Best Nationals' Moments
by RobBobS on Jan 27, 2011 3:20 PM EST
Email
Print
via www.reuters.com
OK, so someone has probably already done this sort of thing here, but I'm going to revisit the question nonetheless. In a different post comment I mentioned that my top two Nationals' moments were the St Stephen Strikeout Number 14, and JMax's (RIP) grand slam to finish the 2009 season in style. I got to thinking about some of my other favorite moments, but I thought the community could add in some of their own favorites. Maybe we can vote on the top moments ever. I say we milk the discussion all the way 'till the snow melts...
I can easily sell the first moment: it was a time when the crowd, and the entire baseball world, knew that they were witnessing a chunk of history unfold before their eyes. The response itself was electric; it sent shivers down my spine. It was an extraordinary accomplishment from a guy who already had otherworldly expectations thrust upon him.
The second moment was also greatly motivated by the response of the crowd. Bottom of the ninth, the Nats were trailing badly and down to their final out. Maxwell hit the ball hard, but would it be hard enough??? The Mets outfielder (forget who, it's not important anyway) broke back and might have had a play on the ball. The crowd leapt to their feet, screaming and imploring the ball to fly FLY. And then... silence. The outfielder climbed the wall to grab at the ball, but did he catch it? Wait... wait... wait... NO! He couldn't grab it! Now the crowd goes bonkers! What an amazing comeback! A bright spot in an otherwise dismal season.
Alright, so anyway, what are your big moments? Are there any others???
28 comments
|
1 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
For me, the walkoff Zim home run against the Philly fans was the best after Strasburg this year
ajk, Zim fan and member of the Wahoo nation, and I were both there standing on the concourse because we had to settle for Standing Room Only tickets. We were encouraged to move from behind a couple of Nats fans who were more in the calmly record the boxscore set. We moved behind Philly fans, went nuts after the home run, and they simply could not fathom how they had lost a game in walkoff fashion to the lowly Nats.
And that was the day after the Marvelous Miss Iowa Throws the Pitch Roy Oswalt Philly Debut FAIL! Good times.
John Carlson: A real American hero taking names and settling scores.
Souldrummer: A regular guy trying to join Adam Dunn, Jordan Zimmermann, and Garrett Mock as one of RobBobS' guys.
I know you mentioned strikeout no. 14
But strikeout no. 1 was almost just as special for me. Down goes Milledge! Down goes Milledge!
A man who makes Lastings Milledge his first K is off to a masterful start.
John Carlson: A real American hero taking names and settling scores.
Souldrummer: A regular guy trying to join Adam Dunn, Jordan Zimmermann, and Garrett Mock as one of RobBobS' guys.
Anyone who can throw a curveball can make Milledge their first career strikeout...
I’m still bitter about the man supposedly oozing with so-called “talent.”
[Thinking to himself]
Ted Striker: I've got to concentrate...
[his thoughts echo]
Ted Striker: concentrate... concentrate... I've got to concentrate... concentrate... concentrate... Hello?... hello... hello... Echo... echo... echo... Pinch hitting for Pedro Borbon... Manny Mota... Mota... Mota...
by Nationalpastime9 on Jan 27, 2011 10:49 PM EST up reply actions
Personally witnessed
-Strasburg’s first start
-Zim’s walkoff shot off of Chen Ming-Wang
-Wil Nieves’ walkoff HR – that was special because it was one of the first Nats games my gf attended. The summer after we started dating was 2008 – Nats couldn’t hit a lick that summer, but their pitching was actually pretty decent. So every game was over quickly at least – and the Nieves hit was one of 3 walkoff wins that we witnessed. Based on the evidence, she might have thought the Nats were a great team!
Plus you're one of a small amount of people that can say
They witnessed a Wil Nieves home run, period
Nationals win the first game in their shiny new ballpark...
and it’s broadcast on ESPN to boot.
"Pinky, are you pondering what I'm pondering?"--The Brain
I can imagine
that any number of Zimmerman walk-off shots could make this list. This is one of several — he does have a flair for the dramatic, doesn’t he?
Rob
"Valentines day is really the day pitchers and catchers report, and those are truly words of love.." -- David Huzzard
A couple of games really stick in my mind vividly...
- Zim’s walk off against the Yanks
- Bergmann’s near no-no versus the Braves against Smoltz
- Lannan dealing at Yankee Stadium
It's always a beautiful thing
when the “lowly Nats” beat the “mighty Yanks”! Wouldn’t you agree, d_c_guy?
Rob
"Valentines day is really the day pitchers and catchers report, and those are truly words of love.." -- David Huzzard
Those are tough series for me
I remember when they played here, I went to two of the games – wore Yankees gear to one game, Nationals gear to the other, and kind of felt like I was cheering for everyone. And just to make it even tougher, whichever gear I wore to that game, that team lost (I wore Yankee gear when Zim hit the HR).
It will be easier when Harper brings the Nationals up to the “Yankees of the NL East” level :-)
2006 Nats vs Yankees series
That was a good one for the Nats. In addation to the Zim’s walk off on June 18. On June 17, 2006 the Nats down 2-9 in the mid of the 5th then score 9 unanswered runs against the Yankees over the last four innings winning 11-9. Soriano stole second, then stole third and scored on wayward throw to tie it.
The Nats took 2 of 3 in NY in 2009, IIRC
The Yankees just can’t figure out the Nats … ;-)
Yep.
For at least another season, the answer to the coolest trivia question yet will be the Washington Nationals.
What’s the question? “What is the only ML team that the NY Yankees have never beaten in a series?” Obviously, some will answer “The NY Yankees.” That’s just silly. And then of course some would argue that the Yankees have taken a series against the Expos. That doesn’t count either.
Rob
"Valentines day is really the day pitchers and catchers report, and those are truly words of love.." -- David Huzzard
The Nats were +320 (3.2 to 1 underdogs) in that game
Lannan was so smooth, such a great performance. I figured he’d do OK since he grew up a Yankee fan and assumed he would be 100% focused, but he truly was masterful. They just didn’t know what to do with his stuff that day.
how about TAWH's diving catch against the Mets
that saved the game?
Wasn't that the first Capps save too?
Can’t remember exactly, but that’s how I remember Capps too. Seemed to be within inches of completely blowing it, but somehow, got it to go his way
To Many To Mention....BUT
The first and sweetest, was at Nats Park when Dunn hit a Grand Slam to beat the O’s…..it was the first time my oldest son (who has CP and uses a wheelchair) had seen a Grand Slam….his excitement is what made it so special for me. I’ve wanted to take him down to see players during autograph sessions, but it is too difficult getting his wheelchair to the field. That kid LOVES the Nationals! The worst moment though, was when Bernadina broke his leg….my youngest son was with me at that game, and we were sitting in the second row of the Red Porch area….he ran over to the rail and was able to look down at Roger…..he was devastated because he wore the same number in Little League as Roger that season.
I also really enjoyed the Dunn HR that bounce-hit the Warehouse at Camden Yards….we went to that “out of town” game, sporting our Curly W jerseys and hats, and even the O’s fans were astonished at that towering home run.
"Integrity First, Service Before Self, Excellence In All We Do" - USAF Core Values
MOAR DUNN MOM3NTZ!
Rob
"Valentines day is really the day pitchers and catchers report, and those are truly words of love.." -- David Huzzard
He sure hit some big flies
I was watching a game at Turner Field when he hit one OVER the CF bleachers and onto the concourse there. Truly an OMG type of shot.
From an outsider
Zimmerman’s walk-off bomb on opening day Sunday night baseball, christening the opening of the new ballpark, was a great moment.
I haven’t followed the Nats for as long as many of you, but as a baseball fan I will honestly never forget watching that game. It was unbelievable to see Zimm hit that home run on opening night. It’s even better to see him live up to the hype that moment created.
Strasburg’s debut was awesome and much anticipated, but from an outsiders view that watched both games, I have to give it to Zimm.
"It's not how deep you fish... It's how you wiggle your worm"
Stras........
Then ZIMM’s walkoff opening the park………
Then lots of DUNN HRs……..
Stuff like that is why you want to see Zim given a chance to perform under the even more legit pressure of a pennant race and playoff atmosphere. If they don’t start winning by 2013, and he decides he’s had enough of carrying the Nats lineup on his back, I’ll totally understand even though I won’t like it.
John Carlson: A real American hero taking names and settling scores.
Souldrummer: A regular guy trying to join Adam Dunn, Jordan Zimmermann, and Garrett Mock as one of RobBobS' guys.
by souldrummer on Feb 16, 2011 10:11 AM EST up reply actions
What's poppin
I remember when they arrived here in 2005, and everybody was trying to figure out who they were. I was in high school back then, and I just remember being so excited that we were actually getting a team. But some of my biggest memories were in the early days, like a game against the Angels. Where our then manager Frank Robinson accused their pitcher Brendan Donnelly of having like pine tar on his glove, which is illegal. After the umpires investigated ,Donnelly was ejected. Mike Scioscia then got in Frank’s face, and Jose Guillen just flipped out and the benches empty followed by a big scrum. Guillen had to be restrained and it was just crazy. The Nats would later rally off a 2 run shot by Guillen and eventually win 6-3. I know those names don’t mean much now, but that was always one of the games I remembered.
by DistrictofColumbia1988 on Feb 16, 2011 12:20 AM EST reply actions
That game gets brought up quite a bit
Outside of the Matt Lecroy pull in the middle of an inning when Frank teared up at the news conference afterwards, that was kind of the signature Frank moment, another one of those times when his inner badass from his playing days came out.
The reason that thing blew up is because Guillen outed Donnelly based on intel from his playing days with the Angels. Guillen was ticked off at the way the Angels had dumped him (Angels certainly had cause with his anger issues) and probably outed Donnelly as payback.
John Carlson: A real American hero taking names and settling scores.
Souldrummer: A regular guy trying to join Adam Dunn, Jordan Zimmermann, and Garrett Mock as one of RobBobS' guys.
by souldrummer on Feb 16, 2011 10:13 AM EST up reply actions
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on Federal Baseball
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
GAMETHREAD SPONSOR
In Association With
Big League Stew - MLB - Yahoo! Sports
- Keeping good company: Albert Pujols becomes fourth-youngest player to hit 450 home runs
- Giancarlo Stanton misses cutoff man, and Logan Morrison is thankful he did (Video)
- Snoop Dogg delivers memorable first pitch at U.S. Cellular Field
- The Juice: Mesoraco’s grand slam helps Reds complete four-game sweep of Braves
- Please hold: Indians’ Joe Smith jumps the gun on relief appearance
