Game Thread: Washington Nationals at Houston Astros- 2008 Game 33 of 162. "DC Fans Called Out In National Press."

On the HILL...

"Weak attendance could be a National Emergency", is the title of Jeff Passan's Exclusive yahoosports.com piece on the abundance of empty seats at Washington, DC's new Nationals Park, which has stood three-quarters-full on most nights, to watch a team, that admittedly has only recently begun to give the District's baseball fans reason to believe. As quoted in Mr. Passan's article, Nationals' President Stan Kasten seems sure of what will bring more fans into the Park, telling Mr. Passan:

"'It’s clear to me that when we turn the corner as a team, they’ll come.'”

Until such a time as the Nationals' are "competitive", Mr. Kasten and the team will seek to provide "an experience" for DC baseball fans, with Mr. Passan noting, that Nationals Park is a, "...perfectly acceptable new stadium," though:

"...not transcendent like its Beltway neighbor, Camden Yards in Baltimore, and not a billion-dollar homage to gluttony like the new Yankee Stadium will be. It is a good place to take the family for $5 a ticket, grab a drink in the packed center-field bar, watch a footrace involving people wearing giant foam heads of dead presidents, ogle the HD video screen..." 

(ed. note - "Or watch John Lannan pitch, Nick Johnson hit...just as other, uh, admittedly less-humorous examples...")

I've only attended one game this season, as I live about 90 miles north of DC, but I'll admit to having been a little worried when half of the crowd disappeared sometime around the fourth inning on Opening Night in Nationals Park, (though the mid-40's March weather may have played a role in premature departures), and when I tuned in on MLB Extra Innings, for the second home game, which actually occurred a week after the home opener, I grew a little more concerned, and Mr. Passan seems to think that might not be the wrong reaction, noting that the second game at Nationals Park:

"...actually had worse attendance than the second game at decrepit RFK Stadium last year."

"Is Mr. Kasten concerned yet?"

Mr. Kasten tells Mr. Passan, "Sounds like you’re a lot more concerned about this than me." Mr. Passan cites possible reasons for the lagging early attendance, with anything from the Jack Abramoff Lobbying scandal, to the Love for Ovie, ("That's Alex Ovechin of the Washington Capitals, the team Pittsburgh loves to eliminate from Cup contention..."), and even Washington's Wizards surprising NBA Playoff run, as other potential alternatives delaying the influx of fans...

?'s for DC Baseball Fans...

Should Mr. Kasten be worried? Are you?

What reasons do you think there are to attend Nationals Park? If you live there and you're not going, why aren't you?

Were you so enthralled with Alex Semin, Alex Ovechking, Nicklas Backstrom, Mike Green, and Cristobal Huet that you couldn't make it down to DC's new ballpark? (ed. note - "Second hockey reference? Yeah, I watch hockey! What of it?")

On the Hill...

While worries grow back home, the Nationals are off on a three-game trip to Houston, Texas to take on the Astros, starting tonight at 8:05 pm EST. Shawn Hill, (0-0, 3.50) against Shawn Chacon, (0-0, 3.32) on the hill. Hill has yet to face Houston in his four year career, and Hill's career record on the road is (3-5), same as at home, though his ERA jumps from 3.49 at home(s), to a high 5.45 ERA on the road in 28 starts and 161.0 innings. Shawn Chacon's faced Washington 11 times, 7 as a starter, in his 8-year MLB career, and Chacon's (3-2) with a 4.30 ERA in 44.0 innings against the Nationals. 

Nationals' #'s Against Shawn Chacon...

Paul Lo Duca - 9 for 21, .429 AVG, 2 doubles, 1 HR, 4 RBI's with 3 walks, 1 K. (ed. note - "And that's a lot of K's for Lo Duca...")

Wily Mo Pena - 1 for 1, 1.000 AVG, 1 2B, 2 BB's...

If DY were here... - 4 for 12, .333 AVG, 2 2B. 

Shawn Hill Should Watch Out For?...

Mark Loretta's 3 for 4 against Hill. Kaz Matsui's 2 for 3 with a 1 3B. Hunter Pence, 3 HR's in his last 3 games. Carlos Lee, because he's Carlos Lee. Lance Berkman, who's a .331 lifetime hitter against the Washington, and who has collected, 14 2B, 4 3B, 7 HR's and 33 RBI's in 49 games and 175 at bats...and finally, Shawn Hill should look out for outside pitcher to lefties, and wheelhouse hangers to right-handed hitters, because the number one thing Hill should watch out for in Minute Maid Park is...?

The Left Field Corner - 315ft.

8:05 pm EST, the Nationals play the first of the three game road trip, before heading back to DC to welcome the Florida Marlins. C'mon Hill...