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Photo by Mark Zuckerman / NATS INSIDER The Nats face the Braves one more time at overheated Turner Field. |
Like Stephen Strasburg, Gio Gonzalez has been preparing for this for several days, knowing what the conditions were going to be like here. The Miami native hopes to fare better than his San Diegan teammate did.
By the time this game begins, Strasburg, Gonzalez, Ian Desmond, Bryce Harper and Tyler Clippard will know whether they've been named to this year's All-Star team. It should be a cool scene inside the clubhouse as multiple players learn their fates. Check back for a full report on that, and please check back for game updates throughout...
WASHINGTON NATIONALS at ATLANTA BRAVES
Where: Turner Field
Gametime: 1:35 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN, Ch. 50, MLB.tv
Radio: WJFK (106.7 FM), WFED (1500 AM), XM 184
Weather: Partly cloudy, 101 degrees, Wind 3 mph out to RF
NATIONALS (44-32)
2B Steve Lombardozzi
RF Bryce Harper
3B Ryan Zimmerman
LF Michael Morse
1B Adam LaRoche
SS Ian Desmond
CF Rick Ankiel
C Jhonatan Solano
LHP Gio Gonzalez
BRAVES (41-36)
CF Michael Bourn
LF Martin Prado
RF Jason Heyward
3B Chipper Jones
2B Dan Uggla
1B Freddie Freeman
SS Andrelton Simmons
C David Ross
RHP Tim Hudson
UMPIRES
HP Tim McClelland (cc), 1B Brian Runge, 2B Ted Barrett, 3B Marvin Hudson
1:35 p.m. -- OK, we're underway on a 101-degree afternoon, but the Nats dugout is all smiles after learning they've got at least three (and possibly four) All-Stars. Stephen Strasburg, Gio Gonzalez and Ian Desmond have all been named to the NL club, and Bryce Harper will be up for the "Final Vote" in what should be a fascinating competition between a retiring 40-year-old and a rookie 19-year-old. Read my full story, with quotes from Strasburg.
1:48 p.m. -- And how did the Nationals celebrate their new All-Star celebrity? By scoring four runs in the top of the first inning off Tim Hudson. Base hits for Steve Lombardozzi and Bryce Harper got it started, then Ryan Zimmerman drove both guys in with a double to deep right-center. Zim wound up scoring on Adam LaRoche's sacrifice fly. Then Rick Ankiel drove in All-Star Ian Desmond with a base hit up the middle that was butchered by Michael Bourn (who won't be winning the Final Vote competition). What a start to the afternoon for the Nats, who now send All-Star Gio Gonzalez to the mound with a 4-0 lead.
2:17 p.m. -- Gio got himself in trouble in the bottom of the second, loading the bases with two outs (two of them via walks, including Hudson). But he got Bourn to line out to Desmond to end the inning. So it remains 4-0 through two.
2:36 p.m. -- Strasburg needed 67 pitches to get through three innings yesterday, and Gio needed 74 pitches to get through three innings today. Not the kind of efficiency you're looking for out of starters on ridiculously hot days like this. The Braves got to Gonzalez for one run in the bottom of the third, with Chipper Jones roping an RBI double into the right-field corner (helping his cause in the Final Vote competition). It's now 4-1 heading to the fourth.
2:58 p.m. -- Barkeep, another round of cortisone shots for me and my friends! Ryan Zimmerman demolishes a 1-1 pitch from Hudson waaaaay back into the left-field stands. He's now 13-for-35 with three homers, four doubles and 12 RBI in eight games since the cortisone shot. And the Nats now lead 5-1.
3:15 p.m. -- Make it 6-1 as All-Star Ian Desmond leads off the sixth with a double, takes third on a wild pitch and then scores when Solano's hard grounder to first eats up Freddie Freeman. Gio Gonzalez coming back out for the bottom of the sixth, his pitch count already at 98.
3:25 p.m. -- Well, that didn't go so well. Gio immediately walked Chipper and Uggla, bringing Steve McCatty out of the dugout for a chat. His pitch count was at 109, but Davey Johnson let him stay in to face Freddie Freeman. Big mistake. Gonzalez left a 2-2 fastball over the plate and Freeman blasted it to right for a three-run homer. Gio is done after 114 pitches, and Craig Stammen is in, now trying to protect a 6-4 lead.
3:57 p.m. -- Nice job by Stammen to keep this a two-run game. He retired the side in the sixth after replacing Gonzalez, then pitched around a one-out double to Prado in the seventh. It remains 6-4 Nats.
4:14 p.m. -- And a nice job by Sean Burnett to get out of a self-made jam in the bottom of the eighth, striking out David Ross and getting Matt Diaz to ground into a fielder's choice. We go to the ninth.
4:26 p.m. -- Hey, it's another RBI single for Zimmerman! He's now 14-for-37 with three homers, four doubles and 13 RBI over his last eight games. It's 7-4 now. Make it 8-4 as Tyler Moore legs one out to avoid a double play and allow Harper to score.
4:38 p.m. -- It's over. The Nats win, 8-4, as Gio Gonzalez improves to 11-3 and Ryan Zimmerman drives in four more runs.
207 comments:
«Oldest ‹Older 1 – 200 of 207 Newer› Newest»Stay Hydrated today boys!! GYFNG!!!
2 outta 3!!!!
Go, GIO! Go, NATS BATS!! And like the lady said, stay hydrated as best you can.
Keep the gatorade flowing guys!
GYFNG!!!
Hopefully the failed experiments with Wang Nady Lidge DeRosa etc will teach Rizzo to stop trying to revamp careers of guys who are done and go with youth and proven players in their prime.
Key to today is pitch to contact and no walks. Bourn has been struggling. Gio must attack like a power pitcher and stop nibbling.
Plenty of lefty/lefty today.
Peric lays the responsibility for Wang's problems at the feet of Davey Johnson saying "...he is Davey's mistake plain and simple..."
On the other hand our old friend JayB surfaces to say that "...Wang is a huge mistake.....no big lose (sic) other than to Rizzo Ego..."
I think this is a situation that calls for shared responsibility and accountability. Both Rizzo and Johnson chose to keep Wang over Lannan, a questionable choice in my opinion but worse, the way they handled his assignment to Syracuse ("John's my guy"),telling him in the dugout and in the middle of a game was both disrespectful and unprofessional.
I agree that the Wang experiment has to end and the sooner the better, probably over the all star break. But lets remember that both Rizzo and Johnson should be held accountable for this mistake.
@135 - Wang was an experiment, the others are bench signings, just like Tracy was. They fail more often that not for all teams, that's why they are available.
@KnoxNat - of course they will be held accountable and as well they should be acknowledged for their correct moves. They did not keep Wang over Lannan, they kept Detwiler over Lannan. If Wang was not there Detwiler would have never been sent to the bullpen and Lannan would be right where he is.
"Rizzo and Johnson should be held accountable for this mistake."
What do you suggest? Fines? A five-game suspension? Make them wear "Natinals" shirts?
When the team wins, the manager generally gets rewarded, or at least keeps his job. When the team loses, the manager gets fired. Likewise the GM. Taking a reasonable risk (and it was very reasonable) on a player who doesn't seem to be panning out is just part of the job. If they aren't making any mistakes, they aren't doing much of a job. Nitpicking and fingerpointing at one's bettrs is the currency of the Interwebz' hot air, I know, but that doesn't mean it isn't still hot air.
Flogging with a wet rosin bag?
What do you suggest? Fines? A five-game suspension? Make them wear "Natinals" shirts?
I think this is a situation that calls for shared responsibility and accountability. Both Rizzo and Johnson chose to keep Wang over Lannan, a questionable choice in my opinion but worse, the way they handled his assignment to Syracuse ("John's my guy"),telling him in the dugout and in the middle of a game was both disrespectful and unprofessional.
First, Ignorance is bliss? The BEST PITCHER AND LEFT HANDED STARTER in the Syracuse rotation IS Zach Duke. HE ***IS** an IL ALL STAR and a former 2009 Major league ALL STAR. How many times was "Lannen" picked as an All Star? He's not even an All Star in AAA that everyone keeps reminding me isn't the same as the majors? Come friggin ON!
In fact Riggleman had to change his name on the lineup card to help him barely squeak by a tough Phillies lineup? Who in this rotation has that problem.
For three plus years in a a row John Lannan had the absolute worst advanced stats of any starter!! And that included such luminaries as Garret Mock, Atilano, Maya, Atilano etc. WORST!
That is why Lannan is in AAA making 5 million a year. Honestly, the 5 million was payment for services rendered suffering through the losing seasons and going out there ever fifth day. Lannan will never make that again, that you can take to the bank.
Why did Davey pick Ross Detwiler, Craig Stammen, Tom Gorzelanny, and yes CM Wang over Lannan? Well look at the first three. Would you trade any of those three starters for Lannan right now? All three easily adapted to working in the bullpen ... they did what they had to do for their team. And Lannan? He couldn't deal with losing his starting job and going to the bullpen and that was shown in his performance in ST. And so he lost his job in the majors.
Stop the whining over Lannan. The guy is as AAAA as Atilano or Martin and honestly they were better pitchers statistically!
Not suggesting fines or suspension. I'm just trying to say that as we fans look at this it (keeping Wang) wasn't a Johnson move or a Rizzo move, it was both of them agreeing this was the way to go.
NatsJack, I know Wang was on the DL my recollection however was that 3 guys, Wang, Det and Lannan were fighting for that 5th spot in the rotation. When they made the decision to put Detwiler in the rotation I was okay with that but I wasn't okay with keeping Wang on the roster, DL or otherise, over Lannan.
Wet rosin bags are pretty hard, actually.
Speaking of rosin bags, I stumbled on a video about how to make one, in case you were of a mind to, which I'm not. :-)
sec3, yeah, that may be too harsh. ;-)
Davey and Rizzo are going to make mistakes. I happen to believe said mistakes (perhaps a better term would be experiments?) should not be tried against the Atlanta Braves, New York Mets, Miami Marlins, and yes even the last place Philadelphia Phillies. Because you never know especially with the Phillies.
That in my opinion was a managing mistake. Not a mistake on the part of the GM. And in the end Davey is the one who asked Rizzo to bring Wang back, he claims to have offered him some of his salary to do it.
Now, today we see Ankiel instead of Tyler Moore. What's wrong with this picture? Against the Braves who are right behind the Nats? A team in 2nd place? THAT may be another surprising managing blunder by Johnson. But, I understand Ankiel is pulling a Pudge and constantly fidgeting and trying to get Davey to put him into the game.
But Tyler Moore should be playing today. He is used to hot weather. He's from Mississippi? Not playing Tyler Moore is a mistake.
For heaven's sake. Wang was a gamble, and not a bad one. For the most part, it cost them nothing but money to find out if he could come back from injury and be anything resembling the pitcher he once was. The Braves are doing the same thing with Ben Sheets. The Red Sox are doing it with Mark Prior. There's nothing wrong with giving it a shot. There's no reason for anyone to don sackcloth and ashes over it.
As others have said, Wang has absolutely nothing to do with what they did with Lannan. They kept Detwiler over Lannan, and rightfully so. Lannan can't/won't pitch out of the 'pen, so if they kicked Wang to the curb this afternoon, it would have absolutely no effect of the ultimate fate of John Lannan. You can like how they handled the Lannan situation or not, but it's got nothing to do with the Wang experiment.
If anything, I think what's going on with Wang will ultimately help Detwiler. The only time he's pitched really poorly this season was those few starts right before Wang was going to come off the DL -- when his job situation was in flux. I think Det knowing that the has a spot in the rotation for at least the rest of the season if not longer will take a load off his mind. He seems to be a guy that lets things get into his head, so one less distraction could only help.
1a, I may bring out a wet home-made rosin bag in boldface if I hear the expression "held accountable" one more time. Worse than "trade a draft pick"; worse than "trade our cast-off crap I just hated on for somebody else's all-star."
The only thing about the Wang situation I don't understand is why they brought him back before they had to = presumably before he fixed his "mechanical problems".
Gio an allstar
Strass an allstar
I am not sure if these personnel moves are actually mistakes. I think they make moves based on the best available information. Sometimes things don't work out - that doesn't mean the decision wasn't made appropriately. Some things are a gamble, but maybe worth trying. Overall I think this organization has more hits than misses. I would point out Morse, Clip and Flores as cases where players that weren't though highly of in their organizations have worked out well here. There does come a time, though, when you have to admit that something hasn't worked out despite your best efforts and cut your losses. If Wang would offer to go down to the minors and work things out maybe there is one more shot. If he doesn't, then the Nats just have to do what is best for the team and cannot keep blocking that roster spot with a player that isn't producing. He has had more than enough time and careful handling.
So Far.. YEA GIO AND YEA STRAS in the AllStar Game!
where are you seeing the results?
Well if Ian is not an allstar.. we throw wet rosin bags at LaRussa...
MicheleS - every year players back out because they are dinged up or they pretend to be because they have plans. Maybe then?
I love Moore, but he needs to some more defensive work in LF before he's an everyday player. Against Hudson, I'd imagine that Davy wants his best defense in there, because it's apt to be a low-scoring game.
On TBS
The All-Star selection show is on TBS right now.
Desi is an an All-Star!
Ian is in
YEA!! IAN!!! Wait.. No CLIPP? What the?? Still throwing a Rosin bag at LaRussa
Swami,, good point, pitchers will be shut down, so maybe Clipp will get in that way.
Sounds like it will be Bryce vs chipper on the last man in.. Get your fingers ready to start voting people!
Looks like Harper is going to be one of the 5 on the extra ballot.
IAN!!!! The first place team in a premiere division like the NL East has to have a position player in the ASG. Although, I do like the fact that our -- did I mention that we are in first place?-- team has no stars, but yet they are all stars ( not all-stars). I think at some point it will probably be Harper, maybe, but right now this is truly a team.
WoooHooo for Desi!
Clip might be one of the 5 last men in.
I love Moore, but he needs to some more defensive work in LF before he's an everyday player. Against Hudson, I'd imagine that Davy wants his best defense in there, because it's apt to be a low-scoring game.
No, its actually because Ankiel is hitting .400 against Hudson according to Davey ... but his current approach is absolutely terrible. I can't believe he continues to pinch hit the guy!!! He doesn't listen to his coaches that's for damned sure. I suspect its why he couldn't get his control back after that injury when he was a pitcher.
And yes Ian Desmond IS AN ALL STAR. And John Lannan can't even make the All Stars in lowly AAA.
Last man ballots are already on MLB.com
Sweet, Ian earned it. Awesome!
Yay, Buster! (for my brother :-))
Hooray for Stras, Gio, Desi. Just finished my 25 for Bryce at www.mlb.com/vote. Will be tough to outpoll Chipper.
Hooray for Stras, Gio, Desi. Just finished my 25 for Bryce at www.mlb.com/vote. Will be tough to outpoll Chipper.
Woo hoo. I have four email addresses lined up to vote for Harper 100 times.
So happy for Ian! And Strass & Gio too!
BTW.. I think it is unlimited voting. No issues on the 25 votes per email address.
It's not stopping me at 25 votes. If only I could program my computer to type in the code and vote all day.
Speaking of "mistakes" we should all read how many posters here excoriated the Nats for insisting on playing Ian. "if he hasn't learn to hit or field by now, he'll never get it" was shouted at the rest of us over and over again.
And now he's an all star.
Lesson: our management actually does know what it's doing, and is willing to take risks and be patient from tune to time. Wang pitched well in ST if I remember correctly. It was a reasonable decision.
Fwiw....
Big Donkey made it for the White Sox! That will be a fun HR Derby if he is in it!
Tuned in to TBS late, so saw Ian first. Congrats to Gio and Stephen as well.
Wonk.. AMEN! which is why we need to have patience with Danny....
You nailed it Wonk
We are still in first.
God i Love this! Zim is really starting to hit! Cortizone for Everyone..
Sunshine.. Can you add Corizone to the Maalox!!!!
Too bad for Clip, but his rocky start messed him up, for sure. Next year. So happy for Desi, I'm sure he wanted it. Stras-- be careful, it can get HOT in KC, too. Happy for Gio, too, we get to see that smile during the All-Star Break, will cheer us all up!
As regards CMW, I was a supporter of the experiment. Let's face it, there are lots of experiments, especially in the position the Nats were in last year and the year before. Hey, Giolito is an experiment. CMW had a high upside, and, really, the only significant downside was $$$. The injury in ST killed him because now he had to try to come back in the midst of a pennant race.
Oh, BTW--- Go LOMBO, Go Kid, Go RZ!! 2-0 and nobody out.
That's an all star srike zone..Hudson getting squeezed. Hope Gio is ready for a small zone
Hey.. FP is WOOO HOOO'ing!!! I need to tweet him the rules of this.. (only after wins)
I. Am. So. Happy!!! All I ever wanted, was for everyone to give My Boy a chance, and to see him, a year later, in the ASG.... HOT DOG!!! Good work, Desi...you absolutely deserve it!!!
KGYFNKG!!!!!!! (keep going...)
Exactly Jack...I'll roll with DJ and Rizzo over the GMs and Managers from the NI Legion of Doom...
Unk, I'll admit that I welled up a bit at the announcement. So happy for him. He certainly paid his dues in the minors, and has had many doubters. Must be sweet for him. Maybe it was the Daddy Power that put him over the top. :-)
So the Niece is out of the country.. I am filling in admirably on the Bryce vote for her!
Thanks Michele and dj. Yes, my comment was also an allusion to Danny, too (although I forgot to mention it)
No cable here, no Internet, following this (and the game) from my phone
GYFNG! Shut 'em down Gio! (with a low pitch count!)
Cortisone...
They give us those nice bright colors
They give us the greens of summers
Makes us think all the world's a sunny day...
Oh, wait, that's Kodachrome.
My bad. Carry on.
From personal experience, cutting back on the chew would help Stras with the high blood pressure and dehydration..Easier said than done though, tough habit to break
Good point , swift eagle, great point, in fact.
Jack, Eagle:
Keep up the reason. The nattering nabobs of nonsense are getting tiresome.
Still no power at my house Jack! Prob out until 6pm tomorrow. Ty Cobb (my dog) and I are staying at a friend's house...
Epic at- bat. Would love to see our hitters do that a lot more.
Fellas, I've been voting for an hour and I think I may have heat exhaustion. Someone pick me up and take over.
That Simmons at-bat was a big boy at-bat and will get him lots of positive love in their organization. It also tired gio immensely, understandably. Take note, nationals hitters.
Is he going to walk the pitcher?
3 of the 4 pitches to Hudson were strikes per Pithc F/X...
See - Simmons did that to Gio. Gio needs to bear down - walking the pitcher on four straight to load the bases? Get Simmons out of your head!!!
Whew!
Gio mad at himself or the strike zone?
Dios mio, Gio!
We have an all-star there...No problem
I have power, thankfully. I really need (and appreciate) the a/c! (just missing cable and Internet, so I can't complain)
He's mad at the zone...I'm sure Hudson is too
FP says McClellend has one of the tightest strike zones in baseball. Apparently he has no problems with the heat.
How to vote for the last player:
From MLB.com: "fans can use their mobile phones to cast votes via the mobile web at MLB.com/vote or via text message. To receive the 2012 All-Star Game MLB.com Final Vote mobile ballot, text the word "VOTE" to 89269.
To vote for a specific player, fans can text the choice to 89269. EXAMPLE: Text "N3" to vote for NL Player 3 [that would be Bryce]. Msg & Data Rates May Apply. Mobile voting in Canada also is available and fans should text their choices to 101010. Std rates may apply."
Yesterday's guy had a mini-zone, too. Hoping Gio tolerates the weather better today being from Miami, which is basically tropical. FP and Bob said that yesterday the BRaves pitcher had 2 iv bags before the game even started.
Gio has to change his approach. Walking
Hudson on 4 pitches and 14 pitches to Simmons just cost him a inning today.
Strikeouts with nobody on base is no better than an out made by a fielder.
That's a HOF swing/approach by Chipper..great player
On the bright side.. CMW will be unavailable today.
I can't believe that Brian LaHair from the Cubs is in the AllStar game. Geesh.
NatsJack.. you will love this. I have the game tracker up from CBS Sports.. They are promoting The Franchise on there. First Comment on the add: What Makes a Champion!
I started to laugh at that
Ghost,
What makes you so sure that pitching to contact won't produce hits and runs rather than outs? stats say that 1 of every 3 balls in play will be a hit.
The strike out is a great weapon. Simmons had an amazing at bat. Gio threw every pitch in his arsenal to him and he kept fouling it off. They are not an easy lineup. If Gio gives you 5 in this heat he's doing great.
NatsJACK, 75 pitches in 3 innings isn't good. He certainly won't pitch past the 5th.
Has to pitch to contact with nobody on base.
Michele, as opposed to Starlin Castro?
Or as opposed to Adam LaRoche?
Hey, it's not his fault if they can't put the ball in play.
You'd think after what happened to Strasburg yesterday, the team would take a few more pitches to allow Gio a longer break on the bench.
And he draws a walk! I guess the Braves are up to their melt-the-starter strategy again...
NatsJack and Ghost,
And what do you suggest he does? take something off his fastball? He would get clobbered.
Just hope he doesn't get on the field and have a brain [lapse].
as opposed to Starlin Castro?
There you go, Andrelton Simmons out on 2 pitches vs 14 the last AB.
Yes but NatsJack,
He Threw about 13 strikes to Simmons in the 1st at bat. It's a 2 way street. Gio is a strikeout pitcher and Hudson is a ground ball pitcher but Hudson also gives up 1 more run a game than Gio.
JD,. he has to.stay off the edges and attack with movement and location and pitch selection.
RZimmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!
Wow. I think Zim got all of that one.
Furthest one I've seen Ryan hit...am I forgetting one?
Farthest this season.
lol at Tracy being first in line to greet Zimm in the dugout. Allow me to take your helmet, sir. Will you require anything else from me this afternoon?
Have to say, Chipper plays 3B very differently than RZ. Seems to use a lot less energy to get the same result, if not better.
Swift, the one the other day is listed on ESPN at 427 feet, that's his longest heretofore this season.
NJ, Zim hits the outside and starts to see some inside stuff.
Sofa.. The cubs have to have 1 player, so Castro was the default. Yes.. LaHair is taking Adam's place on the team. If Votto is gimpy (bruised knee yesterday?), I could see Adam making it.
Gio has even loosened up the stoic Zimm.
Rizzo looked kind of unhappy and a bit frenetic ... something is bothering that guy ...
No Giolito?
Zimmerman, per ESPN HRT
Longest/season
439 2011
446 2010
449 2009
440 2008
452 2007
424 2006
So what did they call this one?
When does Rizzo ever look happy? He always looks like someone is jabby knives into his feet.
Michele - He'll only look happy when we win a championship. I can respect that.
Have I mentioned that I really like this Solano kid?
Jabby knives.... Reminds me of "jazz hands", for some reason..lol
Sofa.. I am liking Baby Pudge as well...He is growing on me (but then, I am just a softy)
So this one is for you, Unky D.
I liked him back when he was a P-Nat, too. :-)
lol, sec3, loving that pic.
I like "Cebolla" better, myself. Not a big fan of the "baby" usage, but that's just me.
I know it's hot, but,
Roch Kubatko @masnRoch
Thome 0-for-3. Two ground outs and a strikeout. Attendance today: 16,689
You're up five runs and over 100 pitches.
THROW STRIKES!
I guess I was wrong about Gio done after 5.
Steve - By the looks of it, he's winded...so he may be done, just still out there...if you catch my meaning.
OK, there's your strike. Happy now?
And time to take him out..
Inexcusable. Just terrible.
Oh geez. Who didn't see that coming?
I like strikes fine; I've just never seen a three-run walk.
Oh boy. That wasn't good.
Can't really blame Gio too much. That should be charged to Davey's ERA.
So you blame Davey for the ERA...Does he also get credit for the W's, SO's and the all-star appearance??
Absolutely. Gio should have been out after the first walk. At least Stammen has clean bases.
Davey has made some questionable decisions the past couple games.
Gio went from a 2.73 ERA to a 3.01. With a day off tomorrow and a much needed win as I said earlier, get your 5 innings and let the bullpen do their thing.
Swift - I get your argument, but you can't in your right mind think sending a guy sitting on 98 pitches out to pitch in 100 + weather was a good idea...
Eagle, I don't blame Davey for sticking w/ Gio into the 6th. But after the 1st walk, he should take him out.
It was Gio that hung a meatball belt-high, middle, not Davey. Gio isn't going to take himself out in the sixth, and Davey isn't missing over the plate.
Gio gets paid to win games, Davey gets paid to win pennants.
Love the kitty, Sofa ... One batter too many for Smiley...
Davey gets paid to know when the hook should come, and the hook shoulda come after five.
Generally I like Davey a lot, (full disclosure: I hated Riggleman) but he really likes to stick with the starter a bit too much, in my opinion.
Davey said he is going to start leaving guys in longer. This isn't the last hot day we are going to have. Yes, this one is before an off-day, but they won't all be. Some days it will be hot and the bullpen will be tired.
You put him in for one batter in the 6th, if he gets an easy out, fine. If not, Stammen is ready.
This is an illustration, though, of how fortuitous it's been to get the bats going.
Gio has to change his approach. The league has the book on him to take the first pitch. Add to that his killer curve hasn't worked for several weeks.
McCatty needs to get to work on some adjustments.
I am concerned. Barely making it out of 5 innings recently isnt the same Gio I saw in April and May.
NatsLady - Co-sign. He shoulda been done after the walk.
I'm saying keep him in the yard, yes: nibble if you want to call it that, and if not, then get the next guy, and avoid a big inning. When your control is on the way out, but you still have to get outs, don't be wild within the strike zone to a power hitter. He can walk two guys and it's only one run, but hang one, and now they are back in.
Of course, if you don't get anybody out, it doesn't matter.
Cameron, have to agree (and I don't mean CMW, but there have been others). I like Davey, but he's definitely not perfect.
This would be a great time for Bryce to do some All-Star campaigning.
Thanks, Nats Lady, for the O's pathetic attendance numbers.
Ball-mer: First in crabcakes, and last in just about everything else ... except leading the league in rusted-out 1977 Olds Cutlasses.
Annnd jinx. My bad, guys.
For those complaining about Dabey leaving Gio in -- when the fifth ended did a single one of us say "go to the bullpen right now"?
In fact I was thinking " let get the lefty out first"
Our hindsight is pretty sharp, eh?
Wonk, I don't know about you, but I was screaming it at my TV after the first walk.
Okay, fellas, this is no time to go back to our usual hitting ways.
NatsLady, Davey says a lot of things. Stras was done after 3 yesterday. Plans change to the circumstances.
Here's the circumstances: 100+ degrees and a day off tomorrow with 5 innings in the books and almost 100 pitches thrown gets a day complete with a 6-1 in the books.
Okay, let's get this guy now before we possibly see Venters in the 8th.
Ghost, I agree Davey says a lot of things. In this case, I agree with Gio starting the 6th. Just don't agree with him staying in after the walk.
Davey gets paid to know when the hook should come, and the hook shoulda come after five.
Sorta. Was it Bill Veeck? who said he could get a dozen people out of the stands on any given day who could run a game--the manager's job is to run the team.
DC Wonk, read my comment at 2:41. I dont talk in hindsight.
All that said, yeah, I'd probably have pulled him after the walk, too.
NatsLady, I like clean innings. Go to Stammen for 2 then Burnie and Clip and protect the 5 run lead.
great K by Stammen of Bourn.
Oh, Bernie. You were brought in for DEFENSE.
"That's a ball that Roger'll tell you he shoulda caught."
Yeah, he's not the only one.
I wasn't talking in hindsight either. I tweeted beforehand Gio should come in for one batter and see how that goes.
Good Job By Craig to get out of that. What was Bernie thinking? Seriously, as NatsLady said.. DEFENSE!
There has got to be a way a guy like Stammen can be an All-Star.
Well, hindsight isn't all bad. Time only goes in one direction. "I told you so" is always in hindsight, by definition.
well no damage done. six more outs to go before we win another series.
Jeez, Ankiel makes it look easy. If only he could hit!
There has got to be a way a guy like Stammen can be an All-Star.
"like Stammen" in what way?
I love watching Stammen as a reliever. I've been calling him "Bull Dog" for almost 3 seasons now.
Soul, LOL. You know, a "long reliever" who is not a mop-up man.
Fillies lost again. They have to be sellers. Do you want to rent Victorino for a coupla months?
Rick Ankiel should spend the entire off season learning to hit. I know he was a pitcher and so he is not as experienced at it, but if he could just hit...... As for the attendance in Atlanta. I know it's hot, but it's a division thing. Isn't it?
He does know how to hit, he just isn't doing it. He'd rather swing hard in case he hits it.
Burnett, be careful. Here is where those three runs could cost a lot!!!
Did I mention I'm kind of over Rick?
Um, no. Watching Bernie and Morse in the outfield, and even Harper, no, I am NOT over Rick.
Sean, OTOH ... well, they're both lefties, so maybe they're on the same hand, but still.
And I give you--Sean Burnett!
aaaaand exhale
I am not over Burnett, that's for sure. Remember first half last season and how terrible he was. Great to see him in that pen.
I did see Ank's second at bat against Hudson. I don't think anything was in a strikezone on that strikeout.
Faraz: "I did see Ank's second at bat against Hudson. I don't think anything was in a strikezone on that strikeout."
Ditto Espinosa.
Z-MAN!!
As Mark says..
Cortizone shots for everyone!!!
Take that, pretender Panda.
Thank you Ryan! What a great day for him.
Z-MANN AGAINN!!
Oh, another run. No Clip today. :) :(
Hmm According to Heyman, Phillies have put Hamels on the Market. And they traded Qualls to the Yankees..
can you say White Flag??
Does Davey get some credit now for making the right moves to get some extra runs???...
Is it me or does FP get fired up more often than a beachside grill on July 4 weekend? Not that there's anything wrong with it. ;-)
So who do they put out? Mattheus? I will miss Clip, but I guess it's a good thing to have a bigger lead. Thank goodness no HRod out there to scare us.
He ought to, Swift Eagle. Turnabout being fair play and all that.
Davey is a great offensive manager. I don't think anyone here could rightly say otherwise. I gripe about the handling of pitchers.
Ok, yes we do get Clip. Good for Davey.
Save, heck. Going for a team curly W. :-)
Clip need the work, I guess. Has only pitched one inning in, what, the last week?
WOOOOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!
ANOTHER SERIES WIN!!!!!!!!!
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