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Photo by Mark Zuckerman / NATS INSIDER The Nats, with Bryce Harper hitting third, try to make it two in a row tonight. |
Honestly, it makes perfect sense. With Ryan Zimmerman out, Johnson doesn't have any real viable options to bat third. He's been using everyone from Danny Espinosa to Rick Ankiel to Chad Tracy. And not wanting to screw around with his 4-5 combo of Adam LaRoche and Jayson Werth, it only makes sense to bump Harper all the way up to the 3-hole.
As for tonight's game in general, Ross Detwiler looks to bounce back from the first semi-ragged start of his season. He and the Nationals face a stiff challenge in Ian Kennedy, a 21-game winner last year and already 3-0 this year.
Plenty of updates to come, so please check back...
ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS at WASHINGTON NATIONALS
Where: Nationals Park
Gametime: 7:05 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN, MLB.tv
Radio: WJFK (106.7 FM), WFED (1500 AM), XM 183
Weather: Partly cloudy, 80 degrees, Wind 5 mph RF to LF
NATIONALS (15-9)
SS Ian Desmond
3B Steve Lombardozzi
LF Bryce Harper
1B Adam LaRocheRF Jayson Werth
RF Jayson Werth1B Chad Tracy
2B Danny Espinosa
CF Rick Ankiel
C Wilson Ramos
LHP Ross Detwiler
DIAMONDBACKS (13-12)
SS Willie Bloomquist
2B Aaron Hill
RF Justin Upton
LF Jason Kubel
1B Paul Goldschmidt
C Miguel Montero
3B Ryan Roberts
CF A.J. Pollock
RHP Ian Kennedy
UMPIRES
HP Tim Tschida (cc), 1B Chris Guccione, 2B Jeff Nelson, 3B Bill Welke
5:27 p.m. -- Lineup change for the Nats, and it's not a good one. Adam LaRoche has been scratched with "right oblique soreness," according to a Nationals spokesman. We'll have to see how that happened and what the prognosis is, but for tonight Jayson Werth will bat cleanup and Chad Tracy will take over at first base.
7:07 p.m. -- And we're underway with a ball outside from Ross Detwiler to Willie Bloomquist. Turned into a beautiful night for baseball, 80 degrees at first pitch with only a few clouds overhead.
7:11 p.m. -- A very nice, 10-pitch, top of the first for Detwiler, capped by a very nice play from Ian Desmond (who went deep into the hole at short on Justin Upton's grounder and fired to first for the out).
7:18 p.m. -- Well that was ... odd. Bryce Harper tapped an easy comebacker in his first at-bat, but Ian Kennedy's throw was way wide of the bag and Harper wound up advancing all the way to second on the error. But then the Diamondbacks appealed to first base, saying Harper never touched the base, and ump Chris Guccione called him out. Based on the replay, it does appear as though the kid just barely missed the bag on the foul side. Wow, what a bizarre way to end the first inning.
7:23 p.m. -- Meanwhile, Detwiler tosses another 10-pitch, 1-2-3 inning. Just cruising along so far. We go to the bottom of the second.
7:34 p.m. -- It's been an odd start to this game, to say the least. The Nats just scored in the bottom of the second when Jayson Werth led off with a double, then was awarded third base on a balk, then scored on Rick Ankiel's grounder to first. The inning also included a Chad Tracy walk, and another Danny Espinosa strikeout (his 31st of the season). As he promised earlier today, Danny did work the count and take a different approach to his at-bat. Unfortunately, the result was all too familiar. Nats lead 1-0 after two.
7:42 p.m. -- Boy, is Detwiler on tonight, or what? He threw 23 of his first 27 pitches for strikes. (Of course, he then walked Kennedy, the opposing pitcher, but who's paying attention to that?) It's worth noting that Chien-Ming Wang is making a rehab start tonight for Class AA Harrisburg, projected to throw 75 pitches. It's no coincidence Wang is lined up to pitch on the same day as Detwiler, since the veteran would presumably take his rotation spot. Still, how do you bump Detwiler to the bullpen at this rate?
8:02 p.m. -- Four innings in the books for Detwiler, who has not yet allowed a hit. He has walked two, but that's it so far. 54 pitches, 39 strikes.
8:13 p.m. -- Well, there won't be a no-hitter here tonight. Each team now has one base hit after Ryan Roberts laces a single to left in the top of the fifth. Not much offense so far tonight. Is anyone surprised at this point?
8:21 p.m. -- Another at-bat for Espinosa, another strikeout. This one was looking. Every pitch from Ian Kennedy in that at-bat was up and away. Danny isn't exactly sticking to the approach he was espousing pregame. He now leads the NL with 32 strikeouts, 24 of them coming in the last 14-plus games. Nats still lead 1-0 after five.
8:35 p.m. -- Detwiler finally shows a crack in his armor. After issuing a one-out walk to Bloomquist in the sixth, he served up an RBI double on a line drive just past a diving Werth in right field. It's 1-1 now.
8:44 p.m. -- Bryce Harper, ladies and gentlemen! He does it again, lacing an RBI double down the left-field line to score Ian Desmond (who also doubled to lead off the sixth). A really nice piece of hitting from Harper, who showed some impressive bat control. And that, by the way, was the first RBI from the Nationals' starting No. 3 hitter since Ryan Zimmerman's homer against the Astros on April 19, 11 games ago. Nats 2, D'backs 1 as we go to the seventh.
9:01 p.m. -- Nice job by Ryan Mattheus to get out of the top of the seventh, picking up Detwiler (who was pulled with a man on second and one out). Mattheus got Roberts to flyout to right, then struck out A.J. Pollack on a nasty, 94 mph sinker with some serious movement. It remains 2-1 at the seventh-inning stretch.
9:15 p.m. -- A 1-2-3 eighth inning for Tyler Clippard, who has really started pitching better his last few times out. So the lead is still 2-1 as Henry Rodriguez begins warming for the ninth.
9:24 p.m. -- Buckle your seatbelts, folks. Here comes Henry.
9:33 p.m. -- That's it. Another curly W is in the books as Rodriguez gets the save and seals a 2-1 victory. The Nats have now won seven of the eight series they've played this season. And at 16-9, they hold a 1 1/2-game lead in the NL East heading into a big weekend series. Bring on the Phillies!
158 comments:
Third in the order - THANK YOU DJ!
Major news -->
http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/05/03/bryce-harper-is-batting-third-for-the-nationals-tonight/
Hurry!
5 runs tonight!
I will be at the game tonight and I think my tickets are in Left Field somewhere, so I have a feeling I am going to be HIGHLY entertained!!
This is going to be fun to watch!
I would like to see them flip Desi and Lombo in the order and use Moore in left.
I doubt Harper will see any of those inside pitches he blasted last night.
Would be curious to know the last time a 19 year-old batted 3rd in a MLB game. Would guess Junior for Seattle 24 years ago. A once in a generation type of talent (and a weak offensive team).
Love it. And why the heck not? It's pretty clear he's not intimidated by anything. Given the state of our roster, this is probably the best lineup we have against a RHP. Unfortunately, Kennedy is one of the best RHPs in the National League. Let's hope Harper can do some damage.
Someone commented in the last thread that there is discussion on some baseball blogs about whether Harper ran through a stop sign on that play at the plate. As NatsLady said, absolutely not. Bo Porter was sending him all the way. It was a surprising move since the Ramos's hit barely got behind the 2B. Watching the replay though, I kind of wonder if Bo had put up a stop sign whether Harper would or could have stopped. He was really flying around the base. It was beautiful to behold.
Also "here we come."
Go, DET! Go, NATS!! Would be great to have another half game on the Phillies before they come to town (and stay up on the Braves, natch).
NatsJack in Florida said...
Davey is really telling everybody "Here he is!".
May 03, 2012 3:35 PM
Poor Detwiler can't get a break. Last start, Clayton Kershaw, reigning Cy Young winner. This start, Ian Kennedy, runner-up to Kershaw. What's a #5 starter gotta do to get to face say, Randy Wolf?
Agree Natsjack. Davey is playing the hot hand. He only has to worry about the 3 -hole for a few more games, so why not put the kid there and roll the dice (Vegas pun intended).
222 - pretty clear from the replay that Porter sent him all the way. Porter is an aggressive 3rd base coach and has seemed even more aggressive all this year. Sure beats the bad memories of "stop sign" Pat Listach. Bo is gonna make a great manager very soon.
I wonder how much Davey will shuffle the batting order.
There's something interesting about Werth's batting stats during 2011 and, especially, so far in 2012. You would expect most hitters to be better with runners on base than with bases empty, because, if for no other reason, the pitcher doesn't have to worry about holding a runner. This seems to be true of most of the Nats. Werth is an exception: his at bats are more productive with the bases empty than with runners on base. His OBP was pretty much the same with runners on or bases empty during 2011 but his SLG was much higher with bases empty. In 2012 (maybe sample size is too small), he's been much better in all categories with bases empty, with an OPS of 1.001. Desmond, Espinosa, RZim, LaRoche (based on 2012 only) and Ramos (in 2012, but not in 2011 -- rookie jitters maybe?) are all better with runners on base. Is it time to make Werth the Nats leadoff hitter and to give Desmond more opportunities with runners on base?
From last night:
peric said...
14 wins in April. Hopefully, repeated in May. Guess we'll see ... certainly if Harper and Stras have anything to say about it ... more than 14.
Um, I certainly hope we do not repeat 14 wins in May. We played 22 games in April, 14-8 was fine. We play 28 games in May, 14-14 is not fine. Winning 14 games a month for 6 months translates to a pedestrian 84 wins, which is not what this team can produce, especially given the pitching talent. Obviously the hitting has to come around, and maybe the Harperspark is doing the trick (though Ramos' and Ankiel's at-bats after his double in the 9th certainly didn't show it). The return of Zim (with the dumping of Nadir, er Nady) should be a significant benefit, as will the return of Morse which, while anxiously anticipated, doesn't seem quite as urgent given what Harper is doing. I'd rather he take his time coming back so there is no chance of him going back on the DL, than have him come back because we're in a slump and then he's out the rest of the season.
Pilchard - BJ Upton did it for the (Devil) Rays
Better than Nady, sheesh. MLB Network says Bryce in the 3 hole as the possible preview to Bryce sliding into the 2 hole when Zim comes back.
Really hope Bryce rakes in the third hole tonight. This should guarantee he does not get sent back down to AAA.
"I crack up when people say Harper has been playing HIS WHOLE LIFE... or he's been working to get to this level HIS WHOLE LIFE.
First of all, his whole life hasn't been very long. Second, what baseball player hasn't?"
Nyjer Morgan. Although I will accept all arguments that claim he's not a baseball player.
Bryce coming up on MLB Network
"Someone commented in the last thread that there is discussion on some baseball blogs about whether Harper ran through a stop sign on that play at the plate. As NatsLady said, absolutely not. Bo Porter was sending him all the way."
Porter's arm was windmilling so fast they could have hooked him to the power grid and increased the ballpark's LEED rating.
Pilchard this was in the link I posted:
"The last 19-year-old to bat third in a big-league game? B.J. Upton, who did so once in 2004. And before that it was Andruw Jones in 1996 and Ken Griffey Jr. in 1989."
@MicheleS: Great choice of location. Enjoy!
If this lineup order doesn't tell you that Grandpa Davey is in it to win it this year -- right here and right now -- than nothing will. When you're 69, there's no more five-year plans. The future is now. Pedal to the metal.
Now, really, the Best 25 Have Come North (with Kristina!)
They are saying on MLB Network that after his game he was surrounded by 70 media members. Really? Is that accurate?
Ron in Reston: Well, at least Detwiler missed Joe Blanton.
Ron in Reston said, "Detwiler can't get a break. Last start, Clayton Kershaw, reigning Cy Young winner. This start, Ian Kennedy, runner-up to Kershaw. What's a #5 starter gotta do to get to face say, Randy Wolf?"
Det's whole problem is the rainout against the Fish on Apr 22. Stras had pitched the night before, so everybody else moved down a notch viz the other teams. Since Det is #5, for him moving down meant moving from the other team's #5 to their #1. In a few more weeks the whole set of matchups will become increasingly scrambled, but right now, unless the other team has also had a rainout or some other anomoly, Det's facing their #1, Stras the #2, Gio the #3 and so on.
Post of the day nominee to Ann Onimous for:
Porter's arm was windmilling so fast they could have hooked him to the power grid and increased the ballpark's LEED rating.
Nyjer Morgan. Although I will accept all arguments that claim he's not a baseball player.
Porter's arm was windmilling so fast they could have hooked him to the power grid and increased the ballpark's LEED rating.
Ba-dum-bump! You're on fire Ann Ominous.
Ian Kennedy is hitable; not your classic ace.If Harper is really ready (sorry it takes more than 4 games to convince me); batting 2nd ahead of Zim sounds pretty good to me. In fact I'd do:
Werth, Harper,Zim, Laroche, Morse,Espinosa, Desmond, Ramos.
Now this will start to look like something of a major league lineup.
http://www.nationalsarmrace.com/?p=4155
Benching Espinosa? He might be sent down to AAA to work on his swing or at least get back in a groove. Danny needs to play almost every day somewhere.
I really think he needs to visit 'Cuse unless he can quickly figure it out.
I also think Nady needs to go to 'Cuse as he isn't even a great defender. Basically a RH pinch-hitter.
I know some say Corey Brown, that would mean lefties Ankiel, BHarp, Bernadina, and CBrown. That's a lot of lefties + you have Chad Tracy on the bench.
I think Corey is a victim of too many lefties up right now.
A couple of links to share, including a Wall Street Journal one:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304299304577347983378652366.html?mod=ITP_AHED
and
Natitude Weekend-->
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/dc-sports-bog/post/vincent-gray-declares-natitude-weekend-in-dc/2012/05/03/gIQAvaa1yT_blog.html?tw_p=twt
JD said...
Ian Kennedy is hitable; not your classic ace.If Harper is really ready (sorry it takes more than 4 games to convince me); batting 2nd ahead of Zim sounds pretty good to me. In fact I'd do:
Werth, Harper,Zim, Laroche, Morse,Espinosa, Desmond, Ramos.
Now this will start to look like something of a major league lineup.
May 03, 2012 4:47 PM
___________________________
Desi, Harper, Zim, Morse, LaRoche, Werth, Lombo/Espi, Ramos
Don't count your Morse's until they bat. Moore is up for a reason.
NatsLady, Morse is publicly saying June. He sounds very optimistic. I see it more than 1/2 full. No buzzkill NatsLady.
Marmol (ERA 6.23) didn't get the blown save, the poor slob (Dolis) who came after him with the bases loaded let an inherited runner score and got it. However, Dolis also took the loss for giving up a run in the 10th so my pity for him only goes so far. The Cubs are keeping Marmol in the closer's job til they get here, right?
NatsLady,
I don't disagree but if Moore is really in the plans why isn't he playing?
Hey, Zim said for a week he felt fine and was going to play the next game, and the next game, and the next game. Then he went on the DL. No buzzkill, just...tempering my Brycie-mania with caution.
Gonat,
I am sorry; Desmond and his .303 career OBP cannot be the long term solution at leadoff.
NatsLady,
Your caution is well placed. As I said in the past we are pretty big trouble if we don't get Morse back at some point. If Harper is what he has been the past 4 days then the loss of Morse is somewhat mitigated. A loss of Zim long term cannot be absorbed so I really hope he comes back on Tuesday.
His career isn't hitting leadoff, he's doing that now. Which is not to say it'll be better, just, that's who they've got. Maybe he'll get better. But they are in first place with him leading off, now.
JD, good question. Obviously, they would prefer to have Morse both hitting and playing, so there is no rush to put Moore in a position he has never played at the ML level (OK, once).
If Morse doesn't come back in June, they will limp along with Moore DH'ing and give Morse more time. If Morse projects to be out beyond interleague, then you will see Moore taking reps in LF. That would be my plan, given that we don't really know how long it will take Morse to heal.
I doubt Harper will see any of those inside pitches he blasted last night.
Agreed. And I hope Harper is ready for that.
Do I hear . . . yes, I do . . . in the distance, it's getting louder . . . listen . . . !
it's oppo boppo time!
Agree. Zim is the next thing to irreplaceable, as we saw last year. If a couple of extra days are what he needs, fine. Honestly, I foresee he will be getting cortizone shots and at least one more 15-day DL stint this season, intermixed with his usual excellent play. I think they will try to time it so he is at his best in September-October, and he will have some kind of surgery/rehab in the fall.
Sound,
They are in 1st place because of pitching not because Desmond is leading off. With Zim and Morse out I understand that you have to keep Werth somewhere near the middle of the lineup but with a full compliment why not hit Werth who gets on base on a .360 clip leadoff?
LaRoche scratched for Tracy...YAY!
Two hole makes sense to me.
Desmond (r)
Harper (l)
Zim (r)
Morse (r)
LaRoche (l)
Werth (r)
Espinosa (s)
Ramos (r)
Pitcher
Man I like that line-up.
I have to say that I am beginning to support the idea of sending Espinosa down to see if he can straighten out his stroke; he is also not playing great defense.
Really? Now THAT I don't understand. Why wouldn't Moore play first if LaRoche wants/needs a day off?
_________________________________________
LaRoche scratched for Tracy...
Because Tracy is left handed, I suppose, but I would rather see Moore get a chance.
NatsLady,
They wouldn't scratch LaRoche last minute for rest would they? I am thinking: illness/injury.
I checked Kennedy's L/R splits and he doesn't seem to be much better against righties so yeah I don't get it other than Davey likes to give his pinch hitters some games so they stay sharp.
I bet he comes in on a double switch when they get to the bull-pen.
Well, Tracy is a lefty.
Of course he also has an OPS of .405 on the year. Think about that. Four. Oh. Five. That's not his OBP or his SLG. That's both of them added together.
Ok, what is "right oblique soreness"? And how serious is it?
Maybe Davey wants to "get Tracy going" like he said about Nady yesterday.
I agree that there is every reason to be cautious about when Morse will return. I disagree that Moore's being called up tells us anything about that at all. Davey wanted some offense off the bench when DeRosa was injured, and once Harper was called up the best available option was Moore.
JD, ditto re: Werth as lead off. He was better with bases empty than with runners on in 2011 and even more so now - so far in 2012, his OPS with bases empty is over 1.000. Everyone else in the Nats lineup, except Ankiel, is a better hitter with runners on base than with bases empty. Making Werth the lead off hitter might just ripple through the whole lineup.
LaRoche, unreal. Let's hope he is ok. This oblique stuff is becoming epidemic.
I don't think Davey will swap Werth and Desi. Ian likes leading off. Werth doesn't (tried it last year and he was REALLY uncomfortable). Stats say one thing, but personalities say another.
Surely, with the regular number three, four, and five hitters out, no one would object if the rest of the line-up (minus Harper, maybe) used corked bats?
Uh, oh - what the heck is up with these guys? LaRoche now? Let's hope the organization is just being super cautious. According to Ray Knight- in his day they just played through these things. ( snark snark)
Longoria, the Panda, Braun -- Yikes - it's contagious!
I have been kind of worried about LaRoche playing every day after being out for nearly a year. I hope it's a short rest and not one of those things that magnifies as the days go on.
Carpenter: "Everytime you have a guy like Ramos hitting 8, you have a pretty powerful lineup". This guy is amazing.
I've never seen an appeal that goes for the team appealing.
And now Mariano Rivera goes down, too.
was that a first pitch double from Werth?
Re Carpenter: That's what he's paid to do -- it's what happens when the entity being covered gets to hire the media doing the reporting.
McCutchen has the stomach flu. What happened to Braun, I can't keep up.
Espinosa should have been bunting. He SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! When is Davey going to wake up?
Stop it.
There's your run. Go get em.
Natsjack, I dont know if Carpenter is trying to boost ratings but I feel a little insulted when he says things like that and usually its at least once a game.
NatsLady - Braun, achilles. The injuries in mlb are mounting daily, keeping many surgeons in luxury cars.
Saw the Mariano Rivera article. Classy guy, looks bad for him.
Carp confusing Toronto with the Twins. Hello, Weaver's no hitter was against the Twins. I know, both AL teams from the North that start with "T" easy to mix them up. NOT.
True, true. Along with the injuries there seems to be an epidemic of closers imploding. Marmol, Heath Bell not so good, Wilson DL. Even the Braves closer blew one last night. Not a good start of the season for closers. Can anyone tell if Detweiler doesn't have good command or if he isn't getting the calls? I don't have a good enough eye for that.
NatsJack in Florida said...
No....Espi gets to 2-0 count (the ultimate hitters count) and takes an 88 mph cookie in his wheelhouse. Eventually swings at a pitch up and away, out of the zone, for strike 3.
Sad.
May 03, 2012 7:37 PM
_____________________________
Read Mark's new post on Espi. He knows AAA is a real possibility.
Davey could have helped him by putting on the bunt. He's hitting like a pitcher unfortunately. Chance of a LH hit for Espi in that situation probably 1 for 7 or lower.
Isn't Tyler Moore natural first baseman? Hopefully he will get some starts while Adam is out? For however long that might be?
I am sitting in the section where people are trying to start the wave. I am going to shoot myself
No, shoot the wave-starters...
...and then put your revolver in the hand of one of the dead so you don't get arrested for having a gun in DC...
That was just extreme - hilarious - but over the top!
I have an off the wall idea that may raise Espi's average 70 points, hee hee. I remember back in 1969, Ted Williams corrected Eddie Brinkman's approach to the ball and Eddie went from a meager 220 hitter to 290 in one season! So... my idea is to hire Fritz from the original Frankenstein movie and have him rob old Ted's grave, then take his corpse to Dr. Henry von Frankenstein, Dr. F will have to re attach old Ted's head to his body but then, after the electoral storm needed to pull this off, after Dr F screams, its alive, its alive, ah ha ha ha, then we take the resurrected Ted to meet Danny and all will be well. I have entirely too much time on my hands, LOL
May 03, 2012 8:26 PM
Bad call by the ump on what should have been a K becomes a run
You can own a gun in DC....Congress over ruled the people's voice
Bryce is a BEAST!!!!!!!!!!!
unbelievable
Ok, that was out of this league, I.e. Harp reaching third on the play.
Who is this Kid?!
(tell me..... stirrups, or PJs, tonight?)
jeffwx said...You can own a gun in DC....Congress over ruled the people's voice
No, the Supreme Court said the Second Amendment applies to DC, just as it does to the rest of the country.
And in response, the DC council has put so many legal hurdles in the way of actually owning a gun in DC that it is effectively almost impossible to own one in DC legally. That's the subject of further litigation.
Okay, enough politics/social issues. How about The Kid?
Great approach by the Kid - he went up there with the idea of going to left field to drive in the run from 3rd, just like he did in L.A. He's had some good coaching over the years.
NatsJack in Florida said...
Anybody say bunt?
May 03, 2012 8:38 PM
__________________________
And a nice bunt and Bryce says the heck with a Sac Fly, he went oppo double
Pjs
Heh... anyone think they're going to keep shifting on Harper after he made that cue-ball shot down the LF line?
Mark Z must be changing a diaper, so for the play by play needy: Desmond doubles, Espi racks up another K but with a decent at bat and questionable strkie zone, Bryce drives in Desmond, then goes to 3rd on Werth's groundout to first. Tracy flies out to end the inning.
sm13 said...
Great approach by the Kid - he went up there with the idea of going to left field to drive in the run from 3rd, just like he did in L.A. He's had some good coaching over the years.
May 03, 2012 8:44 PM
_____________________________
Not sure what you mean. If the ball was on the inside he would have pulled it. He went with where the ball was pitched and that was a professional hit.
Carp giving props to Mark Zuckerman!
HEY! Good for Mark Z for the mention, and a good one it was, by the TV guys!
Glad McCatty is out there. Detwiler has to get deeper into games. Pitched a beauty up to now and didn't get some calls.
Its about time Mark Z gets his recognition!
now, back to the job.... Fritz, you idiot that is abnormal brain, not Abby's brain ughhhh
The gems that Rizzo fished out or the dumpster in Jan-Feb, Tracy. Nady, and DeRosa, have 13 hits in 120 at bats for a BA of .108!
Candide....you're right...don't bring up politics or religion in a baseball blog.
I'm greatful that the Nats have some guns for arms in the OF
Gonat - he fouled the first one off down the left field line. I think he was looking for a pitch to hit the other way. We can agree to disagree and just enjoy the ride.
phil dunton lolololol well said
What did they say about Mark?
Nice outing by Ross. 19 outs. Tough strike zone with nothing on the outer half (from the pitcher's view) being called. Lots of inner half strikes were actually balls, but it was a consistent call.
nice job by Ross, now once again pressure on our bull pen, unless we get some more runs!
Capt Nats Jack...soon you'll be able to get high tonight (borrowed from Billy Joel) in DC...another reason to move to DC
MichelleS- they gave credit for his tweet about how long its been since we had a 3 batter knock in a run. And talked about how psyched Mark was to be in L.A. on Saturday.
sm13 he let the ball get deeper in the zone and then inside outed it oppo. That was professional hitting. With his bat speed, he can do what others can't.
good inning for Matthues
need 1 more run
oh I'm so lonely spending half my life on this blog...glad I don't own a gun...might go postal
I can't bare to watch Espinoza again, oh death where is thy sting, lol
sm13 - Did you just hear what FP just said. Exactly what I wrote 4 minutes ago
and they ask me why I drink
mick, I want the Nats to get 3 more runs!
jeffwx lol
That s one nasty 5-6-7 murderer's row...and without guns for bats
Wow... F.P. really talking some trash about Phillies fans...
Yay Danny did not strike out!!! :P
Nice to see we are leading. Go Nats!!!
Gonat.... you think we'll get 3 more runs? and they say I drink too much, lol
I will refrain from knocking Danny...I swear.
I would be glad to know which is worst, to be ravished a hundred times by Negro pirates, to have one buttock cut off, to run the gauntlet among the Bulgarians, to be whipped and hanged at an auto-da-fe, to be dissected, to be chained to an oar in a galley; and, in short, to experience all the miseries through which every one of us hath passed, or to remain here on this blog so long doing nothing?"
"This," said Candide, "is a grand question."
until Zim and Morse are back in the infamous words of I have no idea who, "we is what we is" lol
8:44 p.m. -- Bryce Harper, ladies and gentlemen! He does it again, lacing an RBI double down the left-field line to score Ian Desmond (who also doubled to lead off the sixth). A really nice piece of hitting from Harper, who showed some impressive bat control. And that, by the way, was the first RBI from the Nationals' starting No. 3 hitter since Ryan Zimmerman's homer against the Astros on April 19, 11 games ago. Nats 2, D'backs 1 as we go to the seventh.
________________________________
This was the post by Mark that Carp was referring to.
I guess the boys in the booth read Mark's tweets or this blog.
I normally don't break out the bourbon and Maalox when Clippard's on the mound. But Charlie just mentioned Clipp's ERA: 5.40. Eeeeeek!!!
Barkeep! Bourbon and Maalox all around for my friends.
Anybody nervous? Anybody thirsty?
Glad that wasn't a Kotsay type of LH matchup for Clip. I don't think he ever wants to see him again.
Sunshine, with every out, Clip's ERA will drop about 15 to 17 points per out.
jeffwx a philospher, hee hee
Ump blows 3rd pitch. That wasn't even on the black.
yes sir Clip!!!!
please, 1 more run guys, I'm begging ya!
Sunshine - Yep, Clip's ERA dropped 49 points in that inning at .1633 per out. Now at 4.91!!!!!!
jeffwx, that made my day, i learned a new term "Dumpster Gems" lol
@Gonat: thanks for making me feel better. That eighth inning was painless.
Anybody need a bourbon and Maalox to go with MPH Rod in the ninth?
and speaking of dumpster gems, look whose up, the jewel of the dumpster, lol
Need another Nats run or 2. Closer gets Upton, Kubel (lefty), Goldschmidt for the 9th.
I'd go with Stammen myself as my closer tonight, but that just me.
hell, I will need grain alcohol for the 9th
please now, no DP, we need Bryce up one more time
mick, total jinx by you. Unreal.
Tums and Valium time!
Another Kardiac Kids night. Here we go. Come on Henry!!!
easy to secong guess but thats why you bunt
Grain alcohol, Tums, Valium...This is my kind of Nats Town!
Go, Henry, Go. It's that little white thing you're aiming for.
Here's to "good Henry"
It's a good omen when Henry's 1st pitch doesn't go to the backstop.
That ball that Upton flied out on missed by 1 glove length. Luckily it had movement because it was center cut.
Thank you Henry because I didn't want to say I told you so!
Great win!!!! Kardiac Kids!!!!
So glad to give Kennedy a "L"
I love them all the time, but it makes me especially happy when they win, I love the sub horn.
That'll do, Henry....
That'll do...
GYFNG...
PFB...
Winning streak!
Oh, Henry, I love you. And Clip, and Ryan Mattheus, and Ross Detwiler, and Danny (yes, Danny! some nice D there)... Oh, I love you all!
And the Nats juggernaut continues to steamroll the opposition.
Henry. Yessss....
What, NL, no love for Harper?
Bryce, you learn anything today? Yeah, step on first base! Right in the center of the bag, so the ump can see.
NatsJack, better than Lannan for sure. 6 days between starts and he only got 6 1/3. That has to improve to 7 full.
What I loved was how Det brought the fastballs inside on the RH batters.
Arizona is a very good offensive team and if not for 1 missed call on a K, he has a shutout. 1.59 ERA
Ghost Of Steve M. said...
NatsJack, better than Lannan for sure. 6 days between starts and he only got 6 1/3. That has to improve to 7 full.
What I loved was how Det brought the fastballs inside on the RH batters.
Arizona is a very good offensive team and if not for 1 missed call on a K, he has a shutout. 1.59 ERA
May 03, 2012 9:48 PM
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Steve, NatsJack smoked you out of your hole. That was a very good outing. Yes, he has to go deeper in games. He finished with 92 pitches and 63 strikes which again, didn't get 4 or 5 outside strikes.
To the person yesterday who wants to trade JZim or Detwiler for a bat, uh, tonight is back on track to great pitching and a timely hit.
This is the Kardiac Kids. Maalox and Bourbon is the drink of the late innings.
This is why I also like a smart bunt or hitting behind runners to move them up.
Luckily Lombo's DP in the 8th didn't come back to haunt the Nats. Another 1 run win still counts as a win.
Desi with a double and a WALK and run scored!
Yeahhhhhhhhhhh! The Nats win! TTThhhhhheeee Natttttts winnnnnnn!
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