Friday, September 21, 2012

Game 150: Brewers at Nats

Photo by Mark Zuckerman / NATS INSIDER
The playoff-bound Nationals try to move closer to the NL East title tonight.
As everyone around them celebrated last night, the Nationals all insisted there was plenty of work yet to be done. They're happy to know they'll be in the postseason, but they'd much rather be NL East champions.

The march to a division title begins tonight, with the magic number at 8 as the Braves open a three-game series in Philadelphia and the Nationals open a four-game series against Milwaukee. Like the Dodgers before, the Brewers are trying to make a late charge for the NL Wild Card, so they're plenty motivated entering this series. They even went so far as to trade for Yorvit Torrealba this afternoon, acquiring a catcher who will be eligible to play no more than 13 games for his new club.

The Nationals send Edwin Jackson to the mound, and the right-hander will be seeking something significant himself. With a win, Jackson would improve to 10-10 for the season, and that would make him the fifth member of the Nats' rotation to reach double digits in wins this season.

Updates to come, so please check back...

MILWAUKEE BREWERS at WASHINGTON NATIONALS
Where: Nationals Park
Gametime: 7:05 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN2, MLB.tv
Radio: WJFK (106.7 FM), WFED (1500 AM), XM 183
Weather: Clear, 74 degrees, Wind 9 mph RF to LF
NATIONALS (91-58)
RF Jayson Werth
CF Bryce Harper
3B Ryan Zimmerman
1B Adam LaRoche
LF Michael Morse
SS Ian Desmond
2B Danny Espinosa
C Jesus Flores
RHP Edwin Jackson

BREWERS (77-72)
RF Norichika Aoki
2B Rickie Weeks
LF Ryan Braun
3B Aramis Ramirez
C Jonathan Lucroy
1B Travis Ishikawa
CF Carlos Gomez
SS Jean Segura
RHP Shaun Marcum

UMPIRES
HP Tim McClelland (cc)
1B D.J. Reyburn
2B Ted Barrett
3B Marvin Hudson

6:00 p.m. -- If you haven't seen the news yet: Davey Johnson said today Drew Storen and Tyler Clippard will share closer duties moving forward. Read my full story here.

6:02 p.m. -- Also, in other news, Johnson said Jordan Zimmermann will start Monday afternoon's series finale against the Brewers, with John Lannan starting Tuesday night in Philadelphia. He could have gone either way here, because both guys pitched in Wednesday's doubleheader and could've started Monday on normal rest, but he said he preferred a right-hander against Milwaukee and a left-hander against Philadelphia.

6:38 p.m. -- And here's Livan Hernandez's thoughts on the Nationals clinching their first-ever playoff berth. It's clear the big guy still holds a special place in his heart for the Nats and Washington, D.C.

7:07 p.m. -- We are underway on a gorgeous Friday night in the District.

7:14 p.m. -- Pretty good top of the first for Edwin Jackson. He did allow a two-out double to Ryan Braun, but who doesn't these days? He retired everyone else and completed the inning on 14 pitches, 9 strikes.

7:25 p.m. -- Adam LaRoche, ladies and gentlemen. He's not satisfied with a mere 30 homers. He clubs No. 31, a bomb off the back of the bullpen wall in right field. He's now got 96 RBI, and he gives the Nats a 2-0 lead after one inning.

7:32 p.m. -- And Jackson immediately gives one of the runs back as Jonathan Lucroy leads off the second with a solo homer to left. Edwin did rebound nicely, though, striking out the side after that. So it's 2-1 Nats in the middle of the second.

7:52 p.m. -- Aside from that one hanging breaking ball to Lucroy, Jackson has pitched quite well so far. He's through three innings on 43 pitches, 28 of them strikes.

8:14 p.m. -- So, let's see. Jackson faced four batters in the top of the fourth and retired only one. Yet he didn't allow a run to score. How'd that happen? Well, Bryce Harper gunned down Ryan Braun at the plate for the first out, a fantastic throw (and block at the plate by Jesus Flores). Harper also fired another strike to the plate on the fly one batter later, though Brewers third base coach Ed Sedar wised up and didn't wave Aramis Ramirez around. Ramirez would've scored moments later on Travis Ishikawa's slow roller to second, but Danny Espinosa and Ian Desmond turned a fantastic 4-6-3 double play to end the inning and draw a huge roar from the crowd. This place is pretty fired up tonight. Still 2-1 Nats in the middle of the fourth.

8:17 p.m. -- Oh, and if you were one of those people who thought the Nats might finally let Teddy win the Presidents Race once they clinched a playoff berth ... you were wrong.

8:39 p.m. -- The Nats haven't really done anything at the plate since the bottom of the first. They've got two hits since then, one of them Jackson's infield single, the other Morse's single in the fourth. Otherwise, they're getting carved up pretty good by Marcum. Still 2-1 after five.

8:53 p.m. -- And it's still 2-1 after six. The Nats can't touch Marcum. And the Brewers can't touch Jackson. This has turned into quite the pitchers' duel.

9:10 p.m. -- Apparently the Nats can't touch reliever Jim Henderson, either. He just tossed a 1-2-3 bottom of the seventh. So it still remains 2-1 as we move to the eighth and Jackson retakes the mound sitting on 88 pitches.

9:22 p.m. -- Wow, just when it looked like Jackson might be fading, he and Flores combined for the biggest moment of the night: a strike-em-out, throw-em-out double play to end the top of the eighth. That elicited a huge roar from the crowd of 30,382. So it's still 2-1 and now Tyler Clippard is warming in the pen. It appears Davey is serious about this dual closers thing.

9:32 p.m. -- OK, here we go: Top of the ninth, the Nats clinging to a 1-run lead, Clippard on the mound. He'll face the top of the Brewers lineup: Aoki, Weeks, Braun.

9:55 p.m. -- Well, that didn't go well at all. Clippard blew his fourth save in 36 chances, giving up a bunt single, watching as Flores was charged with a passed ball, then surrendering back-to-back, RBI hits to Braun and Ramirez. He added a wild pitch for good measure, leaving many in the crowd booing. Just like that, the Nats trail 3-2 and are down to their final three outs. On the bright side, the Braves just lost in Philly, so the magic number is down to 7 anyway.

10:07 p.m. -- That'll do it. The Nats suffer a supremely disheartening, 4-2 loss, blowing the lead in the ninth. They still lead the NL East by 5 1/2 games, though, so the night wasn't a complete wash, more like a push.

149 comments:

Tcostant said...

Obama is a true politician.

http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/09/21/barack-obama-predicts-the-world-series/

Pilchard said...

Was really surprised to see the Nats have an overall record of 11-17 in Edwin's 28 starts. Felt like he has been solid all year, but pretty stark contrast between 80-41 in non-EJ starts and 11-17 in EJ starts.

Also, the Nats magic number to clinch a home playoff game (the #1 WC spot) is 2; so if the Cards lose to the Cubs today, and if the Nats win tonight, Nats Park is guaranteed a home playoff game.

NatsLady said...

OK by me. My childhood team vs. the Nats. I would probably collapse from excitement.

Grandstander said...

Does anyone know what the deal is with the coupons in today's WaPo? Are they good for just one purchase or can you reuse them?

Holden Baroque said...

Was really surprised to see the Nats have an overall record of 11-17 in Edwin's 28 starts. Felt like he has been solid all year, but pretty stark contrast between 80-41 in non-EJ starts and 11-17 in EJ starts.

To be fair, he pitched well enough to very well indeed in quite a few of those starts, and badly in only 4 or 5. He "deserved" better, if there is such a thing in baseball.

Holden Baroque said...

Grandstander, based on what's on the coupons, I'd say you have to turn them in when you buy the hot dogs, or whatever.

Holden Baroque said...

The Nationals send Edwin Jackson to the mound, and the right-hander will be seeking something significant himself. With a win, Jackson would improve to 10-9 for the season, and that would make him the fifth member of the Nats' rotation to reach double digits in wins this season.

It would also make him 70-70 lifetime.

JaneB said...

Edwin's 70th win is yet another reason for us to win tonight. I am actively rooting for the Phils Outloud abd in public. Just for the weekend.

May it be a rough start for the new Brewers catcher.

NatsLady said...

If they are the same as in the past, you turn them in like money (or the designated driver coupons) when you get the hot dog.

Steady Eddie said...

Mil has indeed surged lately -- mostly by cleaning up against the NL central (they're 16-3 against the central in their current streak, 9-5 against the NL East in that stretch. Plus their only away games against non-NL Central foes has been a 2-2 split at the Marlins. Yes, they've played well but their only really impressive series was their sweep of the Barves -- at home in the bash-friendly confines of Miller Park.

I don't see us doing worse than a 2-2 split unless we start Lannan rather than JZimm on Monday. Plus EJax seems to tend to pitch better against tougher teams at home, e.g., dominating the Cards on August 30 (his last good start).

Grandstander said...

The thing that's throwing me off is the coupon says $1 hot dogs, plural, and says "only one like coupon per transaction". Why would the make it plural if you could only use it once?

Steady Eddie said...

More encouragement vs the Crew: they have a losing record against every division but the NL Central (where they're 43-30), and are 31-43 in road games.

Steady Eddie said...

Grandstander -- I've used them before and as NL said, you definitely turn them in when you use them. I think there's a limit of 2 or 4 dogs per coupon. That's why the plural.

Eric said...

NatsLady,
At 9:21 this morning you wrote “The kids who are nine in the year 2012 will never forget this season.” This struck a chord as my son turned nine this week, and this was the year he (along with me, a lifelong Red Sox fan) became a diehard Nats fan – he even had the good fortune to catch (off a lucky rebound) a LaRoche homer May 16 vs. the Pirates! No matter what happens, this season has been incredible, and I fully expect my son will have great memories of this year for a long time to come.

JaneB said...

Last year, I got teary when I saw we were at Game 150 because the end was near. Now the world looks rosier at Game 150.

Grandstander, maybe because they expect people to collect lots of them?

Be brilliant tonight, Edwin! Bats get going to support him, and early!
GYFNG!

peric said...

Have to assume Wang on Sunday as a probably loss. Yes, JZimm will start on Monday. But Lannan will end up facing the Cardinals and as a result ... the Phillies, a team he always struggles against and a team against whom he has a solitary win over the past 4 or 5 years.

So, right there we could be looking at three losses. Not including any breakdowns on the part of any of the other starters.

If they can manage to win 8 games over a grueling schedule they would end up with 100 wins which would be very nice indeed!

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

GYFNG

Steady Eddie said...

OK, there's the answer on Mark's tweet - it's JZimm on Monday. Davey did say he wanted righties against the Crew , and Gio is no slouch as the sole southpaw.

The Nats looked really focused last night and I think they're going to take three of four this weekend. Just wish I could go to one but with my daughter's wedding festivities I am charging my iPhone for GameDay instead.

peric said...

On the plus side? Lannan finishing .500 or close to .500 for the season is about what you could expect from him.

Section 222 said...

Steady -- It might be too late to get one for this weekend, but a portable charger is a great investment. I used it regularly at Nats Park now, where the power seems to drain even more rapidly than normal. Congrats on the wedding and hope you have a great weekend.

I know everyone is writing off Wang vs. Gallardo on Sunday, but this is exactly the kind of reverse lock this team has often pulled off. I don't think Wang will be great, but I'm sure not writing off the Nats' bats ability to score runs in that game. We've done it to Gallardo before.

JaneB -- I had a similar thought this morning. Usually as the last homestand nears an end I start feeling withdrawl symptoms. What on earth will I do with myself when the seasons ends? This year, I find myself looking forward to October. Bring on the playoffs!

baseballswami said...

Since I still have two hours to talk about last night - this summer all the talk was Strasburg. Last night we showcased Ross and Drew, 2 dynamic , young Nats pitchers. They were both breathtaking to me. MLB, take notice. The Nats are not a one- trick pony.

natsfan1a said...

No predictions here as I prefer to wait and see what happens when they actually, you know, play the games. I think there's a reason they play them. Can't quite remember what that is. Anyway.

Go, Edwin! Go, NATS!!

NatsLady said...

I have a portable charger. I got it at Radio Shack. I bought the most expensive kind (about $100). It has two USB ports and goes for about 8-12 hours. You can get a charger for $30 that gives you 4 extra hours.

Steady Eddie said...

222- agree re Gallardo, we pounded him for 7ER last time we faced him this year.

While many of us shared NatsJack's frustration at being shut down twice by a so-so pitcher like Nolasco, I noted that even when we beat him in June, it was with a bunch of singles in one inning, and even didn't knock him out of the game.

So there's a good backdrop from the Nats' perspective on being able to get to Gallardo.

Steady Eddie said...

NL -- thanks for the tip on the chargers. It's mostly a problem because my phone is getting older and holds a charge for less use these days. Plus GameDay is heavy on data flow.

NatsLady said...

I'm planning to do a blog next season, and use the off-season to do analytical work to post during the season, along with Nats-related stuff.

One idea that I have is to look into the effect of late inning defensive indifference/steals. We've gotten bit by that, and I want to see if that happens to other teams, and do a risk/benefit analysis. I plan to look at all games that were won in the 8th or later innings. I'll start with the stats and then look at video to see how infielders were positioned.

Any other ideas are welcome.

Eugene in Oregon said...

Will have to watch the replay later, but my thoughts are with the Nats (even if my body is at a student/faculty reception). GYFNG!

NatsLady said...

I have an old iPhone. Today I got a software upgrade that seems to include Siri. I don't know how to get to her yet. I thought she only came with more advanced phones, but I guess if you just wait long enough...y'know, like waiting for the Nats to be good!

NatsLady said...

Going home and park my car and take Metro so will probably be late to the game. Last Friday game I couldn't find parking and ended up going home. GO EDWIN, GO NATS!!!

Jim Webster said...

Natslady... I too was once a Milwaukee fan (saw Warren Spahn win 300th at County Stadium in '60 or '61) but seem to recall they were named something like Braves, not Brewers, back then. But we had more breweries in those days.

NCNatsie said...

Eric and Nats Lady, re 9-year olds:

I was nine when my Aunt Janet and her friend Sylvia took me to my first ball game. We sat in the right field stands at Fenway. Ted Williams, who had just returned to the team, came up as a pinch hitter in the 7th inning and hit his first homer since getting out of his Marine uniform and coming back from the Korean War. It went over my head and a little to the bullpen side. It's now 60 years and one month later and I still remember all those details, plus how amazed I was to walk into a brick building and find it carpeted with the greenest grass I'd ever seen.

May today's nine-year olds be as blessed.

NCNatsie said...

Nats Lady, count me in as a follower of your blog next year, GLW&CDR.

peric said...

I'm planning to do a blog next season, and use the off-season to do analytical work to post during the season, along with Nats-related stuff.

Just don't expose anyone to elementary statistics and bell curves. You might freak 'em out.

DWS said...

True peric, and good luck with your Blog Nl.
Good luck Nats from another old Expos fan that watched Jim Fanning bring in Steve Rogers??? to face the Dodgers.

ehay2k said...

Lol Tcostant - I guess Obama is trying to woo DC voters? :-)

Will be at the park tomorrow. Want to get Livo's autograph.

Nice first inning by Ejax - nary a run scored!

mick said...

good luck Peric!

ehay2k said...

Uh, mick, I don't think it's peric writing the blog...

mick said...

ehay2k ok, i must have read it wrong

ehay2k said...

OK, new imbibing phrase - "bat died a hero"

ehay2k said...

ALR = MVP!

mick said...

Adam baby!!!!

mick said...

ehay2k lolololo I love it!!!

mick said...

Adam's raising Cain, lol

mick said...

0-2 count HR is frustrating

ehay2k said...

Ejax just hung a breaking ball. Happens. Was the right pitch, just not well executed. Get the next guy.

MicheleS said...

I think NatsNut just won the AU prize pack.

ehay2k said...

Cool - we can now call her Natsnut (honorary) PhD. :-)

Section 222 said...

Love the hustle E-Jax. Way to go.

ehay2k said...

Ejax - showing up CMW!!!

mick said...

conceivably, you could see both Ejac and Strass PH in playoffs

mick said...

actually, Strass PH and Ejac PR

ehay2k said...

True mick, but that would be ill-conceived. :-)

mick said...

ehay2k.... Ejac PR has speed

ehay2k said...

Mick, they both have skills, but are too valuable to hit/run with and risk an injury.

ehay2k said...

Especially Ejax, who will pitch in the playoffs.

Yes, we can all say playoffs now. :-)

ehay2k said...

Anyone besides me get the feeling that Morse's timing is fine, but his power is greatly diminished?

baseballswami said...

Yes, but he is the one with the hit because everyone else is swinging for the fences on every pitch. They had the pitcher get on base with no outs and never moved him over even one base. They are not moving runners because they are trying to hit home runs instead of making productive outs.

ehay2k said...

Swami - it sounds like you are criticizing the hitting coach? I'm still OK with that. :-)

Anybody at Nats park need a flu shot? Ejax is putting on a clinic, so ....

waddu eye no said...

"timing is fine, but his power is greatly diminished?"

if i had a nickel for everytime i've heard that

padum pum

baseballswami said...

You could watch this game lying down. The ball hasn't gotten any grass on it. It's in the sky and in a glove.

ehay2k said...

Waddu - I don't know whether to laugh or cry...

ehay2k said...

Speaking of lying down, where's Nyjer? ;-)

ehay2k said...

That was a filthy pitch from Ejax!

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

Brought no maloox to the park. 10 days free.

Swift Eagle said...

Strike em out Throw em Out!!

I Don't Believe What I Just Saw

Swift Eagle said...

8 strong from EJax...I guess a few who have said he's not in the top 3 for the playoff rotation may be a little off...

Edwin is certainly inconsistent, but when he's good, he has #1 stuff...

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

Can some one bring Maloox to section 317. I have the Clippard effect

Sj said...

Here comes Ty Clip!,,,

Faraz Shaikh said...

I don't believe what I just saw. That throw seemed to bounce ten times before Segura applied all over Jayson's leg. How was he not safe? Maybe the horrible jump was the reason, but let's blame the umpires for this one.

Cwj said...

I have a bad feeling about this...

Secret wasian man said...

horrible call. watch the tag not when the ball gets there. Clipp In. Wheres the vodka. Hang on boys. So did anyone watching on tv see the woman asleep under the blanket?

Cwj said...

Jackson probably could have finished this.
He's a horse.

Clippard was more dominant as a setup guy than a closer, I think.

ehay2k said...

If Clip walks Weeks, will Storen be up?

Swift Eagle said...

Hard to blame Clip for a bunt hit and a passed ball...You guys are tough

Cwj said...

Good catch and throw from Harper.

Cwj said...

Darn, I knew it would happen.
Nothing against Clippard at all, he's a great reliever. But this game belonged to Jackson and it should have been his to win or lose.

Swift Eagle said...

Lucky that one stayed in the park...Clip with a high leg kick allows an easy steal...Ouch

Exposremains said...

Storen is the closer, not clippard. you could see its gonna happen.

Swift Eagle said...

Braves lost

Exposremains said...

Perfect.

ehay2k said...

Clip just didn't look sharp. Last two hits were hard ones.

Secret wasian man said...

WOW what a joke. Shame on you Davey. Yes Doom and gloom is here. Clipp cant close. What a waste of a great game by edwin. Hopefully we learned to neve put him in to close again.

Secret wasian man said...

Why pinch hit with Tracy. He stinks. Let edwin finish. These fans deserve better.

ehay2k said...

Nats scored first - we are not supposed to lose. Team needs to pick Clip up.

Jane Elizabeth said...

I dread each and every time that Tyler Clippard comes into the games. Statistically, he seems okay, but I don't know what to say. He has just not been good since the All Star break.

mick said...

I'm as happy as can be about post season, but i have issues with Clip. the tying run is not his fault, the go ahead is all his and once again he owes Ejac and team an apology. This is old now
and Davey really needs to sit him down maybe for good. He looks nervous, has no command or confidence in what he is doing and is really letting the team down

Faraz Shaikh said...

Closing is nothing but one inning of relief. If Clip can't do that, he should not be in the big leagues. And we all know that is not true.

Secret wasian man said...

does davey feel sorry for clip? Why would you after what happend Wed.

Drew said...

Why would you put Clippard in this situation when he's struggled so badly lately?

Swift Eagle said...

Haha...Yeah, he's only had 30+ saves and been huge for the bullpen all year...

He's looked bad the last few outings, no doubt, but to say he should never close again??

I prefer Storen as the closer too, but all closers go through this type of thing from time to time...

Jane Elizabeth said...

They should have made Strasburg the closer. Now, we need to consider the new kid, but otherwise, this bullpen, (closing not middle) is going to doom us.

mick said...

ehay2k I am sorry, I am not being a legion of doom here, but Clip's last 2 outings at HOME are not acceptable

ExposedinDC said...

I think clip just made the closers decision for Davey, however I doubt Davey will confirm or deny

mick said...

Swift... not in Sept when playoffs are around the corner

Secret wasian man said...

Amen Mick. HORRIBLE. Now Davey???? REALLY????????? FLUSHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Jane Elizabeth said...

The only good thing about this is that Davey is sure to demote Clippard. He just doesn't have the stuff to be a closer. Compared to the Braves' guys, he just doesn't match up and his silly mound mannerisms are just annoying when guys are marching around the bases.

mick said...

ExposedinDC EXACTLY...

Swift Eagle said...

No Mick, the Legion of Doom are the ones who ONLY post when things go bad for the Nats...

You're always here, through good and bad..

mick said...

He looks unsure out there and that is not good for a closer

ehay2k said...

Wow - that pitch was up and away. Good pitch, better hit. Desi didn't make the tough throw.

C'mon Nats, make us proud in the ninth. (Although Rodriguez is unhittable.)

Jane Elizabeth said...

Closers do go through this from time to time and guess what? They are no longer closers. Heath Bell anyone?

Secret wasian man said...

If you want to go anywhere you cant blow saves in Late September.

mick said...

Swift... thank you

Jane Elizabeth said...

The true losers are the people who only post when the Nats are winning. It is always easy to post when your team is winning.

Maybe Davey did this on purpose, to make sure that he didn't have to use Clippard as a closer anymore. In that case, it was a brilliant move. I would rather have it happen here than have Clippard as closer in the play-offs.

ehay2k said...

"Strasburg the closer" !?! This is not like pumping gas, this is major league pitching. You don't take a guy whom has never thrown relief and then make him a reliever while your team is in a pennant race. Doubly so when you shut him down to save his arm.

Secret wasian man said...

Swift, I notice everytime the nats blow one or stink you attack the "legion of doom" How about attacking the team once in a while. Maybe some of us show up when the lose because it helps us vent.

phil dunton said...

Cllippard has not been effective since the All Star break. Same goes or Burnett. This bullpen is burned out because the starting pitchers are incapable of pitching deep into the games. This is a bad place to be heading into the playoffs.

ExposedinDC said...

Barring another miracle in the 9th, saturdays game is huge, with CMW going against their ace on Sunday

Swift Eagle said...

For what seems like the umpteenth time, Please remember that One of the main reasons guys will run through a wall for Davey is that he shows faith when they slump....

yes, this blown save hurts tonight, but in the big picture, Davey's faith in his guys has resulted in 91 wins!

Trust the Process...

Jane Elizabeth said...

Yeah, I thought Strasburg was on an innings limit, not games. I seem to recall many great pitchers who went from starter to closer and back with no problems at all, but go ahead, if you think Clippard will carry you to the World Series with his mediocre fastball and iffy control, more power to you.

Swift Eagle said...

Secret wasian man said...

Swift, I notice everytime the nats blow one or stink you attack the "legion of doom" How about attacking the team once in a while. Maybe some of us show up when the lose because it helps us vent.
September 21, 2012 9:56 PM
_____________________________________

In my opinion, a good fan doesn't boo or trash his own team.

I didn't boo when I had to watch 100 losses, and I won't do now when they're in FIRST PLACE

You are free to disagree

Jane Elizabeth said...

This is two blown saves in a row in crucial games.

Jane Elizabeth said...

Do what you want Swift and leave everyone else alone. It is not your site and who cares what you think. I will express my opinion whether you like it or not.

ehay2k said...

Really WODL - name ONE starting pitcher (who never before threw in relief) who was shut down for a couple of weeks, then brought back as a reliever in a pennant race. ONE.

Swift Eagle said...

I agree, Storen deserves to be the primary closer based on his performance and Clipp's slide...

I just disagree with those who make huge jumps to "Clipp should never close again"...

Never is a long time

baseballswami said...

Clip has done us well in getting to this point, but the way Storen looked last night? We need to win some more games here, can't afford crap like this.

Jane Elizabeth said...

And if we are free to disagree, then shut the frig up with the Legion of Doom comments. You don't need to even respond to these comments if you feel they aren't pertinent to you.

Cwj said...

Well, I certainly wouldn't go so far to say Clippard is bad by any means!
He's been outstanding ever since the Nats got him from the Yankees several years ago.
BUT, he is not a full time closer.
And there is a difference between pitching the 8th and pitching the 9th.
Clippard excelled at pitching the 7th-8th with a lead, but has been erratic (not terrible) as a closer this year.
Next year no doubt (maybe even for the rest of the season) we'll have the traditional Clippard to Storen.
Remember last year? "Clip and Store" :)
That's the way it should be

mick said...

Did Braves lose?

baseballswami said...

Anemic offense did not help.

mick said...

If the Braves lose we actually cut the magic number to 8, right?

Swift Eagle said...

Braves lost, the number is 7

ehay2k said...

Agreed CWJ - Clip was made a closer out of necessity, and did a pretty good job of it. But Store was BORN a closer.

Jane Elizabeth said...

Clippard looks like he simply has lost it. I keep checking his stats and they are decent, but it just doesn't seem to translate to being a closer. There really is no margin for error in a game like this. You can't let the lead off hitter bunt so easily. Rivera would have sawn the bat of in his hands.

Secret wasian man said...

magic num is already 7

baseballswami said...

Braves lost. Number is at 7.

mick said...

Yes, Braves lose 6-2!

Jane Elizabeth said...

It is disappointing because we had a good chance to win 100 games. Now we have Wang pitching on Sunday so we better win tomorrow.

mick said...

The things is, we needed more than 2 runs verse Brewers

baseballswami said...

What is up with our hitters tonight. They look lost. Pitcher not exactly a cy young candidate.

Jane Elizabeth said...

How do you guys not know the Braves' score?

Secret wasian man said...

Bats are pretty bad lately

Jane Elizabeth said...

Five losses out of six.

UnkyD said...

Balls.

mick said...

baseballswami that too, but, when you are up 2-1 in 9th at home, your closer can not blow it either for the second time in a row

Sj said...

There goes Ty Clip!

mick said...

7, fantastic!!!

Jane Elizabeth said...

Davey is not dumb. He obviously put Clippard out there to get rid of him as closer, so let's view this as a positive, just as when Henry blew those games against the Dodgers and the Reds. The other guys can't work the whole game so Clippard can come in and piss it all away on the first pitch. He almost blew both games against the Dodgers with his pitches to Kemp. No more.

Secret wasian man said...

The Nats have had a dream season. I have had more fun then ever this year. But this team is NOT playing well. Swept in Atlanta. 2 and 2 on this homestand. both games were blown in the ninth. Thank goodness for the Phillies.

ehay2k said...

Agreed SWM - hitters not quite clicking right niw,.

Another game tomorrow.

ExposedinDC said...

I really think it was Davey giving Clip one last chance to show he is the closer, now we move on with Drew..I do feel for ejax though

Jane Elizabeth said...

Actually, that is five losses out of seven, I guess.

Jane Elizabeth said...

What about Garcia?

Swift Eagle said...

it's also 91 wins in the last 149 games...

Swift Eagle said...

Bad time for the team to slump...They're going to have to get a second wind a play a lot better to make noise in the playoffs

ExposedinDC said...

Was thinking the same thing Willie O

mick said...

ExposedinDC I think you are spot on about Davey... I believe that is what he was doing. Clip should be the set up, I think he is more relaxed in that role

Secret wasian man said...

Swift, We all luv da Nats. If not we wouldnt be here. Just a little nervous about the quality of play lately.

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

@ 934 I called foraloox knowing Clippard would come in.Why didd it take so long to replace him

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