On The Hill...
John "Cool Hand" Lannan has one start against Milwaukee under his belt in his first 28 starts in the Majors, losing 5-2 to the Brewers in Nationals Park back on the May 24th of this season. Lannan lasted 5.2 innings in that outing, allowing 5 hits, 3 ER and 1 HR with 0 walks and 4 K's, ending the day with a (4-5) record and a 3.57 ERA. Entering play today, Lannan's (6-11) with a 3.55 ERA in 131.2 innings pitched in '08, but he's lost two of his last three starts, with Washington dropping all three since Lannan's last win on July 19th in Atlanta.
On the road this season, the 23-year-old Lannan's (4-5) in 13 starts and 84.0 innings pitched with a 2.57 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and .245 BAA. Brewers' lefty Manny Parra is (4-3) in 10 starts away from home, but tonight the 25-year old Parra pitches in Milwaukee's Miller Park, where he's (5-2) in 12 starts and 13 appearances with a 3.55 ERA in 71.0 innings on the mound, as opposed to his high 5.00 ERA in 54.0 innings as the visiting starter.
(4-3) in his last 10 starts, Parra's (1-3) in the last seven, after three straight wins over the Blue Jays, Orioles and Twins in June, but the Brewers are just 1-6 in the last seven games Parra's started, and Milwaukee's 0-3 in Parra's last three appearances, in which he's given up 20 hits, 14 ER's and 1 HR with 10 walks and 16 K's over 17.1 IP...
Nationals' #'s Against Manny Parra...
Cristian Guzman - 1 for 2, .500 AVG, 1 2B.
Lastings Milledge - 1 for 1, 1.000 AVG, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 1 SB.
Ryan Zimmerman - 1 for 3, .333 AVG.
The Short "If They Were Playing" List...
Aaron Boone - 2 for 3, .667 AVG, 1 HR, 2 RBI's.
Lannan vs The Brewers...
Mike Cameron - 1 for 2, .500 AVG, 1 2B.
Corey Hart - 1 for 2, .500 AVG, 1 HR, 2 RBI's.
Jason Kendall - 1 for 1, 1.000 AVG, 1 SB.
Rickie Weeks - 1 for 2, .500 AVG, 1 RBI.
The Nationals split the four-game series with the Brewers earlier this season in DC, so they'll have to win the next two to salvage a tie in the season series.
Washington Post writer Chico Harlan reminds Nationals' fans, in his article entitled, "Time Is Short For Top Picks To Sign Deals", that, "Six days remain before baseball's deadline for draft-pick signing," but that was last night, when Mr. Harlan published, so as of today, Sunday the 10th, the Nationals are down to five days before they lose their 1st, 3rd, 4th and 5th Round Picks from the '08 Draft.
MLB.com writer Jonathan Mayo has a rundown of the negotiations with all of this years' unsigned 1st Round picks, including Aaron Crow, at Mr. Mayo's "MLB Geeking On The Draft" blog in an article entitled, "2008 draft update", in which Mr. Mayo writes:
"9. Nationals -- Aaron Crow There have been all sorts of reports that talks aren't 'going well,' but who knows how much of that is posturing. Word was Crow was looking for a big-league deal at one point in time."
(ed. note - "I'll just assume all the money saved here by not signing picks is going to go toward the increase to the $100 million dollar payroll. But please? At least sign Aaron Crow? Please?")
For A Brewers' fans' perspective on the series with DC check out the SBN's Brewers' blog:
2:05 pm Miller Time. Game three of four in Milwaukee for DC. Lannan vs Parra. Lastings looking for eleven? When Will Zimmerman's Power Return? Can The New Nationals rebound to take two-straight for the split? I for one believe they can! Who's Watching The Nationals On Sunday?