Game Thread: New York Mets at Washington Nationals - 2008 Game 121 of 162. "C'Mon! Maine Was Just A Throw-In In The Julio/Benson Deal!"

On The Hill...

Jason Bergmann (2-8, 4.13 ERA) threw 7.0 scoreless innings against New York the last time the Neptune...New Jersey native faced the Mets back on May 15th, giving up 3 singles-- a bunt single and a real single to Luis Castillo, and a leadoff single by Marlon Anderson in the fifth, and 3 walks with 9 K's in a 1-0 Nationals' win. Luis "Set-Up" Ayala and the Nationals' former late man Jon Rauch closed out Bergmann's win on the road at Shea, in what was his first start since being recalled after a month down in the minors...

In 4 starts and 10 appearances against DC's NL East rivals from New York, Bergmann is (3-1) with a 3.09 ERA, 32 K's, a 1.09 WHIP, and .203 BAA over 32.0 innings in which he's allowed 24 hits, 11 walks, 11 ER's and 4 HR's. At home in DC in '08, the 26-year-old right-hander is (0-2) in 8 starts and 1 relief appearances with a 4.53 ERA and .287 BAA in Nationals Park.

After going (0-6) in 10 games through June and July, Bergmann started August with his first win since he'd beaten the Mets back on May 15th. On the road in Colorado last Thursday, Bergmann gave up just 7 hits and 1 ER on a HR, with 2 walks and 7 K's in 7.0 innings pitched of a 6-3 DC win over the Rockies. It was the seventh time Bergmann had given up 1 run or less in a start...but just the second time he'd earned a win for his effort...

Pulled in his last start against Florida after just 4.1 IP, John Maine, (9-7, 4.13 ERA), is returning from the DL for tonight's start in DC, after finding his way on the list after suffering what NY Daily News writer Adam Rubin described as, "...a mild strain of the rotator cuff," in Mr. Rubin's article entitled, "John Maine is on course for start."

Maine's already beaten the Nationals twice this year, both times in NY, pitching 6.2 innings and allowing 5 hits and 2 ER's in a 5-2 Mets' win on April 16th, and throwing 6.0 innings during which he surrendered just 2 hits and 2 runs, 1 earned, on a HR in a 6-3 Mets' win over Washington on May 13th.

In his 5-year MLB career, Maine, (27-years-old as of May 8th), has faced the Nationals 9 times with a (5-2) record in 52 innings pitched with 1 complete game shutout over Washington, though it came in a 5.0 inning game last July 29th that was ended by heavy rains over Shea. Away from Queens this season, Maine's just (4-6) in 12 starts with a 4.25 ERA over 65.2 IP...

Nationals' #'s Against John Maine...

Ronnie Belliard - 9 for 13, .692 AVG, 1 2B, 1 HR, 3 RBI's.

Austin Kearns - 5 for 15, .333 AVG, 1 2B, 2 HR's, 4 RBI's.

Lastings Milledge - 1 for 6, .167 AVG.

Ryan Zimmerman - 4 for 25, .160 AVG, 2 2B, 1 HR, 4 RBI's.

The "If They Were Playing" List...

Nick Johnson - 2 for 12, .167 AVG, 1 HR, 1 RBI.

Wily Mo Pena - 2 for 6, .333 AVG.

Bergmann vs NY...

Carlos Beltran - 5 for 14, .357 AVG, 1 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 1 RBI.

Jose Reyes - 3 for 12, .250 AVG, 1 3B, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 2 SB.

David Wright - 1 for 14, .071 AVG, 1 3B.

Ramon Castro - 1 for 8, .125 AVG, 1 HR, 1 RBI.

"Over And Over The CROW Cries Uncover The Cornfield." - Brian Wilson

The Washington Nationals now have under 72 hours to get their '08 1st Round pick Aaron Crow on board before the deadline to sign this year's selections runs out on midnight Friday night the 15th. Washington Post writer Zach Berman has the lastest update on the Crow Negotiations in his article entitled, "Nine Down, One To Go, And It's Crow", in which Mr. Berman quotes DC GM Jim Bowden, (in a quote sure to infuriate the DC blogosphere), stating:

"'On our end, I think we had a great draft,' Bowden said. 'Our scouting department is not going to complain if we go into next year's draft with two picks in the top 10.'"

Now whether the DC GM is just playing hardball with Aaron Crow, the only one of the Top 10 '08 picks still unsigned, or moving toward acknowledging that the Nationals aren't going be able sign their #1 pick, I just don't like that he tries to easily dismiss the fact that they've so far been unable to agree on a deal with a pitcher who fell to DC in the 9th spot of the 1st Round after being described in Baseball America's Top 100 Prospects issue as, "the best righthander in the 2008 draft," and was ranked the 5th overall prospect in their Top 100 list...

But then MLB.com's Bill Ladson sheds some light on the situation, when he reports, in an article entitled, "Nationals, Crow far from closing deal", that the Nationals think of Crow as, "...a potential top-of-the-rotation pitcher with competitiveness that resembles that of former big leaguer David Cone," but, and this is quite a big BUT:

"Crow wants a Major League contract and, according to published reports, $8 to $10 million. The Nationals don't want to give him that kind of money or contract."

$8-$10 Million? Who does Crow think he is, Rick Porcello? Darn it, Crow, you're making me agree with GM Jim Bow...uh? Wait...C'mon give the kid the money! The Tigers gave Porcello a big league deal...Crow could be DC's ace in a rotation with Detwiler, Zimmermann, Balester, Clippard, Mock etc...and it's not your fault, Mr. Bowden, blame it on the Tigers! But get it done!!!

For A Mets' Fans' Perspective, Check The SBN's Mets' Blog...

Amazin' Avenue

And don't forget to...

Check the NatCast if you're heading to Nationals Park...

Game two of three between New York and Washington takes place at 7:10 pm EST in DC. Bergmann vs Maine. (Milledge? Someone say 14-straight? It would be only his 2nd hit off of Maine)...How mad do you think the Mets gets each time Jesus Flores or Milledge gets a hit against New York? Hey, Mets? Bergmann's got your number...Where's Wagner? Are you really gonna put a rookie in the closer's role? Kunz? Don't be upset if we take these last two...Who's Watching The Nationals?