DonRocks Posted March 31, 2014 Posted March 31, 2014 The Washington Nationals' webpage Season opener, 9-7 in 10 innings. Amazingly, the score after regulation was 5-5 - that is a tense tenth inning. A classic Earl Weaver game: "pitching, defense, and 3-run homers." Look: 1) The Nats struck out *18* batters today, and gave up only 3 walks. 2) Error-free the entire game. 3) Anthony Rendon hit a 3-run homer. Strasburg fanned 10, and his BAA (batting average against) was .238. It's remarkable that his ERA after this game is 6.00. We've got to watch giving up the long ball. Box Score on cnn.com
DaveO Posted April 1, 2014 Posted April 1, 2014 this is great. Maybe you should do a game by game recap. seriously...this could be THE YEAR. (I hope so)
DonRocks Posted April 1, 2014 Author Posted April 1, 2014 I really wasn't expecting this to be featured on Politico. 2
DaveO Posted April 2, 2014 Posted April 2, 2014 I really wasn't expecting this to be featured on Politico. Congrats!!! One more link to the site from a "most" unexpected source....and then a "natitude blog" would be an unusual piece of writing for this forum. but it would be cool
DonRocks Posted April 2, 2014 Author Posted April 2, 2014 Congrats!!! One more link to the site from a "most" unexpected source....and then a "natitude blog" would be an unusual piece of writing for this forum. but it would be cool Playbook doesn't generate much direct traffic, but it is an honor to be in it. Mike is an avid baseball fan and we've been to more than one game together. We always enjoy talking baseball, and he is a wonderful conversationalist. Contrary to what you might read on another blog, Mike Allen is an avid baseball fan, a genuinely nice human being, and to the best of my knowledge (and I consider him a personal friend, and I think I would know otherwise), does not participate in pay for play. No, I can't "mathematically prove it," but that's not the Mike Allen I know. He is just a good, kindhearted person, plain and simple, and I both respect and like him to the point of bending over backwards for him with *nothing expected in return.* I know him better than the blogger who has been maligning him during these past few months, and I trust my opinion vastly more than I trust this blogger's opinion. Mike Allen has a heart of gold, and I consider it an honor to be his friend - not because he's famous; but because he's a great person. 1
DaveO Posted April 2, 2014 Posted April 2, 2014 hmmmm..... I must admit to never reading that section of politico, frankly rarely visit it at all on the web, and don't know of the author at all. I thought the piece you wrote was cool and simply wanted to congratulate you for having been referenced. .....now if you could only repeat something like that piece 161 more times (oi...ugh) through the rest of the season.....
DonRocks Posted April 3, 2014 Author Posted April 3, 2014 Game 2: Nats 5, Mets 1. The Nats throw 13 strikeouts for a total of 31 in 2 games. That is the most of any team, after 2 games, in over 100 years! Gio Gonzalez "helps his cause" (don't you love the way they always say that?) by hitting a home run. Jayson Werth has a 4-hit day. Bryce Harper throws out a runner at the plate from left field. Enjoy this while you can - over the long haul, baseball is a game of parity. 1
DaveO Posted April 3, 2014 Posted April 3, 2014 Gio Gonzalez "helps his cause" (don't you love the way they always say that?) by hitting a home run. Don: In the wonderful retrospective on Brooks Robinson you provided, and in the video that commemorates the "Brooks Robinson World Series" of 1970, where he swept up every hit smashed his way, turned obvious base hits into outs and double plays, made remarkable throws to first base that caught base runners,,,,,AND had a tremendous bat at the plate with an average over .400, two homers and 6 RBI's...the video references that Brooks and the team got contributions from everywhere. Among those contributions were grand slams by pitchers Dave McNally in the World Series, and by Mike Cuellar in the American League Championship series. When pitchers are hitting home runs....things are looking up!!!!!!! Keep it up!!!!!
PappyVanWise Posted April 3, 2014 Posted April 3, 2014 Tanner Roark stepped in admirably for Jordan Zimmermann today, who the stat-heads say is the real ace of the staff. If Fister comes back healthy, and Roark and Taylor Jordan fill in this well when called upon to give the top of the rotation a break every now and then, the Nats should sweep up the NL East. That being said, Go Reds!
DonRocks Posted April 3, 2014 Author Posted April 3, 2014 Tanner Roark stepped in admirably for Jordan Zimmermann today, who the stat-heads say is the real ace of the staff. If Fister comes back healthy, and Roark and Taylor Jordan fill in this well when called upon to give the top of the rotation a break every now and then, the Nats should sweep up the NL East. That being said, Go Reds! Start a Reds thread. Why not? --- In Game 3, the Nationals just won 8-2. A 3-0 record playing their first 3 games on the road - not a bad start. With only 1 error committed in the 1st 3 games, and 39 strikeouts (that's 13 strikeouts per game). Celebrate, yes, but don't get carried away: This was against the Mets, who won 74 games in 2013. Tomorrow, a more vigorous test begins in a 3-game home stand against the Braves, who won 96 games in 2013. If we're 5-1 next Sunday evening, there will be very good reason to be optimistic. Natitude.
Barbara Posted April 4, 2014 Posted April 4, 2014 The Braves have pitching problems. Lots of injuries early in the season. Dear Dog, I've been waiting for the season to start since the last one ended. I've been listening to the games on the radio--a couple of them on my portable from Radio Shack (which I take to Nats Park and listen with the ear buds) while working on my garden on the patio. Pure BLISS.
DonRocks Posted April 4, 2014 Author Posted April 4, 2014 To integrate our Thomas Boswell thread into this Natitude thread: "Mets, Braves Series Could Set The Tone For The Washington Nationals' Season" by Thomas Boswell on washingtonpost.com
Barbara Posted April 5, 2014 Posted April 5, 2014 To integrate our Thomas Boswell thread into this Natitude thread: "Mets, Braves Series Could Set The Tone For The Washington Nationals' Season" by Thomas Boswell on washingtonpost.com Yeah, except it didn't. Why OH Why do they fall apart in the face of the Braves? THREE base-running errors. Never mind the inside-the-park homerun by Desmond that was thrown out. Feh.
DonRocks Posted April 5, 2014 Author Posted April 5, 2014 Yeah, except it didn't. Why OH Why do they fall apart in the face of the Braves? THREE base-running errors. Never mind the inside-the-park homerun by Desmond that was thrown out. Feh. 1 Error and *53* strikeouts in the 1st 4 games. That's 13.25 strikeouts per game. Don't be too worried about a 2-1 loss to the Braves.
DonRocks Posted April 6, 2014 Author Posted April 6, 2014 Don't be too worried about a 2-1 loss to the Braves. Now you can start worrying.
Barbara Posted April 6, 2014 Posted April 6, 2014 They're a great team. The one team the Nats just can't figure out. They are snake-bit.
DonRocks Posted April 6, 2014 Author Posted April 6, 2014 And the Nationals escape getting swept with a 2-1 victory today. At 4-2, with the fear of God thrown into them by the Braves, this *might* be the best thing that could have happened, long-term. If there was any overconfidence, it is now completely gone, or should be. But if they had gotten swept, their core level of confidence might have been shattered, and you don't want that. Only 2 runs and 4 hits today, but somehow, it was enough to squeak by. The Nats could have easily won 2 games this series, and they need to get it in their minds that they can play toe-to-toe with Atlanta. While I had hoped for a 5-1 start, 4-2 is still .667 baseball, and that's good enough to win a pennant. And rest assured, the Nats will be on high alert when they do it all again, against the Braves, next weekend. Things are normalizing - the obscene strikeout pace has calmed down (a bit), and the long-term realities of the season are settling in. Still, in 6 games, the Nationals have pitched an amazing 69 strikeouts, or 11.5 per game - that is noteworthy. The day off tomorrow is a nice luxury, and the Nats need to go into the Marlins series with the mindset of winning 2, if not all 3, games, and being dead-set on kicking some ass in game number 1. After the off-day, the Nationals begin a run of *20* consecutive game days. It is imperative that the starting pitchers go deep into games during this 20-game flurry; else, the bullpen will become exhausted (and maybe even injured). We need Strasburg to get it together, pronto - other pitchers will have slumps later on, and he'll need to rise to the occasion. And then the time between next Thursday night (their final home game against Miami) and Friday night (their first away game against Atlanta) must be spent (during travel) focusing, relaxing, and becoming intent on recreating Sherman's March. While it may be a stretch to say "they need" 2 wins against the Braves next weekend, they absolutely need 1, and things will be a whole lot easier on them if they take 2. Sweeping the Marlins would take a lot of pressure off of them, but you can never count on a sweep. If you had asked me, before the season started, where the Nats would be right now, I probably would have said 4-2. So, in the grand scheme of things, there aren't any huge surprises. But the grind is about to begin.
Josh Radigan Posted April 7, 2014 Posted April 7, 2014 Thoughts as follows and Joe Riley might take a whip to my hind for saying this: Harper and Strasburg are immense talents but the Nationals need to temper their expectations with their production. If they can do so, get Strasburgs head on straight, and get Harper to realize that keeping the congo line moving instead of swinging for the fences, they will naturally release their god given talents. Harper will not face a lefty for about 2 weeks so giving him the day off yesterday was a good decision on Williams part.
DonRocks Posted April 9, 2014 Author Posted April 9, 2014 The day off tomorrow is a nice luxury, and the Nats need to go into the Marlins series with the mindset of winning 2, if not all 3, games, and being dead-set on kicking some ass in game number 1. And so they did kick some ass in the first game against the Miami Marlins, 5-0, giving them a season record of 5-2 (a .714 winning percentage). This is seemingly one "unimportant" game early in the season, but this was *the* one game in this series that the Nats needed the most psychologically. They needed to win it big, and they did. Even if they only split the following two against the Marlins, they'll still be 6-3 which is just fine. Then, even if they drop 2 of 3 to Atlanta next weekend, they're still a respectable 7-5 on the season with 50% of their games having been played against perhaps the toughest team in baseball. Let's not forget that the Marlins were 5-2 coming into this series - they're no pushovers. Gio Gonzalez is now 2-0 with an ERA of 0.75. Even if Strasburg is slumping, the Nats have a go-to guy right now, one who allows them all to take a collective, deep breath on days that he's pitching, and relax. Playing on 20 consecutive days, you need that mental break. Washington is in control of their own destiny right now, and that's a good position to be in. And, they've hurled 77 strikeouts in 7 games. Striking out someone in baseball is like serving an ace in tennis. It's a free point, and relieves pressure on the rest of the team. 11 strikeouts per game is 11 times the fielders have zero pressure on them, and no chance to commit any errors (odd exceptions aside). Stay healthy, gentlemen, and if Zimmerman indeed has an arthritic shoulder, get him away from 3rd base. There are too many critical throws that originate from the hot corner. We cannot afford throwing errors from 3rd because all too often, they result in a quasi-double, putting a runner in scoring position.
DonRocks Posted April 10, 2014 Author Posted April 10, 2014 And so they did kick some ass in the first game against the Miami Marlins, 5-0, giving them a season record of 5-2 (a .714 winning percentage). This is seemingly one "unimportant" game early in the season, but this was *the* one game in this series that the Nats needed the most psychologically. They needed to win it big, and they did. Even if they only split the following two against the Marlins, they'll still be 6-3 which is just fine. Then, even if they drop 2 of 3 to Atlanta next weekend, they're still a respectable 7-5 on the season with 50% of their games having been played against perhaps the toughest team in baseball. ... Washington is in control of their own destiny right now, and that's a good position to be in. When I went into dinner this evening, I checked my cell phone, and the Nationals were down 5-0. I wrote the game off, and was just happy that they had won game #1 of the series. "Werth's Grand Slam Lifts Nats Past Marlins 10-7" by Howard Fendrich on abcnews.com These are the little gifts you take and be thankful for. The Nationals are now 6-2, and have won the series no matter what happens tomorrow. This is where managerial skills come into play: hammer home that tomorrow's game (game 3 of the series) is just as important as any of the upcoming Braves games, and keep your team focused. Every strike of the nail with the hammer drives it in a bit further; every time you miss the nail, it's a wasted strike. The Nationals need a team psychologist to get them prepped for tomorrow. 8 games, 88 strikeouts. If this isn't a major-league record, I'd like to know what the record is.
DonRocks Posted April 10, 2014 Author Posted April 10, 2014 When I went into dinner this evening, I checked my cell phone, and the Nationals were down 5-0. I wrote the game off, and was just happy that they had won game #1 of the series. "Werth's Grand Slam Lifts Nats Past Marlins 10-7" by Howard Fendrich on abcnews.com ... 8 games, 88 strikeouts. If this isn't a major-league record, I'd like to know what the record is. And the Nationals sweep the series against the Marlins, 7-1, giving them a 7-2 record for the year, a 4-game winning streak, and the best record in the major leagues. They've swept 2 out of 3 series so far. And Strasburg broke out of his slump, striking out 12 and walking 1 in 6 2/3 quality innings, giving the bullpen a rest. Now, after 9 games ... 105 strikeouts. 11.67 strikeouts per game - this *must* be an all-time record. To put this in perspective, only 3 individual pitchers have ever averaged over 10 strikeouts per (9-inning) game for their career: Randy Johnson, Kerry Wood, and Pedro Martinez. Back-to-back games with 8th-innning grand slams (Jayson Werth yesterday, Ian Desmond today). This takes so much pressure off the upcoming series against the Braves, but if you're going to win it all, you have to (eventually) beat the best - why not start this weekend? A truly great team would floor the gas pedal right now, and take 2 of 3 from Atlanta - easier said than done. Team psychologist: Hammer! Hammer! Hammer! Treat each game as if it will be the last one you ever play.
Al Dente Posted April 11, 2014 Posted April 11, 2014 Not sure if it's an all-time record, but this "hasn't been seen in more than a century." Now, after 9 games ... 105 strikeouts. 11.67 strikeouts per game - this *must* be an all-time record. To put this in perspective, only 3 individual pitchers have ever averaged over 10 strikeouts per (9-inning) game for their career: Randy Johnson, Kerry Wood, and Pedro Martinez.
jasonc Posted April 12, 2014 Posted April 12, 2014 I'm digging this game so far! The great Julio Teheran!
lovehockey Posted April 12, 2014 Posted April 12, 2014 When I went into dinner this evening, I checked my cell phone, and the Nationals were down 5-0. I wrote the game off, and was just happy that they had won game #1 of the series. "Werth's Grand Slam Lifts Nats Past Marlins 10-7" by Howard Fendrich on abcnews.com These are the little gifts you take and be thankful for. I did the same thing, but in my case I turned off the TV. In the car yesterday morning I learned that I had indeed been of little faith. I spent yesterday afternoon watching the rerun on MASN and then the 4:05 game, so I got two grand slams in one day.
Barbara Posted April 12, 2014 Posted April 12, 2014 Not a Grand Slam, but Zimmerman hit a 3-run homer to tie the game. Last year, they would have just gotten demoralized and folded. This is making me very, very hopeful for this season.
lovehockey Posted April 12, 2014 Posted April 12, 2014 Not a Grand Slam, but Zimmerman hit a 3-run homer to tie the game. Last year, they would have just gotten demoralized and folded. This is making me very, very hopeful for this season. It was 4-1 when I answered the phone. Some time later (still on the phone) I looked at the TV and it was 4-4. I guess I should now change the channel because they appear to do better without me.
DonRocks Posted April 12, 2014 Author Posted April 12, 2014 Sometimes the better team just wins... Like Barbara said, "snakebit." The Braves are 3-1 against the Nationals this year. Everyone else is 0-6 which is why the Nationals have the better record at 7-3 (.700). J-Up stole the name 14UP from donrockwell.com. This is an indisputable fact. 7 more strikeouts, making 112 in 10 games, or 11.2 per game. When "7 strikeouts" is a disappointment, that is a blistering pace. Drew Storen struck out the side in the 9th - it's too bad they didn't leave him in (for whatever reason) in the 10th. One interesting statistic: I mentioned in a previous post that only Randy Johnson, Kerry Wood, and Pedro Martinez ever averaged over 10 strikeouts per 9-inning game over their career. The 7th-highest pitcher for the Nationals this season after 10 games - the *7th-highest* - is averaging 12.46. No, it's not that significant, but it's a fun statistic. Even JasonC might find it interesting. You can see on that same link that only Gio Gonzalez has more than 1 victory this season - I'm not sure if that's good or bad. I also agree with Barbara that this year, so far, is different: the Nationals seem like they think they can win. Call it a gut feel, but win or lose, I suspect the Nats are going to be walking into the game tomorrow with one big thing. Natitude.
jasonc Posted April 12, 2014 Posted April 12, 2014 One interesting statistic: I mentioned in a previous post that only Randy Johnson, Kerry Wood, and Pedro Martinez ever averaged over 10 strikeouts per 9-inning game over their career. The 7th-highest pitcher for the Nationals this season after 10 games - the *7th-highest* - is averaging 12.46. No, it's not that significant, but it's a fun statistic. Even JasonC might find it interesting. What I find interesting is your penchant for playing fast and loose with statistics. Craig Kimbrel (closer for the #Barves) is averaging 21.21 Ks per 9 this season. 13.16 last season and 16.66 in 2012. The reason, among other factors is that he's a closer and it's easier to strike people out when you are coming in an inning at a time. That's why he's not on the list with the guys you mention. The other reason, and that for the 21.21 figure, is the extremely small sample size. Other than Strasburg, the guys on your list pitched, on average, 5 innings and many of them are relievers. Randy Johnson, Wood, and Martinez are starters who pitched over 200 innings. Correct me if I'm being wrongheaded, but in my book it's fine for friends to tease each other about their sports teams (I've been doing this for most of my life), but it's hardly "high level" to post misleading information. Based on the talent of the two teams, yes, the Nats are clearly the better team this year. That, to use your word, is indisputable. I don't understand why I can't get a few digs in when the Braves manage to win one.
PappyVanWise Posted April 12, 2014 Posted April 12, 2014 Comparing K/9 between starters and relievers is apples and oranges, but Kerry Wood is an odd case since pitched more seasons as a relief pitcher than a starter. I think his one crazy strikeout season probably skews him for analysis anyway. Just checking out his stats now, and his rookie year as a starter he had a K/9 of 12.6, then his three next highest K/9 seasons were all between 11.2 and 11.4, but only one was when he was a reliever. Dusty Baker really ruined some amazing arms in his day. Also, baseballreference.com requires 162 innings pitched in a season to qualify to be ranked in their strikeout rating list. 1
Barbara Posted April 12, 2014 Posted April 12, 2014 After spending the afternoon watching the Masters, I turned the radio on to find a rather perplexing pre-game interview with Matt Williams, who was talking about moving Harper to Center field. WTF? A little bit of Googling found the info that Span maybe has a concussion and is on the 7-day DL and Werth has "groin pain" and will be on the bench if needed. This game is going to be very, very interesting; especially since Rendon started the first inning with a homer. In other words, not folding like a cheap suit--which was the case last year.
jasonc Posted April 13, 2014 Posted April 13, 2014 I'm looking forward to the day when I can bounce my grandkids on my knee and tell them about the time I saw the great Taylor Jordan pitch.
Barbara Posted April 13, 2014 Posted April 13, 2014 Can we please ban that awful "chopping and chanting" they do in Atlanta? It's a least a bad as the name of the Washington Football team. 1
DonRocks Posted April 13, 2014 Author Posted April 13, 2014 Can we please ban that awful "chopping and chanting" they do in Atlanta? It's a least a bad as the name of the Washington Football team. Here in DC we sing Bach Cantatas and get our asses handed to us. I have an awesome idea. You know all these 8th-inning grand slams we've been hitting? Let's hit them against the Braves! And all these 11-strikeout games we've been throwing? Let's throw them against the Braves! --- The better team is going to sweep the series, leaving the Nationals and Braves with 7-5 and 8-4 records, respectively. But the Braves are 5-1 head-to-head, and possess a huge psychological advantage. The word "possess" was chosen carefully. Just like Nadal was beating Federer when nobody else was. It got under his skin, and Nadal surpassed him. The Nationals, who were playing virtually error-free ball, have committed 6 errors in the past 2 days. Atlanta has cast a hex on Washington, and the Nationals are rattled in a big way. Take away the Braves, and the Nationals are 6-0. Take away the Nationals, and the Braves are 3-3. But you can't take away the Braves or the Nationals - that's not how it works. And that's why winning that 3rd game against the Marlins was *so* *damned* *important*. Because of that, the Nationals are able to flee from leave Atlanta with their heads up. Get the hell out of there. Fast. Then, someone needs to step up in the clubhouse. I don't know if it should be a player, or a coach, or a sports psychologist, but the Nationals need a leader *right now*. Forget Atlanta exists for the time being. Start winning games again, and the crisis will be gone the next time you face Atlanta. In DC, in mid-June, thank God. It is possible to turn this early-season tragedy into a net-positive. Here's your recipe for success, Washington. All steps must be performed *in order*: Step 1: Start winning Step 2: Keep winning and retake the division lead Step 3: Get your lost confidence back, pronto, and then get some more. Don't ever confuse empty cockiness with quiet confidence. Step 4: Acknowledge that you were outplayed by a better team, but believe - really believe - that the situation has completely changed, and that now, *you* are the better team. Believe it to the point where there's no doubt in your minds. You'll know you really believe it if you feel absolutely no need to say it. Step 5: In mid-June, treat the Braves like they murdered your mothers. *Want* to play them. *Want* to kick their asses. From the first pitch, you hold their heads underwater, and you don't let them take a single breath for the entire series. You have two months to get it done, and the odds are stacked against you. Good luck. Congratulations to the Braves. 2
DonRocks Posted April 13, 2014 Author Posted April 13, 2014 It is possible to turn this early-season tragedy into a net-positive. Here's your recipe for success, Washington. All steps must be performed *in order*: Step 1: Start winning Step 2: Keep winning and retake the division lead Step 3: Get your lost confidence back, pronto, and then get some more. Don't ever confuse empty cockiness with quiet confidence. Step 4: Acknowledge that you were outplayed by a better team, but believe - really believe - that the situation has completely changed, and that now, *you* are the better team. Believe it to the point where there's no doubt in your minds. You'll know you really believe it if you feel absolutely no need to say it. Step 5: In mid-June, treat the Braves like they murdered your mothers. *Want* to play them. *Want* to kick their asses. From the first pitch, you hold their heads underwater, and you don't let them take a single breath for the entire series. You have two months to get it done, and the odds are stacked against you. Good luck. Before the game today, GM Mike Rizzo said this about playing the Braves: "Great games and they've come out on the winning side of it more than we'd like," he said. "But we feel confident against this team. We feel we're better than this team. We respect them and we respect their organization. But we don't fear them. We think we're the better team and at the end of the day we're going to come out on top." Do you see what I say in Step 3 about "empty cockiness?" In case anyone wasn't clear about what I was referring to ... this statement is what I'm referring to. "‹Having this attitude right now fast tracks the Nationals to a .500 season. Rizzo doesn't believe it, I don't believe it, the Braves don't believe it, and most importantly, the Nationals don't believe it. Because it isn't true. This is a very, very dangerous thing for Rizzo to be saying right now, and as far as I'm concerned, he's whistling while walking through a graveyard. And if he doesn't do an about-face *right now*, it's going to be the Nationals' graveyard he's walking through.
lovehockey Posted April 15, 2014 Posted April 15, 2014 Since it's 9-2 in the top of the 8th I think it's safe to say that this Miami Marlins game is good therapy after what happened in Atlanta.
Barbara Posted April 15, 2014 Posted April 15, 2014 Since it's 9-2 in the top of the 8th I think it's safe to say that this game is good therapy after what happened in Atlanta. I had to watch "Dancing with the Stars" (so sue me) and, thus, didn't turn on the game until 10pm. The way these games have been going, I figured there was at least one inning--if not two--to go. Nope, i caught the last out of the ninth. Still, a win is a win and the Nats have won ALL their games. . . except the ones with the Braves, who they won't have to face again until June.
Al Dente Posted April 24, 2014 Posted April 24, 2014 Who watched the game last night! Wow, what a thriller! Someone definitely proved their werth! "Werth, LaRoche Rally Nats For Walk-Off Win Vs. Halos" by Bill Ladson on mlb.com
Al Dente Posted April 30, 2014 Posted April 30, 2014 Maybe the loss of Harper won't be quite so bad: "Kevin Frandsen Makes Behind-The-Back Catch Off Fence That's Hard To Believe" by David Brown on sports.yahoo.com
lovehockey Posted May 1, 2014 Posted May 1, 2014 I'd like to know how many other times an inside-the-park home run has been scored as a triple plus an error. In the case of Denard Span's a few minutes ago, it was a triple plus an E9. I'll be stunned if it's not in ESPN's Not Top Plays of the week. I feel bad for the Houston Astros players. Horrible attendance at the ballpark and regular 0.0 ratings on local TV.
Barbara Posted May 1, 2014 Posted May 1, 2014 I'd like to know how many other times an inside-the-park home run has been scored as a triple plus an error. In the case of Denard Span's a few minutes ago, it was a triple plus an E9. I'll be stunned if it's not in ESPN's Not Top Plays of the week. I feel bad for the Houston Astros players. Horrible attendance at the ballpark and regular 0.0 ratings on local TV. Since I'm listening to the game on the radio, it was referred to as a "Little League home run." Texas is first, second, third, etc. a Football state. It wouldn't surprise me in the least if the Nats won a World Series before any Texas team does--and, the Rangers used to be the Senators. It took them almost 40 years to even get to a playoff game.
lovehockey Posted May 1, 2014 Posted May 1, 2014 Since I'm listening to the game on the radio, it was referred to as a "Little League home run." Texas is first, second, third, etc. a Football state. It wouldn't surprise me in the least if the Nats won a World Series before any Texas team does--and, the Rangers used to be the Senators. It took them almost 40 years to even get to a playoff game. The HR/triple + error was fielded poorly: the fielder's slide towards the ball went wrong, then a couple attempts to pick up the ball didn't go so well.
Barbara Posted May 1, 2014 Posted May 1, 2014 The HR/triple + error was fielded poorly: the fielder's slide towards the ball went wrong, then a couple attempts to pick up the ball didn't go so well. That's pretty much the definition of a "Little League home run" isn't it?
Barbara Posted May 1, 2014 Posted May 1, 2014 HEY LOVEHOCKEY: This didn't take long: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mlb-big-league-stew/george-springer-misplays-ball-at-least-four-times-and-allows-denard-span-to-score-153929309.html
lovehockey Posted May 6, 2014 Posted May 6, 2014 HEY LOVEHOCKEY: This didn't take long: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mlb-big-league-stew/george-springer-misplays-ball-at-least-four-times-and-allows-denard-span-to-score-153929309.html I just saw this! *So proud* Dear MLB: Just postpone the rest of tonight's game. It's 11:30 and the precipitation is training, for heaven's sake. Addendum: What do I know? They're about to start again. Meanwhile, thunder and lightning are here in Mount Vernon.
lovehockey Posted May 6, 2014 Posted May 6, 2014 *Looks at clock* They're still playing! And I'm awake! I'll regret this! Going to the bottom of the 8th with the Nats leading 2-0.
DonRocks Posted May 6, 2014 Author Posted May 6, 2014 The HR/triple + error was fielded poorly: the fielder's slide towards the ball went wrong, then a couple attempts to pick up the ball didn't go so well. To come to George Springer's aid (and pretty much *nobody* else has), he slightly overran the ball in the April 30th Nationals-Astros game, then tripped over his own feet (you can see his upper body falling over his lower body (which is trying to slow down), and him doing a resultant face-plant) - then he felt rushed, and panicked several times in the course of two seconds trying to pick up the ball. A bad play, yes, but not unforgivable, and it would have been a triple anyway, leaving a runner on 3rd with no outs.
Barbara Posted May 7, 2014 Posted May 7, 2014 *Looks at clock* They're still playing! And I'm awake! I'll regret this! Going to the bottom of the 8th with the Nats leading 2-0. I went to bed at around 11 pm or so, thinking the game had been cancelled. Was surprised to see that it had gone ahead and ended at 1:21 am. I had to laugh at the description of the very sparse crowd left at the end--an American Legion baseball crowd.
Barbara Posted May 7, 2014 Posted May 7, 2014 I can laugh, since the Nats won today! Dame Edna made note of Brian WILSON pitching to WILSON Ramos.
DonRocks Posted June 12, 2014 Author Posted June 12, 2014 Wir fahr'n fahr'n fahr'n auf der Autobahn Cheers, Sonny Fairweather
tentimesodds Posted June 12, 2014 Posted June 12, 2014 Wir fahr'n fahr'n fahr'n auf der Autobahn Cheers, Sonny Fairweather Amazing how quiet this thread has been over the past six weeks until the Nats took the lead last night. I guess that's the Natitude referred to in the thread title.
DonRocks Posted June 12, 2014 Author Posted June 12, 2014 Amazing how quiet this thread has been over the past six weeks until the Nats took the lead last night. I guess that's the Natitude referred to in the thread title. Analyzing moment-to-moment details of baseball is something of a fool's errand - a team wins 6 out of 10 games and they're great; a team wins 4 out of 10 games and they're terrible. Parity in baseball. Perhaps your frustration with the Nats is less that the inherent parity of baseball reduces their talent advantage, and more that the Nats are just not as good as you thought they would be? Also, it's April. No, it's the middle of June.
Barbara Posted June 13, 2014 Posted June 13, 2014 I'm just pissed because a week of West Coast games means I couldn't stay awake to listen to the entire games. Luckily for me, however, I felt safe enough to go to bed when the Nats were up by quite a bit in the late innings. The results have been too late for the WaPo, though, and local TV has found every reason on the planet to ignore this sensational run. After this afternoon's loss, they are off to a more civilized (time-wise) series in St. Louis. Should be interesting. I just love this team (as if no one could tell).
DaveO Posted June 21, 2014 Posted June 21, 2014 While I normally don't believe in these things I strongly suspect there is a heavenly curse of some sort on the Nats when playing Atlanta and secondarily St Louis. I suppose sacrificing a goat couldn't hurt and might help.
DonRocks Posted June 21, 2014 Author Posted June 21, 2014 While I normally don't believe in these things I strongly suspect there is a heavenly curse of some sort on the Nats when playing Atlanta and secondarily St Louis. I suppose sacrificing a goat couldn't hurt and might help. Bring it to the picnic, and have agm bring his La Caja China (may want to vote for the earlier Sundays). 1
DonRocks Posted June 22, 2014 Author Posted June 22, 2014 You know? You actually start to believe at some point that some witch doctor in Haiti has put on a hex on you. Then this happens, you realize it was all in your head, and you had simply allowed yourself to become craven. 1
DaveO Posted June 23, 2014 Posted June 23, 2014 Two wins in a row against Atlanta. At this point I suspect that the threat and consideration of an ancient ritualistic sacrifice of a goat and all the elements that go hand in hand with this ritual must have affected atmospheric conditions and might have changed the positions of the sun, and moon; all leading to Nats hits falling in, Braves hits landing in gloves, Nats pitches biting the corners and Braves pitches laying fat for a Nat bat. Maybe we should sacrifice a goat before the US plays Germany in the World Cup--
DonRocks Posted June 24, 2014 Author Posted June 24, 2014 "Pitching, defense, and three-run homers." -- Earl Weaver There are 5 teams in each Division (East, Central, West) in both leagues. Right now, in the National League, the Central Division has the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th place teams with the best records vis-a-vis corresponding teams in the other divisions, e.g., the 2nd-place teams in each division are Atlanta (East, .507), St. Louis (Central, .545), and LA (West, .538). Interestingly, the Eastern Division has the "best worst team" with the 5th-place Phillies. This is a roundabout way of saying that the Nationals had better win the East Division if they want to make the playoffs - the wildcard could very easily come from the Central Division.
DonRocks Posted June 25, 2014 Author Posted June 25, 2014 Yes! *That* was a hard-fought win! 4-2 in 16 innings! Surely one of the longest games in MLB this year, and Ryan Zimmerman is the hero.
DonRocks Posted June 26, 2014 Author Posted June 26, 2014 Everyone keeps saying Strasburg is having an all-star year, and is the Nats' ace - even Thomas Boswell is saying this ... I admit that I haven't scrutinized things closely enough to voice a strong opinion, but why do I feel like I keep waiting for him to become something other than "talented?" No doubt the surgery is still having effects on him (and probably always will), but where is all this greatness that I keep reading about? Strasburg's strikeout-to-walk ratio is *amazing*, but that alone is not convincing me.
DaveO Posted July 20, 2014 Posted July 20, 2014 Danged lousy ninth inning run (edit) by Milwaukee. Just a great 9th inning run by the Nats.
DonRocks Posted July 23, 2014 Author Posted July 23, 2014 Everyone keeps saying Strasburg is having an all-star year, and is the Nats' ace - even Thomas Boswell is saying this ... I admit that I haven't scrutinized things closely enough to voice a strong opinion, but why do I feel like I keep waiting for him to become something other than "talented?" No doubt the surgery is still having effects on him (and probably always will), but where is all this greatness that I keep reading about? Strasburg's strikeout-to-walk ratio is *amazing*, but that alone is not convincing me.
DonRocks Posted August 22, 2014 Author Posted August 22, 2014 Amazing how quiet this thread has been over the past six weeks until the Nats took the lead last night. I guess that's the Natitude referred to in the thread title. ----- Click -----> <----- Me! -----
Al Dente Posted August 22, 2014 Posted August 22, 2014 The Nats are looking good! I'm definitely getting tickets for an Atlanta game.
DaveO Posted August 22, 2014 Posted August 22, 2014 I watched the latest win. Another walk off winning run in the last inning. Whoa. The Nats are good. But we are also riding a lucky streak with a lot of walk off one run victories in the last at bat. Karma is at work. To those that cheer for the Nats; wear the same clothes, eat the same food, refrain from showering. Cross your fingers. Its likely the winning streak will extend from 10 to 20...(and you might lose a few friends in the process)
Al Dente Posted August 22, 2014 Posted August 22, 2014 The longest winning streak is 26 games-- 20 if you want to go with more recent history.
DonRocks Posted August 22, 2014 Author Posted August 22, 2014 The longest winning streak is 26 games-- 20 if you want to go with more recent history. "For streaks that have included both regular and postseason games, the 1970 and 1971 Baltimore Orioles hold the top two positions with 17 and 16 consecutive victories, respectively." <--- That's pretty damned amazing, actually! It's pretty scary that the Yankees won 12 World Series games in a row - 1927, 1928, and 1932. All this aside, baseball is more like backgammon than analysts want to admit - you can be the best in the world and only win 60% of the time.
Al Dente Posted September 10, 2014 Posted September 10, 2014 Question for my fellow Nats fans: what upcoming game will clinch the division? I'm interested in tickets for their next (and last) home stand for the season, and if they haven't clinched it by their return to DC, obviously I'd like to be there when they do. Predictions please!
DonRocks Posted September 10, 2014 Author Posted September 10, 2014 Question for my fellow Nats fans: what upcoming game will clinch the division? I'm interested in tickets for their next (and last) home stand for the season, and if they haven't clinched it by their return to DC, obviously I'd like to be there when they do. Predictions please! The Magic Number is 10. 10/10 Braves at Nats 10/11 Nats at Mets, 10/12 Nats at Mets, Braves at Rangers 10/13 Nats at Mets, Braves at Rangers 10/14 Nats at Mets, Braves at Rangers 10/15 Nats at Braves 10/16 Nats at Braves 10/17 Nats at Braves 10/18 Nats at Marlins 10/19 Nats at Marlins, Mets at Braves 10/20 Nats at Marlins, Mets at Braves 10/21 Nats at Marlins, Mets at Braves That's 22 games total - the only way you're going to see the Nats clinch a tie or win is to get tickets for the 10/23 - 10/25 home series against the Mets (and even then, you'll need to pull for the Braves in the interim).
DonRocks Posted September 16, 2014 Author Posted September 16, 2014 The Magic Number is 10. 10/10 Braves at Nats 10/11 Nats at Mets, 10/12 Nats at Mets, Braves at Rangers 10/13 Nats at Mets, Braves at Rangers 10/14 Nats at Mets, Braves at Rangers 10/15 Nats at Braves 10/16 Nats at Braves 10/17 Nats at Braves 10/18 Nats at Marlins 10/19 Nats at Marlins, Mets at Braves 10/20 Nats at Marlins, Mets at Braves 10/21 Nats at Marlins, Mets at Braves That's 22 games total - the only way you're going to see the Nats clinch a tie or win is to get tickets for the 10/23 - 10/25 home series against the Mets (and even then, you'll need to pull for the Braves in the interim). And 5 days later, the Magic Number is 2. The Assignment: Using only one video, demonstrate the words "peons" and "eons" simultaneously. The Answer:
DonRocks Posted September 16, 2014 Author Posted September 16, 2014 One little statlet that many people don't know about: Many folks know that Stephen Strasburg is leading the NL in Ks with 230. What some people also know is that Strasburg is also doing very well in the important K/BB ratio statistic (the ratio of strikeouts to walks) with 5.75. This makes Strasburg #3 in the NL, with Clayton Kershaw, not surprisingly, being #1 (*). However, what many people don't know is that Jordan Zimmerman is #2 in the NL in this statistic, with a ratio of 6. So the Nationals have 2 out of top 3 in the NL in K/BB ratio, and with Tanner Roark, 3 out of the top 15. Here's your source. (*) Boy, what a season Kershaw is having: 19-3, with a 1.70 ERA and 219 strikeouts. These are historic numbers, and Kershaw's season will be looked back upon as one of the greatest ever. Especially if he goes over the magic 20-win mark, people will be talking about this season for decades to come. And I think it's pretty safe to say he'll win his 3rd Cy Young Award in 4 years this season. Here are some comparisons with some of the greatest seasons ever.
Seanchai Posted September 16, 2014 Posted September 16, 2014 (*) Boy, what a season Kershaw is having: 19-3, with a 1.70 ERA and 219 strikeouts. These are historic numbers, and Kershaw's season will be looked back upon as one of the greatest ever. Especially if he goes over the magic 20-win mark, people will be talking about this season for decades to come. And I think it's pretty safe to say he'll win his 3rd Cy Young Award in 4 years this season. Here are some comparisons with some of the greatest seasons ever. Ron Guidry-like (says the NYC homer who doesn't even like the Yankees)
DonRocks Posted September 16, 2014 Author Posted September 16, 2014 Ron Guidry-like (says the NYC homer who doesn't even like the Yankees) "Bryce Harper: 'Yankees' Derek Jeter Is 'Captain Of All Baseball'" on si.com Some more amazing statlets: Derek Jeter is the #2 all-time MLB hits leader for right-handed batters (#6 for all batters) behind only Hank Aaron. His prototype, Cal Ripken, is #8 all-time (#15 for all batters). It's true! In fact, out of those top 15 all-time hits leaders, *only* Derek Jeter has played less seasons (20*) than Cal Ripken (21 - several people in the top 15 did it in 21 seasons). Furthermore, Cal Ripken got more hits in the 1980s and 1990s than any other player in baseball (yes, more than Gwynn and Boggs). What happened to shortstops not being able to hit? (*) I'm sure people like Pete Rose would be on the list even if they'd played less than 20 years, so yes, this is kind of a bogus claim.
TedE Posted September 24, 2014 Posted September 24, 2014 (*) Boy, what a season Kershaw is having: 19-3, with a 1.70 ERA and 219 strikeouts. These are historic numbers, and Kershaw's season will be looked back upon as one of the greatest ever. Especially if he goes over the magic 20-win mark, people will be talking about this season for decades to come. And I think it's pretty safe to say he'll win his 3rd Cy Young Award in 4 years this season. Here are some comparisons with some of the greatest seasons ever. It's been amazing to watch him this year, but as is noted now and then he tends to have a bit of a late season fade that may hurt LA when it really matters. Another relevant statlet: ERA so far this September: Clayton Kershaw - 2.17 The entire Nats staff - 2.28 Dodger's team ERA for the month sits is over 4. That could be a fun NLCS. 1
Al Dente Posted September 24, 2014 Posted September 24, 2014 Whenever I have sex, I think about baseball this thread.
DonRocks Posted September 24, 2014 Author Posted September 24, 2014 Whenever I have sex, I think about baseball this thread. No wonder you fly Virgin Airlines. You need to watch "The Chaser" (episode 31).
lovehockey Posted September 26, 2014 Posted September 26, 2014 My annual rite of going to baseball games late in the year (procrastination) and the ability to go while it's still dirt cheap = 18 straight innings of shutout baseball (Gonzalez, Thornton, and Storen's joint effort last night* and Fister's complete game three-hitter this afternoon). Right now it's 3-1 Nats in the top the 2nd with two on, the shutout streak is gone and the bats are certainly getting a workout so far on both sides. *As of the typing of this post while sitting on the couch because I decided not to go for the trifecta, the headline on the ESPN link above is "Nats' Zimmerman plays 7 Innings in loss to Mets". Oops. Final score: 15-7 Marlins; Marlins had a grand slam and Werth almost hit for the cycle.
lovehockey Posted September 28, 2014 Posted September 28, 2014 A no-hitter today courtesy of Zimmermann and Souza, Jr. Between Thursday and today they played 6 games and had shutouts in half of them.
DonRocks Posted September 29, 2014 Author Posted September 29, 2014 To Jordan Zimmermann. The Nats' first no hitter. And to Steven Souza Jr. for helping him seal it with an incredible catch. I agree, a fine catch. Am I going to be chided for saying it wasn't "incredible?" I mean, under the circumstances, yes, incredible - final game, first-ever no-hitter, two outs in the bottom of the ninth, rookie up from the minors, etc. But he did overrun the ball by a step, then had to bend himself backwards a little bit because he did, and that made it look more dramatic than it was. Please don't get me wrong: I'm not criticizing the catch; I'm merely saying that I would call it very good, maybe even excellent. But every single thing I've read about it (and I've probably read fifty things or more) say "incredible," "miraculous," etc., and I just can't quite go there. I feel like a Boo-Hog. Kind of like the people who are grousing about the Derek Jeter celebrations. Okay, fine. Call it incredible. One thing I'll say is that I'll bet it was exciting as *hell* to watch in person. Did anyone? Where were you sitting, and what was going through your minds? The MLB playoffs are less important *to me* than the regular season because the best team doesn't always win the World Series, but the best team *always* has the best regular-season record. The Nats, even if they don't bring home the trophy, have had a fabulous year - just an absolute pleasure to witness. And yet, I'm still smarting from 1969 and 1971, darn it. This stupid, vacuous society only values people or teams if they "win it all." The mighty Atlanta Braves won *14 straight division titles* from 1991-2005, but only won in 1995 - that's 13 out of 14 times they lost, and people don't remember just what a great team they were. Well, I do.
lovehockey Posted September 29, 2014 Posted September 29, 2014 I watched the bottom of the 9th not knowing that there was a no-hitter in progress (I saw the first couple innings and then had to quit watching for a while). When Souza made the catch and everyone went nuts I was very happy and wished I had been there in person. Personally, it was a great catch, especially considering that he knew what the result would be either way. This was the first no-hitter pitched by a Washington pitcher since 1931. But because this team carries on the legacy of the Expos, they carry on the legacy of Dennis Martinez's perfect game. Zimmermann can join the team history of legendary pitching performances.
TedE Posted September 29, 2014 Posted September 29, 2014 One thing I'll say is that I'll bet it was exciting as *hell* to watch in person. Did anyone? Where were you sitting, and what was going through your minds? We were at the stadium on the early side simply because one of my season ticket partners had a couple extras and it was a nice day to soak up the final day of an incredible regular season. We got those spiffy winter hats for the family, had a hot dog, and then left before the first pitch because the kids needed to get home for naps I listened to the game progress as I was driving around town running various errands. Ended up spending the last 25 minutes sitting in the parking lot of the Georgetown Safeway listening to Charlie and Dave talk around the no-hitter without actually mentioning the words in order not to jinx it. I think I scared the crap out of the lot attendant with a very loud "Fuck yeah!" when the final out was recorded. 1
DaveO Posted September 29, 2014 Posted September 29, 2014 I agree, a fine catch. Am I going to be chided for saying it wasn't "incredible?" I mean, under the circumstances, yes, incredible - final game, first-ever no-hitter, two outs in the bottom of the ninth, rookie up from the minors, etc. But he did overrun the ball by a step, then had to bend himself backwards a little bit because he did, and that made it look more dramatic than it was. Please don't get me wrong: I'm not criticizing the catch; I'm merely saying that I would call it very good, maybe even excellent. But every single thing I've read about it (and I've probably read fifty things or more) say "incredible," "miraculous," etc., and I just can't quite go there. I feel like a Boo-Hog. Kind of like the people who are grousing about the Derek Jeter celebrations. Okay, fine. Call it incredible. One thing I'll say is that I'll bet it was exciting as *hell* to watch in person. Did anyone? Where were you sitting, and what was going through your minds? The MLB playoffs are less important *to me* than the regular season because the best team doesn't always win the World Series, but the best team *always* has the best regular-season record. The Nats, even if they don't bring home the trophy, have had a fabulous year - just an absolute pleasure to witness. And yet, I'm still smarting from 1969 and 1971, darn it. This stupid, vacuous society only values people or teams if they "win it all." The mighty Atlanta Braves won *14 straight division titles* from 1991-2005, but only won in 1995 - that's 13 out of 14 times they lost, and people don't remember just what a great team they were. Well, I do. That was a great catch. Phenomenal. Here is a little nugget. Souza said he never made a play like that before; a full out dive going prone for a catch. That makes it more phenomenal. He's a 25 year old guy who has been in the minors since high school, improving his skills finally getting call ups last year and this year. At 25 all those years of practicing and trying things while playing and honing one's skills. Then making the play and making it stick. Good for him. It looked to me like he turned and ran full bore at his top speed. At the last minute he dove and extended and made the grab, holding onto it and securing it with his other hand while hitting the ground. That is phenomenal. And then to top it off: Last out of the inning, last out of the game, secured a NO HITTER, last game of the season. On top of being a great catch its a life long memorable play. Good for him. Don: Did he overrun the ball as you suggested? I didn't see that at all. I saw an athlete turn run full bore to catch up with a ball. At that rate you are both blasting full speed and simultaneously adjusting to the ball; two things at once. That is hard, takes refinement, feel, body control, etc. I did it many times playing competitive soccer with a lot of long ball games. Man; Its difficult. You're racing and at the tail end adjusting. It took me years to get good. You know where you see something like that all the time? The NFL with receivers and defensive backs. The best ones win that last second final adjustment more often, whether offense or defense. But its difficult. And in this play to race, dive, catch the ball, secure the ball, hit the ground, keep a hold of it. Kudo's to Souza. Phenomenal grab. Saved the No-Hitter, Ended the game. Ended the season on the highest of high notes. A great play. I'm sure he'll remember it forever and so will Zimmermann let alone the fans that were there and witnessed it. On top of all that, I read his parents were at the game. What an extraordinary shared experience. If you relish sports, moments like that are savored for the rest of your life.
DonRocks Posted September 29, 2014 Author Posted September 29, 2014 Don: Did he overrun the ball as you suggested? I didn't see that at all. Yeah, he did. The reason that catch wasn't "incredible" was because he was running to his left as well as running backwards, and because of that, he never once lost sight of the ball (until he took half a step too far to his left, and had to arch his body backwards to catch it (there was no dive for that ball; he fell after he caught it because he overran it, his left leg and left arm were behind him, his torso was in front of him, and inertia pulled him down to the ground)). When your back is completely towards home plate, and you're running blind, desperately turning to glance over your shoulder now and then - *that* is a supremely difficult situation; this was not that. However, I do think there was sidespin on that ball which was making it curve towards left field, so it's perfectly understandable that he'd overrun it a bit, and yes, that made it harder to catch. I agree: given all the amazing things surrounding the catch, it was momentous. In fact, "momentous" is the best adjective to describe the play - fifty years from now, this will be remembered as one of the great moments in Nationals history.
Al Dente Posted September 29, 2014 Posted September 29, 2014 I'm not bragging (oh, who am I kidding), but I've made that kind of catch. Granted it was softball and I run at half the speed of these guys, but WHAM, there it was in my glove. That said it was thrilling,to watch-- the end of the game I mean. They finished off the season with a MESSAGE! DON'T FUCK WITH THE NATS! 1
DonRocks Posted October 2, 2014 Author Posted October 2, 2014 "America's Team: Can The Country Root For Washington (Again)?" by Jonathan Karl, Richard Coolidge, and Jordan Phelps on news.yahoo.com Jon interviews Fred Frommer, author of, "You Gotta Have Heart."
Tweaked Posted October 2, 2014 Posted October 2, 2014 Remember, remember the 12th of October... And now the Cardinals down to their last strike... Off the glove of Desmond! Two runs are going to score... Line drive to right field! It's going to be a base hit. Two runs will score. Just in case you want to re-live those long 10 minutes of the 9th inning. Washington Nationals v. St. Louis Cardinals Oct 12, 2012 NLDS
DaveO Posted October 5, 2014 Posted October 5, 2014 Depressing crushing loss. The equivalent of 3 games. Nats 3 runs. Giants 5 runs. Pitchers are dominating. Gotta win 3 in a row. Doable but tough.
DonRocks Posted October 5, 2014 Author Posted October 5, 2014 Depressing crushing loss. The equivalent of 3 games. Nats 3 runs. Giants 5 runs. Pitchers are dominating. Gotta win 3 in a row. Doable but tough. I think fans would be wise to consider this season over, albeit a noble effort with *nothing* to be ashamed of, and no stigmas going into the future. Anything more than that is a gift. This is baseball for true fans of baseball.
DaveO Posted October 5, 2014 Posted October 5, 2014 I think fans would be wise to consider this season over, albeit a noble effort with *nothing* to be ashamed of, and no stigmas going into the future. Its a good thing you are neither a player or coach. Baseball, take it pitch by pitch, bat by bat, then inning by inning. Results in playoffs are indeterminable. Think Atlanta and its incredible long stretch of making the playoffs over so many years and only winning one WS. Ughhhhhhhhhhh. Right now, the Orioles, a surprise team, are up 2-0 to the Tigers with superstars and 3 Cy Youngs; the Angels with the best record in baseball this year are down 0-2 against the surprise KC Athletics, and the Nats with the best record in the NL and a winning regular season record against SF are down 0-2, going away, and have scored the equivalent of one run per game over the equivalent of 3 games. Yikes. Take it pitch by pitch. BTW: I started catching yesterday's game late. I found it excruciating. At the end of the game the Nats needed one dang run. One homer, 2 good hits. Crummy hits, a walk, an error anything. It didn't happen. Tremendous agony. Kudo's to players for working through it. Very tough. My strongest memory of the agony of baseball was watching one of my 2 best friends, a star high school pitcher and then a college pitcher, go against one of the noted memorable pitchers of a generation during high school. My friend was out pitching the other dude, Mr. All time all star. Our catcher said he, (Don) was pitching his best ever. He was in a zone. Then one little weird play and my friend was jolted out of his zone, and the hitters from the other team belted him. Uggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhh. Little things happen. Nats go out and play the game. Jeepers.
DonRocks Posted October 5, 2014 Author Posted October 5, 2014 Its a good thing you are neither a player or coach. I'll give you 2:1 odds on a $20 bet that the Giants win the series. (And I would hope very much that I lose the bet, but I won't.) 1
DaveO Posted October 6, 2014 Posted October 6, 2014 I'll give you 2:1 odds on a $20 bet that the Giants win the series. (And I would hope very much that I lose the bet, but I won't.) LOL I'm not taking the bet. LOL Still as a player, a coach, and a fan...go into the game being optimistic and working every pitch, every at bat, every inning. Take them one at a time. Don't look forward. That is baseball. Update: 7:09PM Est some runs!!!!! Hot Damn!!!!! (Now...after the baseball game the Skins will play the Sea Hawks.). Football, its different than baseball imho. Okay, as a player or a coach on the Skins, you must go into the game optimistic. As a fan.....oi...I don't see it. Of course there are upsets. But the Sea Hawks are at the top of the heap in terms of talent. We are cruising near the bottom. I think big swings in talent are more noticeable and have more impact in football. (plus is it possible the Skins have one of the ALL Time most odious owners in all of professional sports????---how many owners sued a fan during a recession for not buying tickets????? )
DaveO Posted October 8, 2014 Posted October 8, 2014 Well, STL and SF have this playoff thing figured out these days. The Nats don't. Yet. Go for it again next year till we get it right. Well, you still have Baltimore. Ah...as to Baltimore: This guy is fondly looking down on the Orioles, drinking Natl Boh, rooting for them and may well be instrumental in providing providential assistance that will lead to a WS championship. I can guarantee one aspect of the process; he'll be watching the games while close to the heavenly urinals.
DonRocks Posted October 9, 2014 Author Posted October 9, 2014 Fuck. I'll take a season like this anytime.
DonRocks Posted November 12, 2014 Author Posted November 12, 2014 "Nats' Williams, Orioles' Showalter Win Manager Of Year Awards" by AJ Cassavell on mlb.com
DonRocks Posted December 12, 2014 Author Posted December 12, 2014 "Ross Detwiler To Rangers: Latest Trade Details, Comments, And Reaction" by Adam Wells on bleacherreport.com
darkstar965 Posted March 1, 2015 Posted March 1, 2015 New topic for 2015? Wasn't sure the convention on these newer topics. Scherzer? 1
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