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US Presswire photo Bryce Harper received plenty of clown questions at his All-Star press conference. |
Sitting just to the right of his big-name teammates, Gio Gonzalez wasn't quite as big a draw, though the left-hander enjoyed the spotlight just as much.
"This is exciting," Gonzalez said. "You get an opportunity like this to have some fun, see some superstars out here, talk to them and pick their brains ... everyone's here enjoying this and embracing it."
There were, of course, plenty of attempts from media members to get Harper to chastise them for asking clown questions. Despite a whole lot of bizarre queries that qualified, Harper refrained from using the phrase that became a worldwide sensation last month.
Here are some highlights from the Nats' trio of All-Stars...
BRYCE HARPER
On his first impressions: "Being able to be around the guys that are the best players in baseball, it's pretty impressive coming in here. It's just a lot of fun being here, and it's only just getting started. Just being around these guys, I'm speechless. It's pretty unbelievable."
On what should be expected of him in tomorrow night's game: "I'm pretty terrible in All-Star Games. I don't know what they're going to see from me. Aflac All-American, I was 0-for-5 with four Ks. [Under Armor] All-American, I was like 0-for-5, 5 Ks. Last year in the Futures Game, I was like 0-for-5, 5 Ks. I'm just going to try to enjoy myself as much as I can and have as much fun as I can. Really just take it all in."
STEPHEN STRASBURG
On having multiple teammates alongside for the All-Star Game: "It's great being on a first-place team that can have more than one guy here. To be in this situation, where you have four guys, it's awesome."
On Gonzalez: "I've learned so much from him already, and I think he's learned a thing or two from me. We're a great combination. I'm excited we're going to be here for a while."
GIO GONZALEZ
On his teammates: "If it was up to me, I'd bring the whole team with us. Every single one of those guys deserves to be here."
16 comments:
good stuff.
one can question why Davey had Flores whow as 0-15 pinch hit, why he kept Burnett in after the second hit, etc...
However, I think yesterday's loss was the best thing to happen to the Nats, they will go into Mimai re focused and ticked off
on another note, when will Lannan be called up?
Miami is a good place to go after the break. Lots of guys live there off-season and you get to go in the air-conditioning, the Fish are in disarray, Stanton won't be playing and they have no closer. Also, we have been to the new park before and so have seen its eccentricities.
On the downside, the Fish have had our number in the past. But the past is the past.
Nats have used 6 starters to date. So I was curious, who else has a stable rotation?
Marlins/Reds - 5
Cards/Dodgers/Giants/Nats/Indians - 6
Phillies/Angels/Cubs/Pirates/M's/Braves - 7
Yanks/Brewers/DiamondBacks/A's/Rays/RedSox/O's/Astros - 8
Tigers/ChiSox/Mets - 9
Rangers/Royals/BlueJays - 10
Rockies/Twins - 11
Padres 13
Some pitchers only used once or twice, but I still counted them.
mick - You're joking about pulling Burnett after two hits, right? I mean, the guy's been nails for us all season, and you want to hook him after two hits?
In what universe do you think Davey Johnson even thinks to have someone warm two batters into a Sean Burnett appearance? I mean, second-guessing the manager is one thing, but to suggest that Davey should have, or even COULD have, had a faster hook with Burnett yesterday is just mind-boggling.
I was surprised they were even willing and able to get Gonzalez ready for after the third hit.
Actually, Gonzalez and Stammen had both been warming during the 7th inning (maybe in case JZ ran into trouble). No problem with when Davey took Burnett out. Pinch hitting Flores? Well he was already in the game (Solano had been lifted for a pinch hitter), and I expect Davey was holding DeRosa in case it went to extra innings.
on another note, when will Lannan be called up?
Hopefully, and preferably NEVER. Everyone here is down on Grienke for his "attitude", and then there's Morgan ... and Dukes.
Lannan was PAID FAR MORE than he was worth by this team just because he went out there and did his best to eat innings for what were some pretty pathetic losing teams. But his advanced stats and normal stats did not even come close to equating to his salary demands. In point of fact he was was the worse starter in the National League relative to the number of innings he pitched.
And then when he got sent down to AAA because he legitimately lost the ST competition to Ross Detwiler ... his attitude changed and even now he isn't the best teammate in Syracuse.
NO. Just say NO to John Lannan. I hope the Yankees and the fans take him. I'd rather have Morgan.
rarumberger said...
mick - You're joking about pulling Burnett after two hits, right? I mean, the guy's been nails for us all season, and you want to hook him after two hits?
uh yes, I was listing things others complained about yesterday and was making a point that even if one were to complain about it, the loss was the best thing to happen to Nats
peric.... so who fills Strass role when he is shut down if not Lannan???
"...his (Lannan) attitude changed and even now he isn't the best teammate in Syracuse."
And you know this how? Just asking, just asking.
Pinch hitting Flores? Well he was already in the game (Solano had been lifted for a pinch hitter),
And there's your answer, right? There were no catchers left?
I heard that Bryce Harper wanted to meet Mark McGwire and was able to today and took photos with his kids. Hard to believe Bryce was 5 years old when Big Mac hit 70.
on another note, when will Lannan be called up?
Look for him to get the spot start in the doubleheaders with the Braves on 7/21 and Marlins on 8/3. It will be his audition for September baseball.
Peric will bust a gut if that happens Feel, but I do think you are correct unless CM Wang all of a sudden figures things out.
GIO GONZALEZ
On his teammates: "If it was up to me, I'd bring the whole team with us. Every single one of those guys deserves to be here."
I absolutely love this guy. I love his smile. I love his fire. I love his 94 mph fastball. I love his intensity. I love everything about him.
And I would trade 10 soft-tossing Tommy Milones to get one Gio.
We got Gio, and we got great. It's no coincidence.
Everybody who didn't like this trade at the time, enter and sign in, please.
Oooh, can I play?
natsfan1a said...
Reposting:
natsfan1a said...
I don't pretend to have the know-how to be a GM, even of the armchair variety, but my initial tendency is to agree with those who have noted that these guys are prospects. We can't know with certainty how they'll pan out in the long term, imo. Of course, I suppose one could say the same for Gio (GiGo?), but he's ours now and I'm fixing to root for him.
December 22, 2011 4:55 PM
December 22, 2011 5:07 PM
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