Nationals Daily Evolutions 8/20/10
by David Huzzard on Aug 20, 2010 12:15 PM EDT
Email
PrintThe day always seems a little better after a Nationals' victory. Each year I think I dislike a different team more than I did before. This year it has been the Atlanta Braves. I am not sure why. My best friend lives in Atlanta and is a Braves fan. Maybe it is because if I am not experiencing the joys of winning baseball I don't want anyone else I know to experience it either.
Yesterday was a good game for Nationals fans. Besides seeing "in play run(s)" more for our team than the other we saw the return of John Lannan. --Adam Kilgore washingtonpost.com
And if you missed the game for any reason and feel like reading a recap from somewhere else, here it is. --Bill Ladson from mlb.com
Yesterday wasn't just important for the stat defying wizard Lannan (I personally like players that defy stats because, one; it is an interesting story, and two; it makes people angry that are funny when they are angry) it was also the Nationals debut of Wilson Ramos, and while he didn't get a hit he called a good game, made some nice defensive plays, and saw 18 pitches in his first two ABs. --Ben Goessling at masnsports.com
Do you want to write for The Washington Post? You can if you apply to be one of two fan bloggers they are adding the first of September. --Mitch Rubin at washingtonpost.com
Do not forget that tonight is Drew Storen bobble head night in Woodbridge. Go pick up your Storen bobble head and watch the future of the Nationals. --potomacnationals.com
What could be more important than Bryce Harper, Stephen Strasburg, and resigning Adam Dunn? BEER!!! More importantly Leinenkugel beer. Four free samples of beer with purchase of $22 ticket to the Wednesday the 25th game against the Cubs. If I go with my wife that is eight free samples. --nationals.com
As much as we liked the game yesterday it wasn't the biggest story in baseball. More on that, the Nats, and other baseball news after the jump.
The Nationals Bullpen has been very good since the trade of Matt Capps. In fact 4/7 of the bullpen has been outstanding. acknowledging this makes me feel like there will be a blown save tonight. --Mark Zuckerman natsinsider.com
I have never had a problem with the plan Stan Kasten laid out. It was actually the plan I wanted to see in place when we got ownership. I however did have a problem with the execution of the plan. Jim Bowden was on the Mike Wise Show yesterday and Dan Steinberg has the transcript. --Dan Steinberg from The DC Sports Bog
An examination of Brad Hawpe's career as he hits free agency early. Do you think it would be a good idea for the Nationals to pick him up? --Joe Pawlikowski fangraphs.com
Who exactly is the best player in baseball, and what does one good season mean? I agree with the stance here that one good season doesn't make someone the best in baseball. Pujols might not have the best numbers year in and year out but he is always near the top. This column also contains interesting mentions of Ryan Zimmerman. --Joe Posnanski at si.com
Matt Chico has been looking good at AAA, but will we ever see him again? --Byron Kerr masnsports.com
It is always interesting to learn more about our prospects. Tom Milone might not have the best stuff, but he gets strike outs and has good control. Could he be a pitcher for the future that has flown under the radar? I would also like to know the answer to this. --Kevin Goldstein BP Podcast
Wil Nieves likely to return to the Nationals Saturday as he and his wife have welcomed the newest Nat into the world. --Cheryl Nichols at natsnewsnetwork.com
I seem to remember being at this game and I don't remember seeing this there. While I feel sorry for the statue and the guy that brought it I don't think it is the Nationals responsibility to reimburse him because of the actions of one stupid fan. --Roberto Baly vinscullismyhomeboy.com
Right now we think the Nats had a good draft, but we thought this before in 2006. Could this draft be different and become one of the best talent grabs of all time? --Chris Needham at dc.sbnation.com
Have you ever wondered what it feels like to be a baseball player nursing an injury? If you have this is an interesting read as one person struggles to deal with injury in a softball league. --MissChatter at csnwashington.com
Do the Nationals have a real rivalry yet? Was the embarrassment of openning day enough to start one? A look at DC sports teams and the rivalries that are, that are perceived, and that should be. --Ken Meringolo dc.sbnation.com
Around the NL East
The Braves owners find themselves on a list of companies that sells banned substances. --Maury Brown from bizofbaseball.com
Phillies fans do strange things. Like proposing with cardboard signs. --Barry Petchesky deadspin.com
General Baseball
You knew it was coming, but it isn't here yet. The biggest news has to wait just a bit longer since Jamie McCourt might actually own the Dodgers or be a forger. --Jon Weinbach at mlb.fanhouse.com
Vin Scully's voice is a smooth creamy drug that creeps into your brain and makes everything better. It really doesn't matter what he is talking about. Even if it is trying to figure out what a mullet is besides a type of fish. --David Mathews from deadspin.com
We got to see the Nats debut of Wilson Ramos last night, and he handled the pitchers well. Do you believe in Catcher ERA? Maybe Tim Lincecum does as he might miss Bengie Molina and that might be the cause of all his troubles. --'Duk at yahoosports.com
If i was a headline writer I would have been very sadistic with this headline. Carpenter traded to Astros for Pedro Feliz. --Ben Nicholson-Smith from mlbtraderumors.com
Why should we have any hope that Rizzo is drafting or aquiring the best players possible. Maybe because he has done it before. A look at the season that CarGo is having for the Rockies. --Tim Brown yahoosports.com
Ray King had the heart of a champion and so does this young man. He also has terrible form doing arm curl, incline bench, and squat, and a person should be able to squat A LOT more than they can incline. This is interesting to see the determination this young man has to prove himself and I do hope someone gives him a shot. It would make a great story. --Barry Petchesky deadspin.com
You knew it was coming and it gets its own section. First and formost this tweet from Clemens himself is some great accidental humor because of where it cuts off. What governments does Clemens look forward to taking on? All of them of course. All hail supreme ruler The Rocket. --Roger Clemens via Twitter
Thomas Boswell thinks Clemens is a swell guy that just keeps making mistakes, and that it might just be the personality of a pro-athlete to go down swinging and giving it all they got. --Thomas Boswell from The Washington Post
All of us here follow baseball on a daily basis. We see things as they unfold, and while Feinstein has writen books about baseball (Living on the Black is an excellent read) I still consider him an outsider. An outsiders perspective on steroids and the Clemens situation it is important. It is important to know how others view the sport we hold so dear. --John Feinstein The Washington Post
Right after I hit schedule for publish Joe Posnanski tweeted his latest column on Clemens. It is funny his lasting image of Clemens is probably the same as a lot of people. That fued with Piazza will go down in history as one of the strangest ever. --Joe Posnanski at si.com
My wife is very excited about tomorrow. It is the first Saturday in a long time we both are free, and not going to baseball games. i have been trying to figure out what to do. I am thinking of either a day trip to the Blue Ridge Mountains, the Eastern Shore of Maryland, or of going to Baltimore to watch the Orioles take on the Texas Rangers. I have a feeling she wouldn't like this last option. When I watch baseball I just zone out and stare at the happennings on the field. She has tried to talk to me while I am watching or listenning to baseball and five minutes into her conversation (usually when a commercial comes on) I turn to her and ask what she said. This doesn't make her happy. She doesn't like to be ignored. She doesn't consider being near me to be spending time together, and if we go to a baseball game my focus will be on baseball. When my mind is occupied with baseball I simply am not there.
I hope everyone here has a fun and safe weekend, and hopefully there is good news to link to on Monday.
35 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Interesting you hate the Braves. (My husband was a long time Braves fan — until the Expos moved to Washington.)
A new team has moved up to be my most disliked team (aside from the Yankees) — the Cincinnati Red (as I am a Cardinals fan in addition to being a Nats fan. (I’ve disliked the Pirates in the past but they’re not worth the trouble now. And I’ve really detested the Mets throughout the 80’s and enjoyed their choke jobs of the last two years.)
If the Marlins were more consistently good, they would be disliked in our household.
Rocking the Red since 1975
I'm pro-Reds and extremely anti-Cardinals
Bringing McGwire back as a hitting coach was indefensible to me and basically LaRussa saying that he has no problem with a lot of his past success being steroid fueled. That basically turned me against LaRussa in addition to the longer games the Cardinals play due to all of the godawful middle of the inning platoon splits pitching changes.
That said, I can completely understand why anyone would be a Cardinals fan. That is a true baseball town where people love the game and probably love the game more than the other sports. They have a rich history, especially the 1964-1970 or so heyday that featured Bob Gibson, Curt Flood, Lou Brock, Tim McCarver and other Cardinal greats. Once upon a time, they were a very, very classy team that truly integrated (black leaders and white leaders). After that, they were a fun team to watch on the turf with Whitey Herzog, who the Mets spurned in that FO foolish way that the Mets seem married to. Now they have Pujols who is a privilege to watch.
But the two raps I have against them are McGwire and LaRussa. Somtimes people whisper about Pujols being on the juice. I don’t believe that, but it would be easier for more people to not believe that if they didn’t have McGwire.
@Doncosmic
Brandon Phillips is fast becoming the reason to dislike the Reds. I kind of root for them some because they may be a model for a middle market (?) team to contend that has been through the pit of a Bowden GM tenure.
On a desperate search for Sunshine at Nats Park. In Rizzo and Ramos we trust.
When I first started following baseball in the 60’s, I was a Cardinal fan since I lived near there. So I got to see the days of Lou Brock, Curt Flood, and Bob Gibson.
Rocking the Red since 1975
That kind of team builds life long loyalty.
Just like if the Caps got over the hump, the bandwagon would become lifelong loyals. I hope they become permanent members of the fanbase like I’m trying to be. The Redskins earned that loyalty from me in my childhood with Riggins, Monk and the Fun Bunch, Gary Clark, Dexter Manley, and most especially Doug Williams.
On a desperate search for Sunshine at Nats Park. In Rizzo and Ramos we trust.
by souldrummer on Aug 21, 2010 10:38 AM EDT up reply actions
I’ll be going up to Philly to lend my support to the Nats for tonight’s game.
Rocking the Red since 1975
Only problem, we had to get back in Washington on Saturday. Would have loved to see Strasburg in Philly but…..
Rocking the Red since 1975
...
….life intervenes, bummers. I would have liked to watch tonight’s broadcast and I’m going to have to go through contortions just to listen to it in the Philly market.
On a desperate search for Sunshine at Nats Park. In Rizzo and Ramos we trust.
by souldrummer on Aug 21, 2010 10:39 AM EDT up reply actions
Ben Goessling on Twitter
Told me that Bull’s BBQ in the centerfield plaza is a good place to grab food at CBP.
by David Huzzard on Aug 20, 2010 2:08 PM EDT up reply actions
Props to you.
Are you wearing Nationals gear? Be interested to hear your report.
On a desperate search for Sunshine at Nats Park. In Rizzo and Ramos we trust.
David forgive me...what I read from the above...
blahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblah
BEER
blahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblah
IAWTC
I always thought Leinenkugel was more of a midwest brand. Or is it a PA beer?
"And everybody lived happily ever after. Except the Phillies and the Mets. The End." --Sasskuash
Friend of Dukes and Desmond #3
Chippawa Falls, Wisconsin
It is an amazing beer. Their Sunset Wheat is one of the best beers on the market. it is probably either one or two for me depending on the day. The other beer I really like is Magic Hat #9.
by David Huzzard on Aug 20, 2010 2:11 PM EDT up reply actions
what is a "sample of beer"?
Is that in a pint glass or a shot glass?
Rocks glass?
"Inconceivable!"
"You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means."
-The Princess Bride
Halladay vs. Marquis.
Can’t wait for this one. Has there ever been a bigger Starting Pitcher mismatch?
Screech's Godson
UMD Class of 2014! GO TERPS!!!
Yes, and it was likely the greatest moment, in Levale's life...
Also there was Atilano v. Lincecum, and we won that one too. Hope for tonight, maybe?
NatsTown: Where we hope for "next year" every year...
by Nationalpastime9 on Aug 20, 2010 2:38 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Loved that one.
The look on Lincecum’s face…
"Inconceivable!"
"You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means."
-The Princess Bride
Chico vs. Josh Johnson might have been bigger this year.
And we won.
On a desperate search for Sunshine at Nats Park. In Rizzo and Ramos we trust.
Nah.
I think Levale Speigner vs. Santana was a bigger mismatch, considering Levale is now out of baseball(I think).
Screech's Godson
UMD Class of 2014! GO TERPS!!!
Does anyone realize that we gave up Darnell MacDonald...
In order to keep Levale in our farm system (He was a Rule 5 pick)? WEAK!!!
NatsTown: Where we hope for "next year" every year...
by Nationalpastime9 on Aug 20, 2010 2:47 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
even the AP game preview calls it
“a colossal pitching mismatch”. And they’re supposed to be objective. I told my buddy that I’m expecting the game’s most climactic moment to occur before 7:25pm.
Pujols
Has led the majors in WAR for position players in 3 of the last 5 years, and finished 3rd in the majors those other two years -that’s FanGraphs. Baseball-Reference has him leading the National League EVERY YEAR SINCE 2005 That’s some utter domination unseen in the non-steroidal era since… Willie Mays?
Pujols is, no doubt, the best player in the game.
Rob
"Ninety feet between home plate and first base may be the closest man has ever come to perfection." -- Red Smith
It is boring
People like new things and they like debate. Look at the year Ryan Howard won MVP half the argument was that pujols was good every year and would have other shots. The same argument is used this year with Votto. Pujols will have another year like he is having, but this might be Votto’s career year and only shot at MVP.
by David Huzzard on Aug 20, 2010 2:55 PM EDT up reply actions
Votto is having a darn good year.
Pujols is a better player. Who’s MVP? Does it have to come down to which team wins the NL Central (’cause I think that is WAYYYY down the list of relevant issues for MVP, but a lot of people disagree).
Rob
"Ninety feet between home plate and first base may be the closest man has ever come to perfection." -- Red Smith
It is a definition issue
If it was most valuable player in terms of just having the best year then it would be Votto and the argument could even be made for Zimmerman judging by fangraphs WAR, but I don’t think people buy that. We always hear about the intangibles, and unless you are trying to prove a point or are just a nitwit you know there are things that can’t be measured by stats. I am not sure those qualities can be quantified though and I think Votto has been as much of a leader and difference maker in intangibles as Pujols, but I don’t know because I don’t watch the Reds every day. I am also not sure what intangibles means. I just know they exist, because human beings have feelings, emotions, thoughts, and ideas. Calmness under pressure and leadership skills are intangibles, but I think both guys have that. Really in the end I think the argument can be made for either one and it will come down to who wins the Central, but I don’t think anyone but fans of the other team should be mad about that.
by David Huzzard on Aug 20, 2010 3:06 PM EDT up reply actions
The definition of value to me
is “how much would a team give up to have the player”, or, conversely, “how much would a team lose if they lost him”. It’s an easy definition but it doesn’t necessarily answer the question (can we say, for example, that the Reds would be more or less likely to lose their chance at the playoffs if they lost Votto than the Cards lose if they lost Pujols? I would say that Pujols is the heart-and-soul of the Cards, and they would completely collapse without him; I’m not sure that Votto carries nearly that much weight with the Reds). Furthermore, the definition could lead to curious results. That is, if Adrian Gonzalez played on the Reds, then the Reds could very easily weather the storm of losing Votto if it came to that.
In any case, it’s all academic and just water-cooler talk.
Rob
"Ninety feet between home plate and first base may be the closest man has ever come to perfection." -- Red Smith
Ithink Votto will be this good for awhile
HE was insanely good last year before he was out
Aim for the head baby Jesus
Thanks for the encouragement.
I figure I’d apply and see what happens.
On a desperate search for Sunshine at Nats Park. In Rizzo and Ramos we trust.
by souldrummer on Aug 20, 2010 10:22 PM EDT up reply actions
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recent FanPosts
GAMETHREAD SPONSOR
In Association With
Big League Stew - MLB - Yahoo! Sports
- The Cardinals Hall of Fame can now be found at Bill Clinton’s library in Arkansas (Huh?)
- Will Bryce Harper start the season with the Nationals?
- Mitch Mustain puts football behind him, signs reported rookie deal with White Sox
- Robinson Cano and Denzel Washington face off in Jay Leno’s Yankees trivia contest
- Shane Victorino lands role on ‘Hawaii Five-0′
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
