Monday, June 17, 2013

Instant analysis: Phillies 5, Nats 4

USA Today Sports Images
Jeff Kobernus can't haul in Michael Young's third-inning triple off the wall.
Game in a nutshell: Fresh off a frustrating, shutout loss in Cleveland, the Nationals arrived in Philadelphia hoping to find some kind of offensive spark against an old pal: John Lannan, making his return from the DL and his first career start against the franchise that drafted him. The Nationals had their chances early against the lefty but managed only two runs in five innings against him. That wasn't enough, not with Dan Haren once again laboring (four runs allowed over six innings). So the Nationals needed to mount a late rally against the Phillies bullpen a seemingly daunting task, though one they actually were up to. Ian Desmond delivered a two-out RBI single off Mike Adams in the top of the eighth. Chad Tracy then delivered the biggest blow: a solo homer off Jonathan Papelbon on an 0-2 count with two outs in the ninth, keeping the game alive. Alas, Fernando Abad couldn't get the game into extra innings. The left-hander gave up three hits in the bottom of the ninth, including Domonic Brown's two-out, game-winner up the middle. Thus, the Nationals still wound up losing, dropping their fourth consecutive series opener and falling below .500 once again.

Hitting highlight: It's been a rough season for Tracy, and that's putting it mildly. But perhaps the events of the last three nights will be the spark that turns things around for the veteran pinch-hitter. On Saturday in Cleveland, Tracy launched an 0-2 pitch for a game-tying homer. So, of course he had to do the exact same thing in tonight in Philadelphia. With the Nationals down to their final out, down by a run, Tracy again fell behind in the count 0-2 to Papelbon. He fouled off two pitches, then lofted the next one high down the right-field line. John Mayberry Jr. kept backtracking til there was nowhere left to go. The ball landed several rows up, and Tracy circled the bases with another huge home run, perhaps turning his previously disappointing season around.

Pitching lowlight: This was by no means Haren's worst start of the year, or even close to it. But the right-hander wasn't particularly sharp, either, and in some ways was fortunate to only give up four runs over his six innings. The home run once again plagued him, with Ryan Howard crushing a ball into the second deck in right field, the 18th homer surrendered by Haren this season. We've come to expect those from Haren. We haven't come to expect walks. Yet he issued three free passes tonight, including back-to-back ones in the third that helped prolong the inning an allow two runs to score. Haren somehow managed to slog his way through six innings, using up 115 pitches, but he once again departed in line for the loss, his ninth of the year. Thanks to Tracy's late heroics, Haren was spared a no-decision.

Key stat: The Nationals have caught only 13 percent of basestealers this season, the worst mark in the majors and four points worse than last season's 17 percent rate.

Up next: The series continues at 7:05 p.m. Tuesday when Ross Detwiler makes his second start since returning from the DL. Fellow lefty Cliff Lee gets the nod for the Phillies.

143 comments:

  1. Wasn't a bad pitch by Abad. They were showing replays on MLB Network. Was inner third of the plate. Broken bat single. Nothing going our way.

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  2. "William O. Douglas Loeffler said...
    Why didn't they walk him?

    June 17, 2013 10:18 PM"

    Everyone here is smart. Before the AB, nothing. After the single, "Why didn't they walk him?"

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  3. We didnt we walk Rollins.... That is what I don't understand... Haren was awful tonight... But that is a resounding theme with him...

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  4. good teams win 1 run games, bad teams lose them.

    We'll be better with harper and ramos

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  5. 128 - no, I said it as soon as Rollins got on... It made sense.. You knew Rivere was gonna steal and we have pitchers who can't hold runner...

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  6. another loss, another leadership vacuum from davey.

    this team will tread water for another 4 months before drowning mercifully in the potomac.

    but the lerners will make record profits and the Harper jerseys will sell, so who cares?

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  7. David I disagree. Winners make their own luck. This team is a excuse a night team, like they are a World Series team if they could just get hot. A third of the way thru the season and there is no evidence of that.

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  8. David Proctor, that is exactly right. Nice pitch and sawed him off. Batting Average on Balls In Play. Contact.

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  9. We lost game in the third when.2 balls just not caught.

    Abad gives up 3 hit all with 2 strikes, just put 1 of 3 away, we are in extra inning.

    I would never walk Rollins batting right handed. He is only .242

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  10. Abad did fine holding Revere. Rollins hit a broken bat single that advanced him to third because he was running, but it might've been close had Rollins missed. The bat broke on the game winner too. Abad truly ran into bad luck, he made good pitches (except the first hit to Revere).

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  11. This hurts. Nats were set up better for extra innings and couldnt get there.

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  12. I also wonder why a FB on an 0-2 count...

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  13. i don't feel so bad about this game...still stuck on yesterday's game...need hypno-therapy

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  14. The Revere hit was the real problem. he is not hitting lefties and Abad throws it loe but in the middle.

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  15. At the least, we've been coming from behind a whole lot more lately. That's something we weren't doing early. You're not going to win every game you come from behind.

    Just trying to find glimmers of sunshine, folks.

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  16. Tough, tough, tough loss... But they fought their way and didnt give up..

    I didnt know Adam LaRoche was benched... I thought this was a day off...

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  17. You run into bad luck if you don't strike them out. When man is on third other teams have less problem getting a K. Hit the ball you have a chance.

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  18. As I predicted earlier today, Lannan out dueled Rizzo's crappy $13 million hired gun. I just wish that if the Philthies were going to win anyway that he had gotten the W.

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  19. Only part that ticked me this game was Young's triple. It caused the heartburn.

    When you play a secondbaseman in center.

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  20. mick, you are a prophet as you've analyzed the nats..any words of wisdom

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  21. We win this game if Kobernus makes the catch in CF that Span would make. So there's that.

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  22. I didn't come up with the walk idea. The announcers on television said that. I was just asking.

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  23. yes, good points DP, thanks

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  24. I hate to tell everyone, but they are saying that Bryce Harper will be out until after the All Star game. That means that we all need to enjoy our summers and get ready for next year.

    World Series or Bust--2014!

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  25. Brown liks ball inside, wish Abad had goone a way with a curve. suzuki thought inside wou be fine. Obviously a bad choice.

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  26. I figured we would lose this game... I'm sorry to say - its becuz D Haren was on the mound...

    Roger or Span would have had that ball in CF...

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  27. why william, how are we better next year

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  28. William O. Douglas Loeffler said...
    I hate to tell everyone, but they are saying that Bryce Harper will be out until after the All Star game. That means that we all need to enjoy our summers and get ready for next year.


    No they're not. Nobody is. I haven't read a single report saying that. So please cite your source or don't say things that are untrue.

    Boz said today in his chat the estimated timetable was 2 weeks after the cortisone shot. That would be next week.

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  29. ALR not benched. He pinch hit earlier in the game. Grounded back to the pitcher. Silver lining -- the Nats scored a run in both the 8th and the 9th innings.

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  30. Good thing we paid Laroche for 2 year to experience his league worst slumps for half the year. Rizzo could really show some guts by getting rid of Haren but u know it takes him years to admit his mistakes. Season over. I'd look to trade one of Storen , Clip, or Soriano at the deadline to a team desperate for a closer. I'd trade anyone but Znn, Stras,Gio, Harper,Desmond and Rendon if the value is good.

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  31. Here, for all your Eck haters. I didn't know he did this, but I had a sense Span had made a change he wasn't comfortable with. Denard, just change back. From WaPo:

    In spring training, Span and hitting coach Rick Eckstein adjusted his swing so it more closely resembled the form he used in 2009, his best offensive season. Back then, Span said he felt good about the change. During the season, though, Span has yet to find comfort. He is hitting .256 with a .312 on-base percentage, 25 and 41 points below his career averages.

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  32. wish rizzo didn't trade all our catching prospects.

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  33. "I hate to tell everyone, but they are saying that Bryce Harper will be out until after the All Star game."

    Who is they?

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  34. MrsB loves the Nats said...
    Tough, tough, tough loss... But they fought their way and didnt give up..

    I didnt know Adam LaRoche was benched... I thought this was a day off...
    June 17, 2013 10:28 PM
    ----------------

    Mrs B, Adam is 0-12 career vs. John Lannan. Might have a little bit to do with Davey starting Marrero.

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  35. Harper needs to get better a hell of a lot faster.

    Cal Ripjen was saying last week he almost missed. A game with same injury, but the O's had a rainout, then an off day and was ready the next day. He said it was 1988. I knew almost missed one with a knee wasnt sure what was wrong.

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  36. jeff, Derek Norris is batting .199. He does walk a lot though.

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  37. Well natslady that's what Davey wants

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  38. You can tell Span chanced his swing and plate approach, too..

    I read on WaPo about the Adam benching... I know he played tonight....

    Okay, so we seem to be hitting more, and coming back more, now if only we can score more runs, then everything will be right in the universe!

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  39. We are allowed to give up less runs then we score too.

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  40. I'd just like to ask bowdenball , who blasted me for pointing out how bad the Nats are at taking walks this afternoon, how many they got off Lannan tonight. That would be one. It isn't pooping on the discussion when your comments happen to be on the mark.

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  41. *snickers* MNF - not with D Haren on the mound...

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  42. how about the other catcher we traded...i guess he's a way off.
    well, hindsight is 20/20 but
    1. don't trade away one of your best offensive bats after winning 98.
    2. don't give a big contract to a first baseman who had a career year.
    3. Do improve your bench in the off-season.
    4. Do have a 6th starter in AAA.

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  43. I call this another management loss...you do not pitch to the NL HR leader in the 9th with a base open. You just don't, it doesn't matter that he hasn't driven anything. You just don't.

    And a serious question, has there been any peep of who the 2014 manager may be?

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  44. Yeah. That is why Span's has been dipping for four years. It is the Nats fault. Span is a mediocre hitter and runner. He rarely beats out the kind of hits that other speedsters do. He doesn't steal bases reliably. He has ZERO power. He is a pretty good centerfielder. None of that has to do with Eck or anybody. Go look at his stats on baseball ref. He had .341 obp last year up from his previous two years. .341 is okay but far from great. His power was never good but now his power is pathetic. Span was a terrible pick-up if he continues at anything close to this pace.

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  45. Well Haren had 2 walks the first of the 2 was the Second run of the ,3rd.

    We draw way too few walks.

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  46. ....and Ryan Sandberg is one of my all time favorite players....it hurts seeing him in that uni.

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  47. I wish the 2009 Span would return.

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  48. Span's first two years he got on base close to .400. He hasn't come close to that in five years but you guys keep touting his average career obp as though we should expect that. I would be happy with average obp for a replacement player and average power for a replacement player from Span.

    He is probably more to blame for the Nats woes than any of the other field players but people have failed to notice how bad he is because he started off decently. Since May, he keeps fizzing down....

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  49. You know- I know it's another loss, but seeing Papelbon blow a save was quite amusing. Some cold hitters found the ball with the bat tonight. Now if we could just put defense together with offense together with pitching-- all in the same game at the same time ??? Okay? Please?

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  50. Hey Kirbs maybe he will manage the good guys tonight.

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  51. William O. Douglas Loeffler said...
    I hate to tell everyone, but they are saying that Bryce Harper will be out until after the All Star game. That means that we all need to enjoy our summers and get ready for next year.


    Ron Harper's text to a friend of mine today on how Bryce is doing and I quote "He will be back soon".

    Take it for what it's worth. A father about his son. Too optimistic? I don't think so.

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  52. rizzo has a talent for signing low obp guys with good gloves. he overvalues defense and undervalues offensive capabiliities

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  53. They are still in a delay in Atlanta? And they have a day-night double header tomorrow? I would not vouch for the quality of play...

    Lemme see.... Haren pitched with the B-team behind him and hitting for him. Kept the team "in the game" despite questionable D and didn't drain the bullpen as he went six. Gave up one solo HR. Had three 1-2-3 innings including the 6th. OK, I guess he's a "bum," Does he start on Saturday?

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  54. eg: span, laroche, desmond, espinosa, suzuki, bernadina... good glove, low obp but desmond makes it up with his hitting

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  55. Okay.... Lets go 5-4 on this road trip...

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  56. To those who say the team has no fight, we came back against the Mets to win, we did it against the Twins, we did it against the Indians and we nearly did it today. We're not going to complete the comeback every time, but there is definitely more "come from behind" ability than we saw earlier this year.

    What's changed, I don't know.

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  57. MrsB, that will be tough unless Cliff Lee has a bad day. I wanted to win tonight and Wednesday.

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  58. Haren's line tonight...

    6 IP, 7 H, 4R (all earned), 3 BB (2 of which scored), 3 SO, 1 HR all on 115 pitches...

    Yeah, Haren wasn't the reason we lost.. *sarcasm*

    And yes Haren is a bum...

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  59. jeffwx THANK YOU

    my words of wisdom is that 2013 is OVER as far as post season and even finishing 500

    Harper should sit out as long as possible

    the only glimmer of hope in 2014 is Rendon, Desi, Harp and 4 good pitchers
    ope the management will play the young guys from July on

    show davey and Rizzo the door asap before they destroy this team even more

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  60. Yeah, I'm sorry, Haren sucks. If this is a good start, I'd hate to know what your definition of a bad start is.

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  61. Haren's ERA actually went UP! today.

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  62. I'm driving to see Michael Morse at the Angels game. Going to catch a few innings and see Mikey hopefully after the game.

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  63. * sigh*. I'm trying NL... Was hoping/thinking we would win all 3 series and lose to certain pitchers (Lannan was not a pitcher we would have lost too was my thinking).

    But David - I guess the last complete game we won was Jordan's last game... We took the lead, then came back again and played well...

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  64. fact, not opinion... Denny McClain who lost 22 in 1971 was 5-4 at this point of the season...Haren is the worst baseball move among every MLB team this off season

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  65. Mike Morse is a good guy... Hard not to like him...

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  66. I'm just not convinced Morse was a suitable answer for LF. He's been a disaster in the outfield for the Mariners. ALR has a better average, OBP, more RBI and only one less HR. So it's not like there's a huge dropoff there (and significantly better D).

    The problem was there was nowhere for Morse to play, even with his great bat.

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  67. mick said...

    my words of wisdom is that 2013 is OVER as far as post season and even finishing 500


    You could be right or they can still win the NL East.

    It isn't an "I told you so" because anyone can see it one of 2 ways. They will get worse or get better.

    They are under achieving still in many ways and tonight they made a nice attempt. My issue is again with Rizzo, why go with Haren over Ohlendorf. Ohlendorf outpitched him.

    I was hoping Haren would prove me wrong. Maybe in 5 days he will or 10 or 15.

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  68. I actually hope Davey sticks with Haren like he did with Espi...I really would like to see if Haren could break the gopher ball record

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  69. KEEP WEARING THE RED BECAUSE WE ARE DEAD! Stay true and start wearing BLUE. We will never win in the Phillies colors!

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  70. A bad start? How about this one?

    6 IP 10 hits 7 runs (all earned) 3 home runs

    or this one?

    5 IP 8 hits 6 runs (all earned) 2 home runs.

    I didn't say Haren made good start. It was below average. What I said was he went 6 innings, kept his team in the game, and could have done better with better D.

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  71. Totally agree with your post, David... Morse wasnt the answer. It also wouldn't have been fair to him to labor on the bench...

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  72. mick - just so posters like bowdenball won't accuse me of ALWAYS being negative, I don't quite agree about Haren being the worst offseason move. That still goes to the Cubs for giving Edwin Jackson, who has been every bit as bad as Haren when not pitching against the Nats, $13 million a year for FOUR years. At least we avoided that catastrophe.

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  73. good post Ghost..now I am really mad, i forgot about Ohlendorf!

    will anyone ask grandpa that question?

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  74. Coming back to lose isn't really coming back.

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  75. I guess NL. Span probably catches the ball to CF, Werth maybe should've caught the ball he dove for, but both were hit extremely hard off the bat. Neither were routine or easy plays. Those things fall on Haren just like that ball Harper couldn't get to in San Francisco fell on Soriano.

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  76. but karl...that is the Cubs, they dont count, lol

    seriously, Cubs not contenders..Nats were picked to win it all, that is why it is the worse move

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  77. Ack David... Stop stealing my thunder... Lol...

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  78. me thinks the Lerners are about to explode

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  79. I'm wondering if we hear of a phantom injury with Haren... I didnt hear DJ's press but I wonder what he had to say about Haren...

    Wonder if he will stick with him...

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  80. Davey said "We have confidence in him, he'll be fine" but the way he said it was not very enthusiastic.

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  81. Ten years ago we did not have a team. Ten years ago we did not have a team. Alternate chanting with the bourbon-maalox cocktail, and repeat as needed.

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  82. Even if we continue to do things the hardest way possible, I do not want Bryce on that field until he is 100%. He is too young and too talented and too great a kid to take any more risks with him. And I cannot be angry with the 25 guys in that clubhouse. They are down and out, but working hard. I know they love this game and they care and they are beating themselves up. I just have this feeling when I watch that the manager has no idea what to do. I feel that there are moves that could be made in games that are being missed-- running for Soan yesterday, maybe walking Brown- not musts, but seems like every game now the game is playing us.

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  83. Ok, boys. Let's take the next two and win the series. GYFNG!!!

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  84. Which inning was the Werth play? I didn't see either play as I was working and just saw the comments here.

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  85. Thanks, NatsLady for your Haren perspective. He certainly wasn't great, but the defense in the OF cost him big time. There were a lot of "ifs" involved. If Kobernus makes a tough, but playable catch, Young doesn't get a triple. If Jayson either A: makes a catch, or B:keeps the ball in front of him, either no run scores, in the case of A, or in the case of B, only Young scores, but as it was they were lucky that Ryan Howard didn't score too. (That's what I was alluding to, Ghost, when i said that they were lucky that only one run scored.I should've worded it that they were lucky that only one 'more' run scored They were lucky that all three guys didn't score). Ryan Zimmerman made a great play on Rendon's relay throw, otherwise Howard would've scored, too.

    Ghost, thanks for the Harper info. Hope it's accurate. Can't happen soon enough.

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  86. Regarding Davey sticking with Haren--I don't see what choice he really has unless the Nats want to throw another raw, not quite ready for MLB action arm like Taylor Jordan to the wolves again. Given his track record, I just can't see Ohlendorf cutting it for very long if he were anointed as the replacement.

    Of course, there is still the trading deadline, but if the Nats are sitting at around 10 or more games back and/or Harper is not back and fully healthy by then it would be futile to deplete the farm system on a rent-a-starter. I think we're stuck with Haren until at least September call up time.

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  87. So the Phils won tonight and my brother in law is texting me like they lost. They are quite sure that Amaro needs to blow up the team and winning the game just delayed it by a day or two. Howard is hurt and old, etc, etc, etc. I asked him if he actually watched the entire ninth inning....baseball fans enjoy being miserable.

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  88. The problem with hoping to still win this series is that if I heard correctly we face Cliff Lee tomorrow. If we couldn't get to Lannan tonight, how are we going to score off him. And he can pitch complete games.

    To add insult to injury the guy on our team who hits him the best won't be in the lineup - that would be Danny Espinosa.

    Did I really just say that?

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  89. Thanks, MrsB. I will watch that inning when MLB puts the game up in the archive.

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  90. It was the third inning on the OF miscues. Not the 5th, Mrs B and Nats Lady.

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  91. Haren was lucky some of those other hits weren't runs... They hit the ball hard... Yes Kobernus misplayed it (I mean he is an IF playing OF) and yeah Werth probably misplayed it too, but they were good/hard hits....

    Haren just isn't a good pitcher...

    Imma burn some sage tomorrow.. Hopefully we beat them 3-1.

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  92. karlkolchak said...
    Regarding Davey sticking with Haren--I don't see what choice he really has unless the Nats want to throw another raw, not quite ready for MLB action arm like Taylor Jordan to the wolves again. Given his track record, I just can't see Ohlendorf cutting it for very long if he were anointed as the replacement.

    Of course, there is still the trading deadline, but if the Nats are sitting at around 10 or more games back and/or Harper is not back and fully healthy by then it would be futile to deplete the farm system on a rent-a-starter. I think we're stuck with Haren until at least September call up time.
    June 17, 2013 11:20 PM


    I agree with this, Karl.

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  93. I thought the Kobernus mis play was in the 3rd and the Werth hit was the 5th....

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  94. If Rizzo makes a trade, it will be a sign and trade like with Gio. I do not see him giving up any half decent prospects for a few month rental.

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  95. I was just reading some game quotes on twitter.,Storen did not take the bottom of the ninth because they did not have him ready. Ok then. So basically they are saying that the possibility of us tying the game never occurred to anyone ? Are we managing the game? Or is it just kind of happening?

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  96. No, Young was on third from his triple when Werth's play happened. Jayson did make a great recovery play to limit the damage.

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  97. Does anyone think we could trade for Bud Norris? Got a few spare infielders hanging around. Couple of first basemen?

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  98. Davey said he did not warm Storen unless he was sure he was going to enter the game. Storen has been warmed a lot and then not needed, Davey didn't want to do that again. Once the game was tied, the inning ended too quickly for Storen to be ready.

    If Abad had got Revere out, Davey was going to bring in Storen. But Abad didn't get Revere out and then Davey needed Abad to hold Revere close (which I thought he did a fantastic job of doing).

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  99. You're right, Joe, becuz that was the awesome throw by Rendon to Zimm... It's all jumbled u at this point... All I know is we lost, and are yet again back under 500...

    Anyone else watching HRod and the Cubs?

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  100. So Clip busted his a$$ to keep it at one run and it didn't occur to anyone that Papelbon might give up a run?

    BTW, did that catcher lean in to get the HBP or was it legit? I had Charlie and Davey on and they did not approve!

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  101. HRod just hit the batter.... Before that hit the ump...

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  102. Bottom 3rd: Philadelphia
    - B. Revere lined out to second
    - M. Young tripled to deep center
    - J. Rollins walked
    - J. Rollins stole second
    - R. Howard walked
    - D. Brown struck out swinging
    - D. Young doubled to right, M. Young and J. Rollins scored, R. Howard to third, R. Howard out trying to get back to third, after trying to go home.

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  103. Well, OK, DP, I guess that seems reasonable. But it also seems to me Storen throws and "warms" a lot when he's not coming into games. That guy is a puzzlement to me--Storen I mean.

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  104. Why do people keep saying that nobody thought Papelbon would give it up? They were prepared, they had Abad warming. They just did not want to start warming Storen until after the game was tied because they didn't want to have to warm him and sit him again. After Tracy tied the game, the inning ended so quickly that Drew did not have time to finish getting ready.

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  105. That sounds like some great baserunning by Howard--at least from your description, Seam.

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  106. Storen is a guy, I think, who needs a defined role in the bullpen. And right now he doesn't have it and it's clearly affecting him (although he has improved lately--meltdown in Coloardo not withstanding).

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  107. Rendon's throw wasn't particularly good (not sure why people are saying it is). It had a ton of zip but was VERY high. Zim made an incredible leaping grab to snag it and then tagged Howard.

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  108. You gotta see the throw by Rendon NL... A thing of beauty..

    I watched the game in the bar while listening to Charlie and Dave and looking at Game Center...

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  109. MrsB, Ryan saved Rendon from a run scoring error on that throw with a leaping catch. If Zimm doesn't make that play, not only does Howard score, but D. Young gets to third with two outs. Instead Zimm made not only a great catch of Rendon's throw, but he then made a great tag on Howard. It probably does go in the book as an assist for Rendon and Werth. If so, that's a case of a misleading stat. IMHO.

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  110. LOL, Henry made his Cubs debut with a HBP to the first batter? OK, then. Only one run, and a very, very, long fly ball.

    1. Carlos Beltran hit by pitch.
    2. Matt Holliday singles on a line drive to left fielder Alfonso Soriano. Carlos Beltran to 3rd. Matt Holliday advances to 2nd, on a fielding error by left fielder Alfonso Soriano.
    3. Allen Craig out on a sacrifice fly to right fielder Nate Schierholtz. Carlos Beltran scores. Matt Holliday to 3rd.
    4. Yadier Molina grounds out, shortstop Starlin Castro to first baseman Anthony Rizzo.
    5. David Freese flies out to center fielder Ryan Sweeney.

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  111. I have to tell my story:

    Tomorrow is my birthday and I took today off of work. I had the following options:

    1. Stain the new deck
    2. Watch the Nats pooch another one.
    3. Have my eyes gouged out by tooth picks.

    Easy choice 2 and 3 are the same choice. I picked 1. Did not know what happened and was much happier. Have never been this disappointed in a Washington team.

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  112. Please tell me this Cubs game is on tv somewhere. Oh, Henry. Hit the ump, then the batter?

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  113. Henry hit the ump?? I missed that!

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  114. Great base running and Ryan Howard in the same breath? Oh, come now!

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  115. Yeah Henry hit the ump with his first pitch.

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  116. I think theres a very high chance they get shutout tommorow.

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  117. Seam, sorry, I forgot the /sarcasm...

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  118. 6-14-13--The Nationals, who have been injury-ravaged all season, are finally beginning to get healthy. Stephen Strasburg, who has been out since the beginning of June with a strained right lat, returns to the rotation Sunday against the Cleveland Indians.

    As for Harper, he is likely still a few weeks away from joining the club with rehab games ready for him in Potomac. Whenever he does return, though, it would come at the perfect time, as the Nationals have begun to play better, flirting with staying over .500.

    http://fansided.com/2013/06/14/washington-nationals-of-bryce-harper-could-resume-baseball-activities-next-week/

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  119. I was doing my best Dobie Gillis there, NatsLady!

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  120. Assuming that few means three weeks, Harper might be back before the All Star break. I guess it would be nice to see him play in it although I have mixed emotions if he can't play for us, then maybe he should sit it out and rest his knee.

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  121. Actually, that would be my best Maynor G.Crebbs, NatsLady.

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  122. DP, maybe that's true about Storen. When Mattheus comes back, Clip can go on the DL for a couple of weeks and Storen can have the 8th inning.

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  123. Are some of us showing our age group?

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  124. You bet, swami.

    Here's the Werth to Rendon to Zimmerman play;
    http://wapc.mlb.com/play/?content_id=28105565&c_id=mlb

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  125. Why would Clip need to go on the DL? He may cause cardiac arrest, but he's one of our best relievers. Can't afford to lose him.

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  126. I thought the throw by Rendon was a rocket... But, yeah.... On to tomorrow...

    I feel like if I keep saying it - Nats will win - then we will...

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  127. I keep forgetting that Matheus is hurt... I keep still waiting for someon to say SIKE about his injury...

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  128. Actually, swami, it was spelled Maynor G Krebs. Let's just say that I knew Bob Denver when Gilligan wasn't even a gleam in Mary Ann's eye!

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  129. so the upshot is that Storen ended up warming and not being used anyway? Did he make a full warmup?

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  130. Exposremains said...
    I think theres a very high chance they get shutout tommorow.
    June 17, 2013 11:47 PM


    ¿I agree. Det throws 6 shutout innings and the bull pen close out the game. Nats win 3-0¿

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  131. DP, I worry about him wearing down. Of course he is a key reliever.

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  132. MrsB, it ended up being a sensational play. I don't know how to make this into a link, but copy and paste this and you can see the play:

    http://wapc.mlb.com/play/?content_id=28105565&c_id=mlb

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  133. Hate me all you want but I have now made plans for an Oct.vacation in Boston followed by another a week later in the Outer Banks in Manteo. It makes no sense to sit at home waiting for this team to turn the corner. I will still root for them and wish for success and I have my mlb "at bat" to follow them away from home, but this year, when they maybe are offering Playoff Tickets to Season Ticket Holders, I am passing. Hoping I look like a total idiot 3 months from now but I seriously doubt that.

    Go Nats!!

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  134. Wow, that's pretty fantastic.

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  135. Yeah Joe - I understand why David said it wasn't a good throw but I thought it was a helluva play...

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  136. I don't think Drew was warm enough to come in. Davey could have had Abad IBB Dominick Brown to load the bases and then brought Drew in to face Mayberry. Davey chose the lefty/lefty matchup. When Abad got ahead 0-2 it was looking pretty good, but then he threw an inside pitch about belt high for the final RBI hit.

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  137. Steve, sounds like a reverse lock for sure!

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  138. I am not giving up. When Harper is back, I would love to see: Werth, Span, Desmond, Harper, Zimmerman, Laroche, Catcher, Rendon, Pitcher. Bet it never happens but it would mean you are never more than one player away from a guy that can hit it hard and regular.

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