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| Photo by USA Today |
Hitting highlight: Ryan Zimmerman had a pretty good day reaching base in each of his first three at-bats. He walked twice to begin the game, then hit a two RBI double in the fourth. The White Sox intentionally walked Bryce Harper (the first of his young career) to put two men on with two outs. Zimmerman then lofted a long fly ball over Alex Rios' head in right field to clear the bases and put the Nats up 6-3.
Pitching highlight: Ryan Mattheus put in two innings of relief with one earned run, two hits, and three strikeouts. The run was off a double by Adam Dunn, but Mattheus sped the game up and bridged the Nats to the back of their bullpen.
Key stat: Dan Haren is the 1st DC pitcher to give up 9+ hits in his 1st 2 appearances of a season since Casey Cox of the 1970 Senators. Haren allowed ten through five innings of work tonight.
Up next: Ross Detwiler takes the ball vs. Justin Upton and the 8-1 Atlanta Braves. Should be an exciting series as the Nats are 7-2 and could take over first in the division.
59 comments:
I'm glad Dan had such a good game.
Untuck that thing. [Yessir.]
Ahmmm a comparison to Casey Cox is definitely NOT a good sign. Of course it could have been Jim Hannan ... or Dick Such ...
Mattheus said Wilson Ramos called for the back to back sliders that K'd Konerko!
That took big brass balls! Mattheus said that's the 1st time in his career he has throw 2 sliders in a row.
It felt to me that Ventura didn't want to go to his bullpen and kept Axelrod in there way to long. It cost them.
Haren is a much better hitter than Casey Cox.
Dunn went 1 for 5 and raised his Batting Average.
If not for the lucky pop up bunt by Axelrod that ALR just missed, Haren's stats would look a lot different. A bit of a misleading line for him. Good effort and a little monkey off his back. Another terrific game by Span, Harper, Werth and Zimmerman.
My smaller sample size is getting bigger 7 multi hit game 7-0. 1 one hit game 0-1, 0 hit game 0-1.
Here's a big issue, Davey doesn't trust non-blowouts to Duke or Henry which is making this feel like a 5 man bullpen.
Actually, I think the comparison to Cox is pretty good.
Haren's previous season before giving up 9+ hits in his first two starts:
12-13, 4.22
Cox's previous season before giving up 9+ hits in his first two starts:
12-7, 2.88
Yeah yeah, I know, that was Cox's only good season, but still, he came into 1970 looking pretty good.
Farid @ Idaho
Hello Insiders: hope the game thread was fun!
Bet there were multiple calls for Haren's head but guess what? he gets a big win, pitches with grit and even though he gave up a bunch of hits I don't believe he walked anyone.
Davey really outmanaged Ventura in my opinion, and our guys really do wear pitchers down.
I love that he has Stamman, Duke, Henry and Drew fresh for tomorrow and I am guessing he might even sneak another inning for Clip since he threw minimal pitches. Wouldn't it be great to see Det go at least 7 tomorrow night. Wouldn't it be even better if it was a huge blowout and all of us relax for a game.
7-2 and I am sure that Rabbit is happy that our bats are on fire. Also, where is JayB? and Mick, how do you like Soriano after this series?
Go Nats!!
Just saw MicheleS on the post game show sporting the sweater.
sjm, you are correct! I tried my best to prop up Haren as the posters were stomping on him.
Gonat - I think you are correct on our bullpen. I was thinking he would close with Clip tonight but that still keeps our pen at 5. I think Duke was warming when Haren was struggling but letting Mattheus go two innings tells you alot about both Duke and Henry.
Bullpen did the job tonight but its still not as solid as I hoped it would be.
sjm, someone thought Clip would close tonight which seemed logical. That would have made sense if he could have used Duke or HRod to take an inning.
Gonat - surely you had some help during the game? Even though I refuse to go there, I thought that Seamhead and 222 posted during games as well. Anyway, I am glad you got to help Haren through those 5 innings and you should take a small part of the credit for the win!
Go Nats!
Casey Cox, now that's a name from way back. Yup, 12-7 in 1969, average pitcher, would definitely be at best 5th starter for most teams now. I remember Casey witha a lot of walks on batters
Gonat, I think it was me that mentioned that Clip might close. I wonder how many days in a row Davey will use Raffy Soriano?
UNTUCK! WOOOOOO HOOOOOO! !!
Hey Coach.... Soriano looks good this series. let's see how he does against Braves. I still think Storen may be the man to close late this season
Joe Seamhead said...
Gonat, hold down the fort. It's all yours.
April 11, 2013 8:37 PM
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sjm, I was left alone with a gun with no bullets left and only a buck knife!
Gonat... a better line is "you went to a gun fight with a knife"
Joe Seamhead said...
Gonat, I think it was me that mentioned that Clip might close. I wonder how many days in a row Davey will use Raffy Soriano?
April 11, 2013 10:47 PM
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You were spot on. Very surprising to see Davey not use Duke or HRod for an inning to get Clip to close which tells you what he thinks of them.
And yes i am a Dork
mick, it felt that way but I was already at the gun fight and holding down the fort. Even NatsJack couldn't take the negativity any more.
Wow, Haren has a long way to go. What can you say about Harper....just that he's the best player in baseball.
308, Iwas going to abandon ship over there because I felt like It was going down, but Gonat carried the ball until a couple of quality posters showed up.
I have one more thought. I am honestly not trying to poke anyone here.
Denard Span has only played 9 games here but to watch him play CF and hit leadoff in these 9 games makes me understand just what Rizzo was doing. He makes tough catches seem easy. I am not saying Harper could not have made most of those catches but he honestly glides to the ball. Maybe his arm is not a plus but if our corner outfielders can position themselves to cut off hits into the corners because of Span, we will benefit even more from him. His job as a leadoff hitter sets up the rest of this lineup. I realize he will not hit 10 homeruns this season but we have enough power 2-8 to make that a non-issue. We have Span under control for the next few years and its not an outrageous contract. I honestly do not see any negatives concerning this move at this early point in the season and I sure don't see him riding the bench as was suggested early in spring training and actually right up to the start of the year.
Gonat is our Marshall Matt Dillon, LOL
Joe, to be honest, I wanted Lannan as the #5 and was surprised the Nats went Haren but since he's here, I think we have to support him.
Haren wasn't helped by the ump but he also didn't help himself as you could see he was overthrowing his 4 seam. Why go for 91 when 88 with movement down in the zone is better. Is it a pride thing?
One thing about McCatty is he wants smart pitchers that pitch smart.
SJM.... Span is a pick up on par with Gio, Fantastic!
Gonat - I am not going to apologize for not following the game thread. I love watching and listening to the game and would just get upset with what I can only imagine is posted during a game. It is funny but I am almost laughing at times thinking about what is going on. I could easily go back right now but honestly, about a week ago I stopped reading the garbage being spewed and it has helped my baseball enjoyment. I love this site and the back and forth. Baseball is a great game to argue about and we do it well here. I am just going to have to thank you and the others for keeping that glass half full during games.
mick said...
Gonat is our Marshall Matt Dillon, LOL
April 11, 2013 10:57 PM
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LOL, I just google'd him! He looks just like my great-Aunt and she has more hair on her face I believe. She just needs one of those cowboy hats!
Are the games this weekend sold out? Are we looking at 132,000 fans this weekend!
Gonat..... I hope your great Aunt does not check this site...if so, you are toast my friend, lol
Thanks, Gonat, great job! The LOD wore me out over there last week when it seemed I was the only one over there.
Haren. W. 0 BB. 2B. 5 K. OK?
sjm308 said...
Gonat - I am not going to apologize for not following the game thread.
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I didn't ask you to.
BTW, this Steve J guy is a real treat.
Gonat - I know you didn't but I feel just a little bit guilty.
I think my son and I will go early on Saturday. I think the bobbleheads will go early. There is also a huge party at JUSTIN's pretty much all day. I think it starts at 9am and goes until night. Food trucks, beer trucks, live music to celebrate the Nationals moving into first place!!
Joe Seamhead said...
Thanks, Gonat, great job! The LOD wore me out over there last week when it seemed I was the only one over there.
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I have been at every game so far until tonight so I hadn't been posting during games.
I had tickets for tonight that I trashed.
Wait, we can't have a guy named Steve acting out here! Not acceptable.
sjm, don't. It's brutal. Now I know why guys like SteveM and others won't post in-game. It's troll city.
The Baseball Show starts at 11:10, if anybody else is interested.
sjm, I agree that Span is astounding in center field. I knew he was very highly thought of, but hadn't seen him in action. It's fantastic.
Yeah yeah, I know, that was Cox's only good season, but still, he came into 1970 looking pretty good.
So did everyone up and down the lineup and rotation! A lot of regression after that year then the ignominious trade for Denny McDick and the return of Curt Flood who probably regressed the most ... Curt Flood was probably better than Denard Span in his prime with the Cards but ...
I turn on the Baseball Show and smacked with ORIOLES. WTF???? Turning back to MLB Network.
All I can say its an ill and perhaps unlucky wind that reminds us of the old expansion team ...
Haren. W. No BBs. 2B. OK?
And if there's one thing about Haren he doesn't walk hitters. And since his recent decline more inclined to pitch batting practice ...
HOWEVER the other 4 younger guys are extremely good. And the queue is quite long of potential replacements for Haren.
But not for the other four.
Peric, that's a good point. Haren is a #5 on this team.
As I head for bed (not a nap Peric), I read two interesting articles over on espn. I am not able to post links or things like that but they were both about the dh. On one, they predicted that Atl.would be at a huge disadvantage when they play in the AL parks. Apparently, they do not have a bench that includes a dh type hitter. The writer talks about St. Louis and Washington being the two lineups that will adapt with little difficulty and named Tyler Moore as a big reason.
The second article by Jason Stark (I like his stuff) talked about the dh being accepted by all of MLB in the future. Not next year or anything but he makes one really good point. The Reds just signed Votto for I think 12 years. There will be a time where he just won't be able to play the field. The red's owner will be looking for the ability to gain an advantage and one would be to adopt the dh. The other example was Seattle having to deal with King Felix breaking a bone while attempting a bunt. Two fairly small markets that are negatively affected by using two separate rules.
I love the NL game and hope it doesn't switch but I think common sense says that sooner or later everyone will be playing with the same rules.
You were spot on. Very surprising to see Davey not use Duke or HRod for an inning to get Clip to close which tells you what he thinks of them.
Its still early people. He appears to be doing his Davey thing alternating his bullpen except for the closer. You'll see Duke, HRod, and Stammen again as well as Storen, Mattheus, and Clippard. He'll winnow out one of them hoping that one of the five or so lefty relievers in Syracuse become consistently lights out.
As I head for bed (not a nap Peric),'
If you cycle as much as you say you do you probably nap a lot ... lots of epinephrine and other chemicals make you kind of logy ... ~laughing~
peric, HRod and Duke were only seen warming up and weren't used at all in this 3 game series.
Sure it's early but Davey has 5 "A" guys and 2 "B" guys.
I love the NL game and hope it doesn't switch but I think common sense says that sooner or later everyone will be playing with the same rules.
And its why Pujols was traded to the AL. Unless the reincarnation of Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Joe Dimaggio, Ted Williams et al all suddenly appear I don't see the NL changing. I can see teams swapping leagues ... perhaps ...
Look at this way. Chipper Jones looked like he could keep hitting until he was 40. All he needed, like fellow elite platoon bat Lance Berkman, was an AL team to take him on.
Honestly I think the who PED/steroid fiasco put the kibosh on any notion of an all baseball DH to accommodate older stars. The "older stars" were all besmirched. And the new ones like Harper (and yes Werth) are far too athletic to ever want Matt Stares job where they never, ever play the field. Its one thing to be on the bench. Its quite another to never put a glove on.
Do you think Davey is hoping for a rainout on Friday?
That's one way to rest the bullpen!
Sure it's early but Davey has 5 "A" guys and 2 "B" guys.
And he's got real lefties in Syracuse making the Chiefs look like better competition than the Astros.
It won't last long if he feels they will never be effective for him.
Do you think Davey is hoping for a rainout on Friday?
No, he'll go with Stammen after Detwiler. Then Storen. You know how he likes righties after lefties, etc.
BTW (cough cough) for those who follow the Harrisburg Senators and their 3rd bagger Anthony Rendon and their starting 2nd bagger prospect Ricky Hague ... Trevor Holder pitched 2 shut out innings in relief of Demny and still has a 0.00 ERA,
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