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Associated Press photo Pete Kozma's second-inning homer gave the Cardinals a 4-0 lead. |
They turned out in record numbers to witness the first postseason game played on District of Columbia soil in 79 years, and perhaps coax the home ballclub to victory in the pivotal third game of this five-game National League Division Series.
The 45,017 who crammed themselves into Nationals Park on a gorgeous Wednesday afternoon, though, could yell, scream and sing along to "Take on Me" when Michael Morse stepped to the plate until their vocal chords were damaged.
That still wouldn't have prevented Edwin Jackson from digging his team into another early hole, wouldn't have prevented a pressing Nationals lineup from continuing to strand runners in scoring position and wouldn't have prevented a previously air-tight bullpen from turning a manageable deficit into an 8-0 thumping at the hands of the Cardinals.
"To see the stadium full and people excited, it's a long time coming," third baseman Ryan Zimmerman said. "Unfortunately, we didn't give them too much to cheer about."
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152 comments:
Baseball games tend to be isolated iterations....
Appropriate that Frank Robinson threw out the first pitch, as the Nats recent performance reminded me of his squads. Half expected Nook Logan to bound out of the dugout, bat in hand.
Who took the Nats team that I've been following all season? Where did they go?
Wow how horrible efforts at the worst possible time. Lets see what kind of manager Davey is and see if he can snap the team from this funk. Somehow I don't think playing the same lineup is going to do that but I suspect that is what we will see.
Hate to see them go down this way. Great season, next year Stras, healthy zim?,more mature espi?, and harsh post season lessons learned.
Not sure who is worse. Nats hitters 20 for 97
Pitcher 26 nnings 22 earned runs.
All around I would say in 3 games only 3 players would get myseal of approval. The others mediocre at best. Desmond, Storen, and Moore only ones who have earned their pay.
I would also like to say that absolutely nothing has fallen our way or been called our way. The BABIP monster has been brutal .
No lessons learned, other than they choked and embarrassed themselves. Healthy or not, this team is going nowhere without a major overhaul in the makeup. It starts with firing Rizzo.
I assume they will win tomorrow. However we need players who want to wai as much as the cards want to win.
Manassas- Lombo clutch right off the bench and in the shadows.
Now we are playing the Strasburg card. Off button.
baseballswami, I fear this is what Espi is - a 250 hitter who plays stellar defense but will strike out near 200 times. To expect anything more will just make you dissappointed. Just hope his defense holds up because his bat won't keep him in the lineup.
Nats lead NL in ERA and just quit focusing in the playoffs. What a poor choice by the pitchers.
I agree about the BABIP remark, but the Nats refused to even explore options for having Stras in the post-season. Don't think we could use about ten innings in the play-offs?
I don't buy the notion that pitching as a starter is very different from pitching as a reliever. I simply didn't think Zimmerman, Jackson and Detwiler would all fall apart in unison. Not having Lannan limits our options, otherwise, you could just yank Det or Jackson at the first sign of trouble. I don't think Chad Tracy is worth it.
Disheartening. Will Davey stay the course or shake things up a bit and play Lombo at 2nd?
I thought Cincy passed us. Would you trade their pitchers for ours, especially without Stras?
But we said the same things about desi. Also, many of those who post here are absolutely convinced that Lombo will never be more than -----yadda, yadda, yadda. Espi has a higher ceiling is what I read again and again. Lombo off the bench- clutch. Espi folds. Why, oh why is he the golden child who just gets chance after chance? Why is the prevailing attitude that he is a phenom in the making ?
Espinosa is any worse than LaRocke or Harper. This is a streaky team, it seems.
Where is Jose Vidro when you need him?
Harper has gotten absolutely robbed a few times and has had some good at bats. He has also been in the bigs for less than a season. He should not be expected to carry the offense.
@SCNatsFan
I agree Espi will remain as a .250 avg guy with 20 hrs and 200 Ks. He's got occasional pops, but disappears in crunch time. I would definitely put Lombo tomorrow. I also hope Rendon come up asap to replace Espi.
Harper is our best player. I am not angry at him or anything, but it is hard to win when your best player isn't producing. It doesn't matter what his age is. I do agree that he has had bad luck, though, with several grounders that were just barely fielded instead of going for hits and a drive that wasn't far from a homer today.
I doubt Rendon is coming up if he didn't come up in September. Garcia is looking like a mistaken, given that they could have had Lannan.
The nats are being totally dominated. Det tomorrow. Its over. I feel like I just watched my dog get run over by a dump truck.
Can all of you please wait until the patient dies before starting on the eulogy? must we start the autopsy while the patient is still alive and well?
Nothing at all (even a loss tomorrow) can take away from this brilliant season. Nothing will cause me to have a sour taste when all is said and done.
In the meantime let's go get them tomorrow.
Aw, don't make me go check the September schedule to see what mediocre teams St. Louis lost to. They were hardly a steamroller in September.
Yankees won 16-3, 10-0 and 12-0 in 1960, but lost the series to the Pirates.
AMEN JD
UGH! Det will pitch a gem tomorrow.
Team is embarrassing themselves. No Heart No Leaders....I watched Werth hang his head and drag out to RF time after time today....No Fire around the infield.....Kurt Z field a ball over the head of Danny and nobody to start the inning and nobody even bothered to throw it around the infield. Watched Danny hang his head after toss a warm up throw in the dirt....they are dead and it is because the team still does not have a leader. Ian D is the only one with a heart....and Davey makes too many excuses for them...they are soft.
MicheleS,
He might and we all hope he will but he was our no. 5 starter all year and the Cards have a brutal lineup to navigate and they are pitching the guy they pegged for the elimination game so right off the bat it looks like an uphill struggle.
I have a feeling that JZim will be the 1st out of the pen tomorrow.
No lessons learned, other than they choked and embarrassed themselves. Healthy or not, this team is going nowhere without a major overhaul in the makeup. It starts with firing Rizzo.
This is what I mean by "bandwagon fans". They don't remember the losing hovering around 100 losses. They don't realize how rapidly the Nats have managed to turn all of that around really in just one season to 98 wins and the best record in baseball.
Morons who insist that Rizzo be fired for practically working a miracle? Because Baltimore won't be back next season ... and the A's perhaps but its pretty doubtful. But the Nats? They'll be back and baseball knows it.
Sorry but bandwagon fans like DJB need to go back to the blogs with all the whining about Snyder and the deadskins.
Nope Davey will have the same line up and he will go 5 innings with Det and be behind 6 nothing....he has proven that he is stubborn and not worried about winning this year.
JD - I am in complete agreement. The Cards seem to turn into a juggernaut in October. Last year the world -beating, over a 100 win Phils lost to them in the first round and then they went all the way. Just watching them - they seem to find another gear. No, it's not technically over, but the Nats have not been playing well or getting any breaks at all. We wanted meaningful games in October? We got them. I am not sure what the meaning is right now, but we got them. The lack of experience really DID become a factor. It was naive to count it out. It won't be a factor going forward, because this was a necessary step. How about Desi, though - on the national stage he has been awesome.His performance has been hidden a bit due to the mediocre stuff around it, but he has been great! I think the very worst thing for me has been hearing them trot out the STrasburg thing. He could very well have melted down as well - probably would have, as a matter of fact. That just galls me. I hope the Nats come out loaded for bear in February - which, by the way, is only 4 months from now!!! Everyone needs to come back healthy and very hungry.
Team is embarrassing themselves. No Heart No Leaders....I watched Werth hang his head and drag out to RF time after time today....No Fire around the infield.....Kurt Z field a ball over the head of Danny and nobody to start the inning and nobody even bothered to throw it around the infield. Watched Danny hang his head after toss a warm up throw in the dirt....they are dead and it is because the team still does not have a leader. Ian D is the only one with a heart....and Davey makes too many excuses for them...they are soft.
I thought that was one reason why they overpaid Werth to get that? And what about Harper he has the potential to be an inspiring influence?
No, it starts with the pitching and the top two guys in the batting order. Those two things need to be hitting on all cylinders for this team to thrash the opposition IMO.
JayB,
You just can't way to spew out your negativity; can you?
98 wins and the best record in baseball doesn't satisfy you. I bet if we win the next 2 games you will disappear until the next time we lose a couple of games.
Sorry pal. your criticism of Rizzo and the team became completely ridiculous when the Nats performed the way they did this year.
Nope Davey will have the same line up and he will go 5 innings with Det and be behind 6 nothing....he has proven that he is stubborn and not worried about winning this year.
Mayhap JayB, but I suspect Davey isn't going to stand for this kind of performance two games in a row whether its the regular season or the playoffs. He usually reacts pretty strongly ... so we'll have to see ...
59, to 69, to 80 to 98 and the post season. May I remind you that in February, if someone had said the Nats would make the post season and not as the wild card, you would have been skeptical. Especially with the devastating injuries. The Nats rise has been meteoric and they have turned around dramatically, from never a winning season to the post season. The wheels have been falling off somewhat since September. This very young team has gutted it out for a very long time, with a target on their backs, with the Braves chasing them ( they are already at home) and with Stras-gate in their faces. If the magic has run out( and maybe it hasn't!), then kudos to them for their long, fun run. It's a special team and will be around for a long time. Flaws? Yes - every team has flaws.
Sorry pal. your criticism of Rizzo and the team became completely ridiculous when the Nats performed the way they did this year.
Actually, JayB is a pretty decent observer ... his criticisms of Rizzo are about International Signings ... and there is a pretty big consensus about that. My only bone of contention is that its likely ownership not Rizzo. I suspect Smileygate made Ted pretty angry ... its why JimBo is on satellite radio. Something does have to be done about convincing ownership to get back into the International market.
As for his criticism of their demeanor. That's the sign of a team that's losing. I have faith that Davey will take care of that issue ... he isn't going to allow that to linger for three games.
Swami,
It looks ominous but it ain't over. You just don't know how things will shape up tomorrow. The fact is that we still have a game tomorrow but big spenders like the Angels, Rangers, Red Sox, Dodgers and Braves are home watching on TV.
JD - agree completely. Det has awesome stuff and when he is on he is tough. When the offense gets hot they are scalding. It is definitely still possible. Most of those teams you mentioned were predicted to go deep into the post season. The Nats had me at winning the division and winning 98 games. The post season was gravy and a great accomplishment to get here. On any given day anything can happen in baseball.
Lombo 2B
Ian D SS
Zimm 3B
Adam 1B
Moore LF
Kurt Z C
Werth RF
Roger CF
That is the line up that Davey Needs to make up......that is a line up that could win....The Set Line Up for Sept.....Not a chance they gave up today and that is not acceptable.
Why are only our hitters bothered by sun and shadows?
Because they are looking for excuses and are afraid to compete.....Weak Minds.....You could see it in they eyes and their actions...I was right behind dug out...they quit.
I have a feeling that JZim will be the 1st out of the pen tomorrow.
If Garcia, Clippard, and Mattheus have problems against them what makes you think JZimm won't? Only Storen has been pretty effective so far.
But perhaps you're right Stammen and Burnett do not look right ... but if they do win the what? They may need him to start the fifth game?
Oh we should be happy to be in the post season...that is good enough and we should all have a pity party for the poor young Nats and the sun.....That crap just has to stop people. That is why they are playing the way they are. They are satisfied. You have to be hungry in life and in baseball...We are in it to compete and win....stop making excuses to prop up losers....the sooner they admit they quit on this year the sooner we can start building a better leadership base.
Love Dave and Rizzo but they are not helping the team right now. They are enabling the team to lose.
The Rizzo comments today are beyond ridiculous. This is bonus baseball.
The same weaknesses are apparent and I don't have to repeat it.
I rooted for EJax and Espi.
Tough day at the office, but there's still tomorrow.
Love Dave and Rizzo but they are not helping the team right now. They are enabling the team to lose.
If your observations are valid ... Davey has seen the same ... as has Rizzo and both tend to get pretty amped up over losses like that ... let's see how they come out tomorrow.
Hate to beat a dead horse, but watching the giants move runners over and make productive outs . I think they would also prefer three run homers but it doesn't always happen. Does it have to be homer or nothing? I hate our lack of situational hitting.
Peric:
This is what I mean by "bandwagon fans". They don't remember the losing hovering around 100 losses. They don't realize how rapidly the Nats have managed to turn all of that around really in just one season to 98 wins and the best record in baseball. Morons who insist that Rizzo be fired for practically working a miracle? "
I seldom agree with Peric, but this is one time I -- most emphatically -- do.
JayB,
quitters, weak minds - how in the heck did they win 50 games? let alone 98?
Do you know how ridiculous you sound?
Re Det: He has relied on his fastball about 80% of the time -- more than about any (starting) pitcher in MLB, I think. The Cards feast on fastballs. The key tomorrow will be if Det can throw strikes with whatever breaking pitch he has.
Ha ha fire Rizzo. If that isn't the most stupid post on this forum then I'm not sure what is.
A major overhaul after 98 wins? Go away troll.
If anything this team got too good too quick. They are learning what October baseball isd.
Baseballswami @5:37 I think the very worst thing for me has been hearing them trot out the STrasburg thing.
I too was very disheartened to hear Costas obviously trying to stir up controversy and criticism against this team. I can't understand why the national media can't just let this ride. It's over! It's done! For crying out loud let it go. I guess they are just trying to flame up something to keep MLB Network talking during the off-season.
It seems as the Nat's have been regressing the last month and a half. Pitching and offense has been so sporadic that I knew this wouldn't be a cakewalk. That being said, winning two games in a row at home is EASILY attainable. This is nowhere close to over.
Winning in July and August is not the whole story. You have to win in October to be a successful team. I am holding them accountable for very poor efforts....making excuses for them is exactly what is enabling them to lay down....they have already decided the season was successful and they have earned all the respect...that is not how this works...you have to at least show you care and fight in a October Loss...they just hung their heads and said the same thing you all are saying.....well it is good enough.
I'm not optimistic anything will change overnight. We'll just have to chalk this up as another lesson in the growth of this team. This is only the beginning and someday we will see the bright side of this drubbing.
If my heart surgeon told me to ease back into running marathons, I would follow that advice. Strasburg's arm surgeon told him (and the Nationals) to ease back into pitching until he was truly 100%. I really don't see how this is complicated. And that's all I'll say about that.
I'll be back in Section 311 tomorrow, and with luck Friday night, too. GYFNG!
The all-time record attendance at Nationals Park would be 45,040 had 23 people not failed to show up today. That would be every man on the Nationals roster except for Ian Desmond and Ryan Zimmerman. I would suspect that they missed the plane from St. Louis, but they didn't show up there either.
I wonder of the same pundits will eat crow next year when SS leads us back into the postseason
Look at what Giants are doing on the road, they are about to tie the series with Reds... who would have thunk it after the first 3 games when they only had 5 hits combined. If I am Davey... I would point out the Reds-Giants series and tell my squad, DO NOT QUIT. Has anyone heard that Gio may pitch tomorrow??
Has anyone heard that Gio may pitch tomorrow??
Detwiler is starting ... he had a better record when all is said and done than did EJax. He's earned a shot. And Davey said as much ... hopefully he'll make good pitches this time and not try to overthrow.
Red rally towels. Bad. Can't see em. . Never had em before. Never needed em. Don't know how to use em. Don't wanna use em. Not a DC thing. A Pittsburg Midwest St Louis thing. Not for me and not now for DC. Any ideas what to with em?
Nats need to force a game 5, if they lose in 5 games, i can deal with it. After what teh Giants are doing, the Nsats should be ashamed of themselves if they can not win at least one home game. perhaps what we are seeing is why the Giants won a WS a few years ago, maybe we are still lacking a few quality players who can play under pressure. Right now, i am really down on Morse, Espi and Bryce.
I hate to say this but Manny Machado is prime time, look at at what this 20 year has done in post season. If O's win one more game in their series than the Nats, or even worse, they advance, we will never hear the end of it fro Angelos and all BaltiMORONS this winter
Strasburg's arm surgeon told him (and the Nationals) to ease back into pitching until he was truly 100%.
One pitcher does not make a winning team. Just ask the greatest pitcher in the history of major league baseball, Walter Johnson.
If the other pitchers don't step up it wouldn't matter what Strasburg does or does not do.
peric ... charlie slow suggested it that Gio could go tomorrow on 3 day rest
No lessons learned, other than they choked and embarrassed themselves. Healthy or not, this team is going nowhere without a major overhaul in the makeup. It starts with firing Rizzo.
-----------------
peric said...
This is what I mean by "bandwagon fans". They don't remember the losing hovering around 100 losses. They don't realize how rapidly the Nats have managed to turn all of that around really in just one season to 98 wins and the best record in baseball.
Morons who insist that Rizzo be fired for practically working a miracle? Because Baltimore won't be back next season ... and the A's perhaps but its pretty doubtful. But the Nats? They'll be back and baseball knows it.
Sorry but bandwagon fans like DJB need to go back to the blogs with all the whining about Snyder and the deadskins.
October 10, 2012 5:34
---------------
Best Post Of The Day!
We still have two games to go, so it's not over just yet! Go Nat!
Davey has to take some blame on himself as well. Not playing Lombo when it is clear Espi is an automatic out is just mind boggling. Why did Storen pitch???? Davey is being out coached by a rookie manager
If O's win one more game in their series than the Nats, or even worse, they advance, we will never hear the end of it fro Angelos and all BaltiMORONS this winter.
True enough ... and MASN will be sure to stick it right down our craws ... gaggghhhh ...
Yes, it sill assuredly get to us ... even those who aren't willing to admit it but I'm not sure the players or even Davey and the FO give a rat's ass about that?
Look, Rizzo and Davey are awesome.... I just think they area few, a very few players away, which they may already have to be a great team. Nats are not great, they are very good
Edwin Jackson needs to go... he really let a franchise down today and I could care less what his reasons are. Let us hope Det steps up and that Morse is Beast and not a Bust tomorrow and Lombo plays
Davey has to take some blame on himself as well. Not playing Lombo when it is clear Espi is an automatic out is just mind boggling. Why did Storen pitch????
Storen pitched to give them a lift for tomorrow's game. Of all the bullpen he is the most rested since he spent most of the season rehabbing his arm from the surgery to remove bone chips in his elbow. He is the most rested, and is just now peaking after all of that.
It makes sense to use Storen ... when the others are looking ragged.
your right Peric
Edwin Jackson needs to go... he really let a franchise down today and I could care less what his reasons are.
He's a free agent Mick. This was one-and-done. They may pursue him but it will be interesting to see if they might pursue David Price a perennial CY Young candidate and a left-handed starter. He's going to be very expensive for the Rays in arbitration. But, he'll cost the Nats a lot because he's not a free agent until 2016.
But, yes I believe the Nats will be pursuing top left-handed pitching to go with the abundance of right-handed talent they currently tout.
Morse was awful today. How many hits are turned into doubles by his horrible range in LF. Need to consider dealing him in the offseason.
Peric... I like your idea about Price.... very interesting indeed
Not playing Lombo when it is clear Espi is an automatic out is just mind boggling. Why did Storen pitch????
So, too are Bryce Harper and Adam LaRoche. Espy is the better fielder of those two.
Section 135 said...
Morse was awful today. How many hits are turned into doubles by his horrible range in LF. Need to consider dealing him in the offseason.
I could see Morse as part of a blockbuster deal that gets the Nats one more piece of the puzzle. If Peric is right about Price, the Nats would have a starting pitching rotation that would be very scary.
Nats need a lefty closer as well
but peric... I still feel Bryce and LaRoche always have a chance to hit and put the ball in play, I do not feel that there is any chance that Espi will hit right now.
Sorry to have missed everyone. My husband didn't get home until 11:30, then we got stuck in traffic on our way to the Metro. Got to the park around 12:45 or so. Did get to cheer from the CF plaza as they did the team intros and Frank threw out the first pitch, then headed up to our seats.
Morse was awful today. How many hits are turned into doubles by his horrible range in LF. Need to consider dealing him in the offseason.
Maybe, but I think it unlikely. Its a choice between Morse and Tyler Moore out there and right now Moore is far worse in left-field. You could put Bernadina out there but then you'd lose some of the power in the lineup.
In two years Rendon and hopefully, Brian Goodwin will be ready and expected to contribute at the major league level. A lot is going to change. Its not like this is it and they go out and scour the dumpster for more Taiwanese starters like Baltimore did ... or do what Nats teams in the past did and Baltimore did this season ... look for the best looking stuff in the dumpster and dive for it ... Nate McLouth.
The Nats won't have to do that. Believe it.
really? the rally towels? that's your big disappointment? sheesh.... I actually like them quite a bit and still have several from 2006 and 2007. Use them all the time. Great for wiping a rain soaked seat, waving in support of the team, using at the gym, etc.... Hold in air and rotate wrist. Really not that hard....:)
doesnt look good right now - Get Espi out of the lineup, replace him w Lombo
Lombo
Harp
Zim
Laroche
Morse
Desi
Werth
Flores
I do not feel that there is any chance that Espi will hit right now.
I hope people keep saying that because when they do that's when he gets hot.
Look at his volume of work this season. He had to pull himself from around a Menodoza level batting average up to .250. He hit 37 doubles, 2 triples and 17 home runs. That's better than most of the second baseman around. He can play shortstop as good as the current starter. Likely could play any other position in the infield and outfield except pitcher and catcher at close to or at gold glove levels. Has speed to make things happen.
He'll get better ... Desmond may be the apple of Johnson's eye but Espy is Rizzo's. Believe it. Both are very, very good athletes. Don't underestimate them!
I like rally towels, too. I actually took an old red one (get your red on) with me in case they'd run out by the time I got there. (Then again, my husband said his would be useful as a cat-drying-off towel. :-))
Uh...no!!! Joke!!!
Brian Goodwin and Matt Skole contributed to an offensive explosion that led to an 11-3 shellacking of the Mesa Solar Sox today. Anthony Rendon did not play in today's game.
Hey Swift Eagle...where are you??? Thought the Cards sucked...as you said...lol!!! Let's go O's!!!
As previously stated in another thread, I did not want to play the Cards. While all the other forum geniuses were rooting hard for the Braves thinking them the easier mark -- well, you got it wrong, people. The cards are the defending champs; the Cards have a red hot and awesomely dangerous lineup; The Cards added a healthy Chris Carpenter as we sidelined a perfectly healthy Strasburg.
The Nats are toast. The Cards will likely go to the World Series and maybe even win it again.
Our year will be next year -- maybe.
For all naysayers of Morse in LF -- you are right: he's horrible there.
But he is an awesome Firstbaseman. Forget Moore. He is a big hitting country boy who can't field any position -- if you think he's bad in left, you should see him at 1B. Keep Morse and trade Moore.
See you all next year. I choose not to attend to this year's funeral orations.
Sorry- preferring the half full glass now. Great season against lots of adversity. Lots of good, solid players on the team. Desi has been a beast, Storen is better than ever. Most of pitching staff is pretty green. JZ has never pitched this many innings before. Lots to look forward to - maybe even tomorrow? Or next season. In only four months. Lots to appreciate from this season. It's cool.
Lost in all the hate for Espi is the fact that he had a pretty good day at the plate in Game 2...
Hey guys, just an FYI that I've updated this article with quotes from the postgame clubhouse. Click on the "Read more" link for the full story on CSN.
What are the Nats sans Strasburg?
9-13.
You conclude for yourself.
Espi was the National League leader in Strikeouts. Few have stated that outright. Third in the Major Leagues in K's.
This from a guy with 15 or so homeruns, negligible rbis.
What's frustrating is the loop. He knows he has it; his coaches and peers knows he has it; we know he has it. Yet, inspite of 7 months since the beginning of Spring Training, he either can't fix it or won't fix it.
He is such a potentially gifted player -- one could conclude that he either is bullheaded and stubborn or stupid.
Trade Espinosa -- Play Lombo. Period -- end of story.
Espi, if you're reading this, my only surprise is that you can read. See ya and don't let the door hit on the way out.
I remember one time when Davey was managing and he was down one game and two runs in extra innings, and down to his last strike with nobody on base and somehow his team won the series.
Strike-outs are better than hitting into K's, a la Mike Morse. Lombo is a nice kid but I doubt he can turn things around alone. We have not pitchers.
That being said, I just wish they were playing better and competing more evenly- not being so dominated. So tough. So young. I have sons in that age group and so I always see them as someone's child.
And anyone who thought that Stras should be unequivocally shut down better not be bellyaching about anything. There were decent arguments on both sides but most people on here go around covering their ears and saying "la la la la" every time anyone questions the decision. Guess what? The Nats may very well have made the wrong decision and they may very well have made the right one.
The main thing I noticed from the stands was how deep the StL outfield was playing, right from the start...Basically a No Doubles defense
The do this b/c 1. They know the Nats won't play small ball, 2. Molina eliminates any chance of stealing bases, and 3. Their pitchers will not give up many walks..
This basically leaves the Nats only 2 ways to score runs, hit HRs or put together an inning with 3 or more singles...I doubt the make-up of the Nats line up will change over night, so I'm hoping the HR ball shows up tomorrow!...
Nothing wrong with the Nats that 2 more wins against the Cards can't fix.
But I no longer want to hear that tomorrow will be played like "just another game." It isn't, and the Cards do not seem to share that approach.
Champions win the big games. Losers play it no differently than any other game, and usually lose. At least no one is laughing off a 2-game losing streak, this time.
If you can't stand the extra pressure you will put on yourself, then maybe you don't belong in the bigs. Tomorrow is an elimination game. They HAVE to win.
It's on Detwiler now. Tomorrow is his chance to put an explanation point on his season. Walter Johnson, Whitey Ford, Sandy Koufax, and many, many others relished a game like tomorrow's showdown. A game like that is what you play for the whole year.
Time to show up. No excuses.
Glad someone pointed out that Espi led the NL in strikeouts in 2012 with 189! That is horrible and totally unacceptable. He isn't that much better at 2nd to justify continuing to start him over Lombo, period. What we are seeing is Davey's hardheadedness in playing Espi when he is pretty much a guaranteed out. I do not understand why this guy gets all of the breaks and excuses for his pitiful at-bats. Yes, he's had a few streaks where he's hit well. But he always slides back into being the strikeout king sooner or later.
StL is the only team all year who has hit the Nats like this..They seem to know something or see the Nats pitchers very well (tipping pitches?)...They look WAY too comfortable in the box,it may be time to knock somebody down...
And while I usually don't think experience is a big deal, Carpenter gave a great lesson of pitching with a lead...at one point he threw 15 consecutive strikes, and did not throw one ball in the 4th...Pretty impressive
It was nice to see Mark and Mrs. Z today, and so many Imaginary Friends. The game, not so nice.
But Lohse will have a hard time against us tomorrow. And maybe, once all this hype pipes down, the boys will be more on their toes and less in the heels.
Even so, I'm grateful we're playing in October. I'd love us to win. I can't do a thing about it but send love their way. So I am.
Anyone who thinks St. Louis is some juggernaut in September is full of hot air.
They lost four in a row at the end of August. They lost three in a row to the Mets and Brewers the first week of September. They lost three in a row to the San Diego Padres from September 10-12. They then lost 2 of 3 to the Dodgers.
They finished well but over half of their final 12 games or so were against Chicago and Houston. They took five of six from Houston.
On August 28 and 29, when St. Louis was desperately fighting for a play-off spot, they lost to the Nats 8-1 and 10-0, so take all that garbage someplace else.
I get jokes .... Make some too...
"Champions win the big games"....
That phrase is known as a tautology.
Everyone knows the saying "Good pitching beats good hitting"...But there is a part 2 to that...
"Good Hitting DESTROYS average pitching"....
Games 4 and 5 we need the Nats to bring the big bats...
Njack....those were the dark days....rooting for prospects in a Fall Ball League where real teams compete....Did you see the game today....did that look like a team with any heart to you....I was right on the field.....they looks scared to try to compete....like they were afraid to try and lose....that is just about the worst frame of mind there is for baseball.
Swift Eagle - here is what I don't get. You said that Carpenter threw 15 straight strikes. I hear McCatty say throw strikes. When JZ threw strikes the cardinals babipped them all over the field. He was absolutely NOT serving them up right over the plate every single strike, either. He allegedly threw too many strikes. I hear the "experts " say that every pitcher needs to establish the fastball and throw mostly fastballs. Now that's wrong - they threw too many fastballs. What's the deal here? Mixed messages. One thing I know from the entire season, though, is that any pitcher facing our hitters should definitely throw nothing but soft, breaking junk. They just don't handle it well. 98 they can hit out of the park, curveballs, not so much. Well, except for Desi, of course - he could fall out of bed and hit. It should not go unnoticed that our two rookie bench guys both entered games and got hits. Just sayin.I also think it's unfortunate that we are not creating more save situations for Drew. He is just hitting his stride and looks better than ever. I am drooling over what he can do next season already.
No excuses today, or in St. Louis. Not the sun, not the lack of experience, nothing. They've played poorly and I'm sure they know it. The question is, can they come back and win two straight? Certainly not likely given the way they've been playing, but not impossible either.
There will be plenty of time to dissect this team and think about what changes could and should be made once the season ends. I'm sure they won't make those decisions based on 4 or 5 games against the Cardinals in October. But I expect Davey to go with the same lineup tomorrow as he has so far. That's our starting eight, has been ever since Suzuki joined the team. Davey likes going with the guys that brought us here and giving them a shot to do what they've done all year long. He also said very clearly in the postgame presser that Det will start tomorrow because they need Gio for Game 5 on Friday.
Maybe the season ends tomorrow, maybe it doesn't. It's been an unbelievable ride so far and I'm ready for one last twist and turn before it ends.
Good point Swami, there are often mixed messages...I'm no expert on the proper balance, but I'm sure the pitchers would say they need to throw "quality strikes", meaning either they have a lot of movement, or are located on the edges of the plate, but not down the middle...
The point I was trying to make about Carpenter was that once he had a 4-0 lead, he was going to force the Nats to hit their way on base...I even think his 2 walks (Werth and LaRoche) were essentially pitch arounds as he liked his match ups v. Harper and Morse....
peric said...
No lessons learned, other than they choked and embarrassed themselves. Healthy or not, this team is going nowhere without a major overhaul in the makeup. It starts with firing Rizzo.
This is what I mean by "bandwagon fans". They don't remember the losing hovering around 100 losses. They don't realize how rapidly the Nats have managed to turn all of that around really in just one season to 98 wins and the best record in baseball.
Morons who insist that Rizzo be fired for practically working a miracle? Because Baltimore won't be back next season ... and the A's perhaps but its pretty doubtful. But the Nats? They'll be back and baseball knows it.
Sorry but bandwagon fans like DJB need to go back to the blogs with all the whining about Snyder and the deadskins.
October 10, 2012 5:34 PM
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I never thought I would publicly agree with you, peric, but well said!
On a day like today, you have to take whatever positives you can out of it.
1) No one even attempted the wave.
2) The Presidents Race is no longer the main event. Nor is it sponsored by GEICO.
3) Clint was silenced about an hour before the game.
4) Except for the lack of $5 pregame happy hour, they apparently did not raise beer prices.
5) The rally towels they handed out work well as crying towels.
I'm just throwing this out here.... what would be wrong with going with Gio on 3 day rest and then let JZim redeem himself on 3 days in a game 5, just a thought
whatsanattau said...
really? the rally towels? that's your big disappointment? sheesh.... I actually like them quite a bit and still have several from 2006 and 2007. Use them all the time. Great for wiping a rain soaked seat, waving in support of the team, using at the gym, etc.... Hold in air and rotate wrist. Really not that hard....:)
October 10, 2012 7:12 PM
My pick as post of the day. Funny!
Also, Peric, lots of good posts today. I agree with all your comments.
A hugh important factor in our playoff games is the experience all our guys are getting. For that reason, I really would like Detwiller to get the start tomorrow as he is supposed to do. It will be another of our core players with playoff experience.
We have looked bad before and turned things around and we can do it again. I'm not giving up hope until its all officially over for this year. GYFNG!!!
Mick, I doubt they'll start Gio...it doesn't fit the long term approach they have taken with the young arms, since to my knowledge neither Gio or Zim have started on 3 days rest in their MLB career...
Swift... i agree with you... I only brought it up because the boys on WTOP did and I thought it sounded interesting an almost as if they may know something
I'm pretty convinced StL has some kind of tip or info on Jordan...I know he's given up runs to other teams, but none of them have had the volume had hard hit balls like StL...They hit him like they know what's coming...
For those who have been complaining about it for years, on the big screen today there was an announcement of a team store now open in Tysons Corner.
I bet you'll be able to get an Edwin Jackson jersey there cheap, probably as soon as tomorrow.
I watched end of Reds-Giants and the Reds look like they are on a buzz saw... amazing how things can turn bad so quickly. If the Giants do win game 5, then Nats should not feel that bad, because the Reds would be chokers in every sense after winning 2 on the road and losing 3 straight at home
Here is my public confession exposing myself to be very petty. I just hate the idea that the Orioles may go deeper into the post season than us. Hate it.
I am planning on game 6 of th NCLS so the pitchers need to start doing the job.
Also when the players look in the mirror tonight and tjey ask themself did they do what they needed to have the team win only 3 can say yes. Zim, Desi and Storen. None of the others pulled their weight.
Feel Wood
do you think I may have to wait in a line for a Ejax jersey? lol
baseballswami said...
Here is my public confession exposing myself to be very petty. I just hate the idea that the Orioles may go deeper into the post season than us. Hate it.
THAT is what is bothering me, lol
I just hate the idea that the Orioles may go deeper into the post season than us. Hate it.
I wish there was a way to express that to the players ... you know I think I might just do some twittering ... or tweetering as Davey might say.
mick said...
Feel Wood
do you think I may have to wait in a line for a Ejax jersey? lol
Only if you want it autographed. People are lining up to get a hit off him.
Peric... twit it to Bryce and tell him Machado is having a better post season and some analysts are calling Machado a better rookie than Bryce... that may do the trick, lol
Feel wood ha ha ha
""Champions win the big games"....
That phrase is known as a tautology."
You are missing the larger point. Baseball is not about phraseology. It's about winning. And attitude has a lot to do with both winning and losing.
The Nats were the most dominant team in baseball this year, and the Cards could not win the division title in the weakest division in the NL. Heck, the Cards could not even win the wild card race, and squeaked in with the no. 2 WC slot.
The Nats have better talent, but talent does not always win out over determination and grit. Carpenter pitched like a master today, and EJax was awful in the biggest game of the year. The Cards have dominated the most dominating team in baseball to an embarrassing extent.
It is the Cards, and not the winningest team in baseball, that is playing like winners, and it is the winningest team in baseball that is playing like losers.
The explanation for that goes deeper than pompous trivialities.
Did I miss something? Has no one mentioned the Goodwin and Skole homer runs for Salt River today?
C'mon, You know I did. But I believe only Goodwin homered. Skole likes to hit doubles in key situations and did so again today in a 3 for 5 performance to go with Goodwin's 2 for 5.
Yes baby Jeter!!! ha ha ha
Peric... Goodwin and Skoles I have never watched play... are you fairly high on them as solid players?
Njack....those were the dark days....rooting for prospects in a Fall Ball League where real teams compete....Did you see the game today....did that look like a team with any heart to you....I was right on the field.....they looks scared to try to compete....like they were afraid to try and lose....that is just about the worst frame of mind there is for baseball.
That's Davey's job JayB. If he is a good as he thinks he is he'll address it. They are very young ... and probably are afraid to make mistakes ... right now Espinosa probably feels like he is on the green mile awaiting execution and you can see that in his play. That's Davey's job to get them by that.
Let the drama unfold, let's see what the old master has left in him when the rubber meets the road and he's in the playoffs with a young up and coming team.
Laddie Blah Blah to add... since 1969 when MlB went to divisional series play... only 18% of the teams who finished with the best regular season record went onto win a WS! That is 44 seasons (43 years)!!
"Espinosa probably feels like he is on the green mile awaiting execution"
peric.. on that note, then Espi may need Big John Coffey's magic, lol
I thought Costas was fair to the Nats as was Kaat
Manassas Nats Fan -- add Tyler Moore to your list. I personally would add Lombo, who did his best off the bench to get some offense started.
Peric... Goodwin and Skoles I have never watched play... are you fairly high on them as solid players?
Skole was position player of the year for the Nationals to go with Nate Karns who was pitcher of the year.
Brian Goodwin is a first round draft pick from 2011. A left-handed five tool outfielder they decided to advance to AA from A Harrisburg bypassing A+ Potomac this season.
The guy to watch is Anthony Rendon who would have been drafted first overall in 2011 were it not for injury concerns about his shoulder. That's healed but he went out and broke a second ankle. Recovered and now he is in the AFL.
Skole is a potential corner infielder, Rendon is a potential third, second, or first baseman.
They are the near-term future of the franchise at this point barring trades.
mick - right up until they started talking about our pitcher who shall not be named.
Thank you Peric
I am familiar with Rendon and am excited
Let's...go...O's!!!
Let's...go...O's!!!
Let's...go...O's!!!
Then go to their web site numb nuts troll.
I too hate the Os. But they are better than the nats right now. Better pitching and hitting. Not backing down and not choking. They act like they have been there. I am very disappointed in the nats postseason. Don't hate on the Os because we choked and they wont
Okay so Matt Skole did homer and fell a triple short of the cycle. Sure looks like he is going to be discussed a great deal this off season given he has a big left-handed bat.
I hope Rendon takes 2B over after a great showing in Spring Training next year.
Don't hate on the Os because we choked and they wont
Never liked them, never will whether the Nats win, lose, choke or not.
I hope Rendon takes 2B over after a great showing in Spring Training next year.
He's been playing third base. It looks Zim moves to first base very soon.
Don't be surprised to see Rendon as part of a trade package for a high-end pitcher. The Nats current infield is young and loaded. None of them are going anywhere any time soon. And neither is Zimmerman moving to first. Rendon could be this year's Peacock, Cole, Milone or Norris.
Swami my series mirror has 5 players who could look in the mirror and honestly say their performance was productive enough to lead the Nats to victory. The three I mentioned before was for today only.
In addition to those three the other 2 for the season would include Tyler Moore and Tyler Cluppard.
The others have not pulled their weight
They still have a chance to redeem themselves.
Unless they want a repitation of being like the Caps who for 5 seasons were near or at the top seed and would choke in round 1 of the playoff, it is time to execute.
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