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File photo by Mark Zuckerman / NATS INSIDER Stephen Strasburg faces Brandon Beachy today at Nationals Park. |
So, let's try this again. Stephen Strasburg is on the mound. Michael Morse is in right field. Jesus Flores is behind the plate. There are a couple of changes to Davey Johnson's lineup: Because the Braves decided to skip left-hander Mike Minor's turn in the rotation and keep right-hander Brandon Beachy on schedule, Steve Lombardozzi returns to left field and the leadoff spot. Also, Morse and Adam LaRoche have been flip-flopped, so LaRoche is now hitting cleanup with Morse fifth.
The biggest change of the day, however, involves the postgame concert. Dierks Bentley had to cancel due to a family emergency, so Big and Rich will now be performing. Adjust accordingly.
I'm actually off today, but Rich Dubroff will have full coverage on CSNwashington.com, and I'll be sure to link to his articles here. I'll be back at the park for tomorrow's abbreviated series finale against the Braves...
ATLANTA BRAVES at WASHINGTON NATIONALS
Where: Nationals Park
Gametime: 4:05 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN, MLB.tv
Radio: WJFK (106.7 FM), WFED (1500 AM), XM 183
Weather: Mostly sunny, 76 degrees, Wind 12 mph LF to RF
NATIONALS (29-21)
LF Steve Lombardozzi
CF Bryce Harper
3B Ryan Zimmerman
1B Adam LaRoche
RF Michael Morse
SS Ian Desmond
2B Danny Espinosa
C Jesus Flores
RHP Stephen Strasburg
BRAVES (28-24)
CF Michael Bourn
3B Martin Prado
C Brian McCann
2B Dan Uggla
1B Freddie Freeman
RF Jason Heyward
SS Andrelton Simmons
RHP Brandon Beachy
LF Jose Constanza
UMPIRES
HP Derryl Cousins (cc), 1B Ron Kulpa, 2B D.J. Reyburn, 3B Jim Wolf
Y'know, I feel for this Bentley guy, and I hope things are okay, but man, after seeing his name 18,000,000 times this season it cracks me up that he ain't coming. Jeez.
ReplyDeleteUh Mark have to agree with your Freudian faux pas ... but I suspect you might wish to put Bryce Harper in CF.
ReplyDeleteYeah, FP was really pushing Dierks Bentley ... now what's he going to say. Aqua or Agua in bocca FP.
ReplyDeleteIf Dierks Bentley is a no-show, why even bother going???
ReplyDeleteThere was supposed to be a ruling in the MASN dispute...
ReplyDeleteAnyone hear anything?
Does this mean the concert features Big and Rich Dubroff?
ReplyDeleteSome notes:
ReplyDeleteAccording to Joel Sherman of the New York Post, the Mets plan to push back Johan Santana ''a day or two'' for his next start.
Santana threw a career-high 134 pitches in his no-hitter Friday, a huge number for someone coming off major shoulder surgery, so Mets manager Terry Collins wants to give him some extra rest. This would all seem to indicate that Miguel Batista (back) will be activated from the disabled list to start next week.
MLB suspended RHP Josh Wilkie 50-games for violating the league's policy against banned substances.
Wilkie told MASN.com's Byron Kerr that he was suspended for a spice in a type of flavored tobacco. The spice is legal, but apparently not permissible according to the banned substance guidelines. Wilkie, 27, is 0-2 with a 4.76 ERA in 18 games this season with Triple-A Syracuse. He'll begin serving the suspension immediately.
Syracuse infielder Josh Johnson has been placed on the restricted list.
TimDZ, the only ruling I heard about was a ruling that the local company in North Carolina does NOT have to carry MASN. Bad luck for Nats (and O's) fans, because MLB.tv considers NC to be part of the Nats area, so they have no way to watch games (except satellite).
ReplyDeleteThat should be ...local CABLE company....
ReplyDeleteTimDz
ReplyDeleteJust keep your eye to the north. There should be a head exploding off a cable owner's body when the ruling is delivered today.
I don't know anything about Dierks Bentley or whatever, but I'm excited about featuring THE BEST lineup we have featured this year. First time this season with 1-8 all players that are legit MLB starting caliber players (when they are right), and of course Stras (future silver slugger award winner) bringing up the bottom.
ReplyDeleteIf we ever had a chance to put up some runs on the NL ERA leader, this is the lineup to do it.
I agree with Christopher! GYFNG!
ReplyDeleteBarely made it in the stadium. Sold out except for standing room and Lexus. When did standing room go to $20????? Looking forward to a great game with Stras And Morse. Great weather, what's not to like? Go Nats!!!!!
ReplyDeleteDierks did his job: He sold the place out. Hope they give him some piece of the action even though he's a no show.
ReplyDeleteGreat day for Mickey Morse's Opening Day. Go Nats!
NatsLady, thanks for the link on Santana. 130 pitches these days is to 100 pitches "call it a day" almost like pitching 33% beyond their norm. Roy Halladay had been the exception to the rule.
ReplyDeleteScooter, my husband had a similar reaction when I told him about it this a.m. (we didn't have tix for today, anyway). :-)
ReplyDeleteNo disrespect to Mr. Bentley, but I wonder whether buzz about the Nats and their winning ways may be a factor in attendance as well. When I looked at tix for tomorrow on the team site, there weren't many sections showing up there, either.
On MASN, I've been wondering, too, Tim. I believe the panel decision was supposed to come on June 1, but crickets so far.
Last but not least: Go, Stephen! Go, NATS!!
Trying not to expect too much on MM's opening day!
ReplyDeleteWho needs Dirks Bentley? Last night we had 500 musical mobile lightning rods, or as the next poster said, Electric Light Orchestra!
ReplyDeleteWelcome back Michael Morse. Show everyone that you were born to hit!
GYFNG!
Oh, and happy Opening Day to Mikey Morse. :-)
ReplyDelete3 swinging strikeouts?
ReplyDeleteThe Strasburg dead-arm era may officially be over! 3
ReplyDeleteKS, 99 MPH fastballs. PFB!
PFB?
ReplyDeleteis everyone at the game except me?
ReplyDeletePretty Frickin' Bueno!
ReplyDeleteUm, and me? Working..... (sigh)
ReplyDeletesame here NatsLady.
ReplyDeletethanks Unkyd.
btw do they have backups umpires in case one goes down on the field?
ReplyDeleteNo backup umps. They just switch to a 3 man crew .
ReplyDeletewell I have to give Danny credit it wasn't exactly down the middle, it was an inch or two off
ReplyDeleteWish I was at the game. Just tried to look for tix for Sunday and there are mostly just singles left. Glad to see us draw one folks.
ReplyDeleteSome folks....
ReplyDeleteGreat to see Morse out there. You know he is amped up today.
ReplyDeleteJust noticed that pitcher is hitting eighth for Braves.
ReplyDeleteThere is nothing worse then listening to the Braves announcers; I don't know if there is any team of announcers that are more homers then they are.
ReplyDeleteI'm on radio duty, today, whole the ribs smoke... Never done ribs, before...
ReplyDeleteAn 8 and a 12 pitch AB by harper. Impressive.
ReplyDeleteThat would have been another doubleplay on Zim if there weren't 2 outs.
ReplyDeleteI'll put the White Sox announcers and John Sterling of the Yankees at the bottom of the pile.
ReplyDeleteBryce Harper puts up a great AB to see Zim go down on the 1st pitch.
ReplyDeleteEspinosa is hopeless and pathetic from the left side of the plate.
ReplyDeleteRe: Espinosa. He has his glove, memory of his first half rookie season, and an uncle named Davey to thank.
ReplyDeleteWell we can send the extra catcher back.
ReplyDeleteFlores is getting the swing back he had in winter ball.
I agree on the Braves announcers. I watched one game with out any sound last week they had shoved me so far over the edge.
Strasburg owns Uggla today!!!
ReplyDeleteEspinosa with a gift walk. We will take it!
ReplyDeletehonestly I would let SS hit instead of Bernie even if SS is not pitching the next inning.
ReplyDeleteTeam can't afford to use Nady as a right-handed DH option going into the inter-league games.
ReplyDeleteHuge mistake by Flores baserunning. What are you tagging for with one out?
ReplyDeletewait if nady doubled why didn't flores scored from 2nd?
ReplyDeleteFS -- maybe, if you're only looking at how we would perform at the plate. But you do NOT want to risk having anything happening to him running on the bases. So, no, it was wise to take him out if you're not going to run him out there for the next inning (and pulling him does conserve his innings).
ReplyDeleteAnd then... Nady!
Steady Eddie, my point was that I think we have given enough chances to bernie.
ReplyDeleteDarn, Flores cost the Nats an easy run there. Lombo fails on the bunt--twice
ReplyDeleteSteady, he was trying to tag up and should have been halfway and would have walked home. It was a double
ReplyDeleteJust saw the highlight on MLB. C'mon Jesus get yer head in the game.
ReplyDeleteBurnett!
ReplyDeleteGetting Bourn was the biggest out of the game. That probably helps the Nats having that lefty out of the way for the 9th.
ReplyDeleteGonat, I was responding to FS's earlier comment about not hitting for Stras.
ReplyDeleteFS -- re Shark, while I agree in general about enough chances, he actually hasn't done too badly pinch hitting lately. But that's no reason not to pinch hit for Stras -- we have all kinds of pinch hitters rather than Shark -- because you don't gratuitously risk injury to Stras on the basepaths.
ReplyDeleteawesome pitch, Clip!
ReplyDeleteWoW. Kardiac Kids do it again!
ReplyDeleteA signature Win!!!!
ReplyDeleteThat was an uncomfortable interview between KAkra and Stras.
ReplyDeleteStras just defined what a "stopper" is. Great game and a clutch performance.
ReplyDeleteLots of credit to Nady. That was huge. I bust on the guy a lot but nice to see that.
ReplyDeleteHow's about Klip reminding us how to close out a 9th!!!
ReplyDeleteThe Big Metro shuts down the Braves.
ReplyDelete(Is there an escalator clause in his contract?)
Hey Atlanta: "Doors are closing!"
Gonat, I agree... I have trouble seeing Nady as being part of a winning team but he did the job today. Credit where credit is due. I'll go back to complaining about him tomorrow lol.
ReplyDeleteWOOOOO HOOOOOOO! !!!!
ReplyDeleteat the game and Stas eas AWESOME!!!!
Wooooo Hoooooo!! Nice win. btw, could there be a new Goon Squad Sheriff in town? :-) Hope McCann is okay. That did not look (or sound) good at all.
ReplyDeletesm13, maybe some of those national pundits should eat a little crow. Doubt that they will, though.
sm13 said...
The Strasburg dead-arm era may officially be over! 3
KS, 99 MPH fastballs. PFB!
June 02, 2012 4:15 PM
Awesome!
ReplyDeleteAs usual, Strasburg comes back strong after his little "slump".
I absolutely love it when the Nats win by low scores :-)
Interesting fact about Clippard: he has been absolutely dominant over his last 14 outings (in case no one noticed :-)
13.2 innings, 3 hits, 1 run, 4 walks and 19 Ks.
Very impressive!!
Stras was Verlander-esque today. When he needed the extra heat for a K he reached back from 96 to 98 a few times. I read someone said 99. If he did, impressive.
ReplyDeleteSteve, good point. Smart use of going into 4th gear. Have to leave something in the tank.
ReplyDeletePerfect use of Ankiel, 9th inning defensive replacement!
Joe Seamhead is a happy man, sitting around the shanty with a good buzz on. Bluegrass musicians playing guitar and mandolin, with terrific harmonies in the dining room, all celebrating your Washington Nationals! Great win! GYFNG!!!
ReplyDeleteSo who were we going to trade JFlo for???
ReplyDeleteWas pleased to be there for a very nice game. I was in Section 133 on the third base side, so the sun was on us all afternoon. But no matter, Stras was pitching well and it was nice to see Flores back in the lineup. His homer really charged the crow.
ReplyDeleteThey did not announce the attendance at the park but it turned out to be a good crowd. Because traffic was so awful in general and on the beltway especially, the crowd was thin at the opening pitch and people were arriving as late as the 5th inning.
Nothing like an afternoon game at the ballpark!
NatsJack, plus when you have your only 3-0 count of the day that the batter (Heyward) swung for an out.
ReplyDeleteOh, and the Fish (who I hate) beat Colbert (who I hate even more). His only 2 losses are to them and he has like a 6.00 ERA...
ReplyDeleteHow could you doubt that people notice what Clip is doing? Had long dispute a couple of weeks ago with some guy named Dave Nichols who was--needlessly--worried.
Burnett did OK too. Coupla wimpy singles, if I heard properly.
Fox is really annoying. I want to watch the Giants in their retro uni's but am stuck with Yanks-Detroit.
Pitching staff ERA is back under 3 (2.95) and K's are tied with Detroit at 438 (but Detroit is still playing). Hitters averaging .222 and WHIP is 1.13.
ReplyDeleteAnd we got Gio coming tomorrow. Life is good.
NatsLady said...
ReplyDeleteHow could you doubt that people notice what Clip is doing? Had long dispute a couple of weeks ago with some guy named Dave Nichols who was--needlessly--worried.
June 02, 2012 9:08 PM
________________________________
Nice to see some Saves that don't get your heart pumping super fast. I think it has helped that Clip is throwing more than just his fastball and changeup as he has added that cutter for a nice addition. Keep 'em guessing Clip!
NatsLady .. no bourbon and Maalox with Clipp on the mound!
ReplyDeleteHere's a reminder of the importance of the MLB draft, which gets under way with the first round on Monday.
ReplyDeleteEven in the worst years -- and some of the later Montreal drafts were awful -- this franchise finds major leaguers every single year. Here's a look at future major leaguers the franchise drafted in recent years. P.S. They drafted Tyler Moore three times.
2002
Mike O'Connor
Jason Bergmann
2003
Chad Cordero
2004
Bill Bray
Ian Desmond
Colin Balestar
2005
Ryan Zimmerman
Justin Maxwell
John Lannan
Craig Stammen
Tyler Moore (unsigned)
2006
Chris Marrero
Cole Kimball
Tyler Moore (unsigned)
Brad Peacock
2007
Ross Detwiler
Jordan Zimmermann
2008
Aaron Crow (unsigned)
Danny Espinosa
Tom Milone
Tyler Moore
Steve Lombardozzi
2009
Stephen Strasburg
Drew Storen
2010
Bryce Harper
Of course, we're only beginning to see the fruits of the Nats' three most recent drafts. With Goodwin, Burns, Martinson, Skole, Karns, Meyer and Purke we might have a handful of future big-leaguers in Hagerstown alone.
So, we might not know the players picked Monday through Wednesday, but you can bet that several will be future Nats.
A deep talent pool is about to get deeper.
41042. Great crowd. But will still got outdrawn by the Honduras-El Salvador soccer match at RFK (41,790)
ReplyDeleteDrew- Cool thanks for posting that info.
ReplyDeleteDrafts are very important, and this year I'm going to try and pay closer attention to the later rounds.
Well we can send the extra catcher back.
ReplyDeleteFlores is getting the swing back he had in winter ball.
Silly fan central .. ah gee if I am Davey I am looking at defense not offense. That being the case ... I'm carrying 3 catchers at lead through June.
If you don't understand why .. you don't understand baseball .. change your handle to dunce cap central.
some guy named Dave Nichols who was--needlessly--worried.
ReplyDeleteAlso worked up into a lather about anonymous posters ... he doesn't know much about baseball ... ignore.
Of course, we're only beginning to see the fruits of the Nats' three most recent drafts. With Goodwin, Burns, Martinson, Skole, Karns, Meyer and Purke we might have a handful of future big-leaguers in Hagerstown alone.
ReplyDeleteNice post and yup ... its why I was so vehemently anti-Riggleman. You would not being seeing this if Riggleman were still managing. Yes, any managers (including bozo's like Riggleman) requirements and philosophies carry deep into the minors.
No need to do a snoopy happy dance about the record ... Riggleman's voluntary departure is enough to do a Snoopy happy dance for days at a time.