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Photo by Mark Zuckerman / NATS INSIDER The Nationals go for the three-game sweep this afternoon at Wrigley Field. |
Johnson has one tweak to his lineup for this one: Xavier Nady is starting in left field, with Mark DeRosa returning to the bench. Interestingly enough, Wilson Ramos is behind the plate for his third straight game. I'll be curious to see how often Davey gives Ramos a breather and puts Jesus Flores back there.
Jordan Zimmermann makes his season debut on the mound, hoping to duplicate his stellar start in this very ballpark last summer ... well, except for the last two batters he faced. On that August afternoon, Zimmermann was cruising along until he served up back-to-back homers to Aramis Ramirez and Carlos Pena with two outs in the seventh.
Plenty of updates to come on another gorgeous afternoon at the Friendly Confines...
WASHINGTON NATIONALS at CHICAGO CUBS
Where: Wrigley Field
Gametime: 2:20 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN, Ch. 50, MLB.tv
Radio: WJFK (106.7 FM), WFED (1500 AM), XM 185
Weather: Partly cloudy, 61 degrees, Wind 17 mph LF to RF
NATIONALS (2-0)1:45 p.m. -- Lineup change for the Cubs. Blake DeWitt was scratched with back spasms, so Darwin Barney will now start at second base.
SS Ian Desmond
2B Danny Espinosa
3B Ryan Zimmerman
1B Adam LaRoche
RF Jayson Werth
LF Xavier Nady
CF Roger Bernadina
C Wilson Ramos
P Jordan Zimmermann
CUBS (0-2)
RF David DeJesus
2B Blake DeWittDarwin Barney
SS Starlin Castro
LF Alfonso Soriano
3B Ian Stewart
1B Bryan LaHair
CF Marlon Byrd
C Steve Clevenger
P Jeff Samardzija
UMPIRES
HP Doug Eddings, 1B Paul Nauert, 2B Dana DeMuth, 3B Kerwin Danley
2:20 p.m. -- And we're underway as Jeff Samardzija fires a fastball to Ian Desmond who fouls if off. Pretty strong wind blowing left to right today. Gotta keep the ball down against left-handed batters.
2:27 p.m. -- Well, Desmond did his part, lacing a double down the left-field line and putting himself in scoring position with nobody out. And then he never advanced farther than that. Danny Espinosa sent a shallow fly ball to center. Ryan Zimmerman sent a fly ball to medium right field, not deep enough for Desmond tag. And then Adam LaRoche struck out swinging at a slider. Big waste of a leadoff double there.
2:34 p.m. -- Can't ask for much more efficiency out of Jordan Zimmermann than he just showed in the bottom of the first. Took him only nine pitches to retire the side, thanks in part to a fastball that topped out at 96 mph. An assist also goes to Ryan Zimmerman, who showed off those reflexes to snag David DeJesus' leadoff liner to third. Scoreless after one.
2:40 p.m. -- Yes, it's early, but Jayson Werth isn't exactly tearing it up at the plate so far. After striking out at a slider way out of the zone to lead off the second, he's now 0-for-8 with five strikeouts (and two walks) on the young season.
2:45 p.m. -- I guess you can ask for more efficiency from Zimmermann, because he just retired the side in the top of the second on only five pitches. That gives him 14 total through innings, matching Stephen Strasburg's Opening Day feat.
2:57 p.m. -- Zimmermann did finally put someone on base in the third, allowing a line drive single to Steve Clevenger. But he's still at a scant 24 pitches through three scoreless. Now, if the Nats could just give him a little run support...
3:02 p.m. -- Not to be outdone by his counterpart, Samardzija has now retired 12 in a row since Desmond's leadoff double in the first. Looks like the Nats are once again waiting til the late innings to get things going. Still 0-0 as we go to the bottom of the fourth.
3:11 p.m. -- You know, for a very talented catcher, Wilson Ramos sometimes has some real trouble catching the ball. We just saw that in the bottom of the fourth as Ramos completely missed Zimmermann's outside fastball as Castro was attempting to steal second. By the time Ramos finally recovered the ball, Castro was standing on third base. And that allowed him to score moments later on Soriano's sac fly. So it's 1-0 Cubs after four as Zimmermann allows an unearned run.
3:17 p.m. -- One hit for the Nats now in five innings against Samardzija. At this point, it's just a matter of when -- not if -- Davey summons Chad Tracy from the dugout to ignite this offense.
3:21 p.m. -- Wow, Desmond climbs the ladder to rob Clevenger of a sure RBI single. With LaHair on third base and the infield drawn in, Ian had to go waaaay up to snag Clevenger's liner. That allowed Zimmermann to escape the fifth without allowing another run to cross the plate. So it's still 1-0 Cubs heading to the sixth.
3:35 p.m. -- Incredibly, the Nationals managed to score a run without Chad Tracy playing any role whatsoever. Singles by Ramos and Desmond put runners on the corners with one out for Espinosa, who battled his way through a tough at-bat to loft a fly ball deep enough to right to bring Ramos home. It's a 1-1 game now heading to the bottom of the sixth, with Zimmermann sitting on a scant 46 pitches.
3:42 p.m. -- That tie game didn't last long. Barney doubles off Zimmermann with one out in the bottom of the sixth, then despite a stupendous catch by Bernadina in deep left-center managed to advance to third. Soriano's base hit to left brought Barney home and put the Cubs back on top 2-1. Pretty familiar refrain for Zimmermann: Pitches great, gets no run support, can't quite hang on late. We'll see...
3:48 p.m. -- Just when it looked like Werth had finally collected his first hit of the season, Ian Stewart robs him of a double. Great diving stop at third base, and then a perfect throw to first to just get a headfirst-sliding Werth. It's seventh-inning stretch time, and the Nats are once again trailing late, 2-1.
4:00 p.m. -- You can't say Jordan Zimmermann didn't do his job. Seven innings, six hits, one earned run, zero walks, four strikeouts and only 80 pitches. But the Nats trail 2-1 as we go to the eighth. It's almost Tracy Time!
4:05 p.m. -- Well, Samardzija Time beats Tracy Time. Strikes out the pinch-hitter extraordinaire to end the eighth. Nats are down to their last three outs.
4:27 p.m. -- The late-inning script isn't being followed here at all. Not only did Tracy fail to come through off the bench. Now Ryan Mattheus lets the Cubs tack on two runs in the bottom of the eighth. It's 4-1 as Samardzija comes back out to try for the complete game.
4:38 p.m. -- Hold the phone, it's not over yet. LaRoche crushes a 2-run homer to right with two outs and two strikes in the ninth. It's not 4-3 Cubs as Carlos Marmol (yep, Marmol) comes in to face Jayson Werth (still looking for his first hit of the season).
4:43 p.m. -- It's over. Marmol walked Werth but got Nady to pop out to end the game. Nats lose 4-3. They won't go 162-0 this season.
158 comments:
This should be interesting today. Samardzija has been a setup reliever his whole career. He has averaged 6 walks per 9 innings and seemingly made the Cubs rotation based on his ST. I figure the Nats will start hitting him hard in the 4th inning.
Today, I expect the Nats to play from ahead...
ESPN.com has a column titled POFF in their MLB standings. Hover on it and it says “% chance of making the playoffs.”
1) Is this new this year, or have I just not noticed in the past?
2) How would such a thing be calculated? It’s got to have a subjective factor. I’m thinking maybe it’s an algorithm combining last year’s record, some measure of the change in the team since last year (Net WAR?) and this year’s record. As the season progress, this year’s record would become valued higher until eventually, it would become 100%. But would the algorithm also include strength of remaining schedule and a measure of other teams’ records? Both relevant, it seems to me. What else could it include? Anybody know how it’s actually done?
3) Good news. Right now, the Nats are 2nd in the NL East with a 31.9 POFF. The Phillies have a 78.3 POFF. The Nats POFF went up from 28-point-something with the win yesterday.
4) Bad news. As of this morning, we’re out of the playoffs. The Phillies have the highest POFF in the league, followed by the Dodgers (60.2), D-Backs (53.5), Brewers (53.0), Cardinals (41.4), and Reds (35.8). Then us, which puts us 7th with only 5 making the playoffs.
5) Who thinks this means anything?
Hopefully the ump doesn't squeese the zone today like yesterday. Hopefully we can jump all over the starter cuz my fingernails can't take another one of these. Im recording it cuz of travel today, but go nats!!!! And ZimNN!!! (Will we see Werths first hit?)
Don't 6 make it now? And like everything it won't mean much till the all star break. But it will be fun to watch.
The POFF is meaningless except to get me worked up that the Nats might make the playoffs. We apparently had good news about Rendon. A sprain may not take him out too long.
+1/2St.
NCNatsie said...
5) Who thinks this means anything?
---------------------------------------------------
That POFF and 2bits will get you a gumball out of the candy machine at my grocery store. I wonder what all of these expert pronasticaters had to say before last year? How many had the Phillies, or Yankees knocked out early in the playoffs? Who amoungst them had STL winning the WS?
Positively Half St. said...
We apparently had good news about Rendon. A sprain may not take him out too long.
___________________________________
Pos. 1/2 St, that's very encouraging news. Where did you hear that?
NCNatsie said...
1) Is this new this year, or have I just not noticed in the past?
---------------------------------------------
Noticed this at end of season last year. Not sure if was new then or not. Think Joe is overestimating it's value at this point...
Frank_in_206
Joe S..
Ladson is reporting the sprain.
In re Rendon: Ladson's blog is not saying the injury is a sprain. It simply states that "Class A Potomac third baseman Anthony Rendon suffered an ankle INJURY while running the bases in a 7-2 loss to Lynchburg on Saturday. It's not known how serious the injury is."
Mark also has info on the sprain in his Tweeter feed thingy at the top right ^ on this page.
If they couldn't tell whether it was broken without an X-ray, that's a pretty bad sprain. I've had one of those. Several months, at least, before he's back if his is as bad as mine was.
Hopefully we can jump all over the starter cuz my fingernails can't take another one of these.
You guys need to toughen up. Vladi never used batting gloves because his hands were tough. Nevermind how he got them that way. You may want try another technique, but whatever works.
So, I got everything set up (FINALLY) so I can watch the Nats wherever-- I can even change the channel remotely. Have a big cluster of wires on my livingroom floor, of course, and I did have to spend a few dimes.
What are people's opinions? MLB.tv (Premium) costs about $125. I would pay more if there were no blackout of the local team--question is, how much more? I understand the cable companies' revenue stream is what leads to lucrative deals that play star players, and I'm OK with that.
OK, so seven months of cable will cost me $350. Very likely I will cancel cable when the baseball season is over. The "place-shifting" box cost $110, and the app on each device (e.g., android tablet or iPhone) is about $14.00 (I only bought one). I did this on the cheap, so it's not HD. I may upgrade next season if I find that I use it a lot and miss HD.
Bottom line, it cost me close to $500 to --I assume legally--get around the MLB.tv blackout. I feel this is exhorbitant.
(Context: I'm spending $500 on a one-day trip for my sister's birthday, and I will not be taking any other vacation this year, so, you pays your money, you takes your choices). Of course, with the "time-shifting" (DVR) and "place-shifting" I can now do my watching pretty much at my own convenience--and not only baseball...
So, tougher fingernails. That's the ticket.
NatsLady, I am told (but have not confirmed) the MLB.com-TV blackout is based on the billing address for the credit card you use to pay for it. Note that may be old information. But if it's so, one could get around the blackout by having someone in another market, e.g., Dallas or Cleveland, put it on their card.
I wonder if there's a market for trading account logins, so both parties can watch their own home games? Just a thought...
Nats lady, I live in nc and my cable co ( time Warner) does not carry masn, and because the Nats are my local team , I suffer from black outs as well, can you provide a little info on your blackout work around.
Pfb.......not true , I tried without success
Sec 3, No, the MLB.tv blackout is based on your ISP (for your computer) and your GPS location (for other devices). You can "fool" MLB.tv in both cases, but I assume this violates the terms-of-service.
You can also link to someone else's computer via "the cloud," but unless you pay for it, it's very slow. Hence the "place-shifting" device.
ExposedinDC, your workaround is easy, if you live in NC. Just buy MLB.tv and watch on your computer or iPad.
The only games that will be blacked out for you are Nats games that fall in the national blackout (late Saturday afternoon and Sunday evening). There isn't much you can do about that.
My solution works for people who CAN get MASN, but are blacked out on MLB.tv.
I wonder what all of these expert pronasticaters had to say before last year? How many had the Phillies, or Yankees knocked out early in the playoffs? Who amoungst them had STL winning the WS?
Probably none. But picking the teams that will win in the playoffs is alot different than picking who is going to be in the playoffs. One game play-ins, short series, etc. Over a long season, the numbers have more meaning. On the other hand, I'll bet most of us could pick 7 or 8 of the 10 teams that will make the playoffs this year without any fancy mathematical models.
My picks:
Yankees
Rays
Tigers
Rangers
Angels
Phillies
Nats (why not, it's a free country)
Reds
Cards
Diamondbacks
Wasn't Alou another of the "urine hand soakers"?
Thanks for the suggestion Section 3!
I'm looking into some cheap real estate in the Antartic--like 1 square foot! Apparently, I get to make up my own postal code for VISA!
I am blacked out just like you for MLB.tv.....crazy because the Nats are in no way are local team....in fact, I am the only Nats fan I know....really is braves country, why MLB considers us the local for the Nats is baffling
NatsBrat, sorry for the misinformation; see NatsLady's response (for which, thanks).
ExposedinDC-- You can check if your zip code is part of the Nats "local" area blackout, you should check before you purchase.
If it turns out that MLB.tv does consider NC part of the Nats "local" area AND you can't get MASN, then you would have to find a friend Nats fan in a nearer city who has MASN, buy that person the "place-shifter" (which wouldn't harm or slow down his TV) and go from there.
Only one "instance" of the place-shifter is allowed at one time, so you can't (unfortunately) get the box and let your whole family watch on their devices spread all over the county.
Who is starting game 5 on Tuesday... Stras or Ross?
Ross
ExposedinDC, that is nuts!! What is MLB.tv thinking??????
Ask one of the Nats Insiders who already has cable and watches games if they would volunteer to be your teammate.
The place-shifting device is Vulkano. If you go on their website, you will see that you can get an HD or an SD version. Have your friend hook it up (not that easy!). PROMISE that you won't change the channel remotely!!!! Then you buy the app on whatever device you want (on a PC you don't have to buy anything, for some reason that is free).
@NatsLady, sorry but I haven't been following the MLB.tv saga. Are you going to all this trouble to be able to watch Nats games on your phone/iPad when you're away from home but in the local viewing area, or to avoid buying a TV?
ExposedinDC--If you want to fool MLB.tv (because you already bought and paid for it) check into proxy servers like "HideMyIP." They are not free (free ones are slow and can be traps.)
If you want to fool MLB.tv on your iPhone or iPad you have to jailbreak it and get a "fake location" app. I haven't tried that, because I'm not willing to jailbreak my iPhone, it's critical to my business.
Probably going to switch to directv once my lease expires ( no dishes allowed , where I currently reside ) really stinks....I would pay a lot of money just to watch my Nats, but apparently bud selig doesn't want my money
The blackout stuff is all about paying Bud Selig's $18mm/yr. salary.
I'm calling my friend in the Yukon, see about a little arrangement.
Nats' fans will overcome and endure!
I have considered the fake location app, but every now and then I hear it doesn't work.....if anyone out there has had success on a jail broken iPad I would be interested to see how it works....Nats lady, the hide my ip idea I have tried, feed was very inconsistent, almost unwatchable.
Exposed, yes, I had the same problem with the hide-my-ip last year and that's why I went with the expensive solution this year.
Sorry it won't work for you, write a letter (not likely to get much response. I have gotten NADA on what is taking so long on android devices. I would try one of the fake-location apps on android but MLB.tv hasn't delivered live streaming or even archive on android tablets, after promises, promises, promises!!
Sec 222, I bought a TV (which I subsequently found I didn't need).
Objective was to watch the Nats at work on my computer or other devices, in other words, to do what MLB.tv SHOULD DO, except for the blackout.
Yes, to watch the Nats while I am in the local area but not physically at home--being as how you can't watch cable TV without a cable. Well, yes, you can...!
My opinion ftiw is proxys are fair at the best of times. MLB uses your ISP so unless you spoof it you're toast. I live in PEI so I can enjoy all the games (Bluejays cough Rogers) not included.
Oh and go Jay's just to see the networks scramble in October.
I'll be watching today's game in lo-def, since it helped so much yesterday.
;-)
GYFNG!
LOL-- ExposedinDC! I thought I was a Nats fanatic. Changing apartments--that is true blue! Or true red. Or whatever. That is great.
Yeah, Toronto in postseason, that would be really fun! For those of you not aware, MLB.tv blacks out the Jays games in ALL of Canada.
Looks like Zambrano is imploding already. Gave up 3 runs in the first. This could be fun to watch.
Apparently Ozzie got in trouble for saying he admired Castro. In Miami, yet. Team had to issue a statement. I'm taking the over on team has to issue at least 5 Ozzie "statements" this year.
@ DWS:
Maybe you could set up a format for selling lobster and establishing an MLB.TV address for all NatsInsiders. PEI lobster is the best on the East Coast, particularly when watching Nats' games!
Ozzie just wants to be the first MLB manager in Cuba!
MicheleS- Yeah the Marlins were very much overrated going into the season, IMO.
Go Nats!
And Happy Easter everyone :-)
I find Ozzie to be very annoying.
Also.. What's up with the Braves? The supposed 2nd/3rd best team in the NL East are losing to the Mets again
Yeah I'm wondering the same Michele.
I figured the Braves would be up there with the Nats fighting for a playoff spot.
Interesting, the Orioles are 2-0 behind very good.....Pitching!!! Who would have imagined.
That wont last though.
Still very early, but the games do count :-)
Me, too. :-)
JaneB said...
I'll be watching today's game in lo-def, since it helped so much yesterday.
;-)
GYFNG!
April 08, 2012 1:43 PM
There's that horrible lead off hitter again.
Unless those guys can drive it to right field, nothing is going out today. That wind is blowing hard left to right.
NJ. I know can you believe that lead off hitter. What were they thinking..
And just to jinx the Mets. They are no hitting the braves...
Justin Maxwell was claimed off waivers by the Astros. He might actually get a shot with them
Alot of people are going to get a shot with the Astros.
NJ.. I wouldn't be suprised if the Astros held try outs with the local beer league softball team.
Goon Squad. I like it.
Michele,
I think it's pretty obvious you can write Atlanta off at this point.
Yikes. I remember when WE were the Astros. Still, I'm glad for JMax. I want him to catch in and do well with someone.
Still no word on someone needing Pudge, though,
Auto correct is at it again. Closed caption on TV at the gym. "Ignite your tattooed."
I have this strange feeling that the Nats will end up scoring in the 8th and/or 9th inning today :-)
Ouch, Ramos with a 2-base passed ball that comes back to bite the Nats.
Glad Zimmermann is ok after getting nicked.
I was terrified there for a second..
OK, here we go again. Come from behind baseball for the Nats.
I wonder if that run Zimmermann gave up would be unearned?
I think it was scored stolen base and passed ball. Unearned run.
Wasn't that an unearned run? Castro advanced on PB, right?
Yep, unearned. Showed up in MLB At Bat first as earned, then reversed.
Dave and NatsLady you are correct. Unearned run.
Looks like Niese's no-hitter (and shutout) has been erased by the Braves.
Good :-)
It would be nice if the Nats outfielders would do what the Cubs are doing.
Now, that's funny.
Auto correct is at it again. Closed caption on TV at the gym. "Ignite your tattooed."
Projected record for the Nats starting pitchers combined this year: 0-0. Wins for the bullpen: 86.
How many home runs would the Nats have in this series if it weren't for that Chicago wind?
At least 3 or 4 more I think.
Good clutch pitching by Jordan in the 5th.
Jordan is on fire. We need to get him some runs.
Not watching the Masters but just learned fdomTwitter that a double eagle is an "albatross." Shouldn't a double bogey be an albatross? Golf is a strange game.
Anon 3:21- Hahaha it's certainly looking that way :-)
Ok, not only was that a perfect bunt, but JZimm ran it out. Gotta love that Natitude!!
JZ perfect bunt. Teach that to a Gio, willya?
The organist is also on fire. First, "Hey Look Me Over" after the ball hit J-Zimm, now "Down on the Corner" with runners on 1st and 3rd.
What a motley outfield we have! The worst by far is Werth, who is on track to break the single season strike out record.
Nice AB Espi!!!
Yay, tied it up! FP's Chicagoese needs a little bit of work, but funny. :-)
a motley outfield and a goon squad for the bench. I think I will take it. Especially since our clean up hitter is still rehabbing right now.
Despinosa doing OK today. Sac FLy deep enough for even Ramos to score. Need 5 runs and a win to get 1/2 price pizza. Probably not in NC, though.
Ryan Zim, after six seasons, is still a sucker for the low outside pitch, especially when he has two strikes. That's where a competent batting coach could help but the Nats don't have one.
SHARK!!!!!
Juan Nicasio is getting his first regular season start for the Rockies since he was hit by Ian Desmond's line drive last July. Good for him.
Sharkadina was beautiful then.
Darn it I was hoping Jordan was going to be able to pitch out of that. But could have been worse without that Shark catch. Our guys have to start hitting.
Okay, I'm getting pretty dern tired of that Lilliputian chariot commercial.
Time for the Nats to create some runs.
Sec 222- Yeah I remember watching the game when Nicasio was nailed in the head.
That was probably the scariest injury I've seen in a Nats game.
He could very well have died.
Very glad he's ok now.
It was a great catch, and that's good about Nicasio.
Thanks for tha news, sec222. I have been wondering about him!
We are going back and forth between the Nats and the Masters (historic shot on the second hole, maybe best shot ever in the tournament) and missed what happened to JZimm that was scary. We saw Gorzo warming up but see JZimm is still in.
The cubs pitcher is pretty good. How come he was a reliever before?
The organist IS on it! Thanks for pointing it out. I feel bad for Werth.
But pretty soon we get their relievers and then we win.
Heath bell blew a save and the Marlins lost again
What's up with these slides into first?? Friction against the dirt is slower than running all-out to the outfield, no?
Werth robbed again. Wonder why he made head first slide.
JaneB- Zimmermann caught a comeback drive off his left thigh, but still scrambled to get the runner at first.
Then the entire coaching staff ran out to see if Jordan was ok. He made a practice pitch and was fine.
Thankfully :-)
Great news, MichelleS!
I don't like to be negative about players, some of the posters on this site, well that's a different kettle of fish. But Werth, in the time he's been a Nat has been atrocious. What bothers me more is his arrogance about his poor showing--always an excuse. Please Jayson, make me eat my words. After all you are making 124 million dollars more than I will in my lifetime. That includes my teachers pension even if I live to be ninety.
Heath Bell takes the loss when Hanley can't make a play on a ball hit right at him in the bottom of the 9th.
Me, too, on Werth, JaneB. Verrry interresting on the Marlins. Was looking at the box scores this a.m. and saw they'd had three dingers. Was going to look for footage of the Carmen Miranda Memorial Hat/Sculpture but then realized they were on the raod.
Too bad for Werth. Gets some good wood on a cutter but Ian Stewart makes a great diving stop to take away a double down the left field line.
Cwj, thanks. Come backers are freaking scary...I agree that Nicasio event was sickeningly scary.
We can complain about the commercials, but at least it's not endless Nats promos as in previous years. Advertisers are actually anticipating higher viewership due to a better team. The market has spoken!
JZ to trainer: I got this. It's not like I broke my jaw or something.
Then the entire coaching staff ran out to see if Jordan was ok. He made a practice pitch and was fine.
How bad is the Nationals offense against starting pitchers? It is absurd..
Be careful what you decide to eat for your Easter feast today. Be sure to cook your food properly:
http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/7788984/minnesota-twins-right-hander-liam-hendriks-hospitalized
Just wanted to point out that I wasn't trying to make light of Hendriks' food poisoning in my last post.
Anytime someone is hospitalized by something they eat is pretty scary. I'm sure he'll be fine.
Ok, we have the Cubs right where we want them: down by a run in the 8th.
GYFNG!
No worries, Cwj. I didn't think you were.
Re: Werth's slide. I've always understood that running through the base is the fastest way to get there. You don't see sprinters diving at the finish line. The only advantage I can think of is when the throw is off the bag and the 1B is trying to swipe tag the runner as he runs past. In that case diving will help the runner avoid the tag. But I don't see how you could anticipate that happening.
Not sure Werth would have beaten that throw anyway. He hit the ball pretty hard.
Albatrosses are considered good luck by sailors, so killing one is very bad luck indeed, which is why they hung it around your neck, as a punishment.
So here's a question: Yesterday on the broadcast Davey explained the A/B bullpen as giving each pitcher one day on and one day off. He said that's the best way to protect their arms. Yet, today, we see Mattheus who pitched yesterday. And yesterday, we saw Clippard for the second day in a row in the 8th after we took the lead. So are we back to the A and B bullpens being the A bullpen pitches when we are tied or ahead and the B when we're behind?
Werth 0 for 10, 5 K's. (50% strikeout ratio)
It would be good for our O's friends if Werth could break Mark Reynold's 2009 record with 223. I think he he has the capability to do it if Davey doesn't give up on him. Go JW!
Everyone had an off day Friday...only Mattheus has pitched 2 days in a row
Hope Zimm's hand is okay.
Nat's lineup very holy.
The hard part is Des/Esp. after that you just pitch around Zimmerman and bet on outs with 4,5,6 (ALR, JW, and who ever is playing left field). Maybe move JW down and Ramos up in order.
When Morse is back we hopefully get 2 bats back (both MM and Zimmmmmmm)..
Well, if the lead holds, they still took the series. Head for NY and shoot for taking one there, too.
Manager lost the game in the 1st inning...not moving Desmond to 3rd
Exactly my thought 1a
Play for 1 run in the 1st inning? So if it worked Nats would now be down 4-2 instead of 4-1...Cant agree with that one
Anon at 4:26, how is that Davey's fault? Hitters didn't advance him. That's hindsight talking...
CubsShark not gonna let any relievers in the game. Would you?
The Cubbies have a terrific pitcher in this guy. He beat us. But NATS take the series. More of that, please.
I had that one outside, too, FP and Danny.
Agreed, JaneB.
JaneB......sdon't feed the trolls.
lol at Cubs fans booing if the guy gets the hook
then cheering when he gets to stay in
Bunt you Freakin Nat cleanup hitters, Bunt
HOLY LAROCHE!!!!
ALR!!!!
Holy cr#p. The hitters are holy after all. :-)
Unbelievable! ALR! I gave up on them before they did! My bad.
Please Jayson be the old Jayson!
I guess I owe jeffwx a coke. :-)
Oh.. and the Phillies lost as well!
Me, too, JaneB.
Yay, Marmol!
Hey! LaRoche is on pace for a 104-homer season!
Marmol must have nightmares about Jayson Werth
Werth keeps it going with another walk. I'm just saying.
Oops, I meant 108 dingers for ALR this year.
Werth on first, Xavier to drive him in.
Oh, well. I like this team. They have moxie. :-)
Things I have learned from the first weekend of baseball. Desi/Espi doing pretty well. LaRoche has a nice boucne back day on Saturday and a nice jack today. We are scrappy. Morse will help RZ when he gets back. Chad Tracy - who knew! Werth can take a walk, but sadly can't buy a hit (but he is going to break out soon, I just know it). Our Pitching is pretty darn good. (I will chalk up Gio's outing to nerves). Taking 2 of 3 from a team that won't sniff 3rd place in their own division. Not too shabby.
Marmol in. Cubs fans holding hands over their eyes but he's not helping us today. :-(
I'll take that coke now.....what a series...great entertainment.
One thing about JW, good eyes when he doesn't swing
Damn!
Oh well.
Phillies are 1-2, and everyone knows the Mets won't remain atop the NL East after the Nats get finished with them.
Ack. Too bad.
Good point Anon @4:18. So Clipp got a day off, though he appeared the same day as the B bullpen. But now Mattheus has gone twice in a row. Do we have an A/B bullpen or not?
wow.. mark already has the instant analysis up..
Okay, hold your glass up to the screen...glug...glug... :-)
I'll take that coke now.....what a series...great entertainment.
Mark's darn good. :thumbs up:
As Mark mentioned, no 162-0 for the Nats this year. Perhaps 161-1? :D
Wow, does Zimmermann know how to pitch or what?
Mattheus probably shouldn't have been starting the 8th (or at all) today.
Burnett does much better starting an inning then he does coming in with runners on. He probably should have started the 8th.
Still that was a great series and this isn't the Nats team we are used to!
Go Nats!
Sec. 222 - I get your point, but after 2 years in which Clip threw more innings than any other reliever in baseball, Davey didn't want to burn out his arm -- or put more pressure on the rest by suggesting he can't rely on anyone else as a set-up man.
But point well taken about Mattheus going two straight days. Might have been a moment for Gorzy. Just because he's a long man doesn't mean he has to be only a long man.
We have whatever Davey feels like. A or B or C, pretty good bullpen. We just weren't beating Samardzija (sp?) today. 98 in the 8th inning, 96 in the ninth. Pitched like a reliever. Bet he blows out his arm, but he probably doesn't regret it.
Can't wait to hear Davey's answer as to why he pulled Zimmerman after 7 innings and just 80 pitches. Mattheus is also like our 5th best reliever so not sure why Lidge didn't get the call in a 1 run game in the 8th inning. Isn't that why we signed the guy???
Or, like cwj said, start the 8th with Burnett.
Nah....Pitching didn't lose this one.... only 4 hits did.
I'm interested to see how they hit against Mets no 4 and 5...Pelfrey and oh Gee. Both did well against the nats last year.
Nah...Pitching didn't lose this one.
Getting only 4 hits did.
Not to mention HRod sitting in the bullpen. Really don't understand the move. Bottom line is that they have to hit better than .120 in innings 1-7. The 3 and 5-8 hitters are about 5-55. At least they STOLE 2 and got the series. Hurry up Morse and Harper!!!
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