Game Thread: Los Angeles Angels at Washington Nationals- 2008 Game 79 of 162. "MLB.com's Bill Ladson's Noticed Elijah Dukes' Discerning Eye Too...The Secret's Out."

On the Hill...

DC right-hander Shawn Hill only lasted 3.2 innings last time out against the Minnesota Twins, surrendering 10 hits, 7 runs, 6 earned, and 3 walks in what was eventually a 9-3 loss in the Metrodome, but tonight Hill pitches at home in Washington, DC's Nationals Park, though...Hill is (0-1) with a 2.30 ERA in 4 starts and 27.1 innings at home...which is better than the 7.64 ERA and (1-3) record in 7 starts and 33.0 innings on the road...though, the Nationals, as a team, are just (3-8) in Hill's 11 '08 starts, BUT...Washington is just a (30-47) team, and Hill has pitched relatively well...let's end on a positive note...

Jon Garland, the Los Angeles Angels' 6'6" right-hander, was originally drafted by the Chicago Cubs with the 10th pick in the 1st Round of the 1997 Amateur draft, but then traded to the other side of Chicago in return for veteran pitcher Matt Karchner, who retired after the 2000 season. Garland pitched parts of 10 seasons in the Chicago White Sox organization before being traded to the LA Angels in exchange for shortstop, and former OE (Original Expo), Orlando Cabrera. 

In 15 starts as an Angel, Garland's (6-3) with a 4.06 ERA over 95.1 innings pitched in '08. Jon Garland's faced the Nationals' franchise twice in his career, one start back on June 8, 2002 against Montreal, where he threw 6.2 innings of 3-hit, 1-run ball, with no-decision in a White Sox'(*) loss, and then in another against the Expos on June 20th of '04, where Garland took the loss in a 4-2 game in which he allowed 4 runs on 3 hits, 3 walks and 1 HR. 

Shawn Hill has never faced the Angels.

(*) = (ed. note - "Yes. Possesive apostrophe with an "x", that's got to be worth something. What? No grammar fans?")

Nationals' #'s Against Jon Garland...

Ronnie Belliard - 6 for 22, .273 AVG, 2 2B, 1 HR, 2 RBI's. 

Aaron Boone - 4 for 12, .333 AVG, 1 2B, 1 RBI.

Cristian Guzman - 9 for 35, .257 AVG, 2 2B, 3 RBI's. 

DY - 8 for 32, .250 AVG, 1 2B, 2 HR, 5 RBI's. 

More Bad News For Nick Johnson...

According to MLB.com's Bill Ladson's article entitled, "Johnson needs surgery to evaluate wrist", DC first baseman Nick Johnson is going to undergo what is basically described as an exploratory surgical procedure to determine the extent of the damage to, "...the ligaments on the ulnar side of his right wrist," writes Mr. Ladson, who then continues, "The Nationals haven't ruled out Johnson being out for the year."

Elijah Dukes' Discerning Eye...

That's right, MLB.com's Bill Ladson's also picked up on, and mentioned Elijah Dukes patience at the plate, writing in his most recent edition of, "Mailbag: Will Pena Come Around", where Mr. Ladson fields a question about how much DC misses Johnson and Zimmerman, to which Mr. Ladson replies:

"No one else on this team can play third base better than Zimmerman, and no one is replacing his bat, either. Despite his low batting average, Johnson had a high on-base percentage. With the exception of Dukes, nobody has Johnson's patience."

That's what federalbaseball.com refers to as Elijah Dukes' Discerning Eye, which was, if you go back and check the transcripts, actually on loan from Nick Johnson since the Nationals' patient OBP Machine went on the DL...

Dukes' June '08 #'s - 20 G's, 80 AB's, 10 R, 25 H, 4 2B, 2 3B, 2 HR, 12 RBI, 10 BB, 21 K's, 5 SB, .313 AVG, .402 OBP.

Want The Angel Fans' Perspective On The Game?

Check out the SBN's Angels' Blog...

Halo Heaven

Check the NatCast if you're heading to Nationals Park...

It's 7:10 starts (hopefully, barring more rain), for all three games with the Angels, and after mounting a comeback and blowing a lead late in last night's game, the Nationals look to take game two, and set up a series' win on Wednesday. Garland vs Hill...Dukes' Discerning Eye...Vladimir Guerrero...Watch out, Hill! Vladi likes pitches low in the zone...Who's watching the Nationals?