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| Mark Zuckerman / NATS INSIDER |
But it's certainly worth watching right from the get-go tonight when Jordan Zimmermann takes the mound, just in case the right-hander has something up his sleeve. He'll be seeking his 14th win, which would be tops in the NL, and more importantly he'll be seeking to get the Nationals a much-needed win over an Atlanta club that has now won nine of 12 head-to-head encounters this season.
Kris Medlen gets the ball for the Braves, who surely are out for blood themselves, trying to sweep this series, win their 13th straight and expand their division lead to a staggering 15 1/2 games.
Updates to come...
ATLANTA BRAVES at WASHINGTON NATIONALS
Where: Nationals Park
Gametime: 7:05 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN2, MLB.tv
Radio: WJFK (106.7 FM), WFED (1500), XM 184
Weather: Chance of storms, 81 degrees, Wind 8 mph out to LF
NATIONALS (54-59)
CF Denard Span
3B Ryan Zimmerman
LF Bryce Harper
RF Jayson Werth
1B Adam LaRoche
SS Ian Desmond
2B Anthony Rendon
C Wilson Ramos
RHP Jordan Zimmermann
BRAVES (69-45)
RF Jason Heyward
LF Justin Upton
1B Freddie Freeman
C Brian McCann
3B Chris Johnson
2B Dan Uggla
CF B.J. Upton
SS Andrelton Simmons
RHP Kris Medlen
UMPIRES
HP Sam Holbrook
1B Adam Hamari
2B Rob Drake
3B Joe West (cc)
7:06 p.m. — And we're underway with a fastball outside to Jason Heyward. Obviously no retaliation there.
7:18 p.m. — And three batters into this game, the Nats already trail 1-0. Heyward led off with a double to left-center, then scored shortly thereafter when Freddie Freeman lined an RBI single to center. That was, incredibly, Freeman's eighth hit in his last 13 at-bats with runners in scoring position. For comparison's sake, the Nats as a team have seven total hits with RISP over their last seven games.
7:25 p.m. — Kris Medlen, meanwhile, set the Nats down in order in the bottom of the first, striking out both Ryan Zimmerman and Bryce Harper. This one isn't exactly off to a rousing start.
7:42 p.m. — Make it six up, six down for Medlen, who is cruising along. He's got three strikeouts, including Ian Desmond looking to end the second, the Nats still down 1-0.
7:49 p.m. — Zimmermann has surrendered a hit to the leadoff man in each of his three innings so far, but he's escaped allowing only the one run so far. He's at 57 pitches, which is a pretty high total at this point.
8:14 p.m. — Eighty-eight pitches through four innings is an even higher total. That's where Zimmermann now stands during what has been a laborious outing, to say the least. He gave up another run in the fourth after loading the bases with nobody out and needing a great catch from Denard Span on Medlen's drive to deep left-center. Yes, Medlen. Zimmermann loaded the bases again with two outs, this time for Freeman, the last guy you'd want to face in that situation. He did manage to strike the Braves' No. 3 hitter out to end the inning, but he's not long for this game. Tanner Roark is already warming in the pen, primed to make his MLB debut. 2-0 Braves, middle of the fourth.
8:26 p.m. — Whoa, this game is suddenly tied. For that, you can thank Harper, who drew a two-out walk in the bottom of the fourth. And you absolutely can thank Werth, who clobbered a 2-run homer to right-center, his 16th of the year, to continue his absolute tear at the plate. And now a double whoa: Zimmermann is yanked after four innings and 88 pitches. Roark in to make his debut in a 2-2 game in the fifth, with the heart of the Braves' lineup due up. I don't know if anything is physically wrong with Zimmermann. But his recent performance, and Davey's quick hook tonight, certainly suggest there could be something wrong with him. Stay tuned. It's 2-2 after four.
8:45 p.m. — Tanner Roark, ladies and gentlemen! Two scoreless innings for the rookie right-hander, including a nifty diving grab of Medlen's popped-up bunt, starting a double play to end the top of the sixth. This remains a 2-2 game.
9:06 p.m. — It's not 2-2 anymore. Justin Upton demolished a pitch from Fernando Abad into the left-field bullpen, putting the Braves back on top. He took his time rounding the bases, too, not a surprise. Abad, meanwhile, has now seen 10 runs cross the plate while he's been on the mound over his last 10 appearances: five that he actually let score, plus five more inherited runners. Not good. It's 3-2 Braves at the stretch. The Nats still have one hit: Werth's homer.
9:20 p.m. — And this game is re-tied. Werth and LaRoche each delivered one-out singles in the bottom of the seventh, giving the Nats three for the night. LaRoche then helped break up a double play at second base, with Desmond charging hard out of the box to beat Dan Uggla's throw to first and bring home the tying run. It's 3-3 heading to the eighth.
9:42 p.m. — And now the Nats trail by 3 runs as it all falls apart in the top of the eighth. Ryan Mattheus and Ian Krol combined to give up three runs on three hits and two walks, capped by Heyward's RBI single and Upton's two-run double. Here's a valid question for Davey Johnson postgame: Why, in a tie game in the eighth, was a fresh Tyler Clippard not considered out of the bullpen? I'm not sure what the rationale there would be. Regardless, it's now 6-3 Braves and the Nats are down to their last six outs.
9:55 p.m. — And now they're three outs away, still trailing by three, with Craig Kimbrel looming in the ninth.
10:27 p.m. — It's over. The game, I mean. You all can decide if the season is as well. Tonight's final: 6-3. The Nats loaded the bases in the ninth but couldn't convert. The Nats get swept in the series. They're 0-6 against the Braves at home this season. They're 3-10 overall against Atlanta. They trail the NL East by 15 1/2 games. They trail the NL Wild Card by 9 games.
Jordan, get your 14th win first before you consider any retaliation.
ReplyDeleteBoswell's article is a great description about the nats season. They have been bad fundamentally from day one. Think about the Cinci series early on how bad this team played. It has continued all year. Whether its Davey or the coaches or the players, the teams plays awful baseball and this overcomes the talent beneath. Big changes will be need for next season.
ReplyDeleteDid you hear Davey on the radio this morning? He has given up (Rizzo hasn't). Davey said, he "doesn't have the strength" to take this team "on my back." He's definitely not coming back next year (remember when he waffled on that?) Boys, it's up to you. Figure it out.
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteNL,
Another nail in the coffin; the Reds just won.
ReplyDeleteNL,
Davey should really pack it in. I don't know why he needs this aggravation and every day he stays is another stain on his otherwise brilliant career.
Let's give Randy Knorr the keys for whatever is left of the season and see how the team responds.
Well, I will be at the game tonight... Hoping we beat them tonight, of course...
ReplyDeleteyall enjoy the game!
Does anyone know the role to which DJ will play with the organization next year? I know that he is staying with some capacity... or that was the last I heard...
ReplyDeleteESPN CONTEST ANNOUNCEMENT: AT WHAT MOMENT DID THE NATIONALS SEASON END?
ReplyDeleteESPN has announced a contest for Nationals fans, asking them to identify the exact moment the pathetic 2013 season ended for Washington.
Entries welcome on this thread are welcome throughout tonight's game.
ESPN notes that the first entry comes from NI regular do1teach1:
This season ended last week, when the Washington Post reported Ryan Zimmerman and Davey Johnson throwing Bryce Harper under the bus for the comments Harper made, while trying to inspire his team.
Zimmerman mocked and diminished Harper, saying that "adults don't respond to 'rah rah' speeches." Zimmer"man" said that the best way for leaders to lead is to quietly prepare and set the example in their silence.
With these comments, Zimmerman not only humiliated a young teammate's sincere efforts to spark the team, he ignored several thousand years of human history--which show conclusively that spoken words can inspire heroic efforts. In degrading Harper, he forgot the examples of Lombardi, Churchill, MLK, Auerbach, JFK, and a million everyday leaders who, as Churchill described JFK, "mobilize the English language and send it into battle."
By this example, Zimmerman has revealed his absolute comfort with losing, his readiness to embarrass a teammate in the newspaper, and his personal unsuitability for a leadership role on the Nationals of any kind.
Davey Johnson contributed to the same mockery of Harper. At one point as he lampooned the hopeless and infantile stupidity of Harper's leadership speeches, he asked, "What am I supposed to do with the bench guys--get them to sing karaoke?" This knife must have felt really nice in Harper's back.
This season ended the day Zimmerman and Davey Johnson smeared Bryce Harper's sincere efforts to inspire his team.
A friend sent me this, quoting someone on "one of the boards." If it was this one, I apologize for the duplication:
ReplyDelete"After last night’s game, we’ve scored 1 or fewer runs in 31 games and are 1-30 in those games. We’ve scored 2 or fewer runs in 52 games and are 6-46 in those games.
Now for the REALLY depressing part.
In games where we’ve scored 3 or more runs, we are 48-13. That’s a .787 winning percentage and second in all of MLB (behind Pittsburgh, tied with Texas)
With just an average offense, the 2013 Nationals could be the 2012 Nationals."
"Let's give Randy Knorr the keys for whatever is left of the season and see how the team responds."
ReplyDeleteBoswell is right when he says "The Nats really are a talented, hard-working team with a good clubhouse and decent people. But they’ve been rattled, pressing, joyless and awful at fundamentals since April." But you know what? Randy Knorr is an organization man who has been working directly with these players for years. That means he's as responsible as anyone for them playing this way. For this you want to make him the manager? Dream on. If what's needed is a change to "The Nationals Way", it's going to take someone from outside the current organization to bring it about. Rizzo knows this more than anyone.
"In degrading Harper, he forgot the examples of Lombardi, Churchill, MLK, Auerbach, JFK, and a million everyday leaders who, as Churchill described JFK, "mobilize the English language and send it into battle."
ReplyDeleteYou forgot to mention John Belushi in Animal House. Perhaps Zimmerman should supply the team with Little Chocolate Donuts to atone for his lack of rah-rah.
NatsLady, I didn't hear Davey this morning, but he sure looks like he's done in during his post-game interviews.
ReplyDelete"MrsB loves the Nats said...
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone know the role to which DJ will play with the organization next year?"
Consultant to Rizzo, the same role he had before he was manager. It will be interesting to see if he suits up in spring training next year like he did before, or if he stays away in deference to the new manager.
ReplyDeleteFeel Wood,
I don't think Davie is the type of manager who allows others to be involved in the critical in game decisions. I am not suggesting we make Knorr the manager for 2014. I am saying that a 40 - 45 game run at the end of this year as 'interim' is not a bad way to go at this stage.
The season ended when the Nats went on their last road trip before the ASG, trailing ATL by only 4 games, and won only 2 out of 7 against the Phils and the Marlins.
ReplyDeleteOr when Harper ran into the wall in Atlanta or L.A.
Or when Zim airmailed his throw on a potential game ending grounder against the Braves on April 12.
So many to choose from.
Thanks Feel... I was trying to figure out if he was going to go back to before or something new...
ReplyDeleteI feel for DJ that he has to end his career on this type of note... Its a shame, really...
"With just an average offense, the 2013 Nationals could be the 2012 Nationals."
ReplyDeleteIf it wasn't this board, certainly the point has been made in here, repeatedly.
As these data seem to show, it's not the bullpen, it's not the fifth starter, it's not Zim's throwing, and it's not the hitting coach they had last year. It's the guys with the bats. Three runs a game. Three crummy runs a game. That's all it would have taken, and all the rest of that stuff is quibbles on the way to 90+ wins.
"Lombardi, Churchill, MLK, Auerbach, JFK, and a million everyday leaders who, as Churchill described JFK, 'mobilize the English language and send it into battle.'"
ReplyDeleteGoodness knows the English language gets pretty well nuked in here.
Hard as it is to say it given his offensive comment earlier today, I agree with Feel about Knorr. Had the Nats won the WS this year, and Davey had gone out in the blaze of glory, I can imagine Rizzo hiring Knorr in a "stay the course, don't fix what's not broken" move. But after this disastrous season, there's change a comin'.
ReplyDeletesec222,
ReplyDeleteYes, but why does he have to suffer this indignity for another month and a half? and more importantly why do we have have to suffer it along with him?
Again, Knorr should only be 'interim' for the rest of the year and he should then be considered based on his overall resume including these last 45 games or so.
I understand that Rizzo won't embarrass Davie by firing him, he may want to use gentle persuasion though. The better way would be for Davie to say:' I did my best, it's not clicking maybe the team needs another voice at the helm'. Good bye and good luck and I'll see you all next spring in Viera'.
Rizzo is going outside the organization to make the next managerial hire. After the dumpster fire of a season, no chance that the job stays in house.
ReplyDeleteBlame for the season goes around. Rizzo's acquisitions fizzled and the roster was poorly constructed (idotic to start the team with Zach Duke as the only LHP in the pen), the team struggled with fundamentals (coaching staff), the team cannot manufacture runs (coaching staff/front office), no position player with the possible exception of Werth is playing equal to or above expectations (on the players), and the players crumbled with the high expectations (on the players).
Still think that this team will make a late run which will come up short, but will cause the team's offensive and defensive stats to get closer to the mean.
Rizzo has a lot of work to do as I don't see a manager change as enough to expect a vastly more successful season next year. I think that there may be a big move with a starting pitcher to make the team more potent offensively. Would be surprised if Denard Span is their everyday CF next year, and the Nats will have a different everyday INF position player next year.
What, they can't put the manager on the DL? Something he caught from Henry, maybe?
ReplyDeleteIronically, if the Nats can manage to pass Cincinnati, Dusty Baker might well be available. Just a thought. Probably can't get Gibson from AZ.
ReplyDeleteDamn it 222, I'm really enjoying your posts lately. Perceptive and, unfortunately accurate. Considering that it is Jeeves (me), that must be really depressingfor you. Sorry.
ReplyDeleteDJ should step aside for the good of the team. This is the only way to get him out. Ownership will not fire him for obvious reasons.
ReplyDeleteI was at the game. I was more disgusted than anything else when Gio popped up his bunt attempt. The Braves in contrast had no difficulty performing the task; in fact Teheran's effort directly led to their 2 runs.
ReplyDeleteI suppose at this level there's no way to MAKE the "stars" master the fundamentals.
Also, in response to the question "When did you know the season was over?":
ReplyDelete- The Friday before the All-star game Nats @ Marlins. After losing 3 of 4 at Philly and after Strasburg has received no run-support in a series of solid outings, the Nats scored 3 runs in the top of the first in Miami. Against the worst offensive team in baseball, SS then surrenders 5 runs in the first inning and two more in the second inning. Season over.
slidell2, I was just thinking the new manager must reinforce fundamentals. I was thinking in our minor leagues, we should have the pitchers always hitting to work on these fundamentals like bunting. Even if we're playing an american league minor team, we could still have our pitcher be our designated hitter. Just a thought.
ReplyDeleteWasn't it JayB who railed against Davey's country club approach to Spring Training? Watching Gio flub the bunt and many routine failures to advance runners, I'm thinking the next ST needs to be a boot camp for this team no matter who is named manager.
ReplyDeleteit's the age old question in sports, did you fail because you failed or because you did not properly prepare?
ReplyDeleteplenty here have chosen the latter explanation without reservation. I am not well enough informed to do so.
Just wanted to chime in on the Zim discussion in the last post:
ReplyDeleteIt's absolutely true that Zimmerman would lose a lot of value by moving to 1B. However, he wouldn't completely embarrass himself at 1B. The average 3B in MLB this year has a .731 OPS. The average 1B has a .771 OPS. Zimmerman has a career .827 OPS. So he'd still be above average, albeit is less so.
Now whether or not that's worth the money he's getting paid is a different story.
Do1teach1 from 4 pm. Best thing I've read in a long time. Excellent piece. Zimmerman is gutless and a company man. What a boring player he has become. Wouldn't care if him and ALR took there acts down the road.
ReplyDeleteA tip of the cap to you jeeves. We all have our moments. Even Feel.
ReplyDeleteGood call on the season over moment pilchard. '
Another candidate might be June 15 against the Indians when Chad Tracy ties the game with a pinch hit homerun in the bottom of the 8th. With that one swing he raised his OPS by 75 points and probably assured we'd be stuck with him for the rest of the season rather than going the way of Matt Stairs.
Daveys country club Spring killed this club. The players are to blame also. They thought it would come easy and did not prepare. I was KILLED here in April when I commented that 5 of our bullpen guys were seen drinking beers at a CAPS game the night before a day game. I thought it showed a lack of professionalism but was laughed at here.
ReplyDeleteSeason died in my opinion in the right before all star break. Jump on the Marlins 3 0 in the first. Then proceed to give up 7 runs the next two innings. Lost 2 of 3 that series and then the net6 at home.
ReplyDeleteThe season ended in Baltimore when RZim hit his miraculous 3 home runs and they still blew the lead. They also kept schmuckinosa around through that series, a month too long. After that I knew it was over.
ReplyDeleteThey have been playing at 10 games under .500 for the last 104 games, go figure. Thats bad baseball for a very, very long time.
ReplyDeleteWas listening to the Reds game this afternoon. Very curious--the "complaints" against Joey Votto sounded an awful lot like RZim. Introvert, studies the game, does things his way, not flashy. Dusty criticizing him for taking too many walks and not hitting for power enough, not being aggressive early in counts.
ReplyDeleteIf Zim were having as good a year at the plate as Joey Votto, there'd be few complaints around here.
ReplyDeleteSection 222, but isn't that proof that Ryan's quiet demeanor really has nothing to do with how he plays on the field? People act as if Ryan doesn't care because he's not jumping around screaming or getting in people's face.
ReplyDeleteHave to think the umps will warn both teams before the game which will make it tough for Jzim to retaliate in the first inning because if he does, I think its an automatic ejection and 5 games, right?
ReplyDeleteAnyone else see this article:
http://www.rantsports.com/mlb/2013/08/07/washington-nationals-atlanta-braves-hitting-bryce-harper-a-clown-move/
Get a big lead, get Jordan through his innings and have the BP draw straws as to who will come in and plunk Freeman or McCann. No need to get a frontline pitcher suspended.
ReplyDeleteNL,
ReplyDeleteBut Joey Votto has a 4.8 WAR as compared to Zim's 0.9.
We should kept Xavier Cedeno. Have him hit someone and then send him back down.
ReplyDelete446, agree and if its Mattheus he better lead with his left when McCann comes at him or run for the exits.
ReplyDeleteI'll toss my hat in with those who have said those last two series before the All Star break were when the season ended. They were facing two lousy divisional opponents with their lineup finally fully healthy coming off of a sweep of the Padres. They should have taken at least 5 out of 7. Instead, they went 2-5 and had to come from behind in the last game to win the second one. The Dodgers an Pirates series after the break merely reconfirmed it.
ReplyDeleteA lot of negativity, most of it deserved. On the 'when did you know' question, I try to be realistic and keep my biases in check, but I didn't fully acknowledge and internalize the truth until the six straight losses (at home, no less) immedaitely following the All-Star Game. Even though the Braves' winning streak hadn't yet begun, the Nats inability to score (2, 1, 2, 5, 1, 2) after a break demonstrated that they weren't going to turn the season around. I'll keep watching and hoping for some good baseball, but I neither believe in nor expect miracles.
ReplyDeleteIt's been touched on some here, but since his promotion to AA, AJ Cole has been fantastic.
ReplyDelete20IP, 10H, 2ER (both on solo homers), 22K, 4BB. 0.90 ERA.
Of course, it's only 3 games. But it's a positive sign.
Basically, it became clear after July 4 (when Ramos and Harper came back) that the problem wasn't Espinosa, Henry or Zach Duke. Because the team's record without them isn't any better than it was with them. Yes, they were a drag on the team, and I don't miss Henry or Zach Duke, and I only miss Danny's D--but the problems were more fundamental than two middle relievers and a glove-only 2B.
ReplyDeleteI could still see this team going on a sustained run, like 22-6, seriously--BUT, it would have to start this week with the Fillies and the Giants. Two sweeps in our house. Not winning series, the time is past for that--two sweeps. Every single game until the team sees itself as the Dodgers or the Rays, turning around a season.
JD, my point EXACTLY. Joey Votto is fantastic, one of the best hitters in the game, and the radio announcers and his manager STILL aren't satisfied--he doesn't have "personality." He is too passive, too willing to take walks, won't swing for power early in the count in that bandbox.
ReplyDeleteLets get one win before we try to go. 22 -and 6 . Any ody going Friday? My Phillies buddy is treating me so I have to be nice.
ReplyDeleteI have a ticket for Friday. Not exactly sure where I'm sitting, have to check. Will also be there Sunday on my plan, and maybe Saturday if there is a rain delay...
ReplyDeleteIt's games like this I wish we still had Henry Rodriguez. Of course, if he aimed for a Brave, he'd probably miss over the plate.
ReplyDeleteWren on last night's Twitter spat w/ the Nats: "I think it was simply an inappropriate attempt at humor from our social media department."
ReplyDeleteI sure hope someone got fired. While it was funny to Bryce haters, the Bryce supporters were ticked as you can see in the replies to the Braves and Laroches buddy Larry aka Chipper.
"David Proctor said...
ReplyDeleteIt's games like this I wish we still had Henry Rodriguez. Of course, if he aimed for a Brave, he'd probably miss over the plate."
Best line of the week! LMAO!
"NatsLady said...
ReplyDeleteBasically, it became clear after July 4 (when Ramos and Harper came back) that the problem wasn't Espinosa, Henry or Zach Duke."
It could be as simple as the losing mentality had already set in and its tough to turn around a losing culture which set in.
128, a lot of players say that a lot of baseball is "mental." Although, yes, there are talent differences, it does seem to me that players might have something there.
ReplyDeleteI don't think it was a "losing" culture so much as it was a "waiting culture." Wait until so-and-so gets back. Wait until we make our run... Wait until we have the cushy part of our schedule, etc. etc. It never seemed to be TODAY, THIS GAME. THIS WEEK.
The exception was a brief period when it became clear that Harper was more seriously injured than previously thought. Towards the end of his DL stint the team seemed to come together and play some good games. But then he came back, and he hit that first home runs, and it was back to passivity, to waiting for things to happen instead of making them happen.
I gotta agree with Eugene in Oregon. That six-game losing streak after the All Star Break was, I think, the nail in the coffin.
ReplyDeleteJust like Manassas Nats Fan, I go to the ballpark (or turn on MASN2) each time expecting them to win. But I haven't cleared my October calendar for ball games this year, I must say.
Not a great way to start the game.
ReplyDeleteSigh.
ReplyDeleteKeep your chin up, Bob Carpenter. Yep. Probably a good omen that the Barves scored a run in the first.
ReplyDeleteOr else not.
Wait until Zim's shoulder is healed. Wait until Stras is back and our Big Three are pitching... on and on, until half the season was over. I actually think Davey may have tried to counter that tendency with preaching more aggression--but he contributed to it also with his laid-back approach allowing the talent on the team to "express" itself.
ReplyDeleteAs I mentioned the other day, have the Nats thought of playing Desmond behind 2nd base on Freeman?
ReplyDeleteBob Carpenter acts like the front man for Freeman giving him that great intro with all the gawdy stats.
And the Barves have a 1 0 lead. This game is over. May as well start plunking people.
ReplyDeleteNats lady I had to do a double take to see,that that last post was by you. You know it's bad when Nats Lady starts slinging it. Good for,you Nats Lady.
ReplyDeleteDenard Span in the leadoff. He is slow. How do you not beat that.
ReplyDeleteAt least Span went the other way. And now the Managers pet is up to stand there and look at strikes. what a bum
ReplyDeleteSpan now batting .198 as the leadoff batter of the game.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThe Phillies extended Utley's contract. They are determined to not get younger.
ReplyDeleteBryce: "I think if I’m a pitcher on my team, I’m going to drill somebody."
ReplyDeleteSounds like he's upset his team didn't stick up for him.
If the Braves had LaRoche in the shift, that's a double.
ReplyDeleteYah, Medlen needs the K Zone widened and lengthened for him.
ReplyDeleteOMG Ian Desmond doesn't even swing at a meatball. Ahhhhhhhh these guys are Gutless.
ReplyDeleteThere's your hit by throw on Upton.
ReplyDeleteBryce should be pissed. He is playing with a bunch of tired old gutless teammates. I have Zero respect for LaRoche, Zimm and Ian. What a bunch of one ways. Nice throw Zimm, I mean Ian
ReplyDeleteHey everybody I know I am Joe doom and negativity. But for goodness sakes What is going on here? Have they quit? Are they really this bad? Has everybody checked out?
ReplyDeleteSWM, I want to sit with you at a game. I want to see if you talk that way in public or if you just hide behind a keyboard.
ReplyDeleteI don't hide behind a keyboard. But I won't waste my time sitting with a bunch of people who have fake smiles on there faces and pretend everything is ok. I call those folks cowards. Ifmyoumthink the guys are giving it there all and have each others back then by all means get a hot dog and have a blast.
ReplyDelete>MiLB.com @MiLB 3m
ReplyDeleteFive weeks after making his MLB debut, #Nationals No. 8 prospect Taylor Jordan has been promoted to @SyracuseChiefs
This makes absolutely no sense.
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteYeah. And the Syracuse Chiefs retweeted it. So it's very confusing and doesn't make any sense.
ReplyDeleteIMHO no one point where the season ended - it never got started. From April we were sAying "Where are the bats?"
ReplyDeleteMaybe that was the proble, Another_Sam. The guys came out to a slow start and then everyone started panicking. Including the guys. And then they started pressing. And it all snowballed from there. That's been my impression for a while.
ReplyDeleteIt blows my mind that a team hitting streak can last nearly a whole season. Firing Eckstein made absolutely no difference. In fact, the hitting has gotten worse since he was fired. So much for Rick Shu and his .240 career batting average.
ReplyDeleteUnknown, I could have predicted that. After the Royals fired their hitting coach and hired George Brett, their hitting got worse too. Change for change sake isn't always good. I tried to tell that to people here, but nobody was having it.
ReplyDeleteRight by Ryan Zimmerman. Playing back he gets the lead runner.
ReplyDeleteThat's what you do when you give a leadoff walk. Nats on Monday couldn't score 1 leadoff walk.
ReplyDeleteI'd get the bullpen going. Give JZim the night off. He doesn't have it.
ReplyDeleteEven their pitcher understands situation hitting better than out batters.
ReplyDeleteIf Davey had any pride, he'd quit after the game tonight.
ReplyDeleteApparently it was taylor HILL who got promoted to AAA and the twitter account of MiLB got confused and said Taylor Jordan.
ReplyDeleteDavid Proctor said...
ReplyDeleteBryce: "I think if I’m a pitcher on my team, I’m going to drill somebody."
Sounds like he's upset his team didn't stick up for him.
does not bode well for Bryce sticking around when his contract is up unless this is addressed and fast. Thought it should have been last night and obviously so did he.
David Proctor said...
ReplyDeleteEven their pitcher understands situation hitting better than out batters.
Again, no outs or 1 outs you are looking for a ball to drive as far as you can with a runner on 3rd. A hit would be great but a Sac Fly is good too.
LaRoche with 2 outs had to get a pitch he could put a line drive on and he didn't. The 2-0 pitch was clearly Ball 3.
I'd pull JZim right now for a lefty reliever. Davey, nope.
ReplyDelete"does not bode well for Bryce sticking around when his contract is up unless this is addressed and fast. Thought it should have been last night and obviously so did he."
ReplyDeleteHe's under contract until 2019. He won't even remember this. Money will dictate where he goes, as it does all Scott Boras clients.
Minimized the damage. Lucky.
ReplyDeleteChris Johnson playing no doubles defense in the 4th inning or do they have some great scouting reports on RZim?
ReplyDeleteLittle League is on ESPN2.
ReplyDeleteA 3-1 count. Let's see what Bryce Harper does. Spoil the perfect game?
ReplyDeleteyea, no perfect game!
ReplyDeletesweet werth, take your damn time running (walking) around the bases! anyone time him!!!
ReplyDeleteJayson Werth. Of course. At least he still seems to be in the game.
ReplyDeleteThanks, JDub.
There goes the no hitter and the shutout! WERTH!
ReplyDeletesee. you. later!
ReplyDeleteThat's all it takes to lift my spirits. Thanks, Jason.
ReplyDeleteScrew those who say Werth has no long ball power.Now, if they hit Jayson....
ReplyDeleteAll with 2 outs and started by Bryce Harper not chasing pitches out of the zone. Great adjustment by Bryce.
ReplyDelete...then it's on.
ReplyDeleteAnother_Sam, and I almost turned the channel to start watching little league!! would have blamed it on you...haha.
ReplyDeleteTime to bring up TyMo and sit ALR, he's killing us at the plate but realize he's not the only one.
Joe Seamhead said...
ReplyDeleteScrew those who say Werth has no long ball power. Now, if they hit Jayson....
That person won't say a word.
JZim's neck must be barking.
ReplyDeleteFP, needs to shut up & move on...he's now saying Werth better look out next time he comes up the way he flipped the bat, etc...stop it FP.
ReplyDeleteNJ, who the heck is Roark? like how he has thrown strikes thus far!
ReplyDeleteDid Jayson take his sweet time?
ReplyDeleteRoark looks like he should have been called up 3 weeks ago. I hate this team and the clueless front office. Asleep at the wheel. It's time to clean house.
ReplyDeleteTanner Row-Ark! 1-2-3 inning! Welcome to the Bigs!
ReplyDeletepaul brandt said...
ReplyDeleteFP, needs to shut up & move on...he's now saying Werth better look out next time he comes up the way he flipped the bat, etc...stop it FP.
Thank you for saying it. His obsessive points harping on the same thing is annoying. I know, ironic since I have been accused of the same.
"Roark looks like he should have been called up 3 weeks ago. I hate this team and the clueless front office. Asleep at the wheel. It's time to clean house."
ReplyDeleteWell given that Rizzo just got a lucrative contract extension, don't hold your breath.
The comments about FP--with which I agree--seem to jibe with the August analyst doldrums. Wasn't it about this point in the season when Dibble shot himself in the foot?
ReplyDeleteThat was not a strike on that 3-0 pitch. Cost Desi a walk.
ReplyDeleteTo be fair, Bob has to fill the airtime with something. We have the option, when we have nothing to say, to refrain from giving words in evidence of that fact. Not that we often exercise it.
ReplyDeleteSlidell2
ReplyDeleteI didn't think Werth did anything to cause a stir. Professional HR trot if you ask me.
Rendon nails that pitch and unfortunately right to Heyward. The Braves have done a great job in scouting.
ReplyDeleteSo RO-ark is another good-looking dark-haired kid. We may be 15 1/2 games out, but we have better hair than they do! Hey, put your caps on over there, you're blinding us!
ReplyDeleteWhen your offense is as poor as Span's, you have to make those plays.
ReplyDeleteSec. 3, My Sofa said...
ReplyDeleteWe may be 15 1/2 games out
I don't find that funny at all.
NatsJack in Florida said...
ReplyDeleteI mentioned him back in early July as one of those arms that would pitch in the Big Leagues within 2 seasons.
That was a refreshing start to his career.
August 07, 2013 8:34
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Fact # 1 tonight
Well, that 15 1/2 part isn't my fault, Ghost.
ReplyDeleteNice play Roark!
ReplyDeleteGood job Roark for picking up your CF.
ReplyDeleteSo SOMEBODY is teaching PFP down there!
ReplyDeleteKnoxville Nat said...
ReplyDeleteSlidell2
I didn't think Werth did anything to cause a stir. Professional HR trot if you ask me.
August 07, 2013 8:35 PM
----////---
Fact # 2 tonight
Sec3, humor me, whose fault is it?
ReplyDeleteTanner Roark. Nothing else need be said.
ReplyDeleteRoger, please bunt to Chris Johnson.
ReplyDeleteSo where IS Guzman these days?
ReplyDeleteOh, he got it to Chris Johnson alright. smh
ReplyDeleteShark Week has not made the Shark any better of a baseball player.
ReplyDeleteShark Week. Well, uh...
ReplyDelete"Roark looks like he should have been called up 3 weeks ago. I hate this team and the clueless front office. Asleep at the wheel. It's time to clean house."
ReplyDeleteWho was he going to be called up to replace three weeks ago, when the plan was for Ohlendorf to take over for Taylor Jordan? Pitching has not been the problem. He got called up when Ohlendorf went on the DL.
Bernadina not contributing. Sorry, MrsB.
Dave said...
ReplyDeleteSo where IS Guzman these days?
He now resides in New Jersey with his three kids Cristian Jr., Cris Anthony, Crisangelie and wife Maria.
+1, NL. Just because a guy's good doesn't mean there's a spot for him. And as good as he was tonight, he didn't score any runs.
ReplyDeleteSec. 3, they really like the name Cris don't they?
ReplyDeleteAlso, you have to figure Atlanta has minimal video on Roark. I will wait for his 2nd or 3rd appearance before I designate him as Cy Young incarnate.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Sofa. I forgot that Wikipedia is my friend.
ReplyDeleteI think we're just grasping at good-news straws, Nats Lady.
ReplyDeleteScoring runs and getting wins obviously promotes a positive frame of mind and a loose and happy clubhouse. However, when you are not scoring runs and not winning, is it not up to your leaders to provide the leadership necessary to keep the individuals players glued together as a team? Quiet leadership or leading by example is not enough. In these times stepping out of your comfort zone and providing leadership in a more forceful form is necessary. It is now when the quiet leader needs to remake himself and that is what needs to change most about his mental game. It is time to put yourself out there Zim.
ReplyDeleteDave, I know. And I'm glad for the young man. But he didn't exactly tear up the track getting here.
ReplyDeleteOK, Abad, time to have a good day.
Shelby Miller lasted 2 batters.
ReplyDeletehttp://wapc.mlb.com/play/?content_id=29508039&partnerId=as_mlb_20130808_10579254
NatsLady said...
ReplyDeleteAlso, you have to figure Atlanta has minimal video on Roark. I will wait for his 2nd or 3rd appearance before I designate him as Cy Young incarnate.
August 07, 2013 8:53 PM
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2nd your opinion # 1 tonight
should have let Tanner Row-ARK hit!
ReplyDeleteHas anybody on this blog ever played the outfield at any level above high school?
ReplyDeleteThank you Abad. Are you kidding me.
ReplyDeleteThanks for nothing! Go back to mop-up work, Abad.
ReplyDeleteOh well. I felt good from Werth's dinger up until that homer.
ReplyDeleteAbad has not been good in a good in a while now.
ReplyDeleteGhost Of Steve M. said...
ReplyDeleteSec3, humor me, whose fault is it?
That they're [CORRECTION: 14 1/2] games back?
They aren't scoring runs. Is that the veteran hitters, or the manager?
I take it back, it's Justin Upton's fault. And was that Luis Ayala catching that in his cap?
Davey won't use Abad as a LOOGY so what do you expect?
ReplyDeleteYou guys are gonna put McCatty back in the hospital... c'mon, do your d### job. (And to think there was a time when I LIKED Abad.)
ReplyDeleteJoe, yes, I'm sure someone has. Why do you ask?
ReplyDeleteDavid Proctor said...
ReplyDeleteAbad has not been good in a good in a while now.
August 07, 2013 8:59 PM
----///-//---/
Fact # 3 tonight.
Ghost, Davey wanted those lefties and he STILL expects them to pitch complete innings.
ReplyDeleteNow Davey pulls the LOOGY.
ReplyDeleteChecking in from park.... Internet is spotty... Didnt understand taking TR out....
ReplyDeleteBut whatever...
Has anybody on this blog ever played the outfield at any level above high school?
ReplyDeleteDo you count a slow pitch softball league about 35 years ago in Montgomery County?
NatsLady, you are absolutely right. Krol can do that. Abad can't and has shown that over and over again.
ReplyDeleteDavey just won't change his ways. One smart move was yanking JZim. Of course we all thought it should've been much quicker.
Nats have a day off tomorrow. What is Davey saving these guys for?
Take a book out of the way Mattingly worked his staff. All situational moves and they all worked.
Has Davey seen Abad's splits? Lefties hit him well. If he wants to use a LOOGY in that situation, use Krol, who lefties have awful numbers against.
ReplyDeleteI wanted to see 1 game played like Game 6. Nope. 1 run deficit. Get the game tied Davey.
ReplyDeleteIt is now when the quiet leader needs to remake himself and that is what needs to change most about his mental game. It is time to put yourself out there Zim.
ReplyDeleteZim doesn't do pep talks. Never gonna happen.
Knoxville Nat said...
ReplyDeleteHas anybody on this blog ever played the outfield at any level above high school?
Do you count a slow pitch softball league about 35 years ago in Montgomery County?
August 07, 2013 9:04 PM
---///-//-/
That may qualify.LOL!
Bryce missed that pitch. The Nats have to be able to take advantage of mistake pitches.
ReplyDeleteTime for LaRoche to step up.
ReplyDeleteNow, that was funny. "Here is your Nationals boxscore, brought to you by Jayson Werth." True dat.
ReplyDeleteHonestly, it's like they're guessing at the plate, but just by flipping a coin.
ReplyDeleteDouble damn Abad. secondly was the homer. First I lost $10 bucks to my son as I said Justin Upton was ready now to be plunked. Then Abad not obly know plunk bt giving up a homer.
ReplyDeleteIs our pitching staff jush wimps they ate letting Teheranget away with the plunk.
I though the 7th inning was the perfect time.
Thank you LaRoche, I will take that. Time for Desmond to drive in JDub.
ReplyDeleteMedlen is missing his spots badly.
ReplyDeleteNice time to hit a soft grounder.
ReplyDeleteDesmond was lucky.
ReplyDeleteI though the 7th inning was the perfect time.
ReplyDeleteNot down by one. They play these guys six more times this year. No hurry here.
They were not down by one.
DeleteUpton as it ends up would be on first but instead he homered.
DeleteStill cost me $10 as I just wanted him plunked, never thought about giving up a homer. Had I thought that I surely would hit him.
He did run the bases quicker tonight.
Joe, you were asking about playing the outfield?
ReplyDeleteMNF, the time for the plunking was last night, certainly not now when we have a chance to win, but there will be a time when Teheran and others get what's coming to them...not happy with Rendon for swinging at that pitch where Desmond clearly had the base stolen, he's got to learn not to swing there.
ReplyDeleteAh, no, of course it was tied. Thanks. Same answer, though; in fact, moreso.
ReplyDeleteHow far inside was that to Rendon? Holbrook has helped Medlen too often tonight.
ReplyDeleteStoren, 15 pitches, 12 strikes, 2 strikeouts, 1 HR.
ReplyDeleteMNF, went back to see the situation...IMO, you don't "plunk" Upton in a 2-2 game with one out & nobody on.
ReplyDeleteI said in foresight.
DeleteHad someone knew Upton was going to homer (even I didnt feel that). It sure would have beat what hapened.
Ghost, it was under Rendon's hands, maybe one baseball off the plate. McCann didn't have to frame it much.
ReplyDeleteHolbrook really not calling the knees here. Was he, earlier?
ReplyDeleteYes, Sofa, just a rhetorical question. as people will throw an error at a player that covers a ton of real estate only to have the ball go off their glove. Just wondering if anybody here has ever played any of the OF positions at an any adult level.
ReplyDeleteUgla struck out THREE TIMES in one at bat....
ReplyDeleteWe should be in the bottom of the 8th....
MNF, well, sure, I'd rather they hit him than give up a dinger, but that's the problem with being wild INSIDE the strike zone. If you're going to miss, miss GOOD.
ReplyDeleteAs it ended up my pitch call was better than Ramos'
DeleteWonder what the 2 Uptons averages ate against the Nats and their average in all non Nats game.
ReplyDeleteApparently the Braves broadcast showed Harper being chewed out by Davey Johnson. I can't possibly imagine about what. I've never seen Davey chew someone out.
ReplyDeleteDavid Proctor said...
ReplyDeleteApparently the Braves broadcast showed Harper being chewed out by Davey Johnson. I can't possibly imagine about what. I've never seen Davey chew someone out.
Maybe the Braves can Tweet another witty Clown joke out. Not!
David Proctor? Who? What? When?
ReplyDelete