Game Thread: Washington Nationals at Los Angeles Dodgers- 2008 Game 105 of 162. "DC's Sunday Matinee In LA...or...If Lo Duca Wants To Leave DC, Federalbaseball.com Will Help With His Luggage..."
by e chigliak
on Jul 27, 2008 7:00 AM EDT
Washington Nationals @ Los Angeles Dodgers
I'm as tired of writing about DC starter Jason Bergmann's losing streak as I'm sure some of you are of reading about it, but here we go...
DC righty Jason Bergmann (1-7, 4.21) , straight out of Neptune...New Jersey, takes the hill today in LA against the Dodgers' rookie right-hander Clayton Kershaw (0-3, 5.18 ERA) in the finale of the three-game weekend series at Dodger Stadium between the visiting Washington Nationals and the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Jason Bergmann's in the midst of a 6-game losing streak that stretches over 12 starts dating all the way back to Bergmann's lone '08 victory over the New York Mets on May 15th in Shea Stadium. The Nationals are (1-11) when Bergmann's turn in the rotation has come around over the streak, and in spite of how well or poorly the 26-year old former Expos' pick has pitched, the result is the same...Bergmann starts, DC loses...
Bergmann's made only 1 start against the Dodgers in his 4 MLB seasons since debuting with Montreal on August 28, 2005, a no-decision on August 28, 2007, here in Los Angeles, where he pitched 6.0 innings, allowed 6 hits, 3 ER and 1 HR, with 1 walk and 1 K in a 4-3 Dodgers' victory. On the road this season, Bergmann's (1-5) in 7 starts and 8 appearances, allowing 43 hits and 21 ER's in 44.0 IP.
The humidified baseballs didn't help LA rookie Clayton Kershaw in his last road start in the mile-high air of Colorado on July 22nd, where the Dodgers' 2006 1st Round pick, (7th overall out of Dallas, Texas), was hit hard, giving up 10 hits, 5 ER, 1 HR and 3 walks with 2 K's in 3.0 innings of a 10-1 Rockies' win.
At home in Los Angeles' Dodger Stadium in his rookie campaign, Kershaw's (0-2) in 4 starts with 20 hits, 10 ER, 2 HR and 12 walks surrendered in 20.0 innings pitched, over which he's accumulated 20 K's. Kershaw's still looking for his first win 9 starts into his MLB career, though the Dodgers are 4-5 in games he's started...
Nationals' #'s During The Day In '08...
Jesus Flores - 18 G's - 20 for 53, .377 AVG, 6 2B, 1 HR, 8 RBI's.
Cristian Guzman - 28 G's - 38 for 121, .322 AVG, 11 2B, 2 3B, 3 HR's, 15 RBI's.
Austin Kearns - 17 G's - 16 for 61, .262 AVG, 2 2B, 2 HR's, 10 RBI's.
Jason Bergmann - 8 G's, 7 GS - (1-2, 3.82 ERA) in 37.2 IP.
The Only Dodger With Significant #'s Against Bergmann...
Jeff Kent - 2 for 3, .667 AVG, 1 HR, 1 RBI.
If Paul Lo Duca Wants To Go...Federalbaseball.com Will Help With His Luggage...
Paul Lo Duca's taken every chance he's gotten recently to let everyone know that he wouldn't mind leaving DC. (ed. note- "Where he's been beaten out of his spot behind the plate by Jesus Flores.") Lo Duca's telling anyone who will listen that he'd still like to catch, and though, of course, he's happy with Washington, he'd welcome a move, which is akin to saying, "No offense, but..." before blatantly offending someone...
Washington Post writer Chico Harlan delivers the bad news to Lo Duca (and DC fans) in a Nationals Journal post entitled, "On new teams and new starts", where he writes about Lo Duca desire to move to a contender, and quotes the Nationals' 1B/LF/C who expresses a desire to fill the whole behind the plate with the Yankees, as Mr. Chico writes:
"Asked about the possibility of pinstripes, Lo Duca said, 'Yeah, sure [I'd like it]. I live there. I've got a home there. Yeah, definitely. You have to stay even keel, because you don't know what's going to happen. I'm happy to be here, but sure, I would love to be in a pennant race. It's one of the best franchises in sports, and to play in the last year in Yankee Stadium, yeah, it would definitely be neat.'"
One problem, however, Mr. Harlan points out:
"...a familiar source says the Yanks have no interest in Lo Duca. Zero. If Lo Duca wants to catch in a pennant race, it'll have to happen elsewhere."
...And according to MLB.com's Bill Ladson's article, "Deadline could bring Lopez trade", Felipe Lopez may be out the door, in a trade before the Deadline...or, if not, then after the season ends, as Mr. Ladson writes:
"If he is not traded, Lopez will not be with the team next year. The team already announced that Emilio Bonifacio will be the everyday second baseman in 2009 and make his Nationals debut sometime this season."
The July 31st Trade Deadline is now just 5 days away, it'll be interesting to see what the Nationals' roster looks like come Thursday...
4:10 pm EST start in LA, where it'll just be ten past one...Bergmann vs Kershaw. DC tries to avoid being swept in six straight in California, after a promising 2-1 series win over Atlanta, the Nationals now find themselves, 2-6 after 8 of 9...Then it's at home against Philly for three starting Tuesday night in Nationals Park...But first! Let's win one game in LA? PLEASE? Who's Watching the Nationals?...
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can't help
The more and more i read articles like this, the harder it is to admit to being a nationals fan. The front office is bush, they have no clue how to run things or build a successul franchise. You don’t trade your best player for a .171 hitter. Benfacio is a stud with triple A hitting, but as his stats show, can’t hit a lick in the majors. Then you tell your closer that he wont be tendered during the season, and then you annouce that an unproven pathetic acquistion is going to be your everyday player next season while you have done nothing about your current player. How does this guy earn a spot over belliard?
I was a 400 hitter in high school, does that make me eligible to play for the nats? according to Jimmy B, probably so
by MrBrianPSU on Jul 27, 2008 4:25 PM EDT 0 recs
.400 hitter, huh? You may have a shot...
I thought the consistently poor personnel decisions would end once the team left Montreal, but alas, four years in it’s more of the same, no real significant increase in payroll…
When I read DC front office quotes about how Benifacio will be okay if he learns to hit like a leadoff hitter, I flashed back to Endy Chavez in ‘05, when they were trying to get Endy to just put the ball on the ground and run hits out, which he eventually learned to do…in NY.
Hopefully Benifacio figures it out before the Nationals lose faith and let him go…
Honestly, it might be easier to be a Columbus Clippers fan for another year or two, cause the one place I’m optimistic about the franchise is the rebuilt system…if the prospects pan out of course…
I agree, telling everyone Benifacio’s your guy when Belliard’s still on the team is an interesting approach, especially when Belliard’s still producing and has another year left on his deal…
I’ve had my say on the Cordero deal. At least Bowden apologized…
"The only verdict is vengeance; a vendetta, held as a votive, not in vain, for the value and veracity of such shall one day vindicate the vigilant and the virtuous." - V
by e chigliak on
Jul 27, 2008 5:05 PM EDT
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...and by "Cordero deal" I of course mean Cordero "situation"...
"The only verdict is vengeance; a vendetta, held as a votive, not in vain, for the value and veracity of such shall one day vindicate the vigilant and the virtuous." - V
by e chigliak on
Jul 27, 2008 5:09 PM EDT
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Just got home from a "Christening Party/Picnic" for an old friend...
I tried to leave in time, but my friend’ wife, who’s also a friend, wasn’t having it, and insisted I stay around…
Home in the 4th…
"The only verdict is vengeance; a vendetta, held as a votive, not in vain, for the value and veracity of such shall one day vindicate the vigilant and the virtuous." - V
by e chigliak on Jul 27, 2008 5:10 PM EDT 0 recs
James Loney has the only run of the day with a solo shot to leadoff the second...1-0 Dodgers in the 4th.
"The only verdict is vengeance; a vendetta, held as a votive, not in vain, for the value and veracity of such shall one day vindicate the vigilant and the virtuous." - V
by e chigliak on
Jul 27, 2008 5:11 PM EDT
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Milledge tries to take third on a hit and run ground out and gets thrown out by LA first baseman James Loney's perfect throw...
Wil Nieves follows with a double that would have tied the game…
Like the enthusiasm from Lasto, but it’s still a poor choice…
"The only verdict is vengeance; a vendetta, held as a votive, not in vain, for the value and veracity of such shall one day vindicate the vigilant and the virtuous." - V
by e chigliak on Jul 27, 2008 5:28 PM EDT 0 recs
A bad first step allows a Matt Kemp fly ball to fall in center, and one batter later...
Juan Pierre scores from second on Russell Martin’s line drive to left…2-0 Dodgers.
"The only verdict is vengeance; a vendetta, held as a votive, not in vain, for the value and veracity of such shall one day vindicate the vigilant and the virtuous." - V
by e chigliak on Jul 27, 2008 5:37 PM EDT 0 recs
...A bad first step by Milledge.
"The only verdict is vengeance; a vendetta, held as a votive, not in vain, for the value and veracity of such shall one day vindicate the vigilant and the virtuous." - V
by e chigliak on
Jul 27, 2008 5:45 PM EDT
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Shutout through six by a rookie pitcher...This is fun...
"The only verdict is vengeance; a vendetta, held as a votive, not in vain, for the value and veracity of such shall one day vindicate the vigilant and the virtuous." - V
by e chigliak on Jul 27, 2008 5:48 PM EDT 0 recs
Leadoff walk to Kearns to start the 7th...
"The only verdict is vengeance; a vendetta, held as a votive, not in vain, for the value and veracity of such shall one day vindicate the vigilant and the virtuous." - V
by e chigliak on Jul 27, 2008 5:51 PM EDT 0 recs
Rally time? Chan Ho Park's coming on for Kershaw...
Joe Torre makes his way to the mound…???...and takes the baseball from the rookie, who completes his best outing to date, leaving him in line for his first MLB W…
"The only verdict is vengeance; a vendetta, held as a votive, not in vain, for the value and veracity of such shall one day vindicate the vigilant and the virtuous." - V
by e chigliak on
Jul 27, 2008 5:53 PM EDT
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No such luck, Chan Ho gets Belliard, Milledge and Lo Duca to end the top of the seventh...
"The only verdict is vengeance; a vendetta, held as a votive, not in vain, for the value and veracity of such shall one day vindicate the vigilant and the virtuous." - V
by e chigliak on
Jul 27, 2008 6:07 PM EDT
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Manning starts the seventh...but is lifted for...
Sa-ool!!!!
"The only verdict is vengeance; a vendetta, held as a votive, not in vain, for the value and veracity of such shall one day vindicate the vigilant and the virtuous." - V
by e chigliak on Jul 27, 2008 6:09 PM EDT 0 recs
Rivera holds it within reach through seven, 2-0 LA...
"The only verdict is vengeance; a vendetta, held as a votive, not in vain, for the value and veracity of such shall one day vindicate the vigilant and the virtuous." - V
by e chigliak on
Jul 27, 2008 6:17 PM EDT
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Jesus Flores strokes a one-out single, and Willie Harris grounds into a DP to end any chance of a threat...
"The only verdict is vengeance; a vendetta, held as a votive, not in vain, for the value and veracity of such shall one day vindicate the vigilant and the virtuous." - V
by e chigliak on
Jul 27, 2008 6:21 PM EDT
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Ayala pitches a scoreless eighth...
3 outs to get 2 runs for DC…
"The only verdict is vengeance; a vendetta, held as a votive, not in vain, for the value and veracity of such shall one day vindicate the vigilant and the virtuous." - V
by e chigliak on Jul 27, 2008 6:28 PM EDT 0 recs
Felipe Lopez?
"The only verdict is vengeance; a vendetta, held as a votive, not in vain, for the value and veracity of such shall one day vindicate the vigilant and the virtuous." - V
by e chigliak on
Jul 27, 2008 6:31 PM EDT
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...lines out to second.
"The only verdict is vengeance; a vendetta, held as a votive, not in vain, for the value and veracity of such shall one day vindicate the vigilant and the virtuous." - V
by e chigliak on
Jul 27, 2008 6:32 PM EDT
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Zimmerman?
"The only verdict is vengeance; a vendetta, held as a votive, not in vain, for the value and veracity of such shall one day vindicate the vigilant and the virtuous." - V
by e chigliak on
Jul 27, 2008 6:33 PM EDT
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Swings through 98 mph heat...
"The only verdict is vengeance; a vendetta, held as a votive, not in vain, for the value and veracity of such shall one day vindicate the vigilant and the virtuous." - V
by e chigliak on
Jul 27, 2008 6:34 PM EDT
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AK?
"The only verdict is vengeance; a vendetta, held as a votive, not in vain, for the value and veracity of such shall one day vindicate the vigilant and the virtuous." - V
by e chigliak on
Jul 27, 2008 6:34 PM EDT
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Grounds out to third...Ballgame. 2-0 LA wins.
"The only verdict is vengeance; a vendetta, held as a votive, not in vain, for the value and veracity of such shall one day vindicate the vigilant and the virtuous." - V
by e chigliak on
Jul 27, 2008 6:37 PM EDT
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