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USA Today Sports Images Dodger Stadium hosts the Nats for the next three nights. |
Into that fray come the Nationals, who send their burgeoning ace to the mound for the series opener. With a strong effort tonight, Jordan Zimmermann could become the majors' first 7-game winner, not an insignificant accomplishment. Josh Beckett starts for the Dodgers, and remarkably he's still seeking his first win of 2013.
Unfortunately, I'm not on this West Coast trip, but I'll be watching along with the rest of you, loading up on caffeine to make it through the late-night games. So please keep up the conversation as always here...
WASHINGTON NATIONALS at LOS ANGELES DODGERS
Where: Dodger Stadium
Gametime: 10:10 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN, MLB.tv
Radio: WNEW (99.1 FM), XM 186
Weather: Clear, 77 degrees, Wind 5 mph out to RF
NATIONALS (20-17)
CF Denard Span
LF Steve Lombardozzi
RF Bryce Harper
3B Ryan Zimmerman
1B Adam LaRoche
SS Ian Desmond
2B Danny Espinosa
C Kurt Suzuki
RHP Jordan Zimmermann
DODGERS (15-21)
LF Carl Crawford
SS Dee Gordon
1B Adrian Gonzalez
CF Matt Kemp
RF Andre Ethier
C A.J. Ellis
2B Skip Schumaker
3B Nick Punto
RHP Josh Beckett
UMPIRES
TBA
Uggh . . . I hate when I hear "and the opposing pitcher, former 20-game winner, is still seeking his first win..."
ReplyDeleteBeckett is apparently notoriously slow between pitches, while Zimm is generally quick and efficient. So tonight should be an interesting contrast/extra-frustrating to watch during the Nats' offensive parts of the game.
ReplyDeleteMark, are you going to write gamers based off watching the television broadcast? Or at least do your updates or twitter?
ReplyDeleteI wish there was a way to watch these games from the Dodgers feed so I can listen to Vin Scully call the games...
When is it no longer "still Early"?
ReplyDeleteWhen this team misses the playoffs with 88 wins with it still be early?
Rizzo needs to make roster moves and do it now.
My choices.....Storen and Danny E, Moore to AAA......Duke, HROD, Tracy to Wavier Wire.
Team needs to trade for a proven bats for OF/Pinch Hitters and pitchers to rework the broken bull pen.
I would also hire a second hitting coach. Boston has two as do other teams. Clearly Eck is not doing the job...yet again. Teams that want to win now can not go into 2 month long slumps.
Last change that is way over due is Nats trainers.....how is it that everyone has leg injuries....oh that's right....Spring Training is just for NASCAR races and golf on a Davey Johnson team.
Everybody better hide their Wheaties.
ReplyDeleteGrandstander, Vin Scully's TV broadcast is simulcast on radio for the first three innings. So if you have the MLB App on your phone or iPad and a DVR on your TV you can sync that feed with MASN's broadcast. The app is about 30-45 seconds behind the TV. It takes a little effort, but if you use the crack of the bat to sync it you can get pretty close. I think I'll be doing that tonight too.
ReplyDeleteWith Beckett pitching, you might be asleep after three innings so that could be enough.
Disclaimer -- I know there are folks here who don't like Scully. You are sad and pathetic creatures, but we love you anyway. :-)
JayB said...
ReplyDeleteWhen is it no longer "still Early"?
When this team misses the playoffs with 88 wins with it still be early?
Hey Jay! I'll tell you when "it's still Early"
It's still early when there's 124 games left and we're only one game behind first place in the division.
JayB -
ReplyDelete14 players on 10 teams are currently on the DL with hamstring injuries. There have been a lot of them this year. I'd wager that those 10 teams probably all have fairly different spring training regimens. There've been a fair number of others on other teams that have had hamstring injuries and come back as well. It's kind of common this year so far.
Re the hamstring problems, I wonder if it's because April was significantly colder this year than last...
ReplyDeleteAA Eastern League named Anthony Rendon the Player of the Week.Rendon hit .500 with 6 doubles and 2 HR over the course of the week.
ReplyDeleteWay to go, Anthony!
OR because the extended spring training gave vets the excuse that they did not need to work hard....just take it easy and golf...like Nats did?
ReplyDeletekeep in mind that Nats practice 90 mins a day max during spring training...played very few innings and very few road games for the Vets who now have leg issues.
ReplyDeleteYeah, the negative effects of Nats' spring training are probably contagious and have spread like wildfire across the league!
ReplyDeleteAnyone have a stat on whether hamstring injuries are appreciably higher for the Nats and those they've played so far?
Jay B you are ridding the team of 6 players.... Maybe you should say who is taking their spots.
ReplyDeleteJayB said...
ReplyDeleteWhen is it no longer "still Early"?
When this team misses the playoffs with 88 wins with it still be early?
Rizzo needs to make roster moves and do it now.
On this date last year, the Nats at 21-13 were 0.5 game behind the 22-13 Braves. Today, the 20-17 Nats are 1 game behind the 21-16 Braves. If it's too late now, it was too late then. How'd that 2012 season turn out, anyway?
Rendon would be one for sure. He can hit. Tracy, Danny E, sure can not.
ReplyDeleteNats will win 6-2
ReplyDelete12 hits 4 for 11 RISP.
Nats 21-17 tiedwith Braves
I spent some time today reading some of the vile being spewed by Braves fans today. Wow, are they turning on both Uptons on the blogs. Reminded me of Phillie fans. Sure am glad it isn't like that here.
ReplyDelete"Sure am glad it isn't like that here."
ReplyDeleteHa! A+
Lombo's in. Make it 4!
ReplyDeleteI don't care for Lombo in the OF too much, but he does get better reads than Tyler.He really has a weak arm, but he has hit a homer off of Beckett, so,go Steve!
ReplyDeleteI don't have much knowledge about his OF skills or lack thereof, but the idea of him hitting a homer is kinda mind boggling ;).
ReplyDeleteJoe Seamhead said...
ReplyDeleteI spent some time today reading some of the vile being spewed by Braves fans today. Wow, are they turning on both Uptons on the blogs. Reminded me of Phillie fans. Sure am glad it isn't like that here.
May 13, 2013 6:33 PM
Joe, do you have a link for the Braves blog? I'd like to read some of what their fans are saying.
Re the hamstring problems, I wonder if it's because April was significantly colder this year than last...
ReplyDeleteNo, 34 years old. Lots of mileage, last season mostly marred with a long recovery from yet another serious injury ... a fracture of the same wrist that almost ended his career.
He's on the decline and that's just a sign ...
And if you want to argue that you can take it up with Mike Rizzo Eric because that is a LARGE reason why we no longer have Michael Morse in the lineup. Because similar injuries kept happening to him and he is now 30+.
No real-time baseball tv for me this week (yawn), but I will be recording to watch later. Go, NATS!! Go, J-Zimm!!
ReplyDeleteDodger pitcher looking for first win. Lets not make him look like, well, Jordan Zimmerman
ReplyDeleteI wish there was a way to watch these games from the Dodgers feed so I can listen to Vin Scully call the games...
ReplyDeleteYou most certainly can Grandstander by getting the mlbTV package and selecting the LA feed for their games. Not sure if he's on the less expensive mlb audio as well?
Caps and nats both win 5 to 0. Tonight.
ReplyDeleteSonnyG10, you can start by just going to the Atlanta Journal Constitution, go to sports, then Braves. After each column there are comments sections.
ReplyDelete"No, 34 years old."
ReplyDeleteHe's also not the only one on the Nats, let alone in the league, who has hurt a hamstring.
The question was in response to a comment that hamstring problems have been fairly common across the league.
Wasn't Giancarlo on the DL with a Hammy? And what about Hanley? As mentioned on a previous post (I can't remember by whom) The Hammy is this year's oblique injury.
ReplyDeleteJayB.. Also, take a look a the spring training activity of ever major league team that trains in Florida so you can make comparisons to how they all are doing. How many Vets travel? What was the distance they had to travel, etc. I bet you will also see a ton of them are playing golf.
And I would love to see Lombo take Beckett deep! that would be the best thing ever.
ReplyDeleteGYFNG! (I won't be awake for these games, have to pay the bills)
Players out with hammy right now:
ReplyDeleteAngels: Aybar, Bourjos
A's: Crisp, Nakajima
Dodgers: Ramiriz
Mariners: Gutierrez
Marlins: Kotchman, Mahoney, Stanton
Nats: Werth
Orioles: Roberts
Reds: Heisey
Tigers: Jackson
Twins: Floriman
Just Google "Braves blogs." I turned up several that way. Can't find it now, but one Braves game thread offered a bit of a reality/perspective check, as a commenter shared about the recent death of a friend. Baseball's a nice diversion and all, but it's not life or death, generally speaking, so there's that. (No, "I live for this" doesn't count.)
ReplyDeleteJoe Seamhead said...
SonnyG10, you can start by just going to the Atlanta Journal Constitution, go to sports, then Braves. After each column there are comments sections.
May 13, 2013 7:29 PM
Ramos not in tonight? Suzuki going two days in a row.
ReplyDeleteIf Grandstander is in this area he won't be able to listen to Vin Scully on mlb.tv because it's blacked up. Stuck with our guys on MASN, unless Scully has an audio (radio) feed.
ReplyDeleteJoe Seamhead said...
ReplyDeleteSonnyG10, you can start by just going to the Atlanta Journal Constitution, go to sports, then Braves. After each column there are comments sections.
May 13, 2013 7:29 PM
Thanks much, Joe!
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteInteresting comments from Boz in a recent Q&A
ReplyDeleteOn Zim's throwing problem:
"When a player has had a flaw that turns into a problem that tuns into something that's one or two stages below Steve Sax-Chuck Knoblauch syndrome, that's really sad. Right now, Z'man fielding % in 23 starts at 3rd this year is .899 with 7 errors. It's really bothering him. In Friday's game he risked hurting himself diving to try to compensate by making an amazing play on a =7 smashed over the third base bag. He was very slow getting up. Nats had a 7-2 lead in the ninth. No need to slam himself that hard. I haven't seen a fielding % under .900 for any everyday player since Butch Hobson with the Red Sox in the late '70's. Otherwise, Z'man has never been under last year's .950. You can live with .950. And I think he'll get back to that level. He has streaks of games when he throws perfectly. You can't live with .899 which is 45 errors a year. Is it in his head? Of course. Is it ALL in his head? Probably not. New mechanics are part of it.
Worst case: he eventually becomes a very good 1st baseman who hits in the middle of the order. Best case: by mid-season we say, "Wasn't it wonderful that a great person like Z'man got over that scary throwing Thing."
On Espi:
"Nobody is "deflated" any more by a strikeout. Times change. But there are some players, like Danny Espinosa, who really need to cut down their strikeouts because their power isn't quite good enough to justify the risk-reward ratio. Espinosa, even though he is hitting .189, is on pace to cut his Ks from 189 to ~130. That's a lot of improvement and, in time, should get his average to ~.250-.260. That, plus exceptional defense and 50+ extra-base hits is a good second baseman. We'll see if that's how it works out."
On Stras' getting picked up by his team, but not reciprocating:
"The Saturday game was a perfect illustration. Espinosa made an amazing relay throw to third base to throw out a runner for the second out in the 5th of an 0-0 game. Then Zimmerman made his routine error. The 8-9 hitters were up. An ace picks up his teammates by blowing away one of those two hitters.
...
Aces give up LESS unearned runs than the average. In his career, 15.4% of the runs off Strasburg have been unearned. That is about TWICE what it should be. Small sable size, but not that small (300 IP). 10% is poor. That was a minor Jim Palmer problem his whole career. Some other O's starters only had 5% unearned runs. Justin Verlander has allow 7.9% unearned runs in his career.
I assume that this is just part of Strasburg growing up and he'll move past it. At the same age, many fine young pitchers go through the same progression. They just aren't watched as closely."
natsfan1a said...
ReplyDeleteJust Google "Braves blogs." I turned up several that way. Can't find it now, but one Braves game thread offered a bit of a reality/perspective check, as a commenter shared about the recent death of a friend. Baseball's a nice diversion and all, but it's not life or death, generally speaking, so there's that. (No, "I live for this" doesn't count.)
Thanks 1a!
On this date last year, the Nats at 21-13 were 0.5 game behind the 22-13 Braves. Today, the 20-17 Nats are 1 game behind the 21-16 Braves.
ReplyDeleteThus prompted, I went back to May 13-14, 2012. Werth had broken his arm, Ramos had just blown out his knee, the bullpen was hurt (Storen and Lidge) and ineffective (HRod), and LaRoche was about the only one hitting worth a damn.
And there were three or four regular posters who just didn't like anything, at great length, in pretty much inverse proportion to their apparent knowledge of the game.
Plus ça change...
"Same as it ever was, same as it ever was, same as it ever was, same as it ever was" - David Byrne
ReplyDeleteWad' with Zuk squating behind the plate?
ReplyDeleteI thought it was Ramoose's turn??
He's the guy with a power bat; maybe Davey checked the stats and found out that Zuk can hit Beckett????
When are you going to realize that it is not possible to even begin to figure out Davey's decisions? Luckily for me, after months of angst, I am now quite happy with either catcher in the line up.
ReplyDeleteSuzuki has caught Jordan's last 6 starts. The results have obviously been great. Davey probably just doesn't want to mess with that right now.
ReplyDeleteYou all are missing the fact that RZim's power and bat speed are missing. It doesn't matter where you play hime if he is still having issues with the bat due his shoulder surgery. He essentially has the bat speed of a much older player. Shoulders do not get fixed easily. Ask Jesus Flores or Chien Ming Wang. He is playing a power hitters position with a warning track power/singles hitter profile. That's OK if he is a standout fielder but he is not that either anymore. Going to be hard to watch him the rest of this year. My favorite memories of the Nats prior to last year were RZim's game ending heroics. He is a class act. I hope he can pull it back.
ReplyDeleteI tend to feel that Ryan will get better than he is now. Shoulders do take longer. That doesn't mean he won't get any better than he is now. I am willing to give it the benefit of the doubt based on the kind of person he is and what he has meant to this team. He totally gutted it out last year and he brings a lot to the table. Maybe never another gold glove. Only one person on the NL wins it every year. Does that mean the others are terrible? He is our guy and he will do everything he can and use every available resource to play well. Not like he is lazy or has a bad attitude.
ReplyDeleteI tend to agree, swami. I think it actually bodes well that he and Davey have long maintained that his shoulder won't be right until June. Makes me think they expected this kind of shaky return and explains why Davey is unshakable in asserting that Zim is their 3rd basemen.
ReplyDeleteIs it possible the problems are irreversible? Of course. He's only human. But, I don't see that it's inevitable. Especially, as you say, because of his attitude and how he has handled adversity in the past.
I could live witout seeing him win the gold glove. No big deal. The hitting is a much bigger deal. Bad speed generally never returns or the ability to hit the outside pitch. Without the hitting he is not even a suitable DH in (god forbid) the AL. He gutted out last year and I fear he did more damage to his long term career. He has a heart of gold but now a glass shoulder.
ReplyDeleteI'm looking forward to turning down the sound on Bob and FP for the first three innings tonight. With JZnn on the mound, they are going to be gushing about him from the first pitch. By the time I switch back to them in the 4th we'll know how he's doing.
ReplyDeletelets go boys
ReplyDeleteNeed a Nats win Caps getting destroyed
ReplyDeleteBeckett is already going slow as heck.
ReplyDeleteIm already sick of Beckett. Throw the ball
ReplyDeleteI'm choosing Scully over MASN tonight
ReplyDeleteLombo looked like espinosa. Ball mo where near the zone. This why do not score much. Men should be on first and second no outs.
ReplyDeletethat is why big cat and I bitch about Eck.
Funny to see all the opposite teams catchers set way outside for Zim.
ReplyDeleteWow, this guy is slow. Game could take til 3 a.m. and only go nine innings.
ReplyDeleteBeckett's glacial pace and the constant pounding sound effect have rendered this game almost unwatchable.
ReplyDeleteMy God where on earth does the pitch have to be for ALR to swing instead of take a strike 3?
ReplyDeleteSince he has done it all season and as I said if a coach doesnt stop that they aren't doing the job.
Well that's the one play Zim CAN make consistently.
ReplyDeleteZim when he doesnt think throws great.
ReplyDeleteWhen Zim just reacts, he's money.
ReplyDeleteNice inning for JZim. What else is new?
ReplyDeleteZim more balls this inning than almost any inning in last 3 games.
ReplyDeleteRZim 2 throws neither waste time on the mark.
"Matt Kemp barely hung around to be introduced." Nice.
ReplyDeleteScully said about JZnn something like "along with Justin Verlander, one of the very best pitchers in baseball."
Scully is a joy. Even talking about desi's mom. What doesn't he know?
ReplyDeleteBeckett has a nasty curve today. Not sure he'll be able to get away with throwing just that the 2nd time around.
ReplyDeleteEspi strikes out looking. A change.
ReplyDeleteWash sports brutal. Last year 2outs, one pitch away we loose. Rg3 goes down, we loose. Game 7 Caps we lose.
ReplyDeletePlaza nats - Plz win this year.
What is worse then aging a weak hitting second baseman in your lineup? Having two play at the same time, one stashed in the outfield.
ReplyDeleteC'mon Jordan, work your magic.
Oops having
ReplyDeleteScott Margenau said...
ReplyDeleteWash sports brutal. Last year 2outs, one pitch away we loose. Rg3 goes down, we loose.
Depends how you look at it:
Last year, Nats win 98 games, more than anyone else, first DC baseball team to make the playoffs in decades; Redskins double their win total from the year before and win their division for the first time in over a decade;
I wonder which set of fielders are enjoying themselves more in this game. Must be murder to watch Beckett labor. The Nats fielders hardly got out there for the last inning before they were trotting back to the dugout.
ReplyDeleteThat was outside, Zim went the other way. Can we stop with the "he needs to move up" stuff now?
ReplyDeletePitched away drive to right. Classic RZim when hitting well.
ReplyDeleteAtta boy, Zim.
ReplyDeleteA real shame Ryan Zimmerman doesn't have any bat speed.
ReplyDeleteSqueeze
ReplyDeleteThataway Zim. Nice play by Ethier out there prevented Harper from scoring.
ReplyDeleteGood as a squeeze
ReplyDeleteWonk: I mean our post season curse.
ReplyDeleteBeckett is pitching Desmond VERY carefully.
ReplyDeleteGreat plate discipline buy the guys here in the 3rd. And when Ryan starts hitting the opposite way he is starting to lock in.
ReplyDeleteScott Margenau said...
ReplyDeleteWonk: I mean our post season curse.
Well, I won't disagree with respect to the Caps!
But for Nats and 'Skins -- I'm just happy they even made it to post-season last year.
Notice Rzim drives outside to pitch to right. Desi tries topull same pitch and not drive it. Usually results in ground out or K. Just hit it to right.
ReplyDeleteGreat play Desi.
ReplyDeleteThis is gonna be JZimm's 3d complete game.....
ReplyDeleteHeat could stop a compleye game.
ReplyDeleteI thought the ball was fair, but no replay done to check.
ReplyDeleteKurt is not having a good week throwing.
ReplyDeleteHow many awful throw to 2nd base have the Nats catcher made
ReplyDeleteHere are fielder's screwing around again.There was no way he was going to be out. Throwing made no sense. throwing to center even makes less sense.
ReplyDeleteWhat was that from Suzuki?
ReplyDeleteKemp K's on a Espy super high fastball.
ReplyDeleteWOW, LaRoche!!! What a play! I never thought he was getting that.
ReplyDeleteThat's how you work around an error, Strasburg.
ReplyDeleteTell me JZim is not the aceHis fielder allowed runner to 3rd with an error. Nopouting. just buckle up and get the three outs
ReplyDeletestras just needed 1 out with a man on first and a .153 hitter
ReplyDeleteIt's been ten minutes, and LaRoche's life is still flashing before his eyes.
ReplyDeleteYowza.
Great snag by LaRoche.
ReplyDeleteHey Davey and JZIM, Ray Kinsella's on the line.
He says: "Go the distance."
Oh, and how many of the Nats starters get to first in time and handle that throw cleanly? Znn's football player came out there.
ReplyDeleteLombo having a good night. Finally someone producing in Werth's spot.
ReplyDeletedodging the baseball
ReplyDeleteMaybe it's something to do with second base that makes the ball squirrel off into left center?
ReplyDeleteHit with RISP!
ReplyDeleteWhat is Espinosa going to do? I say Grand Slam.....
ReplyDeleteThe decision on espi should all hinge on this at bat...
ReplyDeletedanny can stay...he didn't hit into a double play so a productive ab for him
ReplyDeleteOf course Danny swings at ball 3 in a 2-0 count and fouls it off. Then grounds out. RBIs just sitting on there with good contact and 1 out which Espy can't do.
ReplyDeleteI'm getting an idea about why the Dods are in last place.
ReplyDeleteDoes my old Giants fan heart good to see it, too.
Well, it's not often you get a chance to ground into three double plays in one inning.
ReplyDeleteBernie Pleskoff @BerniePleskoff 30s
ReplyDeleteB J Upton left the game after being hit in the shoulder by Wade Miley. He's now day to day with contusion. #Braves #DBacks.
No matter how we do Espinosa just cant figure out how to do something simple like flying to the outfield.
ReplyDeleteWhen is Rendon coming?
@harpo swinging at 2-0 count that was way wide told me we need Rendon
ReplyDeleteharper down...oh lord
ReplyDeleteBryce, it's a 6-0 game. Come on.
ReplyDeleteOh my God.
ReplyDeleteWhy would he run into the wall. that is pathetic. they make warning yracks for a purpose.
ReplyDeleteUh oh.Did not look good.
ReplyDeleteHe took the wrong route to boot.
ReplyDeleteThat was a George of the Jungle style crash.
ReplyDeleteMost of his hustling is fine, but careless hustling makes no sense.
ReplyDeleteI think Bryce is okay. He looked fine walking off. I think he probably had the wind knocked out of him. We shall see.
ReplyDeleteI've seen bizarre plays. Bryce got lost out there. Hope he's ok.
ReplyDeleteI blame Espi anyway as had he walked tge inning would not hae ended so quick.
ReplyDeleteThanks Espi.
I'd take some X-Rays just to be sure.
ReplyDeleteShutout ends strangely.
ReplyDeleteWhen is Rendon coming?
ReplyDeleteTo second base? Well after Lombo and Kobernus ... get real dude.
Amanda said Bryce was trying to talk the trainers into letting him stay in the game. No way that was happening.
ReplyDeleteI remember ruuning into a fense like that many years ago. i swore I had 10 more feet. Bviously I was wrong. hurt a couple days.
ReplyDeleteHe just bounced off that wall and laid down for a nap. Gracious.
ReplyDeleteManassas Nats' Fan said...
ReplyDeleteI blame Espi anyway
Wow -- I've seen Espi be a scapegoat before, but, really now . . . . does he cause global warming, too?
Look he's still learning ... and especially how to play in the outfield.
ReplyDeleteIts to be expected ... as long as he doesn't demolish himself somehow ... although that was very close to that.
That was brutal. Man I hope Bryce is alright...
ReplyDeletei would not be shocked if he was there in 2014.
ReplyDeleteKershaw a tough lefty tomorrow might be a good day off.
ReplyDeleteI am sorry, these scoreboards in the outfield are great, but here is a case in which they need to find a way to pad them.
ReplyDeleteThe first time I walked in the outfield at Nats Park, I was shocked to see that the scoreboard in right field is covered with a chain link fence. I have always wondered how players don't hurt themselves. Yes when they bang into it, will absorb the player but the fence can cut a player and possibly break fingers and hands.
I see that Harper is cut up, bet they have a chain link fence at Dodger Stadium.
Again baseball has to protect players better in the outfield.
I love Bryce Harper, but he has got to develop a lower gear.
ReplyDeleteThere's a story that Larry Bird tells, about veterans saying to him early in his career, "If you don't learn to pace yourself, you are not going to last."
Bird learned this lesson. Harper is going to have to learn it too. In fact, every one of us has to learn it.
suzuki and Espi take note. get hits tonight.
ReplyDeleteWho needs scoreboards? We all have out atbat13 apps at the game.
ReplyDeletecarp gets excited on Span liners. His linrs are almost all caught.
ReplyDeleteBTW I estimate 10,000 actual people are at Dodger Stadium tonight. It looks like a Marlins game in LA.
ReplyDeletedo1, except that you have to remember it's LA, so how many are actual people is anybody's guess.
ReplyDeleteGot to love Bernadinas hustle.
ReplyDeleteWhy didn't Span bunt Zimmermann to third? Lombo's cofc would have scored the run.
ReplyDeleteI'd take some X-Rays just to be sure.
ReplyDeleteI don't know. Don't do anything rash. It's just Bryce Harper. Maybe wait a few days. You don't want to unnecessarily expose the player to radiation. :-)
No time to play for one run, Drew. Got to hit away with Span there, IMO.
ReplyDeleteDrew, Jordon is not a great baserunner and do you really want to risk him getting banged up sliding into third in a 6-1 game?
ReplyDeleteHey Section 222, are you trying to poke fun again?
ReplyDelete6-1 and should be much more. 3 for 13 RISP 8 left on.
ReplyDeleteCan't wait until we start hitting.
Did predict 6-2 so I guess I expected a lot of bad things.
Adam!!! 8 m LoB now
ReplyDeleteSomeone on Twitter asked if Bryce is on any meds for the pain in his tow that could have affected his equilibrium.
ReplyDeleteWell, maybe Bryce can start using Dazed and Confused for a while, while Werth is out.
ReplyDeleteThere's a story that Larry Bird tells, about veterans saying to him early in his career, "If you don't learn to pace yourself, you are not going to last."
ReplyDeleteReminds me of a similar story of his counterpart (which goes something like this). In Magic Johnson's very first game as a pro, the Lakers won the game on a buzzer beater. Magic starts jumping around celebrating, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar turns to him and says, "whoa there, we still got 81 to play."
Maybe it would be good for Stras,s warped pride to make him #3
ReplyDeleteMagic starts jumping around celebrating, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar turns to him and says, "whoa there, we still got 81 to play."
ReplyDeleteCap said it later occurred to him that Magic's last game before that was for the NCAA championship with Michigan State, so it made more sense in that context.
st least he didnt throw the ball aeay.
ReplyDeleteIs it me, or does the right side of this infield seem to be getting an inordinate number of odd hops?
ReplyDeleteUnreal, Espy has dropped down to .183 That's a huge drop as it seemed he had gotten to .200 last week.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if Espi needs contacts. He acts as if he doesnt pick up the ball. He swings at if he never sees the ball until to late,.
ReplyDeleteWhen your starting pitcher is hitting better than you are, that's a problem.
ReplyDeleteWhitey Ford and Mickey Mantle called Rose "Charlie Hustle" derisively.
ReplyDeleteI know Brice says he only knows one way to play, but he doesn't help the team when he's hurt.
Espy in a 2/18 slump. Just when it seemed he was going to get his season going he falls back into the funk.
ReplyDeleteSeems like as good of an explanation as any, NatsLady. Call him Bam Bam Brycinni. He was so tuned in to trying to follow the ball above his head that he paid no attention to his feet being on the warning track.Strickly a result of over zealous lack of experience. And yes, Bryce, you do need to stop running into walls.
ReplyDeleteSo Danny has to go 4 for 4 to be hitting his weight, basically.
ReplyDeleteWet gem! Dez
ReplyDeleteGreat play by Desmond. The Nats are flashing the leather tonight.
ReplyDeleteLol web
ReplyDeleteIf the D-Backs can get nine they'll send the game to extra innings. :)
ReplyDeleteDesmond with a great play and is smart enough to throw to 1st with the slow catcher running. Smart!
ReplyDeleteZim just dominating out there. Awesome.
ReplyDeletethis is about how I imagine the conversation with Harper went.
ReplyDeleteNatsLady, Justin Upton bounced out of his slump big time tonight, but the Braves have got to be encouraged by McCann's hitting so solidly since returning.
ReplyDeleteTime to head to the sack. believe we can hold on.
ReplyDeleteIt hasn't been an issue this game, but I'm not a fan of this umpire's strike zone. Jordan doesn't seem to care, which is good.
ReplyDeleteWhere were those first 2 pitches to Uribe?
ReplyDeleteAnother great outing for Zimmermann even though he couldn't quite get through 8 innings this time.
ReplyDeleteSec. 3, My Sofa said...
ReplyDeletethis is about how I imagine the conversation with Harper went.
Good one!
Wonder if Clip will stay in to close it out.
ReplyDeleteThat was made interesting. Didn't Davey and McCatty see from the 2nd batter that Jordan was gassed?
ReplyDeleteLol!! "I am batman!"
ReplyDeleteWooooooooHooooooo!!!
ReplyDeleteNice start ... go get 'em tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteNow to hear about Bryce...
ReplyDeleteAmanda Comak @acomak 3m
ReplyDeleteBryce Harper required about 11 stitches but apparently no concussion per Scott Boras. Banged shoulder. Waiting for more info from Davey.
It's horrifying to see the video. How could he not be concussed? He looked out of it on the ground. Seeing the trainer pet his head like that made me cry like it was my son, instead of my team's player. I am in LA headed to the game tomorrow. I hope they don't play him. Oh, Kid!
ReplyDeleteHe's fine :) One tough kid.
ReplyDeleteHeck I ran into many walls when I was 20 ;)
ReplyDeleteMan, Jordan can pitch. We have a top 3 pitcher on our favorite team here :)
Go Nats! 8-3 in last 11!
Adam Kilgore @AdamKilgoreWP 31s
ReplyDeleteSpan said Harper was telling Davey he was fine to stay in the game. "I was like, 'You're not okay.' "
I know I'm going to sound like a crazy person, but concussions are serious business. You can't be knocked out and not be concussed. You can't run into a wall at that speed and not shake your brain up. They can't be telling the truth when they say he isn't concussed. Look at the video. They need to sit him. They need to protect him. They would need to protect ANY player but especially him. There must be doctors in this group who can speak up about this. I can't stand that, having seen the video, they're saying this is soft tissue injury but no concussion. Span was out for a while. He KNOWS. Bryce has to be treated for concussion not matter what it does to the team.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure they've done the concussion tests. Do you really think this team, the one that shutdown Strasburg when he WASN'T injured, would put Bryce out there if he's concussed? His head didn't appear to hit the wall.
ReplyDeleteJane- Oh definitely they'll make sure he didn't suffer a brain injury. That's a given I hope. The replays did look like his head was jolted.
ReplyDeleteBut apparently, based on the scant info, he wasn't hurt as bad as it looked.
It's a near-miracle that he didn't get a concussion on that play. Ooof. Maybe it's a good idea to put him back in left and Bernadina in right when he's ready to come back - and that shouldn't be in this series at the least.
ReplyDeleteHopefully Span or Werth - people who've had serious injuries hamper their careers - can try to talk to Harper about the greater value a player provides by being in the lineup every day over making the one great play.
It's great that he knows only one way to play, but this demonstrates that he needs at least two ways, one of them involving not running top speed into walls. Thank goodness he seems OK. He actually tried to stay in the game!
ReplyDeleteJust waking up and catching up.. Saw the replay and it looked like the warning track is just too narrow to slow down from that speed. He was booking it and the warning track would have given him like two steps. Too much momentum. But he does have to be more aware that he cannot just run through walls. I wonder how that outfield compares to ours? Maybe ours is longer and he knows how many steps he can go and just kind of automatically forgot he was at a different field?
ReplyDeleteOne more reason why the Nats had Werth in right field.
ReplyDeleteUgh. I just saw the reply too. Pretty rough. And Bob & FP were very right--that was a really weird route he took to that ball.
ReplyDeleteI'm not crazy about all his recent forced days off, but it'll be a test of the rest of the team. Very glad, of course, to see the Nats win it. And very sorry to see the Barves rout the D-Backs.
I have the sense that we have a "mental" team. Not mentally defective, just a team that makes a lot of mental mistakes and tends to overthink things.
ReplyDeleteStoren was affected by Game Five. You can see it in his performances this year.
Espinosa over-thinking everything. It's weird that his radio commercials last year featured him saying he always looked into opposing dugouts to see if they were looking back. An odd, intimidation-based approach for a hitter that is anything but indimidating.
Zimm--throwing problems are 100% mental. I have never seen him throw the same way twice in all these years of watching him.
Stras--the brittleness, the tendency to blame facilities (always kicking at the landing point his first year), his organization (never showing any gratitude for the Nats shutting him down last year), and his teammates (for blowing his mind when Zimm made an error vs. the Cubs the other day).
Harper. I love this kid, but what was he thinking last night, after being hurt running into a fence just a few days prior--thus hurting his team because he couldn't play? The idiotic tweet today. Does growing up with limitless adulation from a whole country cloud the clarity of the mind?
Davey: The "World Series or Bust" comment should never have been made. What was he thinking? Doesn't his faith in Chad Tracy, his faith-based, mental faith I mean, remind all of us of his faith in Matt Stairs?
Rizzo: This is a man with a serious jealousy issue with Billy Beane. I think it's a preoccupation. Do we need this?
Ideally, fans want a team that has fun, gets the job done, and wins. I think that we've got a team that will win some games, but the mental aspect is going to hurt us.