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Photo by Mark Zuckerman / NATS INSIDER Left-handers Gio Gonzalez faces Erik Bedard tonight at Nationals Park. |
Bedard is back on the mound tonight for the first time since that incident, facing the same Nationals lineup, which can only hope to enjoy more success against the lefty ... or whatever relievers end up in the game for Pittsburgh. Davey Johnson is going with a bunch of right-handed hitters, including Tyler Moore and Xavier Nady.
Gio Gonzalez, meanwhile, starts for the Nats, looking to bounce back from a shaky outing in Cincinnati on Friday. Gonzalez was dealing with a sore right hand that evening, the lingering effects of his awkward slide into third base his previous time out.
Updates to come, so please check back...
PITTSBURGH PIRATES 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 187
Weather: Partly cloudy, 80 degrees, Wind 7 mph out to CF
NATIONALS (22-14)
SS Ian Desmond
CF Bryce Harper
3B Ryan Zimmerman
1B Adam LaRoche
RF Xavier Nady
2B Danny Espinosa
LF Tyler Moore
C Jesus Flores
LHP Gio Gonzalez
PIRATES (17-19)
RF Jose Tabata
2B Neil Walker
CF Andrew McCutchen
1B Casey McGehee
LF Yamaico Navarro
C Rod Barajas
SS Clint Barmes
3B Josh Harrison
LHP Erik Bedard
UMPIRES
HP Tony Randazzo, 1B Alan Porter, 2B Larry Vanover, 3B Brian Gorman (cc)
7:06 p.m. -- We are underway on Military Appreciation Night (hence the navy blue jerseys with the stars and stripes logo). Gio Gonzalez starts off Jose Tabata with a fastball for strike one.
7:11 p.m. -- Gio serves up a base hit to Andrew McCutchen -- then again, who doesn't? -- but otherwise is sharp during a 15-pitch top of the first. Struck out Casey McGehee on a 94 mph fastball to end the inning.
7:23 p.m. -- Well, that would've really been something, huh? Bryce Harper came up just short of his third home run in three days, crushing an Erik Bedard pitch off the scoreboard in right-center. He settled for his first career triple, then scored seconds later on Ryan Zimmerman's RBI groundout. So for those keeping track, Harper now has nine extra-base hits in 17 career games, giving him a robust .475 slugging percentage. More importantly, the Nats lead 1-0 after one.
7:31 p.m. -- Stop me if you've heard this one before: A Nats starting pitcher is striking out Pirates batters in bunches. Gio strikes out the side in the second and has now gotten four Ks in a row, all swinging.
7:42 p.m. -- Looks like Gio is on tonight. Retired the side again in the third, striking out Bedard (who actually started walking back to the dugout after strike two before realizing his mistake). Thirty-seven pitches (26 strikes) through three for the lefty. The Nats still lead 1-0.
7:52 p.m. -- Ian Desmond destroys a slow, 1-2 curveball from Bedard into the left-field bleachers for his fifth home run of the season. Yes, his .304 on-base percentage leaves plenty to be desired. But did you know that the only shortstop in the National League with a slugging percentage better than Desmond' .447 mark is Rafael Furcal? Nats up 2-0 through three.
7:59 p.m. -- Seriously, if I'm Gio tonight, I might very well just intentionally walk McCutchen four times and trust in the fact nobody else in this Pirates lineup can touch me. The lefty caught a break in the top of the fourth when McCutchen crushed a ball to the warning track in left, coming just short of a home run. He's the only one who's come close to doing anything at the plate tonight. Through four innings, Gonzalez has yet to allow a run and allowed only McCutchen's first-inning single.
8:17 p.m. -- At this moment -- as Clint Barmes whiffs at a fifth-inning pitch from Gio -- your co-NL leaders in strikeouts are Stephen Strasburg and Gio Gonzalez, each with 56. Stop and think about all the pitch-to-contact guys who have come through D.C. over the last eight years and then appreciate what's going on here right now.
8:21 p.m. -- And now Gio takes the lead over Strasburg with strikeout No. 57 on the year. Unfortunately, it came moments after he served up an RBI single to Josh Harrison, who lined a single to center. Harper didn't get a good read of the ball and wound up getting there late, though I'm not sure he would've made the catch even if he took off as soon as the ball left Harrison's bat. Regardless, it's now 2-1 Nats heading to the bottom of the fifth.
8:35 p.m. -- Nine strikeouts for Gio through six innings. He's now tied with CC Sabathia for the MLB lead with 59. And the Nats have needed these tonight, because their offensive production has come to a grinding halt. Since giving up the Desmond homer, Bedard has retired nine in a row. So it remains 2-1 as Harper steps to the plate for the bottom of the sixth.
8:43 p.m. -- Bedard made it 11 in a row, seven via swinging strikeout, until Adam LaRoche and Xavier Nady took matters into their own hands. Back-to-back jacks from the Nationals' Nos. 4 and 5 hitters. LaRoche's shot landed in the right-field stands, his seventh of the year. Nady's landed way up in the left-field stands, his third of the year and second in his last four at-bats. Davey Johnson has been saying he needs to get Xavier's bat going. Well, I think we're seeing it happen before our eyes. It's now 4-1 in the sixth.
9:00 p.m. -- Uh-oh, Gio serves up a two-run homer to Josh Harrison, the Pirates' .188-hitting, No. 8 batter, on his 100th pitch of the night. All of a sudden it's 4-3 as we reach the seventh-inning stretch. If this score holds, I wouldn't be stunned if someone other than Henry Rodriguez pitches the ninth. Davey kind of left that door open earlier today when asked about H-Rod's availability. Made it sound like he might only use him in certain situations tonight (ie. if they're leading by three runs, not one).
9:16 p.m. -- You know what's a REALLY smart strategy right now? Loading the bases on walks for Adam LaRoche. And then leaving a right-hander in to face him. Guess what the result was: three-run double. That was the 1,000th career hit of LaRoche's career, and it earned him a standing ovation from the crowd of 25,942. It's 7-3 now as Tyler Clippard enters for the eighth.
9:32 p.m. -- Hmm, Clippard gives up a run in the top of the eighth, so that trims the lead to 7-4. And that gets Henry Rodriguez warming for the ninth.
9:40 p.m. -- Break out the Maalox and bourbon, everyone! Here comes H-Rod in a save situation.
9:50 p.m. -- See, piece of cake. Despite Barajas reaching on a Desmond error, H-Rod calmly struck out Barmes and got Harrison to ground into a game-ending, 5-4-3 double play to earn his ninth save in 12 tries. (We'll ignore the part where Ryan Mattheus was warming in the pen from the start of the inning). Nats win, 7-4.
103 comments:
The outfield makes me a bit nervous from the fielding side... Davey must have really liked that Nady home-run the other day to put him 5th.
Nady and Moore should be switched, but this is the lineup I expected.
Grandstander, why would you put Moore in right?
I don't like this outfield lineup either, but hey, I'm not the manager. Play ball.
I don't think Tyler Moore has ever played right field ...
Nady isn't too bad in right field.
Mayhap Grandstander was thinking of the right handed pull hitters hitting lots of chances to left field against the left-handed Gonzalez?
I think its kind of hard to hide and that side of the field will be vulnerable with newbie outfielders Moore and Harper.
I like Harper in center. Give your most talented player the most possible opportunities to make plays. Take the bad with the good because the good is SOOO good.
No, he has never played right, at least not professionally.
Ooops I guess he meant switching Moore and Nady in the batting order ...
I think its kind of hard to hide and that side of the field will be vulnerable with newbie outfielders Moore and Harper.
OTOH, they are not likely to stand there looking at each other as a popup falls 15 feet in front of both of them. So there's that.
Kind of a re-post question for any SABR experts out there:
Does Ryan Zimmerman get in more 1-2 counts than any everyday player in baseball?
I think he does. Can someone tell me?
Thanks
Ooops I guess he meant switching Moore and Nady in the batting order ...
Oh.
Nevermind.
An "oops" from Peric -- call the National Archives.
All of Harper's adventures in the OF -- left, center, right -- gotta have Davey reaching for the TUMS, or valium, or both.
I do think he can play CF, eventually, but right now it's difficult to watch at times.
I like Harper batting 2d. But, then -- is Nady the best "protection" for LaRoche available here?
It's time for Flores to suddenly break out.
It is time for Ryan Zimmerman to step up and start earning his $100 million contract. His power and clutch hitting have totally disappeared and he's probably hit into more rally killing double plays than any player in the NL.
Tyler Moore with a rare start. Once they go to the bullpen, I am sure Bernadina and Ankiel will enter the game.
No Lombo, again. Can't Danny get a day of rest even if you think one of the worst slumps is over?
Zimm was hot before his shoulder injury. give him time. it'll come back....
Mark -- probably no word on how both of Gio's hands are doing, so as not to tip off the Bucs to anything before it happens.
Guess we'll see by how much of his curve is there, and whether he swings away or just tries to bunt.
Hopefully Gio will be careful with the icy hot.
No Lombo, again. Can't Danny get a day of rest even if you think one of the worst slumps is over?
Seems like Lombo started more games in the infield than Chad Tracy or Mark DeRosa. He's already been in a lot? Thanks to the injuries he was playing a lot. Now with LaRoche and Zimmerman back its tapered off some.
do1teach1 said...
Kind of a re-post question for any SABR experts out there:
Does Ryan Zimmerman get in more 1-2 counts than any everyday player in baseball?
not ignoring you, but have no idea how to compare it to other players, except one-by-one.
Here are the guys on not Nats with the most plate appearances:
(times reached a 1-2 count; plate appearances)
Zimmerman 30 of 104, 29%
Espinosa: 46 of 147, 31%
LaRoche 31 of 126, 25%
Desmond 42 of 166, 25%
Werth 35 of 113, 31%
Ramos 30 of 96, 31%
Amongst those guys, RZ seems average, no?
I don't like pushing Harper all over the place in the outfield. He's 19 and struggling in the outfield. If he's the future centerfielder, fine put him there and let Ankiel switch back and forth in right or left. If he's the placeholder for Werth, OK put him there an leave him there. I just don't think it does anyone any good to play a different position every night.
Yes, I meant in the batting order, not on the field.
DC Wonk --
re: two-strike counts, one way of looking at it is that Zimmerman, among the group is average. Another way would be that all of them take a lot of pitches. I think Johnson, in a rare moment of candor a few days ago, suggested he thinks they are -- all of them -- taking too many pitches. (If he didn't say it out loud, I guess I imagined it. But he should have said it loudly behind closed doors.)
And a shout-out of thanks to those folks who responded to my (very late) post (on another thread) asking for stats on RZim's propensity to hit into DP's. Y'all are cool.
If he's the future centerfielder, fine put him there and let Ankiel switch back and forth in right or left.
Perhaps not. Corey Brown is on fire in Syracuse. Already has 7 home runs to lead the team along with Tyler Moore. And he is being groomed to bat lead off.
The competition continues for outfield spots. LaRoche may get to stay at first base until Skole is ready because both bat left-handed. Then there's Tyler Moore and Chris Marerro. Bernadina is still in the mix.
Best to just let it play out and see where everyone lands.
Wilson Ramos back at Nats Park today. Won't have surgery for 2-3 weeks. Says no chance of returning this year
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Tough to read those words. His offensive numbers were near the top of the team for OBP and OPS and much better than Ryan Zimmerman. Hoping that JFlores and come close to those numbers or exceed them. That .354 OBP will be hard to get to. Wilson had also just found his power stroke and walk-off stroke. He had a HR on the day he was injured and another HR 4 days before that.
I did watch some of the O's game last night. I hate to admit it, we have a tough series coming up. Regardless of what happens, ol Mick aka Francis will be very happy this weekend watching my baby girl graduate college up in the Bronx. She is a sweetheart with one flaw.... her freaking boy friend and family are die hard Mets fans and obnoxious about it!
Zimmerman's wOBA is about .320. That's below average the average mean about .340. His pRAA is at the median mark at 0.0.
Long at bats are nice to tire a pitcher but nothing works better than getting big hits, getting on base and putting pressure on the pitcher while creating one huge distraction.
The only better way is by scoring runs. Some pitchers are able to settle down after allowing runs ... but most seem to find a way to get deeper into trouble as the pressure increases.
Batting Zimmerman third is definitely hurting the Nats offensively at this stage. He typically breaks out in big way ... hopefully that occurs around the end of May through a very tough June.
Zimmerman's wOBA is about .320. That's below average the average mean about .340. His pRAA is at the median mark at 0.0.
Long at bats are nice to tire a pitcher but nothing works better than getting big hits, getting on base and putting pressure on the pitcher while creating one huge distraction.
The only better way is by scoring runs. Some pitchers are able to settle down after allowing runs ... but most seem to find a way to get deeper into trouble as the pressure increases.
Batting Zimmerman third is definitely hurting the Nats offensively at this stage. He typically breaks out in big way ... hopefully that occurs around the end of May through a very tough June.
re: two-strike counts, one way of looking at it is that Zimmerman, among the group is average. Another way would be that all of them take a lot of pitches. I think Johnson, in a rare moment of candor a few days ago, suggested he thinks they are -- all of them -- taking too many pitches.
Do they? I have no idea. I know that despite being 11th (of 14) in BA for the NL, the Nats are 7th in OBP, because of walks. They are 7th in walks this year (and 11th last year). I had assumed that was a good thing. But, perhaps Davey thinks we'd have more hits if they took less pitches? I dunno . . .
DC Wong -- How were you able to come up with those 1-2 percentages? Very cool. Thanks.
I don't have hard numbers, but we swing at WAYYYYY too many sliders in the dirt.
Yeah, we're talking about you, Espi.
Getting on base is better than not getting on, but you can't hit pitches you don't swing at, and walks very seldom become lucky doubles, or move runners from first to third, and maybe induce throwing errors in the process, etc.
Situational hitting--there are times when the risk of making outs doesn't outweigh the odds of doing better than drawing a walk (or bunting, but that's another post, probably).
Sunshine -- don't forget Ankiel's fastballs at the eyes. That's swinging at them, not throwing them.
RIP chuck brown. 75. Go-go to heaven
Saw him at rfk before the get yoir red on promo when lerner spruced up the park.
Concur with the condolences for Chuck Brown. I hope the Nats smack a bunch of HR's in his honor and the PA guys blare "Bustin Loose" each and every time.
Right on, erocks. Let's heat lots of that this week!
GYFNG!
http://youtu.be/wwHi10qX8u8
Bustin Loose
To expand on my thought about about this outfield: [It's all about me, BTS] The lineup just doesn't read right or feel right. It looks like they're asking BH to essentially be the captain of the outfield. And he's 19. When I was 19 I couldn't find my butt with both hands.
Someone above commented on RZ's offense. If I'm not careful, Cal Ripken's late career performance at the plate comes to mind. I sure hope RZ doesn't descent to that.
What is up with Gio? He threw one lousy curveball the entire 1st inning and that was the one McCutcheon smashed between the 5/6 hole.
Desmond back to swinging at 1st pitches. In his last 5 games, he hadn't swung at a 1st pitching in the 1st inning.
Yay Bam Bam
I highly dislike it when desmond swings at the 1st pitch of the ball game.
Gio is bringing it tonight.
Gonat said...
What is up with Gio? He threw one lousy curveball the entire 1st inning and that was the one McCutcheon smashed between the 5/6 hole.
May 16, 2012 7:13 PM
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Glad FP takes notice. After the 1st 2 batters in the 2nd inning
2nd pitch to Barmes was the wicked curve. What a great 2nd inning!
Man, The Kid is fun to watch.
I've been making the case of late that moving Ian down in the order would get better on-base percentage at the top and give Desmond more chances to knock in runs.
Guess who leads the Nats in extra-base hits. It's Desmond with 16, followed by LaRoche with 15.
With tonight's triple Harper already has 9 extra-base hits, tying Jayson Werth for third. How good is Harper already? He has his XBHs in 61 at bats, to 98 for Werth, 118 for LaRoche and 160 for Desmond.
NatsJack, the tilt on the curve to McCutcheon was too flat. The one to Barmes was wicked. Even when they know his curve is coming, nobody can hit the wicked curve. Most take it hoping it doesn't fall in the zone.
phil duncan: If you assume all GIDPs are 'rally killing' and you're not trying to add some other elements to your definition, then you should be aware that Ryan Zimmerman has not grounded into more GIDPs "than any player in the NL." Mr. Zimmerman -- with five GIDPs -- ranks 6th (tied with nine other players). Among those with more are David Freese (8), Hanley Ramirez (6), and Ryan Roberts (6). Among those who also have five are Jose Reyes and Aramis Ramirez. Among those just one GIDP back (with four) are Matt Kemp, Andre Either, Troy Tulowitzki, David Wright, and Starlin Castro.
Ian!!!
Anyone notice how Zim is topping most of the balls. Can't wait for the line drives to come back. Batting average dropping, now at .225
Make that 17 extra-base hits for Desmond.
He has five home runs and a dozen doubles and triples, but he only has 15 RBIs.
Why isn't he hitting behind LaRoche?
1A. Yes i sent FP a tweet about Ripken and the koolaid. FP said he was going to leave a red koolaid pack on his chair.
NatsJack he is really good.
Yes, yes he is. Sadly i think we would have to give up soooo much to get him.
NatsJack, he didn't let the bad call by the ump or Bryce's hesitation to cost him a crooked number.
Det and Stras need to learn from Gio and JZim seems better at this compared to last season.
Did Harper misplay that liner to center?
Another horrible at-bat and Zim walks away even before the appeal. Man-o-man. That reminds me of an at-bat I saw too much of by Espi.
At least LaRoche is swinging the lumber!
Seriously. Just loving ALR. Pittsburgh must hate him.
Nady too?!!!!,,???
NatsJack in Florida said...
Gonat... I'm saying Detwiler would have.
May 16, 2012 8:40 PM
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I know you are but I know people tiptoe around Stras and he suffers from "frustration" runs also. Nobody as bad as Det though. I wouldn't be surprised if its not in the other team's scouting reports that once you rattle him you pour it on.
Hey Pepcid, these old geezers can hit.
Lannan getting lit up tonight. Marlins are beating up the Braves.
Just saw Werth giving a congratulatory handshake to Nady. Nice.
oh Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuudge
NatsJack on Stras/Det. Well said. Well said. Now lets see what Zim learned in his discussion with Eckstein.
When was Zimm's last home run? I can't even remember.
This has to be the first base clearing hit of the year
Why, oh why couldn't they get Prince Fielder? This LaRoche guy is a bum!
IMO this is a better line-up w/out Werth...I know his numbers looked good, but if you actually watch the games, he was not producing runs...and if you watch Pitch F/X, he was unable to hit fastballs down the middle..
For those that kept saying a healthy LaRoche would return to career norms, you are smart people. I think about 6 posters said that with regularity when others were calling for LaRoche to be traded for a bag of balls.
Laroche needs a triple
NatsJack!! A lot better than the days you and I were watching guys like: P. Orr, R. Langerhans, WM Pena down in Viera!
The best shot was of Bo Porter escorting Harper close to home, and then racing back to third wind-milling his arm the entire time to send Zim home.
It is grand to see the progress of the team kicking into high gear. I think they are ready for the coming road trip.
They're pitchin to the King
Can they put these guys away already.
Adam LaRoche is channeling Wilbert Harrison: "I'm going to Kansas City, Kansas City, here I come."
July 10 at Kauffman Stadium, to be precise.
NatsJack in Florida said...
Gonat....his head pulled off the 3-0 fastball. If Eck can't get him to see the ball to the bat, Eck needs a new job.
And thank you Adam!
May 16, 2012 9:15 PM
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A center cut fastball and missed it by a lot. Everything is away and at least Zim didn't chase. Take the walk and tomorrow is a new day.
Oy. I need some bourbon and Maalox
9th inning will be end of the Pirates lineup.
NatsJack in Florida said...
Gonat....[Zimm']s head pulled off the 3-0 fastball.
Like Anne Boleyn. Over-swinging juuuuuuuuust a teensy bit.
and FP, I'd have let Harper swing on 3-0. What the hell.
HAHA..We Had better seats than Bowden and Stan for that one!
Henry warming up. Get me my Maalox
So NJ, are you saying that you could tell from the way that Det acted when he talked to you in FL that he has something to learn? Wow. Sounds like GWB looking into Putin's eyes and seeing his soul.
I don't think any of us would say that Det is comparable to Stras. But he's come a long way this year and I think you're dissing him unnecessarily, and too soon. He's not going to lead the league in ERA, but he's a very solid No. 4-5 already. And besides, he doesn't have to be as good as Stras to stay in the rotation, he just has to be better than Wang or EJ.
Barajas, Barmas, and Harrison. The combo of the 3 is below the Mendoza. He better mow through these 3.
Storen on Henry "I THINK he will be alright"
Maybe Henry needs a crazy beard or a mullet to be a great closer...The chin strap is so 2006...
The Good Henry !!!
The Bad Ian
and here it starts...
The defense is even nervous
The Fluid Flores
WOOOOOO HOOOOOO!!! E
Thank the Lord! Zim almost lost the handle on that. Good Henry came back.
Henry, Algo grande.
23-14
7 runs of offensive output sure is nice. Gio got the type of win a good pitcher deserves every once in a while. Gio was kind of unlucky and had good stuff. The offense this time picked up a pitcher.
YAAAY!!!
If Mujica does his job in Atlanta, the Nats will be back in 1st place.
Muchas Gracias, Henry.
Weak in the knees with relief! Henry affects me that way.
Its so wierd that we are all excited about a closer with a 3 run lead getting a Save against 3 of the worst batters in the Majors. You have Barajas that you can't throw inside heat to, Barmes in a deep slump and Harrison who you have to get reaching.
Their batting averages sit at .188 .155 .222 The Nats have pitchers with higher batting averages.
Would have been the perfect time to give Craig Stammen an easy one. Yes, happy Henry got it done but tomorrow is another day and more Maalox.
From Amanda:
--- Washington Nationals catcher Sandy Leon, who suffered a high right ankle sprain Monday night, four innings into his major league debut, is expected to miss about four weeks.
Leon said the Nationals told him in two weeks he will be cleared to return to activity.
Atlanta just lost. Nats back in 1st Place!!!!
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