Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Game 143: Nats at Mets

Photo by Mark Zuckerman / NATS INSIDER
John Lannan rejoins the Nationals rotation tonight at Citi Field.
NEW YORK -- Tonight was supposed to feature the Great Stephen Strasburg Shutdown Circus, live from New York City. But as you know by now, the Nationals put a stop to that before they ever left Washington.

So instead John Lannan rejoins the rotation for tonight's series finale against the Mets, pitching just a hop, skip and a jump away from his childhood home on Long Island, eager to prove he can handle the pressure of pitching in a pennant race.

Lannan won't, however, have two regulars behind him in the field: Michael Morse and Danny Espinosa. Morse is out at leas a couple of days with a lingering left hand injury. (He was due to be examined today, so hopefully we'll get an update soon.) Espinosa, meanwhile, left the club to be with family following his grandmother's death. He's scheduled to rejoin the Nationals Friday in Atlanta, so he'll miss only one game.

Updates to come, please check back...

WASHINGTON NATIONALS at NEW YORK METS
Where: Citi Field
Gametime: 7:10 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN, MLB.tv
Radio: WJFK (106.7 FM), WFED (1500 AM), XM 185
Weather: Clear, 75 degrees, Wind 7 mph RF to LF
NATIONALS (88-54)
RF Jayson Werth
CF Bryce Harper
3B Ryan Zimmerman
1B Adam LaRoche
SS Ian Desmond
LF Roger Bernadina
C Kurt Suzuki
2B Steve Lombardozzi
LHP John Lannan

METS (65-77)
SS Ruben Tejada
2B Ronny Cedeno
3B David Wright
RF Scott Hairston
1B Lucas Duda
C Kelly Shoppach
LF Jason Bay
CF Andres Torres
RHP Matt Harvey

UMPIRES
HP Joe West (cc)
1B Mike Muchlinski
2B Sam Holbrook
3B Rob Drake

7:12 p.m. -- And we're underway with a ball from Matt Harvey to Jayson Werth. Really small crowd here. Wonder if it would've been any different if Strasburg was pitching as scheduled.

7:18 p.m. -- Harvey comes in with plenty of hype, and he was certainly as good as advertised in the top of the first, striking out the side with relative ease. Oh, did we mention the Mets are planning to shut him down after one more start when he reaches roughly 170 innings for the year? What an outrage!

7:27 p.m. -- John Lannan certainly kept the ball around the plate in his first inning. He threw 12 of 17 pitches for strikes, and though he surrendered a two-out single to David Wright (followed by a stolen base) he responded by striking out Scott Hairston looking at a 92 mph fastball to end the inning. Scoreless after one.

7:48 p.m. -- Wow, some spectacular defense from Ryan Zimmerman and Roger Bernadina in the bottom of the second, helping Lannan escape a jam without allowing a run. Lannan was facing a first-and-third, one-out situation when Andres Torres roped a liner to shallow left. Bernadina came charging in and made the lunging catch, then firing to the plate to prevent Lucas Duda from attempting to tag. Zimmerman then went to his left to rob Harvey of an RBI single and end the inning. Still scoreless after two.

8:06 p.m. -- Lannan is the ultimate pitch-to-contact guy, and he's been doing plenty of that tonight, inducing plenty of groundballs. In fact, seven of the 12 batters he's faced tonight have hit grounders to the left side. They haven't all been fielded cleanly -- Zim let one ball go right through the wickets -- but it's exactly what Lannan tries to do when he takes the mound. And so far, he's been quite successful: three scoreless innings. He even flashed a good pickoff move to catch Ronny Cedeno in a rundown.

8:17 p.m. -- Zim buys a round of cortisone shots for everyone in attendance! Absolutely destroyed a 1-0 fastball from Harvey to lead off the fourth, sending the ball flying way past the fence in deep left-center. That's his 22nd homer of the year, it extends his hitting streak to 16 games and gives him an RBI in nine straight games (a new Expos/Nats franchise record). Oh, and it gives the Nationals a 1-0 lead in the middle of the fourth.

8:26 p.m. -- That's four scoreless innings in the books for Lannan, who has needed only 48 pitches to do it. He even struck out Kelly Shoppach to end the inning, his first of the night. Nats still lead 1-0 as we head to the fifth.

8:42 p.m. -- Meanwhile, Harvey now has 10 strikeouts in only five innings of work. This kind is living up to the billing, big-time.

9:06 p.m. -- A golden opportunity for the Nats to add some insurance runs in the top of the sixth after they loaded the bases with nobody out and knocked Harvey out of the game. Davey Johnson certainly wanted to make the most of the opportunity, sending up Tyler Moore to pinch-hit for Roger Bernadina, wanting the right-on-left matchup against reliever Robert Carson. Except Moore popped up. As did Suzuki. As did Lombardozzi. Wow, stranding the bases loaded with nobody out against a pitcher wearing No. 73? You have to believe that's going to come back to haunt the Nationals before night's end.

9:26 p.m. -- Wow, high drama in the bottom of the sixth. Lannan put two on with two out, so Davey emerged from the dugout with kind of a quick hook. He summoned Christian Garcia for yet another big spot. And Garcia proceeded to plunk Kelly Shoppach with a first-pitch curveball. All of a sudden, the bases were loaded for Ike Davis, who tagged a ball to deep center field. Harper got a bit of a bad break on it but made up ground and made the catch as everyone in the Nats dugout breathed a sigh of relief. They still hold a 1-0 lead after six after another fine start by Lannan, who tossed 5 2/3 scoreless innings. His ERA in three big-league starts this year: 2.41.

9:40 p.m. -- Another golden opportunity squandered in the top of the seventh. With two on and nobody out, Harper dropped a sac bunt. That was a curious move, and one I suspect Bryce did on his own. The problem: It gave the Mets the chance to pitch around Zimmerman, loading the bases for LaRoche with a left-hander coming in out of the pen. And that lefty got LaRoche to ground into a 4-6-3 double play on his first pitch. So it remains 1-0 at the seventh-inning stretch.

9:50 p.m. -- There's the insurance run. Ian Desmond with his 23rd homer of the year, a blast to left off old pal Jon Rauch. The Nats double their lead to 2-0 in the top of the eighth.

10:02 p.m. -- Some more stellar defense from the Nats' infield in the bottom of the eighth. Desmond a Lombardozzi turned a nifty 6-4-3 double play, then Zimmerman made a fantastic scoop of Hairston's hot shot down the line. All of that helped Ryan Mattheus toss a scoreless inning and put the Nats three outs from a series sweep. Meanwhile in Milwaukee, the Brewers have opened up an 8-2 lead on the Braves. We could see another significant increase in the division lead and decrease in the magic number before night's end.

10:12 p.m. -- Wow, Sean Burnett in for the bottom of the ninth. It's his first appearance in 10 days. But Tyler Clippard pitched the last two nights, and the Mets have a couple of left-handed hitters due up. So it's Burnett in a save situation.

10:24 p.m. -- And the Nats get the job done, though not without causing a few hearts to skip a beat. Burnett put two on with two out, so Davey summoned Drew Storen to try to record the game's final out. Which Storen did. The Nats win 2-0, and with the Braves getting clobbered in Milwaukee, they could lead the NL East by 8 1/2 games within the hour.

195 comments:

  1. Davey surprises all of us other than peric by leaving Werth in the leadoff spot instead of batting Lombo there. Guess he likes what the top of the order has been doing. I do too.

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  2. Fortunately, Craig Stammen and Zach Duke are well rested.

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  3. GO JOHN!!!! It's going to be a fun ride for you for the next month!

    I think Zuki goes off tonight on this rookie.

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  4. Guess he likes what the top of the order has been doing. I do too.

    So, do his splits. Remember 222, he is hitting ahead of a guy, who right now, is making Mike Trout's year look boring. Trout is more than a year older than Harper. What happens when Harper gets to that age? What happens this year when the big lights are on the kid and he gets to play in the kind of games he loves the most?

    Harper is on a tear. Werth is veteran enough to take full advantage of that. But when you slot Werth in for say Morse? Or Zimmerman? He looks like DeRosa.

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  5. Mark said:

    "So instead John Lannan rejoins the rotation ... eager to prove he can handle the pressure of pitching in a pennant race."

    John has already had a MUCH bigger pennant race start than this one. He started the game where we stopped the bleeding in the four-gamer against the Braves that featured the blown 9-0 lead. A road start against the Mets with the team in first by 7.5 games is small potatoes compared to that one.

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  6. Bernadina should be in CF with Harper in LF, I don't get it.

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  7. My thoughts and prayers are with you, Spinner...

    LannEn ! ! LannEn ! !

    (how cool is it, that my iPhone still remembers how to spell LannEn!)

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  8. Peric knows all even when he doesn't.

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  9. I hear circus music. Wait, maybe that's just Dmitri fielding a pop fly. :-)

    Re. tonight's starter, John's always struck me as a guy who doesn't buckle under pressure. Go, John-Boy! I'm rooting for ya.

    Tonight was supposed to feature the Great Stephen Strasburg Shutdown Circus, live from New York City. But as you know by now, the Nationals put a stop to that before they ever left Washington.

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  10. Sympathies to Espi and his family.

    Good to get Lombo some playing time to get the rust off.

    Where did LannEn come from anyway? I've always been puzzled by this.

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  11. rdn, Riggleman misspelled his last name on a lineup card. The Nats went on to win the game (if memory serves, they'd been on a losing streak). The rest is history. :-)

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  12. Danny, take care. I miss my grandma, have her and my gramps picture on my refrigerator, I think of them every day...

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  13. Peric knows all even when he doesn't.

    And somehow he usually ends up right ... aggravating all and sundry.

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  14. Peric, it's hard to take seriously someone who was calling Werth a bench bat when he came back last month. But dog-gone if you're not back at it.

    This complaining about his batting order splits is pretty silly--because the sample sizes are very small and because the differences really aren't that great.

    Here are his slash lines in different spots:

    #1 - .346/.427/.526, 78ABs
    #3 - .133/.188/.133, 15ABs
    #4 - .323/.475/.548, 31ABs
    #5 - .275/.359/.435, 69ABs
    #6 - .343/.410/.429, 35ABs
    #9 - 1.000/1.000/1.000, 1 AB

    So if his slot is going to be dictated simply by these small sample sizes, he obviously ought to be batting 9th. Or 4th.

    Except for the #3 hole, where he's had all of 15ABs, I don't see anything that looks even remotely like DeRosa's .145/.277/.203.

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  15. A road start against the Mets with the team in first by 7.5 games is small potatoes compared to that one.

    Just the opposite. In that one he was the the "sixth" starter starting one game of a doubleheader added as a 26th man just for that game.

    In this case he is replacing Stephen Strasburg, the defacto ace of the staff, league leader in strikeouts, a guy who likely will be in many Cy Young conversations ... perhaps even in this year's. Add all the drama, controversy and hoopla surrounding the Nat's decision to shut Stras down and replace him with who? Not Wil Nieves. No, John Lannan. And its happening IN NEW YORK which happens to be where John Lannan hails from?

    Yeah methinks the pressure is HUGE this time around.

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  16. Except for the #3 hole, where he's had all of 15ABs, I don't see anything that looks even remotely like DeRosa's .145/.277/.203.

    Except the diminshed ISO. The dearth of home run power and XBH's? But, what has he consistently been good at? OBP == Lead-off. OBP == Lead-Off Larry. OBP == Lead-Off and ONLY lead-off. What part of that can't you grasp?

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  17. in his start against Atlanta, he was trying to prove his worth, stopping a slide, and holding Atlanta back one more game all at the same time.

    Lannen has pitched in NY before, a shutout actually.

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  18. So, let's look at the two that have the large sample size everyone touts right? Which LOOKS BETTER even to a blind as bat mole?

    #1 - .346/.427/.526, 78ABs
    #5 - .275/.359/.435, 69ABs

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  19. I think it's interesting that everyone has been calling Strasburg our ace. He did start the season as the number one. The second half was started by Jordan ( at the time when he was basically perfect) and Gio has the gaudy numbers at this point. If I had to name a Nats ace it would definitely be Gio. I would call Strasburg a possible future ace. I just think Gio , with his experience and resume is a better pitcher right now. Might not be forever, but I think he could be next season also. Strasburg has the electric stuff but still has a lot to learn and needs to show that he can do it over time. Don't count LannEn out - he is a tough minded guy who has had to learn to pitch to compensate for the fact that he does not have SS-like stuff. I will never forget in the 2011 season, early June?, when he beat the PHils for the first time. I think it was like one to nothing and Laynce Nix saved the game with a terrific catch. He just willed himself to win that game. The better lighting, field conditions and defense behind him gives him quite a lift.

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  20. Peric

    The question is not whether he's better in the #1 hole--the question is whether you're correct in suggesting that he's Mark DeRosa when he bats anywhere else.

    I'm not sure what a bat mole is, but I'm confident that a human with average vision can look at the numbers above and figure out the honest answer to that.

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  21. In my mind, that Saturday night victory by Lannan was the single-most important pitching performance (and victory) of the year, to date. So, I agree with bowdenball.

    Do it again, John!

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  22. Espi = grandma will be able to see all your games now. Still hard losing family members who have cheered you since you were just little playing.

    GYFNG The Brewers can go too while they are at it.

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  23. You guys need to stop analyzing everything to death. Everyone is not going to see everything the same way. All of you certainly don't. None of you have been always correct all season. Certainly none of you ever will. So, if someone doesn't agree with each of your views, he is just dumb? Therefore, using that logic, everyone here is dumb. Enjoy the game.

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  24. hh, arguing with peric is like arguing with a dining room table, as Barney Frank once famously said. Your point is clear and compelling. My advice would be to resist the temptation to further engage.

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  25. Glad he didn't break up the one two punch of Werth & Harper. I'd be curious about Harpers #s behind Lombo & Werth. He seems better behind Werth. Just a casual observation.

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  26. Harper likes hitting with Werth in front of him. He said so.

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  27. Many statistical studies have concluded that the batting order's effect on overall results is marginal at best. In fact if you take a team's 9 throw it into a hat and pull out a batting order every night the difference in the results is less than most of us amateur analysts would expect.

    Furthermore the concept of 'protection' has almost universal acceptance but almost no statistical back up; essentially if you are a good hitter you can hit at 7:00 pm or at 7:30 or whenever. With runners on or without.

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  28. rdn, Riggleman didn't misspell LannEn on just any old line up card.mit was a game against the Phillies, and the Phillies had John LannAn's number big time. When he pitched, it was like those guys got staked to five runs. But that day, John LannEn was the winner, and the rest is history. Just like the guys don't mess with things that occurred at the start of a streak (underwear, meals, etc), WE don't mess with new, empowered spelling of LannEn.

    Sympathies to Danny's family.

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  29. CRAPPPP!!! Ol' country joe west behind the plate????

    Go LannEn!!! GYFNG!!!!

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  30. My deepest sympathies to Danny and his family.

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  31. Natsfan and realdeal...I think the LannEn misspelling night was his first ever win against the Phillies after I don't know how many starts.

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  32. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  33. Thanks to JaneB and Ratiocinational for sharing their memories on the lineup card game.

    Re. the umps, when Joe West is on duty, the circus is always in town, or would that be the rodeo? Yee-haw! :-)

    Also, great post, rabbit.

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  34. rdn, Riggleman didn't misspell LannEn on just any old line up card.mit was a game against the Phillies,

    Its possible Lannan could face the Phillies TWICE in two critical series one in Philadelphia and the final home series.

    I hope Davey adjusts the rotation before then ...

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  35. hh, arguing with peric is like arguing with a dining room table, as Barney Frank once famously said.

    The bottom line is power. Werth has shown a lot less than Morse and you folks are all ready to trade him ... and its not like Morse hasn't had injuries.

    Werth is no longer a middle of the order hitter. And I think he knows it. If you look at the stats with an OBJECTIVE EYE you too will see that. Desmond, Zimmerman, LaRoche, and even Espinosa are hitting with some success in that area ... throw in Harper?

    BUT, when Werth is in the lead-off spot he works the pitcher. When he bats in the middle of the order he tries to be a run producer and typically fails.

    And honestly HiramHover's stats are the crappy stats that have been around since the Teedy was a real guy who refused to shoot a bear cub. In others words: OLD SCHOOL! They aren't very accurate.

    So, puhhleeze?

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  36. I will be curious to see John's new delivery that he worked on in AAA. Something about standing tall?

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  37. Phillies just won. 9-1 their last 10 games.

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  38. NJ.. I laugh at that shutdown.. Didn't the Rays just shut down 1 of there pitchers? Aren't they in a pennant race? Why is no one screaming about that?

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  39. if there is one pitcher on the staff that won't lose his cool due to the HP ump, it's LannEn. One thing he has is poise.

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  40. Joe west I don't remember ha being bad.

    first two guys more times out in first than all 10 at bats last night

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  41. Man, this Mets pitcher looks GREAT! Oh wait, he's new so the Nats have never seen him.
    Of course, I wish we took more pitches against a guy we've never seen. Just sayin....

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  42. Or maybe it was
    Walking Tall? Nah. :-)

    MicheleS said...

    I will be curious to see John's new delivery that he worked on in AAA. Something about standing tall?

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  43. Hey folks....hope all is well....

    Looking for the win tonight! Let's go John.!

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  44. Good find 1A.. to bad you can't put John's head on that poster.

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  45. Hmm.. Cedeno in? Wrong lineup card submitted?

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  46. MNF, only one inning has been played. Let's wait a bit.

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  47. Against the Nats, Hairston feels entitled to take a base.

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  48. Joe West will hold that against him. ;-)

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  49. Natsjack, because Harvey is from NY - he is already leading Gio in Cy Young coverage on ESPN!

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  50. NJ.. and this is why next year the NL East is going to be a lot tougher.

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  51. Is the second inning and no outs recorded fair enough to cable him a Ch Young candidate.

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  52. Joe West is not giving the low strike. Not good for a contact pitcher...

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  53. Eight pitches and he faced five batters. Has to be a record.

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  54. Lannan works out nicely with good fielding.

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  55. At least some contact that inning. Need to be ready to swing earlier.

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  56. Bryce got his fastball and got under it.

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  57. Now that they're above .500, the Phillies get four games against the Astros and three against the Mets. They really could get into the mix for the second wild card

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  58. Nice pick off! Coach Knorr must be happy.

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  59. A PICK OFF!!!! WOW!!! and then Wright grounds out.. SWEET!!!

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  60. Mrs. Seamhead asks, How many have we picked off, two?"

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  61. Pick off great job. 36 pitches 23 striked

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  62. Just saw John Stewart, from the Daily Show, in the stands. Didn't know he was a Mets fan.

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  63. BOOM goes Ryan....An Angry swing after that error!!

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  64. Cue Mark for a round of shots. Zim goes Booooom

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  65. The barking Hot Dog vendor is driving my actual dog crazy....

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  66. 'The Nationals on their bench, lead the world in smiles'
    Mets announcer

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  67. Nats driving Harvey's pitch count up with all the strikeouts....It's all by design to get to the wretched Mets bullpen...

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  68. Dangit... So wanted my boo to come to 3rd... It's okay though... Let's Go D!

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  69. Camptown lady sing this song, Duda, Duda!

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  70. Mets Bullpen coming into view.. the guys must be licking their chops

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  71. This Lannan kid looks pretty good. Seems like he really understands how to best use his stuff. Didn't get flustered when he wasn't getting the low strike called. In short, he's a pretty mature pitcher.

    Wonder why it took the Nats so long to promote him from AAA? ;-)

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  72. John Lannan has many times screwed himself by poorly making bunt attempts.

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  73. Do the Nats have a Designated Bunter for the playoffs? Not a very good bunting team actually...Davey not a big fan of bunting anyway

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  74. 5th inning and the kid harvey is at 90 Pitches.. I am firing up the grill, boys you can roast that bullpen!

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  75. @Eugene
    Pitchers bat when both teams are NL affiliates. Charlie & Dave said he had 14 ABs at AAA.

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  76. It's time for the Mutts to go into their BO. Lannan can go to the 7th really...

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  77. Strike outs are facist... ground balls outs are good.

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  78. Cardinals just blew another. This is unreal.

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  79. Hey Gonat, I started watching more Cardinal games around the time the Nats played them, and everyone was saying 'Watch Out for St Louis"...

    They ain't that good...Neither is Cinc....

    The Nats, Braves and Giants are far above everyone else in the NL imo

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  80. Wait.. Ian Walked? and we had a pickoff in the same game??? Am i living in the Twighlight Zone???

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  81. That was awful. Carson couldn't fund the strike zone and TyMo swung 2-0 and fouled it off.

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  82. Haha Michele..it could be Bizarro-World, where Hello means Good-Bye and Bryce Harper loafs to 1B on routine grounders...

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  83. "Everyday Garcia" warming in the pen...Davey is like a kid with a new video game...

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  84. No help for lannan tonight. Top of 6 th was bad. Everybody trying to hit a grand slam. Both guys hacking on 2. 0? I hope that doesn't cost us.

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  85. Great effort by LannEn. Good move by Davey getting him out when he did. LannEn: World's Best Fifth Starter.

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  86. Looks like Davey's pretty high on him too, Jack..with good reason

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  87. He's not the highest paid minor league pitcher in history for nothing!

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  88. Sunshine he deserves the W. letsngetnsome runs here.

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  89. Sorry. When we get up to bat. Don't like a rookie pitcher here. Go get stammer or somebody.

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  90. And as FP and Carp just PILE ON the mickey for Garcia, he hits Shoppach.

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  91. This is a good move, need to see how Garcia does in this type of situation...It's all about getting ready for Oct now...

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  92. Now the Mets have the same bases loaded the Nats had last inning.

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  93. Swift, first you have to get to October. Don't count your chickens before they're hatched.

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  94. Take another bow, NatsJack, for the Garcia find. You can bird dog for me anytime, pal.

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  95. Lannan finishes off another excellent start. He only missed a few pitches and like he does so well strands them.

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  96. Thanks GONAT. Took the words right ......... When there is a z in the standings next to Washington then we can talk.

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  97. I went to my MA meeting (maloox anonomys) today. Pitcher fine tonight. Batters not producing against a terrible bull pen.

    Bases loaded we withered away. Gameday gives each of the three batters 3 lob on individual stats.

    Braves also had bases load an Dan Uggla didn't. pop up instead grounds into double play and scores second run.

    FYI each team 7 LOB. Individual LOB NATS 16 METS 13

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  98. Huge pressure on Lannan as he was dubbed by the media as replacing Strasburg.

    Excellent.job and results.

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  99. BTW rays stranded the bases loaded also.

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  100. You just know the Legion of Doom were at the ready if Lannan flinched.

    Of course I don't expect his detractors to say what a great job he did.

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  101. NatsJack, that July 21st win was worth $5 million.

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  102. I think when someone says lannan deserve better wig the bats it means he did well.

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  103. Wigs for Bats...Keep Bats Warm...

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  104. DeRosa, pinch hit, go to first, get a runner, sit down again. $800,000. Nice work if you can get it.

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  105. Brewers 3 Braves 2

    Weeks 3 run jack!

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  106. Check out the ROY with the Sac Bunt! #Team player

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  107. FYI Harper doesn't get 2 personal LOB as a sacrifice doesn't count against him.

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  108. True, one can Never predict the voters Gonat, but anyone with eyeballs knows Bryce is the best...the voters may turn into statisticians but there's NO rookie in the NL anyone wouldn't trade for Bryce

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  109. There are people on this site (well one) that swear Yunesky Maya is better

    It's as obvious as the pRAA on your face.

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  110. this is Reds bullpen in disguise. I bet they really want that best record in NL, thus lending players to Mets.

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  111. Damn we are just not hitting with guys on.

    Braves down 4-2.

    Held off Maloox but tempted by our batters

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  112. Brewers 4-2 with bases loaded and 1 out

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  113. I sure hope Harper was following Davey's instructions on that bunt, rather than freelancing as Carp and FP theorized.

    And I sure hope the Nats failure to drive in any runs in two bases loaded situations in the last two innings doesn't come back to bite them. One run is not usually enough to win a baseball game.

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  114. 7-2 Brewers on a bases clearing double

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  115. Section 222, my thinking is that Harp was trying to ambush bunt for a hit and just didn't bunt it well.

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  116. I'm telling you Gonat! It's over, Stop worrying...save your nerves for October when it's actually time to fret! lol

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  117. Someone might of said that already but what Lannan has is experience which other younger harder throwing pitcher don't have yet.

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  118. Maholm had 4 shutout innings and it caved in on him. Fredi left him in to self-destruct and finally pulled him after 7 earned.

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  119. Brewers wiht a 7-spot against those Barves.

    What did I say weeks ago about us winning this thing by 10 games?

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  120. Even the pitcher with a 2 out RBI. Brewers 8-2

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  121. You guys crack me up. Are we all related or married somehow?

    Ps: dong dez

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  122. Lannan and Desi, the 2 most beaten up Nats.

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  123. I ask my son if that was Rauch, spelling? I said he stinks watch for a homer. Badda bing

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  124. can 25 years old be batboys for Nationals? I guess they wouldn't be called a batboy.

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  125. Easy FP...Ryan Z is still the MVP of this team, no matter what the stats say...When Ryan started hitting, this team went from good to best team in MLB...

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  126. Did you hear what FP just said, "If Desi didn't miss that time away with the oblique he would have been the leading candidate for the MVP"

    Desi = Case of Sunflower seeds....according to the Legion of Doom

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  127. Desi = Case of Sunflower seeds....according to the Legion of Doom

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    September 12, 2012 9:53 PM Haha...I remember that one Gonat...One of their all-time best moments...right up there with "Rizzo Fail"

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  128. Swift, the 1-2-3 spots in the order didn't produce until Ryan Z started hitting.

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  129. thom loverro ‏@thomloverro
    #Orioles GM Dan Duquette told "The Sports Reporters" @ESPNRadio980 that he was #Nationals GM candidate but #MLB chose Jim Bowden instead

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  130. Gonat, if he was bunting for a hit he would have dragged it. He definitely squared up like a sacrifice. Plus, he squared up on the previous pitch too. My theory is that Davey called for hit with the hot Zim coming up.

    And Bryce almost beat it out anyway.

    I'd still like to see more runs, but 2-0 is an improvement on 3-0. Thanks Ian.

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  131. See what I mean. We love em both. Both MVPs. Now stop this or you will be put in time out.

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  132. What a GIDP! HUGE. 1st off Mattheus throws Wright a 3-0 meatball that he can't barrel up and then gets him to ground into a nifty doubleplay.

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  133. Nats hitting great with no one not bad.

    once guy on gets worse.. 3 for 18 last 2 games.

    I held off Maloox as long as possible. Allowing batter to reach base before Wright my pet peeve vs. Mets. Then just as I ready to pour 6-4-3.

    The 12 step program MA has is helping .I counted to 30 before pouring.

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  134. Section 222 said...
    Gonat, if he was bunting for a hit he would have dragged it. He definitely squared up like a sacrifice. Plus, he squared up on the previous pitch too. My theory is that Davey called for hit with the hot Zim coming up.

    And Bryce almost beat it out anyway.

    I'd still like to see more runs, but 2-0 is an improvement on 3-0. Thanks Ian.

    September 12, 2012 10:00 PM
    ___________________________________

    Who said he was trying to drag it against a RH pitcher? I think he was trying to get it down to 3rd base.

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  135. So true Gonat! The Nats were 41-30 when Ryan got The Shot...47-24 since...

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  136. Did anyone see that commercial for that hospital just now??? Wth?

    How that got by any lawyer or marketing mind is baffling.

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  137. I doubt Davey asked Bryce to bunt, I'm sure he knew that runners at 2nd and 3rd would take the bat out of Ryan's hands...

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  138. Sean scares me....not sure why. Pass the malox

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  139. SEAN???????? Oh boy. Blood pressure going up

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  140. Craig Heist ‏@cheistWTOP
    @washingnats take what??? I am quite happy. More room for Lannan who YOU said shouldnt be on the team. #tunaboutisfairplay
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    This is getting good. Ladson says he never said that about Lannan.

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  141. Pretty high leverage situation to put Burnett in for his first appearance after his injury/rest. Let's hope Clipp or Storen are ready to come in if necessary.

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  142. I hope Davey knows what he's doing.

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  143. This isn't the 8th, its the 9th. Oh boy.

    Kardiac Kids. Where's my Tums

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  144. Good hit. Sean looks good though.

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  145. This is classic Davey, showing confidence in Burnett and putting him in a spot he may see in the playoffs...tight game, 2 lefties to get out...

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  146. It's more like a lefty thing....

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  147. I don't know Swift. This is more than LOOGY work. Huge for Burnie here to get back on the horse.

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  148. Still like the move...think Burnett is ready to run through a wall for Davey? Sean knows Davey took a chance on him in this spot...

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  149. OH MY GOSH.. I NEED BOURBON!!! Not just MAALOX

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  150. Oh well. Here comes Storen. BABIP bad luck on the 2 hits.

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  151. Haha..you guys worry too much! This isn't even a big game...

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  152. Burnett better than against Cards, but still poor. He has allowed winning run to the plays. Davey 1 batter late.

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  153. Pass the Woodford Reserve Plz

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  154. What do you mean. Not a big game. They all count the same????

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  155. WOOOOOO (PHEW) HOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!.. SWEEP.. How nice is that

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  156. #89 Magic number for now down to 12

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  157. Scott with the right bourbon brand for me!

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  158. Mark is quick on the counter! Already changed.

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  159. Made it with no Maloox. I believe Brewers helped

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  160. Chill out? Not in DNA.Worry about everything. Love winning though.

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  161. Atta way, John. I knew you could do it.

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  162. I love winning, man. It's like, yanno, BETTER THAN LOSING!

    Oh, to have nothing worse than losing a baseball game to worry about.

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  163. 1A, JaneB, and Ratio--
    Thanks a lot for the background and sorry I'm late getting back on, but was greatly appreciated. All makes perfect sense now. Another piece of the puzzle complete.

    Great game for John. These guys are consummate pros, aren't they?

    Rest The Beast. Give Tyler, Lombo, and Shark some time to sharpen up.

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