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US Presswire photo The brand-new JetBlue Park was designed to look like a miniature Fenway Park. |
Jordan Zimmermann gets his last spring tune-up, coming on the heels of a fabulous performance Wednesday against the Mets. Nice challenge for the young right-hander, going up against a Boston 1-5 of Jacoby Ellsbury, Dustin Pedroia, Adrian Gonzalez, Kevin Youkilis and David Ortiz.
Several Nationals regulars have the day off, but there's an interesting twist with Chad Tracy starting in left field. Davey Johnson asked the veteran corner infielder a couple days ago how he would feel about playing the outfield, and Tracy said he was comfortable with it. Perhaps further evidence Tracy could wind up making the squad, especially if Rick Ankiel lands on the DL.
As you know, I'm back in D.C. spending a little QT with the family, so no live updates today. But I'll be at Nationals Park tomorrow for the exhibition finale against these same Red Sox, and then it's off to Chicago for Opening Day...
WASHINGTON NATIONALS vs. BOSTON RED SOX
Where: JetBlue Park, Fort Myers
Gametime: 1:35 p.m.
TV: None
Radio: None
Weather: Partly cloudy, 85 degrees, Wind 7 mph LF to RF
STARTING LINEUPS
NATIONALS
CF Roger Bernadina
SS Ian Desmond
2B Danny Espinosa
1B Adam LaRoche
RF Xavier Nady
LF Chad Tracy
DH Wilson Ramos
C Jesus Flores
3B Steve Lombardozzi
(P Jordan Zimmermann)
RED SOX
CF Jacoby Ellsbury
2B Dustin Pedroia
1B Adrian Gonzalez
3B Kevin Youkilis
DH David Ortiz
LF Darnell McDonald
RF Ryan Sweeney
SS Mike Aviles
C Kelly Shoppach
(P Aaron Cook)
111 comments:
Best 25 (plus Andrea) go north!
Ring the bell. They're at the post.
i simply cannot wait for tomorrow's game at Nats Park. woooooo!
What did I say? I meant Kristina!
Best 25 (plus Kristina!) go north!
I can't even type straight thinking of the new dugout reporter. I hope Davey can.
Big waste having Bernadina at leadoff. Been there, seen it, done it.
Folks, my sincere apologies for the disappearing comments and 503 Errors. It appears that many comments are suddenly being thrown into the spam folder (and thus disappearing from public view). I went into the folder and accepted all those comments and labeled them as "Not Spam," so hopefully Google will recognize them now.
I'm planning to talk to some of my tech people at CSN today about all these problems. Hopefully they can help solve them. Thanks to everyone for your patience and understanding.
I also know someone who has extra tickets for tomorrow. I'll be going, and giving her a lift (SS/Bethesda area, which is a haul for me). If you need a ticket, let me know and we can meet at the gate. She wants to be there when the gates open so we'll aim for that. I have no idea what the best route is, but hopefully my GPS has good suggestions that don't involve the Beltway.
Hmmm...see Milone has 6 perfect innings against the AAA squad. Hated to see him go. But Gio ain't no slouch
Hey you in the stands? You want to play left field for a couple of innings?
Without Morse our outfield sure looks puny. Lets hope Harper arrives the first day he can.
when do the gates open tomorrow?
Game time is 3:05, so I believe they open at 1:30. At any rate, that's when we'll be there.
Mark, I think that only the Anons.' postings should be treated as spam.
Can't believe Johnson hasn't already seen, at least, Tracy shagging fly balls in ST. I don't think this is a bona fide experiment. More on the order of, "my decisions are pretty much made, just don't want any important people to get hurt, so, how am I going to make today's game more interesting?" Couple of flyballs into the corner could be very interesting.
Espinosa hitting third?? Is that a misprint or is Davey trying to bolster his confidence?
I had the same thought. Maybe put an email link on the Blogger profile?
Section 3, My Sofa said...
Oh, golly, Jane--I really wouldn't post my phone number here if I were you...
April 02, 2012 11:07 AM
Of course, I have no idea how to do that, but maybe somebody else here does.
natsfan1a said...
I had the same thought. Maybe put an email link on the Blogger profile?
Big waste reading anon posts on Nats line up.
Some of the anon posts are worthwhile, and some people have difficulty NOT posting as anon. I know when I'm where the wifi is chancy and it won't log me on to Google, it's an extra step to put my in the name/url box, and then sometimes I lose the connection. So I can see why people post as anon, I just appreciate it when they sign their name.
Easy edit, on the blogger profile, JaneB... And it's a email link-not like posting your address...
Bernadina may still be on the bubble. Davey may be batting him leadoff today in part to maximize his ABs and get the best possible look at him, especially after him having missed several days to go to his father's funeral.
Will we even get Gameday for this ?
Looks like maybe we can watch the box score tally change. Woo. Hoo. :-)
Re: Gameday. I wondered the same thing on the last post, it appears not.
I thought of another option for getting around the MLB.tv blackout of games--a slingbox, which is advertised endlessly on Mr. Tony's show. So I'll try that and see if I can watch games on my "devices" as they promise.
They still have not sent the update to MLB-atbat for seeing games, that is promised for April 4. Cutting it pretty close, I would say.
It's so easy for trolls to use handles, and some people post anonymously for good reasons, as NatsJack (or was it SteveM?) rather cryptically pointed out some weeks ago. Actual spam, in fact, will typically have a handle for just that reason.
"Nationals officially bring Michaels back into fold on minor league deal"
This makes me smile. I mean, if you can't be in the majors, why wouldn't you want to be in AAA-Syracuse? It's practically an ML team, and will have plenty of publicity. I'm looking forward to the games on MiLB.tv.
Forecast for Chicago on Thursday: Mostly cloudy, high of just 49. It's going to be a BRISK start to the season for the guys. :)
My mistake Sunderland et al ...
It was late last night and as a kind of Pirates follower (before the Nats arrived) I still follow the blogs ...
I reference the below blog entry by an embittered Pirates fan. And the more knowledgable blogs were alarmed watching while it happened!!!
I meant to say Jim Tracy pushed Gorzelanny to throw over 100 pitches multiple times in succession during 2007. He had never done that before. Gorzo was the only bright spot for the Pirates that year. That "tool" almost ruined Gorzelanny's arm. I have absolutely no respect for Jim Tracy.
I’m certain that by many calculations Tom Gorzelanny was one of the most overused and abused pitchers in the last 20 years last year. Jim Tracy rode his arm into the ground. I hope he takes some time off and comes back with no injuies because he had multiple starts last year well over 115 pitches in succession. Jim Tracy is a Dusty Baker clone without the toothpick.
I meant to say Jim Tracy pushed Gorzelanny to throw over 100 pitches multiple times in succession during 2007.
I meant to say Jim Tracy pushed Gorzelanny to throw way over 100 pitches multiple times in succession during 2007.
Seems like it wouldn't be opening day if it wasn't a bit chilly. I froze at a couple of our home openers. Alas - I won't be going this year (tear,sob). I think clouds are actually fine - no losing balls in the sun. I hope the batter's eye is HUGE.
It's so easy for trolls to use handles, and some people post anonymously for good reasons, as NatsJack (or was it SteveM?) rather cryptically pointed out some weeks ago. Actual spam, in fact, will typically have a handle for just that reason.
Sec 3 many of your comments make my eyes blur and they often come in rapid succession ... then there's the "removed by author" posts ... I guess you can't type.
One man's 'erudite posts' could be someone else's spam or inane lunacy ... not to mention dull and boring ...
One man's 'erudite posts' could be someone else's spam or inane lunacy ... not to mention dull and boring ...
And that one man would be Periculum, of course.
I think anything in bold type should be spam....
I think the batter's eye seats quite a few people. Oh wait, you probably didn't mean this.
Gameday link for today's game is available here.
Thanks, Anon. They had only the box score without the Gameday graphics interface thingy when I linked earlier.
Anybody know when and where the Nat's plane arrives?
And that one man would be Periculum, of course.
Case in point ... and some people post anonymously for good reasons,
I'm like Bryce Harper ... I'm surprised I didn't get blamed for the Tulo/Ubaldo brawl ...
All of these whining Pots calling all the Kettles black. Lots of stones flying into those glass houses ...
~peric
Thanks, Sofa and 1a and unkyd. I deleted the phone number. Can't figure out how to edit my profile, so -- if anyone is looking for free seats for the Sox at Nats tomorrow, contact me at JaneBeard@InVisibleLight.com.Tickets can be picked up in SS area...
Anon 12:21.. Thanks for the Link! At least we can track the game somehow!
Jane, click on your own name in a post here to open the profile. Click on the Edit Profile box in the upper right, and put an email address [preferably one you don't mind getting spam because you're going to delete it in two days] into one of the text box fields--doesn't matter which one. It will then show when someone views your profile, which is a little less public than posting your phone or email address (which the spam spiders WILL collect here) on the blog itself.
NaterialGuy said...
"Anybody know when and where the Nat's plane arrives?"
Why? Are you Nats320?
NaterialGuy said...
Anybody know when and where the Nat's plane arrives?
I don't think they have "a" plane; probably many of them on the same commercial flights out of Ft. Myers, or maybe Sarasota if there are no nonstops from Ft. Myers to DC. Anybody not at today's game probably comes up straight from Viera, or Orlando. Just guessing.
They charter. And there are a couple of non-stops from Ft. Meyers.
The Nats don't have their own plane, like the Giants (I mean, without the Beard)?
San Francisco Giants Plane
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/29/fly-bye-baby-san-francisco-giants-plane_n_1389893.html
Thank you for the correction, NatsJack.
Who's Paul Hagen?
http://washington.nationals.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120401&content_id=27807916&vkey=news_was&c_id=was
Are any of the NI regulars at the game today?
Not a good start by the Red Sox...2 errors.
Carroll replacing shark?
Dan Kolko @DanKolko
Roger Bernadina was drilled by an errant pick-off throw by Aaron Cook and is leaving the game. Wow, this could make things interesting #Nats
I'll say this, Gameday has some work to do. Jordan managed to get three outs only pitching four strikes. Pretty efficient.
Heck with who is on first - who the heck is going to be in the outfield? Dropping like pop flies.
Unreal, that ball caught bernadina on the knee
DWS, Gameday doesn't keep accurate pitch counts in Spring Training
HARPER READY TO GO!!
Man - no one is on here today. Lots of time between posts.
JZim pitched thru the Bosox A list one time around and Ellsbury and Pedroia twice. Only 2 hits thru 3 innings.
Mark has a tweet that it will be DeRosa, Werth, Nady in the OF for Opening day. Morse could be back on 4/10 and Ankiel on 4/12 (per his new post)
What just happened? Come on Gameday, catch up!
Espi goes K in 1st inning to a HR. We will take that.
After seeing the Shark leave like that, it looks like both teams are anxious to swing at anything, finish and leave town ASAP. This may be one of those very few ST games where Gameday's pointless game of walk=4 pitches, K=3 pitches, ball in play=1 pitch may not be very far off.
Can't say I blame them. Nobody wants to get hurt in ST, but especially not when Opening Day is so close they can taste it.
Danny!!!!!
Espinosa. Getting hot at the right time.
Didn't realize SteveM, usually listen to audio or watch MLBtv. If the option is there of course.
So happy for Danny!
No, no - not the dreaded double play!
DWS, no biggie. Can't understand why MLB is so inept in ST especially since so many of us pay a lot of money for the full service package.
On top of that, listening to the Cardinals several times this year as the only radio feed is tough. Mike Shannon may be a favorite in St. Louis like their gooey pizza, but I like guys that sound sober and 1/2 way intelligent on my broadcast.
So I drive to work, I get here and find out the Martians have been attacking our outfield--AGAIN!!
How much does it cost to sponser Charlie and Dave for spring training broadcasts? Let's take up a collection.
Boston with 4 hits in the 4th. Now 2-1 Boston
Wait, the Nats with the long ball and the Red Sox with station to station? Either Gameday's gone off the tracks or we're all in Bizzaro World. :-)
Or Bizarro World. Anyhoo.
Wheels off the bus. Jesus Flores drops a popup in foul territory and then the batter hits a sac fly. 3-1 I would think the 3rd run would be unearned
Gameday has 3-1 Boston after a sac fly?
Never mind. I think I owe Steve M. a Coke now.
natsfan1a, you don't owe me Coke. I just knew someone may ask. LOL
Over the weekend I saw that the Atlanta Braves GM Frank Wren was saying that Livan Hernandez was going to be a reliever.
I'm not an expert on warm-up routines of guys like Livan and Wang but I specifically remember more than 1 person on here commenting that neither would make it in the bullpen due to their long warm-up routines.
Clearly the Braves don't seem concerned about Livan and it will be interesting if Wren botched it. On the other hand, is there some wrong intel on here?
Thoughts?
Gameday just updated the 3rd Bosox run to unearned.
Steve @2:57, even on GameDay with no audio or video you are a step ahead and clairvoyant on what Natsfan1a wanted to know at 2:46 1/2.
Livo has a long warmup routine, that is for sure. However, he might be useful as a spot starter or long-reliever after a rain delay, mopup guy, or if a short-reliever came in for an innning while he warmed up.
Matt Cain just signed a $110 million 5 year extension. That sets a new bar for pitchers and when Stras and JZim are ready for extensions, the price just moved up. This is getting nuts.
Speaking of Livo, an ex-teammate of his was on Intentional Talk, said Livo gave him (or offered him) at $40,000 car for some occasion. No wonder the guy is broke.
Gonat, Matt Cain just hit his Mega Millions.
Also, better to be called clairvoyant than some other descriptions. Thanks!
NatsLady, I think Livo is now on his last chance and if he can't adapt to the bullpen's routine, then he will be out of MLB baseball.
When he gets the call in the bullpen as a starter is struggling, he has to get ready quickly. He won't be afforded a 15+ minute warmup.
Its ultimately the Braves problem now but certainly surprised me when I read about it.
In other news, in case it hasn't already been posted, Jamie Moyer has made the Rockies' starting rotation at the incredibly young age of 49.
There's hope for me yet :)
Clearly the Braves don't seem concerned about Livan and it will be interesting if Wren botched it. On the other hand, is there some wrong intel on here?
Probably the only way Livo could work in the bullpen is as a long man. But in Gorzelanny, Lannan, Wang, Stammen and Detwiler the Nats already have more than enough potential long men. Hence, Livo was superfluous.
Clearly the Braves don't seem concerned about Livan and it will be interesting if Wren botched it. On the other hand, is there some wrong intel on here?
No -- it's simple. Start warming Livo up around the 3rd or 4th inning. Then when you need him by the 7th or 8th inning, he'll be ready.
See? Simple! ;-)
Actually there is another way Livo could work in the bullpen. He could just go out there every night around the third inning and start throwing, and continue throwing for the rest of the game. If he's needed, they bring him in. Otherwise, no big deal. Repeat tomorrow.
I posted this link back when Livo signed with them, but yes, the Braves are looking at him as a spot starter and long relief man.
'Matt Cain just signed a $110 million 5 year extension. That sets a new bar for pitchers and when Stras and JZim are ready for extensions, the price just moved up. This is getting nuts.'
More immediately; this just made Cole Hammels that much less affordable for the Phillies.
Feel Wood, while I don't disagree with Livo being superfluous, a few on here never considered him a viable option because of his long warm-up. That's the point Steve brought up. Nothing about too many arms.
On a game note, Gameday sez J-Zimm is done. His line: 5 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, 0 HR.
Durbin comes in from the 'pen for the 6th. Still 3-1 Boston (unless they scored while I was typing this).
Durbin with another opportunity to impress and promptly gives up a double to the first batter he sees and then a RBI double to Repko
From Ken Rosenthal: Cain's new deal replaces old one. Six yrs, $127.5M with vesting player opt for '18 that can bring total to $141M over seven. Full no-trade.
Kilgore says Durbin pitching with no sleep so I guess we have to cut him a break, right?
Well, his wife did just have a baby, right?, so I guess that's plausible. :-)
After all, they can't all be as low maintenance as Baby Brian (yeah, I'm shameless). ;-)
Luckily, he limited the damage and ended the inning at 4-1 Boston. Atta way, Pops!
I think MLB contracts are going into the Twilight Zone. Granted Cain is a good pitcher but where does the insanity end. Werth was outrageous but he plays everyday. $10 and $20 bleacher tickets say bye bye.
Not a bad outing for JZim against a tough line-up. Also - since it's spring training it depends on how he actually looked, what he was working on, and how much they really wanted him to get after it today. They might have wanted him to get his work in but not bust a gut. Now - it we could just hit....
jd, good point on Hamels. I know the Nats would like to tie up JZim long-term so that got more expensive.
$10 million seems to be becoming what $1 was in 1990.
Here is fangraphs analysis of why the Astros didn't want Livo and the Braves did.
Fangraphs on Livo
http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/astros-release-livan-hernandez-braves-swoop-in/
Heaven knows what Votto will get. Apparently he and the Reds are close to a mega-deal.
And Oswalt and Pudge sit on the couch, watching.
NatsLady, Fangraphs intel + spelling is way off. Delgado most likely will be the Braves 5th starter until Hudson is ready to return and Teheran was just not good. If they wanted to send Delgado down they could keep an extra reliever and have Livo as their 5th starter.
Houston didn't want Livan because he just wasn't one of their best 5 starters.
Some of the gameday shenanigans are pretty funny during spring training. It is especially entertaining when all the substitutes come in.
Did I mention that I really like Steve Lombardozzi? He is the underdog that I am rooting for.
baseballswami said...
"And Oswalt and Pudge sit on the couch, watching."
Oswalt will get a job somewhere.
There's not much budge in Pudge.
Man . . . Lidge just posted yet aother scoreless inning. With Lidge possibly recovered and a young MPHRod seemingly matured enough to get control of his location . . . adding to Clip and Store -- wow, what a bullpen!
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