isn't an insurmountable 2-0 deficit.
this game is already out of hand
there goes the no-hitter
Okay, now that Espi has a clean double, let's change that Lombo hit to a hit. Which it was.
F&I losing his mind tonight
If he's willing to lose some money in the process, we can accommodate him.
Exposremains, I assume you are going for the reverse...
After 1 inning... we could not hit our way out of a paper bag and it looks like Detweiler's pitching BP
Ooooooof. Going directly to the bourbon and maalox.
Thanks for those stats on Clip, Natslady. I learn lots from you.
Grew up watching the Giants so I hate the Dodgers. But I really do enjoy listening to Vin Scully. One of a kind.
Okay, you all realize that Kershaw is really good, Right? It's not like he is some scrub
Mick: Kemp is fitting around 450 and Ethier has a SWEEEET swing...you gotta throw Ethier outside inthe dirt and get him to chase...1st and 2nd with the rest of the lineup coming up is not that bad..unfortunately the Dodgers don't have a Harper to call up
which brings up an interesting queston: If Bryce Harper was on every team, who WOULDN'T have called him up by now?
I'm taking the pledge on the Maalox, and going hitterish.
Geez, people, you're supposed to root FOR your own team. I won't insult cats by commenting further.
if i didn't know who Kershaw was, i'd say he's as good as every other pitcher the Nats faced this year
Grew up watching the Giants so I hate the Dodgers. But I really do enjoy listening to Vin Scully. One of a kind.
Seconded.
Scott.... I agree about Kershaw, but Det is pitching BP
Michele, yes, could be a long night. 2-run deficit, Kershaw on the mound will be difficult to overcome. How are Dodger relievers? Can we make a post-7th inning comeback?
how fast is detwiler throwing on Masn? he's at 91mph on Dodgers broadcast
the pitch to ethier was terrible...don't let him pull
Dude.. Apparantly Donnie Baseball wants to strangle the closer, so we have a shot. We just need to take a bunch of pitches, keep it close, get Kershaw out of the game an feast on the bullpen.
Dodgers have a reliever named Jansen..he is a 9.5..everything else is ok
The Angels just called up Trout and released Abreu.
Just saw 92 on MASN. Have it on mute because FP WILL NOT STOP TALKING!
your killing me Desmond!
Thanks NatsLady
Desmond is driving me crazy
good Lord.... we really cant hit
NatsLady: Good call..i watched the last 2 minutes of the ny rangers game last night on mute..couldn't deal with the stress of the announcers screaming
4 pitch inning...well done boys!!!
FP, why, why did I turn off the mute... admiring Desi swinging on the first pitch, "Kershaw is dominant on a 2 strike count so why wait around?" Kershaw has a 4-pitch inning.
Maybe so Ross can have a rest? Maybe to run up the pitch count?
Kershaw has a better average than Nagy, Bernadina, DeRosa and Tracy combined, lol
Michele, I'm sweating this series and the early May series vs Phillies because they are significant tests for this Nats team. Is our pitching good enough to compensate for our below average offense? So far not so good. But Detwiler can be forgiven for that hanging curve to Ethier if Strasburg and Gio can deal this weekend. Not giving up on this game just yet :)
So tomorrow night at Dodger Stadium, it's Bryce, Stras, plus they are giving away Maury Willis and Don Drysdale Bobbleheads. I want to get on a plane...
I'm taking the pledge on the Maalox, and going hitterish.
Geez, people, you're supposed to root FOR your own team. I won't insult cats by commenting further.
-------------------------------
Who wouldn't be excited about a 250 hitter that commits an error every 4 games?
I hope I'm wrong, just not feeling this one, but I do trust Rizzo and Davy. I guess we'll cross our fingers and hope it was the right decision. Other than errors he can't be much worse than what's in left already.
Kershaw is almost good enough to pitch for us...
Actually, Scott, that's a really good question -- and a fun mental exercise -- except for one thing. What team in any situation would trade three weeks of a 19 year d, still learning Bryce Harper for a year of team control at age 25?
Take that issue away and it's interesting to think about.
I'm not advocating this, but he's available:
CLEVELAND (AP) — The struggling Los Angeles Angels released slumping outfielder Bobby Abreu on Friday night.
The 38-year-old two-time All-Star had been relegated to part-time duty and was batting .208 in 24 at-bats for the last-place Angels (6-14).
Abreu is in the last season of a $27 million, three-year contract and is due $9 million this year.
Nice play, Lombo!! Take away the bunt...
Ooops - pasted the wrong quote. Was supposed to be...
which brings up an interesting queston: If Bryce Harper was on every team, who WOULDN'T have called him up by now?
Lombo! That one-handed play was Zimmy-like.
baseballdude, I look at it this way, if we win the series' against teams we are suppose to this year and still come up short verse Dodgers, Cards, Phils and Braves, that shows us how much more work Rizzo has to do. We are still not that far off, but we are still far enough away to be a League Champion
Kemp to leadoff next inning, no one will be on base. Nice going. Now Ross, don't be afeered of him.
We can get two runs. We've done it before. I've witnessed it.
I know a few who would...Dodgers, Mets, Reds, Orioles, Royals, really...who wouldn't? Maybe the tigers? the Yankees?
MicheleS said...So tomorrow night at Dodger Stadium, it's Bryce, Stras, plus they are giving away Maury Willis and Don Drysdale Bobbleheads. I want to get on a plane...
Absolutely! You've essentially described my plan for retirement.
natslady has a point about FP
Some news on the braves as well (so we aren't the only ones with injuries):
Buster Olney@Buster_ESPN
Braves announced rib cage strain for Brian McCann. Same kind of injury he had last year. Day-to-day, Braves say.
I hate to keep bringing up the NYRangers (I dont actually) but they signed a player to a 3 year contract about 2 weeks ago and activated him, burning one year of his contract, so he could contrinbute in the playoffs..you have to put whats best for the team over money..as bad an owner as dan snyder has been he's not cheap (see Angelos, p)
Kerwin the next Koufax?
Well, that ALR Shirsey is going to look really nice.
Kershaw is good so expect difficulty in scoring even tying this game. yeah, that was the breaking news I was dying to post here.
Abreu, another washed up player wr don't need.
Scott you are spot on about Angelos, biggest ahole in sports
Mick, totally agree. Just need to beat the bad teams this year. The hardest part will be adjusting our expectations back to hoping that the Nats can win 88 this year.
With Messrs. Trout and Harper both coming up tomorrow, we can see how accurate those 'best prospects' lists are...
please dont write anyone is the next koufax...there will never be such a thing
im ready to go to ocean city
the catcher reacted to the poor bunt and how quick det got to the ball but the play was to first
Wow, Kemp and Ethier are all the Dodgers need.
This is better for us than Kershaw vs. Stras. Stras in the dugout, he is formulating his plan for pitching Kemp et al. He gets a whole game to watch them.
isn't andre weak against left handed pitchers?
anyways, I am kinda worried about Nats.
Smart play by LaRoche
Real nice play by ALR. Can we all just imagine what the Big Dunn-key would have done on that ball? Crawl in the fetal position and cry?
Yes. Ethier is why you can't pitch around Kemp like we did Votto.
All right, minimal damage, but three runs seems like what? Need FP for this--if a one run lead is like a five run lead, are we in a fifteen-run hole?
baseballdude, I have thought all along Nats will win 85-86 this season. In 2013 I expect 90, however these injuries this season i hope are not a bad omen for the future.
Nady is just sorry
If Dodgers make this 4-0 then I may as well go watch some porn, lol
Suddenly, the Dodgers are just throwing the ball all over the infield.
cant you do both at the same time?
Got to take advantage of two consecutive errors.
These are the first-place Dodgers? They play like, well, you know.
come on Desmond, now is your chance
both bad throws that could have been handled
hey, it will be neat to watch Nats Talk tomorrow with Phil and cueball head
g damnnit Desmond
we suck
The Dodgers tried to give us a gift, but we're not having any.
Give 'em five outs in an inning and they still can't score.
dodgers tried really hard to give runs to Nats
Feeling good about the Phillies series - Halliday pitched tonight, so we'll miss him next weekend and, of course, Lee is on the DL. Makes the Phil's sound less intimidating.
if we had 5 strikes we could'nt hit
we need Chico Rodriguez, LOL
baseball been bery berry good to me, its Friday!
mick said... we suck
Dude, they have won EVERY SERIES THEY HAVE PLAYED...and they have two good starters going sat sun with the biggest prospect since kerry wood playing...and this game is in the 5th inning...things could be so much worse
ROSS!
Hey.. we got Matt Kemp out...
Actually, I don't think there's a single team in baseball that would have called Harper up before now. It was an absolute no-brainer to ensure team control for his age 25 season. Check that, it would have been flagrant baseball malpractice to do otherwise. But Rizzo's decision to bring him up now was gutsy and totally unexpected. We spent the last two days talking about options to improve our hitting -- Tyler Moore (can he really play LF?), Corey Brown (he has options, right?), possible trades (is Span still out there? should we have gone for Marlon Byrd?), and the answer was staring us right in the face. We thought Rizzo went to Syracuse to see whether Tyler Moore was ready and it turns out he was assessing Harper. Amazing.
Whatever happens, this year just got a lot more interesting. I can't wait to see what Rizzo decides once Morse is ready to come back if Harper is playing reasonably well and LaRoche is still hitting? Does Bryce move to CF? I'm sure that will be grist for a few 200 comment posts sometime in June.
This Kershaw guy is pretty good....
Jeez, Werth has the good eye.
The NY Mets fan base is growling..Madoff..low payroll...but they are grinding this year..if you think that fan base and the ny media would have sat back while stras was kept in the minors as jason bay and whever else did ntohing you don't know New York
OH BABY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
LaRoche!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ALR!
Man.. I really can't wait to buy that ALR Shirsey!!!!
Now it gets interesting...Way to go, ALR.
222: Very well put. Also, I give Mr. Detwiler a lot of credit here. He's the youngest (in experience, at least, if not age) of the rotation and he's handling himself well despite giving up the runs. Just as he did against the Reds. This year was supposed to be about 'learning to win' and that means taking some losses along the way. And with those losses come learning experiences. As you say, bringing Mr. Harper up only makes things more interesting -- as did that HR!
Wow Laroche..pulls a Ethier
What happened? I thought, and every stat shows it, that ALR was a slow starter? Off a lefty too.
And Adam erases some negativity from this thread...
the porn will have to wait now, lol
Section 222, I think once Morse returns, Werth will move to CF, Harper in RF, and Ankiel to the bench, just like the rumored plan all along.
And Davey Johnson, please admit you're wrong: DeRosa can no longer hit at the major league level.
DeRosa is the new Stairs. At least he can play in the field.
john, agree with 100 pr postercent with you
Harper in RF, Werth in CF and Morse in LF
You can wish, but I think Harper coming up means Rizzo thinks Morse won't be back.
Both DeRosa and Nady being seasoned pros swung at first pitches. Unreal
hope your wrong Nats lady, I think big boy is coming up because Zim and Morse are out
Nice pick by Espi!
Ghost, yeah. Whoever gave Espy the talking-to should talk to that pair.
ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo Cool play!! Thank you, Danny!
Both DeRosa and Nady being seasoned pros swung at first pitches. Unreal
Well, seasoned pros who know somebody's getting released in 15 days.
nice heartache for all stat geeks of splitsville of lefties.
i am going to bed but hoping for a nice W+ next to our name tomorrow morning.
Ross, listen to me. When a guy makes a great play behind you, don't walk the next batter.
exactly nats lady
NatsLady: You could be right, but I think you can just as easily interpret it as the front office looking at how teams like the Phillies and the Marlins are playing and concluding that a playoff berth is a realistic possibility. Not a guarantee (by any means) and only realistic with some additional offense -- even if/when Mr. Morse returns. At least that's the way I'm spinning it.
Feed him the DP pill.
also how is Morse injury season ending??
You can wish, but I think Harper coming up means Rizzo thinks Morse won't be back.
NatsLady, I hope that's a good insight that turns out to be wrong, but yes, the thought occurs.
catch the ball Steven
tough play
After LaRoche's blast and Danny's battle, Kershaw was up to 86 pitches. And the X man swings at the very first pitch.
()$$&&@@"".,??!!
nice pitch Det, see ya!!!!!
Nice effort by Lombo on that foul pop, but it just highlights how good a jump Zim gets on those.
I am not willing to right Morse off for the season until he actually gets to that 6 week mark. I think we are only week 2 possibly 3
OK, Danny. Never mind hitting!!! I heart Danny Espinosa!
its the 7th!! time to rally
Thank you, Espi! Two great plays in that inning.
natslady!!! You can wish, but I think Harper coming up means Rizzo thinks Morse won't be back.
this is just laughable
Drew, great point and that is why X man cant even hot 100
Its 18-9 CO over the Mets. The Mets have 5 errors. it's only the 7th inning
hit
Harper in RF, Werth in CF and Morse in LF
That seemed to be the plan early in ST, but by the end, they seemed to change their tune, particularly because of a concern over how playing CF every day would wear on Werth. And Harper was playing 1 of every 3 days in center, right?
Anyway, that decision is at least a 6 weeks down the road I expect.
Not writing Morse off, mick and MicheleS. I just don't like mysteries. I don't feel we have gotten to the root of Morse's injury, unless it's, y'know, a delayed case of vertigo or strep throat.
Scott, that is what I say, Harper is up only because both Morse and Zim are out, no other reason
whats with the first pitch crap?
ok natslady
come on Ian please
mick, just what I talked about 10 minutes ago and this afternoon talking about a plan before you approach the plate
NatsLady.. understand and Lord knows we have had the mystery injury/illness way too many times not to be skeptical.
fffffffxcxbgagsgsg dammit!!!!!!
Desi is due.
natslady comes out with some bizarre theories, but the nats have an outfield hole even with Morse...they're not happy with centerfield..and they need some offense...
Okay, the LA fans are doing the wave in a 1-run game in the seventh inning. Boooo!
well said ghost of steve
Overdue
NL is speculating, not theorizing, but whatever.
I know nothing about Ryan Perry, someone help me out
I bet Boston sports fans are hating life, lol
google him
already know Burnett DOES NOT HAVE IT!
Wasn't he the lead singer of Journey?
she's all over the place...like Nuke LaLoosh
Sorry, Scott, but a 'bizarre theory' would be that Mr. Morse has been infected with an unknown malady by the CIA or space aliens. Expressing doubts about the Nats' medical diagnoses is perfectly reasonable. Yes, it's speculation, but not outlandish speculation.
Scott, Im lazy, can someone compare him to what we have on our staff, who is he similar too?
Sean, weren't you watching yesterday? Relievers not supposed to walk the leadoff hitter.
That was lucky, now Kershaw is on the basepaths.
Scott, it hard to google when Im on nats insider with y'all, watching the game and porn, lol
Good play by Burnett to get the lead runner.
I'd like to think to Harper move is a direct plea for more offense. But, Nats Lady, you have now planted a nasty seed in my brain. If Zimm was just a minor day-to-day thing that landed him on the DL, Storen and that strep throat cockamamie story, then the dots connecting Morse and the words "season-ending injury" are fairly easy to connect. Who knows? Between the Nats Baghdad Bob PR machine and their CVS Minute-Clinic approach to sports medicine, you may actually be spot on.
Folks, thanks to Nats Lady, I'm holding the Maalox. Tonight, out of fear and trepidation over Mickey Morse, it's straight bourbon.
Eugene in Or, Lol, I say its something to do with the UFO NASA photoed by the sun. That is actually pretty wild
@Mick: Perry is the warm body we got straight up when we unloaded Bally-Star to Detroit. He's right-handed, has a heartbeat, and is vertical. After that, don't expect Mariano Rivera.
Perry was born in Pomona, California and played collegiate baseball at the University of Arizona. While at Arizona, he pitched alongside Tigers teammate Daniel Schlereth. Ryan Perry was drafted by the Detroit Tigers with the 21st overall selection in the 2008 Major League Baseball Draft.[2]
On April 1, 2009 it was announced that Perry would make the opening day roster for the Tigers for the 2009 season.[3]
On April 8, Perry made his major league debut against the Toronto Blue Jays. He threw a scoreless eighth inning in the Tigers' 5–1 victory.[4]
On June 8, Perry was sent to the Toledo Mud Hens when Jeremy Bonderman came off the disabled list.
He began the 2010 season as the middle relief pitcher for Detroit. He recorded his first career win May 1 against the Los Angeles Angels by pitching two-thirds of an inning.
On June 10, Perry was placed on the 15 day disabled list with right biceps tendinitis.[5] After rehab in Toledo, he was called back up on July 3.[6]
After starting the season with a 12.19 ERA through 13 appearances, Perry was optioned to Toledo on May 28, 2011 to make room for spot starter Andrew Oliver.[7]
Burnett, really?
Lets just take a look at last year and the injuries that we had (ALR and RZ), NatsLady has a basis to speculate on Morse's injury. We have had too many times in the past were we have been told, it's nothing and then two days later, someone is going under the knife.
My position on this, is until we know Morse is trying to play baseball, then is when I will start to worry about Morse.
and what the HECK IS BURNETT DOING WALKING THAT GUY.
I hate to say this, but before the season began, I predicted that this could be one of these season where several of our stars are out. I posted this the day Mark informed us that Storen and Morse were out. I never thought this would extend to Zim and Lidge. If Zim and Morse are out for good, this would just be typical DC sports fan luck
He walked the guy in front of Kemp. With two out.
I left specific instructions for our relievers NOT to walk guys.... Especially in front of Kemp...
mick, you have to learn to multitask
are you kidding me
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