 |
Photo by Mark Zuckerman / NATS INSIDER The Nats open a big, three-game series at Turner Field tonight. |
After asking their relievers to churn out eight innings in that wild game yesterday, the Nationals could desperately use a quality start out of Detwiler, who has reached the seventh inning only once in 10 previous starts this year.
The Nationals could also use a continuation of their offensive explosion from Coors Field. The air here certainly isn't as thin, though the scorching hot temperature should help the ball fly somewhat.
Plenty of updates to come live from Turner Field, so please check back often from the comforts of your air-conditioned living rooms...
WASHINGTON NATIONALS at ATLANTA BRAVES
Where: Turner Field
Gametime: 7:35 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN, MLB.tv.
Radio: WJFK (106.7 FM), WFED (1500 AM), XM 184
Weather: Sunny, 101 degrees, Wind 6 mph LF to RF
NATIONALS (43-31)
LF Steve Lombardozzi
CF Bryce Harper
3B Ryan Zimmerman
1B Adam LaRoche
RF Michael Morse
SS Ian Desmond
2B Danny Espinosa
C Jesus Flores
LHP Ross Detwiler
BRAVES (40-35)
CF Michael Bourn
SS Andrelton Simmons
RF Jason Heyward
3B Chipper Jones
C Brian McCann
LF Matt Diaz
1B Freddie Freeman
2B Jack Wilson
RHP Randall Delgado
UMPIRES
HP Ted Barrett, 1B Marvin Hudson, 2B Tim McClelland (cc), 3B Brian Runge
7:00 p.m. -- Some of you have been asking why Tyler Moore isn't in the lineup tonight after Davey Johnson suggested he would be getting more playing time. Well, part of the problem is that if Moore starts against right-handers (with Steve Lombardozzi on the bench), the Nats don't really have a viable leadoff hitter. Johnson has used Danny Espinosa in that role against lefties, but he's not quite comfortable yet leading Espinosa off against right-handers. Here's Davey's full quote when I asked him about that dilemma today: "I mean those are things that managers think about. I've got a young kid [Moore] who's swinging the bat pretty damn good, and if I put him in there that also changes someone else's role against right-handed pitching and who would my leadoff guy be? A lot of that is how other guys do. Espinosa is showing me a lot of progress with his hitting, and you know, he would probably be a really outstanding, good leadoff hitter. I like leading off a switch-hitter because you're always going to have a matchup in your favor. I think about all those things. I'll answer your question by putting them on the field against a right-hander. You'll know then it's time."
7:36 p.m. -- And we are underway on a 101-degree night. Yep, 101 degrees at 7:36 p.m. But at least it's a wet heat...
7:46 p.m. -- Couple of hits for the Nats in the top of the first as Bryce Harper beats out a chopper to third and Ryan Zimmerman sends another single to right. But an Adam LaRoche 4-6-3 double play killed the potential rally and sends Ross Detwiler to the mound for the bottom of the first. Oh, by the way, the Turner Field organist (who is known to come up with some very clever songs for opposing hitters) played "Send in the Clowns" when Harper stepped to the plate. Nicely done.
7:53 p.m. -- Speaking of "nicely done," Detwiler just cruised through the bottom of the first on only 13 pitches, getting two groundballs and a weak flyball to center. Solid start to the night for the lefty, who really needs to give the Nats at least six innings tonight.
8:10 p.m. -- Well, the Nats have taken a 1-0 lead. How they managed to do that, I have no idea because they were trying their hardest not to score in the top of the second. Danny Espinosa delivered a perfect hit-and-run single to right ... perfect except for the part where Michael Morse slowed down rounding second for no good reason. No worries, he made it to third fine. That, however, set up the strangest stolen base attempts you'll ever see, with Espinosa making it two-thirds of the way to second base before stopping dead in his tracks and getting caught in a rundown. Yet he somehow managed to get back to first base safely each time. Then Jesus Flores struck out on a 3-2 pitch that sure looked below the knees, only to be picked up by Detwiler, who roped an RBI single to right for his first hit in 15 at-bats this season. (He also very nearly was thrown out by Jason Heyward on the play.) Bizarrely, the Nats are up 1-0.
8:31 p.m. -- Good lord is the Braves' infield defense a disaster tonight, or what? Jack Wilson, Chipper Jones and Andrelton Simmons all committed errors in a span of about 90 seconds in the top of the third. That set the stage for Desmond to rope a two-out, two-run base hit to left to score both men who reached on the aforementioned errors. Desmond, though, was thrown out trying to advance to third when a throw to the plate got away, very nearly Atlanta's fourth error of the inning. If you've lost track of what I'm trying to explain, all you really need to know is the Nats lead 3-0.
8:48 p.m. -- Is it just me, or does it seem like the more Jesus Flores takes a beating behind the plate, the more he mashes the ball at the plate? After taking another foul ball in the, um, nether regions in the bottom of the third, Flores destroyed a 2-2 pitch from Delgado into the left-field bleachers in the top of the fourth. The Nats now lead 4-0 and already have seven hits. Who says it was only the Coors Field effect?
8:59 p.m. -- Another scoreless inning for Detwiler, who has four of them tonight to go along with five in his last start. And he's only thrown 50 pitches so far in this one, showing some impressive efficiency.
9:10 p.m. -- So, Zimmerman now has 11 hits over his last 5 1/2 games since having a giant needle jammed into his right shoulder. But perhaps even more important to the Nationals, Morse now has 11 hits in his last 18 at-bats. He's raised his batting average from .217 to .287! That's remarkable.
9:22 p.m. -- Stop me if you've heard this one before: Ross Detwiler dominated for four innings, then got himself into a jam in the fifth. Much of this was self-inflicted, including a up-and-in pitch that grazed Juan Francisco and then a fielding error on Michael Bourn's comebacker. That loaded the bases with two outs for Andrelton Simmons and brought Steve McCatty out to the mound. This was kind of a big spot for Detwiler, who often has been unable to overcome adversity, especially as he gets deeper into starts. Well, this time he pulled it off, getting Simmons to fly out to right. That keeps the shutout intact and keeps the Nats up 4-0 as we head to the sixth.
9:37 p.m. -- Detwiler needed only seven pitches to get through the sixth, so now he's at only 74 pitches. Might we see him back on the mound for the seventh? I think so.
9:48 p.m. -- Yep, Ross is back out for the bottom of the seventh, the Nats still leading 4-0.
10:05 p.m. -- And Ross departs before he can finish the inning. Or hold the four-run lead. Major meltdown from the lefty. He plunked Freeman in the back. He couldn't field Wilson's soft comebacker. He was called for a balk. He served up an RBI single to Martin Prado. He let another run score on a sac fly. And then, the really big mistake: a hanging, 79-mph curveball to Simmons -- shoulder-high -- that was slammed into the first row of the left-field stands for the game-tying homer. Detwiler stood on the mound, hunched over, hands on knees in disbelief before Davey emerged from the dugout to take the ball from him. Brutal way for an otherwise fantastic night to end for Detwiler. It's now 4-4 as we head to the eighth.
10:13 p.m. -- Well, that's one way to seize back momentum of a ballgame. Michael Morse, ladies and gentlemen. Destroys Chad Durbin's very first pitch to deep right-center for his third homer of the season. Morse is now 4-for-4 tonight and 12 for his last 19. And he's given the Nats a 5-4 lead in the eighth.
10:32 p.m. -- Channeling his inner Jim Riggleman, Davey pulled Morse for defensive purposes in the bottom of the eighth in favor of Rick Ankiel, who took over in center field, with Bryce Harper moving to right field. Which means Ankiel, not Morse, will bat third in the top of the ninth. Fortunately, Sean Burnett got through the inning unscathed, striking out McCann and then getting Diaz to ground into a 6-4-3 double play to end the inning. It remains 5-4 as we go to the ninth and Tyler Clippard begins to warm.
10:39 p.m. -- Here we go: Clippard to face Freeman, a pinch-hitter and Martin Prado in the bottom of the ninth, clinging to a 5-4 lead.
10:52 p.m. -- Clippard made it interesting -- he gave up a leadoff double to Freeman and then issued a one-out walk to Prado -- but he came through when he needed to and secured his 13th save and a 5-4 victory for the Nationals, who now lead the Braves by 4 1/2 games.
235 comments:
«Oldest ‹Older 1 – 200 of 235 Newer› Newest»love the idea of the 1924 throw back night, it is AWESOME!!!
Mark, is the press box air-conditioned there? Especially if not, pace yourself tonight! And keep plenty of Rally Napkins handy.
Davey I love you... but where is Tyler tonight?????
What a long, strange trip it's been. Well, not that strange, but I wanted to use the line. :-)
Will try to stay up and watch but no guarantees, so I'm happy to hear that our humble scribe is on the scene. Would be nice if Det had a bunch of good innings in him. We'll see. Go, DET! Go, NATS BATS and stay hot!!
Agreed re. the throwback night, Mick. We once attended a Nats game in Cleveland where they had one, and it was a fun night. Well, other than the loss that our guys took. It was the debut of Carlos Santana and he had himself a game, as did Fausto Carmona (if memory serves).
The Nationals' long, 10-day road trip enters its final leg tonight here in Atlanta, where the thermometer has been reading triple-digits all afternoon with no signs of cooling down.
D'oh - Rally Napkins! I knew I forgot something at the store.
I still like BH in RF. In CF he's the de facto captain of the outfield. And he's a 19 year old rooking. Puts a lot of heat on him, and puts him in the spotlight all the time.
But hey: play ball. Let's go.
Rally Napkins are out! Mark stay cool in that heat (and yes, I will be in the AC in front of the TV).
GYFNG! Go DET!!!
Mark, your post said "deserve," so that's how I voted. I think Harper will get in for the ad dollars....
TyMo hits righties better than lefties so far (.381/.458/.714 vs .313/.324/.531) so why would he be platooned?
I love Davey too, but I don't get it.
Most of you will be watching this game with the a/c cranked up, but my daughter and I will be sweating it out decked out in red and our Nats road caps about 6 rows behind the Nats dugout. You just can't predict the weather when you plan a road trip!
Go Ross. Hope the bats stay hot in very Hot 'Lanta! Go Nats!
On TyMo.. When he got picked off did he possibly tweak something? He looked awkward diving back in. Plus he might be exhausted after that 11 inning craziness in the heat yesterday.
I'll be away this weekend, but will be following the games in a variety of ways, particularly by periodically checking out Mark's updates and the comments here.
Enjoyed your blog post NL. You make a good argument, but I still think Davey should have used the very well rested Clipp (he hasn't pitched since Saturday!) yesterday. Not in the 11th instead of letting Stammen go 3 innings, but in the 9th, before Stammen came in. Depending on how quickly that inning went, he could have let Clipp pitch the 10th too, either to close out the win, or to keep the Nats' hopes alive. That would have left Stammen as the last man standing (assuming CMW was not really going to pitch despite doing some throwing), and he might have been pitching for the first time in the 11th. As it was, if Stammen had succeeded in getting out of the jam, Clipp would have had to throw the next inning and go as long as necessary. If Davey was saving Clipp for the Braves series, that was a pretty big risk to take.
Nonetheless, the percentages you calculated are interesting. That's alot of walkoff wins! Still, to keep our best reliever who hadn't pitched in nearly a week on the bench was a mistake in my opinion.
Hmmm, no Tyler Moore.
I love Davey too, but I don't get it.
Tis the season to be traded ... tralatralatralalala.
Lombardozzi ... not Moore.
Glad to see Dan Uggla missing from the Braves lineup.
Most of you will be watching this game with the a/c cranked up, but my daughter and I will be sweating it out decked out in red and our Nats road caps about 6 rows behind the Nats dugout. You just can't predict the weather when you plan a road trip!
You can always chill down with the King of Pops fresh homemade popsicle or a trip to the Wrecking Ball Brew Pub and restaurant.
Errr meant to say Wrecking Bar Brew Pub ...
Thank you Peric. Both of those sound like great ideas.
People who argue that Clippard should be anointed as the closer should be prepared to see him used like a closer. Closers pitch the ninth inning at home if their team is ahead or tied. On the road in the ninth inning or later they don't pitch until their team has the lead and there is a save opportunity. The only exception is if there are no other available pitchers left in the bullpen. Davey was using Clippard yesterday as his closer. Isn't that what you have been clamoring for?
I remember when The Beast hit righties better than lefties, and Uncle Jimmy still platooned him.
Are we talking the same thing about Davey doing this with TyMo?? Or are we just giving Lombo some time in the lineup, and TyMo a break??
Peric said: "Tis the season to be traded ... tralatralatralalala."
I take your meaning to be that Lombo is playing in order to be showcased for somebody. Is that right? That would make sense to me, but to whom and for whom? I'd be interested in your always informed speculation.
See that's were we disagree. Your closer is usually your best relieved, and should be used in high leverage situations, not just save situations. If the game rests in the balance in the seventh or eleventh innings, use your best pitcher/closer. Why would you keep your best bullet to fire in the bullpen? You can't save him for a situation that never arises, you have to use him when the game rests in the balance to ensure yourself a chance to win it later. In this case, especially when the rockies had the bases loaded, clippard should have been pitching
One coda to my comment on NL's blog post, which really is worth a read. A tie game may be a losing cause statistically, but it's certainly not a lost cause. 46% of extra innings games are won by the home team in the NL. That makes this situation a lot different than a blowout game, one way or the other, as far as the importance of using your best reliever. And I'll bet the percentage is higher for extra innings games where the away team is in 1st place in its division and the home team is in last place in its division. And maybe, just maybe, the away team's chance of winning would increase even more if it didn't save it's best reliever for a save opportunity that might never come.
I wonder if Davey decided that Stammen was in for the duration regardless of what happened in the 11th. Maybe he just wanted Clipp fresh for the weekend. Here's hoping we need him tonight!
SM13.. We will be watching for you and your daughter!!! Make sure you are loud and represent us well!!!
I Think that for those of you outside the DC Area you can get the Game on MLB Network too. They are promoting it as the Friday Night game.
People who argue that Clippard should be anointed as the closer should be prepared to see him used like a closer. Closers pitch the ninth inning at home if their team is ahead or tied. On the road in the ninth inning or later they don't pitch until their team has the lead and there is a save opportunity. The only exception is if there are no other available pitchers left in the bullpen. Davey was using Clippard yesterday as his closer. Isn't that what you have been clamoring for?
Speaking only for myself -- No.
I called for Clipp to keep his closer role when Storen returns, at least for awhile. And I certainly don't buy in to any hard and fast rule about the use of closers either at home or on the road. Do you? That's what we're discussing here.
We promise to be loud, but less obnoxious than those Yankee fans from a couple of weeks ago.
222, I agree if he was going to use Clip it would have to be the 9th and 10th, not the 11th and presumably 12th.
Actually, FW, agree Davey is using Clip as the closer. The question is whether that is the best way to use a closer.
And, no, I wasn't among those clamoring for Clip to be the "closer." Clip wanted it, and he's certainly succeeding at it, so good for him and the team.
There are two questions:
(1) Is Clippard the best choice for the closer job as currently "defined" and used. In other words, should your best reliever be your "closer." (I've always voted "no" on that, because as I see it, closing is easier than the "stopper" job--but the stopper doesn't get paid as well.)
(2) Should you have a closer at all--meaning a single pitcher who, unless he isn't available, starts all ninth innings at home if they are in tied or "save" situations (with possibly some 4 or 5-out saves) and all save situations away from home?
we have to get at least one win this weekend. Two would be nice. 3 and get your playoff tickets.
Hey Burns15. Did you call into MLB radio today around 3:15?
The way Davey structures his bullpen there are a lot of possibilities given that Davey tries to keep his bullpen from being overworked. Thus Stammen in extra innings for three.
Clippard, Storen, Mattheus, H-Rod, and Burnett are all capable of closing. Looks like Christian Garcia would be next in line from AAA. Who gets to close the most on a regular basis depends on who is the most consistent in tight situations. The first three have been quite consistent over time and have plus-plus power arms.
I take your meaning to be that Lombo is playing in order to be showcased for somebody. Is that right? That would make sense to me, but to whom and for whom? I'd be interested in your always informed speculation.
Who has scouts in Atlanta? Be curious to learn that Milwaukee does.
At this point I think Moore has earned the LF job and then some. Or he's at first base. Someone has to move and it could be Lombo and LaRoche. Both are left-handed bats. Corey Brown is raking, absolutely scorching the IL league in AAA ala Michael Morse in 2009. And unlike Mike Mo Corey is a superlative fielder.
The silly baseball talking heads keep pushing CF, Bourn, Span because the Nats FO isn't happy with Harper in CF. Everytime they ask Davey he seems okay with it? And last I looked Davey was the one who got Desmond his shortstop job over Guzman ... so Davey is going to decide who plays in CF. Perhaps the unknown source they quote is legit but I would hazard that said source is way far down in the pecking order and perhaps likes to play armchair GM and manager as much as folks here do ... ~smiles~
But, if I'm Mike Rizzo and Roy Clark? I've got two top pitchers on the DL in Purke and Solis. I've got one power pitcher who might just be the 12th round sleeper everyone thought he might be (Nate Karns), and theres Alex Meyer who is slowly learning the ropes and perhaps growing beyond 6'9"! Plus Robbie Ray who is struggling a bit in Potomac. Giolito might or might not sign. They really need him to sign but they can't offer him the $$ these other guys got and he can always go to college first.
So, I'm thinking top of the rotation starting pitching in the form of Zach Grienke : trade plus extension. That improves Rizzo and Clark's club dramatically both for this year (given the loss of Strasburg) and definitely next year and beyond. Potentially a better rotation than the one Davey Johnson played behind in Baltimore. Way better.
Just posted..
Jerry Crasnick@jcrasnick
Lidge said he's "not happy'' he rushed back from surgery only to be DFA'd so quickly by #nationals
Lidge story
No one around tonight?
So, Peric, you're suggesting trading Lombo, LaRoche and one of our Minor league arms for Grienke with an extension (a la Gio). Is that right?
That presumably puts Moore on First and an outfield of Morse, Harper and (eventually) Werth, with Brown coming up to fill in until Werth gets back and in the process let management see if he's as good as his boosters, yourself prominently included, think he is.
I will post after game, right now its pre game Corona time, followed by Corona game time, Corona post game and maybe in between, a few shots, lol
raaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaackem
I certainly don't buy in to any hard and fast rule about the use of closers either at home or on the road. Do you? That's what we're discussing here.
Yes. If you're going to call someone a closer, that's how you use him. In extra innings on the road, if you burn your closer and then get the lead, you still have to get the home team out in the last inning. That's the job you have reserved for your closer.
At home, the situation is different when you reach the ninth inning with a tie score, because you know there can never be a save situation in that game. Therefore you can burn your closer if you want to, knowing that you won't need him later in the game.
It's easy to say that there may be other situations in the game that are higher leverage than the save situation, and indeed there often are. But you never know that until the game is over. So you can't anoint a pitcher as your guy for the highest-leverage situation there might be, because you can never be sure when that situation will be. That can't be a "role" that you bestow on someone, because calling something a role implies that there are rules behind it that define what the role is.
Mark just posted above why TyMo isn't in the lineup. It's the Leadoff spot that is causing the problems...
I'm inclined to agree with Feel Wood (and Davey on this). Davey says guys like "roles." That seems logical to me. If you know that you are going to pitch the 8th inning, then I would expect that along about the 6th you are getting mentally focused, reviewing in your mind the hitters you are likely to see (and the plan you are going to execute).
Yes, in theory, you could swap Burnett and Clip depending on who is up in which inning, but they are both excellent and neither has a platoon split, so the advantage would, IMO, be marginal and not worth disturbing whatever warmup routine those two pitchers have.
Tony LaRussa was on Baseball Today this afternoon discussing the evolution of the bullpen into "specialists" for the 7-8-9 innings versus previously letting a starter who was worn out continue. Part of his reasoning is that hitters see guys they haven't seen before, who are fresh, strong arms. We see how many starters have trouble on the third (or fourth) time through the lineup.
I think what you are seeing is improvement in bullpen/starter management, not managing to the "save" statistic.
Yes. But does anyone really know what he actually said ?Sometimes Davey uses lots of words all in a row but the result is just- what?
Bat Moore at leadoff. His OBP is .413 for crying out loud! Does Davey require that the lead off batter have speed? Moore's stolen 3 bases in 24 games.
Or, as it seems to be the case, does Davey require the batter to have a terrible OBP?
As much as I like Lombo, he's been awful for the last month. His OBP is down to .320 (hasn't stolen a base yet, I might add), and is batting .150/.215/.233 in June!
DAVEY, GO WITH WHAT IS WORKING. Right now, Tyler Moore is working. So put him wherever he fits. Don't tweak everything, just because Moore isn't your typical leadoff hitter!
NatsLady: You mentioned you bought earrings? Where did you get them?
As an Expos fan I remember and I'll forever curse Jim Fanning for bringing in Steve Rogers to serve one up to Rick Monday. Your best pitcher might not be the best on any given day.
Swami.. if you are referring to TyMo not in lineup vs Leadoff.. Mark's got the quote above.
And yes,, Davey does yammer on at times, but I am no one to complain about that.. ;-)
Hoping Ross stays very calm tonight. First sign of distress and McCatty needs to be out there. Bad calls make him lose composure.
If you're not going to start Moore against right handers, you're leaving him out of 2/3rds to 3/4ths of the games!!
So Fish Vs Phillies: Do we hope for another Cliff Lee loss and another nail in the coffin? Or do we hope for an implosion of Epic Proportions by the Fish just so we could see Ozzie's head will explode?
I think Ross is going to be fine. Something to prove.
SM13.. Wave Rally Napkins tonight!!!
Here's an idea. Lombo at 2nd so Moore can play LF
Lombardozzi takes waaay more pitches than espi does as lead off. So does tymo. Even when he gets out he works the count - they both do. Espi does not.
MicheleS - EBay. Just search on Washington Nationals earrings. Should show up for you.
And the organist is getting snarky..
Mark Zuckerman@MarkZuckerman
"Send in the Clowns" as Bryce Harper stepped to the plate. Nicely done by the Turner Field organ player
Thanks NL! Never can have enough stuff!
I like the pitch taking.
Too many guys hitting into the dp :(
More from the organist:
Matthew Kaminski @bravesorganist
#Braves vs #Nats - ok, I'll also play the circus gladiator song for Harper
Here is his plan:
The Gambler and Friends for Detwiler
Stairway to Heaven and Flowers on the Wall for Flores
Danny Boy for Espinoza
Ob La Di for Desmond
some morse code for morse
La Cucaracha for LaRoche
Lay Lady Lay for Zimmerman
Send in the Clowns for Harper
Paparozzi and Iron Man and War Pigs for Lombardozzi
Why is the Atl infield grass neon green?
what the ???
What is going on?
THis is just a nutty bunch of weird stuff..and the UMP stinks!!!
Not one of the priches to FLores was in the strike zone....
Lol, neither were the pitches
That was just ridiculous. Ump had no idea what he was doing. rossyD!!!!!!!!!
Well at least Ross got a hit and got the RBI.
baseballswami, Lombo first pitch swinging. Hmmmm
I actually think they were trying to walk Flores on the 3-1 pitch to get to Det...The ump took care of that
Hey FP-He called strike 2 a swing!!! Check the replay...it was close. Strike 3 was "too close to take" with the pitcher on deck.
Been meaning to ask this for quite awhile, what is that thing Detwiler is wearing around his neck and what is the purpose of it? I've noticed that others like Clippard, Brunett and I think Storen also wear something like that.
More Nats Love
How Good Can the Natioals Be
Danny == Second to Brandon Phillips in the NL as defensive 2B.
fangraphs NL second base
http://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=2b&stats=fld&lg=nl&qual=100&type=1&season=2012&month=0&season1=2012&ind=0&team=0&rost=0&age=0&players=0
FP-We still love ya!!!
Help, invisible friends! Just lost power
Knoxville - I am pretty sure they are titanium. No one has proof it works bit they supposedly help with "energy flow"
When will FP apologize for not knowing how to pronounce "LaRoche"...
Bizarrely, the Nats are up 1-0.
And even more bizarrely they are now up 3-0.
SJM
We are up 3-0 and the Braves are throwing the ball all over the place. Ross Looks Good. It's bottom of the 3rd
Anybody else read the Keith Law article today that said Lowrie has been the best hitting shortstop in the NL this year. I have never hated anybody that loves baseball in my life. Keith Law challenges that notion with every new article.
Did they bring the baseball weirdness with them from Colorado? Or is everyone starting to smell the allstar break?
Titanium, energy flow.....perhaps I should wear one at work, after lunch.... about 2:30 PM.
I would also like to apologize for not being able to spell and Thank all of you for not calling me on it. Dang I had a bad day!
It's NATIONALS. not Natioals.
2 errors by the Braves, followed by a Clutch 2-out 2 RBI single by Desmond...who was then thrown out at 3rd I believe, 7-1-5...
Does any catcher get beat up more than Flores?
Michele ... We're a forgiving crowd.
F&I, detest KLaw. Unfollowed him long ago an Twitter. Try not to listen when he comes on Baseball Today, avoid his articles. Don't get me started.
Good for Ross, didn't give it back. But if he has more than 2 innings left in him I'll eat my cap. (Don't worry, I have plenty of caps.)
Per pitch f/x, only 1 of the pitches to Espi was in the strike zone...
Flores!!!
That was JFLO's payback for all those bad calls and those bruises he has been getting. Nice SMACK to LF!!!
Flores takes a licking & keeps on ticking
( other oldies will get that one)
I love those shots of Davey in the dugout with his big Rolex Submariner...That's about a $15-$20K watch I believe...
Lombo saw more pitches.
I can't believe we lost the Iconic McCatty Stache. Sad day for the facial hair of the team.
Cliff Lee losing it. Also, "Scout" says after 88 pitches he has "plenty left in the tank". On same screen "Scout" says after 85 pitches he is at the end of his rope and velocity dropping.
NJ, LOL! Ross looked a lot better this inning...
Haha...is it red or white wine that is appropriate when eating Hats...I always forget
BTW, one of my biggest complaints when the Nats play the Braves, home or away, is that I get blacked out from MASN and have to watch the game on the braves TV network. As much as people complain abot Bob C. and FP let me tell you Chip carey may well be the most boring play by play guy in major league baseball. I mean I rather listen to paint dry!
WOW This Stinks. Thank god i live in Loudoun!
@capitalweather: DC: charge portable devices, cell phones NOW. Get flashlights ready. We are staring at mass outage potential.
Capital Weather Gang @capitalweather
DC: charge portable devices, cell phones NOW. Get flashlights ready. We are staring at mass outage potential.
And for those of you not paying attention to the outside world, In the MD/VA/DC area, we have bad weather headed this way. So take cover. Tornado warning/watches popping up all over.
Whichever NI fixed our power, thank you
What did Flores do?
Guess I will find out when he gets up
Go NATS
Flores hit a hanging curve about 5 rows into the LF seats
Don't know if this was available to you in Washington or not but, for the Colorado series, we had our choice of MASN or the Rockies TV feed here in Toronto. Gotta tell you their announcers are superior. Very knowledgeable, non-partisan for the most part and I learned more about the Nats listening to them than I ever do with FP etc. Truly great.
McCatty needs to go visit Ross right now! God I hate that stupid chant
They showed Storen throwing to live batters. Looks to me he's put on a few in his thighs, but could be baggy pants.
I'm back now.
For the record, after replaying and stopping it a few times in HD, that pitch that "hit" Francisco also hit me, my mom in Phoenix, and an alien in Area 51 just as hard.
NatsJack, are you in Florida? Thought you were heading to ATL for this series?
NL, yes, but he cut his hair, and shaved, and now his hat doesn't fit and he looks like Opie.
Thanks for the weather heads-up. Looking at the radar now, there's a big line of storms from about Pittsburgh to Harrisburg, and south to past Roanoke. Should get here sometime after 10-10:30, I reckon, but points west/north will get it sooner than DC itself, of course.
Who is this grinning goof ball that is DEALING on the mound? Seriously, he is grinning like a loon.
Six strong from Detwiler tonight. Is he done or does DJ bring him out for the seventh?
Nats Lady -- taking some Cholula hot sauce with the iconic [!] wooden top on that cap?
I'd take an old sweaty one if I were you -- as long as you don't have a sodium problem.
NatsJack, 3rd time through on low pitch count. Thank you Braves batters.
Wow, that was a Coors Field double in Atlanta for Lombo! Thanks, Matt Diaz.
Watching Detwiler pitch is like playing Super Mario Brothers back in the day. Every time he becomes a starter again is like a Mario life. He gets a little closer and closer to rescuing Princess Toadstool from Bowser every starting stint. Hopefully he can do it one day.
Happy to be wrong!!!! Chewing as we "speak." Ross looks like a different guy than before Wang almost took his job.
It's a bit of an evil grin though...looks like the Grinch who stole Christmas...or maybe it's just the Glo-Stick colored infield
NatsLady, one of those mini-caps full of frozen yogurt would go good right about now...
Actually, NJ, that expression on his face when he got Simmons to fly out for the third out of the fifth was pretty "relazed" looking to me.
The Nats fifth starter. How good is this team. Say goodnight.
PFP, Butterfingers.
Ross, pitching to contact doesn't mean hitting batters.
Ground ball, and then get the napkins ready. NP.
Jordan needs to talk to him about fielding his position
Ghost, that may be the funniest thing you've posted!
Jack, what is this guy's deal??
Bad balk, but no problem, now you've got first open.
Well, not anymore. Danny kind of let that one play him a little, didn't he?
Don't choke Ross, are we the only team has pitchers that hit batters when we are ahead in the count?
way to go Ross, you just cant finish can ya, hot batter then you balk, unbelievable!!!
Why does every Nats starter almost always fall apart in the 7th inning? It happens just like clock work!
Well, that's why you want a more-than-one-run lead, some margin for error. Well, error and HBP, single, and sac fly. Get this guy and let's get them back.
Im just not sold on thsi guy, we only have 3 legt starters Strass, Gio and J Zim, there is a reason Ejax has played with six different teams gang and Ros Det I just think is too inconsistent
gack.
Stop eating the hat NatsLady
Soul, no they wouldn't! Cat and Davey pushed their luck.
you just stink Ross you really do,
Davey pushed his luck, but you gotta know who is legit, Det is choking dog, head case, get him out of here, what a clown pitcher!!
Thanks Davey!!! I bet Lannan is looking pretty good to you once again.
Hey Mick. back off!
He was left in to long.
He should have been pulled when you arrived. That is when it went south.
If we lose, this is a bad loss, like I said a week ago, I bet we are in 3rd by All star break and only 6 games over 500. I have a bad feeling and I think Davey and Cat at times as no feel on the pitchers, after teh balk, it was clear Det was going to choke
Mark this date down if they lose this game!!!
WOW F&I, that's a bold prediction.
djinfl.... its on him and Davey and tell me what legit pitcher hits a batter when he is ahead 1-2 in the count and balks!!!!
Ross made it to the seventh, did his job.
dfln: Im just saying we are headed south, i feel it, I have said nothing foul or dirty so you back off
did his job? he made two errors on easy bunts back to him, balked over two runners, and choked
how anyone can be OK with this is beyond me! If i recall last season, this was about the time that we began to fold
dj, just scroll, man. it's all word salad.
This is all on Davey. Should have had that kid pulled after 1 run. Awful Awful. Watch the season go in the tank. AWFUL. Det deserves better. Aful
Oh and Mick...lay off the liquor.
Detwiler was a victim of his own dominance tonight. Seemingly in cruise control with a 4-run lead...real tough lesson.
Had a feeling that missed opportunity by Zimmerman to get the fifth run in with less than 2 outs could come back to haunt us.
YUP. BEAST IS BACK!!!
Thank you Michael!
Thank you, Mikey Mo. I hope Burnett gets the win, he deserves it!!!!
Mick, Pitchers that try to pitch someone inside hit them sometimes.
I am just tired of your abuse towards players that have a bad inning.
Way to go Beast!!!
Fear and Ignorance said...
Mark this date down if they lose this game!!!
Thank you, you are spot on
mick.....lighten up on the Coronas. Detwiler hasn't gone 7 innings in I don't know how long. Maybe DJ would have been better off to have someone (Matheus) up in the BP to start the inning.
You can put it on the booooooooard --- YES!!!
Johnson has absolutely no ability to determine when a pitcher doesn't have it or has lost it. He clearly stayed way to long with Jackson yesterday and ended up down 7-0 after two innings and he clearly stayed with Detwiler too long tonight. Johnson has had this problem all season long and it is very damaging. How many times did he stay with H-Rod when he clearly had nothing? He allowed H-Rod to blow 4 leads in the ninth inning.
djinFl. said...
Mick, Pitchers that try to pitch someone inside hit them sometimes.
I am just tired of your abuse towards players that have a bad inning.
what abuse???? what did i say abusive???
DWS-Are you kidding me??? That is laughable.
Michael Morse!
Yup, delaying the inevitable descent into last place (or was it third?) by June 15th (or was it July 4th?).
mick, last season we were not serious contenders. One great month of June, that was it.
thank you Morse. I really want to make a custom Gorse Hacking t-shirt.
Positive turns quickly to negative here. Tough having 6 in the bullpen that Davey has comfort with. Nats offense to go Beast.
phil dunton said...
Johnson has absolutely no ability to determine when a pitcher doesn't have it or has lost it.
I said that last season too. I think he is a very coach, in all other areas but with his pitchers, he is CLUELESS
thank you Michael M!!!
What is laughable F+I. Fear or ignorance?
OK, your 5th starter choked. It happens. I think rogieshan is right. Ross thought he could grin and cruise. Luckily, our hitters haven't forgotten how to hit.
Detwiler stopped laughing just about the time he gave up the two-run homer. Perhaps he was a little too impressed with himself and his four-run lead.
Jesus is Back
Won't even be starting Ramos come next April.
Go deJesus Man
Is the Beast back? Sweet!
Nats Lady--Still want to dump Morse?
Sigh. It's very hot, and Ross is clearly tired. Hindsight is 20-20, but in this case even the fan base knew Ross needed to come out long before that pitch. With Clipp and Burnett rested for the entire Rox series, it was not a stretch to get someone ready in the 7th.
However, it's one more learning opportunity for a young pitcher.
Let's pull out a win Nats!
I am new to this. Mick I like you. I thought I was a glass half empty guy. WOW haha. You and I love these guys as much as anyone. We just show it in a different way. I still blame davey if we lose.
Yeah buddy -- winning teams get the breaks.
And we're getting the hits.
Hit somethin' Sean
It's coming in now in Loudoun. The winds are HOWLING... Buckle up people. it's going to be crazy here tonight
Bring him in, Burnette
still dont like the way Bernie leaps off of the bag at first
I dunno, I think maybe they're right, there is no way this team can succeed. The fifth starter can't go past six innings when it's 100 degrees. The second and fourth catchers are still leaving small pieces of cover on the ball most of their at-bats, and now Morse and Zimmerman are barely getting hits in half their plate appearances. They're only in first by three and a half games, fixing to make it four and a half if they can hold this one, while the 102-win Phillies juggernaut is breathing down their necks, the Marlins are poised to make their big move into not-last-place, and the Miracle Mets are, miraculously, still over .500.
Doomed, I tellya! Doomed!
Burnette walked on two pitches.
Good umps are rare. I hate 99% of em
When did Natslady advocate" dumping" Morse?
Come on, harp quit pullingout your shoulder
Quality innings by a fifth starter. Davey left him in too long but you got to love the effort. Repeat fifth starter.
Hey Davey, You're not playing your usual mind-numbing percentages: Why didn't you just ph Moore (righty) for Harper (lefty) who ended up toast to Kimbrel.
phil dunton said...
Nats Lady--Still want to dump Morse?
Only when he is in the outfield--but he's surviving even out there.
Bryce will be great one day, but now he is looking 19 years old verse lefties.
Who here ever ever wanted to jump MOrse? Joke, right?
Secret wasian man
I agree, this is on Davey, not really Det so much.
I am a little confused by Davey's moves. Not questioning them but curious ones. Leaving Detwiler in, Burnett to hit, and now taking a hot bat out.
I didn't. Just said he would be good trade bait for the AL in the offseason. Might have to rethink that, but we'll see.
Faraz
He has his best defensive OF right now. Bernie, Ank, and Harper. Notice I said defensive.
Morse is truly good: he'll be fine -- more than fine it seems.
If only Ankiel could hit some -- just .260 with 20 dingers -- he'd be the man. if ....
what was wrong with that pitch? I will tell you, the umpiring this season behind the plate is the worst I seen in along time
Eagle has convinced me--converted, even. Laugh at these silly people, it's a lot more fun. There's about half a dozen, and then three or so more that are the same guy, and really, they aren't hurting anything but their own liver, which is none of my business.
*********************************
*********************************
Weather update: the line of really nasty stuff is about at DC, on a line from about Harrisburg to south of Lynchburg, with the worst on the north half. Batten down within the next half hour if you're in that area. And don't be touching plugged-in stuff in a lightning storm.
Post a Comment