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Photo by Mark Zuckerman / NATS INSIDER The Nats once again try to beat the Braves tonight at Turner Field. |
The absence of Werth, in particular, probably prevented Davey Johnson from making one change he would have liked to use tonight: Tyler Moore at first base instead of struggling Adam LaRoche. But with Werth out, and with left-hander Paul Maholm starting for Atlanta, Moore is needed in left field, so LaRoche remains at first base.
Danny Espinosa, on the other hand, has been removed from the lineup for tonight (and likely tomorrow, as well). Steve Lombardozzi will get his shot to start at second base; he'll also hit second, ahead of Bryce Harper.
The best news for the Nationals is that Jordan Zimmermann, the starter who has given them the best chance to win so far in 2013, is on the mound. He'll be trying to pick up where he left off five night ago when he tossed a 1-hit shutout over the Reds.
Updates to come...
WASHINGTON NATIONALS at ATLANTA BRAVES
Where: Turner Field
Gametime: 7:10 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN, MLB.tv, ESPN (outside D.C. market)
Radio: WJFK (106.7 FM), WFED (1500 AM), XM 183
Weather: Mostly cloudy, 72 degrees, Wind 12 mph in from RF
NATIONALS (13-14)
CF Denard Span
2B Steve Lombardozzi
RF Bryce Harper
SS Ian Desmond
1B Adam LaRoche
LF Tyler Moore
3B Anthony Rendon
C Kurt Suzuki
RHP Jordan Zimmermann
BRAVES (17-9)
CF Jordan Schafer
SS Andrelton Simmons
LF Justin Upton
1B Freddie Freeman
C Evan Gattis
2B Dan Uggla
CF B.J. Upton
3B Juan Francisco
LHP Paul Maholm
UMPIRES
HP Mike Winters (cc)
1B Mark Wegner
2B Laz Diaz
3B Tim Timmons
7:10 p.m. — We are underway with a strike from Paul Maholm to Denard Span.
7:15 p.m. — And a 1-2-3 top of the first for Maholm, who got some help from plate umpire Mike Winters on a 3-2 fastball that appeared to be off the inside corner. Span wasn't happy about that call. Steve Lombardozzi and Bryce Harper then each made quick outs on groundballs.
7:23 p.m. — Jordan Zimmermann gets through a scoreless first inning. He might've caught a break when first base ump Mark Wegner called Jordan Schafer out on a bang-bang play with Zimmermann covering and Schafer diving headfirst. I'll never understand why guys do that instead of running straight through the base. Not only is it faster, it also makes it easier for umps to get the call right. The Nats will take this one. Scoreless through one.
7:28 p.m. — Well, the Nats have really made Maholm work so far tonight. He's thrown a whopping 17 pitches through two innings, retiring all six batters faced. The offensive woes continue.
7:47 p.m. — The Nats did manage to put a couple guys on base in the top of the third. Even though they didn't hit the ball out of the infield. Zimmermann broke up Maholm's run at perfection by beating out a grounder to short. Span then did likewise. But Lombardozzi killed the rally with a groundout to second. So it remains scoreless heading to the bottom of the third.
7:54 p.m. — Let's just ignore the part of the bottom of the third where Maholm doubled into the right field corner, making Braves pitchers 4-for-6 with three doubles and a homer in this series. (Sweet Fancy Moses!) Let's instead make note of Anthony Rendon's really nice play at third base to end the inning, one in which he had to take a step back to snag Simmons' hard chopper, then fired a laser to first for the out. Still scoreless through three.
8:08 p.m. — Wow, guess Ian Desmond is taking this cleanup hitter thing seriously. He just tattooed a hanging curveball from Maholm deep to left-center for a two-run homer. That's how you provide protection for Harper, who walked right in front of him. Nats take a 2-0 lead in the fourth.
8:15 p.m. — Zimmermann has settled into a groove and is cruising along now, having completed four scoreless innings. The only downside: The Braves are making him work more than the Reds did Friday night. He's already at 65 pitches through four innings. In his last start, he made it through seven innings on only 66 pitches!
8:24 p.m. — From the "Grass Isn't Always Greener Dept.": Steve Lombardozzi is now 0 for his last 16. He's grounded out three times so far tonight. Still 2-0 Nats in the middle of the fifth.
8:29 p.m. — Zimmermann might want to pitch to contact as much as possible, but the Braves lineup can't really help itself sometimes. Especially the bottom half. Their Nos. 6-8 hitters (Uggla, Upton and Francisco) are now 0-for-6 with six strikeouts tonight. 2-0 Nats as we go to the sixth, Zimmermann at 77 pitches.
8:40 p.m. — Uh-oh, Harper appeared to tweak something on a swing in the top of the sixth and didn't take the field for the bottom of the inning, replaced by Roger Bernadina. He also hurt his left side slamming into the wall on Tim Hudson's homer last night. Not sure what exactly the problem is, but I'll provide an update as soon as I get it.
9:00 p.m. — Sorry for the lack of updates here. Lots going on tonight. We're heading to the bottom of the eighth, Zimmermann still cruising and the Nats still leading 2-0.
9:07 p.m. — Make it eight scoreless for Zimmermann tonight, 18 consecutive scoreless overall. Absolute domination.
9:15 p.m. — Zimmermann will not get to go the distance. Rafael Soriano enters for the ninth, the Nats up 2-0.
9:24 p.m. — It's over. Soriano closes out a much-needed, 2-0 victory for the Nats. Now we find out Harper's status.
177 comments:
Dear Braves: pls do not hit any balls to left field. Your friends, the Nats.
I guess this is about as good a lineup as Davey's going to be able to put together with both RZimm and Werth out.
JZimm may well need to throw another 1-hitter tonight.
Mark - Is Werth in a walking boot?
As a long-time Espi supporter, I think it's past due for a benching. Something is definitely wrong there.
This is a hungry lineup. I'm hoping the Nats can do to Maholm as what happened to him in his last outing when he was lit up.
Two bench players and a minor leaguer. Ordinarily this would be a bad thing. Rather have Werth and Zim, but, hey , why not? All we can do is lose again. I am vowing to watch the game and chill out about the standings, the post season, etc. it'' s baseball. Go Nats! I love watching JZ pitch and you never know when Bryce will do something special. Didn 't Majolm get hit a lot in his last start?
"I'm hoping the Nats can do to Maholm as what happened to him in his last outing when he was lit up."
Yeah, here's hoping. The problem is, though, that the Nats have been very shaky in anything approaching a "clutch" situation, whether it be a game, 2 outs w/RISP, etc. Meanwhile, two of our most important rivals, the Cards and the Braves, seem to thrive in these situations, at least when they're playing us.
And, our season start has been packed with these teams and those kinds of situations against them. This is why I continue to think that most of our woes right now, if not all of them, are a result of time-wide pressing. If so, let's hope we learn how to keep it loose the next time we hit a stretch of games like this and, even more so, the next time we make the post season.
I have a funny feeling that regardless of what happens tonight and tomorrow, we'll put together a nice W-L ratio thereafter through at least the series with the Phillies at the end of May.
I hope Lombardozzi goes 4-4 with three RBIs. I never want to see Espinosa again!
Dont think I've ever seen desi hitting cleanup. He's gonna need to shake his 1-17 slump with RISP if we want to win tonight...
Bernardina must be on Rizzo's hate list again or maybe Davey forgot he's still on the roster. Moore is a huge liability in LF--no field, no arm! Unless Malholm stinks up the joint, the Braves will sweep again.
I wish these guys could just say- what the heck- and just go out there, go for broke, play the game like it's a game and let go of all of the angst. I don 't see much all out hustle, I don't see resolve, I don 't see cojones. When the other team scores first, there is not a sense of digging in and chipping away. Last year they were the never say die team. I felt like they did not score until the seventh every game.it's the same guys! Where did that go?
Here's another one, which I've been filing away in "Baseball Makes me Crazy":
The Nats are blowing plays and otherwise playing .500 ball to throw everyone off.
Ha!
For all the poster bailing and selling their season tickets now and giving up on this team- I have two words
Jim Riggleman
jump on that bandwagon
Go Nats "it's May it's May that lusty month of May"
I'm just glad Tim Hudson is out of the lineup.
That guy is batting like Ted Williams against us.
And whatever happened with that supposed team meeting that Desmond called after the game last night.
Haven't heard a thing about Desi asking everyone to stay late last night after the game.
Shhhh! It was a double, triple top secret meeting. Who knows? It's May. It's getting warmer finally. Ramos is back with Zim on the way. The lineup is scrambled. All excuses are evaporating. I am a true fan, and I will watch, but I want to see some heart.
The players generally don't tell the media what they talked about at the team meeting, that kind of thing stays in the clubhouse.
ptindc said...
As a long-time Espi supporter, I think it's past due for a benching. Something is definitely wrong there.
May 01, 2013 4:01 PM
It's good to hear an opinion from a long-time Espi supporter who thinks he should be benched. Espi actually looked good in most of Spring Training.
When he ditched what Davey taught him to go back to that long swing it warranted a benching.
Our guys should try to hit it to RF, as it appears the Braves don't have anyone playing there.
Really hate the impression that Moore is some kind of lumbering moose. Sure, the outfield is still really new to him , but he plays first well and is very athletic. If you watched him on the bases last night, he is not that slow. Give the kid a break.
"The players generally don't tell the media what they talked about at the team meeting, that kind of thing stays in the clubhouse."
That's how it played out in August. There was big news that Davey called a meeting with the skidding Nats, and then there were wins, and that was that.
This lineup works for me. LRLRLR is a good 1-6 order. Desi in the No. 4 hole is at least as good as Werth and better than ALR. (Maybe if TyMo has another good game, he'll be there against the next lefty.)
The key, of course, is JZnn. If he can avoid the first inning problems that Stras and Gio have had the last two nights, we should be in for a good game.
NatsJack in Florida said...
Why would anyone expect Bernadina to start against a left hander when his role will clearly be a defensive replacement for the lumbering Moore with a late inning lead?
Yo, NJ, I'll tell you the same thing a bunch of guys told me:
there you go using logic again . . . ;-)
Re: benching struggling players, I'm never against it, I just think the decision has to factor in both offense and defense. When Espi was fielding 1000, it would've been crazy to bench him, imo. Now that he's started slipping there, too, it's a good time for a breather.
This lineup works for me. LRLRLR is a good 1-6 order. Desi in the No. 4 hole is at least as good as Werth and better than ALR.
Agreed. After all, he's second on the team in SLG, and is top 10 in the league in doubles and XBH's.
Agreed that when it starts to show up on defense , a break is needed. I understand that the Nats are even keeled guys, don 't get too high or too low, yadda, yadda. But I would like to see a couple of these guys look less than complacent when they screw up. Not saying breaking water coolers, but a few of them are a bit too casual and blasé. Don't worry, it's just baseball, get them tomorrow. Hello? It's tomorrow!
NstsJack- just thinking Tyler is younger, faster, more athletic and agile than Mikey was. I love BH, Span and Werth!
Oh, I think the complacency about errors is a mask. If you watch their faces, they lick their lips or make some other subtle gesture that belies how they feel about it.
That said, while complacency about a committed error can look bad, I'm not too worried about it as long as it doesn't become indifference when the ball's in play. And, I don't see that happening.
With one hit and one walk in 19 PAs so far this year, I don't think the Shark will be getting any starts against even RH pitchers anytime soon. I'm afraid that the WBC really messed up his preparation for the season.
Stat of the day:
TyMo as a starter this year is batting .357 (which is only 5-for-14, but, still...)
Eric- I really do think I have seen some complacency here and there creeping in. Espi. I just want to see heart and hustle. Win or lose. Don 't just hand it to the other team.
swami, it's certainly possible...and, I certainly haven't seen every error committed (I often listen on the radio and/or follow on at bat depending on family obligations that day/night).
Only one pitcher in the NL has two complete games.
Its not like Werth did all that much by comparison to Moore who might be better. His best with the Nats? the 2.5 months when he was the lead-off hitter last season.
And laRoche? Factor 2011 in plus his past seasons and he is average or slightly below at best.
Both players are now approaching their mid-30's.
Time to find out what Moore et al can do.
Factor 2011 in
Now why would you do that? It has little to nothing to do with how good or bad he is now.
If they're playing Moore, it should be at first base. Left field Moore is not optimal. I like him as a player, but outfield defense is not his strength.
May Nats go 19-9.
Tonight we start a 6 game winning streak.
22 wins this month. Here we go.
Don't understand the love for Span. He has no power. Excellent in the field but so is The shark. A lot of highlights last season.
EmDash said...
If they're playing Moore, it should be at first base. Left field Moore is not optimal. I like him as a player, but outfield defense is not his strength.
May 01, 2013 5:13 PM
I agree with you EmDash. I would like to see him against right handed pitching as well as left. I think he can hit right handers just fine.
19 wins? 22 wins? Should we really replace highly dashable expectations (WS) with a new set of highly dashable expectations?
;)
Baby steps folks. Baby steps. I'll be happy with having a better record than the Braves this month. Especially with the tough schedule we face, that would be an accomplishment. We play the Braves, Pirates, Tigers, Cubs,Dodgers, Padres, Giants, Phillies, and O's. All but the Cubs, Padres, and Phillies have a better record so far than we do.
SWM,
Because he gets on base 35% of the time which after all is the object of this little game.
Span had 38 doubles last year. Twice he has hit 10 triples in a season. That's more than enough power for a leadoff hitter. Career OBP .357.
You don't get many highlights when you're fast, get good jumps and position yourself well.
Secret wasian man said...
Don't understand the love for Span. He has no power. Excellent in the field but so is The shark. A lot of highlights last season.
May 01, 2013 5:39 PM
Don't need power from Span. We need a high OBP from him. Need to have runners on base when power hitters come to bat.
Hmmm...I take too long to compose. I guess I owe a few drinks to the above.
I own a drink to JD and Rich P, but you guys don't seem to be listed on the drinks log.
I still think the Nats have the best all around outfield in baseball with Bryce, Span and Werth.
Hoping for Rendon multi-hit game tonight!
Candide -- and get good reads and take the most efficient routes to the ball.
I like the Shark in the field, at least, but several of his highlights were, as you suggested, what he had to do to make up for missed reads or questionable routes.
The very best make it look easy.
I enjoy watching defenders who DON'T make their plays look spectacular. Span has made a few, but he usually just glides out there. Very slick. Love the way he starts the game at the plate, too. When he and Werth take lots of pitches at the top of the game it's a beautiful thing.
The problem with Span is that he hasn't shown any power here with the Nats. Every team is bringing their outfield in to 10th hitter in softball depth. He has already lost at least 4 hits I can remember because they are playing him so shallow. He needs to burn these guys deep every now and then, or his average is likely to fall.
Ok MccCatty make sure starter warms up correctively.
Erik ,agreed the only way Span beats that drawn in LF is to burn him on shooting one over his head.
Last night Andrelton Simmons may have made a mistake. Somebody was asking him about how well the braves have played against the nats and the (essentially) rookie started crowing about how much they own us...saying "I know they're not convinced we're better than them, so we're just going to keep beating those guys until they admit we're better than them." That's the kind of hubris and grandstanding that wakes a team up. Will it make up for terrible hitting and shitty pitching? Probably not, but it definitely doesn't help. I'll just say that. Seems like our locker room has been a bit of a tomb recently (though I guess Desi called a team meeting yesterday), so I welcome the hot dogging of a .230 hitter frankly.I don't care how many throws he makes from his ass. Guy hasn't earned enough stripes to act like that. Come on boys give this loser something to cry about.
BxJaycobb
Davey in a post game interview after we were swept to ATL earlier this month, commented that the braves weren't that good. It made headlines all over the South. Maybe, Davey didn't mean it but that is the way his words were interpreted.
And all looks well for us tonight as Davey tries something different. It can't hurt...hope to see a few two baggers from TYMO, Rendon and Lombo.
I see lots n lots of base runners for us, tonight.... GYFNGOGOGO!!!!! You guys, 3-6.... The gorse is INTOLERABLE in Atlanta..... Just Saying......
HACK THAT GORSE
HACK THAT GORSE
Games are about winning and losing. Today our head trainer and strength coach saved someone's life. It has already been a good day. Kudos to Kuntz and Hsu. Awesome. CPR and defibrillator and revived the guy. Now that is a win.
I don't understand why home plate umpires can't be replaced by a more reliable technology for balls/strikes...
Unless your name is Desmond, swinging at the first pitch should be forbidden. Span stood in there and saw some pitches-- after that, making it easy on them. Lombo never used to do that.
The first inning for us hve been real weak, for opponents fairly strong.
Tonight we did our normal, hope Zim will not pitch like we have lately in first.
Did you here Carp say the attendance has only been like 19- 22 K?? In Atlanta? They are playing well. That is curious.
Thanks ALR extend an inning that should be over.
Was thinking our luck had changed after that first call, but players need to make plays behind him. Cost him 3 pitches. But at least no runs.
Now-- make the pitcher work!!!!!
There goes the no-hitter. Can't wait for LaRoche to make some tough plays. That's 2 games in a row.
This is pathetic. Swing at everything. Unbelievably undisciplined approach.
Really, hitters? REALLY??????????
6 pitch inning with LaRoche swinging 1st pitch
JZim's no hitter went quickly. Need a 1st baseman who will get in front of those balls instead of doing an olé.
More of the same I am afraid. Maybe in Pittsburgh? Zim will be back?? The hitters are making me weep. Can we actually call them hitters? Should we call them the 1-9 swingers instead? Oooooof.
Andrelton Simmons is very, very good.
If these are the hits we are getting, I will take them.
Espi could have left those 2 on-base. Come on Lombo, work your pitch!
We have mostly batters not hitters.
Has Lombo have any hits as a starter?
Ghost Of Steve M. said...
JZim's no hitter went quickly. Need a 1st baseman who will get in front of those balls instead of doing an olé.
_____________________________
I've noticed over the years that the Nats corner infielders don't like to get in front of those balls and bruise themselves.
I can hear my High School coach, "Stay in front of the ball!"
I can always find a positive and this is for Mark Z... i bet each game will receive over 200 posts because of all the anger we have towards this bust of a season
ALR let another one by. Come on your a gold glover knock these things down.
Mick- I feel myself contributing to that number. So has Adam take his batting average out to the field? Where was that gold glove on the two balls hit down the line?
swami .... good question.
Zim couldn't make that throw
@Gonat Rendon heard you and got right in front of Simmons hit.
@Mick. I am not negative. I am a mirror and relect what I see.
Gonat... all coaches, including yours I bet yelled at least 5 times during practice "glove on ground, ball between the legs"
Manassas Nats' Fan said...
@Gonat Rendon heard you and got right in front of Simmons hit.
May 01, 2013 7:55 PM
____________________________
I just don't see many infielders ole' those like RZ and ALR. RZ is very proficient at it but LaRoche has had 2 in 2 days get by him.
.209 average when you take Harper and Desmond's numbers out.
Eck you going to fix this?
Oh Desi!
The 2 guys performing do the job. Lets follow up ALR
Mick, my coach was old style and we were glove on knee and hand on the other knee. Our 3rd baseman was a Cal Ripken guy and dangled the glove low on the ground and would tap it.
LaRoche with his best swing in weeks, even if it was caught! There we go!
1 for the last 34 now. close doesnt count. you either get a hit or you don't
hmmmm...ty mo trying too hard
but captn crunch does it...thanks ian
I think Adam must have peed in a baseball god's Wheaties. If only Tyler was playing left for the Braves....
that was an impressive swing by alr...he's coming out of this slump
Nice job Rendon. In contrast to RZ, Rendon is almost on top of the plate.
I like Bryce and Desi together! You have to admit Adam hit that ball better- not so weak. Time for some of these other guys to get going. I' m sorry. 15 to 20 thousand fans? Even for may 1st, that seems low for a hot team. On our worst days, we were criticized for drawing 22 in the spring on a weeknight. Yeah, they are some great fans. Just keep them from doing that horrendous chop and chant thing. Worse than the wave by miles.
Manassas Nats' Fan said...
1 for the last 34 now. close doesnt count. you either get a hit or you don't
May 01, 2013 8:03 PM
______________________________
For a guy who is struggling, that was his best swing in 2 weeks and that's a good sign. Yes, 1-34.
now an important shut down inning
@Gonats better than K
Positive alert (though really just a mirror)
Good inning JZim.
Mike Winters is a joke behind the plate.
NatsJack, all that late movement is certainly creating lots of foul balls.
WaPo wrote all about the JZim changeup today.
Manassas Nats' Fan said...
Mike Winters is a joke behind the plate.
May 01, 2013 8:16 PM
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Mike Winters has been consistently bad except the K of Denard Span in the 1st inning.
Darn, Lombo, you are now Espinosa. Are you kidding me? Work the guy!!!!!!! Bring up Kobernus! LOL
Lombardozzi's not seeing many pitches. Need Werth back at #2, RZimm at #4.
Wow, great sequence from JZIMM to Uugla!
Just wondering... Do the pitchers find people apparently walking out from underground behind the plate distracting?
F.P. just called JZimm "ace on the staff."
Should officially take the burden off Strasburg's shoulders.
JZ with a Cholulua Hot Sauce extra velo fastball for the K of Upton. Wowee!!!
Great sequence for the whole inning!
NatsJack in Florida said...
I see Lombo took "work the count" lessons from Espinosa.
May 01, 2013 8:23 PM
__________________________
I will take a Bud Light. LOL
Pathetic, huh!
Did LaRoche see what Freddie Freeman just did with that laser from Bryce?
Harper hurt alert?
ah jeez.....
Oh no, Bryce Harper hurt his something.
Crap. Remember how long Morse was out last year with a strained oblique?
ALR....just can't get anything going..........
Mommy make it stooooppp
I don't care if JZim throws 130 pitches. I don't the walk-the-park bullpen ruined this one.You know that's what the BRaves are waiting for.
JZ is da man 2nite.
Bryce says he's a quick healer. Let's hope!
Thank you Andrelton Simmons for a 1 pitch out.
87 pitches for Jordan should get him 1 more inning and hopefully 2 more!
MicheleS tweets: This is what happens when Carp and @FightinHydrant start talking about the wave. Bryce is out of the game #KilltheWave
Keep the steers in the pen as long as humanly possible!
Well, we have Lombo, Rendon, Tyler, Shark. Damn, Davey, Wadda you doing?" LOL!
And they come through! I like my crow seasoned with the sweet taste of victory!
Says something about JZimm's total command when the Barves are trying to bunt for a hit.
Contrast of approaches between Espi, Lombo, and Rendon.
Rendon never panics, not even in 2 strike counts. I like his demeanor up there. He doesn't have a lot to show BA wise but I like what I am seeing.
I missed a Harper home run last year because of the stupid wave. Count me in the anti-wave camp.
I think JZ has decided to mix in a few K's tonight. Wowee!!!
What will it take to sign Znn to an extension?
I'm not expecting any response here, as the cliques only talk amongst themselves.....
This is fun!
Couple of us killed a wave last year at Nats Park. When it got started, we just started yelling, "STOP DOING THE WAVE!!! STOP IT!!! STOP IT!!!"
And it worked! It was only two or three of us at first, but a few more people took it up, and by the time the wave reached our area, it just kinda died on the shoals.
Keep that in your pocket the next time some assclown starts a wave at Nats Park.
Strasburg has a lot to learn from JZim and Gio as well. Stras needs go back to his killer look from 2010 and Gio needs to stop thinking everything is funny.
I would just like to point out that Tyler Moore made a very nice running catch in left field. Not anything Soan- like, but there was certainly no lumbering involved.
an oblique..who does Peric bring up now
That would be Span- like.
JZ on cruise control!
tymo is out there to hit...
I don't remember Lombo swinging at everything. He used to work the count.
NatsJack, best AB's tonight are from Span, Bryce, Desi, Rendon and JZ.
Please no Ty Clip!
now i know what it was like to watch Big Train in the dead ball era...go JZ
Best back to back pitching performances in Nationals history!!!
Agreed about Lombo. Used to have one of the best approaches on the team. He had been watching his fellow middle infielders too much.
I really thought JZ deserved another 1 hitter or better as JUp's ball hit right at LaRoche has to be played in front of him. The Maholm just eluded LaRoche by inches.
The Nats are winning because of the 3 guys that have done something good for this team this year.
J'Zimm is the new Jesus. Stras has abdicated the title.
J'Zimm is the new Jesus. Stras has abdicated the title.
ALR is hurtin......
TUCK IN PEOPLE!
This might be a big mistake.
It's the right move by Davey. RSoriano is here for saves. To bring JZ back out would have been for stats.
Just got home and turned on the game. All tucked and ready to go!
disagree. When you're dealing like Jordan, leave him in for the 9th.
Come on Rafi!
We beat the Braves!!!!
stop the chop
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOO!!! JORDAN IS A BEAST!!! UNTUCK EVERYONE!
UNTUCK!
UNTUCK!!
UNTUCK!
Soriano looked good. Still would have stayed with Jordan.
Untuck!
Untuck!
Thanks Sori! Professional
untuck!?
But everyone's happy on this end. Good game. Hope Harp isn't hurt too bad.
Wazzup wid Bryce?
realdealnats said...
Soriano looked good. Still would have stayed with Jordan.
May 01, 2013 9:26 PM
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As I said at 9:17PM, it's team over stats. This is what you got Rafael Soriano for.
Well done Davey.
Soriano shut Simmons up at the end. Wooo Hooo!
It's a marathon. Soriano is here for a reason. We want Jordon in Sept, & Oct.
I am untucked!!
Notice offense again :(
Look out Don Drysdale!
I don't think it would have been "for stats" if Davey had left Znn in, it would have been because he thought it gave us the best chance to win. But he also has to think ahead. Znn was over 100 pitches, but not by much. By taking him out now (and with Rafi ready the dropoff in win probability wasn't much), the chances of a third straight excellent outing are increased.
Gonat--I don't see it as that either/or choice. Obviously Davey knows more than all of us and we all just BS here for fun, but sometimes I think it's good to actually forget the stats! Forget sticking to the regimen of always closing with the closer at all costs. Sometimes when you have a hot hand like tonight as late as the 8th, stay with it until you see a sign of let up. Pitch count within the realm of reason of course. But even push pitch count on certain rare occasions. Personally I don't care if Jordan gets a 3rd complete game, it's just that I think there are certain times when the situation of going with who's hot should dictate.
Boswell tweets: "Bringing in Soriano is the right move whether it works or not. Z'mann over 109 pitches only once in career. Bombed in playoffs next game."
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