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| Photo by USA Today |
Even if the Nats keep it up the division is still a major longshot, but fortunately for them, the Reds haven't been playing their best baseball either. The Nats now sit 8.5 games back from the Reds for the final NL Wild Card spot, and Washington has the advantage with their schedule. After they play the Royals today, the Nats face teams with losing records in each of their next 19 games. Conversely, the Reds play expected playoff teams in ten of their next 13, including seven games against the Cardinals.
Today the Nats look for their sixth consecutive win which would be their longest winning streak of the season. Dan Haren (8-11, 4.64) takes the mound against a club he's been very successful against in the past. Through ten career starts vs. the Royals he is 5-2 with a 2.53 ERA.
Pitching for Kansas City will be right-hander Ervin Santana who has been one of their more reliable starters this year. He holds a 3.13 ERA through 167 innings in what has been the best season of his nine-year MLB career.
Enjoy the game...
WASHINGTON NATIONALS at KANSAS CITY ROYALS
Where: Kauffman Stadium
Gametime: 2:10 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN 2, MLB.tv
Radio: WJFK (106.7 FM), WFED (1500), XM 869
Weather: Mostly sunny, 92 degrees, Wind 10 mph in from LF
NATIONALS (65-64)
CF Denard Span
3B Ryan Zimmerman
RF Bryce Harper
DH Jayson Werth
SS Ian Desmond
1B Adam LaRoche
C Wilson Ramos
LF Tyler Moore
2B Anthony Rendon
RHP Dan Haren
ROYALS (64-64)
LF Alex Gordon
2B Emilio Bonifacio
1B Eric Hosmer
DH Billy Butler
3B Mike Moustakas
C Salvador Perez
RF David Lough
SS Alcides Escobar
CF Jarrod Dyson
RHP Ervin Santana
UMPIRES
TBA
Man that was fast response.
ReplyDeleteBitter August baseball story (not the Nats, but you will recognize one of the characters).
ReplyDeleteBlue Jays
http://www.thestar.com/sports/bluejays/2013/08/24/blue_jays_lose_to_astros_7th_straight_defeat_kelly.html
Let's go, NATS!!
ReplyDeleteLongest current winning streak in NL: Nats.
ReplyDeleteYou wonder how much scouting a team like the Royals does on the Nats. I read in the game story that they were upset that two Mendoza hittters (Tracy and Moore) beat them. OK, on Tracy, who is a .183 hitter and the best you can say is that when he gets hits there are in high leverage situations. On the other hand, Moore is a guy who could develop into a big slugger, and whose batting average stems from his poor spring.
ReplyDeleteYou always need to look at recent history. Guys fix things, guys slump because they have minor injuries, etc. Especially this late in the year, full season stats can be very unreliable.
Thanks for the update, NL--Tranna is my hometown!
ReplyDeleteHad hoped that the Jays would be competitve like I had hoped that my Nats would seal the deal in our division.
At least the Nats still have some hope, which is more than you can say for the Blue Jays.
What's on paper is not always what's on the field!
Goooooooooooooo Nats!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ha, thats funny. The Royals are upset. They stink. They shouldn't run their mouths about anyone. We should just pound them again and come on home. Let sleeping dogs lay....as they say
ReplyDeleteNatsLady,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the link on the Blue Jays. I had a chat with an Angels fan the other day and we were trying to figure which team has been the biggest disappointment this year -- Angels, Jays, Giants, or Nats (Dodgers were potentially on that list until about six or eight weeks ago). We settled on Angels or Jays given that their various investments/trades, whereas the Giants and Nats essentially stood pat (yes, I know both made some moves, but cores were essentially left in tact). Expectations can be cruel.
Longest current winning streak in MLB
ReplyDeleteeugene, i might actually say that the royals would be in the running as well, considering they traded a top 5 prospect, and a dam good outfielder for a good and medicore pitcher. Does not help them down the road, and the royals fans could be looking at another 10 years of dissapointment with this being year 1.
ReplyDeleteEugene, the Angels and Jays spent a ton of money and are a disappointment for sure. But there's only one team that was the preseason consensus favorite to go all the way, and had to go on a five game winning in late August to get above .500. That team is the biggest disappointment in baseball, no doubt about it. Not even close. Did anyone really think Josh Hamilton was going to be good this year?
ReplyDeletemick, from the last thread, I picked 90 wins because that's how many the Reds will have if they go .500 the rest of the way. But pick any number you like -- how about 86? I'd love to see the Nats go 21-12 to get there. Doubt they'll do it, but it would be great. But the Reds only to go 12-20 to finish with 86 wins. Think that might happen? I don't.
Sorry, but our WC hopes are gone, and they were gone by August 1 when NJ said we could look at the standings. That's the most disappointing team in baseball.
Teddy, agreed. Apparently they had a 5-6 year development plan and ownership got impatient--hence the trade. They still have a good, young core, and one more year of James Shields. So let's give them 2014 for another possible run. If they don't make it then, the trade will haunt them for a long, long time.
ReplyDeleteGuess that the Royals players don't understand baseball---no wonder that they are also-rans!
ReplyDeleteAnybody know the name of the clown on the MLB Network who dissed our Desi for not playing regularly?
222,
ReplyDeleteFair enough. I guess I don't take any prediction beyond a division championship that seriously. And I recall lots of prognosticators having the Jays and the Angels winning their respective divisions. But on a personal level -- the performance of the team I support -- the Nats are, of course, the biggest disappointment.
I nominate the Giants for worst disappointment-- they won the World Series last season. And as for this road trip-- not as bad as some. Philly and the DBacks played more than seven hours last night. Bernadina contributed pretty well. Weird.
ReplyDeleteYikes-- no bueno. First inning adventures again.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThat just wasn't good at all...
ReplyDeleteUsually the walk and the error come BEFORE the home run, so there is that.
ReplyDeleteDan, leaving everything over the plate...
ReplyDeleteI take that back.
ReplyDeleteWait-- is that Gio in disguise?
ReplyDeleteAll right. Work to do.
ReplyDeleteWhen we got to Chi I posted: get 3/4 from the Cubs and 2/3 from the Royals, and come home at .500. Well, that's guaranteed.
Would like the bonus, now, please.
Come on Nats O.. Y'all been hot and on fire... Lets start chipping away... Hopefully Dan can stop leaving stuff over the plate and settle down and tighten up...
ReplyDeleteWell, that was murder. Inspector Sydney Wang: "Yes; killed good weekend!"
ReplyDeleteLaRoche has 1,000 fans at this game.
ReplyDeleteI want to see some of those epic at bats.
ReplyDeleteWell, that wasn't a pretty at-bat for Ramos. Hopefully, he'll figure it out.
ReplyDeletePathetic at bat Wilson...
ReplyDeleteShark robs a HR in CF. Wow
ReplyDeleteJust a great play, Ghost...
ReplyDeleteStill trying to understand why he is off the team but Tracy is still here...
Haren is throwing BP I guess. Even their scrubs are hitting him hard.
ReplyDeleteWonder how many DJ lets Haren go... He doesn't have it at all today...
ReplyDeleteThis guy is throwing everything up....
ReplyDeleteMrsB, agreed, 3 tools vs no tools but remember, Tracy is Captain Gooner so that must count for something ;)
ReplyDeleteHeady play by Adam... It's decisions like that, that I think make him so valuable... Not sure T Moore does that...
ReplyDeleteGhost - I mean I expected Roger and Tracy to be gone at year's end... But, still...
I was OK at 2-0...I respect Haren
ReplyDeletebut G-DAMN IT Dan!!!!
hey.. at least nats won series
ReplyDeleteMrsB, I suggested early on in the season to DL Bernadina for 15 days. Get him to rest the wrist and then send him out on a rehab start. He's better than this.
ReplyDeleteThe bench cost this team dearly.
Why do their balls go out... But ours stay in???
ReplyDeleteoh, those balls...
ReplyDeletelol
Yeah Ghost - I remember we discussed the bench earlier this year... They definitely didnt help... Injuries forced them to play and none of them got on when they had the chance...
ReplyDeleteWhen dJ kept trotting the line up of 2/3 automatic outs, and the rest of the line up were under performing... And we missed Ryan, Bryce and Werth and Adam's usual funk...
Yeah, that was a big reason...
Also, the BP screwed us over... 1 LHP, Matheus with the dumbness, the question mark of HRod...
ReplyDeleteJust not a lot of good personnel decisions made in the beginning...
clearly, this is KC's ace
ReplyDeleteDoes Rendon steal knowing that Santana keeps going to first...
ReplyDeleteDidnt Byce do that, last year?
but, even after all of the Rizzo and Davey screw ups...team is 1 over 500 and in it
ReplyDeleteRyan has to make contact... Unh...
ReplyDelete3-1 is a dangerous count..l
damn it haren!!!
ReplyDeletewhy the 2nd HR pitch!!!
do you all prefer .300 OBP, super speedy leadoff guy or .350 OBP, good speed leadoff guy over 600 PAs?
ReplyDeletebtw I hope we can come back no matter the deficit.
ReplyDeleteSantana wanted to give the Nats that inning.
ReplyDeleteGood inning Haren... Come on guys... He put up a zero for ya... Give him a squiggly #...
ReplyDeleteI think Santana last 1 more inning... He was grabbing that hip last inning,,,
ReplyDeleteSeems we can do some work against the KC BP...
Yes... Go Desi... What a hit... Damn, that ball was crushed...
ReplyDeleteWhen Desi gets a hold of one, it goes a long way.
ReplyDeleteDoc through 6 on 96 pitches (2 runs). He's got to be tired, but with the 18 inning game yesterday, don't know if they will take him out.
ReplyDeleteMarco Estrada doing the Nats a solid today.
ReplyDeleteNice 3-0 swing RZim. You got suckered into that.
ReplyDeleteCome on Nats,... Reds and DBacks are losing... Lets gain more ground...
ReplyDeleteBernadina with a 2 RBI double.
ReplyDeleteGO NATS! Take over those Reds and DBacks!
ReplyDeleteGreat at bat Bryce...
ReplyDeleteYa know Ghost... You're not helping.... Grrrr...lol
ReplyDeleteRamos is a rally killer this game...
ReplyDelete8 hits and only 1 run.... Come on guys...
ReplyDeleteYessssss.... Way to go Span....
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteTIE GAME!!!!!!! SIt down, ABAD, sit down.
ReplyDeleteBryce is one tough kid.
ReplyDeleteOMG!!!!
ReplyDeleteway to come back
ReplyDeleteWow!
ReplyDelete40 in the books at 20 years old.
1 from Rick Schu.
715 from Henry Aaron.
Ray did say before the game that Santana leads the majors in homers given up since something like 2006.
ReplyDeleteDenard makes it 4-2!
ReplyDeleteJoey Votto with a solo HR. Still 3-1 MIL, with their closer in.
ReplyDeleteHarper!
ReplyDeleteAll runs with 2 outs. Nice job Nats!
ReplyDeleteReds lost. Milwaukee didn't blow it in the 8th or 9th (not for lack of trying, though).
ReplyDeleteCincy has lost. Thank you Marco Estrada!
ReplyDeleteSpan is so smooth...
ReplyDeleteIt was me--I played Marco Estrado in fantasy today. ;)
ReplyDeleteI got so excited about the tie game, I closed the tab.... Whoot-wooo! Lets get this!
ReplyDeleteAll right, let's win this for Danny Boy. Talk about toughing it out!
ReplyDeleteI don't know if we're going to win this game or not, but this team is showing some serious heart and fight right now. And keep in mind Chen on Friday and Santana today had an ERA of 2.20 and 3.13 respectively. Not bad pitchers. Yesterday's pitcher was bad and we beat him up as we should have.
ReplyDeleteGotta give Dan H some dap... He clearly didnt have his A stuff... Maybe not B.... And after pitching BP in the first inning, he settled down very well....
ReplyDeleteRamos has had a rough day.
ReplyDeleteOuch... Ramos is just not having a good day at all...
ReplyDeleteStammen loves tie games.
ReplyDeleteRamos day game after a night game. Davey trying to do what he did to Suzuki.
ReplyDeleteThat's how you break down your players.
It's just because there's an off day tomorrow Ghost. If there wasn't an off day, Solano would be catching. Because the game is at 7 on Tuesday, Ramos basically gets two full days off after this one.
ReplyDeleteHell of a play by Rendon.... Thought he was safe....
ReplyDeleteBecause he was safe, lol.
ReplyDeleteHas Stammen thrown a Strike yet???
ReplyDeleteWow Stammen. Unacceptable.
ReplyDeleteStammen - you big dummy!
ReplyDeleteStammen brain fart. Better get this guy.
ReplyDeleteI hope Werth lays into Stammen after the inning.
ReplyDeleteTheir closer is VERY good. Keep it tied, Craig. Keep it tied.
ReplyDeleteThis *expletive* is working. My got *explitive* nerve....
ReplyDeleteI'm assuming that DJ was trying to save Clippard?
Im beyond livid.... Beyond livid....
ReplyDeleteWHY AREN'T YOU AT THIRD RYAN?
ReplyDeleteJUST STUPID!!! Ryan Zimmerman day-dreaming!!!!!
ReplyDeleteFundamentals. I expect better from Stammen and Zimmerman.
ReplyDeleteJust dumb as all frack...
ReplyDeletepathetic and inexcusable plays by Stammen & Zimmerman, just awful.
ReplyDeleteHad Stammen covered first in the first place... None of this would have happened...
ReplyDeleteJust dumb as hell... Pissed...
Two mental errors in one inning!! Game should still be tied
ReplyDeleteJust damn pathetic....
ReplyDeleteZimmerman should have covered absolutely no question. Unacceptable. It's odd though that Desmond chose to go to third when he had Butler at second.
ReplyDeleteBut still, Ryan has to be on the effing bag. Period. He can't assume. Same for Craig Stammen. Absolute loss of fundamentals.
That hurts a ton. Stammen with the walk that comes back to haunt.
ReplyDeleteWell we got the bloop, now we need the bomb.
ReplyDeleteIdk why Stammen was even used... Just ugh... Terrible...
ReplyDeleteWalks hurt and then his dumb ass doesn't cover... Ugh....
Two mental errors in one inning!! Game should still be tied
ReplyDeleteOK, Ryan, make up for it now. Right now.
ReplyDeleteRyan Zimmerman on the play to Desmond was doing what exactly?
ReplyDeleteTime for redemption for Ryan Zimmerman and he K's.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteStanding around. He was surprised that Desmond went to him since Desmond had a play at both second and first. It was an odd decision by Desi. But that's absolutely NO EXCUSE. Ryan can't assume anything. Just pitiful.
ReplyDeleteSo the blue wants to make himself known.... Okay...
ReplyDeleteNo margin for error and we can't even cover bases properly. I notice Atlanta's pitchers always seem to....
ReplyDeleteI wish our closer had stuff like this...
ReplyDeleteThe guys fight back nicely and have really been impressive lately. Then somebody woke them up and reminded them it was 2013. I am absolutely sick to stomach at the way Zimm has performed this season. The errors, the strikeouts and seldom does he deliver in the clutch. He is not worth a 3 rd of his money. That swing on 3and0 earlier with Bryce waiting was putrid.
ReplyDeleteDidn't deserve to win that one.
ReplyDeleteZimmerman should be benched a game....
ReplyDeleteDavey should hold the flight and make them take infield.
ReplyDeletePathetic loss.... Haren actually does a decent job and the got darned BP does us in... Again...
ReplyDeleteI mean just a mess...
On a day when AZ and Cincy both lost, we could have picked up on them both. STL too, if Kimbrel holds on.
ReplyDeleteWell we have the Marlins coming in. We absolutely have to take care of them. If our offense keeps producing, we'll be fine in that series. Especially since Jose Fernandez isn't pitching.
ReplyDeleteThe mental mistakes are inexcusable. But we showed a lot of heart and fight from 1-9 in the lineup. Let's just hope that continues. Our guys won't be that stupid again, I hope.
Granted... I thought Desi should have gone to 2nd but still Ryan has to be there... But it wouldn't have gotten there had Stammen covered the base....
ReplyDeleteHow many years has Zimmerman been in the league?
ReplyDeleteWhen do they teach you to cover your base?
The guy might have been out at 3rd anyway, but still....
ReplyDeleteWe are missing Fernandez? Great. I was counting on my fingers...
ReplyDeleteStammen and Zimmerman should pay for tickets to the game if they want to stand around and watch. They both need a good slap up side the head for not covering their bases. That cost us the ballgame.
ReplyDeleteIf you thought Werth was mad at Gio when he failed to cover first when we got out of the inning, imagine how angry Werth is going to be when it cost us the game? I wouldn't want to be in the clubhouse right now, that's for damn sure. I'm positive that Stammen and Zim are hearing it.
ReplyDeleteMrsB, since they didn't show the whole field, I don't know where Rendon was at the time. Desi wouldn't go to third without a reason, he "sees" the whole game.
ReplyDeleteI think it all started with the country club spring training. And Zim..... What the hell are you thinking out there? I think he has mailed it in
ReplyDeleteBullpen stinks minus Clipp. But enough with Ry Zimm. I'll still steamed at him swinging 3 and 0 with a guy on first and Bryce coming up. Does he honestly think he is a good hitter? He is a mediocre hitter and a less than mediocre fielder. 18 errors this year. Ughhhhhhhh.
ReplyDeleteDP, you don't KNOW it cost us the game... be reasonable. It was tied. And a road game where they get the final chance. It's just a REALLY annoying way to lose.
ReplyDeleteWell of course, but Werth went off on Gio for not covering in the first inning after Gio managed to get out of the inning. Imagine now when that allowed the two winning runs to score. Stammen and Zim are being read the riot act right now.
ReplyDeleteMrsB, Clip is getting into the "over-used" category, and you don't know how many innings the game will go. Davey played it with the assumption the game would go extras, because they would use their closer in the top of the 9th, so Stammen goes for the 8th and the 9th and then you get an inferior guy for the 10th... Get the lead.
ReplyDeleteI don't think Davey put in the wrong guy. Stammen and Ryan Zimmerman just DIDN'T do their jobs.
ReplyDeleteNats lady it's not that we lost. If a guy gets a clean single then a clean double then you say OK we got 2 on the road and played well and showed heart. But KC didn't win. THE NATS LOST. That's what pisses everyone off.
ReplyDeleteAlmost our entire schedule remains is Marlins, Mets and Phillies. We have to win those games. We play the Marlins and Mets next. We have to win 5/6 of those games.
ReplyDeleteDidn't Desi not handle the ball cleanly, just having to go to the nearest base? No excuse for Ryan or Stammen and I imagine they will both say that as well. A key element of baseball is thinking about the play before it happens. Zimmerman should have known there was no other place for him to be but 3rd. Stammen should run to 1st base any time the ball is hit to the left side. Fundamental baseball. They need to do better. Good news is there's a homestand and we're a .500 club again - let's make a run!
ReplyDeleteIf your Stammen or Zimm how can you look Harper in the eye after he limps up to the plate and ties the game? After you just failed to,do,something they teach you in fifth grade.
ReplyDeleteStammen was the right guy and he did his job pitch-wise. He got a groundball to LaRoche for the third out. Then he screwed himself over. We gave them an extra out and they made us play. Big league teams usually make you pay. Stammen deserves the loss.
ReplyDeleteHow doesn't Ryan Zimmerman standing by 3rd not be able to crawl to 3rd and beat Billy Butler.
ReplyDeleteNo telling how this game ends but that is possibly the nail in the coffin. Stammen, well, he has no excuse but the FoF playing spectator is beyond comprehension.
Secret, I believe that's what I said. If's a very annoying way to lose. But it can be corrected, hopefully not too late.
ReplyDeleteThat is what Doc said about the FIllies. The culture needs to change, more focus on fundamentals than was happening with Cholly. And no one disputed him on that (though he later said he wasn't taking a slam at Manuel.)
It's only the nail in the coffin if the guys let it be. They have to learn from it and forget it. They won 5, lost 1. That's fine. Continue that pace for a while.
ReplyDeleteThere were A LOT of positives from this roadtrip. It sucks that it has to end on such a sour note. But as we've learned, momentum only goes as far as your next game. We've got the Marlins. Have to beat them.
On the replay, it really looks like Zim is day-dreaming, and suddenly remembers to cover his base. No excuse.
ReplyDeleteNot that I'm excusing Stammen, either. Should be automatic. Don't think, just react.
Bummer to lose that way. Zimmerman needs to quit pouting over not being the face of the franchise anymore and pay attention.
ReplyDeleteMaybe it will take getting wracked like the 3rd baseman for the NY Knights to wake him up.
Won 5 of 7-good road trip. Even better is the Brew Crew not laying down against the Reds. It will be an interesting 5 weeks of baseball. We are still in this although Mike Wise would disagree.
DP and NO Fernandez!
ReplyDeleteDP, absolutely agree. As I said, take 3/4 from the Cubs, take 2/3 from the Royals. Come home at .500 and beat the tar out of the Fish and Mets. We should have had road trips like this all season. We didn't, now, absolutely no room for mental errors, nothing.
ReplyDeleteHope Bryce is OK.
The old saying, physical errors are gonna happen, but mental ones are inexcusable. I agree with William O....sit Zim down a couple games. He is too complacent/comfortable.
ReplyDeleteAlso, bear in mind, we only got the chance because Yost left Santana in too long. Should have taken him out after Span's HR.
ReplyDeleteMan.....what happened Ryan. Is your marriage bad already? Somethin ain't right though. Jesus....cover the f--ckin base! A 13 year old knows this!
ReplyDeleteYou can't afford to lose Zim's bat. I know many of you think he's completely useless, but the stats say otherwise. Zimmerman will be the first to tell you he absolutely screwed up. Sitting him isn't going to "teach him a lesson", it's just going to hurt the team. The offense is finally clicking (and they did it against two good pitchers in KC). You can't just remove a big piece of that from the equation.
ReplyDeleteIt wasn't just a good last two series because of the win- loss record. The at bats have been outstanding and several players are heating up offensively. There has been energy, passion and determination. This was a long and brutal trip with extra innings, rain delays, pitching meltdowns, unfamiliar AL team- and they have pretty much dug down deep and performed well. Brain farts at the wrong time today on the last, very hot day . I would call this last two weeks progress. I have actually enjoyed watching a lot of it without pounding my head against the wall. Still can't bear to watch innings one and nine- traumatized.
ReplyDeleteRead some Royals blogs, their fans are really down on Yost. If he didn't lift Santana after the HR, he definitely should have lifted him after Zim's single. Should have brought in a lefty to face Harper. Basically, stupid managing gave us the opening, and we gave it back.
ReplyDeleteDesi bomb- 455 feet. Harper- 40 home runs before the age of 20. Sweet.
ReplyDeleteoh well, let's get back to it tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteYeah, the 9th = not pretty. There was a fair amount of runner-stranding before that. Gotta love Bryce. (Not sure why the state of Zimm's marriage is pertinent but whatevs.)
ReplyDeleteEveryone ahead of us lost today. It was a great opportunity to gain ground, but we're fortunate we didn't lose any ground.
ReplyDeleteAlso impressed with Haren's gutting it out. Too bad they couldn't come all the way back.
ReplyDeleteOh c'mon David. The guy went hacking on 3 and 0 and it was a very good pitch to hit. He bounced to second. This guy isn't Desi, Bryce or WERTh. He needs to wake up and realize that he is not a star on this team or any other.
ReplyDeleteWith a better manager for the Royals we would have lost it 4-2. It just wasn't ours to win. Come home, boys. Try to heal up, Desi, Bryce, Jayson (and everyone else we don't know about).
ReplyDeleteSorry should say NOT a good pitch to hit
ReplyDeleteZimm is at the level of about Rendon. He's good but that's it. WERTh, Desi and Bryce are the big guns anymore. If Zimm would realize that he would play better.
ReplyDeleteZimmerman almost NEVER swings on 3-0. He obviously thought he had something he could drive: it was a fastball up. He just chopped it. Earlier this season, Werth swung 3-0 against the Mets with 1 out and runners on 1st and 2nd. He grounded into a double play. We ended up losing that game, largely as a result of that double play. It happens to everyone. I think Zim is perfectly fine not being the star, he's never been a guy who has seemed like he's much wanted the spotlight. But he's a quality offensive 3B. He's well above average offensively, the numbers show that.
ReplyDeleteNow defensively, fire away on him. He should've covered third. No excuse.
Reds have 10 of 13 games against the Cards and Dodgers with the Rox sandwiched between in the next 2 weeks. We have Marlins Mets and Phillies.
ReplyDeleteThis is it-time for a run!
And, look at it this way, it's hard to win extra-inning road games--and we did it twice on this trip. Our bullpen is exhausted. The LAST thing we needed was another extra-inning game on a hot, hot day--even with the off-day it would set us back. It's annoying, it's frustrating, but it's not the worst thing in the world.
ReplyDeleteI think they are all exhausted. There were extra inning games, and rain delays. They have come from behind more in the last week than in the whole season before that. Jsyson had an infection, Desi had been hitting some things out. Rest tomorrow will do wonders.
ReplyDeleteDesi has been gutting things out.
ReplyDeleteNats106, absolutely. And Davey's head is back in the game. He said he's in a pennant race now (that was yesterday).
ReplyDeleteBTW, in the pointy ball game, Shanahan said, anything less than a Super Bowl would be failure. Any team with a wee bit of talent, they all say stuff like that...
Desi has a bad back and bad hamstring. Harper has the knee and now foot. Werth has the foot. Ramos has the hamstring. They're all playing at well less than 100% and they're grinding it out and winning games. That's all you can ask for. Doesn't make games like today easier to handle though. I can take the physical errors, the mental ones are tough.
ReplyDelete>>With a better manager for the Royals we would have lost it 4-2.
ReplyDeleteWith a better manager for the Nationals we would have scored at least six runs.
still won series....
ReplyDeletenow, no reason Nats cant win 6 straight at home putting them 6 over
going into 9/1
ReplyDeleteBased on Werth's calculation the other day (10 losses max to make the wildcard), our tragic number is now down to 18.
ReplyDeletehere's the thing
ReplyDeletenats were picked to win it all...if they are as good as we think...there is no reason why they canot win 85% of games from now until 9/17
R Zim pissed me off... he should be embarrassed as the face of franchise
ReplyDelete23-9 is what it'll take to get to 88 wins. Not easy. But it's also not unheard of, especially with our schedule. We just won 11 of 15. Basically we need to do that again, twice. That will get us to 88 wins.
ReplyDeleteDavid
ReplyDeleteexactly...Nats have a real shot
There were a couple of key brain farts, near the end of the game, near the end of the long road trip. You don't think Stras lost concentration on that HR ball at the end of his game? It takes a millisecond, the game speeds up. As a fan this road trip has been brutal and tiring. They have showed me a lot. Add to the injuries, delays, extras , travel-- they lost two well liked teammates. It's a wonder they were still functioning at all today. Then Haren doesn't have it in yet another first inning hole. But they battled back yet again. You can complain about a couple of late inning mental lapses. But I feel that this road trip has showed a lot of mental toughness all around.
ReplyDeleteOur boys started this road trip losing 3 of 4, including a blowout to the CUBS, the CUBS!
ReplyDeleteFinished it 5 of 6. That is a team, people, that is a team.
David Proctor said...
ReplyDeleteDesi has a bad back and bad hamstring. Harper has the knee and now foot. Werth has the foot. Ramos has the hamstring. They're all playing at well less than 100% and they're grinding it out and winning games. That's all you can ask for. Doesn't make games like today easier to handle though. I can take the physical errors, the mental ones are tough.
August 25, 2013 5:58 PM
---//--//
And Ryan has a bad shoulder, but fact is, he should not have swung at the 3-0 pitch.Period. Now that said, yes,he should've gotten to third, but come on, you all. Desi gets a pass from most of you on a ball that he first misplayed with the glove, and then honestly? The play was at second, in my opinion.
R zim has a chance to be a leader in sept.
ReplyDeleteit is time for him to play like a champ, like Werth does
his at bat made him look like a loser use to playing on 100 loss teams
All nine defenders have a job to do on every play that happens while they're in the field. Never should anyone be standing around watching. Either you're directly involved in the play (catching or throwing) or you're covering your base, or you're backing up the play...every player...every time! Fundamental defensive baseball 101.
ReplyDeleteEovaldi vs Ohlendorf Tuesday, Alvarez vs Strasburg Wednesday and Koehler against Gio on Thursday. Guess who is scheduled to pitch for the Mets Thursday against the Phillies? Harvey.
ReplyDeleteWe miss Fernandez against Miami and Harvey against the Mets. I sense opportunity. NL, you are right, they are tired and hurting, but a day to recover and back home. I shall be cheering loudly for Harper & Werth Tuesday. They have been carrying this team and daring the rest of the players to lose. Gotta love that attitude.
Oh and Span too has been extraordinarily good.
ReplyDeleteNL, you are right again-this is a team, but certain people are defining it right now.
My vacation was delayed so I'm looking forward to going to a game or two on this coming home stand. I must say that I have been really happy with their play on this road trip. You always feel like you have a chance when they play this way. GYFNG!
ReplyDeleteThere really has been more of a sense of determination. This road trip has had lots of drama. Hope they can keep the offense going. Even the four today would have seemed like ten a month ago.
ReplyDelete"mick said...
ReplyDeleteR Zim pissed me off... he should be embarrassed as the face of franchise"
I was at that viewing party at Chilis. Nice event.
Ryan Zimmerman should buy a ticket if he wants to watch the game. Lousy swing on a 3-0 pitch and not getting to that one ball by him and then he watches as Desi plants in the hole and doesnt man his base.
The Nats season went in the toilet in Game 1 against the Braves when he couldnt field his position in the 9th inning and threw that ball wide of 2nd base which shouldnt surpize any one I guess and he did it again 4 months later where every game is do or die.
He is supposed to be the team leader and even says his style is "lead by example". He better not be leading by example bcuz his example is lack of hustle and execution. I dont care of the bad shoulder. Its just a excuse. A bad shoulder doesnt keep you from hustling to your base and to not beat the slowest runner on the Royals in Billy Butler is just more pethetic.
His example sucks and he should be ashamed of himself.
As David says "Desi has a bad back and bad hamstring. Harper has the knee and now foot. Werth has the foot. Ramos has the hamstring. They're all playing at well less than 100% and they're grinding it out and winning games"
"Joe Seamhead said...
ReplyDeleteAnd Ryan has a bad shoulder"
Was there 1 of his poor plays today that any thing to do with his shoulder?
If Zimmerman would have dived into Billy Butler on the tag instead of lunging at him he gets the out.
Theres no excuse but Joe Seamhead will say he has a bad shoulder. That excuses nothing of his plays today.
You have to listen to the Royals TV crew. They called Zimmerman "a spectator". You can see Rendon covering the 2nd. You can also see Zimmerman standing there and Desmond only looking to 3rd.
ReplyDeleteZimmerman must have thought it was funny as Billy Butler was laughing looking at Zimmerman.
Yah, real funny.
http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2013_08_25_wasmlb_kcamlb_1&mode=video&content_id=30038299&tcid=vpp_copy_30038299
Yo RZim and Stammen, falling playing baseball and falling asleep is a dangerous activity!!!
ReplyDelete"I've never been much of a rah-rah guy."
ReplyDeleteYeah, Ryan, it shows.
Zimmerman Falls Asleep
ReplyDeleteRead these Ryan Zimmerman quotes on April 12th after the Braves loss when the Nats were winning 4-1 into the 8th.
Zimmerman's Error
"I've never been much of a rah-rah guy. I lead by example!"
ReplyDeleteMASN better change that commercial.
Bernadina with the #1 and #2 Web Gems today!
ReplyDelete