GameThread: Philadelphia Phillies At Washington Nationals. Game 7 of 162. Home Opener...Nationals 0-6...Is Baseball 0-3 In DC?

Let's Go Nats Go!!! (clapclap, clapclapclap)!! Let's Go Nats Go!! (clapclap, clapclapclap)!!

To see what the Philly fans are thinking, check out the SBN's Phillies Blog:

The Good Phight

(ed. note - "You might have to refresh this throughout the day to get updates.")

Washington Nationals' Lineup (Home Opener)...(courtesy of the Nationals News Network)...

1. Leadoff Lasto - CF
2. THE GUZZZZZZZZZ - SS
3. THE KIDS CALL HIM ZIM!!! - 3B
4. Big WALKY - LF
5. Elijah "Super" Dukes - RF
6. Nick NICK Johnson JOHNSON!!! - 1B
7. WWJD? - C
8. "The Miraculously Healed" Anderson Hernandez - 2B
9. Daniel "The Project" Cabrera - Throwing Wildly Toward Home!!!!

Home Field Advantage?

The question of whether or not the Washington Nationals (0-6) can win their first game of the 2009 season in the home opener today against Philadelphia (3-3) has somehow taken a backseat to a bigger question that's facing the nation's capital's favorite baseball team...

How many people will be there to see it if the Washington Nationals do win this afternoon?

Ed Price over at MLB Fanhouse published an article Sunday entitled, "Washington Coverup: How Empty Will Nationals Park Be?", in which he talks, not only about the fact that there are still tickets available for the first game of '09 in Nationals Park, but also about the fact that the Nationals are thus far unwillling to discuss just how many season ticket packages they've sold with only hours to go before the first of 81 home games begins today at 3:00 pm EST in DC against the Phillies.

Mr. Price quotes Nationals' team President Stan Kasten, who spoke to the press Sunday, trying to explain what he sees as the reasons behind the Nationals losing at least some of their season ticket holders:

"'Coming off 102 losses, there is going to be a drop-off [in season-ticket sales],...Second year in a new ballpark, there is going to be a drop-off. And what is happening in our economy, what our customers are living with and fighting -- we don't know what to make of it all. I'm going to hold off [on making the announcement] for now. I just don't have a number for you today."

MLB.com's Bill Ladson has the same quote from Mr. Kasten in his own article entitled, "Tickets remain on sale for home opener", and both Mr. Price's and Mr. Ladson's articles mention that in spite of Washington Times' reports to the contrary, President Barack Obama throwing out the first pitch today remains a possibility. Who will throw out the first pitch if not the President remains a mystery?(Please be Frank Howard, Please be Frank Howard.)

Washington Post writer Chico Harlan has team President Stan Kasten stating that there are still tickets for the home opener remaining, "but not many", in Mr. Harlan's Nationals Journal post entitled, "Tickets Still Available For Opening Day", and Mr. Harlan quotes the same line from Mr. Kasten that Mr.'s Price and Ladson did, with the Nationals' President admitting the obvious as far as ticket sales go, but Mr. Harlan includes the full quote from Mr. Kasten, starting with one line the other writers omitted, which takes away some of the ambiguity in Mr. Kasten's comments, as he states, "First of all, I will tell you, obviously season ticket sales are down," though he still steadfastly refuses to supply any numbers.

How many people will be in Nationals Park today?

The Nationals vs The Reigning World Series Champs...

It's DC's Own DC, Daniel Cabrera vs Jamie Moyer this afternoon in the home opener in Nationals Park. Daniel Cabrera has just two career appearances against the Phillies on his resume, one a relief appearances in 2004 in which he struck out 1, walked 1, and allowed 1 hit as he earned a save, and the other a 2005 Interleague start for the Orioles which lasted just 3.2 innings, over which he allowed 7 hits, 7 runs, a HR and 2 walks in a loss.

Daniel Cabrera vs The Phillies...

Raul Ibanez - 9 for 26, .346 AVG, 5 2B, 2 HR's, 7 RBI's.

Jimmy Rollins - 3 for 4, .750 AVG, 1 RBI.

Matt Stairs - 5 for 23, .217 AVG, 1 2B, 1 RBI.

Chase Utley - 1 for 2, .500 AVG, 1 HR, 1 RBI.

Jamie Moyer has faced the Expos/Nationals 20 times in his 22-year career prior to this his 23rd season, 19 times as a starter, and Moyer's (9-4) with a 2.87 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and .277 BAA the DC franchise. As I noted yesterday as a preview of today's matchup, Jamie Moyer, "...got hit hard the last time he faced Washington, (however), giving up 11 hits, 3 doubles, 3 HR's, and 9 ER's in just 4.0 IP in his last start of the Spring," and Moyer gave up 8 hits and 4 runs in his '09 debut against Atlanta...

Jamie Moyer vs The Washington Nationals...

Cristian Guzman - 11 for 40, .275 AVG, 4 2B, 1 HR, 3 RBI's.

Ryan Zimmerman - 4 for 21, .190 AVG, 1 2B.

Josh Willingham - 2 for 21, .091 AVG, 1 2B, 1 3B, 1 RBI.

Lastings Milledge - 6 for 19, .316 AVG, 1 2B.

Josh Bard - 6 for 16, .375 AVG, 2 2B, 1 HR, 2 RBI's.

Austin Kearns - 5 for 14, .357 AVG, 2 2B, 1 3B, 1 RBI.

Jesus Flores - 6 for 15, .400 AVG, 3 2B, 1 HR, 3 RBI's.

• Coming Soon...DC Starting Lineup...(as soon as it's posted, probably in the TWITTERFEED.")

Who's Watching The Nationals? Who's In Nationals Park?