Friday, July 19, 2013

Game 96: Dodgers at Nats

Mark Zuckerman / NATS INSIDER
It's been a long four days without baseball, but at last the Nationals are back on the field tonight, determined to open the second half of their season on a positive note. The challenge right out of the blocks isn't easy: the Dodgers have MLB's best record since June 22 at 17-5, and they send Ricky Nolasco (career 11-7, 3.66 ERA vs. the Nats) to the mound for the opener.

Stephen Strasburg gets the start for the Nationals, coming off the worst start of his career and also dealing with some oppressive heat and humidity tonight. As I type this, the heat index in Washington stands at 110, with the dew point an insane 78. We've seen Strasburg struggle with heat in the past; it'll be interesting to see how he deals with this tonight.

If you've got tickets to the game, please be prepared yourself for the conditions and plan to drink lots of water. If you're staying home to watch in the comfort of central air conditioning, you're in luck. I'll be sweating it out here and will have updates and analysis throughout...

LOS ANGELES DODGERS at WASHINGTON NATIONALS
Where: Nationals Park
Gametime: 7:05 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN, MLB.tv
Radio: WJFK (106.7 FM), WFED (1500), XM 184
Weather: Humid, 92 degrees, Wind 9 mph out to CF
NATIONALS (48-47)
CF Denard Span
2B Anthony Rendon
3B Ryan Zimmerman
LF Bryce Harper
RF Jayson Werth
SS Ian Desmond
1B Chad Tracy
C Wilson Ramos
RHP Stephen Strasburg

DODGERS (47-47)
LF Carl Crawford
RF Yasiel Puig
1B Adrian Gonzalez
SS Hanley Ramirez
CF Andre Ethier
C A.J. Ellis
3B Juan Uribe
2B Mark Ellis
RHP Ricky Nolasco

UMPIRES
HP Paul Schrieber
1B Chad Fairchild
2B Jeff Kellogg (cc)
3B Eric Cooper

7:08 p.m. — We are underway. Stephen Strasburg's first pitch (94 mph) actually topped the gametime temperature (92 degrees) but barely. The heat index at 7 p.m.: 105.

7:16 p.m. — And already we've seen the conditions have an effect on Strasburg, who lost his grip on a 90-mph changeup to Hanley Ramirez and threw it behind the cleanup hitter's head. No intent there, just a sweaty right hand. Strasburg immediately went to the rosin bag, and he bounced back to get Ramirez to pop-up on a nice curveball. Jayson Werth also made a nifty catch in foul territory, reaching over the wall to snag Yasiel Puig's foul pop. Overall, 17 pitches (11 strikes) for Strasburg in a scoreless top of the first.

7:24 p.m. — The good news: Denard Span drew a walk in the bottom of the first, the third straight game he's done that when leading off. The bad news: Anthony Rendon and Ryan Zimmerman each grounded out to second, with Rendon's grounder turning into a 4-6-3 double play. Scoreless after one.

7:33 p.m. — Strasburg has put four men on base through two innings, but he's managed to limit the damage to three singles and a walk and got help with a 6-4-3 double play in the bottom of the second. He's at 32 pitches (19 strikes) through two scoreless.

7:47 p.m. — Wow, lots of stuff going on in the bottom of the second. It began with Bryce Harper's leadoff double, making him 6-for-7 with two doubles and two homers this season against Nolasco, not too shabby. Harper then took third base on Jayson Werth's flyball to right, though by no fault of Puig, who fired a perfect strike on the fly to third and actually appeared to get Harper just in time. Umpire Eric Cooper called him safe, and that proved significant when Nolasco uncorked a wild pitch to bring Harper home with the first run of the night. But that throw by Puig ... wow. The ballpark was buzzing after that. Nats lead 1-0 after two.

7:56 p.m. — Just when it looked like Strasburg was finding his groove — he struck out Crawford and Puig back-to-back to begin the third inning — he gave it back with a two-out rally. Gonzalez singled up the middle. Ramirez then crushed the very next pitch to right-center for a two-run homer. It wasn't a terrible pitch by Strasburg: 95 mph on the outside corner, but Ramirez is certainly capable of doing damage on pitches like that. So just like that, the Dodgers are up 2-1 in the third.

8:13 p.m. — Strasburg has been walking a tightrope all night. He's allowed seven hits and a walk through four innings, but so far Ramirez's homer is the only actual damage. The right-hander is already at 67 pitches, though, and under these conditions you've got to wonder how far Davey will let him go tonight. Still 2-1 Dodgers heading to the bottom of the fourth.

8:29 p.m. — Yikes, if you wanted to encapsulate the 2013 Nationals into a single half-inning, that was it just now. They loaded the bases with nobody out in the bottom of the fourth ... and came away with nothing. Desmond grounded out weakly to third on a check-swing. Tracy lofted a shallow fly ball to left field, and though Harper decided to test Crawford's admittedly weak arm, he pulled up after 20 feet ... only to watch as Crawford's throw sailed way up the first base line. He would've scored easily. So now it was up to Ramos, to grounded out to the pitcher. You don't usually hear very many boos directed at the home team in this ballpark, but there were plenty at the end of that fiasco. It's still 2-1 after four.

9:10 p.m. — Well, on the bright side, the Nats have tied the game. Singles by Zimmerman, Werth and Desmond produced a run in the bottom of the sixth and knocked Nolasco out. But with a chance to take the lead, Tracy took the first pitch from reliever Jose Dominguez and grounded into a 6-3, inning-ending double play. I think it's about time we add "veteran, left-handed bench bat" to Mike Rizzo's July 31st shopping list. It's 2-2 after six.

9:16 p.m. — Nice job by Strasburg. On this sweltering night, he battled and has retired 11 in a row since the fourth inning. He's now through the seventh, having allowed just the two runs on Ramirez's homer. Nice job by the right-hander in really tough conditions. Still 2-2 at the stretch.

9:30 p.m. — Man, this Yasiel Puig kid is something in the field. There's obviously the arm, but he also just made a remarkable catch down the right-field line, slamming into the wall to rob Rendon and end the bottom of the seventh. Just remarkable. Still 2-2 as we go to the eighth and Tyler Clippard enters.

9:39 p.m. — A dominant eighth inning from Clippard. He struck out Puig on a changeup, got Gonzalez to hit a weak flyball to left field and struck out Ramirez on a fastball. Good stuff from the righty. Now it's up to the Nats lineup to get the go-ahead runner across the plate in the bottom of the eighth.

9:49 p.m. — And we go to the ninth inning, the game still tied. And here's a head-scratcher: Rafael Soriano is now in, even though Davey had double-switched out Rendon earlier, ostensibly so Clippard could pitch two innings. I'm not quite understanding this one.

9:56 p.m. — And Soriano serves up a go-ahead homer to Ethier to lead off the ninth. It wasn't a bad pitch from the Nats closer - a slider way down in the zone - but Ethier managed to golf it off the top of the fence in right field. So now the Nats trail 3-2 and are down to their last three outs.

10:07 p.m. — That'll do it. The second half of the season begins with a 3-2 loss that sure felt a lot like plenty of losses from the first half of the season. The Nats are back at .500 and, with the Phillies cruising in New York, are about to fall into third place in the NL East.

279 comments:

  1. Interesting lineup. No explanation? I was hoping the days of having sub-Mendoza hitters in the lineup were gone forever.

    There are lots of ways to look at the road ahead, but here's another that might make those rose colored glasses fog up. Suppose the Braves play like they have for most of the season, rather than how they played in the first two weeks. If they go just 33-34 the rest of the way, they get to 87 wins. To beat that record and avoid a one game playoff, the Nats have to go 40-27 (.597). And that's if the Braves play just mediocre baseball the rest of the way. Every little bit of improvement they make over what would be a limp to the finish line makes our climb that much harder.

    Our collapse right before the break against the Phillies and Marlins really put us behind the eight ball.

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  2. Go, NATS!! And stay cool, folks. (It's air-conditioned comfort for me tonight. Just a little splash more of iced tea? Why yes, that would be lovely, thanks. ahhh...cheers...[clink])

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  3. Maybe ALR has a dewpoint rider in his contract?

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  4. Wow. Either LaRoche is hurt, has a family situation that demands his attention, or has been traded. Or Davey puts WAY too much stock in matchup numbers- Tracy is hitting .333/.385/.500 vs. Nolasco over 12 ABs. Those are the only explanations I can come up with.

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  5. ALR doesnt need rest so tgere is anotger explination.

    On Sunday Span needs to be back to 7th.

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  6. See Mark's latest tweet--"LaRoche appears not to be injured, just under the weather."

    Ain't we all.

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  7. Charlie Sclows on MLB said ALR was ill yesterday including fever.

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  8. Then how about keeping him away from everyone else? Not like he should be out in this heat with a fever.

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  9. Well that's an interesting lineup. Even taking away that Tracy is in for ALR, Harper hitting cleanup after Zim? That's new.

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  10. Looks like Paul McCartney stage really did a bad job on the OF. Any comment Mark, is that just a bad pic?

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  11. Hey, maybe Chad Tracy will rock our world tonight! And I have seen some pics of the field- nasty.ALR sick. Welcome back to the Nats 3013 season!!

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  12. Stage for mcCartney caused problems? That is not good.

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  13. Hey, maybe Chad Tracy will rock our world tonight

    Hope springs eternal.

    I remember Davey saying he liked having Harp 1st and ALR 4th to make it harder for the opposing manager to match up with a lefty pitcher in the late innings. So maybe that's his thinking for Span/Harper tonight. In any event, Tracy sure shouldn't hit 1st or 4th, so I guess the new fangled lineup of last Sunday wasn't an option.

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  14. I wonder if Hairston gets a start against Kershaw.

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  15. David Hairston on Sunday I would think would be appropriate.

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  16. Hairston instead of whom?

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  17. Span, I guess. I'm not sure what Hairston's numbers against Kershaw are like though.

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  18. No Det til next Friday at least, per Mark's tweeter, and Davey is "not hopeful" about that. Ouch.

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  19. HH

    That's OK. Jordan has been very solid for a 5th starter.

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  20. Well the problem is there's a double-header so we need 6. Davey says Ross O. is going to get that start.

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  21. JD

    Agreed--I've been pleased with Jordan, but I'd be more comfortable to have Det available too.

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  22. I'm guessing the Mets will be using their #6 that game also?

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  23. Noted without comment:

    Bruce Miles ‏@BruceMiles2112
    #Cubs say RHP Henry Rodriguez has cleared waivers and been outrighted to Class AAA Iowa.
    Retweeted by Chase Hughes

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  24. Thank goodness baseball is back... I got tired of watching some of the games on the DVR....

    Anywho, I missed you folks! Why Chad Tracy is playing... *sigh*

    I really hope Rizzo makes a move or 2 before the deadline...

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  25. Lets get this 2nd half started off correctly... No more losing series... Lets take the 2nd half by storm...

    Really looking forward to seeing SS vs Puig tonight...

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  26. From Nathan Fenno in the WT:

    Reliever Ryan Mattheus is three games into his minor-league rehabilitation assignment as he recovers from the broken pitching hand he suffered in May. Over those three games with three different affiliates, Mattheus allowed five hits, two runs and struck out three in four innings. He reportedly did not punch a locker after any of the games.

    Actually, I made up the last sentence.

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  27. I don't think Mattheus will make the roster right off the bat.... Unless Stammen is injured...

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  28. I just hope Adam has not breathed on anyone!!! Last thing we need is a flu epidemic in the clubhouse. Ick!!

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  29. 222, I was hoping the days of Denard Span at leadoff were over. It would be nice to see someone better suited to the leading off batting 1st - you know, someone whose OBP is better than the league average. I would love to be proven wrong on this one.

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  30. MPB, frankly I'm less concerned about Span batting leadoff than about Tracy batting at all. But I certainly agree that Span has been less than adequate, particularly against lefties. If Davey isn't going to permanently move him down in the order, maybe he will move him down, or platoon him, against lefties. We may get a sense tomorrow night vs. Kershaw.

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  31. I mean, Span is hitting over .300 at home and against righties. This is at home and against a righty. It makes sense.

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  32. Agree with Ray Knight. We need 7 of this homestand. 8 would be nice.

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  33. Fabulous scouting report on Puig on MLB. He wants to swing!!! We have got to let him get himself out. We saw it with Bryce- until they channel it, they can be their own worst enemy.

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  34. The book on Puig is to pitch him inside. If you pitch him away, he will hit it. You need to get inside. But make sure you get in there and not leave it out over the plate or he'll hit it a long way.

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  35. They showed him and Cespedes swinging at pitches in the other battery's box. The trick to outside is waaay outside.

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  36. And yet he is hitting .390.

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  37. He's hitting .240 over his last 10 games. It took some time for people to figure out how to pitch to him. You can get him out as long as you don't make mistakes.

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  38. SPAN BACK TO LEADOFF????? WAKE UP DAVEY

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  39. Anybody else a little nervous about STRAS? I cant get last Friday out of my head.

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  40. They clearly showed smart pitchers getting him out pretty handily. Takes a while for the league to figure you out. Happens to every player. Happened to Stras and Harper. Humbling game. Cespedes has not hit a home run in like six weeks in a game.

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  41. SWM-- I am nervous about almost everything involved in this game.

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  42. Puig is not a Vladdy type who can swing at anything and still make contact.

    Puig's overall swing rate is 57.4% and contact rate is 66.7%.

    2013 average is 46.3% and 79.7%

    Vladdy was 58.4% and 81% career.

    Vladdy's numbers make me smile.

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  43. SWM, Span is batting over .300 against RHP and at home. This is both at home and against RHP.

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  44. Secret,

    See DP's post at 6:06. Span is hitting well at home and against righties. Just what is on the menu tonight.

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  45. David P and Knoxville

    Don't underestimate the extent to which some folks want to make Span the goat for all that ails the Nats.

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  46. Span has been a disappointment, but I think people have a tendency to make one person the cause of all that is wrong. People were just CERTAIN that getting Espinosa out of here would make the team better. Well, Rendon is certainly an improvement, but is the team really playing that much better? Baseball isn't as simple and plugging in someone new. Ask the Angels about that.

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  47. Good play Werth.

    Ump squeezed Stras early.

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  48. Span walks! Maybe this is truly a "second season".

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  49. Dammit Anthony. Bailed out a guy who can't throw strikes

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  50. Mattingly got off the bench. Did the Nats see the Puig highlights?

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  51. Is that small ball or smart ball?

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  52. Kemp catches that ball...........

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  53. Nolasco could live up to that nickname No Last Long. Let's hope.

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  54. Spending a lot of time on Desi at 2nd.

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  55. 3-1 count leverage and Tracy rolls it over. Sheesh.

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  56. And nats are the mystery team for garza ugh

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  57. Just saw the throw by Puig....

    #sick

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  58. Maybe it's wishful thinking on my part, but I sense a much greater sense of urgency on the part of the Nats. Stras seems dialed in, despite the humidity he despises. Harp takes the extra base (barely). I'm liking it. It's time.

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  59. Nats have been rumored for Garza for years. Just say NO!

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  60. Strasburg buries strike 3 right down the middle on Puig. I would call that a challenge fastball.

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  61. Strasburg goes back over the middle outside to Hanley. OUch.

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  62. Apparently that fastball just not something he could resist. Or hit.

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  63. Wow that ball got out FAST. Wasn't a bad pitch either. It was away.

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  64. Oops. Maybe Hanley has that same sense of urgency as well.

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  65. Hanley Ramirez is another Nats killer...sh%^!

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  66. We have never pitch Ramerez well. Killed us since 2005.

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  67. Just when you think the danger has passed with Puig..... Can't let down after that huge at bat because the next couple of guys can hit also. Let's hope the guys have Nolasco figured out.

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  68. What did he pitch Gonzalez. I stepped away and he was on bench. A solo homer doesbt hurt a 2 run one does.

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  69. MNF, solo HR hurts, its just that 2 run HRs hurt more.

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  70. Span is good at grounding out to second.

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  71. MNF, AGonz singled on a 4-seamer down in the zone if I recall.

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  72. Our hitters looked clueless that inning.

    Strasburg second consecutive inning when we score for him, he gives up even more.

    A very bad habit has started.

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  73. E said...
    Span is good at grounding out to second.

    July 19, 2013 8:02 PM


    Nolasco threw him an outside pitch and he pulled it. That's just poor hitting.

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    Replies
    1. Whe he pulls outside pitches his chances of getting a hit are slim and none.

      Seems so obvious, but he keeps doing it, and I don't see Eck fixng it.

      Delete
  74. RZim steals away a single there.

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  75. Ramos calling a terrible game. Throw fastballs by batters 7 and 8

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  76. Anybody else think SS looks sort of flush, as if the heat and humidity was getting to him already? He looks really red in his face.

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  77. MNF, I wonder if Span has always pulled the outside pitches. The opposing pitchers know it too. Those are pitches he just can't seem to foul off and waste as he has to see them.

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    Replies
    1. I wonder too, but it so obvious to us, how can not be detected by Eck or Davey etc. They are suppose to be professionals.

      Delete
  78. Zuki calls a better game than Ramos, IMO...

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  79. Manassas Nats' Fan said...
    Ramos calling a terrible game. Throw fastballs by batters 7 and 8


    Uribe hit a flat changeup. Ellis singled off of a curveball.

    What are you talking about?

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  80. Strasburg is not good. Please don't read me stats. He looses games that's all that matters. He would be fine on a good heating team. But with this awful oftense he just cant win. Its time to be sellers with some of these guys

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  81. I don't remember Span ever going the other way. With that speed, I don't get it.

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  82. Ghost - MnF may be saying it becuz the bottom of the order is hitting off SS....

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  83. Carp what you talki.g about.



    Some lefties talking ALR's slack? What lefty besides Harper does he mean?

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  84. Way to go Bryce! Great running and slide RZim!

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  85. Secret said,

    "...time to be sellers..." Seriously?

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  86. MrsB loves the Nats said...
    Ghost - MnF may be saying it becuz the bottom of the order is hitting off SS....


    He threw a flat changeup to Uribe instead of the big dipper but the curve to Ellis was good. Credit to the batter.

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  87. Kids worth the price. Gotta score aime runs now. Cant blow this.

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  88. Yeah Knoxville. Really sick.pf span and Tracy. Get themoutta here. Let t Bernie play

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  89. Gotta score at least 3 here. If not that's your season in a nutshell. Just a hit. Don't swing out of your shoes here.

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  90. Damn you any where but 3rd or pitcher

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  91. Tracy. Are you kidding me? 1st pitch popup. SMH

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  92. If we just knew how bad that throw eas

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  93. What an absolutely disgusting hitting team. Wow disgraceful. Not even a sack fly. What else do you need to see.

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  94. this team is just so disappointing sometimes, i mean come on, bases loaded and 0 outs and we don't even score a run?!!!

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  95. Situational hitting is terrible...

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  96. Got to love Eck's hitters. Desi swings at one low and outside and dinks to third, then Tracy swings at a high first pitch, and Ramos reaches and tries to pull and outside one.

    All three were terribly execured at bats, and I bet Eck will say nothing.

    The hitters are not being coached at all.

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  97. Solo HR's are the only way this team scores any runs.

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  98. I know you dont believe it but with a good hitting coach we would be fine.

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  99. Ghost,

    A week or two ago I floated Raul Ibanez on here as a potential trade target. Good LH bat off the bench, can play a decent outfield although a weak arm, and if I'm not mistaken can also play first base if needed. IIRC you kind of soured on that saying he would want to play regularly. Don't you think Ibanez would welcome the chance to get into a possible playoff situation? I mean Seattle isn't going to contend this year and Raul is on a one year contract I think.

    Certainly beats the heck out of Tracy anyway.

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  100. Well Desi's was a check swing. I don't think he meant to hit it.

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  101. lol you guys thought we would score?

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  102. They are begging you tontake the game. And you don't. Cant polish a turd. Season over. Stras deserves better. Char Tracy makes me sick.

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  103. Tracy's AB was so poor it's hard to believe he is a MLB batter. 1st ball swinging on an elevated 1st pitch fastball begging to be fouled or popped up.

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  104. Desi or Tracy all you needed was a nice fly.

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  105. This has the all too familiar look of yet another 3-1 or 2-1 loss. We desperately need a few clutch bats.

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  106. I'm a little shocked... Seriously... Bases loaded and no outs...

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    Replies
    1. The hitters have done this all season. How could you be shocked? I am not shocked I am ticked off.

      More ticked off as the hitters are willing to be this poor.

      You all think care more than the fans. I see no proof that they do

      Delete
  107. Our hitters just do not execute well. I say poor coaching is tolerant of this poor execution.

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  108. I think Tracy was TRYING to hit a popup. He wanted the sac fly. He just didn't get it deep enough. Poor AB regardless. That was a disgusting inning.

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  109. David Proctor said...
    Well Desi's was a check swing. I don't think he meant to hit it.


    He didn't but Tracy sure meant to hit his and it was pathetic. I still can't believe he made this team. What did Rizzo see after the All Star break last season to extend him before the season ended?

    Again, a nice guy but you also have to play and clearly he can't at this level about 90% of the time.

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  110. It's also bad luck that Desi's dribbler went right to Uribe. That could've been a check swing bunt hit also.

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  111. Look at that. Soft grounder to short.

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  112. And yet Davey keeps putting him out there. Daveys is a fool. Does he even care. And tendon even has the bug now. He cant hit.

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  113. Lol Rendon is 0-2 and suddenly he can't hit anymore.

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  114. Had a fast runner been at third he probably scores

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  115. Rendon is not having a good night though.

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  116. So now Rendon is in a funk, too.... Great....

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  117. Span gets on base... 2 gets him out with a DP... Not understanding the flack Span is getting tonight...

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  118. My worse fears have occurred. Eck has got a hold of Rendon.

    Why is Span not stealing maybe that breaks up these double plays.

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  119. Great post manassas. Ticked off is right. Gut less. Is that 3 Dps for ren

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  120. still watching but getting harder & harder by the inning...#painful #ruF-nkiddingme

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  121. We are doing nothing but helping Nolasco out...

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  122. I cant believe I missed baseball. Heck I still miss baseball. Same s. T diffeewnt day. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. I'm pissed

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  123. Jurickson Profar playing LF tonight. He's played 2nd, SS, 3rd, and LF this season.

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  124. Our hitters act as if they never played before when most have played since tgey were 6.

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  125. It good thing i love baseball, because this lack of hitting is sickening.

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  126. Cant hit there worst pitcher. I see a sweep this weekend guys. Sorry. I cant take anymore tonight. Wake me if we score.

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  127. MrsB loves the Nats said...
    We are doing nothing but helping Nolasco out...


    You think? It's awful. I can't figure it out. Tracy batting .153. Yah, he's due. He capitalizes on balls on the inner half. Why are you swinging at up and out? Work it to your pitch.

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  128. IM NOT GOING TO SPEND ANYMORE OF MY MONEY TO WATCH THIS TRASH.TILL THIS TEAM FIRES ECK AND OUR GM GROWS SOME BALLS AND DOES SOMETHING TO HELP THIS TEAM.THIS IS AN OBSURD JOKE.

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  129. Yes. It's just pitiful watching this team hit. Who is the hitting coach? He's gotta go. Shoulda been gone a loooooooooooog time ago.

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  130. Go back read what i wrote on Tracy nothing has changed.

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  131. If we don't catch them here they are going to the pen. And they got some good arms out there

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  132. ok Bryce, pretend its your old man out there!!!

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  133. God that Crawford has a horrible arm. Worse than Ny....er ....Morgan's arm

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  134. SWM/ "wake me if we score"...thought you went to bed?! haha...well we finally scored!

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  135. I'll take it. See what happens when you put the ball into play?

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  136. Watch with risp how we expand the strike zone. That ball was low too. Eck gotta go

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  137. Good hit.... Simple contact... See what happens...

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  138. Contact protect mode. Great job Desi. I hope Espi gets that videotape.

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  139. Try to hit it far until you get to 2 strikes. That's what many Nats need to do.

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  140. Hahahaha. I never quit Paul. Just say I am. Frustrating though. Lets go.

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  141. Tracy needs to drive a mistake pitch here.

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  142. BigCat, come on, what do you want him to do?? he hit the ball where it was pitched, put it in play, and we scored a run...geeeezzzzz...would rather Ian do what he did there then rely on Tracy!!!!

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  143. Chad Tracy is absolutely useless.

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  144. and on cue, hangin Chad hits into a DP...lose him now!!!!

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  145. Chad. Need I say more. What a stiff. He may be worse than Matt stairs

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  146. OMG, Tracy rolls another over. Inning killer. I can't take this much more. It's Matt Stairs.

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  147. Tracy is worthless.... Ugh, I can't stand him... He serves no damn purpose on the roster...

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  148. Personally, I blame whoever gave LaRoche the flu.

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  149. If that guy is on the team in themorning Davey should be fired

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  150. I think Tracy is better than Stairs because he does have a few big hits. But he needs to go, period. This is just unacceptable.

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  151. I'm telling you Ghost Ibanez is out there for the taking. Tracy? Do we really need two plus months more of this?

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  152. Jeeez. Why is Tracy still on team. He has had a good career. But it's time. It's been time. A loooooooog time ago

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  153. Matt Stairs was kept on the team out of spring training in 2011 for one reason and one reason only, Rizzo wanted him because Werth wanted him. I have no idea what the excuse is for keeping Tracy this year.

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  154. MrsB loves the Nats said...
    Tracy is worthless.... Ugh, I can't stand him... He serves no damn purpose on the roster...


    Here's the problem. Nobody to take his spot in AAA or AA. He never should have been signed. That's on Rizzo. What was he thinking? Seriously. That throw from 3rd in Miami was a back breaker and I probably would've replaced him over the All Star break. Here he is with his $&*%$#@ again.

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  155. anyone else hear Bob there on the fly ball to Span? "...he just runs to the spot where he knows it's coming down."...huh? isn't that what an OF is supposed to do?

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  156. Tracy makes a heck of a quiche. He must. Although I blame Davey. This isn't little league there isn't a must play rule.

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  157. Knoxville Nat said...
    I'm telling you Ghost Ibanez is out there for the taking. Tracy? Do we really need two plus months more of this?


    Great point and that's a name to consider. Should have been done on Monday. Still can't believe Tracy is on the active roster.

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  158. Carp on Span "he just runs to the spot that he knows it will come down"

    there's some high level analysis right there mister

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  159. Where did this guy come from. 99 mph? Come on man

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  160. paul brandt said...
    anyone else hear Bob there on the fly ball to Span? "...he just runs to the spot where he knows it's coming down."...huh? isn't that what an OF is supposed to do?

    July 19, 2013 9:17 PM


    As bad as Carp is there are so many worse. Let's be glad Gary Thorne the drunk isn't the Nats guy.

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  161. I can't imagine how Moore could do any worse. But agree a poorly put together bench that has caused the team several wins.

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  162. alexva, funny, i think i owe you a drink.

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  163. Moore is a right handed bat. We have that in Hairston now. We need a lefty to replace Tracy.

    And Moore wasn't any good anyway.

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  164. Ghost - you have seen me call Tracy a bum... I'm done with him.... I was done with his terrible self earlier this year....

    I was livid when we resigned him... I wanted us to keep Flores, for what it's worth....

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  165. Alex va. Hahahahaahahajajaha. Everybldys bad this year. Even catp

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  166. Does Davey stick with Span here in a lefty/lefty as Span batting around .130 I think in these situations? Davey always thinks his "guy" is due.

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  167. Mattingly taking out 99 mph. Who's coming in. Bob feller?

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  168. And it's amazing how other teams can find a Byrd, Ibanez, Hafner,Overbay, Gattis, Schaffer, Paul...
    while we stood pat.

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  169. Yes, and Tracy's numbers against Rightys is so much better ???

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  170. This is the spot you got Scott Hairston for. You still have Bernadina to insert. I don't get it.

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