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Photo by Mark Zuckerman / NATS INSIDER Edwin Jackson makes his first career start at Turner Field this afternoon. |
The latter is most surprising, given that Jackson has spent parts of six seasons in the National League, not to mention the fact he's from Atlanta and still makes his home here. Today, though, he'll get to cross this one off the list, facing the Braves in search of his 10th win of the season.
Jackson did face Atlanta once earlier this season, taking a hard-luck loss on July 21 despite giving up only one run. His opponent, Tommy Hanson, got roughed up by the Nationals one night earlier, giving up eight runs in four innings. (That wound up being the game the Nats blew a 9-0 lead and lost in extra innings.)
A reminder that today's game is at 4:05 p.m. and is being televised by Fox, with Daron Sutton and Eric Karros on the call. Pretty much the entire southeastern United States gets this game, but here's a handy coverage map if you want to check it out yourself.
Updates to come...
WASHINGTON NATIONALS at ATLANTA BRAVES
Where: Turner Field
Gametime: 4:05 p.m. EDT
TV: Fox
Radio: WJFK (106.7 FM), WFED (1500 AM), XM 184
Weather: Partly cloudy, 84 degrees, Wind 3 mph RF to LF
NATIONALS (89-55)
RF Jayson Werth
CF Bryce Harper
3B Ryan Zimmerman
1B Adam LaRoche
SS Ian Desmond
2B Danny Espinosa
C Jesus Flores
LF Roger Bernadina
RHP Edwin Jackson
BRAVES (82-63)
CF Michael Bourn
2B Martin Prado
RF Jason Heyward
C Brian McCann
1B Freddie Freeman
2B Dan Uggla
3B Juan Francisco
SS Andrelton Simmons
RHP Tommy Hanson
UMPIRES
HP Marvin Hudson
1B Marty Foster
2B Tim Timmons
3B Fieldin Culbreth (cc)
4:06 p.m. -- We are underway with a ball from Tommy Hanson to Jayson Werth.
4:17 p.m. -- Not that he needed it to legitimize a fantastic season, but Adam LaRoche will certainly take his 30th homer, a bomb down the right-field line on an 0-1 pitch from Tommy Hanson. The Nats said all along they believed LaRoche would put up his usual numbers after an injury-plagued 2011. Well, he's done that and more, reaching 30 homers for only the second time in his career. The Nats take a 2-0 lead after the top of the first.
4:42 p.m. -- Um, I'm not entirely sure how to describe what happened in the top of the second. Let's just say the Braves committed about 17 errors and in the process allowed the Nats to score two runs on a sacrifice bunt. Yes, that's technically an accurate statement. Horrible defense from Freddie Freeman and Tommy Hanson to hand the Nats a pair of runs on a platter. It's 4-0 as we go to the bottom of the second.
4:53 p.m. -- And the Braves get one run back in the bottom of the inning after Freeman led off with a triple and Dan Uggla followed with a double to deep right-center. Jackson buckled down after that, though, and retired the bottom of the order to keep this a 4-1 lead after two.
4:56 p.m. -- Hmm, Brian McCann out of the game, with David Ross now behind the plate for the Braves. No official word yet on what happened.
5:10 p.m. -- Yikes, six straight strikeouts for Danny Espinosa in this series. He's had some ugly swings against Atlanta pitching the last 24 hours since returning from his grandmother's funeral in Arizona. Jackson, meanwhile, cruises through a 1-2-3 bottom of the third, so it remains 4-1 Nats.
5:27 p.m. -- Freddie Freeman is having himself quite the eventful afternoon. He committed that awful error in the top of the second, but he tripled in the bottom of the inning, and he just ambushed Jackson by crushing a first-pitch fastball to right-center for a solo homer in the fourth. Freeman is halfway to the cycle, having recorded the two toughest hits of the bunch, and the Nats' lead is down to 4-2 after four.
5:44 p.m. -- The update on McCann: He left the game with hamstring tendinitis and is day-to-day, putting his availability for tomorrow night's series finale in doubt. Meanwhile, Jackson just blew away the Braves in the bottom of the fifth, striking out the side. He's got 6 K's now and aside from a couple of mistakes to Freeman has been pretty much lights out here so far today.
5:50 p.m. -- Oof, Espinosa is now 0-for-7 with seven strikeouts in this series.
6:11 p.m. -- Well, that just fell apart in a hurry, and for that you can in part blame the umpires. Marvin Hudson, manning first base today, botched a call on what looked like a routine 1-3 groundout, saying LaRoche's foot came off the bag. Replays appear to clearly show that wasn't the case, but Davey Johnson didn't need to see a replay to know himself. He sprinted out of the dugout, got in Hudson's face and was handed his first ejection of the season. The call was one thing, but you had to know the very next batter, Heyward, would launch a two-run homer that ties this game 4-4. A really bad sequence of events for Jackson, who wound up getting the hook from bench coach Randy Knorr (now serving as manager). This is a whole new ballgame as we head to the seventh.
6:29 p.m. -- A chance for the Nats to retake the lead in the top of the seventh, with runners on the corners and two outs. Fredi Gonzalez brought in lefty Luis Avilan to face Harper, and the 19-year-old hacked at the first pitch and bounced into a fielder's choice. So this game remains tied 4-4 at the stretch.
6:49 p.m. -- Wow, a HUGE strikeout by Michael Gonzalez of Heyward in a most tenuous situation: Runners on the corners, two outs, Heyward at the plate. Gonzalez actually fell behind in the count 3-0, then battled back and blew Heyward away with a 3-2 fastball to end the seventh inning. It's still 4-4, and we've got ourselves another nip-and-tuck ballgame, just like last night.
6:52 p.m. -- And a very quick, 1-2-3 top of the eighth for Eric O'Flaherty. Onto the bottom of the inning, with Ryan Mattheus now in from the Nats bullpen.
7:17 p.m. -- And Mattheus implodes in the bottom of the eighth. He gave up a leadoff single, then walked two straight batters with one out to load the bases for Simmons. Needing a strikeout or a hard-hit grounder, Mattheus instead grazed Simmons' jersey with a 2-2 fastball, forcing in the go-ahead run. Zach Duke (?!) managed to get out of the jam, but now the Nats are down to their last three outs, with one Craig Kimbrel entering from the bullpen to a thunderous roar.
7:28 p.m. -- And that will do it. The Nats got the tying runner to third when Chad Tracy singled and Eury Perez stole second and took third on a bad throw. But Kimbrel got Tyler Moore to end the game and hand the Nats their second straight, 1-run loss to the Braves, this one 5-4. Their lead in the NL East is down to 6 1/2 games with 17 to play.
182 comments:
I don't remember listening to Sutton and Karros before. Thoughts?
Thanks for the coverage map, Mr. Zuckerman; it means I don't have to try to persuade my local bar to switch even one TV away from Ducks football (which might have generated a mini-riot). So I'll just try not to hear any results and watch the replay this evening.
In any event, let's hope the Nats put last night's loss behind them and get that 90th win (and Mr. Jackson get into double digits). GYFNG!
Y'all, this season is awesome. I can't wait to see what happens next.
This is what we've been waiting for!
Yes Scooter, indeed this is what we're all waiting for. Short of a Blue Monday, it's all good.
Nats need a winning performance from somebody besides Gio Gonzales. Meaning, get out in front and stay in front. Not that last night gets hung on Detwiler. But in order to win at least one of the games in this series someone is going to have to throw a shut-out, or at least a very low-hit, no walk game. Jackson is now at the point where the Nats have to score five (or more) in order to have a chance at a win. It would be nice if he started pitching like an $11MM pitcher.
You've got to score runs to win. I think the Nats will today.
Go Nats, let's even the series today!
Definitely an awesome season, Scooter.
Go, EJ! Go, NATS BATS!!
Eugene: so does that mean trout should be making 50 million dollars this year?
Theo (@ 1:26 p.m.):
Fangraphs has Edwin Jackson's WAR at 2.5 so far this year; Baseball-Reference has it at 1.9 because it uses a somewhat different formula. Many folks who crunch data will argue that each win above replacement is worth about $5m in contract terms. If you accept that -- and I'm not suggesting it's a perfect number -- then Mr. Jackson's $11m contract is just about right.
Lower scores recently, but also some great pitching against us ( well, after the cubs left town). Offense needs to get it back in gear. Morse might have thought he was hurting the team, but he still instilled fear into the opposing pitcher and added to the murderer's row feel. Hope he is well soon. In the meantime - Bernie can make some nice catches, no? No way anyone else on the team does that. Kind of thought we might see Tyler Moore today. I hope Daron Sutton is nowhere near as obnoxious as his father was. Thankful every day for FP. Two days off for our crews. Does anyone know why Ray Knight has not been on? Seems like he has missed a lot of games this year.
Thanks for the map MarkMeister!
It's close, but it looks like my geography is barely squeezed into Nats' TV land.
The Twitter world is saying that Lombo will be playing in left field today. I like it that he makes contact, but he hasn't been out there in quite a while. Bernie hurting? Couldn't Corey Brown or Tyler Moore be in the outfield? Waiting for info Mark.
Clip@amp;Store @ 2:06: It means that if Mr. Trout were a free agent after this season, his 8.8 WAR (so far, per Fangraphs) would give him and his agent a strong argument for a huge contract (in terms of what he's worth to the ball clubs bidding on his services). But he'll need to sustain that kind of WAR for a number of years, since he's not a free agent anytime soon; we'll see if that happens. Mr. Jackson and Scott Boras, when Mr. Jackson became a free agent last off-season, could point to WARs of 3.6, 3.8, and 3.8 in his three previous seasons.
Again, the 1-extra-win = $5m is a general approximation of what that additional win is worth to a team (and that $5m number may even be a bit dated); lots of other things go into a contract, obviously. It's also worth noting that the extra win is worth a bit more or less depending on what a team expects from itself in the coming season(s); a team that is likely to lose 90 games isn't going to value one extra win at $5m and a team that's already likely to win 95 games isn't isn't either. But a team -- like the Nats, when they signed Mr. Jackson -- that seems to be on the cusp of contending might value each additional win at a slightly higher number because that 90th or 91st or 92nd win might be the one that puts you into the playoffs.
Mark's Tweeter update at top right does have Lombo in left.
oh, my bad, the espn one has trouts war over 10.
I have followed Corey Brown all season in Syracuse, and hope he gets some playing time. He's an incredible defensive player all 3 OF positions.
Trout could be the first $300 million player
Davey in rare form today telling reporters Lombo is playing because he has 50% of his home runs off Hanson. Hope he is keeping things loose in the clubhouse and tight on the field. Guys showing some jitters?
Clip@amp;Store @ 2:23: Not your 'bad' at all; I wasn't doing a 'gotcha' on his precise number. There are different formulae for calculating WAR and none of them is perfect (not least because the very concept of WAR isn't perfect). Whether you use Fangraphs, B-R, or ESPN, Mr. Trout is clearly having a superstar season. And whether it's 'worth' $50m or $45m or $40m to the Angels isn't really the issue (particularly if they don't make the playoffs); the real question -- as with all great rookies, Mr. Harper included -- is whether he'll prove able to sustain similar numbers and performance over multiple seasons. Albert Pujols did; many others haven't. And the payoff comes when those who sustain high WARs get their shot at free agency (or a long-term extension with their original team). But that's in the future, Right now, I just want to see Mr. Jackson add a bit to this year's WAR. And also see the Nats' hitters again come alive against Mr. Hanson (and to better effect than last time).
I'm so glad I can't watch the game today because I live in New Jersey and have no way of getting the Nationals' broadcast, despite paying hundreds of dollars for MLB.tv and MLB Extra Innings. Go, MLB, go! Keep screwing over non-local fans! Nobody does it better than you!
You got it correct Sam.
Probably the old $18mm/yr. used car dealer, Butt Head Selig, is behind the broadcasting blackouts.
It's time MLB started taking care of it's fans not just their wallets!
NatsJack - so true. It's a hard habit to break. I personally am in the fingers crossed, keep the same routines, wear the right shirt mode. Go Nats!
Lets get a win. GYFNG!
NatsJack, I'm with you. Anyone thinking of joining the LoD needs to look at the standings.
Sweet HR by ALR!!! Up 2-0! go get them boys!
Lombo.. sneeky fast!
That oughta dull the tomahawk chop.
I loves me some hustle!
Good hustle Lombo and EJax
The best thing is that Hanson's pitch count keep climbing
Question for Eugene in Oregon... my grandson in Portland (grew up in NoVa) is a Nats fan and looking for someplace to watch the stretch run. Seems like you mentioned a place or two in an earlier thread. Can you repeat please? Thanks.
Go Nats. Do the hustle!
Oh yeah, Nats look REAL jittery. Like someone here wrote the other day, WE'RE the ones who put the pressure on other teams. ALL hustle by everyone, Braves looking tight and pressured, and all their edge from yesterday is gone. Love EJax's hustle too, going to third on Werth's fly.
Looks like it's not too far from jittery to hitterish!
Mark you meant top of 2nd.
So far 6 outs 3 k. 2 looking. This habit has to go.
Please dont give back runs we just scored.
Fox announcers worse than Braves infield. Miss Carp and FP already.
Manassas -- agree on the K's looking. JFlo and Espiay K a lot but thry're been trying to defend the plate with two strikes and foul off anything near that they can't drive. Zim and Harp's K's were good pitches and close enough. Rather see swinging K's where they at least take a hack.
MNF - I do not care if we strike out 27 times a game. We are required to make 24 to 27 outs per game, but if we are scoring 2 runs per inning, I am one happy fan.
Nice to see Zim make the clean sidearm through and not airmail it on Hanson's slow roller.
EJax minimized damage. Now score 2 more.
That was funny, Espy in slow motion. If he did that on purpose that was a smart play!! LOL. Oh, well, he strikes out to make up for it...
Ah Espinosa, they should just sew Cerrano on the back of your uniform
When will management demand Espi make more contact? He is not a home run hitter like Adam Dunn so he should not be leading NL in striking out. I simply do not understand.
As for staying off the Maloox. So far so good.
Slap hitting 2B are a dime a dozen...An athletic guy who can hit 20 bombs at that spot is very rare...Yes he needs to cut down the Ks, but the Nats would be nuts to change Danny's approach...
EJax with a nice inning.
3 innings, 40pitches, 26 strikes, 2 hits, 1ER. Me likey. Looks like it may be eJax's is settling down for one of his dominating performances (NO JINX!) when we need it. Now let's finish off Hanson.
The announcers are boobs. Daron sutton and joe buck were classmates at the broadcasters school of nepotism?
Yes he needs to cut down the Ks, but the Nats would be nuts to change Danny's approach...
Wasn't Davey working with him personally, especially on his left-handed ABs?
… I should know better; I should have my head examined. Today, I thought since it's raining outside I'll check in with Fox's pre-game show, see what intelligent comments I might hear (forgetting of course this was FOX).
… oh the superficiality, oh the insipid narrow-minded-ness, oh the focus on only the known quantities. The Yankees are to be revered - of course; the Phillies are to be feared - of course; the Dodgers are on the west coast so that elimates them.
… yet nowhere did the name Nationals cross anyones' lips, save perhaps a passing reference that the team has the best record in MLB.
… remind me never to fall into that trap again.
Go Nats!! Above all else.
Yes Sofa, Davey and others have tried to remove the large loop that often appears in his LH swing...But I'd be surprised if Davey was trying to change him to a slap hitter...Davey not a fan of letting the ball travel and going the other way
No EJax domination against Freeman -- 2ABs, 7 total bases.
He was making progress cut down swing and was hitting better including more homers then the last week went back to harder swing.
we need to start scoring again.
I have switched to Charlie and Dave. They are about 10 seconds ahead of the Fox feed. Even with that, would rather listen to C&D versus the Fox guys. Geesh.. Braves homers.
The strikeouts are a team-wide issue. Nats have 5 guys with over 100 Ks...It's an area that needs improvement, but I think they've proven they can still win..
MicheleS, could not agree more. Every Brave is an all star and their young players have the potential of Maris and Koufax.
Swift Eagle, I could not disagree more. Sure slap hitters are a dime a dozen but the percentage of Abs that Epinosa strikes out has RISEN over the last three seasons, showing he isn't learning a thing. He has to learn how to put the ball in play especially on a team that strikes out so much.
No hits for us last 3 innings
Yes, Danny needs to improve, but it was suggested that the Nats management should change is approach, which I disagree with.
Harper, Zimmerman, Desmond, and LaRoche also have over 100 Ks, should they change their approach too?
Rizzo and Davey will be fine with 20 HRs and 100 Ks a year from Danny...and any team in MLB would take that from their 2B
Dr. Davey needs to readjust Espi. K machine
Okay.. they just show a Playoff commercial and not 1 Nats Highlight (not even Bryce). Showing teams that will probably not get into the playoffs. GEESH.
Those guys have about 100 k he has 172 not close. i wouldnt mention if he was near 100
Also.. please remember that Danny is dealing with a death in the family. He probably has had a lot on his mind lately. Especially since up until yesterday, he was actually doing pretty good (but, yea, he needs to cut down on the k's). Sounds like from Mark's appearance on 980 this morning, that Dr Davey will be back next year, and had another season to straighten Danny out.
Total BS Call there!
Even Braves radio guys say it was a blown call...
Oh look.. Crappy umpires. yet again
Cledarly aterrible call and marty foster at home who clearly see it was wrong allowed the ump to be wrong.
in football umps correct each other. in baseball they rather the ump be wrong then correct it
Lol, it's always Prado...Nats need to trade for him...that's what they did after all those years when Willingham killed them as a Marlin...
Tie game
EJax, come on. Composure.
Did anyone not think that was gonna happen following that call? F'ing BS
The umps changed th mo of the game. and i can guarsntee not one press member will question the ump. not one because they let them not be accountable.
yet everyone will question ejax. why are the umpures never questioned?
Ghost, that's why Cat came out to calm him down but you just cannot blame EJax. It's one thing to get unnerved on a close judgment call but such rank incompetence when he wasn't in any position to make the call is just beyond the pale.
Let's hope the Nats hitters can focus their anger and get him some runs.
Yeah, I'd be more concerned if Ejax didn't get mad about a call that brutal...The grooved pitch to Heyward was not the ump's fault though...
Espinosa, the best strikout machine in MLB, has struckout at least seven times in a row. He's pathetic.
We knew it would happen. i am also pissed at McCatty as he did nothing to try and stop it.
Marty Fosteris way my list of terrible umps. he could clearly see LaRoche was on bag and he just let it happen.
baseball umps are terrible at covering for each other. MLB also encouraging umps to cover as they dont demand umps correct mistakes
If there's one thing Phil Dunton is an expert on, it's being pathetic...
It's not a close call, it's a BLOWN call, Fox announcers.
Just an awful call by Marty Hudson.
Coming in a close second for awfulness: the FOX announcers. They seem to know plenty about the Braves, but hardly anything about the Nats. [shakes head]
Come on, Nats: score a couple of runs and put away the Braves!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marvin_Hudson
Marvin Hudson is born and bred and lives in Atlanta. That just flabbergasts me that MLB would hire an Atlanta native to umpire an important game involving his home town team when there are 15 games today.
I watch about 3 games a day and I love baseball, but I absolutely hate the umpiring . As iur technoligy has gotten better the umpires have not gotten better and it shows.
at least 3 times a week there is a blaintantly pathetic call that another ump witnessed and just turned a blind eye too. To me it is an institional problem.
Lombo's ball call could be fair for a make up call.
Time for Eury to come out an pinch run.
Doesn't Zim love hitting Moylan?
Freddie starting to manage the game...Good sign for the Nats...
I think DeRosa is psychic--that's the second time in recent memory that I groaned when he came up to pinch-hit and then he proved me wrong by hitting a single. :-)
Yes Michele, the famous HR on Opening Night at Nats Park was off Moylan
Berni running for DeRosa
Marty foster is the home ump he was at first. marvin hudson is at first. it is listed wrong in the article
Atl catcher is injured...time to steal a base
The make up call had it happened would.have score. the lombo ball was as fair as much as ALR was off the base
Go Freddie Go..the more he manages the better we do
I believe the best team in MLB should be able to overcome the umps..
Why should they have to. I see how pior they do all the time. but the umps covering is really what makes me irrational. then press lets them walk. by not questioning.
Eagle -- in general I'd agree but you don't want to take the bat out of Harp's hands, as hot as he is. Tho with a Wetth steal they might not throw knowing how fast the Shark is on a delayed double steal play.
Then Harp takes the bat out of his own hands by not even seeing a pitch from the new reliever.
Garcia didn't just do that, did he? Simmons had K'd twice already.
As bad the first base ump is my number 1 pet peeve of all baseball is a lead off walk especially by a reliever. Especially one who K ed twice already
You listen to the Fox announcers and you'd think the Nats were in last place while the Braves were locks to win it all. Every time the Braves get a hit its a great at bat, when the Nats get a hit its because the pitcher missed on his pitch
Haha...Stop torturing yourselves folks..turn on your radio.
Garcia straighten up. we walk 2 in front of Prado. What is the point.
Time for Gonzo to get Heyward
Just nuts that a September call up is being counted on in this way, either we are crazy deep or just plain crazy
How the radio handle umpiregate?
Nice work Gonzo
Nice comeback by the lefty.
I'm still steamed -- umps are human, but the LaRoche call wasn't even close.
Very impressive by Gonzalez, turning into a valuable member of the pen
Manassas.. Dave and Charlie are fuming. It's pretty funny.
Gonzo bails out Garcia.
Now time to score some more runs.
still ppissed at umps and probably will be until I read an interview with them or until next game (I know reporter will take of what I want)
Nats are going to need a few good innings from the bullpen today...Probably going to see Kimbrel in the 9th, so won't be scoring any runs until at least the 10th...
I turned them as I am fuming too.
Of course our hitters have done very little in the last 2 hours
Marietta-native Marvin Hudson with the no-swing call at first....
Dave just said an umpire supervisor is at this game. That is great as I expect Dave, Charlie or Mark to interview him.
Zim guarding the line has killed us this series
Why is an Atlanta-native, born and bred, umpiring at first base during a key late-season game?
Expecting Marvin Hudsin to call somthing a swing? He cant see as far as first base.
The bullpen has really been making it hard on themselves in this game.
Relievers t
walking people I know will probably cause the heart attack that will die of when I do die. walks just make little sense.
Good lord where is the Maalox
Haha..easy Michele, we're up 8 games in the loss column and the Braves only have 16 games left...It's not even close to Maalox time
Come on Mattheus the ump didnt screw you so just pitch strikes
The Nats will go nowehere in the post season if relievers continue to fall behind batters and gove bases away from free
If this is as example of Knorr does a bull pen I am not impressed
It isn't knorr's fault Mattheus is afraid to throw a strike
So why don't guys all wear really, really large jerseys? That is a stupid rule...
Come out after 2 walks an HBP. 2 batters late
Just ugly. Relievers that can't throw strikes can just frustrate you.
Well, at least we will still have a 5 and 1/2 game lead after this series....
If he is afraid to throw a strike takes him out of the game earlier. you cant be afraid a strike. your a pitcher
These innings just go on and on and on....
I just hate watching these overmanaged games where every team feels obligated to use 25 players and let no reliever go more then three batters
If this is a "playoff atmosphere," Nats don't look like a playoff team (today or yesterday, for that matter). Nats don't even look good losing...
Chipper stealing signs at 2B...
Nats seem to be coming unglued from an emotional stand point, I realize there have been a couple plays that didn't go our way but hold it together fella's
This series may help our pythagorean rating. Longest inning ever with only one run and one out....
Gee, I wish Lerners would hire MNF and SCNF to manage. Then maybe we'd have the best record in MLB.
Mattheus had that game where he gave up a bunch of HRs and he's been nails since then. Sheesh, people. How about the offense hasn't done anything since the Barfs gave us 2 runs in the SECOND inning.
Well, that speaks volumes. Matheus is not a playoff pitcher. Single, fly out, walk, walk, hit batsman. ladies and gentleman, that's a Nervous pitcher. who crumbled under the pressure in a big game. See the close up of Matteus' face? Total Wreck. See his reaction in the dugout? Total Nervous Wreck. Prediction: He will not be a National next season. He is a bonafied liability going into the post season. And he knows it ..... now.
haha..Jim...they're pretty awesome aren't they?
Their hindsight is BEYOND 20-20
I have been Flores' Biggest Fan all year -- but I agree with other posters here: Suzuki does indeed call a better game than Flores -- and the Bourne at bat proves it.
Why are we pitching minor league guys?
NJ==> becoming clear Suzuki very superior to Flores on game-calling and rapport with pitchers. I think initially there was loyalty to Flo by the pitchers but that's gone by the wayside now.
Nice job by Zach Duke. Very nice.
Can we even touch Kimbrel here?
Yes. Duke did a very nice job. Good for him!!
Espinosa: 8 consecutive K's. Franchise record? I have a suspicion is is.
The umpiring has been pathetic today. Kimbrell should be able to get guys out when balls at the shoes are called strikes....
Tracy is the Man!!!!! A major league hitter.
Tracy can. That guy rolls out of bed hitting. Now we need to follow it up.
I am so over Espinosa. 8 K's in a row. Who does he have pictures of to stay in the lineup over Lombo.
Anyone who continues to defend him is rooting with their heart and not their brain.
Another marginal strike for Kimbrel
No pitch track with Fox -- bush league
All right. Throw the ball away! Man that kid can FLY!!!!
Nats asleep. Perez should have stolen earlier.
SCNatsFan said...
I am so over Espinosa. 8 K's in a row. Who does he have pictures of to stay in the lineup over Lombo.
Anyone who continues to defend him is rooting with their heart and not their brain.
September 15, 2012 7:24 PM
------------------------------------
A classic Legion of Doom comment...Why do you watch the games if all you want to do is complain? Go do something else, you won't be missed
Why swing at that?
Lombo what were you swinging at?
Lombo proved he is no big leaguer yet. He made up his mind swing before the pitch.
Are the Nats (excepting Chad) folding under pressure?
Just rebut the point--the Legion of Doom allegation is just as annoying as whatever you think you are rebutting.
Nicely done.
Annoying is what you do best Will O. I can do it too though
Espinosa gave Kimbrell one of those blown saves. Just not today. Oh, well.
Swift: Sure wish you would quit joning on people who are only speaking their opinion. Why throw the Ad Hominem "Legion of Doom" and question their team loyalty.
Sure wish you wouldn't be designated FORUM NAZI.
Braves are good, going to be a tough out in the playoffs with Kimbrel at the back end...
... I can't imagine any one of us has more insight thatn the team's coaching staff. I'm sure they have taken note of Espi's 8 K's and know exactly how to respond.
… teams go into and out of slumps all season long. The Nats have done that, and I'm sure we can all recall times when we a/ thought they were unbeatable and b/ felt in our hearts their bubble had burst and they were crashing to earth.
… bottom line for me is I'd rather have them struggle now - with two weeks left in regular season holding a sizable division lead, than the first week in October.
Go Nats!! in spite of all odds
OK, I'm gone. I'll be back when certain people can conduct themselves in a civilized fashion.
Please swift eagle, all year I have been saying Espinosa has no idea where the strike zone is and he is a liability on this solid team. But you keep rooting for him to get a clue. Maybe you should root you'll wake up tomorrow and the national debt will be gone too after all rooting for happy things despite the evidence infront of you make you an informed person.
What just happened? LaRoche stepped on first and they called the batter out
I agree NatsFanJim... didn't matter where that pitch was, Lombo was swinging. Smart move to throw it 12 inches high and 12 inches opputside.
SC Nats...you have a legitimate point about Espi's poor ABs...but when you say things like "who does he have pictures of" you're out of line...
Why are we talking about Espinosa. Matteus may have had the worst relief performance by anyone on the team the entire year, short of Henry Gonzalez. A hit, a pop fly, then a walk, a walk, and a cheap hitsbatsman. What was he doing?
Just because someone is critical of a national does not make them members of the legion of doom, it makes us fans, fact is Espi is terrible right now, and by the way Zimm's not looking to good right now either.
Swift: lighten up -- this is a baseball forum, not the board room of a law firm.
Telling a person to leave the forum for speaking his opinion is far more offensive than the jesting "who does he have pictures of" -- Don't be a Forum Nazi.
I have made my comment on Mattheus. I fear he can't hold up under pressure. One never knows who will fold and who will excel under heavy pressure. Proof is in the pudding, and the Mattheus has looked like a head case who forgot to take his meds.
Not good; we need him.
Lkmbo swings at one way outside and high. just need a grounder to second or short. no way that would happen swinging at that. so dont do it.
then needed a single from Moore. ball right over the plate.Tardy on all swings.
Now I will see if any one actually will get a comment from Marvin Hudson I unfortunately better no one will bother. Though to me it is the number 1 story I want. I need no quotr from a player. I want Hudson' quote
Manassas: That's what happens when Rookies -- and they are rookies you know? -- are put in pressure packed positions they aren't quite ready for.
My point about Espi is he isn't a good hitter in a slump; he is a bad hitter who has periods he hits the ball well. Big difference. And the frightening part is he is learning nothing as his BA goes down and his Ks rise. Do I think it is time to give up on him? You only have to look at Desmond to see it takes some players more time then others to mature. Clearly no one on this coaching staff is getting thru to this guy unless in reality he is a career .150 hitter he is playing well above his head to get to .220.
I was fearful Davey was going to have a heart attack the way he was getting into it with the first base umpire. Good for him -- we needed an argument on that one.
I don't think Marvin Hudson has any business umping a game of his hometown team, but I guess that is up to MLB and whether they care about the appearance of impropriety. I did find a past game from this year where the Braves thought he made a bad call for the Nats against them:
http://bigstory.ap.org/content/marvin-hudson
Ultimately, Matteus blew the game and that 8th inning probably should have been far worse than it turned out. They should have pulled Matteus after after the first walk. I have no idea why they let him walk another guy and then hit a guy. Marvin Hudson probably got let off the hook by Matteus.
Well, these last two have been no fun but maybe not worse than losing a 9 run lead.
Interesting viewpoint SC....however Davey is much to loyal to his regulars, I am afraid it's Espi or bust for this year at least
On another note, and maybe Mark can correct me if I'm wrong, I believe that MLB does not make umpires available to the press for questioning after games.
Definitely a frustrating loss. That said, I agree with NatsFanJim and Exposed in DC. It is not constructive to label someone a member of the "Legion of Doom" or to imply ignorance because one doesn't approve of their reaction to events or how they express themselves. It's possible to make the point without resorting to ad hominem attacks. Also, if Godwin's Law comes into effect, doesn't it mean that an Internet discussion has run its course? I'm pretty sure that it does. ;-)
Speaking of feedback on comments, I would like to applaud Manassas for the clarity of his posts today. Thanks for killing the auto-correct, which I believe you mentioned doing in a previous thread. It's much easier to understand what you're saying now.
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