 |
Photo by Mark Zuckerman / NATS INSIDER This year's Battle of the Beltways begins tonight at Nationals Park. |
Beginning tonight, the Nats will play 30 of their next 33 games against teams that currently own winning records: the Orioles (twice), Phillies, Braves (twice), Marlins, Mets, Blue Jays, Yankees and Rays. The only team that's not over .500 during this stretch: the Red Sox, who are two games under and showing signs of life. Wow, good luck with that.
First things first, of course. Tonight, it'll be Edwin Jackson on the mound against Baltimore's Jake Arrieta. Plenty of updates and analysis to come throughout the game, so please check back often...
BALTIMORE ORIOLES at WASHINGTON NATIONALS
Where: Nationals Park
Gametime: 7:05 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN, MASN2, MLB.tv
Radio: WJFK (106.7 FM), WWXT (92.7 FM), WWXX (94.3 FM), WTEM (980 AM), WFED (1500 AM), XM 183
Weather: Mostly clear, 72 degrees, Wind 8 mph in from RF
NATIONALS (23-15)
SS Ian Desmond
LF Roger Bernadina
3B Ryan Zimmerman
1B Adam LaRoche
RF Bryce Harper
2B Danny Espinosa
CF Rick Ankiel
C Jesus Flores
RHP Edwin Jackson
ORIOLES (25-14)
LF Xavier Avery
SS J.J. Hardy
RF Nick Markakis
CF Adam Jones
C Matt Wieters
3B Wilson Betemit
1B Chris Davis
2B Robert Andino
RHP Jake Arrieta
UMPIRES
HP Sam Holbrook, 1B Andy Fletcher, 2B Rob Drake, 3B Joe West (cc)
7:07 p.m. -- Edwin Jackson starts off Xavier (don't call me Xavier Nady) Avery with a strike, and we are underway. Late-arriving crowd, as is often the case here on Friday nights, but it looks like it should be a good-sized gathering.
7:18 p.m. -- Well, that wasn't the way Jackson (or the Nats) wanted to start this game. He walked Avery, then fell behind 3-0 to J.J. Hardy, then served up a double to Nick Markakis, then gave up a weird, infield single to Adam Jones that hit the rubber and shot about 50 feet into the air. That scored Avery and put the Orioles up 1-0, with the threat of even more damage. But Jackson got a really big, 6-3 double play out of Matt Wieters to end the inning and avoid anything worse. He really needed that.
7:28 p.m. -- A two-out single from Ryan Zimmerman isn't enough to get the Nats going in the bottom of the first. Jake Arrieta strikes out both Roger Bernadina and Adam LaRoche during a scoreless frame. So it remains 1-0 as we head to the second.
7:34 p.m. -- Much, much better stuff from Jackson in the top of the second as he strikes out the side, all of them swinging. He got Wilson Betemit on a 96 mph fastball, Chris Davis on an 87 mph slider and Robert Andino on a 95 mph fastball. Pretty, pretty good.
7:44 p.m. -- Bryce Harper didn't get credit for a hit in the bottom of the second, but his hustle allowed him to reach second base, because he forced Andino into rushing his play on the slow roller and eventually booting the ball into the photographer's well for a two-base error. Harper then took third on a flyball to center (though Jones nearly gunned him down) but he was stranded there as Rick Ankiel struck out and Jesus Flores lined out to right.
7:48 p.m. -- Well, now the official scorer has changed the call on that Harper play. He's now credited with a single, advancing to second on an E4.
7:55 p.m. -- Jackson is kind of dancing with the devil here early on, but he's getting away with it for the most part. After allowing a one-out double to Avery in the top of the third, the right-hander needed to buckle down to prevent the run from scoring. He did just that by striking out Hardy on an 89 mph slider -- not too many pitchers out there who have that pitch in their repertoire -- and then getting Markakis to ground out to end the inning. Edwin's got five strikeouts now, all of them swinging. The Nats still trail 1-0 heading to the bottom of the third.
8:05 p.m. -- Another opportunity for the Nats in the bottom of the third after Desmond singled and then stole second with two outs. But Zimmerman inexplicably watched a fastball sail right through the heart of the strike zone to end the inning. It's still 1-0.
8:14 p.m. -- Nice job by Jackson since that shaky first inning. He's now retired 10 of 11, only two of those 11 Orioles batters getting the ball out of the infield.
8:26 p.m. -- A Web Gem from Ryan Zimmerman helps Jackson get through the fifth unscathed. He's retired 13 of 14 now. But the Nats still trail 1-0 as we reach the midway point of the game.
8:44 p.m. -- Jackson pitches out of a jam in the sixth, striking out Jones to strand a runner on third. He's got 7 Ks now through six innings, but he still trails 1-0.
8:48 p.m. -- Ian Desmond to the rescue! Crushes a pitch from Arrieta into the left-field bleachers to lead off the bottom of the sixth and tie this game 1-1. That's Desmond's sixth homer of the season, in Game No. 39. That puts him on pace for 25 for the year. I'm not saying he's going to pull that off, but he's certainly capable of blasting 15-to-20 when it's all said and done.
9:02 p.m. -- Jackson has really turned this into a big-time start. With a 1-2-3 seventh, he's now allowed one run on four hits, striking out eight while needing only 88 pitches to do it. Impressive stuff. Still 1-1 at the seventh-inning stretch.
9:04 p.m. -- Tonight's official paid attendance: 36,680. That included a walk-up of 5,300. Solid.
9:09 p.m. -- That was some pretty terrible execution there from the Nats in the bottom of the seventh. After Harper led off with a single, Espinosa attempted a drag bunt with two strikes and hit it foul for a strikeout. Then Ankiel and Flores each made outs on foul-popups. Not good. We go to the eighth, still 1-1, and Jackson still in the game.
9:18 p.m. -- That'll do it for Jackson, who capped off a really strong night. His final line: 8 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 1BB, 8 K, 95 pitches, 63 strikes. The key: After walking the night's first batter and then falling behind 3-0 to the next batter, he didn't issue another walk.
9:23 p.m. -- We go to the ninth. Tyler Clippard on for the Nats.
9:33 p.m. -- Clippard does his job. We go to the bottom of the ninth. Due up: Zimmerman, LaRoche, Harper. This would appear to be the Nats' opportunity.
9:42 p.m. -- And that would be a squandered opportunity as Zimmerman, LaRoche and Harper all can't get the ball out of the infield. So we're going extras. Sean Burnett enters for the 10th.
9:55 p.m. -- Burnett walks Betemit to open the 10th but pitches around it to keep this game tied 1-1. It's Espinosa, Ankiel and Flores in the bottom of the 10th against Kevin Gregg.
10:02 p.m. -- Well that wasn't good. Espinosa gets plunked to start the inning, but then Ankiel pops out weakly to short and Flores grounds into a 4-6-3 double play. Let's play 11! I'll have to ask my colleagues on the Orioles beat at what point we should look for Chris Davis to start warming up.
10:07 p.m. -- Not a good 11th from Ryan Mattheus. He nearly gave up a homer to Hardy, who sent one to the warning track in center before Ankiel tracked it down. No chance for anyone to track down Markakis' subsequent blast, though, which landed in the second deck down the right-field line. The Orioles take a 2-1 lead.
10:21 p.m. -- And that will do it. The Nats tried to mount a two-out rally, putting two on, but still lose 2-1. And combined with the Braves' win tonight, they're now 1 1/2 games back in the NL East.
188 comments:
I'll be there tonight. Go Nats, Go!!!
I think the Red Sox are under .500 as we sit here today, but the point stands. This is a crucial stretch.
And you know what? I'm pretty confident the Nats can get through it without too much damage. It's just hard to picture them losing more than half those games when Zimmermann, Strasburg and Gonzalez are starting 60% of the games.
If the Nats are still 8-10 games over .500 after these 33 games, they're in the race to stay.
Will be interesting to see what happens. Sometimes it seems like they're really geared up for the "good" teams, and maybe not quite as much for the "bad" teams. The Nats always seem to have played the Yanks pretty well. Anyway, we'll just keep grinding, take it one game at a time and, good Lord willing, maybe be able to help the ballclub. :-)
I'll be watching from the basement baseball viewing lair tonight. My tix are for Sunday. Go, NATS!!
I'm going to the game tomorrow for the first time this year. Does anyone know if the private parking lot off Potomac and South Capitol across from the home plate entrance is still operating this year?
Breaking news from the Department of Grasping at Straws: Red Sox = .474 :-)
Here's where we find out if the Nats are going to be a playoff contender ... its going to be a dog fight from here on out. After the surprising O's comes the NL East. Then into inter league play against the rest of the AL East and Baltimore again.
At the end of this month the statistical sample size should be large enough to take some pretty good stabs as to where the Nats could end up at the end of the year. After June you can figure out just how accurate it could end up being.
A healthy Michael Morse can't come back soon enough plus back to April style pitcher dominance.
Wendell, if you are talking about the Lot that has the big PARKING sign you see before you go over the brigde by homeplate entrance (off to the right)the one with the cement trucks, yes it's open and it's smaller and its $17 this year
GYFNG!!! Beat the Birds!
Meanwhile lead-off hitter Corey Brown's BA climbs toward .300. He has 7 home runs and 19 RBI all from the lead off spot. In spite of what Fangraphs says methinks with Davey in town he'll reach from within for his CF. Brown looks like he could get a shot at that spot as opposed to Harper. Werth either ends up in left field (not right with Harper there) or on the bench if Morse continues to rake when he gets back.
So you think that by the time Werth is ready to come back, the outfield is going to be Morse/Brown/Harper and if Morse is hitting well, Werth will ride the pine; if he's not, Werth will replace Morse?
Can I have some of what you've been smoking?
Sec222, I really like Brown and he may be werthy of a call-up but let's face it, he's not even on the 40 man and they would have done it already if Rizzo thought he'd be an upgrade.
Get Morse back and send Moore back so he can get some regular reps. The outfield at the end of July will be Morse-Harper-Werth w/ Ankiel as 1st off the bench.
I don't even agree with the previous commentor that Davey would pull Zim from the #3. It just doesn't seem Davey's style. It took him 20 games too long to pull Espi from the #2.
Zim showed last night some signs of progress. In hindsight, the team should have had him get some rehab in AA before he came back. Just hoping he snaps back soon to the old Zim.
I sure hope the Nats are "geared up" for this stretch, and that the pitching returns to April form. Otherwise, it could be a long and difficult stretch and optimists here are going to have a rough go of it.
MichelleS,
Thanks.
We have the better hitting pitcher tonight!
Ghost, agree 100%. Davey is not going to "demote" Zim. Not now, not ever.
Was there a hidden meaning to saying that Brown is "werthy" of a callup? :-)
Beginning tonight, the Nats will play 33 consecutive games against teams that currently own winning records: the Orioles (twice), Phillies, Braves (twice), Marlins, Mets, Red Sox, Blue Jays, Yankees and Rays.
Actually, Mark, the Red Sox (18-20) are currently under .500. And of the other teams, the Phillies (20-19), Marlins (20-18) and Yankees (20-18) are within a game or two of .500. So four of these nine teams could probably be considered as "around .500." The Nats just finished up two weeks of basically .500 ball against four different teams, three of which (Phillies, Reds, Pirates) are also around .500.
So yeah, this is a tougher stretch coming up than what they've seen so far, but it's not as dire as you make it out to be. If they can navigate it by winning half the games, they'll still be 8 games over .500 at the end. That's not too tall of an order. Now they just have to go out and do it.
So are the pessimists, seeing as how they root for the same team and all. But there's a reason they play the games, right? :-)
Section 222 said...
I sure hope the Nats are "geared up" for this stretch, and that the pitching returns to April form. Otherwise, it could be a long and difficult stretch and optimists here are going to have a rough go of it.
May 18, 2012 4:21 PM
Section 222, yep on Werth-y. Did I ever tell you I cringe when the current 6 and 7 hitters get up to bat?
It would have been smart to send Moore back and see what Corey Brown could do before Morse was ready to come back. Brown in AAA is a true 5 tool threat. In the MLB, he is a 3 tool threat who would have to prove he could hit for average and power at the MLB level. As we all know, that's the real test.
Lombo in low and medium leverage situations has been excellent. Glad to see him in LF last night. Somehow they have to find playing time for this kid.
My thought is we have seen the best of Rick Ankiel and what his limitations are. Probably the same for Bernadina. Corey Brown is a wild card.
Somehow I missed the report yesterday by Dave Sheinin that DeRosa is making strides and could be return to the active roster at the end of next week. Rizzo and DJ are going to have some decisions to make with Morse perhaps coming back June 1.
Just saw your comment NatsJack after I just posted. Read my last paragraph at 5:06
NJ and Ghost -- Agreed on Bernadina, but not because of Corey Brown. If Moore goes down for Morse, or DeRosa, depending on who returns first, then Nady and Bernadina are on the bubble for the other spot. Bernadina may have the inside track to stay because he's a leftie, but he's had more of a shot to deliver this year than Nady has, and hasn't been successful. And with Harper on the squad, the need for another LF bench outfielder may be less than at the beginning of the year.
wendell - some lots fill up early. the pay in advance can be a ripoff - on the nats site - but it's guaranteed. just don't do what i did wednesday and have them hold the pass at will call, unless you want to drop someone at the window to pick it up, drive around , come back get them, etc etc etc. luckily i was taking the metro in anyway, so i could get the pass and meet my wife (and car)at the lot.
good luck
waddu eye no -
The cement truck lot Is a pretty good deal. It's somewhat inelegant, but it's right across the street from the Park. In the past, I have never been shut out but I understand it is smaller this year. It's private, so fewer people seem to know about it. There's also some free on-the-street parking if you're lucky.
Headed over to Hard Times in Clarendon to watch the game. I have five ticket free wings ticket stubs, so don't be shy about finding me. Tan pants, blue button down shirt. No Nats cap unfortunately.
Have fun!
I hate the MASN shared booth. This is all a concoction to make Angelos even more money. This guy is cleaning up on this.
In the pre-game they are interviewing Orioles fans and finding Nats/Orioles pairings in the stands.
Enjoy...
The o's are not as good as they look. They are .500 against >.500 teams and 12-3 against sub .500 teams. Nats are pretty uniform for most categories.
And Orioles were originally named the Canaries in 1872....What kind of name is that for a ball team.
(of course, the Washington Blue Legs played not too well in the National Assn in 1873, but we were originally and will remain the Nationals).
Yudel, 1st base side you will get Desi if you get there when he heads out to warm up + some of the Goon Squad and Bullpen guys.
Real interesting discussion on who stays and who goes when Morse and DeRosa come off of the DL. I'm thinking Morse for Moore and DeRosa for Nady to keep the same balance of LH and RH but we have discussed before that Rizzo reportedly has never been a Bernadina fan.
Nady finally showed some signs of life but Bernadina sure looks like he has more tools and probably more upside.
At some point you have to wonder if DeRosa is another Stairs. He was the worse player on the roster before he went on the DL .081 .227 .081 .308 and that isn't a misprint. A .308 OPS is lower than 3 of the starting pitchers (Stras, EJax, and Gio)
Braves....24 15 .615 ---
Nats......23 15 .605 0.5
Mets......21 17 .553 2.5
Miami.....20 18 .526 3.5
Phillies...20 19 .513 4.0
I can't remember the last time an entire division was over 500.
Looking forward to this series. I'm a Nationals man first, bot the O's are my AL team.
Here's to a Nationals / O's World Series sometime soon!
Great, Mike Boredick in the booth with Carp. There's a visitors TV booth for a reason.
EJax already trying to nibble and walks the leadoff man. TRUST YOUR STUFF. I have seen this scenario for the last 5 days starting with Detwiler and don't like this trend.
Drat. I was planning to listen to Charlie and Dave while watching on TV ... syncing the DVR to the radio broadcast thru MLB.com. Usually any audio coming from the Internet is behind TV, but this time my TV is actually slower. Not as much fun to hear what happens half a pitch before you see it.
Avery the leadoff guy is a .238 hitter. This is exactly what the problem has been lately with the pitcher game planning.
Walk comes back to haunt EJax
Have to pitch AJones like McCutcheon. EJax lucky that ball met the bottom of Jones bat or it is out 425 feet to straight-away CF for a 3 run HR.
Zim changed his bat to the Black LVS in case you all are into the trivia. I don't remember him using that for over 2 years. Seemed to help there.
Great adjustment for EJax attacking the back of the Orioles order. K Street
Someone needs to tell Jackson the games start at 7, not at 7:30. That lead-off walk was pathetic.
As was Ankiel's swinging K.
Ankiel has to be the worst with runners in scoring position or a guy on 3rd with one out. He's an automatic K in those situations.
That is just bad. Ankiel can't make contact...again.
Ankiel -- and Werth -- seem to think they can put a bat on those low and outside pitches. It's not defending the plate, fending off possible strike-3s, they really think they can serve it over the infield. Idjits.
What a surprise...another runner stranded at 3rd. Orioles get him in, Nats do not.
Glad there is a chorus of discontent on Ankiel's efforts lately.
My two biggest pet peaves have already reared their ugly head. Unless the batter is Andrew McCutchen, I cannot stand first batter walks (actually hate all walks, but espciall first batter ones).
Second can't stand a strike out of a batter, when a runner is on third with less than 2 outs, and all you have to do is ground out to second basbe, but you swing hard a strike out. (sub pet peave) I really hate when you do not swing at 2 strikes and swing at a rhird struke that is diving into the dirt.
Eckstein I blame for those kinds of strike outs, as he is not on the case as far as I can about swinging at balls and not swinging at strikes as most our strike out have both elements usually.
Ankiel has a great arm but on a team with no offense he shouldn't be in the starting lineup.
Exposremains said...
Ankiel has a great arm but on a team with no offense he shouldn't be in the starting lineup.
May 18, 2012 7:52 PM
__________________________
That's interesting. He ain't going anywhere unless a LH pitcher is on the mound and then until both Morse and Werth return.
Actually, they don't lack offense, they lack smart hitting.
Not sure we can blame Eck... I think hitting coaches in MLB are not exactly "in charge" of the hitters. The relationship is more like "I'll be here to help if you need it" It's not like an Off. Coordinator in football
But Manassas Fan is right, the approach of our guys with RISP and less than 2 outs is tough to take
GoNat
I wouldn't mind for a week LF Lombo CF Bernadina RF Harper against RH and LH. Ankiel defensive replacement.
Exposremains, you are preaching to the choir. That is exactly how you want it for now. Lombo needs starts between LF and 2nd. Espi will need some more of Davey's "mental breaks"
The problem with Ankiel is that he gets hot for a week and it buys him a month of playing time where well, he K's a lot.
Zim zim zim. Pitch track has Strike 3 about 1/2 ball outside of the middle of the plate. That's a mistake pitch that has to become a 2 run HR. SMH
Got to wonder. Zim takes two right over the middle of the plate. Desi steals second, and Zim takes one that couldn't have beem nore in the middle if wanted to. Agian what is Eck teaching. Take strikes with guys in scoring position so we can't score? It is not good at all. This approach stinks.
Exposremains said...
The problem with Ankiel is that he gets hot for a week and it buys him a month of playing time where well, he K's a lot.
May 18, 2012 8:05 PM
_____________________________
That is his pattern. Every time you think you have to glue him to the bench he hits a hot streak.
Ankiel has a hole in is swing approx the size of an SUV, just like most other pitchers...
The SLider bothered me less than the two fast balls Ankiel didn't bother swinging at.
F&I: Don't know if you saw earlier thread, but thanks for the link yesterday.
It does seem like the Eck approach is spend you 1st 2 ABs figuring out the pitcher and on the 3 AB get him. Depending on how many runs the Nats SP gave, you have a win or a loss.
These Orioles Broadcasters sound like newbies by saying over and over how great Arieata looks. Nats make every pitcher look like that.
The common donominator with all these batters is the coach. The hitting coach should be just like an offensive corrdinator in my opinion.
Epsinosa doesn't even bother to swing at one right over the middle. The one before 6 inches outside called a strike that one I don't blame him for the 33rd one right over the middle.
What are they looking for?
Making another chicken-winged RH look like Nolan Ryan.
Watching our offensive offense sure is frustrating. Even when they create the tiniest of opportunities they seem to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. Maybe they will be like last night - nothing, followed by nothing, followed by a scoring flurry. I thought for a few games there that the bats were waking up. Lately every guy we face is having the best game of his season and our pitchers are struggling in the first so they give up and early lead. Time for the goon squad yet?
There's no such thing as the "Eck Approach" He gives them info on the pitchers and advice on their mechanics...he doesn't determine their strategy at the plate
LOL...Mike Bordick, Mr. Excitement He's no Cal
I never want someone to lose their job but Eck needs to be replace just so the Nats players think to themselves: this guy we like lost his job because our offense is bad. Time to work harder.
Ankiel and Flores both ticked me off this inning. Had Ankiel grounded to second when harper was on third on Flores pinded on into the group, then harper scores. Situational hitting killing us.
Two runners tossed out now. Why the hit and run with Flores on first. the buunt would be fine.
Jack, I hope that was a missed sign or something...trying that with Flores running and a pitcher at bat is crazy
Its been going on for years and no accountability whatsoever.
NatsJack, I think what he is talking about making sure you have a plan which a lot of the "new school" hitting coaches like McGwire embrace plus he has sound philosophies.
"My theory is the majority of the time when hitters are struggling it is usually about pitches that they are trying to hit," McGwire says. "They are trying to hit pitches they can’t handle. The whole thing is they have to stay in their zone. They have to understand their strike zone. If you are going to go out of your strike zone and think that you can cover the whole 17 inches of the plate, it is pretty hard to do that up here in the big leagues. ... I don’t know of anybody that makes a big living hitting pitches that are off the plate."
Maybe not having an aprroach is our complaint. Charlie Lau one of the greatest hitting coach said you had to have an approach to every at bat and it was the hitting coaches job to coach.
Pitch this Jones guy carefully
Jack
He would probably do that to everything I have to say.
You often hear that Duncan he's a miracle worker with pitcher, is there a hitting coach thats considered a miracle worker.
NatsJack, a head scratcher. The bunt works better with the catcher on base because if you get a swing & miss he still has almost no chance to steal.
Still a low percentage on hit & run. Real bad.
Nationals Journal has been literally taken over by Poopy McPoop. He's taunting Nats fans.
Nice job by EJax...In other news, I think Flores just now arrived at 2nd on that steal attempt..
The reason why I always watch home feeds on MLB tv is that I dont have to hear the other guys. I really don't need all that pep talk for the Orioles.
Desi batting .275 now and I can't hear the haters. What rock did you climb under. I guess his High School coach knew what he was talking about.
That wasn't a bad pitch either, he went down and got it
NatsJack, it goes back to is it the student or is it the teacher? In the case of Espi and Ankiel, the answer is student(s)
Ump, come on. 4th pitch to Zim was a BALL
Desi swings at a fast ball middle half and hits a homer. That is what you do, you do not just take it.
An MLB hitting coach is like a caddy or maybe a QB coach in football. He's not the off. coordinator. He doesn't have the authority to make demands of the players...Advice and info only.
http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2012_05_18_balmlb_wasmlb_1&mode=gameday#gid=2012_05_18_pitmlb_detmlb_1&mode=gameday
Verlander on McCutcheon: Chase it! 0-2 with a walk!
Oh and by the way, Verlander has a no-hitter thru 7 full
Gonat, what was my comment this morning. Two worse offensive teams back to back in San Diego and Pittsburgh. Poor game planning.
What the f is going on? Espinosa bunting with 2 strikes? This isn't Little League. Sheesh
Steals? Bunts? Somewhere Earl Weaver is wondering what his boy DJ is doing tonight. Very strange
The execution is just piss poor. 2 foul outs and a strikeout bunt attempt by your 2nd baseman who popped up foul the 2nd strike.
That is just terrible hitting approach (oh that is right the hitting coach isn't coaching approach). harper singles, then Epsonos K on a foul third strike bunt (no position player should ever have that happen), then 2 lazy foul pops.
Come on huys get serious. Two hitters are doing the job tonight the rest took annual leave.
Then my point is you need to change the funtion of the batting coach. Charlie Lau was hands on, and he is the best I know of. I would prefer a hands on approach. Why call him a coach if he is only an adviser (who isn't giving advise). Take him off the payrioll.
Ghost Of Steve M. said...
Gonat, what was my comment this morning. Two worse offensive teams back to back in San Diego and Pittsburgh. Poor game planning.
May 18, 2012 9:06 PM
______________________________
No doubt. Not that you expect a no-hitter into the 9th inning but you do expect a well pitched game with a plan. Neither existed in JZim's start yesterday, Strasburg's and Detwiler's starts against San Diego.
anybody thinks that Desmond could be more useful in the 6th spot
MASN puts 2 Nats up for player of the game and 1 O. If the Nats split their votes, guess who wins that vote.
Exposremains said...
anybody thinks that Desmond could be more useful in the 6th spot
May 18, 2012 9:18 PM
_________________________________
Yes, but there isn't a leadoff hitter on that roster who can do better than Desmond. Don't say Lombo because Davey isn't starting him.
LOL. Was Charlie Lau the guy with the 700 page play book?
NatsJack, you know I will answer that, Kevin Long, Mark McGwire and Derek Shelton
No hitter over for Verlander
I remember that book. Lots of pictures of G Brett.
Verlander No Hitter spoiled with 1 out in 9th
and mighty Harrison(you don't want to make a mistake on) breaks the no-hitter
Carpenter in his grand style jinxed Verlander
Great pitcher FPs with Clip covering 1st.
Nostalgic, for a good old-fashioned Zimmy Walk-Off... How'bout it?!
these stupid polls are just one more way for MASN to insult the Nats
I feel a LaRoche or Bryce BAM BAM lefty on lefty HR here! LaRoche is just happy that Arrieta is gone.
Kid... Kid... Kid.....
go ahead Bam Bam, swing for the fences!
That's how a LOOGY is supposed to do his job. Sucks though...no Walk-off there. On to extra innings.
Where is Belliard when we need him?
Rats. Good looking pitch, on the 'tracker...?
Extra innings...I think Bordick already left..
FP trying to get Bordick to loosen up, didn't work..
and the walk...
Where was that Strike 3 pitch???
someone should have told Burny that the Strike zone was a little high tonight...
MASN, how's about showing that pitch track?
All 6 pitches to W Bet were strikes on Pitch F/X...
Swift Eagle, I don't think 2 of them were as they were on the bottom of the zone and sure could have been called a strike by an ump that gives the low pitch. Pitch #6 was full ball in the strike zone. Blown call again.
but they show pitch track on swinging strike.
Lefty on deck Sean.
Gonat, You're right. I'm a fan, I want every call!
Exposremains, If you are looking at MLB Pitch Track it isn't entirely accurate. PitchFX site is the same technology MLB uses to judge the umps.
Swift Eagle, I'm a big homie and I had to tell the real deal. Still, pitch #6 was a strikeout. Should be inning over already.
1-1 game in the 10th inning...2 Orioles on the bases...and they are doing the wave!!! What a joke!!! Whoever is responsible for Terrance should be fired tonight!!!
Gonat
I meant that MASN showed pitch track on the swinging strike of I cant remember who and not on the non-call strike to Betemit
Much credit to Burnett. As much crap as I give on strategy, they pitched Hall perfectly. First 3 pitches were hoping he chased a ball out of the zone as they had they Lefty on deck.
TIME FOR ESPI or ANKIEL to be a WALK-OFF HERO!!!!
Expos, we were talking about the non-call on Betemit
Can the Boredick shut the "F" up. He's worse than the wave!
Lean in to that Danny!
1st HBP of the year!
and Bob repeats my post
Don't have to throw a strike to get Ankiel out
Ank with another horrible at-bat. BUNT because you sure can't hit
5 feet outside and Flores swings. WTF is going on?
Did DJ really thought Ankile was gonna hit an extra base hit here.
Carp jinxes the Nats once again. He seems to do that all the time on these dual broadcasts to make himself come across as impartial.
NatsJack, how much can I pay to knock him in his noggin?
If you bunt Espinosa in on 3rd now.
Not that it makes any difference with this team, but how can you not bunt Ankkkkkiel in that situation?
Why was DJ playing for 1 run in the middle innings, but not in extra innings?? Curious
Can anyone one this team sacrifice? All they do is swing for the fences--and miss.
Carp is just thanking cr-p. The Nats should of put this away a long time ago with all the chances they had.
Ankiel should have been bunting to get Espi to 2nd.
Davey, where is your head tonight?
Way to go Davey. Lead off man on first -- 10th inning, no out.
and you don't bunt. You let a .230 hitter swing away -- and a .240 hitter ground into a 4-6-3.
You don't manage at all, Davey. You stink. Totally.
Can there be a more mono-toned bore than Mike Bordick? Worse even than Ron Deer.
Sickening, just sickening. And we have to see the MASN cameras search out some Orange clad losers in our home park.
Way to go Davey. This one is on you. Way to swing the bat, Nick.
Haha, So the cheering fans in black and orange are O's fans? Thanks for telling me Bordick, I didn't know that
Man, listening to Bordick's monotone REALLY makes me appreciate FP.
FP is exactly right but many umpires would have punched out Markakis on that 1-2 pitch.
I hear lots of Lets Go O's cheeers. Will Washington ever draw its own fans?
the only time we fill up our stadium is when we play a team whose loyal fans follow their team.
What did Carp say at the top of the inning? The 61 HR Orioles haven't hit a Home Run tonight.
You're right, Gonat. this ump has not been good.
as long as nothing is done about the offense, this will keep happening.
At least Lombo will (hopefully) be leading off the bottom of 11. Maybe the Shark can win this one for us.
Okay .. does Davey steal Lombo -- bunt Desi --? or let him swing?
Once again the pitching holds the other team down for long stretches. The offense just stalls. Every time we get someone on, nothing happens.
I can't understand no bunt either. But here comes two runs, I just feel it.
Can someone do a Belliard here with a Walkoff?
Looks like the O's version of Henry
hahaha Now he bunts -- our hottest hitter. Good job. haha
Ought to be 3-0
Bunting doesn't mean you have to bunt balls
Now that is just unlucky.
Good job all around. Good job Davey.
You have Lombo steal second with a wild pitcher throwing --THEN YOU BUNT DESI.
Davey, you are an idiot.
Best Bernadina strikeout of the year
You gonna bunt Zim, now Davey ?? haha
Bold Approach by Bernadina there...
now we know why they don't bunt. Its a problem when leadoff hitter cant even bunt.
Such bad at bats this game. Really bad situational hitting. C'mon Adam. Make us feel good.
Prediction: not once this season will Davey ever take responsibility for a bad decision. He will throw the players under the bus.
OK, is this February? Because it feels like Groundhog Day, Bill Murray style.
Lombo hit by pitch. Desi sees wild high first pitch, followed by two more balls, but even though he's bunting, falls behind 1-2, then hits into a DP. What in the world are these guys taught? Oh, sorry,the hitting coach must teach something else.
PLEASE FIRE THEN HITTING COACH!!!
Desi really doesn't know how to do anything but swing away.
Hope that ALR can pull this out....
Best situation with LaRoche up and he nubs one back to the pitcher. Just one of the worst games from guys going clutch.
Listen to the roar of that crowd. An Orioles crowd.
check out Strop wearing his hat Gangsta Style. that's classy ... real classy.
baseballswami said...
Prediction: not once this season will Davey ever take responsibility for a bad decision. He will throw the players under the bus.
May 18, 2012 10:21 PM
____________________________
Tonight he will talk about poor execution and you know what, that part is true.
On the other hande, hit and run with the pitcher at-bat and a catcher running?
Ankiel not bunting?
Espinosa bunting with 2 stikes? HUH?
Desmond against a pitcher who can't throw a strike and he has the bunt sign on instead of the TAKE until he threw a strike. Where is the brain? We are saying this as it is going on and not in hindsight.
Very disappointed plus the umpiring was beyond bad behind the plate.
This is on Davey - Ankiel should have bunted Espi over in the previous inning. Instead, he chased fastballs at his neck and we didn't advance the runner.
I know Davey likes big hits, but in that situation, you need just one run. A bunt was called for.
I know it's one game, but we have given away our most of our losses recently. We seem to have lost a lot of discipline in the field and at the plate, and we sure as hell can't hit.
Burnett wears his hat the same way. But I understand your frustration. I'm pissed. Espinosa, Ankiel and Desmond had some horrible at bats tonight. Shake it off. Two more to go.
Strop looking like Henry Rodriguez and the Nats let him off the hook.
I don't mind Desi showing Bunt but you can't help Strop out.
Davey said it well "You don't have to force the execution of the bunt"
D'Gourds said...
Burnett wears his hat the same way. But I understand your frustration. I'm pissed. Espinosa, Ankiel and Desmond had some horrible at bats tonight. Shake it off. Two more to go.
May 18, 2012 10:27 PM
________________________________
There was nothing wrong with Desi's at-bats tonight and as a matter of fact he is the only reason it went to extra innings unless you forgot that. Even that doubleplay was smashed. Easily could have been a double or triple if the 1st baseman wasn't on the line. That's why its a game of inches.
What a disappointing effort by a mass majority of the team. Ejax made one mistake walking the first batter, and it back fires.
Desmond can't get a bunt down, and then grounds into a double play. (that is coaching for sure, despite the fact some of you think coaches are just advisors. That is why they should be coaching).
97 MPH pitch to end the game on an 2-0 pitch that dribbles 50 feet. One of the few times all year ALR looked clueless.
Still can win the series, but sure can't with the hitters taking the night off again.
Go at, the bunt attempts on balls that were way out of the zone - that was an at-bat that was beyond bad. He hit the DP ball hard, but he should have WALKED. That was pitiful, and Davey called Desi on it in the postgame. No, I'm not a Desi hater, but my 11 year old son knows to lay off pitches when the pitcher is struggling. And if the team needs a base runner (and always if the bases are loaded) he will let a wild pitch hit him. Sometimes, these Nats cannot think.
Manassas Fan,
I guess we just disagree on the role of a MLB hitting coach. I don't think Eck is deciding who bunts and which guys take more pitches or choke up. I don't think it's his role. maybe it should be, but it isnt.
Agree to disagree
If it isn't his rile, why pay him?
he writes all kinds of things in his binder. Seems like a waste.
If I hire someone to coach a group, that would be what I would expect him to do.
Strategies are the managers responsibility, being trained to execute the strategy is the coach's responsibility. excuting the plan is the player's responsibility, and few of our hitter's take that resposnibility and actually do it in RISP situations.
Easier to fire the hitting coach and at least pretend you care, than to just let it go.
We do not agree on what the role is I can tell.
However the get rid of Eck bus is alive and well (and has been for three years) at my house. I know if I did my job that poorly I would get canned.
Post a Comment