 |
Photo by Mark Zuckerman / NATS INSIDER The Braves come to Nationals Park for a big weekend series. |
Game 1 features a matchup of guys who technically are No. 5 starters but really don't fit the typical mold of a No. 5 starter. Ross Detwiler emerged late last season as burgeoning elite pitcher, and he pitched very well in his season debut last weekend in Cincinnati. Julio Teheran, meanwhile, remains a bright prospect for the Braves, a 22-year-old flamethrower making only his sixth career start.
Nothing surprising in the Nats' lineup, with Kurt Suzuki behind the plate tonight. Something to keep in mind for later in the game: Rafael Soriano probably won't be available after pitching three straight nights, so don't be surprised if Drew Storen is used in a closer situation, should the opportunity present itself.
Updates to come...
ATLANTA BRAVES at WASHINGTON NATIONALS
Where: Nationals Park
Gametime: 7:05 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN2, MLB Network (outside DC market), MLB.tv
Radio: WJFK (106.7 FM), XM 89
Weather: Partly cloudy, 71 degrees, Wind 11 mph out to RF
NATIONALS (7-2)
CF Denard Span
RF Jayson Werth
CF Bryce Harper
3B Ryan Zimmerman
1B Adam LaRoche
SS Ian Desmond
2B Danny Espinosa
C Kurt Suzuki
LHP Ross Detwiler
BRAVES (8-1)
SS Andrelton Simmons
RF Jason Heyward
LF Justin Upton
1B Evan Gattis
CF B.J. Upton
2B Dan Uggla
3B Chris Johnson
C Gerald Laird
RHP Julio Teheran
UMPIRES
HP Adrian Johnson
1B Fieldin Culbreth (cc)
2B Bill Welke
3B Brian O'Nora
7:07 p.m. -- We are underway on a very pleasant, if a bit windy, Friday night in the District. Looks like it's going to be a big crowd on hand for this showdown between NL East powerhouses. Andrelton Simmons get this one going by fouling off Ross Detwiler's first pitch.
7:12 p.m. -- Hoo boy, does Detwiler look pumped up for this game or what? He was pumping out fastballs in the top of the first, striking out Simmons on three pitches (the last one 95 mph down and in). He did surrender a soft single to Jason Heyward but otherwise dominated the inning on 13 pitches (9 strikes). Good start to the evening for Ross.
7:27 p.m. -- Well, that's not a bad way to get this thing started on the offensive end, either. Denard Span reached on what was initially ruled an error on Chris Johnson (whose throw barely pulled Evan Gattis' foot off first base) but was later changed to a single. Two batters later, Bryce Harper took an outside fastball from Julio Teheran and sent it careening over the left-field fence, an absolute bullet of a two-run homer. That's Harper's fifth homer in 10 games this season, making him only the second player under 21 ever to do that (joining Miguel Cabrera). It's 2-0 Nats after one.
7:37 p.m. -- Detwiler labored a bit in the top of the second, issuing a pair of walks. But he avoided any actual damage and made it though the inning unscathed. Still 2-0 Nats in the middle of the second.
7:54 p.m. -- Man, just about every member of the Nats' lineup has put together a solid at-bat (or two) already against Teheran. Even the ones who haven't recorded a hit have still made the right-hander work. Two more runs crossed the plate in the bottom of the second, thanks to RBI singles from Span and Werth. Trent Jewett, meanwhile, is going to need rotator cuff surgery by season's end the way he waves guys around third base. 4-0 Nats after two innings. Couldn't have asked for a much better start to this weekend than that.
8:03 p.m. -- Both pitchers settled down considerably in the third, each retiring the side in short order. Still 4-0 as we move to the fourth.
8:44 p.m. -- Nice moment in the middle of the fifth as this game became official and Ryan Zimmerman was recognized on the scoreboard for playing his 1,000th game with the Nationals. Sadly, the Face of the Franchise hasn't been able to do much on the field tonight. He's now 0-for-3 with a couple groundouts and a flyout. Still 4-0, heading to the sixth.
8:56 p.m. -- Justin Upton sends a deep drive to right-center, off the top of the wall, and the umps convene to watch the replay. Took them 3 minutes, 42 seconds to decide it was a double, not a homer. That proved significant, because Detwiler responded by striking out Gattis on three pitches. He's through six innings, and he's yet to allow an earned run in 12 total innings this year.
9:03 p.m. -- Meanwhile, the Nats have done nothing against Teheran since the second inning. Not even a hit. They've kind of let him off the hook here. Still 4-0 as we go to the seventh.
9:07 p.m. -- There goes the shutout. Chris Johnson takes Detwiler deep to center. That's the first earned run he's allowed in 12 2/3 innings this season, and it leaves the Nats leading 4-1 at the stretch. Have to think that's it for Detwiler. Tyler Clippard and Henry Rodriguez are currently warming in the pen. That would leave Drew Storen for the ninth inning if needed.
9:19 p.m. -- The Nats still don't have a hit since the second inning. They've allowed the Braves to stay within striking distance here. It remains 4-1 as Clippard enters for the eighth.
9:44 p.m. -- Well, that was ... uh, interesting. Clippard got himself in a whale of trouble, issuing three walks and a single in the eighth. He nearly got out of it all without allowing a run but couldn't put away B.J. Upton and wound up walking him to force in a run. It took 35 pitches from Clippard, at which point Davey decided to pull him and go with Drew Storen for a four-out save. Storen served up a looooong flyball to Uggla, deep enough only to reach the warning track in center. So after all that, the Nats are clinging to a 4-2 lead, with Storen still needing to record three more outs.
9:53 p.m. -- Nothing for the Nats in the bottom of the eighth, so here we go with Storen facing the bottom of the Atlanta order in the ninth, still up 4-2.
10:09 p.m. -- Uh-oh. Disaster in the ninth. Storen loaded the bases with two outs, bringing up Justin Upton. Upton hit a sharp bouncer down the third base line, which Zimmerman fielded. He didn't really have a play anywhere, but decided to try to throw to second. Bad move. Not only was the throw late but it sailed wide into right field. Two runs scored, and now the game is tied heading to the bottom of the ninth.
10:17 p.m. -- We go to the 10th as the Nats go down in order. Craig Stammen in from the pen, and I would imagine he'll go multiple innings here.
10:27 p.m. -- Oh, my. Ramiro Pena takes Stammen waaaaay deep into the right-field bullpen for a two-run homer in the top of the 10th. The Nats now trail 6-4, having given up all six runs since the seventh inning. And now they get to face Craig Kimbrel in the bottom of the 10th. Yikes.
10:36 p.m. -- Game over. The Nats lose 6-4 in 10. That one's not going to be shaken off so easily. But Stephen Strasburg takes the mound in 14 1/2 hours, so...
170 comments:
I am totally rooting to see Drew tonight. That would be good news for us! Cancel the bottom of the 9th.
Hiow bad do e have to be losing to bring in Henry? I can't see Davey using him in a situation where the game is on the line, especially against these guys.
GYFNG!
Guai Feng!
And keep it civil down there, willya?
I can see Davey using Henry tonight, even in a close game. I think we'll see Duke before Henry though, the Braves hate lefties.
Tconstant,
Have you looked at the lineups? The Braves only have one lefthander tonight: Heyward.
McCann and Freeman are on the DL, Bourn is in Cleveland.
GYFNG!!!! I can't wait to see Det pitch.
Well, I'll be hornswoggled. They actually found a way to get the Nats to play the Braves more -- 19 games this year, as young Mr. Zuckerman points out. Thought it was 18 against each division opponents before.
I don't get all exercised about whether schedules are "balanced," but I do know that along about September, I get really tired of seeing the same few teams so [darn] many times.
GYFNG!
Freeman would be in the lineup tonight and he is left-handed. If he hadn't landed on the DL.
Atlanta is using a platoon at third base. And I'm not sure how often McCann will be able to play? He's almost become a DH/!B at this point. And you don't remove Freddie Freeman for McCann on most nights.
Duke, Henry, Clip, & Drew(if we're ahead).
Otherwise Duke and Henry after the 5th.
Tomahawk these phoney indians!
GoooooooooooooooooooNats!!!!!!!!!!!!
Glad to see NatsLady in the left hand gutter instead of that lady who basically gave up blogging perhaps because she seemed to have a crush on Riggleman. Natslady has no such crush that I'm aware of.
Don't be surprised to see Stammen after Det. Davey likes to throw a righty in after a lefty starter. That's why he likes to have both a left-handed and right-handed middle relief/long/spot starter.
I doubt we'll see Henry if the game is close. If Det can go six, Davey's got Stammen, Clipp and Storen. If he can go 7, Clip and Storen. If he goes 5, Duke or Stammen for 2, then Clip and Storen.
If we're behind or way ahead, Henry gets some work.
Don't be surprised to see Stammen after Det. Davey likes to throw a righty in after a lefty starter. That's why he likes to have both a left-handed and right-handed middle relief/long/spot starter.
Ok, this is unusual for me, but... wait for it... I agree 100% with peric's comment.
Of course, if Det goes 7, we'll probably see Clipp, not Stammen.
Interesting lineup note for Atlanta: they'll be using their back-up catcher, Evan Gattis, at first base tonight; they didn't want him to catch because they didn't want an all-rookie battery, but he's had a hot start in terms of hitting so they want him in the line-up. He's played only 7 games at the position at the minor league level and did not play any games there during spring training. Should be interesting.
So why are all of you talking about the bullpen? You don't think Det can do this on his own? I do. I say he goes at least 8. This is his year. If he is cruising, I will literally throw something at the tv if he is taken out with a reasonable number of pitches. JZim should have had the 8 th in his game. They are big boys now. Go Det!!!!!
Gattis is playing his first game at 1B tonight. Oh boy. Wonder if he saw Moneyball.
"Hatteberg: I’ve only ever played catcher.
Beane: It’s not that hard, Scott. Tell him, Wash.
Washington: It’s incredibly hard."
Ok, EmDash, I owe you a drink.
222, I loved that exchange. And then I LOVE it when Hatteberg hits that dinger later on. Ah! Baseball. Even movie baseball. I love it all. All except Phillies phans.
sure glad it's Det tonight and not Haren -- the Braves would absolutely crush Haren, but Det can and will beat them.
On bringing in an opposite handed reliever following a starter, like using Stammen after Detwiler, normally that's great. The other team then counters with any platoon players, like Francisco. Of course, the Nats can't then switch back to a lefthander later, because they don't have any. Good news is that the Braves don't have much in the way of left handed hitters on the bench.
You added the Moneyball quote though, Section 222, so that makes it different. :)
Also, scheduling note for Nats v. Braves - since the division rivals play each other 19 times now, that of course unbalances the number of home games. Braves have the advantage there, as they get more home than away games against everyone in the division except...either the Mets or Marlins, I can't remember now. Nats have more away than home games against everyone except either the Mets or Marlins. This is of course not ideal.
The one LH hitter in the Braves line up is hitting .071
(Heyward)
Hearing K Millar pronounce Detwiler is pretty funny. Next we should have him try Mattheus.
What arrival time tomorrow guarantees a bobblehead? Insider insight needed.
No guarantees but I generally shoot for at least an hour before first pitch, preferably more.
Love to get at least 2 this weekend
Secret wasian said: "Love to get at least 2 this weekend"
Well, make sure you're going with a second person, then.
Oh, you meant win two games. Sorry. I'm all about the bobblehead Saturday. (Gotta teach my autocorrect how to write bobblehead.)
I hope the Nats continue the perfect home record with a sweep. Make a statement.
I had the same thought on first reading. :-)
Well, make sure you're going with a second person, then.
Oh, you meant win two games. Sorry. I'm all about the bobblehead Saturday. (Gotta teach my autocorrect how to write bobblehead.)
I know we have shiny, new baseball stars and free agents and players we have traded for. But, I have to tell you, Ryan Zimmerman truly does represent all that is good about the Washingyon Nationals. We have been very lucky to have him right in the middle of things for all this time. Great guy, great memories, even in the bad years. I hope he has a monster year.
Today is his gsme1000, his wife's and his mom's birthdays. Special occasion?
At the game. Loving us some Span.
Looks pretty quiet tonight ...
good crowd for a friday night. told you teheran would have trouble with lefties. windy, too.
NatsLady, did you get your ticket-swap thing worked out?
,2 runs, sb,RBI Not bad after his first 2 AB's.
dave, yes. went to the box office.
Arriving here late; Cunegonde pointed out we were running out of rose wine and I had to research a sparkling pinot noir rose we'd had a couple of weeks ago and really liked. Couldn't remember the name, so I had to do a search on Al Gore's Amazing Internet and finally found it (Lucien Albrecht Cremant d'Alsace Brut Rose NV).
Then I had to search for the best price. And when I found it, the merchant's web site wouldn't put me into the shopping cart to finish the transaction, so I ended up having to call them. Finally got the order placed.
So how are my boys doing? Detwiler pitching okay? Harper been at all productive? Span getting on base?
Legion of Doom quiescent?
Detweiler bringing it tonight!!! If he keeps it hope I hope Davey will let him go 7-8 innings and save the bullpen for the weekend.
Nobody much else posting (mostly all at the game? If so, sit back, cheer "
some "let's go Nats!" and enjoy!) so I will just add a GYFNG!!!
Hey, notwithstanding the momentarily quiescent LoD, these guys are looking pretty good. Over the long haul, the Nats' rotation is the big advantage we will have. All we need is for Haren to settle down and be reasonably reliably decent, and we got this (keeping fingers crossed against the injury bug (but we already had that big time for three out of our long term four starters, so some season-long health is not too much to hope for).
Hey, Bryce with a second chance after 8, make that 9 pitches... This working the pitcher stuff must be contagious!
Umpires taking way too long to review the play. Not fair to Det!!!
At least they goi it right....
Det is dealing!!!
Det would be a #1 or #2 on at least half the teams in MLB. And once again, Det is totally unfazed by the review delay, showing how he has become The Man in his pitching over the past year.
Det is sick tonight. Sick as in nasty sick. Great strike out to end 6th.
One too many fastballs...
Steady Eddie said...
Nobody much else posting (mostly all at the game?
Just Seamhead, LoveDaNats, and SonnyG10.
A lot more of us tomorrow (including Cunegonde and me). We'll be there for a Gio bobblehead early.
Candide -- me and my 12-year old too.
FP talked that home run into happening with his fastball rant.
Clip and Stor for the 8th and 9th?
Great job by Detwiler. Super outing.
I'm hoping that those of us nerds who get there ridiculously early will have luck with the Gio figurines.
Tomorrow morning's the Cherry Blossom Parade. If you're planning on going in on I-66, re-plan. I'm taking the Metro myself.
Denard Span=Josh Deets
He rides out to survey what's up ahead, and you have every confidence, no matter what or who he faces, he's coming back with the straight skinny.
Plz. No Henry.
I was thinking the same thing about lack of hits.
throw a ball. it is 1-2 not 3-2.
why does he pull Det after 90 pitches yet lets Haren go over 101. This is just stupid.
Wow. Wish Clipp would cool it with the walks.
he just refuses to make it easy. Det was pitching great.
Davey confuses me.
In the words of that famed pitching coach, Bill the Cat:
Ack!
Thbbft!
what the hell is Clip in for? Det was pitching great. Absolutely no reason to take him out.
Well, he had a three-run lead. He walks B.J., he's still got a lead. He grooves one, and probably not. And maybe he was getting squeezed a little. Still.
This would be an awful loss. Clippard is just terrible. Bring in drew before its too late. Ughhhhhhhhhhhhhh
And y'all were so down on H-Rod? Look who's walking hitters without control? Against the Braves nonetheless?
At this point Henry might be better than Clip. Its still early and that could in fact be the case as the season progresses.
Drewwwwwwwwwwwwww!
D-Span. Thank you for gliding effortlessly to that ball and simply catching it. No drama in CF.
I was thinking that Clip is starting be like Henry. Good clip bsd clip.
Now let's get some GEICO.
Dave said...
D-Span. Thank you for gliding effortlessly to that ball and simply catching it. No drama in CF.
Don't think I've seen DSpan run hard after a single fly ball this season. He's always right there.
good thing about that inning was that next inning we start with their bottom 3 hitters. i am guessing we will see freeman pinch hit.
Don Liddle comes in to pitch to Vic Wertz, who crushes a ball to deep center. Mays goes back and makes a spectacular catch. Liddle comes to the bench, tosses his glove down, and says "Well, I got my guy."
Ughhh. Who was it that said they would throw something at the TV if they pulled det too early?
why does he pull Det after 90 pitches yet lets Haren go over 101. This is just stupid.
He gave Davey seven quality innings and did his job. Davey needs his horses for 162 games not for 2 or 3 weeks.
What is that pitch delivery motion? Is he allowed to hop-skip-jump like that?
That double play killed another run.
how long is laird gonna be there?
Okay, here we go. Acid test time.
Zim was first hit since 2nd. Det making me look good, this kid will have a break out season. Clip pitched his worse game as a Nat, I hope he bounces back
Clip does not look confidant. Drew, make me look good boy, I am counting you!
Drew for another inning? This is where they sometimes get in trouble ... I'd consider Stammen if I were Davey.
Chance for Drew to show he can still be a closer
are you kidding me!
Stammen looking like better and better right now.
agreed Peric
we are 90 pitches not 115.
Chance for Drew to show he can still be a closer
Kilgore: Looks like Nats fans picked the wrong night to quit sniffing glue.
Nibble nibble ...
Stammen. Now.
Yikes time.
Well then. Tie game. Save blown.
Storen : BS Blown Save.
This is further validation why Rizzo was right in getting an ice water veined closer for this team. Walks, walks and more walks. If we're going to get beat, at least let THEM do it.
Feel bad for Det
Dammit, where's the Maalox?
(Nibble + nibble)*58
What's the pitch count on Storen? 24?
sickening! I only feel sorry for Det. RZim is a veteran and that play made no sense. good news, at least Nats did not blow a 9-0 like last year. bad news, our bullpen is in question and our errors by vet players finally caught up tonight. and, you cant stop hitting after the 2nd inning.
maybe we will win still, if not, lets try to win sat and sun
The bull pen pitcher must hate Det, they refusr to pitch for him.
no way Zim gets the guy at second why throw it.
Why all these damn walks.
lot of unnecessary drama.
Looks like Espy's ears are burning ...
I can do without the free baseball tonight, guys. Get it done.
Well, Stammen for the 10th and the rest of the game ...
It's only one game, but if these guys continue to come in and walk batters in close games, I wouldn't be surprised to see a bit of reshuffling in the bullpen in the next few weeks.
I have way less of a problem with guys getting beat up when they're at least throwing strikes. This is infuriating.
He did kind of have that look of The One Who Messed Up, didn't he?
I bet Det is PO
The Nats, out "smart-balled" by Fredi.
Grandstander, exactly and that is something Davey would agree with
Somewhere Riggleman is smiling.
Clippard, Storen should be thankful DC has strict gun control laws, else Detweiler would be packing, hunting.
Vote for getting rid of Clippard at the trade deadline and Storen over the winter.
Agreed Sofa. No free baseball tonight!
Not sure why Davey had Storen pitch the eighth and ninth, but my recollection is that Drew can pitch ONE, and ONLY one, inning. Even if the first inning is only one pitch. Is Davey teaching, or geezing?
Maybe, although I don't know how much credit goes to Fredi for Clip n' Store walking half the lineup.
Det should be pissed. Storen gave up 2 runs each of his game. Soriano ,2 Clip 1. Lost 2 wins now because the relievers walk guys then give up hits.
T-Mo? Tracey?
T-Mo gave it a ride. He needs to get more at bats.
ehay, Storen came in for four outs only because Clippard couldn't find the plate with google earth.
Fredi's two bunts set it all up. Pure Riggleman.
Det 90 pitches in 7. Relievers 59 in 2. Who rarned their pay tonight.
Hitter quit . 6 hits first 2. 2 in last 7.
59 pitches from Clip and Store? Good thing this is only April. Just wish this wasn't the Barves.
I generally only ask this once a season, but this is as good a time as any.
How come, when the opposition doesn't hit, it's because the Nats pitchers are good, but when the Nats don't hit, it's because they suck?
This is painful. And it is uncomfortably chilly.
Should have gone to Stammen in the 9th. Sotren put out the fire he's not really good at coming back for another. He's been honed as a one inning shutdown guy.
Where was Stammen in regulation
Sofa, it does not matter. If you are trying to win this game, then Drew cannot pitch two innings. Period. He has a bad history there. He is a closer,not a middle reliever. He does not know how to restart after coming into the dugout. Same reason you don't we dragsters at the Daytona 500 - it's a BAD fit.
So, I hope Davey was teaching, because if he thought Drew could actually pitch two innings, he was geezing
Joe Seamhead, if it's anything like last night, you guys are probably pretty darn chilly out there. Stands still look nice & full, though.
but when the Nats don't hit, it's because they suck?
They've got some holes in the lineup. Zim, LaRoche, and Danny again. Danny often seems like he should be BJ's brother not Justin. The only real power this season will be Harper until Zim's shoulder comes completely around. Then he'll be a huge threat. You can't expect Desmond to be a 20-20 guy every year.
Its really not a strong lineup xtra-base hit power-wise. So, they will have to manufacture and scratch out runs and hope the pitching and defense can hold the other teams down to few runs.
Is it me, or has the strike zone been floating all night?
Another freaking walk from a Nats reliever. At this point they could have used Henry.
Enough with the freak walks
ehay, tell Davey, don't tell me. I just answered the question, it wasn't my idea.
Another walk. Henry might make an appearance. Otherwise its Duke.
Sofa,it's not you. Some has been more relative to the batters' position than the plate.
Stammen does have some filthy stuff tonight though.
Zone has been ...
The Nats pitchers walked people who were batting under .100. Don't blame the strike zone. Up by 3 you groove it to those guys.
How come, when the opposition doesn't hit, it's because the Nats pitchers are good, but when the Nats don't hit, it's because they suck?
I'll rephrase the question. How come, when the opposition isn't successful against the Nats, it's because the Nats did something right, but when the opposition does succeed, it's not because they did something right, but that the Nats did something wrong?
Like that, for instance.
Drive safely, everybody.
Pitch ran back.
He's still working on that cutter/slider thing. But it looks filthy.
He hung one to Johnson and got away with it, not that time. Goodnight everyone, Strasburg tomorrow, hopefully Davey will let him pitch into the 8th!
Well the bullpen blows a big game. Should have stuck with the cutter even if it was a tad wild.
Ugh. Maalox plz
Lemmee know first of September if they're still w/in 10 games of a playoff spot; I'm going to find something else to do for the rest of the summer.
When are these telievers going to quit walking people. walk extends the inning and a 2 run shot
Look great until Det removed. Thanks Davey.
Assuming we lose, then our Manager blew the game. Gotta know your staff.
then he ks next guy. a little late Stammen.
Anyone feeling a bit like the last day of the season last year, right now? I guess the good news is Det can't single anyone out in the bullpen to go after and they can apologize in concert.
At some point this year, Davey needs to have the courage to stick with the hot hand. Det could have gone at least one more. Had he done that, Tyler comes in, implodes, Drew bails him out and we're done. Now, we likely lose to, yes, I am going to say it, currently THE BEST TEAM IN BASEBALL, when we could have taken one. Guess that'll teach Carp and FP to talk about winning a series before the first game is over...
Strasburg tomorrow, hopefully Davey will let him pitch into the 8th
The Nats FO, Davey and Stras will want to be there in September this time ... Davey is going to try hard to keep folks fresh ...
Looks like the first loss at home to the Braves.
And thats the 2013 nationall weakness: the bulppen!
Davey gotta learn to live the starters in, otherwise this is gonnna be a long season!
Werth, Harper, Zim.
Kimbrel.
Big comeback time.
Wow, T.S. Really? After one bad game?
Have a nice summer, then.
I, though, will go to the game tomorrow, and another couple the next homestand, and so on through the summer. Been watching since 2005, and I've waited a long time to see a good team. And this is a good team, despite tonight's unfortunate last half.
Going to the Rally Sofa ...
Braves fans at the game are probably tomahawk chopping everywhere right now ...
On the disastrous July collapse game last year, Espinosa hit a dinger against Kimbrel.
It can be done.
I was surprised Davey didn't rest Soriano last night so he would have him for this series
Davey gotta learn to live the starters in, otherwise this is gonnna be a long season!
Seven innings allowing 1 run is an excellent quality start?
If you burn your starters out early you won't have a season. They'll be crap in August through September.
Kimbrel gets some low calls
So that's what a closer looks like.
Peric, everyother team in MLB lets their starter go deep, and they all do just fine, there is no need for davey be saving arms!
Can't believe I'm thinking how I hate our bull pen.
Peric, everyother team in MLB lets their starter go deep, and they all do just fine, there is no need for davey be saving arms!
Not unless they are crappy teams. Then it doesn't matter most of the pitchers are AAAA that they picked up off the waiver wire ... like Livo was.
Believe me Fredi is going to do the same thing as Davey.
starters should go 100-105 pitches. 90 is not burning anyone. Not sure why you keep mentioning burning.
Brazil, I disagree. And you have to remember that this is a young staff. Pettite and Verlander can pitch deep. Not our guys, yet.
But that was a game we gave away, not that Atlanta won. Remember that.
"Inability to throw strikes." Ray Knight's analysis pretty much sums it up.
Wow, a statement game for Braves, they have a bullpen and frankly we have nobody on Kimbrell's level. Bottom of their order wins the game, top of our order goes down 1-2-3. very frustrating game. You can not walk batters, your 2 relievers can NOT throw almost 60 pitches in 2 innings and win a game. maybe tonight will be an anomalie, i hope, but I am very down on Clip and Storen reminded me of game 5 verse Cards, he had a 2 run lead in 9th and blew it. Tonight R Zim helped him blow it
but, we are 7-3 an I suspect will beat the teams we should and may not be able to beat teams like the Braves. We are a playoff team and a very good young team for a long time. I think Davey knows what the red flags are and will both Rizzo and him will correct it soon
Mick - NO ONE in Baseball, not even Mariano, is on Kimbrel's level right now - well, maybe Chapman, but that's IT. He is elite and could be the difference in what is shaping up to be a season long battle for first place with the Braves. HOWEVER, guys like him are always one pitch from an exploded elbow - it will happen to Kimbrel, just a matter of when - although I hope not because if the Nats win, I want them to beat the best and Kimbrel is the best closer in baseball.
We forget how close the Nats came to winning - Heyward hit a foul ball that's a game-ending 3rd out but for the April wind and Uptons grounder was perfectly placed or Zim steps on 3rd and game over.
It was a suc*y game for the Nats, but it is only 1 game. They are 7-3, a .700 winning percentage with only 3 easy games, Braves are 10-1, playing 1 non-easy game. It will even out, but Nats' pen needs to settle down, trust their stuff, and QUIT ISSUING SO MANY WALKS!!
Braves are actually only 9-1. This was game #10 for both teams.
Pitchers should throw strikes, indeed.
Well said, Dave. See you at the ballpark. :-)
Dave said...
Wow, T.S. Really? After one bad game?
Have a nice summer, then.
I, though, will go to the game tomorrow, and another couple the next homestand, and so on through the summer. Been watching since 2005, and I've waited a long time to see a good team. And this is a good team, despite tonight's unfortunate last half.
April 12, 2013 10:30 PM
Oh well, at least I have Gattis on my Fantasy team.
Zimmerman cost us big -- losing my patience.
Post a Comment