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USA Today Sports Images Evan Gattis and Craig Kimbrel celebrate the Braves' come-from-behind win. |
Hitting highlight: It seems like we're running out of superlatives to describe Harper. But every night, the kid does something that makes you stop and shake your head in disbelief. This time, it was a first-inning homer that left the yard in about .15 seconds. Julio Teheran tried to sneak a fastball past the outside corner, but Harper simply went out there and got it and drilled the ball on a line to left field. It might never have risen more than 25 feet off the ground, clearing the fence with room to spare. That was Harper's fifth homer in 10 games this season, and every one of them has been impressive in its own right.
Pitching highlight: He's technically the Nationals' "No. 5 starter," but nothing about Detwiler's performance so far this season suggests he's a bottom-of-the-rotation guy. The left-hander has been brilliant, going 12 2/3 innings before finally allowing his first earned run of 2013 on Chris Johnson's solo homer in the seventh. Maybe most impressive, Detwiler did it tonight throwing almost nothing but fastballs. His command of that pitch was so good, he didn't really need to break out any of his off-speed stuff. Those fastballs were regularly in the low-to-mid 90s, topping out several times at 95 mph. He had the Braves' hitters off-balance and taking bad swings all night and never really got himself into serious trouble. If that's what the Nationals can expect all season out of their "No. 5 starter," watch out.
Key stat: Zimmerman played in his 1,000th game with the Nationals tonight, far and away the most in club history. Next on the list: Cristian Guzman, with 550 games played in a Nats uniform.
Up next: The marquee pitching matchup of the weekend comes Saturday afternoon, when Stephen Strasburg and Tim Hudson go head-to-head. First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 p.m., with the game televised by Fox.
102 comments:
rats
that game reeked of game 5. throw f'ing strikes! no defense for walks. inexcusable.
Bullpen implodes news at 11 as the guys on the MidAtlantic sports report chuckle with glee. O-R-I-H-O-L-E-S.
Nats relievers just can't seem to get it done with any degree of consistancy so far this year. Of course RZim's bad decision didn't help. To me it comes back to the relievers. Det deserved a win tonight
and the bullpen failed him.
Just win the series boys, just win the series.
bit disheartening.
We deserved to lose. Taking out Det with ONLY 90 pitches and bringing in relievers who refused to not walk batter you are asking to lose.
Third bsseman throws ball awsy for the run that ties it up. no way there was an out at second
rwo hits last 8 innings batters quit.
But m formula works again. Harper 2 hits 7-0. 1 hit 0-2. 0 hits 0-1.
Methinks its a good idea to continue working with Henry and continue honing those arms in AAA. More than one aren't half bad.
Damn! nothing else to say - so disappointed in Clippard and Storen. Mark trying to stay positive but this one hurt. Goodnight all. I pity Gonat and others if you had to fend off the LOD. Who the hell is Ramiro Pena? Ouch.
Off to the park early tomorrow - guessing the sun will come up but again, damn!
Christian Garcia coming back will be huge for us.
Harper hits and with power.
That's pretty much the offense except for Span getting on at this juncture.
Every game is going to be like this. This is a team that features pitching, defense and athleticism first. Not big offense.
Some relievers go for the jugular. Some go for the capillaries.
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 anamolie, 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.
Also, our 2-3-4 going down in order brought back memories of game 5 as well. I expected more fight after going down 6-4. that was not a good sign or an endiing
Christian Garcia coming back will be huge for us.
They will probably convert him into a starter. They've got guys in AAA who are going to get the call first. They aren't half bad.
This bullpen is a mess. No lead is safe anymore. It's one thing to,get beat by hits but walks. Ughhhhhhh. And Ryan Zimm c'mon with this guy. Just hold the ball. No way this team wins the division like this
Other than Mattheus do we have no lefties in the pen?
Please do not blame Davey for taking Det out after 7, my goodness, the manager expects his bullpen to hold a 3 run lead at HOME!
And Mick? The Braves are now 9 and 1?
I know its early but that's called making a statement.
He went to bullpen 1 inning too soon.
Bullpen is being rediculous in walking so many.
I bet bull pen has more walks then Starters. I might check.
Mattheus is not a lefty.
The Nats have one lefty in the bullpen: Zach Duke.
The lefties are down in AAA (or still in X-ST) right now.
I just knew that everyone will be referencing to game 5. I don't think that will ever get old.
When it happens that we blown 3 saves alreay. I will blame Davey.
Peric, Nats need to bring up some guys, their BP problems could be solved
Secret W--Mattheus is right handed. Duke is left.
Game 5 same problems. Relievers walking people. Get a coac that demands no walks from relievers.
As my son said all Dets fault. Doesnt give up homer in 7thDavey might have kept him in.
New twist Det's fault.
Do the same posters praise Davey for managing wins as much as they are at his throat for our bullpen not getting the job done?
Peric, Nats need to bring up some guys, their BP problems could be solved
No, they need to dominate in AAA (so far that is what is in fact happening) first. Then they get called probably in June.
They aren't going to release Henry he's got too much talent and he is trying very hard to improve. Do you option Storen? Let him work out his kinks in AAA? That's what I was thinking in spring training. And Clippard's arm may be on its last legs ...
But its still early not even 40 games yet ... by then we should be able to get a pretty good picture about this team and how good it is.
I bet Cat is going to have some harsh words with some of the boys tonight.
Peric
I agree with you and when I said bring guys up, I meant in June. You are spot on
Do the same posters praise Davey for managing wins as much as they are at his throat for our bullpen not getting the job done?
I think Davey might have trusted Drew too much by bringing him back out again ... I half expected Stammen ... but what did he do wrong? His bullpen clearly is not up to the task yet.
Not Daveys fault. Bullpen just stinks right now. Hopefully it improves but I am very Leary. Disappointed in Zimms decision making. Those kind of mistakes should not be made by a veteran
I have a bigger issue with Clip than Storen. That was Stammen's first bad outing. Peric is right in that Clip may be on his last legs
Starters have pitched about 60% of innings.
starters 13 walks
relievers 14 walks.
Davey's loss.....shoulda left Det in.....period
That's a rough one. The bullpen problem for me probably comes down to overuse - there've been 32 innings now that have mostly been divided among 5 guys, with Soriano confined to save situations only, Duke a mop-up guy and Rodriguez not reliable. We need a sixth guy that can share some of the load.
Hopefully now that the rotation's in its third go-round, starters will be allowed to go longer if they're in good shape on their pitch count. Zimmermann and Detwiler both could've done another inning in their second outings, for sure.
Maybe Davey should've left Det in, but you have to be able to count Clippard and Storen to get 2 outs, up by 3. It's not Davey's fault we lost.
FP had great points about Storen. Gotta have faith in your change-up and 2 seamer when chips are down. He gets in a bind and just throws as hard as he can. He missed the glove consistently up in the zone. I am in favor of getting rid of Clippard. I think we have gotten all we are gonna get out of him. Trade him. Det was just tremendous
At least 4 people were directly responsible for loss not including Davey.
Only a couple played well enough to win.
You need to stop worrying about somebody hurting their arm. They get paid a lot of money to pitch once every 5 days. Let em frickin pitch!! Yes Proctor.....this is Daveys fault. That old coot Manuel would of just nodded off on the bench and let his players win it. You don't always have to micromanage everything
No reliever under 3.00
3 starters under 2.10
No doubt he weakness of team so far.
I am really tired of the Davey can do no wrong stuff. Of course he can be wrong. JZ did not need to come out and neither did Det. Stras should have be out but wasn't.Pen is struggling. But four runs probably won't beat the Barves , either. Stopped scoring very early. This really did feel like that late loss to the Barves last July- even a Friday night. Good talent on this team, but pitching management is off kilter. Defense a little random when the game starts moving fast. I suppose those of us with concerns will be branded legion of doom now. Let's see how they respond tomorrow- team AND coaching staff. Go Nats! We've got them right where we want them. Place should be rocking tomorrow.
Big Cat and I were texting through game and I told him when Det pulled, Davey was making a mistake as relieers blew it for Det Saturday and would do it again today, and did.
Braves bullpen had no problems throwing strikes.
Game 5 loss very similar to this.
I feel so badly for Det- he does not deserve this.
Clip is simply done. Det should have stayed in an extra inning given the use of the bullpen in the white sox series. I'm a little irritated by the MASN crew making excuses for the repetitive chokes of Clip and Storen. Now we know why we got Soriano. This team has major holes, and I'm tired of Ray Knight and F.P. blowing sunshine. Atlanta is simply a more complete team. We knew Clip was about out last year and Storen was a head case. We let Burnett go. Big mistakes that will cost us this season. I honestly don't know what the Nats can do. A devastating loss.
Look. Not all of us like Davey. But that's ok, let people have their opinions. I love this team...but Davet drives me nuts with his decisions. I love the skns, but not Shani. I don't know why people here get upset if you are in the Davey fan club...that's ridiculous.
Peric! U coming around on Span? And why can't our line up be potent? I love every hitter with exception of Danny. Rather see lombo. And frankly ALR worries me, rather see a power bat of Ty mo at first.
"not" in the Davey fan club.
Maybe Davey should've left Det in, but you have to be able to count Clippard and Storen to get 2 outs, up by 3. It's not Davey's fault we lost.
People on this site/blog seem to forget one very vital thing. Most of the Nats starters have barely completed (if that) an entire season as a starter. Zim's first was last year. Detwiler was moved back to the bullpen for Wang. Stras got shut down. Gio is the only one who has three full seasons of starting coming from the A's. Haren is the guy with lots of experience but his arm, like Clip's, may be on its last legs. After that its Stammen and Duke.
The Braves have experience in Hudson, Medlen, Maholm. Minor has a full season's experience as a starter like Zimmermann. Tehran is just starting out.
The Nats have a lot more talent ... but a lot less experience.
Strasburg isn't Rocket Clemens yet. Gio isn't David Wells yet, JZimmnn isn't Mike Mussina yet, and Det isn't Curt Shilling yet. Its just my opinion but I really think y'all need to stop expecting them to be!
At the very least, the team gets it. And I think they'll improve:
"Clippard on 'pen struggles: "We need to do better." Zimmerman noted defense & pitching were issues in playoffs, said #Nats need to improve"
I could never play baseball even if I had the talent as I take losses to hard. At my job I expect perfection and couldn't tollerate those around who didn't expect the same. (I wish I could spell perfectly which of course I can't).
I won't be able to sleep for hours replaying the walks and figuring out why the relievers couldn't throw strikes.
I don't think Clip is done - 4 of his outings have been great, 2 bad. That could be a problem of overuse. And Storen's not a head case; before tonight he was one of the more reliable relievers and I think many here were pushing for him to be the closer over Soriano over the last few days.
I still think our bullpen has a lot of talent, though they're not getting off to the best start. Nailing down roles, getting more out of the starters, and having at least six guys to spread work around to are the keys.
Ray Knight is a joke. He has the most giant man crush on Davey ever. He has no ability to be objective, ever. However-- after checking twitter and several other sites tonight, think about this-- the Dodgers expensive new pitcher got hurt in his second start and is having surgery, Reyes ankle, Stanton out, Morse broken finger. Dropping like flies. No Nat got injured tonight that I know of. Does that mean they are playing it safe or just lucky so far? Whatever- they should all be back on the field tomorrow. When does Soriano leave the team? Next week? HRod to close ?
And no I am not in the Davey can do no wrong club. I still maintain he needs to put Tyler Moore in the lineup. NOW. Not 2.5 months or more from now. I realize that is also Rizzo's decision but in the end he makes out the lineup card.
I contend that this could improve the XBH capability of this lineup by as much as 25%.
Ray Knight is a joke. He has the most giant man crush on Davey ever.
If it weren't for Davey he wouldn't even be there. Davey made him his hitting coach and he eventually replaced Davey as the manager with the Reds. Without that would we even have this guy with Johnny? Well maybe since Bowden was the Red's GM and Knight an ex-Red ... still ...
Again we are not talk 115 pitches, we are talking 90. He should 1 more inning.
On the other hand I am totallt clueless the relievers problem. Only 2 have ERA in 3s. The rest 6 and above. We are lucky to be 7-3 with relieving like that. Davey keeps saying No problem. I believe that is my concern if not changed it is a BIG PROBLEM.
Tomorrow is another day, as Scarlett used to say.
If you want some cheer, MLBTR linked to a blogger's interview with big Alex Meyer. He had nice things to say about the Nats organization.
With Minnesota's AA New Britain squad playing Harrisburg, he said he had a fun lunch this week with his old pals Rendon, Souza and Karns.
Not enough mention to the fact the hitters quit. 6 hits in 2 innings and 2 last 8 innings.
All right Strass....need a CG tomorrow
Rizzo will find a way to get Meyer back ... just like Cole.
Davey keeps saying No problem. I believe that is my concern if not changed it is a BIG PROBLEM.
Davey never says that ... he says he's not worried. Meaning, yeah, there's problems but there's still time to iron them out. When he thinks he has a problem that isn't getting resolved he usually says as much.
I don't honestly see a solution to the bullpen. Clippard is a soft-tosser who plays up in the zone. Storen's first attempt at a save this year and he blows it, just like Game 5. He IS a head case. I don't know the answer. No one on the farm that will really work, with the exception of Garcia, who is injured. This season could be problematic. I think Atlanta takes the division and we fight for WC. Actually, Rizzo's moves don't look so good.
Guys, I know the sky is falling but, we are 7-3 and on pace for 113 wins. We're coming off a sweep of a pretty decent team. We have issues we need to work through, but I'm confident we'll get there.
Clippard is throwing 93 and he's a soft tosser?
Yes, he is, if all he has is a straight fastball and meatball change-up. Very little movement at all.
All 5 walks by relievets were involved in creating runs to lose the game.
The sky is not falling, but I hate giving way wins because of walks. If they all get hits though I hate that too, I hate that less.
I just never unerstood why I hate losing more than the players. Always have, probably always will.
No one on the farm that will really work, with the exception of Garcia, who is injured.
Erik Davis.
F. Abad.
JC Romero.
J. Accardo.
in X-ST they've got:
Cole Kimball.
Bill Bray.
Sean West.
They're not household names perhaps but its not a bad depth chart behind the bullpen.
Garcia isn't on it. He's still rehabbing and they may still convert him to a starter. Then again, maybe not. He has been injured fairly consistently throughout his career. He's not someone you can really rely on after 2 TJ surgeries.
If Davey doesnt plan to use Dukes or HROD then cut them and put in players you will use.
Duke is fine in his role. He basically replaces Gorzo. The guy we're really missing IMO is Sean Burnett.
I do like what Det said. He was ready for another inning.The bullpen must hate Det as he left with a 4 run and 3 run leads.
Dukes used 1 times other way over used. Then the plan is the problem.
5 of 7 relievers over 6 ERA. 3 starters under 2.10
As a starters I would hate to have depend on the bullpen presently.
bullpen 78 pitches in 3 innings. They simple dont understand that late inning walks are usualky game changers.
McCatty start working with these guys in understanding that.
That's absurd. Obviously, they realize late inning walks are game changers. These guys are professionals, not stupid. If it were as simple as letting them know, don't you think it'd be fixed by now? It's not like they're choosing to throw balls.
Folks - Nats were one less gust of wind short of victory tonight - don't forget Heyward's weak foul pop that the April wind pushed just out of Laroche's reach - would've ended the game with a 4-2 win. Sky is not falling, but they are 0-5 last 5 vs. Braves and have blown, now, their 6th 4+ run lead vs. Braves since May 2011. Need to get over that hump.
A lot of today was bad luck, bad decision (Zim), bats taking the game off after the 2nd, and the 8th-9th inning walks from Clip & Store.
Nats will be ok. They are 7-3 and not even playing that well. And this is the give-back for the one they stole in Cincy....total luck-job win, that one. Opposite tonight.
Braves are white-hot now, I'd rather my team be that way in mid-September into October.
Just saying giving team free runners is asking for disaster. Bullpen has walked more people then starters in less innings. Notice Braves bullpen waljrd 0 they got the memo.
I expect to win at lesst 100. I dont expect to lose because relievers cant throw strikes.
Your right about the wind. Then Storen couldn't find the strike zone.
Honestly, I think eventually you will need to remake the whole bullpen around Soriano. Clippard and Storen will be gone. Can you imagine him closing a playoff game again? Really? Keep Mattheus and Stammen, and start building arms.
I know thirdbase is tge hot corner, but Zim just shocked me. Play was not even close at second.
Knight used to get on Desi's case for not putting ball in his pocker, but let Zim slide. 4-3 bases loaded at least would keep the lead.
Storen and Clippard dont have to go they just need to quit walking people.
Kershaw who I love is pissed because he walked a guy. That is what I like someone I can obviously can tell who cares
Got to love Rick Honeycutt. He went out to reliever. Said"Quit pitching balls." Reliever said I am trying Honeycutt said, I didn't say try, I said do it." It didnt work. Face 2 walked each with bases loaded.
Mattingly shook his head said Listen."
At least they tried to coach.
Kershaw real mad as 2 bloops and walk hurt him.
I just got home from the game.It was a tough loss to take. In the 9th and 10th I had to listen to Braves fans doing the freaking chop crap in our house.Then I breezed through the comments here. Some want to cut this guy, trade that guy, others pretty much say that the manager sucks that has lead this team to respectability. And the weirdest of all, I actually have agreed with peric on quite a few points. Now, after all that, I say the sky is not falling.It's baseball. You are going to lose games through out the year, probably at least 60 of them. You don't go making wholesale changes when you're 7-3. You shake it off and go get 'em tomorrow.
DBack announcers say Dodgers will not win West as you cannot win with a bullpen that walk guys too often.
Glad to know someone agrees with me.
Off to the A's game.
I dont want to get rid of anyone, I just want them not give away the game on walks. Hit I wouldnt like, but walks you never have a chance to win. Hits you might field.
Took Hon to Natties Park tonight, got her the chicken strip/fries bucket, we go up early, all is cool...and then by the 7th she's cold and was was giving me multiple nonverbal signals that she wants to leave. Unnerstand, this girl is so innocent about baseball that she was so happy the Nats were killin' in the H column while being slightly ahead in the R column. (She equated hits with scores, and thought that runs were the times our guys ran to another base.) She's my wife of 31 years next Tuesday and I love her.
So we leave in the 7th and I'm happy. Our Pen didn't give up an earned run through the first six games of the season, or so I read. We're cool...
And then come home to find out this.
I hate playing blame games but I will say this: We paid big cash for Soriano and it's curious that he gets thrown 3 times against the weak-assed White Sox when it was clear the Braves were hot outta the gate.
But, on the other hand...EFF Game 5 of last year. If some of y'all want to dwell on it like a deceased loved one, your choice, but it ain't right. I like the way Span's playing, ALR will quietly do his thing again, and M-V-B, M-V-B! He's not gonna let us lose. He just isn't. We're fine.
One suggestion: Lombo for Espi?
GYFNG
Did any of you see the video of Storen in the dugout? he was going bezerk, throwing things and screaming. I think he cares.
that is after the fact, throw strikes during the at bats. Walking Hayward after getting ahead 0-1. Why?
The pitcher is the one who controls the game the most.
Sorry, one last post tonight. New Nats batting order:
Span
Lombo
Werth
Harper
ALR
Desi
Zim
Zook
(P) we have good hittin/buntin P's!
Lol Zim hitting 8th.
Detwiler didn't deserve to get pulled tonight. This damn baseball mentality of pulling a pitcher because of a pitch count WHEN HE'S PITCHING WELL! Geesh! Yea, let's just give these other guys a chance to lose it. And boy, did they. The bull pen didn't implode. It exploded! Blood and guts everywhere. Espinose is definately looking better. Someone mentioned his 0-4. How about the fact he is hitting the ball and giving it a chance to do something. Better than striking out, right Zim? Harper is great as always...the best player in baseball. Yea, Nats .500 this year, but they will at least be competitive. It should be fun. Ha.
Is McCarver retired yet? D'oh! Oh, wait. I'll be at the game, so it doesn't matter. Yay!
First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 p.m., with the game televised by Fox.
On a game note, I recall how nervous I used to get when Detwiler was on the bump. I'm impressed with how he has made strides and matured. Seems to have a lot more poise than he did, and get rattled a lot less. Maybe we'll be calling him "Big Game Det" one day. As for the bullpen. Well, I think it's all probably already been said (nibble nibble). Eh, let's get 'em today, boys!
So, you're not perfect, then? That's okay, nobody is (including me). :-)
At my job I expect perfection and couldn't tollerate those around who didn't expect the same. (I wish I could spell perfectly which of course I can't).
In my own life I handle losses and disappointment gracefully. When the Nats blow a lead and lose to the Bleeping Barves I am quite the sore loser. I have been shocked to see our defense make bone headed plays and shocked to see our bullpen, more than one guy on a given might, blow leads of more than one run. Gotta stop.
Swami. The late innings are just unwatchable this year. Something has to be done. It seemed like the guys are choking. Like game 5 is always in the back or their minds.
Chop chop chop!!! Remember we are 9—1 without freeman maccan and another bullpen arm venters when they Comeback is over for the nats.......oh and just wait till we start hitting RAMIRO PENA FOR PRESIDENT!!!GO BRAVES
Storen throws a fit: too immature to shine
bullpen 'implodes': well, Rizzo, weakened it what do you expect?
Zim's throwing error: what can you expect from a flawed fielder who's arm is now costing games.
Det gets pulled: what do you expect from a manager who is stupid.
So I guess technology is so behind in GA that Oscar Has to take to a Nats blog to rant. I just hope the Nats don't wrap up the division in Atlanta. I would hate for our guys to get hit with a beer bottles
There was always the knock on Davey that he cannot manage the late innings. He simply assigns the 7th, 8th, 9th to a pitcher and then swim or sink. He should ask Felipe Alou. He always knew when to yank his pitcher. Plus, he didn't address the fact that the team stopped playing after the 4 run lead. The at bats were suddenly short, the swings pathetic, so Teheran was still in the game in the sixth inning.
Well played, sir. That is all.
Secret wasian man said...
So I guess technology is so behind in GA that Oscar Has to take to a Nats blog to rant. I just hope the Nats don't wrap up the division in Atlanta. I would hate for our guys to get hit with a beer bottles
April 13, 2013 12:45 PM
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