Washington Nationals' Opening Day 2009: Washington at Florida.
by Ed Chigliak on Apr 6, 2009 2:35 AM EDT
30 comments
(ed. note - "Turn on MASN2. Log on to MLB.tv. Find the right channel on MLB Extra Innings, or on XM or turn the dial to Charlie and Dave!! Whatever you have to do, be there at 4:10 pm EST when the Washington Nationals and the Florida Marlins start their respective 2009 seasons with DC lefty John Lannan on the mound against Marlins' righty Ricky Nolasco. It all starts in Miami, Florida, in Dolphin Stadium, as the Nationals look to rebound from last year's disastrous 102-loss campaign...the Age of Dunn is upon us...")
Opening Days...
It all started on April 4th, 2005, the official Nationals' debut as a team, with Washington losing the first game in franchise history 8-4 to the Phillies on the road in Citizens Bank, where a Kenny Lofton 3-run blast was the difference. In 2006, it was April 3rd, as the Nationals started the season in Shea, dropping a 3-2 decision to New York in a game that should have been tied in the eighth if then-Mets' catcher Paul Lo Duca, (who clearly dropped the ball on a play at the plate involving Alfonso Soriano), hadn't deceived the umpire into believing that he'd held the ball all along. 2007 saw Washington begin the season at home for the first time against the Florida Marlins, but they lost for the third time, 9-2, dropping to 0-3 on Opening Day, when now-retired starter John Patterson got hit hard for 6 runs on 7 hits in 3.2 IP...and who can forget how 2008 began?
March 31, 2008. Opening Night in Nationals Park. 2-2 ballgame in the ninth after the Atlanta Braves tie it when a pitch from the Tallest Pitcher in MLB History Jon Rauch gets by then-Nationals' catcher Paul Lo Duca and allows a run in from third. Two down in the Nationals' ninth and Ryan Zimmerma-- THE KIDS CALL HIM ZIM!! THE KIDS CALL HIM ZIM!!! Walk-off!! Might be the greatest moment in the franchise's history, that or the walk-off against the Yankees, when Zim took Mariano Rivera deep...
Nationals now 1-3 on Opening Day.
YOUR 2009 WASHINGTON NATIONALS:
The DC Rotation:
- John Lannan - LHP
- Scott Olsen - LHP
- Daniel Cabrera - RHP
- Shairon Martis - RHP
- Jordan Zimmermann*(starting in minor league camp back soon)
- Joel Hanrahan - CL
- Joe Beimel - SU
- Mike Hinckley - LHP
- Wil Ledezma - LHP
- Saul "Sa-ool" Rivera - RHP
- Steven Shell - RHP
- Julian Tavarez - RHI(Right Handed Intimidation)
- Jesus Flores
- Wil Nieves
- Josh Bard
- Ryan Zimmerman - 3B
- Cristian Guzman - SS
- Ronnie Belliard - 2B
- Nick Johnson - 1B
- Willie Harris
- Alberto Gonzalez
- (INJ) Anderson Hernandez
- Adam Dunn - LF
- Lastings Milledge - CF
- Austin Kearns - RF
- Josh Willingham - Angry Bench Player
- Elijah Dukes - Angry Bench Player
"The Nationals will pick first in the June draft, and if they choose pitcher Stephen Strasburg who throws 102 miles per hour, they can expect a protracted summer negotiation with the agent Scott Boras."
- Leadoff Lasto - Lastings Milledge - CF
- The Guzzzzzzz- Cristian Guzman - SS
- THE KIDS CALL HIM ZIM!!! - Ryan Zimmerman - 3B
- Adam Dunn - LF
- Nick Nick Johnson Johnson - 1B
- AK, Mr. Kentucky, or Bluegrass - Austin Kearns - RF
- Ronnie B. - Ronnie Belliard - 2B
- WWJD - Jesus Flores - C
- John "Cool Hand" Lannan - SP
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I don't think I've ever followed an off-season and Spring Training with as much anticipation. The regular season has arrived...
“Angry Bench Player” made me laugh out loud……. Go Nats!
by cat daddy3000 on Apr 6, 2009 3:51 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Starting Opening Day with a laugh...
…Thanks. I’ll be here all season!
Vivian Jaffe: "Have you ever transcended space and time?"
Albert Markovski: "Yes. No. Uh, time, not space... No, I don't know what you're talking about."
by Ed Chigliak on Apr 6, 2009 9:28 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah...
I got an angry laugh out of that myself. If I had to chose though, I would prefer an angry Willingham over an angry Dukes. Dukes is more than likely to start chewing the padding from the dugout rail. It’s what Acta will probably recommend as a method of pacification for Mr. Bench Rage. I can see it now:
Acta: “O.K. Elijah, you’re not starting, you may begin chewing.”
Dukes: “Arrgghh! Nom-nom, chew-chew.”
**************************************************************************
O.K. Let it be known here and now “E”, you are officially the enemy. The love from Spring Training is over. I will cheer for the Nats up until the very moment that they and my beloved Mets play each other.
" YES! BASEBALL IS BACK! YES! "
by LOUtheMETandNATSfan on Apr 6, 2009 11:28 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
LOU...the METS STINK!!!
Vivian Jaffe: "Have you ever transcended space and time?"
Albert Markovski: "Yes. No. Uh, time, not space... No, I don't know what you're talking about."
by Ed Chigliak on Apr 6, 2009 12:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
hahahaha
You know what stinks? A simpleton man with your literary expertise, your love for the appropriately positioned apostrophe and a man who I look up to with his vocabularatic (yes, I know that’s not a word) prowess, can’t produce something better than: “the METS STINK!!!”
…But I got the message. :-)
" YES! BASEBALL IS BACK! YES! "
by LOUtheMETandNATSfan on Apr 6, 2009 12:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Eh. They're not worth more effort.
;)
Made a connection in LaGuardia yesterday and saw FedResField on the approach—looks like a nice park.
"We’re all neighbors in NatsTown™!" --NNN
by Doghouse on Apr 6, 2009 3:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Nolasco looked tough in spring training. Let’s beat him down today. Clean slate. New beginning. Fresh start.
by ROSCOEtheNATSfan on Apr 6, 2009 7:34 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Nolasco's dominated DC thus far...
I’ve got the Nolasco vs DC #’s coming up at 1:00pm EST…
Vivian Jaffe: "Have you ever transcended space and time?"
Albert Markovski: "Yes. No. Uh, time, not space... No, I don't know what you're talking about."
by Ed Chigliak on Apr 6, 2009 9:31 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'm with cat daddy, have been waiting with anticipation
for the real thing to begin. In spite of experts, I think we will be competitive this year. The bull pen is better than last year and we have a healthy Nick Johnson. We also have AD and I can hardly wait to see those home runs. Go NATS, prove those prognasticators wrong.
by gengreen17 on Apr 6, 2009 8:26 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Let's go Nats go!
Was that a 300-comment game thread I saw a few posts down? With that much FanPower behind the team, my 75-win prediction has to come true! Sorry I haven’t been around much, all—a combination of computer trouble and work have been minimizing my posting time (anyone know any Nationals bars in CT where I can catch the game today? :/ ). For game-thread followers, here’s a last-minute mini-W.A.R. update to whet your whistle for the season.
No changes to the position players—I know AK is hot, and we might pencil in a few more PA for him over SooperDooks. However, SD’s projected batting line is a bit better, so if streaking AK = normal SD, then we can treat ‘em as interchangeable. I already had Bard penciled in at backup backstop. We might see a shift of the PA I gave Anderson Hernandez at 2B to the Alberto “General” Gonzalez and Ronnie Belliard, but I’m still figuring AndyHands plays most of the season there (based on projected performance, that shift would actually bump the win total up slightly).
As for as the pitchers go, I think it’s reasonable to leave Ballystar in there—we’ll probably see him at some point this season (Doghouse whistles a happy tune and pointedly tries not to look towards Daniel Cabrera…). I think we’re going to see some serious musical chairs in the bullpen, too, although Hanny/Bemiel/Sa-oooool will get the majority of the important IP, as in the calculations.
Plus, Kasto cleared waivers, so he can keep his spot representing Scrub Nation there in the PH category.
Here’s the link if you want to review the lineup, rotation, and bullpen in all its gory detail (click the “WAS” tab on the bottom), or you can check out the last W.A.R. post.
The Math sez 76.9 wins, on average—80% chance of 71 or more wins. A run at 0.500 is unlikely (about one time in four), but not unimaginable.
Bombs from Dunn and groundouts from Lannan!
"We’re all neighbors in NatsTown™!" --NNN
by Doghouse on Apr 6, 2009 9:27 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Who let you out of the District?
Will try to add the W.A.R. Update to the Game Thread…Let’s Go Nats Go!!
Vivian Jaffe: "Have you ever transcended space and time?"
Albert Markovski: "Yes. No. Uh, time, not space... No, I don't know what you're talking about."
by Ed Chigliak on Apr 6, 2009 10:57 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
As a big fan of nicknames, I am a BIG fan of Nick "Nick" Johnson
Best of luck to the Nats. It’s time to go Old Man and the Sea on the Marlins, and leave not even a carcass behind!
by Brendanukkah on Apr 6, 2009 10:08 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Mmmm Marlins!!!
Mmmmm Hemingway…
Vivian Jaffe: "Have you ever transcended space and time?"
Albert Markovski: "Yes. No. Uh, time, not space... No, I don't know what you're talking about."
by Ed Chigliak on Apr 6, 2009 10:59 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Marlins
South Beach
The laaaaaaaaaaaadies!
" YES! BASEBALL IS BACK! YES! "
by LOUtheMETandNATSfan on Apr 6, 2009 11:29 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Sashimi time!!
Who will do the most filet-ing of the Fish? Lannan with the wicked control? Dunn with the mighty bat? NJ with the sticky glove and Discerning Eye?
BASEBALL!
"We’re all neighbors in NatsTown™!" --NNN
by Doghouse on Apr 6, 2009 3:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Its good to be back
hello to everyone, now lets play some ball
by eylf1004 on Apr 6, 2009 10:34 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Good to hear from you, eylf!!!
Let’s Go Nats Go!!
Vivian Jaffe: "Have you ever transcended space and time?"
Albert Markovski: "Yes. No. Uh, time, not space... No, I don't know what you're talking about."
by Ed Chigliak on Apr 6, 2009 11:00 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Now where is Cpt. Chaos???
Vivian Jaffe: "Have you ever transcended space and time?"
Albert Markovski: "Yes. No. Uh, time, not space... No, I don't know what you're talking about."
by Ed Chigliak on Apr 6, 2009 11:00 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Why didn't I just take today off?
Oh that’s right! Cause I took off all next week to go to DC!!!
Vivian Jaffe: "Have you ever transcended space and time?"
Albert Markovski: "Yes. No. Uh, time, not space... No, I don't know what you're talking about."
by Ed Chigliak on Apr 6, 2009 11:03 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
We'll need to set a strategy for creating a scene in NatsTown next week...
We need a home field advantage dang it. Must make more noise than Phillies fans.
by ROSCOEtheNATSfan on Apr 6, 2009 12:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'm working on that, ROSCOE!!!
Lots O’ rain out there, better just stay home!!!
Vivian Jaffe: "Have you ever transcended space and time?"
Albert Markovski: "Yes. No. Uh, time, not space... No, I don't know what you're talking about."
by Ed Chigliak on Apr 6, 2009 12:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I say we give everyone Nats Town Reserve Notes for cheering their butts off!
People can redeem their Nats Town Reserve Notes at the Federal Reserve building. This way, we can get people to cheer while simultaneously bringing attention to the farce that is the Federal Reserve.
" YES! BASEBALL IS BACK! YES! "
by LOUtheMETandNATSfan on Apr 6, 2009 12:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Hey, aren't they sponsoring your team's ballpark?
I kid, I kid!
"We’re all neighbors in NatsTown™!" --NNN
by Doghouse on Apr 6, 2009 3:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Today in Nationals History, April 6, 2005..... The First Win
http://masnsports.com/index_blog_natsbuzz.html
By Kristen Hudak
“In Philadelphia, the Nationals won their first game as Washington D.C.’s new franchise by beating the Phillies, 7-3. During the game, Brad Wilkerson hit for the cycle for the second time in his career.”
They were still the Expos to me. They were a team. There was a continuity from past teams. This year for the first time, I feel the Nationals are a team and not just a collection of players.
by cat daddy3000 on Apr 6, 2009 12:23 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Big fan of Kristen's work. Thanks for the link...
Vivian Jaffe: "Have you ever transcended space and time?"
Albert Markovski: "Yes. No. Uh, time, not space... No, I don't know what you're talking about."
by Ed Chigliak on Apr 6, 2009 12:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
2 hours and 9 minutes to go...
Vivian Jaffe: "Have you ever transcended space and time?"
Albert Markovski: "Yes. No. Uh, time, not space... No, I don't know what you're talking about."
by Ed Chigliak on Apr 6, 2009 2:02 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I set up a separate GameThread, that's where i'll be watching...
…getting out at and ignoring all signs and speed limits so I’m home for the first pitch…
Vivian Jaffe: "Have you ever transcended space and time?"
Albert Markovski: "Yes. No. Uh, time, not space... No, I don't know what you're talking about."
by Ed Chigliak on Apr 6, 2009 2:05 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
So Adam Dunn still has yet to earn a nickname?
too soon for “Homerun Dunn”?
by t. woody on Apr 6, 2009 3:58 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
He has to earn one...
Vivian Jaffe: "Have you ever transcended space and time?"
Albert Markovski: "Yes. No. Uh, time, not space... No, I don't know what you're talking about."
by Ed Chigliak on Apr 6, 2009 5:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
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