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Photo by Mark Zuckerman / NATS INSIDER Ross Detwiler and the Nats visit Joker Marchant Stadium today. |
Davey Johnson didn't bring nearly as many regulars to Lakeland, though his lineup isn't completely bereft of big names. Bryce Harper is here, as are Ian Desmond, Danny Espinosa and Kurt Suzuki. And we'll once again get a chance to see Micah Owings take some hacks and continue his impressive first spring as a position player.
Plenty of updates and analysis to come, so please check back...
WASHINGTON NATIONALS vs. DETROIT TIGERS
Where: Joker Marchant Stadium, Lakeland
Gametime: 1:05 p.m. EDT
TV: None
Radio: Tigers radio via MLB Gameday Audio
Weather: Mostly cloudy, 74 degrees, Wind 8 mph out to LF
NATIONALS
2B Danny Espinosa
3B Steve Lombardozzi
CF Bryce Harper
RF Tyler Moore
SS Ian Desmond
C Kurt Suzuki
DH Chad Tracy
1B Chris Marrero
LF Micah Owings
(LHP Ross Detwiler)
TIGERS
CF Austin Jackson
RF Torii Hunter
3B Miguel Cabrera
1B Prince Fielder
DH Victor Martinez
LF Andy Dirks
2B Omar Infante
C Alex Avila
SS Danny Worth
(LHP Drew Smyly)
1:05 p.m. -- We're underway with a strike from Drew Smyly to Danny Espinosa. The Tigers are wearing Kelly green jerseys and caps for St. Patrick's Day. Seriously, is there a more shameless marketing ploy in sports than this?
1:14 p.m. -- Espinosa gets things started with a base hit to left and then steals second, but the rest of the lineup can't advance him. Steve Lombardozzi flies out to right. Bryce Harper grounds out to second. And Tyler Moore strikes out to end the top of the first. Here comes Ross Detwiler.
1:20 p.m. -- Uh, welcome back to the Grapefruit League, Ross. Torii Hunter just murdered a 91-mph fastball from Detwiler, sending it over the berm in left field and possibly all the way onto Interstate-4. Just an absolute bomb from the veteran outfielder. Detwiler was fine otherwise and still managed to complete the bottom of the first on only 11 pitches (eight strikes). Nats trail 1-0 after one.
1:31 p.m. -- And the Nats strike back to tie the game in the second. Kurt Suzuki launches a double to deep left-center, coming a few feet shy of a home run. Chad Tracy then does a nice job taking an outside pitch from Smyly back up the middle and into center field for an RBI single. It's 1-1 now.
1:42 p.m. -- Detwiler remains pretty efficient. He got through the second on 14 pitches, so he's at only 25 for the game. Still 1-1 as we move to the third.
2:11 p.m. -- A big top of the fourth for the Nats against Smyly. Tyler Moore got it started with a solo blast to left, then the hits kept on coming. Ian Desmond doubled. Chris Marrero delivered an RBI single. Micah Owings drove in a run with a groundout. Espinosa drove in another with his second hit of the day. Just like that, it's 5-1 Nats as Detwiler takes the mound for the bottom of the fourth.
2:31 p.m. -- Quite an afternoon for Moore. He just blasted his second homer in as many innings, a two-run shot to right off lefty Duane Below. (I could make the obvious joke here about the Tigers reliever needing to "Look out Below!" but I won't.) Anyways, Moore's shot scored Harper, who came within inches of his own 420-foot homer to center but settled instead for a double. So the Nats have opened up a 7-1 lead in the fifth, and Detwiler is done for the afternoon. His final line: 4 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, 57 pitches, 34 strikes. Ex-Tiger Ryan Perry now in for the Nats.
3:13 p.m. -- And Perry nearly gives it all back to the Tigers in the bottom of the sixth. He was tagged for four runs without recording an out. He also drilled Hunter in the hand with a fastball, but it appears Torii is OK. Jeremy Accardo enters with the score 7-5 and still nobody out in the inning and lets both of the inherited runners score. So this game is now tied 7-7 and Perry is charged with all six runs. Wonderful.
3:29 p.m. -- Micah Owings puts the Nats back on top with yet another base hit, this one a solid single to center. That decision to give up pitching seems to be looking good right about now. Nats now lead 8-7 at the seventh-inning stretch.
3:38 p.m. -- Ryan Mattheus serves up a two-run homer in the seventh to Matt Tuiasosopo. Though it's entirely possible I just imagined that. Tigers now lead 9-8.
4:06 p.m. -- Just got back from the clubhouse, where Ross Detwiler was talking about his start today. I get back up here and somehow the Nats scored four runs to take a 12-9. Your guess is as good as mine how that happened. Oh, and Jhonatan Solano is playing left field for some reason. Quite an eventful day here in Lakeland.
4:15 p.m. -- And The Onion successfully catches a flyball to left in the bottom of the eighth! Brought tears to everyone in the Nats dugout.
4:33 p.m. -- That's yer ballgame. Erik Davis closes out a 12-10 victory for the Nationals, with the Tigers plating one run in the ninth on an RBI single by Jeff Kobernus (swiped away by the Tigers from the Nats in the Rule 5 draft). A good time was had by all.
72 comments:
No broadcast on 106.7 on a Sunday against the Tigers? Are you kidding me? If we want his to be a baseball town that's unforgivable.
yea, I wish Charlie and Dave were broadcasting also. Too much Redskins on 106.7.
I think MicheleS is in the Lakelands today!
SpingfieldNatsFan1 said...
No broadcast on 106.7 on a Sunday against the Tigers? Are you kidding me? If we want his to be a baseball town that's unforgivable.
March 17, 2013 10:55 AM
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How's about MASN keeping up with the other MLB teams?
Marrero back in today. Gonna be interesting what happens with him and Owings
BigCat - I think they both end up in Syracuse. Owings will play more outfield since I think Marrero is just a firstbaseman. You have Skole at AA so once again, we have decent depth at another position.
I realize the naysayers are jumping on several of our lads right now but I think things will workout. As I remember, we did win 98 games last year which was more than anyone else. I don't see how we can't continue that this year.
Rabbit, I love your comments but how do you see us dropping 17 games from last year to just becoming a .500 club? I would love to wager an imaginary or real beer on that.
I AM HERE! Sitting behind home plate!
Lucky Michele! As for the rest of us, 15 days before Opening Day and neither MASN nor whoever is responsible for Charlie and Dave sees fit to broadcast a weekend game against the defending AL champions. Yes, I know Strasburg isn't pitching, but this is pretty pathetic for a team that is supposedly going all the way.
I'd be interested in a little reporting on who makes the broadcast schedule and what the thinking is behind having our guys cover only 6 of 12 days that the Nats play in the last two weeks of spring training.
Total off subject questions..1) Anyone know why Ramos has switched his uniforn number to 40?
2) Given the success of last season and the promise for more of the same in the near future, I am surprised that no business in the DC area has bought the naming rights to Nationals Park. Are the Nationals actively looking to sell these rights or are they restricted in some manner by the city government? I would think that someone like Mr. Marriott or others along those lines would have wanted their name on the stadium by now.
Knoxville, the Nats have said all along they are in no rush to sell naming rights. I think they consider promoting their own brand more valuable for now. (I know, I know. Still.)
Got the VIP visit from Mark. Always good to see him!
The Tigers aren't doing tv either. So there's that. Why *all* the late spring games aren't on the radio, however...
Michele- no free media for us today. Please report the good stuff.
Wow, even on a young team that's a young outfield today.
Hunter tattooed that ball
Chad looks skinnier and he has a baby face without the beard.
"Seriously, is there a more shameless marketing ploy in sports than this?"
Yes. NASCAR.
Mac, NASCAR and the PGA.
Way to go Michele! Enjoy the Joker!
On naming rights, the Nats won't settle for chump change. It has always been available to a good partner and supposedly there was negative feedback in 2008 when Exxon Mobil offered $6 million a year.
Miggy is chitping at the ump about the stike zone
Wish I could have seen that!
TyMo goes deep!
Love the merry-go-round on the bases right now. Four in this frame so far!
I am having fun!!!
Watching hits and double plays? Sounds like you are having lots of fun . We are watching vicariously through you!
haha, Moore does it again. The broadcaster can't believe it. :-)
Tyler hit ball hard and far!
(That would be the Tigers broadcaster)
Having rashly decided to eat in a pub on St Paddy's Day, can't hear the Tigers radio anyway. Looks like TMo is in a groove.
Espi has sat next to Eck all game
TyMo and Brown have had pedestrian STs, but both guys are streak hitters. Looks like TyMo is in his groove. Last year, Brown hit HRs in 5 consecutive games at Syracuse.
I like both of those guys. They could hit 3-4 for a lot of teams.
Doc, I looked it up on BING. I searched on "Werth human rain delay". Here is the quote from Werth.
Welcoming Span
http://mlbbuzz.yardbarker.com/blog/mlbbuzz/article/how_the_nats_are_welcoming_span/13110748?new_post=true
Have any season-ticket holders tried to add partners yet?
I have tried for the past 24 hours, and very little about the Red Carpet Rewards/Ultimate Ballpark Access site works. People new to the system can't get the requisite account number, people who are already partners with somebody else can't become partners with another person, games cannot be transferred.
Anybody got some inspiring or informative advice?
Get the towel back for Ryan Perry.
Ryan Perry. Blech
Mark and MicheleS:
Please let us know if there's a Jeff Kobernus sighting. The Nats' former speedy 2b prospect, plucked by Detroit in the Rule 5 draft, reportedly is fighting to stick with the Tigers as a reserve outfielder.
Dave- This does not bode well for those of us who are Neanderthals. (appropriate apologies in advance to the GEICO fellows)
After listening to the Tiger's announcers, I think Ryan Perry does not have a future with our major league team. Need to trade him for someone useful.
That ball was crushed. Ryan not happy with ump
Did you bring cookies, Michele? Because it sounds like our guys are giving them out right now. :-)
So, does Ryan have a dead arm or is he over thinking things? Not a good day for pitchers named Ryan-- ERA circa one hundred.
Hey, Michele, can you give a "woo hoo" so we can hear you over the radio? (Maybe wait for a good Nats play.) :-)
They started the wave. UGH
No cookies. Didn't know Det was pitching today.
Go, Onion!!!!!
Atta way!
Man, I'm glad we lost out on the Teixeira sweepstakes a few years ago. His season is over now.
Apparently Solsno is in left?
That would be Solano.
MicheleS, ain't life grand?
A couple days ago I went back and read the blog after last year's regular season opening day. There were over 400 posts.Many bloggers were all for throwing ALR under the bus after that first game. Some were quite nasty and brutal.They were, as it turns out, all wrong. This year the Legion of Doom will have short fuses for Denard. I think that they will be wrong, too.
Atta way to strand 'em, Clip.
Aw, Clip lost his perfect WHIP... LOL the Tigers announcers can't figure out what pitch he threw to get the strikeout--forkball? Splitter?
Kobernus is coming up
According to the Tigers announcers, not only is Solano playing LF but the Nats have (sob!) lost the DH. The DH rules are little complicated for my poor little head to comprehend.
Kobernus just got an RBI single. 12-10... Lucky the Nats are "getting serious." Was that only one post ago?
The ball certainly found Solano out there.
Wow, Michele, you sure got your money's worth. An "epic battle..." (per the Tigers' announcers).
See-saw, anyone?
NatsNut, I'm glad the system worked for you, but it's not working for my partners.
You seem to have already had an MLB.com account set up before you began; and also it seems like you are both a season-ticket holder of record and an invited partner in another group.
But for people who are new to MLB.com, or for non-ticketholders-of-record trying to become partners to two different ticket plans, it's not working at all.
Moreover, as far as I can tell, games cannot yet actually be transferred to a partner. If I am missing something, I don't know what, since I have tried it about a half-dozen times with the only successfully-registered partner in my group. I click all the requisite buttons, including "Distribute tickets," and nothing sticks.
Latest emails I get from my MLB.com-newbie partners are revealing roadblocks in the early steps of the registration process--never mind transferring tickets.
None of us are trying to Red Carpet Rewards points or loading cash yet. I understood clearly from the website that these are not available yet.
Very interested to see whether anybody else--either a ticketholder-of-record or an invited partner--has had problems with the new Red Card ticketing system.
I haven't tried yet, I've had computer problems since Friday (which is also why no blog posts), and am trying to get that straightened out. One think I don't like is that they didn't send you a list of the dates you have for your plan--since you have no tickets, a hardcopy list would have been nice if I want to exchange or buy single game tickets.
Jhonaton Solano in LF? What, Nook Logan wasn't available?
Mark, MicheleS and NatsLady:
Thanks for the Kobernus update.
It will be interesting to see if Kobernus sticks with the Tigers and Danny Rosenbaum makes it as a long man in the Colorado pen.
If they don't stay with the big league clubs all year, they'll be offered back to the Nats.
Dave: as terrible as I am with computers you now have me worried. I am supposed to get the package tomorrow and am very nervous about trying to move games around in our group. I guess the worst that can happen is I go down to Nationals Park and have my rep do it for me.
Go Nats!!
sjm308, I truly believe the system is not yet operating as it should. My partners are having problems just setting up their accounts, and for the one guy who got it set up, I can't move games to his account.
It's probably not ready for primetime, and the servers are probably also slammed with traffic.
As the ticket-office switchboard will be tomorrow, no doubt. I know I'll be calling during my lunch hour.
sjm308, let me also say, though, that it looks like once the ticket-partner thing works properly, the interface for moving tickets around is not too forbidding. I'm able to see clearly where I click on a game (on a calendar) and move it to the color-coded partner who should get it. It just doesn't stay there once I do that.
You know Clip is bored if he's working on a forkball... :)
Drew, a few days ago I saw Tigers' blog posts that they like Kobernus a lot over there.
Yep, NN, tried that. After I do that the site says I have not distributed any tickets. No tickets remain assigned to that partner. Not working.
Incidentally, the reason that particular partner was able to register was that he already had a Nationals account number (from an early season ticket he earned) before he started the signup process. Nobody else has had any success.
So, I obviously have a nationals account # but doubt if I have a mlb account. Can't wait till tomorrow to get all stressed out. Will have to hope that natsfana1a can keep me calm.
Dave -- I'm just guessing, but I suspect the transfers won't be available until your partners receive AND ACTIVATE their cards. In other words there has to be a live partner account to send the games to.
But this doesn't leave a great deal of time to get the cards to partners and start the process.
Steady Eddie, now that you say that, I think you might be right. That sounds like something a ticket rep told me at Nats Fest.
But you're right, there's not much time left. And my partners still don't seem to be able to properly engage their email invitations like they're supposed to.
Bafflement.
Boy, I really botched the transfer on that cut-and-paste job. Time for more coffee.
Good job, NN. Don't worry, sjm. I don't have experience with that but I'll bet your rep or somebody here will be able to help you work it out.
NatsNut said...
sjm308, If 1a were here I think she might tell you to breathe through your eyelids like the Mayans. Or Aztecs.
Sorry, Dave. I guess I'm out of ideas. Good luck!
March 17, 2013 8:45 PM
sjm308 said...
So, I obviously have a nationals account # but doubt if I have a mlb account. Can't wait till tomorrow to get all stressed out. Will have to hope that natsfana1a can keep me calm.
March 17, 2013 7:29 PM
Actually, I do have an mlb.com account, but I'm not a STH and don't have experience with the new STH ticketing system.
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