Top o' the Mornin' Nationals News
by John Quinn on Jul 10, 2009 9:12 AM EDT
29 comments
Okay, okay so it's not really the top of the morning anymore, but at least it's before 9:30. Here's what we've got:
Rob Dibble has had more than enough of the Nationals. After last night's game, he appeared on the postgame show, having a great exchange with Ray Knight. Both of them basically bashed the team for not trying hard enough, and not caring to try hard enough -- some really good quotes in this one, folks. (props to Roscoe for the link!)
Winning the title for most obvious headline is mlb.com's "Nats' Tavarez battling control issues."
Wow, it seems that last night's game was the tipping point for many sportswriters (not that I don't understand why). The Post's Chico Harlan is tired of Dunn and Guzman, too.
The more I hear from Rob Dibble, the more I like him. Sure, sometimes he says really really stupid things and he calls the team "we," which irks me, but, to make a long story short, he lost a bet and now has Ichiro Suzuki's number tattooed on his... in a rather interesting place.
More from teams above .300 after the jump...
New feature! MLB's Most Disturbing Home Videos! Today, we'll watch Marlins pitcher Burke Badenhop take a line drive to the knee. This is why they're paid the big bucks -- danger! Thankfully, he got up and walked off the field shortly thereafter.
Giants ace Tim Lincecum's 29 inning scoreless streak (third longest in San Francisco history!) was broken last night, though he still earned the win against the Padres.
The Marlins set a franchise record by scoring 10 runs in the 8th, tied a franchise record for biggest comeback victory and the Diamondbacks set their franchise record for biggest blown lead. Overall, not a great day for teams from the west coast!
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From an article discussiong the Pirates’ trades…
In discussing Milledge (at right), though, Coonelly was using outdated information. When Milledge was with the Mets, he was considered one of the best prospects. But the Mets saw the flaws in the young outfielder and traded him to the Washington Nationals, who saw him play only seven games in April before demoting him to the minors.
http://www.heralddeparis.com/perplexing-pirates-keep-trading-and-losing-more/43866
by ROSCOEtheNATSfan on Jul 10, 2009 11:14 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
What will we think if Milledge turns the corner.
Me = Oh that’s nice, next !!!
by Berndaddy on Jul 10, 2009 11:25 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
The Pirates could end up with a good outfield with Milledge in left (Bowden says so), McCutchen in center and (insert future Pirates' RF here)...
Milledge, however wore out his welcome pretty in towns that were eager to see him make it, he was the Mets’ prize prospect before he was brought up quickly and exposed and the Nationals handed him a job and within a season and a week or two they’d seen enough…
Best of luck, Lasto.
NOW BRING BACK DUKES!!!
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 Jul 10, 2009 11:40 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think the Rizzo may be trying to move Dukes. If Dunn goes before Dukes gets traded, Hammer can go back to LF and Dukes can finish out the year.
by ROSCOEtheNATSfan on Jul 10, 2009 11:44 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
With Dukes underperforming and carrying a lot of baggage, (from before his time in DC admittedly, but who doesn't mention his past in stories about him)...
I think unless Bowden gets another GM job somewhere (laughs) it’s going to be hard to find a taker for Dukes…(which will make me happy, cause I want him back in right.)…
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 Jul 10, 2009 11:51 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
If only he would get that people aren’t out to get him.
by ROSCOEtheNATSfan on Jul 10, 2009 11:53 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Last night was the tipping point for me for Dunn in the field...
I saw a quote from Dunn and can’t find it now. He said he was trying to decoy Bourne into loafing to second base but the ball hit a metal thing and bounced past him.
I actually believe that, but I wish he wouldn’t worry about decoying people.
by ROSCOEtheNATSfan on Jul 10, 2009 11:51 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I acknowledged in the post game that he might have been doing that...but I kinda think it was catchable...
might have to rewatch that one and see where it lands…
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 Jul 10, 2009 11:56 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Here it is...after "bluffing" the runn, the ball off Bourn's bat falls at the track...why not run over and make a play rather than bluff?
Okay, it might have been too far away but this is where it bounced…
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 Jul 10, 2009 12:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
"bluffing the runner" that is...
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 Jul 10, 2009 12:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
haha yea decoying is the last thing we need dunn doing, just catch the ball big fella
by pas493 on Jul 10, 2009 12:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
it was an idiotic play that (of course) backfired whent he ball didn’t bounce the right way off the non-smooth scoreboard in left field. just another in a quickly growing list of lousy plays in the outfield for Dunn. plays that don’t go for errors but should.
i never understood that. errors are awarded by the official scorer. why shouldn’t they be allowed to issue errors of judgment, since every ruling the scorer makes in a judgment anyway?
Your voice of doom and gloom. Read more at natsnewsnetwork.blogspot.com
by Dave at Nats News Network on Jul 10, 2009 12:31 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
40 & 100
40 & 100
Instead of rolling that out every time he’s asked about Dunn’s defense he needs to come out in public (Dibble Style) and say, “I expected his defense to get better…not worse while on the Nationals. He is a large liability out there.”
Instead Manny learned from self help books that if you can’t say something nice, say nothing at all.
by ROSCOEtheNATSfan on Jul 10, 2009 12:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, but you can't throw your player under the bus like that...
…oh, there I 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 Jul 10, 2009 1:00 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs
but...
there was no reasonable expectation for his defense to get better. rather, as a play gets older his defense gets worse. anyone that thought that a “change of scenery” would help Dunn in the outfield was kidding themselves, right along with Jim Bowden.
and for the record, i am all for Adam Dunn on this team. if the rest of the squad were adequate fielders, his transgressions would not be as noticable.
but when your shortstop has tha range of a psotage stamp, your first baseman is afraid (i said it) to go backwards for a ball, and your third baseman can’t make a standing throw without air-mailing it, Dunn’s D looks even worse.
Your voice of doom and gloom. Read more at natsnewsnetwork.blogspot.com
by Dave at Nats News Network on Jul 10, 2009 2:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Why'd you say it...(laughs)...
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 Jul 10, 2009 2:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, two of the Astros' "infield hits" yesterday...
…looked suspiciously like errors to me…though they saved runs…
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 Jul 10, 2009 1:03 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs
hwo Gonzalez' ball wasn't an error is beyond me
and another reason why MLB needs to staff official scorers and standardize it, instead of allwoing local media or whoever the team chooses to make the call.
Your voice of doom and gloom. Read more at natsnewsnetwork.blogspot.com
by Dave at Nats News Network on Jul 10, 2009 2:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I like when Carpenter/Dibble think there are conspiracies to get gold gloves for other teams' fielders...
(Wright to be specific)
by ROSCOEtheNATSfan on Jul 10, 2009 2:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'd love to continue my Zimm for GG argument...maybe next year...
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 Jul 10, 2009 2:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah...he's sort of going backward.
Was it Dave who wrote the story about how much the Sox cared about their defense and how we lollygag? I think eventually it rubs off.
by ROSCOEtheNATSfan on Jul 10, 2009 2:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
yes, 'twas I that wrote those words...
i also wrote in my season preview piece how the Nats would be the worst fielding team in the majors this year, but everyone laughed me off way back in March.
here’s a part of my recap of opening day:
THE TAKEAWAY: The coincidence of Bonifacio looking like the second coming of Lou Brock today notwithstanding, today certainly illustrated many of the Nats obvious faults right from the get-go. This will be one of the league’s worst fielding teams, though the traditional stats might say otherwise, since you have to get your glove on the ball in the first place to get awarded an error.
And the bullpen has a chance to be even worse than last year’s mess. Ledezma keeps getting chances, but he’s never prospered. Tavarez is rubber-armed and willing, but there’s not much left in his tank. And the idea that this team is sending better players to the minors because of options is a little silly. Mock and Bergy will be back soon.
All in all, a disappointment on opening day, especially if you came into it with delusions of grandeur. But it is just one day, however magnified it is. If (when) this happens in the middle of July, it’s just another day. This team will have its share too. There’s enough pop (when the right line-up is on the field) to scare some people. This season is all about looking for the bright spots.
Your voice of doom and gloom. Read more at natsnewsnetwork.blogspot.com
by Dave at Nats News Network on Jul 10, 2009 3:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I say trade Dunn and Guzman for guys who can catch
Defense does more than offense to help a team win (see Seattle’s standings), so although I love to have a guy who is alock for 40 homers and another who is a lock for triples and a 300 average, I would rather have guys who can catch and throw the darn balll better than average. The Rookie rotation needs some gloves behing them to help them develop.
"What you know is often the enemy of what you can learn" Bill James
by PhDBrian on Jul 10, 2009 3:21 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
from your lips to Rizzo's ears...
Your voice of doom and gloom. Read more at natsnewsnetwork.blogspot.com
by Dave at Nats News Network on Jul 10, 2009 3:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I heard many of Dibbles comments last night, but I just reread them and they got me grumbling
We have no leadership on this team because we gave away Brian Schneider, and then hoped somebody would step up. Dimitri Young is an OK leader maybe we need his attitude on this club the rest of the year. He is a bad defensive player but he did frequently dive for balls and streatch all out to catch balls at first. I had some hopes that Dunn would become the leader this year. He is at least trying hard. but when you are absolutely terrible in the field it is hard to call out guys for not trying to catch the ball. Plus he seems like an overly sensitive guy for such a huge guy. NJ had leadership qualities in 2005. But he just isn’t trying as hard this year. Its like he has played all year like he has expected at any moment to be on another team (wonder why). I think Guzman wants to be on another team and hopes that he can force a trade with his lazy defensive play and streaky hitting. Kearns seems to go all out defensively most of the time he plays, he just can’t hit worth a damn any more. TAWH should never sit on the bench. He goes all out, most of the time, and frankly I would love to see him play everyday somewhere (prefer left). Yet he never seems to get a fair shot on this team to play everyday. In my view the following hitters are trying and deserve to start: Willingham, TAWH, the catchers, Morgan, and somewhat Ryan Zimmerman (some nights he does not look like he cares, others he does). Kearns should be the full time defensive replacement in RF and pich hit. I think NJ would turn around if he had some confidence he would remain with the club through next season. Otherwise, I am ready to go back to DY. Dunn trys hard, he is just a naturally awful defender, so we should trade him to the AL where he can be more happy. Note my list lacks anyopne who can play SS. Lets go get somebody!
"What you know is often the enemy of what you can learn" Bill James
by PhDBrian on Jul 10, 2009 3:52 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Here, here Doc B...
I’m not getting a leadership vibe from our All-Star Mr. Zimmerman. I don’t know if it’s in his make up to be an in your face type of person. Sort of like Cal Ripken Jr. Great player not a great leader…
by Berndaddy on Jul 10, 2009 4:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
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