Game Thread: Washington Nationals at New York's "Hated Mets" - 2008 Game 42 of 162.

On the Hill...

When Washington righty Jason Bergmann was sent down to Triple-A Columbus back on April 12, 2008, Nationals' GM Jim Bowden told MLB.com's Bill Ladson, in an article entitled, "Bergmann sent down, Cordero back", that he, "...couldn't promise Bergmann that he would back in the big leagues because there are other talented pitchers...in the system," and Mr. Bowden elaborated:

"'Whoever pitches best here is going to pitch here,' Bowden said. 'It's a little different than before. That being said, [Bergmann] needs to step it up. He has three pitches. He has enough stuff. He just needs to execute it.'"

Bergmann, 26, with four years in the Majors, went down to the Nationals' Triple-A affiliate and posted a (2-2) record in 5 starts with a 3.72 ERA in 29.0 innings, giving up 26 hits, 13 runs, 2 HR's and 11 BB, while striking out 27 batters. In Bergmann's last outing against the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs, he lasted 7.0 innings, allowing 5 hits, 3 ER's, 3 walks, and 1 HR, with 7 K's in a 4-3 Clippers' loss to the Iron Pigs. Bergmann's (2-1) in 3 starts and 9 appearances with a 3.96 ERA over 25.0 innings against the Mets, with his last start taking place during the last week of the '07 season, with Bergmann lasting 5.2 innings and surrendering 7 hits and 3 ER's in a winning effort as part of a 10-9 Nationals' victory. 

Mike "The Mouthpiece" Pelfrey's lost three of his last four starts, and the Mets have lost all of them. After starting the season (2-0), the 24-year old righty's dropped to (2-3) with a 4.86 ERA in 6 starts and 33.1 innings. Pelfrey's already beaten the Nationals once this season, pitching 7.0 innings of a 5-hit shutout and striking out 4 on April 15th here at home in Shea, and Pelfrey's (2-1) in 5 starts against DC in his career, with a 4.30 ERA in 29.1 innings. But in his last four starts, "The Mouthpiece" has given up 36 hits, 16 ER's, 9 walks and 3 HR's in 21.1 innings pitched...

A Harsh Dose Of Colbert-esque Truthiness For "Team Entitlement"...

...New York Daily News sports writer John Harper wrote on Wednesday afternoon, before last night's DC victory, in an article entitled, "Forget collapse, Mets need to avoid a May daze", that for the New York Mets, this series with Washington:

"...is a nice little test, indeed, to see if Team Entitlement has learned anything from last year.

After all, the Mets had every reason to come flying out of the gate this season and shut the world up about the Great Collapse. The fact that they haven't only raises more questions about where they are headed in 2008, and whether their time to dominate the National League has passed."

The "Great Collapse"? "Team Entitlement?" I might have a new favorite writer. Now considering that the Nationals have already taken two of the first three on the road at Shea, and a split, (if the Mets win this afternoon), is the best New York can hope for out of the four game home series...I'm wondering, is a split with the lowly Nationals considered a passing grade on Mr. Harper's "nice little test", or a complete and utter failure against the perennial cellar-dwellers from DC?

Say It Ain't So, Nick Johnson?

According to MLB.com's Bill Ladson, as reported in his article entitled, "Nick Johnson to have MRI on right wrist", the Washington Nationals' first baseman Nick Johnson (and His Discerning Eye) suffered an injured wrist on an awkward swing the other night that saw Johnson foul a pitch down and off his bat again on the follow through. Mr. Ladson writes in the article, that:

"With Johnson out, Aaron Boone will get the bulk of the playing time at first base. Boone has been the Nationals' best reserve this season, hitting .319 with three home runs and seven RBIs entering Wednesday's action."

Any chance DY gets rushed back to DC if something shows up on Johnson's MRI? So far at Double-A Harrisburg, DY's 2 for 5 with a double and three walks, 2 games into Young's rehab stint. Other options? (or Other Far-Fetched Options?, I should say)...On a quick tour through the system...Larry Broadway's hitting .240 with 11 doubles, 1 triple, 2 HR's and 14 RBI's in 36 games? Broadway's the only 1st baseman at Triple-A Columbus, and Chris Marrero's batting .220 in 36 games, with 5 doubles, 1 triple, 5 HR's and 16 RBI's for the Potomac Nationals, or P-Nats as they're affectionately known. But for now, it's Boone at first til Nick Johnson's healthy. 

Nationals' Player With the Best #'s Against Mike Pelfrey...

Austin Kearns - 5 for 14, .357 AVG, 1 HR, 4 RBI's.

Game time is 1:10 pm EST at Shea Stadium. Bergmann vs Pelfrey. The Bergmann of New Brunswick, New Jersey vs "The Mouth Piece" Mike Pelfrey. The Nationals look to take three of four on the road in New York. Ryan Zimmerman's 3 for 13 in the first 3 games at Shea, with a 1 2B, 2 HR's and 3 RBI's...and Zimm's  4 for 14 against the "Mouthpiece". Beat the Mets, Beat the Mets...