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GameThread: Pittsburgh Pirates At Washington Nationals- Game 38 or 39 of 162.

By Patrick Reddington

Next Game

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Pittsburgh Pirates
@ Washington Nationals

Tuesday, May 19, 2009, 7:05 PM EDT
Nationals Park

Jeff Karstens vs Shairon Martis

Clear. Game time temperature around 70.

?'s For The DC Faithful...

• No Matter What, Leave Martis In Tonight, Right?

• What Is Alex Cintron Still Doing Here?

• ...and Daniel Cabrera?

• Any Chance You'll Be Missing A Smarty Start?

LINKS:

Possible Trade w/ Sox

posted by pas493 about 2 hours ago

19 comments | 0 recs

Washington Nationals' '07 1st Round Pick Ross Detwiler Learns What It's Like To Be A DC Starter.

posted by e chigliak about 15 hours ago

92 comments | 0 recs

Washington Nationals recall Ross Detwiler; Lineups for Tonight's Game

posted by Nats News Network about 21 hours ago

0 comments | 0 recs

Complete Coverage >

Masn_medium

Tonight's Pirates' Starter Refuses To Look At You...

Jeff Karstens

#27 / Pitcher / Pittsburgh Pirates

6-3

185

R

R

Sep 24, 1982

Shairon Martis vs Jeff Karstens...

Karstens has never faced the Nationals. Martis has never faced the Pirates...

DC Starting Lineup...(courtest of Washington Post writer Chico Harlan's Nationals Journal post entitled, "Lineups from Nats Park.")

  1. The Guzzzzz - SS
  2. Nick "Two-Spot" Johnson - 1B
  3. THE KIDS CALL HIM ZIM!! - 3B
  4. The Big Walkay - RF(ugh)
  5. THE HAMMER - LF
  6. TAWH - CF
  7. Anderson "Elvis" Hernandez - 2B
  8. Wil "Blocker" Nieves - C
  9. Smiley - Starting...
AND NOW...THE LATEST INSTALLMENT OF THE STRASBURG FILES...
Without quite as much fanfare as his final home start with the San Diego State University Aztecs, Stephen Strasburg improved to (12-0) last Thursday with a win over the Utah Utes in which he actually gave up a few runs, (2 in the 1st), struck out 10 and even walked a batter on the way to an 11-2 Aztecs' win.

The projected #1 overall pick in June's draft got a nod of approval from the Face of the Franchise with the top pick, when Ryan Zimmerman said this week, as quoted in MLB.com's Bill Ladson's article entitled, "Nats have faith they can sign Strasburg", that when it comes time to make the selection:
"'You have to do it,' Zimmerman said. 'From what everyone is saying, if you are an organization like we are that is young and moving forward, you have to take the best guy available.
"'I think he is head and shoulders above the rest. You are talking about a guy that could be an impact player from the moment you draft him. If you can add that arm to our good young starting staff, we are pretty much set -- knock on wood -- for a long time.'"
According to Yahoo! Sports.com's Jeff Passan's article entitled, "Strasburg won't see DC this season", Nationals fans shouldn't expect to see Strasburg on the major league team this year if they are in fact able to sign him to a deal. Mr. Passan speaks to the Nationals' "Acting" GM Mike Rizzo in the article, who says that he just doesn't see anyone in this year's draft who's ready to jump to the Majors immediately. In Mr. Rizzo's own words:
"'I don’t see that in this year’s draft,' Rizzo said. 'It’s such an acclimation process for a pitcher to go through, and it’s so very, very difficult, I just can’t see someone doing it.'”
But in my mind the most important quote from Mr. Rizzo comes later in the article, when the "Acting" DC GM echoes the sentiments of many DC fans who will be more than happy to select Strasburg, but do not want to relive the process it took to get the #1 overall pick, (losing 102 games in 2008). Mr. Rizzo says it succinctly, "I don't ever want this pick again."

Hear Hear!!! Now sign Strasburg and Let's Go Nats Go!!!

For A Pirates Fans' Perspective, Check Out The SBN's Pittsburgh Pirates blog:

Bucs Dugout

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

Who's Watching The Nationals?

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