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Photo by Mark Zuckerman / NATS INSIDER
The Reds are in town for a four-game series starting tonight.
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They'll do so with a new-look lineup, as promised last night by Davey Johnson. Steve Lombardozzi takes over at third base, batting second. Jayson Werth, meanwhile, gets bumped down to the cleanup spot. While it's not an ideal position for him long-term, it does make some sense right now. With Ryan Zimmerman on the DL and Adam LaRoche strug-a-ling big-time, the Nats need to offer some kind of protection for Bryce Harper.
The reconfigured lineup may or may not help. Either way, the Nationals also need a better performance out of Gio Gonzalez, who has quietly been all over the place so far this season, certainly not up to his 21-win level of a year ago. The key for Gio: Get early strikes and quick outs, something he's struggled in particular to do in 2013.
I'll have the early-game updates and analysis for you here, but then I'll handing the reins over
CINCINNATI REDS at WASHINGTON NATIONALS
Where: Nationals Park
Gametime: 7:05 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN, MLB.tv
Radio: WJFK (106.7 FM), XM 186
Weather: Clear, 62 degrees, Wind 5 mph out to LF
NATIONALS (10-11)
CF Denard Span
3B Steve Lombardozzi
LF Bryce Harper
RF Jayson Werth
1B Adam LaRoche
SS Ian Desmond
2B Danny Espinosa
C Kurt Suzuki
LHP Gio Gonzalez
REDS (13-9)
CF Shin-Soo Choo
SS Zack Cozart
1B Joey Votto
2B Brandon Phillips
RF Jay Bruce
3B Todd Frazier
LF Chris Heisey
C Devin Mesoraco
RHP Bronson Arroyo
UMPIRES
HP Paul Nauert
1B Andy Fletcher
2B Rob Drake
3B Sam Holbrook (cc)
7:07 p.m. — We are underway. Gio Gonzalez starts off Shin-Soo Choo with a fastball for ball one.
7:14 p.m. — A nice, 1-2-3 top of the first for Gio, including a strikeout of Joey Votto on a 94 mph fastball. Gonzalez did have to a work a little too much to retire the side, throwing 18 total pitches to only three batters. Still, you can't argue with the results.
7:23 p.m. — Well, Bryce Harper drew another two-out walk, so that set the stage for new cleanup man Jayson Werth. Werth made solid contact, lining a ball to left-center. But he got under it just enough for Choo to be able to race over and make the play. Scoreless after one.
7:32 p.m. — Six up, six down for Gio, but the Reds continue to make him work. He's already thrown 33 pitches to only six batters, thanks to a bunch of foul balls (especially from Todd Frazier in the top of the second).
7:46 p.m. — Hey, the Nats have taken a lead! They even scored two runs in the bottom of the second! All this despite another strikeout by Adam LaRoche, now 0 for his last 12 with eight K's, six of them in a row. In better news, Ian Desmond, Danny Espinosa, Kurt Suzuki and Denard Span all recorded base hits, with Espinosa driving an RBI double off the wall in right-center. Span also beat out a grounder to the hole at short, bringing home another run. So it's 2-0 Nats after two, and suddenly everyone is feeling better on South Capitol Street.
7:53 p.m. — Nine up, nine down for Gio, who has four strikeouts (I believe all on fastballs). Good stuff so far from the lefty.
8:05 p.m. — Sweet. Fancy. Moses. The Nats' lineup is en fuego. Harper launches a leadoff homer deep to center to start the bottom of the third. It's his eighth homer, most in Nats history for the month of April (and he's still got five-plus games to go). Then Espinosa crushes a 2-run shot down the right-field line. Guess it's safe to say he's enjoying his 26th birthday. He's now 2-for-2 with a homer, a double and three RBI. Nats lead 6-0 after three. Yes, 6-0. And with that, I'm going to hand the keys over to Chase Hughes, so I can head up to Bethesda for tonight's "Baseball Show" on CSN. It's scheduled to air live at 11 p.m., but be aware the start could be delayed a few minutes if tonight's Caps game runs longer than 2 1/2 hours.
8:19 p.m. -- Chase here as Mark is off to do The Baseball Show. Gio Gonzalez gave up his first hit of the night after retiring the first 11 batters he faced. He also lost the shutout as Joey Votto poked a solo home run opposite field just inches over Harper and the left field fence. Gonzalez sits at 67 pitches (49 strikes) after four innings of work.
8:32 p.m. -- The Nats got one man on in the bottom of the fourth inning as Harper hit a two-out double down the left field line. Harper has reached base in all three at-bats tonight and is hitting .368 on the year. Gio needed just eight pitches to retire the order in the top of the fifth and now has 75 (56 strikes) through five. That inning could have set him up to go deep in this game.
8:36 p.m. -- Cincinnati is riding this one out with Arroyo who cruised through the bottom of the fifth. He has 78 pitches through five and no one is warming in the Cincy bullpen despite the 6-1 score. On to the sixth we go.
8:43 p.m. -- Another scoreless frame from Gio who started the inning with his first walk of the night. Gonzalez has thrown 87 (62 strikes) pitches after just 12 in that inning.
8:58 p.m. -- Gio Gonzalez is having a terrific night so far with only one hit allowed through seven. He struck out Jay Bruce swinging on an inside fastball to end the frame and is now at 99 pitches (71) as we head to the bottom of the eighth. Now pitching for Cincinnati is right-hander J.J. Hoover.
9:08 p.m. -- The Nats get nothing going in the seventh as Harper flew out, Werth popped out, and LaRoche grounded out to first. We head to the eighth where Gio will remain in to pitch. He will be over the 100-pitch mark so this is likely the last time we'll see him tonight. Still 6-1 Nats.
9:15 p.m. -- Another strong inning from Gio who gave up a walk to Mesoraco, but got out of the inning with the game still scoreless. He is likely done from here after 112 pitches and just one hit allowed through eight innings.
9:26 p.m. -- Nats get two more runs on the board as Denard Span hit a two-out triple to score Kurt Suzuki and Roger Bernadina. Now 8-1 Nats with Rafael Soriano in to pitch.
9:30 p.m. -- Nats win 8-1, go back up to .500 with a record of 11-11.
179 comments:
My ideal line-up.....
1-Span CF
2-Lombo 2B (Rendon when zim is back)
3-Harper LF
4-Desmond SS (Zimm when back)
5-ALR 1B
6-Werth RF (Desmond when Zim is back)
7-Rendon 3B (Werth when Zim is back)
8-C
9-P
But, I don't think Werth could do 7...and losing Espi's glove is scary, but either of the replacements is OK at 2nd.
Since I haven't seen a post from Sunshine Bobby (who is too pessimistic for me) I decided I would shed my negative attitude and remind myself today is a new day and as Manassas said, at least we have a team to bitch about.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phWv7l8Lm_A
This is the day, your life will surely change
This is the day, when things fall into place.
Well, at least the top prospect gets the pressure off. But now they are susceptible to small ball and hard line drives + grounders down the 3rd base line. Plus another banjo bat in the lineup.
And Werth is not scaring anyone in the #4 slot Davey. Most especially with the enormous hole you put behind him. I guess Davey wants to lose eight in a row.
I'll say it again about the defense that they are making too many errors that go beyond what the official scorer can call an error -and- they are not making many spectacular plays of the Web Gem variety.
With Lombo at third buckle up this could get a lot worse.
Davey doesn't seem to be trying for the world series he may be trying to get fired though? That would be a real shame.
"Buckle up Bones."
I would give Rendon more at bats.
Ideal lineup is one where Adam and Ian begin hitting like last year. If they do, everything will take care of itself.
I'll be there tonight rooting for the "good Gio" to pitch a gem.
I would give Rendon more at bats.
As would I. Again, I submit that Davey isn't doing the job he did last season with the franchise's top prospects. He is failing miserably and that to me is worse than the won-loss record in April.
Ideal lineup is one where Adam and Ian begin hitting like last year. If they do, everything will take care of itself.
That's likely not going to happen. He needs to go on the DL just like 2 years ago when he helped cost Riggleman his job ... He got a nice rest and recovered nicely and had a great year ... and now he's regressed back again.
Again, I submit that Davey isn't doing the job he did last season with the franchise's top prospects
And again I will respond: you were the one screaming for Rendon to get called up -- and they did. You were the one screaming that he had to play 3b, his natural position -- and they put him there.
And then Davey put him in a relatively lower pressure slot of batting sixth. How is that failing him miserably? And perhaps Rendon needs a night off after a pretty rough 4-game initiation in which he's made two errors and gone 2-for-15.
Well, at least the top prospect gets the pressure off. But now they are susceptible to small ball and hard line drives + grounders down the 3rd base line. Plus another banjo bat in the lineup.
And Werth is not scaring anyone in the #4 slot Davey. Most especially with the enormous hole you put behind him. I guess Davey wants to lose eight in a row.
Your irrational frustration is showing. Who _else_ would you put in #4 (yeah, yeah, I know, it's all TyMo TyMo Tymo -- but he's at .190 himself -- and, don't look now, but he's been a strikeout machine: 10 K's and 1 BB in 22 plate appearances.
Espinosa has almost *three times* the plate appearances as TyMo and has 10 K's.
Fact is: other than Harper and some Desmond, nobody's hitting right now. Except for Lombo, btw. Lombo: banjo at .345; TyMo: slugger/strike-out guy at .190. You can't blame Davey for trying Lombo. (I'm not saying that TyMo's that bad -- but with all the calls saying "go with the hot hand" -- it's Lombo that's the only guy besides Harper that's batting more than .275).
To all -- remember the old maxim: a team is never as good as it looks during a winning streak, and is never as bad as they look during a losing streak.
Good night to let Rendon sit and observe. Slow things down a little for him but I really wouldn't call this shaking it up. I would have had TyMo in there tonight at 1st base but maybe tonight will be the night LaRoche breaks out.
Say as you want about TyMo's stats. He has no hits as a PH or sub which skews his small sample size but the 3 games he has started looks far different:
.364/.417/.636/1.053
Unless Ian is hurt, he doesn't need to go on the DL. He just needs to get his focus back to where it was last year on defense and offense.
Need to cut down on the walks. Shoddy defense aside, the pitching staff has been it's own worst enemy at times.
How about that Ghost. Lombo is at third. I must have overheard someone who knew what they were talking about.
Davey is shaking up things. I guess I'll get to see if peric is right and Lombo ruins our defense at third.
Yeah, of the starters, I'd expect Gio has been the worst about walks. Very wild so far this year; hope he can get his control back together.
Lombo at third base is an odd call. Especially against a team managed by Dusty Baker, who can be expected to call for the bunt much more often than is typical with someone on first. I remember him being somewhat tentative there last year, and his arm isn't great. Not an optimal defensive alignment; that's probably still be Espinosa at second and Rendon or Tracy at third. (Or Espi at short and Lombo at second, maybe.)
If Davey decides that Lombo is his 3rd baseman until Zimm returns then Rendon should go back to Harrisburg and keep playing. If Rendon is up then he should start otherwise continue with the development in the minors.
When the Nats signed LaRoche it probably doomed TyMo's opportunity as a regular with the Nats. I would have been ok going into the season with TyMo at 1st by Davie wanted the left handed bat, the defense and the veteran leadership and his thinking did make sense.
If ALR is done as Peric assumes then it will have been a mistake but I am not yet convinced that ALR is done, nor am I convinced that he's hurt; I think he's just slumping and he'l come around.
Davey said in the postgame yesterday that Lombo was going to be in the top of the batting order today. When asked if that meant Lombo would be playing second, Davey said no. Not hard to extrapolate from that that Lombo would be playing third. Ghost of Steve M didn't get the memo. Too busy running his mouth.
Hoo boy, we even have Mark making with the "Bull Durham" allusions. Here's one for y'all:
"A good friend of mine used to say, 'This is a very simple game. You throw the ball, you catch the ball, you hit the ball. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, sometimes it rains.' Think about that for a while."
Now get out there play (or watch) the game! And no lollygagging!! :-)
Mark said...
has quietly been all over the place
At least Davey is trying something. Unlike ALR who just keeps swinging the same crappy way with the same crappy results. I'm expecting our 7 th straight at home.
OK, my prediction had Espi getting benched and Lombo batting second with Werth to cleanup against LH SP, but I am still feeling good about the call. Werth is not a 2 hole hitter. He's swinging for the fences, his success has been at 5 or 6 in MLB and the wrist is healthy now, he feels his power is back and he wants to be a 30 HR guy again. Glad to see the move to the middle of the order and very glad to see some small ball at the top with Lombo maybe bunting or taking pitches for Span to run. Curly W is the cards tonight, I can feel it. :-)
Feel Wood, I got the memo. You are so transparent in your attempts to discredit me. For some reason Mark hasn't been deleting all of your nonsense.
Phillies lost. Too sad.
SonnyG - I guarantee two things
1. If Peric is right this whole place will know about it quickly
2. If Peric is wrong - it won't get mentioned
Losing sucks and the fighting here just ruins it even more.
Wonk: I appreciate your persistence -
I didn't think Lombo had the arm for for third. I'm not liking this. I'm expecting that Espinosa will be replaced by Lombo at second during the game, and Chad Tracy subbed at third. Tracy looks like he is out of shape. Any news on Zimmerman?
Rizzo on MLB. The man never loses his swagger. Team needs some of it. When you listen to him, you believe him. I would probably buy a used car from him.
Gonat said...
Losing sucks and the fighting here just ruins it even more.
Well put. Winning cures a lot of ailments!
I'd rather have Peric then the people that come on here that hate the Nats. Sure, he isn't right much of the time but I like his passion.
By the way, what's with the love affair with Tracy? What has he shown? Lombo should be at second and Rendon needs to stay at third. Me thinks Espinosa is making a real stink. They need to send him down ASAP, or the team is going to come apart.
Later, I have a ballgame to get to! Go Gio!
Don: I am with you on your prediction! Like others, I am worried about Lombo's ability to handle 3rd but this also gives Rendon a chance to sit in the dugout, maybe ask Zimm what he is seeing as the game progesses and learn a little more. I feel pretty certain that Rendon will be back in the lineup soon. This is a game of ups and downs and no doubt we are down right now. Gonat is correct, when things start getting better we will just be arguing over a double switch here or there or leaving a pitcher in a litte too long. Baseball is a great game to dissect, but we are now cutting way too deep.
Go Nats!!
Have fun gonat! I can't wait till Saturday! Maybe by then we will be riding a winning streak!
Amazing how Davey refuses to sit Espinosa. Since returning from injury on April 20, he is 2 for 18 with 1 extra base hit and no walks.
DJB- you think Lombo has no arm because for some reason the people on this post have convinced you of it. He can get the ball to the other bases. He is not Ankiel. You don't have to break the first baseman's hand to make the play. It 's not that far- he is a major leaguer. In a slump like this, would they really put him there if he could not make the throw? I am more worried about sticking someone at the hot corner who is not trained when the defense has bee so awful and it's Gio , who gets the vapors when something goes wrong. I hope he has his head on straight today. Gio that is. All the crap said about Zim, don't we miss him now?
baseballswami said...
Rizzo on MLB. The man never loses his swagger. Team needs some of it. When you listen to him, you believe him. I would probably buy a used car from him.
The good part is that lots of other GM's would, too!
Remember that thread a few days back about how Riggs picked the wrong man to play chicken with! ;-)
DJB said...
...I'm not liking this.
Yep -- although we did hear you the first 100 times.
sjm308 said...
Wonk: I appreciate your persistence -
Thanks!
I will continue to do my best to:
a) love it when the Nats win
b) attempt to bring logic and fun (sometimes mututally exclusive ;-) to the comments here; and
c) not let losses or bad play get me down (after all, it's a win-win situation for a fan when: wins get you up, and you shrug off losses. I've been in the DC area long enough to know the real pain of decades without baseball -- having a team of our own (bonus: in the "real" league that don't have no stinking DH) -- so that everything the Nats do (presuming they are acting like mentches) is icing on the cake for me)
The Royals just exploded on the Tigers in the 10th inning with 5 runs. 2 of my favorite players Alex Gordon and Lorenzo Cain coming up big for the Royals. Gordon with a Grand Slam.
This team with that starting pitching could be for real.
A DC Wonk said...
Winning cures a lot of ailments!
It also has the benefit of driving away most of the LoD whining or nasty ninnies.
With peric, you can always scroll past, but the LoD just takes dumps all over the game threads and makes them entirely unreadable and pointless.
I am simply hoping they can play a competitive game in which they show they can come back if they fall behind, which they haven't done since last Saturday against the Mets and bad pitchers.
Good news from the twitter verse. Nine guys came in early for extra BP. Ramos could be back Monday. Zim. A couple days behind him. So apparently Danny is playing because it is his birthday. !!! So, what is he? Seven? Watch the pre- game show for a Drake interview.
Fun fact of the day:
- The Phillies hit just their first home run against lefty pitching all year yesterday
- Jordany Valdespin's a walk-off grand slam against a five-man infield was the second time that happened this week: Matt Wieters also hit a walk-off slam against a five-man infield.
- Joey Votto has walked a major-league-leading 26 times this season (more than any two Nats combined). (Choo has walked 14 times, more than any Nat)
Peric said
"He needs to go on the DL just like 2 years ago when he helped cost Riggleman his job ..."
I'm assuming you are talking about LaRoche, is that correct? If so how do you think he helped cost Riggleman his job? I thought Riggleman's loss (resignation) of job was all about him and Rizzo, no one else.
"I guess Davey wants to lose eight in a row"
"Davey doesn't seem to be trying for the world series he may be trying to get fired though?"
"He got a nice rest and recovered nicely and had a great year" (he got surgery)
keen baseball insight right there mister
Pilchard said...
Amazing how Davey refuses to sit Espinosa. Since returning from injury on April 20, he is 2 for 18 with 1 extra base hit and no walks.
April 25, 2013 4:39 PM
Davey was a 2nd baseman who aspired to be a MLB shortstop with power. He sees a lot of Danny in himself. I think that's where it all starts. He doesn't want to bring in the Bobby Grich.
I'm not into boom & bust type of players. Give me steady as you go players that you can rely on with consistency.
Wonk -- at least it wasn't the five man infields that came back to bite the losing teams.
But I wish you hadn't given us that stat about Reds and walks. Especially not with Gio starting tonight. He needs to do some "damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!" style attacking.
Steady Eddie wrote:
but the LoD just takes dumps all over the game threads and makes them entirely unreadable and pointless.
Yep. I avoid game threads now. Too bad. (I did get involved in one -- it was because I was working on my computer (well, a combination of working, watching game day, and commenting on the game thread) -- and, luckily for me, that was a game where the Nats won, so the LoD was fairly quiet.
I thought that Jayson Werth had something to do with Riggs being out of favor behind the scenes. Anyone remember that?
baseballswami said...
So apparently Danny is playing because it is his birthday. !!! So, what is he? Seven? Watch the pre- game show for a Drake interview.
I wanted to "bold" that because that may be the funniest thing I have read all day!
I don't entirely know why everyone's down on Espinosa the most, to be honest. Over the last few games, everyone not named Bryce Harper is slumping. Can't sit everyone. Is it just that people really like Lombo?
Evidently he's the designated whipping boy. There's at least one every season.
baseballswami said...
I thought that Jayson Werth had something to do with Riggs being out of favor behind the scenes. Anyone remember that?
Yes, that has always been the thoughts when you read Jayson's own quotes. They didn't like each other much but then again neither did Sosa and Riggleman.
Apparently Davey actually said it out loud. Manager's decisions are just so complex.
EmDash said...
I don't entirely know why everyone's down on Espinosa the most, to be honest. Over the last few games, everyone not named Bryce Harper is slumping. Can't sit everyone. Is it just that people really like Lombo?
April 25, 2013 4:54 PM
The people that have jumped on him lately I think just want to bash him as someone they can pick on since RZim is on the DL so yes, they need a whipping boy.
Me, I've questioned Danny's abilities pretty much since the end of 2011. I see the game much differently as the best 25 go North and the best 8 + the pitcher get to start.
In Danny's defense, I'm sure he is trying as hard as he can.
EmDash- not just the whipping boy. Lots of attitude type things along the way and his Teflon status with Davey. Seems like he thinks he already knows everything. Added to that his supposed high ceiling and potential that doesn't seem to go anywhere. Very frustrating player.
He can be frustrating, but he's still been pretty valuable to the team so far in terms of defense at least, and as much as the team's struggled at that I think it's worth taking into consideration.
On another note, Rizzo's option for 2014 has, not surprisingly, been picked up.
his Teflon status with Davey.
If I remember right: Last year Davey told Ian and Desi to chill out, that they were the starters, and he'd back them. Davey did that because he saw high ceilings in both of them. (Note: many hear hated Desi, and were hoping Ian would play SS and Lombo 2b).
Davey was right about Desi. He blossomed to be an all star. This year may be the make-or-break year for Espi.
No wonder Rizzo had swagger.
I believe Danny could be 0 for 80 and still be in the line up.
I feel a big win tonight. Final score Nats 9 Reds 2.
Take it to the bank.
baseballswami, still unfair for people to attack him personally. Around here a year ago I think he was one of the most highly regarded players and it was Desi who was hated.
There's only one way to turn around the sentiment and that is play well.
Statistically Lombo is better right now. I say play the hot hand and that goes for 1st base also.
Desmond has got some work to do on both parts of game so far this season. The offense should come around when it warms up, but kicking the ball all over the yard needs to stop pronto.
I like this lineup. Lots of speed and OBP ahead of ALR. They should make Arroyo throw a lot of pitches. Lombo at 3B is not ideal but he can play the position. All comes down to whethert Gio can limit the walks. Tough task against this club.
I am home tonight and I am going to watch the entire game no matter what happens.and I am going to enjoy it. It's baseball season, it's the Nats. Gio, please be gentle with me.
Nats 9 Reds 2. Tomorrow Nats 4 Reds ,1.
Gio 7 IP 4 HITS 1 ER. 2 BB 8 K
Give Lombo a shot over there. All you people pimping Rendon since Zimm made an error. Where are you now. Rendon is a joke. It's not working. You can argue all day about Espinoza Lombo Tracy... Bottom line is the only non pitcher earning his check is Bryce. Until the big money guys produce the losses will keep piling up.
Rendon just played his fourth career game. He hasn't been off to a great start, but no one can judge much of anything by four games.
With that said, he does seem a little overwhelmed and giving him a day off might be to his benefit. But Lombo at third doesn't seem to be the answer, to me. He's a perfectly fine player, but has less feel for the position. I hope I'm wrong about that, though, and he does well.
ALR. He's your scapegoat. He gets two or three timely hits everybody would be smiling.
I'd watch the game, but it will be the same ol' same ol'. Bats going thud, and Gio having tantrums when things don't go well, as most likely they won't. Nope. I'm watching the Red Sox. At least they hit the baseball.
Well, ok. I'll look in every now and then!
Lombo played some 3B when Ryan went on the DL last year, he was acceptable. Didn't boot the ball that I can remember. So good Luck Lombo!
Happy Birthdy Espi, may you not grip the bat so tight today.
GO GIO!!!! GYFNG!!!
Oh and I can't wait to see Drake on Nats Xtra. Hopefully he has had a talk with Dad
Agreed on the personal attacks. And the year before that it was Werth.
Ghost Of Steve M. said...
baseballswami, still unfair for people to attack him personally. Around here a year ago I think he was one of the most highly regarded players and it was Desi who was hated.
There's only one way to turn around the sentiment and that is play well.
Statistically Lombo is better right now. I say play the hot hand and that goes for 1st base also.
April 25, 2013 5:19 PM
Just to be clear -- it was not me attacking personally. I am ok with trying new things, but I would rather see a change for a whole series, rather than one game at a time. It will soon be May, Ramos and Zim will be back, luck will change. Go Gio! I am watching you!!! GYFNG!!!!!
Does anyone remember ALR's reputation as a dlow starter? Last year was an exception.
Drake busting on Dad now. Love that kid
With Rendon sitting, the Nats have only two guys in the lineup hitting under .200 - LaRoche and Espinosa. They had 4 under .200 guys in the lineup the last two games.
Gio's hitting .400.
I wish Harper had his present numbers and was the worst hitter on the team That would be a real fun team to watch
Great interview with Drake. Atta way, kid!
Hey Rabbit just peaked in and Sox have 4 already. Only 1 double the rest singles
All you people pimping Rendon since Zimm made an error. Where are you now. Rendon is a joke.
I'm sure glad _you_ aren't the GM. He's clearly one of the best prospects we have. That's no joke, and he's no joke. He might be not quite ready for prime time, but, otoh, almost no one else hit during the Card series either.
Mike Trout played 40 games his first year and batted .220. Was he a joke?
(and for that matter -- Bryce Harper was hitting .213 after his first 13 games/55 AB with the Nats last year)
Ah.. a nice 1-2-3 for Gio...
Anyone else recall how the Nats were hitting at this point last season?
After 21 games, they had scored 74 runs, which put them 11th in the NL. Their pitching was winning games, as they were tied for 1st in the league, having given up only 57 runs.
This year, they're actually 10th in the NL, with 76 runs scored (call it a wash), but they're 11th in pitching (95 runs allowed).
It does seem that nothing is falling in and everything goes straight to a defender. That has got to even out.
baseballswami said...
It does seem that nothing is falling in and everything goes straight to a defender. That has got to even out.
Gotta check the team BABIP. BRB.
Okay, Nats BABIP is .273 - 13th in the NL, just ahead of the Marlins and Cubs at .272 and .269.
update us Candide.
League average is .293; Reds are .309.
while Jay Bruce was batting could see Rizzo sitting and taking notes
Happy Birthday Danny!!!!
Hope Gio slows pitch count down. 33 to 6 batters. 5.5 per batter.
Peric, knock it off.
Statistically Lombo is better right now. I say play the hot hand and that goes for 1st base also..
Agreed, but its Span that should go ... he's the guy who took Lombo's spot in the batting order because Lombo doesn't walk.
good hustle Span
Well, nice job by Desi, Espy, and Span.
baseballswami said...
It does seem that nothing is falling in and everything goes straight to a defender. That has got to even out.
Maybe it's even-ing out tonight.
Hey peric -- stop getting so personal. No need. You only demean yourself when you make posts like that.
And, fwiw, you didn't even answer my question.
Ok- the stupid pitch count thing again. So what????? No wonder these guys are all tied up on knots. Can they just get the batter out however they need to without everyone doing the math on how many innings he can go at that rate??? Every inning is different, and we have a bullpen. 16 per inning is not the end if the world. Stop it!!!
You know -- Davey said that Danny was playing because it was his birthday.
I wonder if the real reason was that Danny is, lifetime, 4-for-8 against Arroyo.
(And, now: 5-for-9)
Nice to see the Nats up early against a good team. Lets keep this up.
That's one way to get around BABIP--don't hit it in play!
Gio looks like he's pitching pissed off. I like that in a man.
Gio's problem all year has been, among other things control issues.
Not tonight. He really looks sharp. His curve is breaking well, and his fastball is back up to 94. He's looking good!
725 from Henry Aaron.
That's team leadership for Werth--take a baseball in the back to get LaRoche's back.
Maybe this is what "Luck always changes" looks like today.
I know Werth gets "Werewolves of London," but Bryce Harper's hair is perfect.
Anyone else recall how the Nats were hitting at this point last season?
Yeah, but those season totals obscure a lot--the Nats have a few high scoring games this season, but many more low or no scoring games. This year, the Nats have been shut out 4 times, vs 0 times thru 21 games last season.
Tonight's looking a lot better so far.
Dang... am I gonna have to stop hating Espinosa?
I was about to say, this is shaping up as a good at-bat for Danny.
Uhhh, duh.
Ahem.. Happy Birthday DANNY!!!
Ahem.Excuse me! Happy Birthday Espt!
Espy.
A DC Wonk said...
You know -- Davey said that Danny was playing because it was his birthday.
I wonder if the real reason was that Danny is, lifetime, 4-for-8 against Arroyo.
(And, now: 5-for-9)
And now: 6-for-9 ;-) !!
MicheleS, Put me up for one on me!
Well, lookit you, Danny Espinosa! :)
warm up the vocal cords MichelleS...
Don't let up!
2/3 to my prediction. Remember I predicted 2 hours ago 9-2.
warm up the vocal cords MichelleS...
Mick, seriously? Hey, Gio has a six-run lead early--what could go wrong?
That's on you.
Well- ok Danny. Welcome back. I take back almost everything I said about you. :). This hitting thing is kind of fun . Here I thought I would be watching with clenched fists. Would it be awful to just whisper -- don't blow it.
Mick obviously doesn't believe in jinxes.
Hey, Gio has a six-run lead early--what could go wrong?
Groan! (That's just what I mentioned to my Wonkling (my 18-yo-daughter who's watching with me))
Well, that's the thing, I'm sure he does, Candide. That's why he should have known better. That was totally his fault. Because what we put in here matters. Why would Davey read it otherwise?
You know-- Bryce just hits the ball so very, very hard.
You know-- Bryce just hits the ball so very, very hard.
SEE?? THAT's how it done!
Well played, Swami.
If the Nats blow it, do we suspend mick until the All-Star Game? Put him in NI Jail?
OK, I might owe Mick an apology here. I took him to be referring to Michele's trademarked victory cheer, which was obviously premature. Scrolling up, I realize she posted happy birthday wishes, and Mick was probably just getting the Happy Birthday ready.
The Sofa regrets the error.
Good pitching and good hitting. See, this game really isn't all that complicated.
Mick.. we can sing happy birthday to Danny when Nats Xtra is on.
In four starts before this game, Arroyo had a WHIP of 0.964 (best of any starter on the Reds), and had allowed only 2 HR's.
Candide said...
Good pitching and good hitting. See, this game really isn't all that complicated.
And a couple of breaks. ;-)
FP was musing (wishing) that Span's 90-foot hit was "the hit that turned the season around". Bob C was hoping we can say that in November.
Nats need to step back on the gas pedal! Desi and Espi looked like they were in a hurry to get to a birthday party!
Lombo looked pretty good on that play from 3b.
Wonk... would agre.. Last play.. Lombo is doing just fine at 3b...
Need a few more runs here. Don't like this pattern of scoring a bunch early and taking the rest of the night off after the third inning.
Lombo has been pleasantly terrific at third. A little disappointing at the plate though.Getting Span in would have been nice after Denard's steal, and getting to third.
What the heck is up with Lombo hitting in the air, though. Not his forte at all. Needs to go back to his old approach. All those new muscles are flexing. Looks just fine at third, though. And truly an asset to this team. I think he could play anywhere. Just not everyday at second base, right? We need to add on some runs. No lead is enough.
Lombodarzzi has been just fine at third base tonight. Gio is humming and Espi's bat has come alive for the night. Bryce keeps on being Bryce and that is a good thing. Go Nats!
Sec. 3, My House by the side of the road Sofa and Candide
I have no doubt Nats got this and if I am wrong.... well, oh boy, lol
Now.... THAT'S my Gio!!!
I think the world has begun to turn, once again.....
Does Gio have a perfect game -- except for that one pitch to Votta -- so far?
ok, my bad, I jinxed him
14:27 left in the third period, Caps down 1-0. FWIW, and Mark's show getting started on time.
nope. wonk he walked a guy earlier. Also walked one just now
Like I said, he looks like he's pitching pissed off. And that's a good thing.
Yep -- you're right Michele.
OK -- Gio's thrown 112 pitches. You're the manager: who pitches the 9th?
Gio
Another strong inning from Gio who gave up a walk to Mesoraco, but got out of the [8th] inning with the game still scoreless.
What??
......unless of course he says he has had enough.
Soriano needs the work. I bring him in. Maybe if it were a shutout, but probably not even then, really.
Chase!! Thanks for ignoring the Votto Home Run.
Ian - TOOTBLAN! OY.
Music to my ears.
Desmond got picked off, sure, but there was nothing like a tag there. Bad call.
The umpires 100% miss at least 1 call every, single major league game. It must be in there contract or something.
their*
SHARK ATTACK!!!
Gotta give Ian credit on the pickoff for a very acrobatic dive back in. He was safe.
Good - add a few extra runs.
Span... with a triple.. dude has some serious wheels
OK, we tuck for this, right?
Right.
Ovechkin ties it 1-1, 6:30 to go in regs.
Sori's on the mound, New Baby - Rafy JR.. Tuck in people
UNTUCK!!! WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! Happy Birthday Danny!!
Now we're untucked again.
A curly W, thank God!
woohoo (trying not to overdo it...)
:)
Not like they beat Cy Young out there, but a desperately needed W. Time to get JZimm some runs and make it 2 in a row.
p.s. New interview girl gets the Gatorade shower.
About time (☞ grumpy)
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
er...um...oops?
Sorry about that, Unk. :-)
UnkyD said...
woohoo (trying not to overdo it...)
April 25, 2013 9:32 PM
Keep on truckin', boys.
Now that's more like it.
I was getting tired of sending reassuring emails to my dad :-)
Not just a win, but a Big 1-hitter win!
Save, heck. You're darn right I tucked.
One hitter, 8 runs. Oh, yeah. And 9:30? We get to sleep, too? Is it everyone's birthday?
You say it's your birthday.
It's my birthday, too, yeah.
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