Ministry of Plenty
Jumat, 31 Agustus 2012
Game 130: Are you havin' a laugh(er)?
Washington Nationals' New One, Two: Jayson Werth And Bryce Harper Start Things Off Right.
"How about that ball [Bryce] Harper hit?" Davey Johnson asked rhetorically in last night's post game press conference, "Was that a rocket or what?"
After Jayson Werth walked in a five-pitch at bat to start the bottom of the first of last night's 8-1 win over St. Louis, Bryce Harper stepped in against Cardinals' lefty Jaime Garcia and launched a 2-0 fastball to right for a line drive home run that cleared the outfield fence and skipped off the back wall of the Nats' bullpen. It was just the fifth home run a left-hander has hit off the Cards' 26-year-old left-hander in 398 career PA's against left-handed hitters. It was the Nats' 19-year-old outfielder's 5th HR off left-handed pitchers, against whom he has struggled to a .217/.279/.382 line after crushing lefties early in the season.
It was a two-run home run because Jayson Werth once again managed to get on base in front of The Kid. Harper's hit three home runs in his last two games, four in his last ten, Werth's been on base in front of Harper for three of the four. In ten games as the Nats' leadoff man, Werth has a .333/.378/.524 line.
"I really like guys that can get on base and also produce runs," Davey Johnson told reporters last night when asked about the top of his order. Werth, in particular, has been getting on base at an impressive rate since he returned to the lineup following a long stint on the DL after he broke his wrist earlier this season. In 25 games and 103 PA's after he came off the disabled list, the 33-year-old outfielder has a .337/.408/.478 line with 11 walks, 14 Ks, eight doubles, one triple and one home run. The HR came late in last night's game when Werth hit a leadoff blast in the fifth to make it 4-0 Nationals.
"Even early in the ballgame [Werth] said, 'I'm starting to feel my legs under me. I'm going to start running, is that alright?'" Johnson recounted in last night's post game. "But [Werth's] been having just quality at bats since he's been back. I mean, what a great leadoff hitter. He's got to be over .400 getting on. He takes a lot of pitches, makes them throw it over and he's hit some tough pitches for base hits."
"Both can run, both basically make them throw it over. It's great," Johnson responded when asked about his no.1 and 2 hitters. As for Harper, the Nats' manager described him as being "all in all the time," and explained the difference recently has been that he's, "... gotten a little calmer with his lower half. He kind of can get real aggressive with his lower half and he's calmed down quite a bit. That's were you get antsy, that doesn't help your swing."
"Having Werth up there in front of me is really relaxing me and making me stay within myself and really try to drive the baseball," Harper told MASN's Kristina Akra last night. There was no helmet tossing last night and not bat breaking from the Nats' rookie, who seemed to get the message when Davey Johnson made it clear following Harper's ejection in Miami that those outbursts were unacceptable. All he did last night was rake, hitting the home run in the first and an RBI single just to the left of center in the sixth that was equally impressive. All of a sudden Harper's hitting again, with a .286 average, two doubles, a triple and four home runs in his last 10 games.
Apparently having a "6'6'' donkey" leading off isn't such a crazy idea after all.
Edwin Jackson Dominates St. Louis Cardinals, Bryce Harper And Jayson Werth Go Yard In 8-1 Nats' Win.
' RUN HARP!!: Edwin Jackson got Jon Jay to chase a 1-1 curve, but the St. Louis Cardinals' outfielder took a 1-2 fastball, which, unfortunately for him, was called strike three for the first out and K of tonight's game. A 1-2 slider outside caught Carlos Beltran staring for out and K no.2. Matt Holliday managed to foul off a 2-1 slider, and then connected with a 2-2 fastball that went back to the mound and off E-Jax' glove for a two-out infield single in the top of the first, but Allen Craig couldn't hold up on a 1-2 slider that fell off the outside of the plate as Jackson struck out the side in a 17-pitch opening frame. Jayson Werth worked a five-pitch walk out of Cards' starter Jaime Garcia in the bottom of the first, and Bryce Harper did it again! Line drive to right and into the home team's bullpen over the United Airlines sign on the RF wall for a two-run HR and Harper's third blast in the last two games. 2-0 Nationals on no. 15 of 2012 for the 19-year-old Nat. One HR away from tying Jr.
' Moar Kz: A full-count fastball up high got Yadier Molina swinging for Edwin Jackson's 4th K in 1.1 IP, but Jackson missed with 3-1 fastball to David Freese, who took the first walk of the game from the Nats' starter. Skip Schumaker K'd chasing a full-count slider outside for Jackson's fifth K and Rafael Furcal grounded out to second for the first out that wasn't a K in 2.0 scoreless by the Nationals' right-hander. The 20-pitch inning had E-Jax at 37 total after 2.0 IP. Jaime Garcia started the second at 25 pitches after a long first. Ian Desmond, who's clearly not 100% yet, singled to left and took his time getting to first. but luckily his teammates didn't make him run any more as the next three Nats went down in order in an eight-pitch inning by the St. Louis starter. 2-0 Nationals.
' Harp? No. 400 ft Fly Ball: Jaime Garcia chased an 0-2 into the dirt and had to be thrown out after Edwin Jackson's 6th K in 2.1 IP. Five pitches into the inning there were two outs after Jon Jay flew to center on a 1-0 curve. Carlos Beltran missed a 3-1 slider, but smoked a full-count fastball for a sharp two-out single by Adam LaRoche and into right. A wicked 2-2 slider had Matt Holliday swinging several inches above where it ended up as E-Jax collected his seventh K in 3.0 scoreless frames. A 16-pitch inning had E-Jax at 33 pitches after 3.0. Jayson Werth singled to start the Nationals' third, and Bryce Harper almost did it again, crushing a first pitch fastball that Jon Jay caught just short of the CF wall. Ryan Zimmerman beat out a one-out infield single in spite of a spectacular diving play and throw by Rafael Furcal at short and after Michael Morse walked in the next at bat the bases were loaded for Adam LaRoche, who hit a sac fly to right to give the Nats a 3-0 lead over St. Louis after 3.0.
' Grounder. Desmond. Out.: Allen Craig started the fourth with a groundout to short. Edwin Jackson issued a one-out walk to Yadier Molina, but it looked like the Nats turned a 5-4-3 DP until umpire Brian Knight ruled Espinosa had come off the second base bag way too early. [He had.] A two-out single to left by Skip Schumaker put runners on the corners for Rafael Furcal, who popped to short to end the top of the fourth after 13 pitches by the Nats' starter. Jaime Garcia needed just seven pitches to retire the Nationals in order in the bottom of the inning. After flying out to end the fourth, E-Jax got Garcia to ground out for the first out of the fifth. Jon Jay tried to check his swing on a full-count slider in the dirt, but he didn't and Jackson had his 8th K in 4.2 IP and one pitch and groundout to first later, had a 13-pitch, 1-2-3 5th. Still 3-0 Nationals. 79 pitches overall for E-Jax.
' AROOOOOOOO!!!: Jayson Werth started the Nats' fifth with his first home run since returning from the DL and his first since May 5th against Philadelphia. Werth took a 1-2 fastball from Garcia to left and off the 106.7 the FAN in DC sign in the back of the visitor's bullpen. HR no. 4 of 2012, 4-0 Nationals over the Cardinals in the fifth. 377 ft to the wall, add ten or fifteen. A blast by Werth. Michael Morse hit a two-out single off Garcia, but he was stranded at first when Adam LaRoche K'd swinging to end the Nats' fifth.
' 9 Ks For E-Jax: Edwin Jackson got Matt Holliday swinging for his 9th K in 5.1 IP. Back-to-back groundouts by Allen Craig and Yadier Molina ended a quick seven-pitch 1-2-3 inning for the Nats' right-hander. 6.0 scoreless on 86 pitches. Ian Desmond, Danny Espinosa and Jesus Flores hit back-to-back-to-back singles to start the bottom of the inning with the bases loaded and no one out for Edwin Jackson. Rafael Furcal took the force at home on a grounder that first went back to the mound and off Jaime Garcia. One down. Furcal hurt his elbow on the play. That was it for the Cards' starter too. Right-hander Fernando Salas took over with Jayson Werth up. A run scored when Werth grounded into a force at second, 5-0, and Bryce Harper hit an RBI single over short into center in the next AB for a 6-0 lead after 6.0 in D.C.
' 7.0 Scoreless, 8 Runs: A groundout to second by David Freese started Edwin Jackson's seventh inning of work. Grounder. Desmond. Out. Skip Schumacker sent one out to short on which Ian Desmond made a spinning play and throw and Bryce Harper made a running catch in center on a Daniel Descalso fly ball that ended E-Jax' seventh scoreless frame after 19 pitches with the right-hander at 105 pitches overall. Michael Morse singled to center off Cards' right-hander Lance Lynn to start the bottom of the inning with Washington's 11th hit. Adam LaRoche walked in the next at bat to bring Ian Desmond up with two on and no one out. Desmond K'd swinging. Danny Espinosa walked with one down and Jesus Flores hit a two-run single through short to make it 8-0 Nats after seven innings.
' Overhand Throws Not Zim's Thing: E-Jax came back out for the eighth, and gave up a leadoff double on the first pitch he threw to pinch hitter Bryan Anderson. Ryan Zimmerman fielded a grounder to third by Jon Jay, but sailed the overhand throw to first to allow the Cardinals' first run of the game to score. 8-1 Nats and the Cards score for the first time in 28.0 innings. E-Jax got Carlos Beltran swinging for his 10th K of the game, and a ground and flyout later the right-hander was through 8.0 with just one unearned run allowed. 8-1 Washington. Michael Morse singled with one down in the Nats' eighth, but Adam LaRoche grounded into an inning-ending 3-6-1 DP. 8-1 after eight.
' Edwin Jackson's Line: 8.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 10 Ks, 123 P, 79 S, 11/2 GO/FO.
' Done: Michael Gonzalez came on the pitch the ninth. Cards' left fielder Shane Robinson flew to center. ONE!!! David Freese lined to short. TWO!!! Skip Schumaker... Grounder. Desmond. Out. Ballgame. Nats win 8-1.
' Miss The Game? The D.C. Faithful Were Watching...
' Doghouse Post Game WPA Graph: "Game 130: Are you havin' a laugh(er)?":
Via FanGraphs
- Horse: Edwin Jackson (+25.5%) strikes out 10 in 8 IP, giving up only 1 unearned run and 2 walks.
- Boom: Bryce Harper (+15.2%) parks a two-run dinger in the home bullpen for the winning tallies in the 1st (+16.8%).
- Full moon's not until tomorrow: Jayson Werth (+10.8%) is 2-4 with a walk, 3 runs scored, and a solo shot into the visiting bullpen (+4.3%).
Nationals now 79-51.
Kamis, 30 Agustus 2012
Washington Nationals Snap Losing Streak, Bryce Harper Hits 2 HRs In 8-4 Win Over Miami Marlins.
' BA Approved: 21-year-old Miami Marlins' right-hander Jacob Turner, an '09 1st Round pick taken 9th overall by Detroit, was acquired along with catcher Rob Brantly, minor league left-hander Brian Flynn and a 2013 compensation draft pick in the deal that sent Omar Infante, Anibal Sanchez and a 2013 compensation draft pick to the Tigers back on July 23rd. Before that, Turner spent three straight seasons atop Baseball America's list of the Top 10 Prospects in Detroit's organization. The righty's first start in front of what passes for a home crowd in Marlins Park these days began with an 11-pitch, 1-2-3 inning in the second game of two for the Washington Nationals in Florida. '07 Nats' 1st Round pick Ross Detwiler had a runner reach on a misplay in right-center by 2010 1st Rounder Bryce Harper, but the Nationals' left-hander threw a scoreless 15-pitch first that had it 0-0 after one in Jeffrey Loria's new ballpark.
' Ks And Grounders: Jacob Turner needed seven pitches to strike Adam LaRoche and Michael Morse out for the first two outs and third and fourth Ks in his first 1.2 IP and one more pitch to get a fly ball to deeeeep left field off Ian Desmond's bat that didn't quite make it over the wall into the Clevelander. 8-pitch second for Turner. 0-0 in Miami. Grounder. Desmond. Out. Grounder. Desmond out. Nats' shorstop Ian Desmond threw out Giancarlo Stanton and Justin Ruggiano on the third and fourth ground balls hit his way in Detwiler's first 1.2 IP. A fly to right by John Buck ended Detwiler's second scoreless after another 15 pitches. 30 total after two for the Nationals' 26-year-old lefty.
' No! No! No!: An 0-2 change to Danny Espinosa got a grounder to the mound for Jacob Turner's seventh straight out to start the game. A 1-1 two-seamer to Kurt Suzuki got the start the same result. After a third grounder to the mound off Ross Detwiler's bat, the Marlins' starter had set the first nine Nationals Turner faced down in order with his 10-pitch third leaving him at 29 pitches overall in 3.0 scoreless. Ross Detwiler struck both Marlins' 3B Donnie Murphy and the opposing pitcher out for the first two out of Miami's third. Gorkys Hernandez worked the count full, but missed a 93 mph 3-2 sinker for the third straight strikeout by Detwiler in a 17-pitch, 1-2-3 3rd.
' #everydamnday: Jayson Werth lined to left on the first pitch of the fourth for the Nationals' first hit of the night off the Marlins' starter. Bryce Harper followed quickly with the second Nats' hit, a two-run HR to right that the Nats' 19-year-old outfielder hit on a 1-1 cutter from Turner. 2-0 Nationals on Harper's 13th. Adam LaRoche singled to left field with one down as the Nats seemed to figure Turner out the second time around. Michael Morse hit a triple off the rounded center field wall in front of the home run sculpture on a 2-2 two-seamer from Turner in the next at bat and Morse's three-base hit brought LaRoche in and made it 3-0 Nationals. That Morse's first triple since August of 2010, and he scored on an RBI single by Ian Desmond in the AB that followed to make it 4-0 Nats before Turner could get through the fourth. 29 pitches for Turner through three, 28 in the fourth. Ross Detwiler struck Donovan Solano out for his fourth straight K, then retired Jose Reyes and Carlos Lee to set 11-straight Marlins down after Solano's one-out "double" in the 1st. 4-0 Nats.
' Harper In Good Company:
19-year-old Bryce Harper with his 13th HR of the season. That's same number of HR Mickey Mantle hit at age 19 in 1951.
' ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) August 30, 2012
' Green Light: After hitting his 13th HR of 2012 in his previous AB, Bryce Harper got the green light to crush a 3-0 pitch from Jacob Turner with one down in the 5th and he sent a monster HR into the second deck in right field for his second home run of the night and his 14th of 2012. 5-0 Nationals after four and a half after the 19-year-old's second blast of the game. Giancarlo Stanton doubled to start the Marlins' fifth with the team's first legit hit, no. 27 of 2012 for the Marlins' outfielder. Back-to-back flies to deep center and right, respectively, moved Stanton to third and brought him in to make it a 5-1 game in the fifth. John Buck with the sac fly RBI. Ross Detwiler needed 18 pitches to complete the inning with a four-run lead.
' Harper's Bomb Shot:
' Det's Done: Wade LeBlanc replaced Turner in the top of the sixth and surrendered a leadoff single by Adam LaRoche, that had the Nats' first baseman 2 for 3 tonight. Michael Morse stepped in next and grounded into a 4-6-3 DP. Ian Desmond walked with two down to bring "Right Side" Danny Espinosa up against the Marlins' lefty, who got a backwards K with an 0-2 cutter to end the top of the sixth after 14 pitches. Ross Detwiler gave up a leadoff walk to Bryan Petersen and a one-out single to left by Donovan Solano in the bottom of the frame, and the walk scored on Jose Reyes' RBI single to right in the at bat that followed. 5-2 Marlins with runners on first and third. Carlos Lee hit too weak a grounder to second for the Nats to turn a 4-6-3 DP, and the Marlins pulled within two when Solano scored to make it 5-3. Ryan Mattheus took over for Detwiler there and struck Ryan Mattheus out to end the bottom of the sixth.
' Go-Dan: Chad Gaudin threw an 11-pitch, 1-2-3 top of the seventh, striking Jayson Werth out to end the frame. Ryan Mattheus returned to the mound and gave up back-to-back singles by Justin Ruggiano and John Buck. A bunt by Donnie Murphy moved both runners up and a sac fly to center by Greg Dobbs made it a 5-4 Nats' lead. Gorkys Hernandez stepped in with a runner on second and two down, and lined out to short to end the seventh. Still 5-4 Nationals in Marlins Park. Mike Dunn took over for Miami in the top of the eighth, giving up a one-out opposite field double by Ryan Zimmerman, who connected for his 29th two-base hit of 2012. Zim took third on an Adam LaRoche groundout and Dunn was lifted with two down and Michael Morse due up in favor of Marlins' right-hander Ryan Webb. Morse connected for an RBI single to right and the Nationals took a two-run lead when Zim scored to make it 6-4 Nats after seven and a half.
' Burn-to-Storen-to-Clipp: Sean Burnett gave up Donovan Solano's third hit in four AB's. Ryan Zimmerman was drawn in and he failed to backhand a chopper toward third off Jose Reyes' bat. "Double" for Reyes, no. 30 of 2012 and runners on second and third with no one out. Drew Storen vs El Caballo. Line drive to center, but Bryce Harper made the catch and a strong throw home to hold the runner at third. +Arm, +Power! And Storen came through with a +slider on a 1-2 pitch that got Giancarlo Stanton swinging for out no.2 before a grounder to third but Justin Ruggiano retired the side without a run scoring. 6-4 Nats after eight. STOREN!!!!!!!!
' Ready or Not: The Nationals added a run on a Kurt Suzuki HR to left in an 8-pitch AB in the top of the ninth. 7-4, then added another when Steve Lombardozzi reached on a Jose Reyes' error, stole second and scored on an RBI single by Jayson Werth. 8-4 Nationals. Bryce Harper grounded into a double play in the top of the ninth, and slammed his helmet on the ground. When it bounced close to first base ump CB Bucknor the umpire tossed the 19-year-old outfielder much to the dismay of Davey Johnson, who had a long discussion with the ump before leaving the field. Ryan Zimmerman thought he had his second double of the year in his next at bat, but Giancarlo Stanton cut it off and threw Zim out at second.
' Clipp'd: Even with the insurance runs, Tyler Clippard came on in the ninth. John Buck grounded out to short, ONE!! Donnie Murphy popped out to second. TWO!!! Greg Dobbs flew to center to end it. Ballgame. Losing streak's history. Marlins and Nats split the two-game set.
' Miss The Game? The D.C. Faithful Were Watching...
' Doghouse's Post Game WPA Graph: "Game 129: Bam-Bam? Bam! BAM!!":
Via FanGraphs
- Lannanesque? Ross Detwiler (+5.5%) has a serviceable 5.2 IP, giving up 3 ER with 4 Ks and 1 BB.
- BOOOOOOOOOOOOM! (x2): Bryce Harper (+20.7%) hits a two-run jack for the lead in the fourth (+20.5%) and monstrous 5th-inning solo bomb for the winning run that was way more impressive than its +4.0% WPA.
- Stat-padder! Michael Morse (+19.0%) triples in a run in the 4th (+11.3%), then singles an insurance run in the 6th (+11.0%).
- See-saw: Sean Burnett (-30.1%) melts down in the 8th, putting runners 2nd/3rd and recording no outs. Drew Storen (+37.9%) comes in to shut it down, getting out of the inning with no runs scoring.
Nationals now 78-51.
Game 129: Bam-Bam? Bam! BAM!!
Ministry of Plenty
Washington Nationals Rewind: Bryce Harper Hits Two HRs, Earns First Ejection.
Bryce Harper's first home run in the fourth inning last night traveled 355 ft to right field. It was just Washington's second hit off 21-year-old Miami Marlins' right-hander Jacob Turner, who had retired the first nine Nationals he faced in order before Jayson Werth started the fourth inning with a single. After Harper sprinted around the bases with the two-run home run, ESPN's Stats and Info Twitter feed (@ESPNStatsInfo) noted that the blast, Harper's 13th of 2012, matched the number hit by a 19-year-old Mickey Mantle in the Spavinaw, Oklahoma-born New York Yankees' outfielder's rookie campaign in 1951.
The second home run Bryce Harper hit last night came on a 3-0 fastball from Turner in the fifth inning. It landed six rows back in the second deck in right field in Marlins Park, bouncing off an empty seat in a sparsely populated section of the RF stands some 416 ft from home plate. Impressive as it was, Harper's 14th HR of 2012 was just the seventh longest home run of the year by the 19-year-old outfielder, whose light-tower power has clearly translated to the major leagues and resulted in HRs that have traveled 424, 425, 429, 434 (twice) and 438 ft.
Here's no.14:
Harper's now only two home runs away from tying Ken Griffey, Jr. (16) for third-highest home run total by a teenager in a single season since 1901, behind only Mel Ott, who hit 18 for the New York Giants in 1928 and Tony Conigliaro, who hit 24 for the Boston Red Sox in 1964. His second home run of the night and 14th of his rookie campaign moved Harper into a tie for 4th overall with the Chicago Cubs' Phil Cavarretta on the list of HR's hit by a teenaged major leaguer, though Cavarretta was in his third major league season by the time he'd hit his 14th career homer on July 9, 1936, ten days before he turned 20.
The multi-HR game, @ESPNStatsInfo noted, was the first mult-HR game by a teenager since Andruw Jones hit two for the Atlanta Braves in an August 22, 1996 game against the Cincinnati Reds. In an article on Harper's accomplishment on the ESPN Stats and Info site, they added that the two blasts made the Nationals' center fielder, "... only the third teenage centerfielder to have a multiple-homer game in major-league history."
Harper's two home runs were the big story of the Nats' win, which snapped a five-game losing streak on a night that the NL East's second-place Braves dropped a game to the San Diego Padres, but they weren't the only story about the Nationals' outfielder unfortunately. After grounding into a double play late in the game, Harper spiked his helmet as he sprinted by first and when it came a little too close to first base ump CB Bucknor, the Nats' 19-year-old outfielder earned his first major league ejection. Did Bucknor view the spiked helmet as a commentary on his call? Or think it came too close? Who knows? Both Nats' first base coach Trent Jewett and 69-year-old skipper Davey Johnson argued vociferously on Harper's behalf, but Bucknor was having none of it.
The ejection, after Harper's gotten attention for a series of displays of frustration (broken bats, destroyed helmets) in what has been a difficult second half at the plate, will unfortunately now be a part of the story of his big night in Miami. Don't believe it will get covered along with the homers? Here's how Willie Geist put it on MSNBC's "Way Too Early" this morning after showing the two blasts. "The game also will be remembered for another career first for young Bryce," Geist said while showing the game highlights, "In the ninth, he grounds one to the right side, the Marlins start a 3-6-3 double play, Harper out at first, he spikes his helmet in frustration [and] first base umpire CB Bucknor looks at him and gives him the hook."
Harper told reporters, including the Washington Times' Amanda Comak, that he realizes he needs to curb some of the outbursts:
"'I just need to stop getting pissed off and just live with it,' Harper said. 'I just need to grow up in that mentality a little bit. Try not to bash stuff in and things that I've always done my whole life. Those need to change.'"
Nats' manager Davey Johnson told reporters after the game that he'd addressed the ejection in a conversation with the outfielder. "A little negative," Johnson said, "Bryce couldn't control his emotions again. I had a little chat with him. He'll get over it. He's just a hundred-percenter. He expects great things out of himself. He breaks bats, throws his helmet, and he's just got to stop it. Can't afford to be losing him in a ballgame with that. He'll learn. He's young. He'll learn."
The reason for ejection didn't matter to the manager. "He's wrong in doing that. He's wrong in breaking his bats. He's wrong with throwing his helmet down in frustration. Like I [said], he's a hundred-percenter, he's full bore. When he doesn't like the outcome he shows it off that way and it's just a learning experience."
Johnson also had some praise for the outfielder he's championed since last winter when he argued for Harper making the team out of Spring Training. "He crushed that second [home run]," Johnson said, "On that 3-0 pitch. I don't know how far it went, but it went a long way. So a lot of good things happened with him and like I [said], I told him, 'I just can't afford to lose you while you're expressing your emotions that way. You just can't do it. Come inside the runway and break a bat over your head or something.'"
"He also hit his head before the game in the locker room," the veteran manager and former major leaguer added. "Showed me the top of his head. So, he's a little emotional."
"When did that happen?" a reporter asked.
"Before the game," Johnson said.
"How did it happen?"
"I don't even want to know," Davey Johnson laughed.
Teenagers.
Rabu, 29 Agustus 2012
Washington Nationals Drop Fifth Straight Game, 9-0 Miami Marlins Tonight In Rough Stephen Strasburg Start.
' Miami, FL: The glitz. The glamour. The cigarette boats. LeBron. Crockett. Tubbs. Ozzie. The lime green outfield walls and Red Grooms' psychedelic blue, green, bright pink, aqua and orange, cloud-filled, flamingo-and-seagull-covered, Marlin-twirling, palm tree spotted home run display. The Washington Nationals were back in Miami's Marlins Park tonight to take on Ricky Nolasco and the Fish with Stephen Strasburg on the mound for the Nats for the 26th time in 2012. The Marlins' were playing some questionable defense early in the game with Gregg Dobbs flat missing a weak grounder to third by Jayson Werth in the first AB and El Caballo Carlos Lee making an ill-advised attempt at a double play on a weak grounder to first by Bryce Harper with Werth running and almost at second before Lee decided to make a throw, but right-handed starter Ricky Nolasco retired the side on 22 pitches for a scoreless top of the first vs the visiting Nats that ended with Werth stranded at third.
' 27.0 Scoreless: Grounder. Desmond. Out. Stephen Strasburg got a groundout to short for the first out of the Marlins' first, but a 98 mph first-pitch fastball to Fish outfielder Justin Ruggiano ended up going out to center field and over the aforementioned lime green outfield wall and almost off the Marlins Park HR sculpture to give the home team an early 1-0 lead. El Caballo Carlos Lee doubled with two down to get Giancarlo Stanton up with a runner on, and Lee beat Jayson Werth's throw home, sliding in around Kurt Suzuki's tag when Stanton singled to right to make it 2-0 Marlins after an inning in Marlins Park. The Marlins' runs in the bottom of the first were first the Fish scored off Stephen Strasburg since the third inning of a September 17, 2011 game. Strasburg's streak of 27.0-straight scoreless against the Marlins ended in the first tonight...
It would not get any better...
' 1-2-3, 1-2-3: Given a 2-0 lead to work with, Ricky Nolasco retook the mound and threw a quick, nine-pitch, 1-2-3 top of the second. Strasburg threw a quick, 10-pitch, 1-2-3 bottom of the frame, striking the opposing pitcher out to end the home-half of the second. With an assist from a diving Giancarlo Stanton in right field, Nolasco completed an eight-pitch top of the third for three scoreless in which he hadn't allowed a hit. Bryan Petersen turned a 95 mph fastball inside out for an opposite field single to start Miami's third. Petersen swiped second without a throw on a 2-1 bender to Ruggiano that was called strike two. The Marlins' outfielder who homered in his first at bat worked the count full and walked when Strasburg missed inside with a 3-2 change. An aggressive throw to second by Strasburg on a grounder to the mound got a force, but there was no chance of doubling Jose Reyes up on the play. Runners on first and third for El Caballo, and Lee rolled one out to second where Danny Espinosa was thinking double play, but he forget to field the ball first and had it bounce right by him as the Marlins' third run scored. 3-0 Fish. Greg Dobbs' two-out, two-run single to center brought Reyes and Lee in (after Lee had stolen second) and the Nationals and Strasburg trailed the Fish 5-0 after 3.0 innings in Miami, FL.
' Universe Conspiring: A Bryce Harper liner to center hung up unnaturally until Justin Ruggiano could sprint over and get underneath it for out no.1 of the fourth. Two outs later, Ricky Nolasco had an 11-pitch, 1-2-3 inning in the books. No hits for the Nats through four in Miami. Strasburg started the bottom of the fourth at 56 pitches to Nolasco's 50 total through four. Fish catcher Rob Brantly lined a 2-0 Stras fastball to right for the Marlins' sixth hit off the Nationals' starter. A bunt moved Brantley into scoring position, a groundout moved him to third and a two-out single on a 2-0 pitch to Justin Ruggiano brought the catcher in to make it 6-0 Marlins in the bottom of the fourth. An 11-pitch inning had Strasburg at 67 overall down six runs to the Fish.
' There Goes The No-Hitter! [Drinks]: Michael Morse grounded out to short, Ian Desmond chased an 0-2 slider outside and Danny Espinosa K'd swinging at a pitch in the dirt that got by the Marlins' catcher Rob Brantly. Espinosa reached on a wild pitch, and went first-to-third' on a Kurt Suzuki single before a Stephen Strasburg groundout ended the top of the 5th. Still 6-0 Fish. Giancarlo Stanton collected the eighth hit off Strasburg when he lined a 96 mph 3-1 fastball to left for his 26th double of 2012, and one out later he scored on a two-out single by Donovan Solano that gave the Marlins a 7-0 lead. The 17-pitch inning had Strasburg at 84 overall and likely done for the night after a rough, rough outing.
' HITZ!!: Bryce Harper and Ryan Zimmerman hit back-to-back one-out singles off Nolasco for the Nationals' second and third hits of the night off the Marlins' starter. Two outs later, however, both runners were stranded when the Marlins' starter completed his sixth scoreless frame. 77 pitches overall after Nolasco's 18-pitch inning. Craig Stammen took over in the bottom of the sixth, giving up a leadoff single by the opposing pitcher, Justin Ruggiano's third hit of the game with one down and a two-out, two-run single by Giancarlo Stanton that scored both Nolasco and Ruggiano to make it 9-0 Marlins after six in Miami.
' Strasburg's Line: 5.0 IP, 9 H, 7 R, 5 ER, 1 BB, 3 Ks, 1 HR, 84 P, 51 S, 9/2 GO/FO.
' Complete Game Ricky: After Ricky Nolasco a nine-pitch scoreless seventh, Stammen came out for his second inning of work. retiring the Marlins in order in an 11-pitch bottom of the inning. Nolasco needed just seven pitches to complete a seven-pitch, 1-2-3- top of the eighth against the Nationals at 93 pitches overall after 8.0 scoreless. Craig Stammen gave up another hit by Ruggiano, but completed a scoreless bottom of the eighth after which Ricky Nolasco returned to the mound, gave up a pinch hit by Chad Tracy, hit Adam LaRoche with two down, but finished his ninth scoreless vs the Nationals down for the complete game shutout win. 9-0 final. Five-straight losses for the Nationals. Panic? Or wait until there's a bear on the loose? [ed. note - "Yes, that was a Semi-Pro reference."] No refunds. Get'em tomorrow...
' Miss The Game? The D.C. Faithful Were Watching...
' Doghouse's Post Game WPA Graph: "Game 128: At least it was quick.":
Via FanGraphs
- Bad calls + meatballs: Stephen Strasburg (-31.6%) doesn't get some calls but grooves plenty on his own, giving up 7R on 9H over 5 IP with 3 Ks and 1 BB.
- The hitting: The only positive Nats' hitting WPA total is for Jayson Werth (+2.3%) on his leadoff ROE.
Nationals now 77-51.
Game 128: At least it was quick.
Ministry of Plenty
Washington Nationals' Stephen Strasburg Struggled To Adjust To Miami Marlins' Approach.
After the "Hot Stuff" incident earlier this season, the start in Atlanta where he was overheated and needed IV fluids (it was 104°) and some talk on the pitcher's part of excessive sweating at times, there's a narrative that says Stephen Strasburg doesn't react particularly well to extreme temperatures, but the Washington Nationals' 24-year-old right-hander didn't want to hear any of that last night after he'd surrendered a career-high seven runs, five earned, on nine hits in just 5.0 IP against Miami in which he threw 84 pitches, 51 for strikes and struggled with his command in a 9-0 loss to the Marlins.
"Did the humidity bother you?" a reporter asked.
"Is there air conditioning in here?" Strasburg answered with a question, referring to the climate-controlled environment inside the Marlins' new park.
Not exactly Strasburg's version of a "That's a clown question, bro," moment, but the '09 no.1 overall pick clearly wasn't interested in making any excuses for the outing that he had last night in Florida. "No," Strasburg said, it wasn't the weather, "I mean, we've got humidity in D.C., I've been there all summer, so it's fine."
Nats' skipper Davey Johnson didn't think it was the heat either. "I think more he was fighting himself a little bit," Johnson told reporters, "Gave up more hits than he's used to giving up and they ran on him." Both Bryan Petersen and El Caballo Carlos Lee, who will never be confused for a base-stealing threat, managed to steal bases off the Nationals' starter and Nats' catcher Kurt Suzuki as the Marlins beat the Nats and handed Washington its fifth straight loss overall on a night when the Atlanta Braves were out in San Diego beating the Padres to pull within four games of first place in the NL East.
"I've got to do better than that," Strasburg said, referring to the stolen bases, " I think it's something that we, as a team and as a pitching staff, have struggled with and I've got to remember that there is a guy on base and I have to keep my times different and pick over a couple times and just no excuses."
"We've been talking to him about," Davey Johnson explained, "'They're timing you. Change your tempo. Step off.' Guys that couldn't run were stealing. It's a learning process and he's still going through that." The Nationals have reminded reporters several times recently that Strasburg's still learning, noting that is, in fact, his first full season in the majors, and he's now gone deeper into a season than he ever has before in his first full-year back from Tommy John surgery. But the Nationals needed a win last night, and the right-hander clearly wanted to help them get it.
"You want to go out there and do it every time," Strasburg said when asked about not coming through in the "stopper" role that he'd excelled in before last night, "But I'm sure there's not a pitcher in the history of baseball who's gone out there and shoved every single time, so I wanted to go out there and give it everything I had, which I thought I did, I struggled for pretty much the whole game, and it's a big learning experience for me. I think I learned a lot from tonight. So, we've just got to flush it and we've got to get back to playing our style of baseball."
Six of the Marlins' nine hits off Strasburg were singles, but the right-hander also managed to get nine ground ball outs. As an ESPN Stats & Info post on Strasburg's 26th start of 2012 noted, "Each of the nine hits he allowed came against a heater ranging from 94 to 98 miles-per-hour. That's the most hits he's allowed on pitches that fast in any start in his career." The Marlins also spit on Strasburg's offspeed pitches, the article added, taking, "20 of the 25 offspeed pitches he threw," and put his fastball in play.
Miami's hitters seemed well-prepared for the Nationals' starter, and as he saw it, his failure to adjust was the issue in last night's loss, which snapped a four-game winning-streak on the mound for the right-hander and handed the Nats their fifth-straight loss. "How many balls were hit in the hole right there and it's fastballs in," Strasburg said, "and you've just got to tip your cap. They made the adjustment, they know that I pitch inside and that's where I need to switch it up, but I just didn't tonight."
"They had their hitting shoes on," Davey Johnson said, and, "They hit some good pitches."
"We've been a little banged up and we've faced some hot clubs," Johnson continued in discussing the bigger picture following Washington's loss. The Nationals are 4-6 in their last ten games, 77-51 overall on the season. After one more with Miami, the Nationals head home to face a St. Louis Cardinals team that's won seven of their last ten, while Atlanta finishes up in San Diego and heads home to face Philadelphia. Ross Detwiler will try to play "stopper" tonight against the Marlins, and the Nationals will look to avoid losing six in a row for the first time this season.
Selasa, 28 Agustus 2012
Washington Nationals' Starter Jordan Zimmermann's Quiet Is About To Be Disturbed.
"After a month of July in which [Jordan] Zimmermann earned recognition as MLB's Pitcher of the Month for going (4-0) in six starts with a 0.97 ERA, 2.08 FIP, four walks (0.97 BB/9) and 31 Ks (7.54 K/9) in 37.0 IP over which he allowed 27 hits, five runs (4 ER) and one home run, Zimmermann's (1-2) in five August outings, with a 4.39 ERA, 3.47 FIP, eight walks (2.70 BB/9) and 23 Ks (7.76 K/9) in 26.2 IP in which he's allowed 31 hits and 14 runs, 13 earned. The last five outings also followed a report of the right-hander dealing with shoulder inflammation that didn't bother Zimmermann enough to cause him to miss a start but did warrant treatment with anti-inflammatory drugs and did lead the Nationals to rearrange the rotation for his benefit. Johnson was clear when discussing the shoulder issue, however, that it was something every pitcher goes through over the course of a season.
"For four innings on Sunday, Zimmermann was dominant, throwing 60 pitches and holding the Phillies scoreless while allowing just one hit before a fifth inning in which he gave up four hits, one a HR, a walk and three runs total while throwing 34 pitches. "I thought he was throwing a heck of a ballgame," Johnson said afterward, "and just kind of... the moment shifted and everybody started kind of centering on him. But that can happen." Zimmermann told reporters, including CSNWashington.com's Mark Zuckerman, that, "'The first four innings were kind of a breeze,'" but then, "'In the fifth inning, I just hit a wall and got in a little bit of trouble.'" Zimmermann said he felt strong, however, and for the first four innings he looked like the ace the Nationals will need him to be when Strasburg is eventually shut down."
' Read The Entire Post At SBNationDC...
Jordan Zimmermann's Quiet Is About To Be Disturbed sbn.to/SHXZXf
' SBNation DC (@sbnationdc) August 27, 2012
Wire Taps: Washington Nationals' Bryce Harper Destroying Helmets; Davey Johnson And Mike Rizzo Have A Chat.
' "Scandal!" - Stacey Pilgrim: Davey Johnson was asked about how Bryce Harper was doing after Sunday afternoon's loss to the Philadelphia Phillies after the 19-year-old outfielder had gone 0 for 3 in the series finale and taken a little bit of a spill after hustling to first base. Harper was double-switched out of the game late, but not because of his play or any injury as the Nats' skipper explained. "He's fine," Johnson told reporters, "I thought he had three pretty good at bats against [Cliff] Lee. But I've got two bench players, I've got to double-switch, and I actually told Randy [Knorr], I said, 'Tell the kid I have one player left and I'm double-switching with him, so he doesn't kill himself down there.' And he didn't get to [Harper] right away and [Harper] was destroying helmets and the runway." [laughs] "But I said, 'Randy! Will you get to him? Please get to him!' But I had really no choice. And I don't care if it was Babe Ruth. I've got one player left and I have to have as many batters stay in the game as possible." Davey Johnson and Mike Rizzo also reportedly had a heated conversation after the loss to the Phillies. Because these two stories came out in the press at approximately the same time, they've been connected by several people in spite of the complete lack of evidence of any connection. Things are getting testy in NatsTown, where a four-game losing streak has some people panicking. The Nats head to Miami next. The Nats have a 7-6 lead in the season series with the Fish. The Marlins are 5-5 in their last 10. The Nationals can't sleep on them. Maybe they'll take the built-up anger out on their division rivals... We'll have to wait until tomorrow night to see... til then... LINKS AND LOTS OF THEM... starting RIGHT NOW!!!!
' THE BIG STORY!!!:
' "If it was me, I'd err on the side of caution. I don't know that I would have done it exactly the way the Nationals did." - Bill James on Stephen Strasburg shutdown - "Hey Bill" - Bill James Online
' NATS BEAT:
' "Nothing changed, Jordan Zimmermann said, even despite the evidence that something had." - "Jordan Zimmermann feels strong despite bad inning" - Adam Kilgore, Nationals Journal - The Washington Post
' "The Nats are getting frustrated by their play of late, but they're not panicking." - "Nationals Pastime: Johnson sees no need for team meeting after 4-1 loss" - Dan Kolko, MASNSports.com
' "Perhaps, however, it's time for a bit more sense of urgency from a club that has maintained an even-keel all season and has insisted it's still too early to think about the standings." - "Nats caught napping in Philly" - Mark Zuckerman, CSNWashington.com
' "Davey Johnson and general manager Mike Rizzo held a lively discussion in the manager's office that kept the doors shut..." - "Miscues, gaffes add up to Phillies sweep of Nationals" - Amanda Comak, Washington Times
' "In each of the last two games, the Nationals have surrendered a late-inning insurance run when Phillies runners have been able to take advantage of easy opportunities to get into scoring position." - "Nats struggle to keep basestealers from success" - Joey Nowak, nationals.com: News
' "The loss left the Nationals in a testy mood. Manager Davey Johnson was heard screaming at someone in the clubhouse, sarcastically suggesting that person 'come down here' and run the team." - "Losing skid reaches four games" - Rob Maadi, WashingtonExaminer.com
' The Strasburg Section:
' "Americans overwhelmingly say the Nationals should shut pitcher Stephen Strasburg down for the rest of the season rather than let him continue to pitch..." - "TWT/JZ Analytics Poll: Shut Stephen Strasburg down" - Washington Times
' "Stephen Strasburg should be shut down for the rest of the season say most Americans, according to a new poll." - "Poll finds Nats fans want Strasburg shut down"- WTOP.com
' "Bearing in mind that every Strasburg argument immediately makes you believe the other side is indisputably correct, here are [Joe] Buck, Troy Aikman and Terry Bradshaw, breaking things down." - "Terry Bradshaw and Troy Aikman discuss the Strasburg Shutdown" - Dan Steinberg, DC Sports Bog - The Washington Post
' "[Stephen Strasburg] who has notched a victory in each of his last four outings, is expected to be shut down once he reaches about 180 innings. Strasburg will enter his start against the Marlins on Tuesday with 145 1/3 innings this season." - "Washington Nationals at Miami Marlins - August 28, 2012" - Zack Meisel, MLB.com Preview
' The Harper "Temper Tantrum" Section... (And just wondering, if say Jayson Werth had hit a water cooler, would it be called a "temper tantrum" or is that just a phrase thrown around because it's 19-year-old Bryce Harper doing it? Seems unnecessarily condescending. Just asking?")
' "As the Nationals' sputtered offense to five runs in three games over the weekend, [Bryce] Harper went 3 for 11 with two doubles." - "Davey Johnson explains Bryce Harper leaving in a double-switch" - Adam Kilgore, Nationals Journal - The Washington Post
' "[Davey] Johnson has discussed the 19-year-old's second-half slump, in which he's hitting .196 with nine extra-base hits, on several occasions." - "On Bryce Harper getting double-switched out Sunday and his second-half offensive struggles" - Amanda Comak, Washington Times
' "Before entering the room, though, we heard Johnson loudly exclaim to someone: 'Why don't you come down here and manage this team!' At which point Nationals PR director John Dever asked all of us to head back outside the clubhouse." - "Heated words, but no rift" - Mark Zuckerman, NatsInsider.com
' "'I had a discussion with my boss,' [Davey] Johnson said. The game itself was enough to make Johnson angry." - "Washington Nationals at Philadelphia Phillies - August 26, 2012" - Bill Ladson, MLB.com WSH Recap
' "In every one of the four games the Nationals have lost since Wednesday, relievers have allowed at least one run." - "During losing string, bullpen having trouble bridging" - Byron Kerr, MASNSports.com
' "Needing to come up big to avoid only their fourth series sweep of the season, the Nationals instead dropped their fourth straight game, this one in unusual fashion." - "Instant analysis: Phillies 4, Nats 1" - Mark Zuckerman, NatsInsider.com
' "Mike Rizzo and Davey Johnson met after yesterday's game and Johnson was heard getting a bit heated during the discussion in his office, shouting, 'You come down and manage the team!'" - "Nationals Pastime: Addressing a few key topics after a weekend to forget" - Dan Kolko, MASNSports.com
' "The Nationals' losing streak grew to four with a 4-1 defeat to the Philadelphia Phillies, and the dual gaffe of Jayson Werth and Adam LaRoche defined the final chapter of a sweep in Philadelphia." - "Nationals vs. Phillies: Gaffe leads to 4-1 defeat and sweep in Philadelphia" - Adam Kilgore, The Washington Post
' "With Tropical Storm Isaac heading toward South Florida on Sunday night, the Nationals altered their travel plans in advance of this week's two-game series that's scheduled to begin in Miami on Tuesday." - "Isaac causes Nats to alter travel plans to Miami" - Joey Nowak, nationals.com: News
' "Both Jayson Werth and Adam LaRoche took full responsibility for their share of the baserunning error in the seventh inning of today's 4-1 loss to the Phillies..." - "Nationals Pastime: Werth, LaRoche own up to baserunning gaffe" - Dan Kolko, MASNSports.com
' Video: "[Michael] Morse, who suffered a bruised right hand Friday night when he was hit by a pitch, attempted to play catch this morning at Citizens Bank Park but still was in some pain." - "Morse, Desmond aiming for Tuesday" - Mark Zuckerman, NatsInsider.com
' "The Nationals slogged through the weekend without Ian Desmond and Michael Morse, both of whom hope to return Tuesday." - "For the Nationals, mistakes have added up" - Adam Kilgore, Nationals Journal - The Washington Post
' Your Daily Message From The Dalai Lama On Twitter (@DalaiLama): "Since universal compassion involves gradually expanding one's circle of concern to the whole of humanity, it needs constant cultivation."
' NATS MINORS:
' Class-A Short Season Auburn: "LHP Brett Mooneyham (2-2) got the start and set the tone by allowing just one hit over six innings to earn the win." - "Doubledays beat Scrappers in home finale" - Eli Pearlstein, Auburn Doubledays News
' Class-A Short Season Auburn: "As Auburn Doubledays starter Brett Mooneyham described his outing against the Mahoning Valley Scrappers at Falcon Park on Sunday, it seemed as if he struggled through six innings." - "Hopefully not the last: Brett Mooneyham tosses a gem as Doubledays take regular season home finale" - Jeremy Houghtaling, The Auburn Citizen
' Class-A Potomac: "Frederick jumped early on Potomac starter LHP Robbie Ray. After two walks, Allan de San Miguel hit a homer that just cleared the left-center field fence to give Frederick a 3-0 lead in the first." - "Keys Outlast Nationals 10-7 in Pivotal Game" - Potomac Nationals News
' Triple-A Syracuse: "Starter Jeff Mandel became the second straight Syracuse starter to toss a complete-game shutout, following John Lannan's Saturday-night performance with a 102-pitch masterpiece." - "Mandel's shutout leads Chiefs past Braves" - Syracuse Chiefs News
' Triple-A Syracuse: "The International League announced today that Syracuse left-hander John Lannan has been named the League's Pitcher of the Week for the period from August 20-26." - "Lannan named IL Pitcher of the Week" - Syracuse Chiefs News
' Triple-A Syracuse: "Line of the Day: Sandy Leon, 3-for-4, 2 2B, RBI, BB, K - Leon is hitting .381 in Syracuse this season (16 games) with four doubles and a pair of home runs." - "Jeff Mandel tosses six-hit shuout, second straight CG SHO for Chiefs" - Ben Meyers, The Auburn Citizen
' "Monday's News & Notes" - Luke Erickson, NationalsProspects.com
' NATSTOWN:
' "For the Washington Nationals, heading to Philadelphia this past weekend and being swept by the Phillies probably wasn't something they considered likely." - "Putting A Rough Weekend In Perspective" - Joe Drugan, The Nats Blog
' "But what about tension mounting? According to MLB.com's Bill Ladson, Mike Rizzo and Davey Johnson got into a post-game shouting match on Sunday..." - "Davey to Rizzo: 'You come down and manage the team.'" - Nats Enquirer
' "Not only did the Nats get swept but the Braves stopped the freight train that was the San Francisco Giants and picked up a game and a half on the Nats." - "Monday Quickie - the 'kept it out' weekend" - Harper, Nationals Baseball
' NL EAST UPDATES:
' Phillies: "First-place Washington and second-place Atlanta still remain far off in the distance even after the Phillies completed a three-game sweep of the Nationals Sunday..." - "Inside the Phillies: With Phillies, it's been a case of too little, too late" - Bob Brookover, Philly.com
' Mets: "Ike Davis picked the right moment yesterday to give this stagnant Mets lineup a swift kick in the Astro." - "New York Mets defeat Houston Astros 2-1; Ike Davis hits two home runs" - Mike Puma, NYPOST.com
' Braves: "When Fredi Gonzalez was asked by Fox broadcaster Tim McCarver what the manager had learned from his Braves' September collapse last year, Gonzalez said he'd learned to be less patient." - "Braves manager will 'pick his spots' to rest slumping Uggla" - David O'Brien, Atlanta Journal-Constitution
' Marlins: "The Marlins hit four home runs, including yet another round-tripper by Giancarlo Stanton and Rob Brantly's first in the majors, as Miami ended the trip with a 5-6 mark." - "LOS ANGELES: Miami Marlins experience power surge in win over Los Angeles Dodgers" - Clark Spencer, MiamiHerald.com
Washington Nationals' Jayson Werth And Davey Johnson: Agents Of Change In The Nation's Capital.
' Change Agent: It was after a five-game losing streak in May of 2011, with the Washington Nationals in the midst of a stretch of 13 games in which the team was 3-10, that outfielder Jayson Werth, who'd signed a 7-year/$126M dollar deal the previous winter, uttered the following words in a post game press conference in Milwaukee:
"'Things,'" Werth said, "'need to change.'"
Asked to elaborate on what sort of "things" he was referring to, the 33-year-old outfielder told the Washington Post's Adam Kilgore, "'I've got some ideas obviously, and some thoughts, none I really want to share with the world. I think it's pretty obvious what's going on around here.'"
"'I'm not really going to get into it right now,'" NatsInsider.com's Mark Zuckerman quoted Werth [not]-explaining, "It is what it is. It's unfortunate. We're a way better ballclub."
While some wondered if the outfielder was referring to a need for a change on the bench, the manager at the time, Jim Riggleman, spoke to Werth when the team returned to the nation's capital and asked directly if he thought the outfielder meant the manager should go, Riggleman said, "I guess the short answer is no... but the long answer is... 'changes'? That we've got to start winning ballgames. The losing that's taken place here for a couple years that's got to change. We've got to change some things that we do, how we play, whatever. But that's about as long as I'll get on that I guess, but to answer your question, no." Riggleman said he didn't think Werth was referring to a change on the bench.
Werth said much the same following the conversation with Riggleman, telling SI.com's Mel Antonen, "'It has nothing to do with personnel changes, change this or change that. That's all words put into my mouth. We need to starting winning. We need to start hitting. That's the bottom line.'" The culture within the clubhouse and the organization needed to change, Werth insisted, from the Presidents Race on up. About two weeks later, after a stretch in which the team was 6-8, the Nationals went on a winning streak, going 11-1 over a stretch of 12 games that ended with a 1-0 victory over Seattle which lifted Washinton one game over .500 at 38-37 overall on June 23rd.
Following that victory over the Mariners, Jim Riggleman asked for a talk about picking up his option for 2012, claiming (to sum up his argument) that he couldn't manage the team on a one-year deal. As D.C. GM Mike Rizzo explained after Riggleman resigned that afternoon, "... it came down to I wasn't prepared to exercise the option in his contract, and he demanded that we would or he wasn't going to continue as the manager and I accepted his resignation because I thought it was an important enough decision that I wasn't going to make a decision in the short-term window that I had and it just went from there."
As for Jayson Werth's thoughts after Riggleman had resigned? MASNSports.com's Ben Goessling quoted Werth explaining at the time that he was just as surprised by the move as anyone else. "'I was probably as surprised as you guys were,'" Werth told reporters, "'But whether I agree or disagree with it, I respect Jim's decision. He's moving on. We're moving on. We've got a ballgame tomorrow, and we've got over half the season left. I still feel really good about where we're at and where we're going.'"
Enter Davey Johnson.
Why dredge up all this drama again?
' Hitting School With Davey Johnson:
Well, it started with a discussion the Nats' 69-year-old skipper, who is 117-93 as the Nationals' manager and has led them to a 77-50 record this year, had with reporters before the start of last week's series with the Atlanta Braves. Washington had just gone 12-3 in their last 15 games and they were set to take on the NL East's second-place team. Johnson was asked how, after a year of promising that the team's offense was better than it appeared, he'd finally managed to get the offense running the way he'd said it could.
"Well, a lot of things," Johnson began, "To a man, we got a little too much concerned about hitting the ball the other way. I think the regime in here before liked everybody to go the other way and we really couldn't handle fastballs in. I mean, we didn't hit the ball where it was pitched. We had the talent to hit the ball where it was pitched, but we were a little defensive hitting. And some of the young guys came in, had the same thing, not all of them. But gradually, and that process takes a little time, I mean Jayson [Werth], he was into going the other way. [Ryan Zimmerman] through his injuries was basically going the other way. Michael Morse, everybody."
"The book on us," Johnson continued, "And I don't mind telling you, because everybody in the world knows it. 'Pound them in with hard stuff!' And we weren't able to do much. Like I said, even Keith Hernandez came to me at the end of last year and said, 'What, you guys don't like a fastball or something?' And I said, 'I know that's true. We don't. Unless it's way away from us.' But Rick Eckstein has done a great job, he's got them still staying inside the ball, but hitting it where it's pitched. Not having to cheat to get to the fastball in. Just become better hitters. And we're not 100% to where we need to be, but I think we'll get to [it]. Because certain hitters still have lapses going back [to] I almost call it a defensive swing. It's a longer swing. But when we face a really good pitcher, unless we're in that attack mode. We can be pitched to."
"But I think we've really grown a lot and I tip my hat to Rick," the Nats' manager said, "He's worked hard and guys know who they are and they know what they're capable of, and [Danny Espinosa] and [Ian Desmond] were two of the prime examples of the way, 'Take the ball in, look for the ball away.' But we're becoming, now we're doing the things I knew we were capable of and that's what I call playing up to your potential."
"It's just real simple," Johnson said in concluding his explanation, "Pitchers try to keep hitters from extending. And that's why they change speeds and either get [hitters] way out front and then throw it hard in so they can't extend their arms and the bat. And we were kind of helping with that, and it was easy to keep us from extending."
When the changes Johnson described and he and Eckstein have implemented were mentioned to Werth, the outfielder told the MLB.com's Bill Ladson in article entitled, "Nationals banking on new offensive philosophy", (which was a good one that covered a lot of the quotes from Johnson above along with stuff from Eckstein and the hitters) that the changes were made possible by the presence of Davey Johnson on the Nationals' bench, and the influence he has on his players, and the weight that his words carry thanks to his track record and history:
"'Between last year and this year, it's night and day,' Werth said. 'Just the whole atmosphere in the clubhouse. You have an iconic manager that really knows how to handle this team. If we still had a guy like [Jim] Riggleman as the manager, I don't think the team is where it's at.'
"Asked why he felt that way, Werth said, 'You have a guy [in Johnson] that is confident in himself and in his players. That alone can go a long way. ... Being a big league player for so long, being a big league manager for so long, Davey has a real good feel [for the game].'"
When Davey talks the players listen. When they listen to Davey Johnson they usually get good advice. As soon as they realize that, the Nats' manager has them.
Senin, 27 Agustus 2012
Game 127: Out-hit, out-pitched, out-run, out-umpired.
Ministry of Plenty
Washington Nationals Get Swept By Philadelphia Phillies, Dominated By Cliff Lee In 4-1 Loss.
' RSD vs Lee: "Right Side" Danny Espinosa entered today's game 7 for 13 with a double, three home runs, five RBIs and two Ks in his career against Philadelphia Phillies' lefty Cliff Lee. The Nats' 25-year-old SS/2B was also 18 for 66 with three doubles and four home runs in his career in Philly's Citizens Bank Park, so he was leading off against Lee in the Sunday matinee. After all that buildup Espinosa K'd swinging at an 0-2 curve for the first out of a 14-pitch scoreless first by Lee, who gave up a two-out single by Ryan Zimmerman before popping up Jayson Werth.
Jordan Zimmermann got Jimmy Rollins to chase a wicked 1-2 curve for out and K no.1 in the bottom of the frame and there was a little anger in the Nats' right-hander's eyes aimed from the mound toward home plate umpire Lance Barksdale after the ump called a 2-2 curve on the outside corner a ball in a two-out at bat against Chase Utley that ended in a walk. Zimmermann took his anger out on Ryan Howard in the next and bat, however, and got the slugger to chase an 0-2 bender into the dirt for an inning-ending K on pitch 21 of the Nationals' starter's first. Should've been a 15-pitch frame. 0-0 in Citizens Bank.
' LaRoche Crush Lefties: Adam LaRoche hit a broken-bat single to center off Cliff Lee to start the second, but a fly to right from Tyler Moore and a 5-4-3 DP off Jesus Flores' bat ended an eight-pitch inning by the Phillies' left-hander. John Mayberry lined a 93 mph fastball to left-center for a leadoff single in the Phillies' second, but Laynce Nix flew weakly to left for out no.1 on an 0-2 curve, Ryan Zimmerman smothered a sharp grounder to third by Kevin Frandsen and got a force at second, though not a double play, and Jordan Zimmermann popped Erik Kratz up with a 3-0 fastball to ended a 10-pitch bottom of the second in Philadelphia with Mayberry stranded at first. Still 0-0.
' Phing Lee: Steve Lombardozzi took an 0-2 fastball up high that was called strike three by Lance Barksdale for the first out of what ended up being a 17-pitch scoreless third by Cliff Lee, who was breaking bats and dominating the Nats through three scoreless in which he threw 39 pitches, 31 of them strikes. Lee didn't like it as much when Jordan Zimmermann got a called strike three from Barksdale with his own high heater on an 0-2 pitch to the opposing pitcher in the Phillies' third. 3 Ks in 2.1 IP. Zimmermann issued his second walk of the game to Juan Pierre in an eight-pitch at bat with two down in the bottom of the inning, but he popped Chase Utley up to right to end 17-pitch frame at 48 pitches overall. 0-0 after three in Citizens Bank Park... oh and Jayson Werth caught the ball with his bare hand after losing it in the sun and missing it with his glove:
' Chris Mottram (@ChrisMottram) August 26, 2012
@markzuckerman@adamkilgorewp he lost it in the sun. p.twimg.com/A1PpfkeCEAAQ9T'
' Lee, Lee, Lee: Cliff Lee threw an 0-2 fastball by Jayson Werth to end a nine-pitch, 1-2-3 4th at 48 pitches overall. 3 Ks in 4.0 scoreless. Zimmermannn threw a 12-pitch frame in the bottom of the inning to finish 4.0 scoreless vs the Phillies at 60 pitches total, 40 of them strikes. Tyler Moore was the first player to reach second base for either team today when he doubled to left with one down in the fifth. 7th double of the year for the Nats' 25-year-old outfielder. Lee got Jesus Flores to chase an 0-2 fastball upstairs, however, and got a groundout from Lombardozzi to end his fifth scoreless frame. 12-pitch inning by the Phillies' left-hander.
' DIY Lee: Kevin Frandsen singled to left to start the home-half of the fifth with the second hit of the game off the Nats' Jordan Zimmermann. A passed ball with Erik Kratz up put the Phillies' first runner in scoring position, but the Philly catcher flew out to short center and a diving Bryce Harper for out no. 2 of the fifth before Cliff Lee lined a 93 mph heater to center and over Harper's head in the next AB for an RBI double and a 1-0 lead. Lee's second double of 2012 was followed by Jimmy Rollins' 15th HR which sailed out to right and just over the wall on a 3-1 fastball the Phillies' shortstop crushed. 3-0 Philadelphia in the 5th. Zimmermann was up to 32 pitches when he walked Ryan Howard with two down, and 34 total when he popped John Mayberry up to end a long bottom of the inning.
' Jordan Zimmermann's Line: 5.0 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 3 Ks, 1 HR, 94 P, 57 S, 4/6 GO/FO
' 13.0 Scoreless: Roger Bernadina reached on an infield single in a pinch hit AB that led off the sixth, and took second on a groundout by Bryce Harper to give Ryan Zimmerman a runner in scoring position with two down, but the Nats' third baseman flew out to the warning track in left-center to end Cliff Lee's 13th scoreless inning against the Nats this season. Laynce Nix gave the Phillies a 4-0 lead when he crushed a hanging-*** 0-2 slider from Tom Gorzelanny for a solo shot to start the bottom of the sixth. HR no.3 of 2012 and Nix's first since May 3rd (though he did miss time with a calf injury). 13-pitch seventh for Gorzelanny, 4-0 Phillies in CBP.
' Stupid Phence On Top Of The Phence: Jayson Werth reached on an error by Cliff Lee, who threw one by Ryan Howard at first on a swinging bunt by the Nats' slugger. Adam LaRoche crushed a first pitch fastball in the next at bat that soared over Laynce Nix and the out-of-town scoreboard for what looked like a two-run HR, but the ball bounced off the top of a metal fence atop the right field fence and bounced back into play for what (much to the surprise of Werth and LaRoche) was ruled a double based on the stadium's ground rules. Fence atop the fence is in play, apparently. LaRoche was in his HR trot and got caught in a rundown between second and third and tagged out. 8-4-2-6 put out after a "double" off the top of the fence. Werth only made it to third. Tyler Moore followed with his second double of the game off Lee to bring Werth in, but the Nats only got within three on what looked like a two-run blast. 4-1 Phillies after six and a half. Tom Gorzelanny stranded Jimmy Rollins at third in a scoreless seventh in his second inning of work in relief. Still 4-1 Phillies.
' [CHOMP!]?: Jeremy Horst took over for Cliff Lee in the top of the eighth and surrendered a leadoff double by Roger Bernadina, who lined to the left field corner and just out of reach of a diving Michael Martinez. Davey Johnson bluffed with Ian Desmond, forcing Charlie Manuel to go to the pen for a right-hander, Josh Linblom, so Davey burned the injured Desmond and went with Chad Tracy. Tracy grounded out to short, however, with the Shark still stuck at second. Ryan Zimmerman stepped in with two down and K'd swinging at an 0-2 fastball for out no.3 of the Nats' eighth. Drew Storen threw a quick, 11-pitch, 1-2-3- bottom of the eighth to keep it a three-run lead heading into the ninth.
' Swept: Josh Lindblom struck Jayson Werth out. Adam LaRoche lined out to first. Tyler Moore K'd swinging. Ballgame. And a sweep. The Nats drop three-straight in Philadelphia.
' Miss The Game? The D.C. Faithful Were Watching...
' Doghouse's Post Game WPA Graph: "Game 127: Out-hit, out-pitched, out-run, out-umpired.":
Via FanGraphs
- Shut him down? Jordan Zimmermann (-12.6%) only makes in through 5 IP, walking 3, striking out 3, and giving up an RBI double and a two-run HR (both -15.2%) to put the game out of reach.
- Shark attack: Roger Bernadina (+9.0%) leads the Nats in WPA, going 2-2 with a single and a double.
- Least helpful: Jesus Flores (-12.7%) is 0-3 with 3 LOB. Don't get me started about the umps, it wouldn't have been enough runs anyway.
Nationals now 77-50.
Washington Nationals Rewind: Adam LaRoche Gets Ground-Ruled vs Phillies In CBP.
These are the Ground Rules for Right Center Field to Center Field in Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, PA:
' Right Center Field to Center Field:
- Ball wedges in chain link fence in front of out-of-town scoreboard: Two Bases.
- Ball strikes fence or scoreboard and goes over the lower center field fence without striking the ground: Home Run.
- Ball strikes fence or scoreboard and goes over higher portion of outfield fence without striking the ground: Two Bases.
- Ball strikes top of outfield fence or scoreboard and bounds into stands: Home Run.
- Ball strikes top of outfield fence or scoreboard and rebounds onto the playing field: In Play.
They came into play this afternoon in the top of the seventh inning when Adam LaRoche hit a first-pitch fastball from Cliff Lee to right field for a towering blast that at first appeared to be a two-run HR. It was a 4-0 game at the time with the Phillies ahead and Cliff Lee cruising, but the first runner of the inning, Jayson Werth reached first safely and took second on a throwing error to start the frame, then LaRoche stepped in and sent a long fly to right where Laynce Nix tracked it and made a leaping attempt as it sailed over the out of town scoreboard/right field wall... but it didn't clear the "outfield fence" atop the wall and as noted in the Ground Rules, was therefore not a home run.
LaRoche was in his HR trot between second and third when Phillies' center fielder John Mayberry threw it back in, and the Nats' first baseman was caught in a rundown between second and third and tagged out with Jayson Werth inexplicably still at third base having stopped for some reason and waited near the bag. LaRoche was out on an 8-4-2-6 put out and instead of a 4-2 game it remained 4-0, until Tyler Moore doubled Werth in during the next at bat. The play was reviewed afterwards, but it was pretty clearly not out.
After the game, Davey Johnson was still hot...
... but not about the call by the umpires. "That's kind of a... you take nothing for granted in this game," the Nats' skipper said, "This is a game, you never take anything for granted. My two veteran players took it for granted that the ball was out. I asked [LaRoche], I said, 'Rochie, what are you thinking?' and he said, 'I was going for three.' I said, 'Well, you weren't going very fast.'"
"That's kind of a mental mistake," the Nats' manager continued, "Because you can always review. You never put yourself in a position with the ball still on the field and two veteran players messed that up." They made an assumption, Johnon explained, "Taking for granted that it was a home run, so they went into a trot. And you can't do that. You just can't do it."
"One of my rules," the 69-year-old Johnson said, "was that if you hit a hard ground ball to shortstop and you don't run down there you're taking it for granted that he's going to catch it and make a good throw and that's a losing attitude. Same way on that play there. If you assume when the ball hits up there like you think it's gone and the ball is still in play... that's a losing attitude."
Johnson said it didn't cost the team the ballgame, but Werth told reporters afterwards that he thought it might have:
Werth on assuming HR: "I obviously messed up the play, cost Rochie an easy RBI and potentially cost us a win."
' Mark Zuckerman (@MarkZuckerman) August 26, 2012
The Nationals would end up losing the game 4-1. They were swept in three-straight in Citizens Bank Park and lost their fourth game overall to drop to 77-50 on the year. Next up a series in Miami with the Marlins which starts Tuesday night.
Minggu, 26 Agustus 2012
Washington Nationals Drop Second Straight To Philadelphia Phillies, 4-2 Final In CBP.
' "I'm from S-P, no mortal man can test me." - BT: Gio Gonzalez started the bottom of the first with a five-pitch walk to the Phillies' Jimmy Rollins after Roy Halladay had thrown an 11-pitch, 1-2-3 top of the inning against Washington in Citizens Bank Park. Kevin Frandsen worked the count full in the next at bat against the Nats' 26-year-old left-hander and lined a 93 mph four-seamer to right to send Rollins around to third with no outs in front of Chase Utley, whose single through second brought the Philadelphia's shortstop in to give the home team a 1-0 lead before an out was recorded. Steve Lombardozzi got to a grounder by John Mayberry in short center after it got through the middle of the infield, but he had no play and simply prevented a third run from scoring. 2-0 Phillies when Frandsen scored, but Erik Kratz K'd looking at a wicked 2-2 bender for out no.2, and Juan Pierre lined out weakly to short to end a 31-pitch opening frame by the Nationals' starter.
' Doc: Roy Halladay struck out the side on 19-pitches in the top of the second, getting Adam LaRoche with a curve and Jayson Werth with a change, but walking Roger Bernadina with two down before striking Danny Espinosa out with another bender that ended a 19-pitch inning which had Halladay at 30 pitches overall after two. Jimmy Rollins hit a two-out single off Gio Gonzalez in the Phillies' second, then stole second when Kurt Suzuki bobbled the ball on the transfer from mitt-to-hand, but the Nats' starter got Kevin Frandsen swinging to end a 12-pitch inning at 43 pitches overall. 2-0 Philadelphia. Kurt Suzuki flew out to start the third as the seventh of eight Nationals set down by Halladay to start the game. An 0-2 curve to the opposing pitcher made it eight of nine and one pitch later it was nine of ten as Steve Lombardozzi grounded out to end a six-pitch inning by the Phillies' right-hander. Gio Gonzalez's 18-pitch, 1-2-3 bottom of the third had him up to 61 pitches overall and down 2-0 to the Phillies in Citizens Bank Park.
' 1st Hit Then DP: Bryce Harper dropped a bloop single into short right-center in Citizens Bank for the first hit of the game off Halladay in the top of the fourth. Ryan Zimmerman lined to right in the next at bat, but right at Phillies' right fielder Michael Martinez and Harper stumbled around second when Jimmy Rollins deked him good and got thrown out at first on a 9-3 DP. A fly to center from Adam LaRoche ended Halladay's fourth scoreless after eleven pitches from the veteran Phillies' right-hander. Gio Gonzalez needed just nine pitches total to retired the Phillies in order in the bottom of the frame, with help from Ryan Zimmerman who fielded a swinging bunt that appeared to be foul and flipped a throw to first in time to get the speedy Martinez for out no.3. Still 2-0 Philly.
' Everybody <3's Lombo: Roger Bernadina connected with a full-count cutter and sent a low liner to center on the ninth pitch from Roy Halladay in the Nats' outfielder's one-out AB in the fifth. Bernadina stole his 14th base of 2012 with Danny Espinosa up at bat, but had to stay at second when Espi grounded to short and beat the throw to first in spite of a diving effort by Jimmy Rollins. Kurt Suzuki lined to left for the third-straight one-out single off the Phillies' starter, loading the bases in front of Gio Gonzalez. The Nats' starter grounded to Utley at second, who took the out at home, but Steve Lombardozzi came through with a two-out, two-run line drive to center that tied that game up after three and a half. 2-2 in Philly. Jimmy Rollins walked for the second time tonight with one down in the Phillies' fifth and Gio Gonzalez hit Kevin Frandsen to put two runners on, but Chase Utley popped up and Ryan Howard flew to center to end the fifth with the score still tied at 2-2. The 23-pitch frame had Gio at 93 pitches overall.
' Boo Werth, Will Ya?: Jayson Werth got booed as he stepped to the plate in Citizens Bank Park and lined a single through short with two down in the top of the sixth, but Roger Bernadina popped out to Jimmy Rollins in foul territory in left on the first pitch he saw to end a 12-pitch 6th that had Halladay up to 89 pitches. Gio Gonzalez start the sixth at 93 pitches. The 94th was crushed by John Mayberry, who took a 91 mph fastball for a ride to left and over the wall to make it 3-2 Phillies with his 12th HR. 10 pitches later Gonzalez was through an 11-pitch inning at 104 pitches overall on the night.
' Lombo? No.: Danny Espinosa ripped a line drive to center to start the seventh. A sac bunt by Kurt Suzuki moved Espinosa up, and pinch hitter Chad Tracy stepped in ending Gio Gonzalez's night. A groundout by Tracy moved Espinosa to third, but Steve Lombardozzi popped out to end the Nats' seventh. The 16-pitch inning had Halladay at 105. Still 3-2 Phillies after six and a half... Ryan Mattheus took over in the seventh and threw a quick, nine-pitch, 1-2-3 bottom of the inning.
Gio Gonzalez's Line: 6.0 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 7 Ks, 1 HR, 104 P, 70 S, 4/1 GO/FO.
' Harper Chirping: Antonio Bastardo threw a high 2-2 heater by Bryce Harper for the first out of the eighth after Harper had argued pretty vehemently against home plate umpire Manny Gonzalez's calls on the first few pitches. A 93 mph 1-2 four-seamer got a foul-tip strike three from Ryan Zimmerman for out no.2 and a full-count slider to Adam LaRoche ended a nine-pitch at bat with the third K of the frame. Bastardo struck out the side on 19 pitches. Still 3-2 Phillies after seven and a half. Sean Burnett hit Chase Utley in the first at bat of the Phillies' eighth and the Philly second baseman promptly stole a base with Ryan Howard at the plate, but the big first baseman struck out swinging. Utley stole third in the next at bat, and scored when John Mayberry lined out to right. 4-2 Phillies after eight.
' Dance, Pap: Phillies' closer Jonathan Papelbon threw an 0-2 fastball up high by Jayson Werth. Roger Bernadina flew to center for out no.2 and Danny Espinosa K'd swinging at an 0-2 heater to end it. Phillies win, 4-2 final.
' Miss The Game? The D.C. Faithful Were Watching...
' Doghouse's Post Game WPA Graph: COMING SOON! W00T!!
Nationals now 77-49.
Langganan:
Postingan (Atom)