i can only hope that this is the "dead arm" phase that most pitchers expeirnce during the middle of spring training and not a harbinger of things to come in the regular season.

Here we go again.Waste of time

Thats fine if the Nationals believe this. But do we have to sit though this crap again. Can't he pitch in Columbus or something.He has a 7 ERA. Dam!

So was JP tight from the having the flu? Or was he tight from not pitching? Maybe he needs another 4-5 starts to work this out. But he's had the time to get in game-ready condition, no? ST started more than a month ago for pitchers and catchers. I don't really get it. JP's arm/health remains a mystery to me.

Let's give him two more starts. If there's no noticeable progress, have him start the season on the DL and keep him at extended spring training. He and Hill's arms/health are truly mystifying. Why does it seem the Nats have more than its fair share of these curious arm maladies?

He's just full of excuses, always.

Where is Miss D....I mean jpsfanandproudofit?

Patterson has got to be the biggest head case I've ever heard of. It's his way or no way. I know there's a tremendous potential up-side with him, but the key word is "potential." Right now there's a greater potential wel'll spend the whole season taking his temperature every day to see how he's feeling, what he's thinking, etc.

Manny must be ready to chew up the locker room furniture out of frustration over this head case. No way you build a rotation around him.

i'm not going to defend JP here, but let's not use spring training ERAs to justify whether anyone should be anywhere. same with batting averages, unless you think pete orr should be starting.

Leave it leftist-America hating clowns to clog up this blog. Luckily for me I have the likes of Bill O'Reilly, Sean Hannity, Rush Limbaugh, Ann Coulter, just to name a few to look up to and admire.

I can't wait for Bush to throw out the 1st pitch so I can cheer as loud as I can to drown out all those Bush-hating leftists.

God Bless America. God Bless the Washington Nationals.

"Potential" has probably been tattooed on rears of majority of our players, not just JP.

The rotation is going to be scary to watch this season. Hill/Patterson, Bergmann, Redding, Chico/Lannan/Perez...I'm starting to have nightmares about what the first few innings of each game are going to look like: lots of runs early then that potential kicks in and shuts the other team down but by that time the hole is too deep to dig out of.

People are going to think that our whole rotation consists of Livan Hernandez!

Nats are going to have to decide to either put Patterson on the DL to start the season or designate him for assignment. I saw him pitch Tuesday against the Braves at Disney World. He had nothing. He appears completely washed up. Please, please don't bring him North!

Shoot, JP and Hill are both hurt. Lannan, Chico, Perez, Bergmann, Redding. Worst team in baseball, eh?

Patty's Lucky Charm
fails; and here come the trolls
to feed on our blog.

I'd say Perez, Bergman, Lannan, Redding, Chico, but let's see the games before they start handing out anti-trophies. Without Patterson (who I thought was done last May, and still do--sorry JP), and with maybe 15 healthy starts from Hill, they will yet surprise some folks, and win more than they lose. I say 83-79.
Of course, I said 80-81 last year, so what do I know?

well, to be fair, I also said 74-88.
And you know two heads are better than one.

Mib-

If you said 74-88 last year, you were a genius. Who is ever just on game off?

I think we need to look at Patterson the way the Cubs had to look at Prior and Wood. You won't improve as long as you hold onto the crutch. Patterson, and maybe Hill, are not going to be the answers, it seems. Odalis Perez has more promise to win more than 10 games than either of them.

Look to Balester and Detwiler to play for the Nats this year. Mock might even debut.

I meant "one game off," of course.

Personally, I'm pulling for Mike O'Connor.

Although ST stats aren't everything, I'm thinking his 2.35 ERA and 7 strikeouts in 7.2 IP are looking pretty good compared with the limited love he's been getting on this board.

Go Mike!

Halfstreet, I just doublechecked, and 74 wins is a retcon. What I said was "I can't see them getting within 20 games of .500" -- IOW, 70-92 at best.
Nevermind. No genius.
(actually, it's kind of fun to strolling down memory lane in last year's entries. The racoon. New Manny. Schneid's new baby. "Guess the rotation-win a Buick.")

I just want to say that last spring Levale Speigner had an amazing spring...

That is all.

"Let's wait till JP loses a few games, like last year, before we send him down.
Ah, sorry! I still haven't got over the fact he wouldn't sign with the Expos when they drafted him in the first place. I am so petty at times.

Posted by: Jeeves | March 16, 2008 06:29 PM"

Yes, you certainly are petty at times. Do you know personally, the circumstances of Patterson not signing with the Expos? I would imagine that Patterson is the only one who knows that. I really think you should get over it!

JP has pitched well until this game and looked good in the first 2 innings today. Good grief, the poor guy has the flu and had a bad day and all of a sudden he should be thrown in the garbage can! You all must be fair weather fans. Have a little patience - he really is pitching better than last year when his arm was throbbing almost constantly. I believe Manny when he says that it takes time to regain arm strength after surgery.

To be fair, no one suggested throwing him in the garbage can. Fired from his job, maybe.
And it is irrefutable that it takes time to regain arm strength. We believe Manny, mostly. We just don't believe JP.
That said, it doesn't make much difference what *we* believe. Manny and Jimbo and Patty and the rest of the team, what they believe matters. This blog stuff is all just circuses, not even bread.

I hope Patterson starts *and wins* 40 games. I also hope my brother-in-law wins the lottery and pays me back that money he owes me.
But expecting JP to make 40 starts, or my BIL buying lottery tickets, don't constitute a plan, IMO.

And impressive little article on LMilz today--he seems to have presence and self-possession beyond his years. This could be really good.

Three Sunday evening thoughts:

1. Tiger is unbelievable. We are watching Babe Ruth here. If you're not a golf fan, you should watch anyway. It's once in a lifetime.

2. We should never boo the president at a baseball game. That's just silly. It's not the time or place for it. Respect the office even when you cannot respect the person.

3. The Nats current 2008 record is 0-0. All the stats right now mean zilch. Until I hear about an injury for JP or Manny and Jimbo express worry about his arm, I will not get hot and bothered about it. We'll know in a few weeks when the live ammo starts flying.

RE: John Patterson
It's time to move on. Patterson has become and will continue to be a chronic problem especially when the other team get 6 runs off of him. The Nats should bring up Balester, Clippard, Mock and Detwiler after the All-Star break. I like the young players that the Nats have acquired and, as a season ticket holder, I would rather see the young guns pitch instead of Patterson. I would prefer to look at the future and not watch the past.

"Have a little patience - he really is pitching better than last year when his arm was throbbing almost constantly. I believe Manny when he says that it takes time to regain arm strength after surgery."

I completely agree with jpsfan, he just needs some time. He should start the season making rehab starts in AAA. Does he have to go on the DL again in order to do that?

He should not be on the roster on Day One if he does not have his velocity back or closer to back.

Patterson could well develop his strength and velocity with a few more weeks/months. In the meantime he's going to get hit hard some days. Keep him in the rotation and hope he progresses quickly. I did not feel he was making excuses. It sounded like he answered the questions he was asked. Doesn't mean he was making excuses.

Milledge needs more consistency defensively. I think he's going to be good, but he's not Andruw Jones out there. He's better than Nook defensively though. Offensively I sure like what I see. It will be interesting to see how long it takes him to get it.

I am liking the roster flexibility and talent that Willie Harris brings to the team. Speed, definsive flexibility, left hitting off the bench. Potential leadoff hitter on occasion. Hope he makes the team.

The O's announcer's quoted Acta as saying he won't announce a 1B starter until the last day of spring training. That could mean many things, but one thing it means is that they will have more time to consider trades for Nick or Dmitri. I wan them both on the team, but Dmitri has to be here because he has a bobblehead giveaway on May 1st.

As a 20 game plan holder who paid before the deadline, I want my March 29 tickets and my parking assignments. Getting restless. Gonna get cranky soon.

2. We should never boo the president at a baseball game. That's just silly. It's not the time or place for it. Respect the office even when you cannot respect the person.

Posted by: #4 | March 16, 2008 10:51 PM
___________________________________________

Thanks for the laugh. Heavens-to-betsy we let a war-criminal actually know what we think of him if he dares to step outside is Fox News his bubble.

Go Nats!

" He should start the season making rehab starts in AAA. Does he have to go on the DL again in order to do that?"

My understanding is that he would have to be on the DL in order to do that. He has no options left and the only way he could be sent to the minors is by clearing waivers, which I doubt would happen. Barry could clear this up for us.
In my opinion people are over-reacting. Let him get over the flu and then see how he pitches. He was doing well until this last start and the flu bug.

For a rehab assignment, you need to be on the DL, and I think the 15 day DL won't cut it either. However, they can back date DL however they want to, cuz it's spring training... (says he who hasn't looked it up.)

1. Agree completely with everything #4 said.

2. It's way too early to write Patterson off. It's one bad outing. Hopefully, he can get his arm strength back and pitch effectively. We need him to. The kids in the minors aren't ready yet. We may see some of them (again) this year, but I think 2009 is the earliest we can expect the rotation of the future. And maybe 2010 before they're all up for good.

3. Doesn't the Post have political blogs? If I wanted to argue politics, I'd go over to Huffy.

Regards,

GrouchoMarxist

"As a 20 game plan holder who paid before the deadline, I want my March 29 tickets and my parking assignments. Getting restless. Gonna get cranky soon."

Perhaps you missed the comment I left on another thread over the weekend about the exhibition game tickets for 20-gamers. I e-mailed the Nats office about those tickets, and the response I got said they were all put in the mail last Friday. So I expect to see mine either today or tomorrow. But if they mailed them out like they do single-game tickets, they will come in an unmarked envelope that's easy to miss if you're not careful. Don't just blithely throw away what you think might be junk mail!

Can't tell you anything about the parking passes, though. I'm a disciple of Stan who will be taking Metro to the games.

if games go into xtra innings and beyond metro's normal operating hours, will trains (orange, blue, etc) be available?

I'm not A Patterson detractor BUT he's not the future of the Nats. I now believe that he currently won't be of any help to the Nats. He's 30 years old and his arm injuries over the years have been chronic (which means that they are very likely to continue). He can't throw curveballs all day and you need a fastball to make your change up effective. The hitters game plan with Patterson is to lay off his curveball and wait for his fastball to hit, hard.

With all due respect, this isn't "all of a sudden." But I do appreciate your loyalty.
__________

Good grief, the poor guy has the flu and had a bad day and all of a sudden he should be thrown in the garbage can!

Posted by: jpsfanandproudofit | March 16, 2008 09:45 PM

Ah, gee, jpfan, I take it back. I would love to see JP come on strong. I followed him closely during 2005. He was awesome, one of the best in the NL until he wore down a bit in September. And flu can definitely affect a person in a major way. I have to admit JP didn't use it as an excuse either. Consider me chastised.

Barry, did you at least watch the game yesterday on MLB or even MASN somehow?

Question for Manny please (instead of all that dead air I hear on the WTimes Pod cast of his daily Q and A)

Yesterday in the first inning Lopez with Lopez on first, Ronnie hit a ground ball to 2nd. Lopez slide (again) 20 feet from the bag, just as the SS was approaching 2nd. For the next inning or two you could see a big mark on the base path where the slide started.....What did Manny see on this play? If he was running when would he slide? As a player, I was taught to get down when you have to by rule or by self-defense, that is, the ball is thrown at your head. Lopez is at it again this year just giving up and letting the SS have a complete pass and not making any effort to break up or disrupt the play.

ASK MANNY IF THAT IS WHAT HE EXPECTS A NATIONAL RUNNER TO DO? STOP THE DEAD AIR IN THE Q AND A PLEASE!

PS I fully expect Acta to say gruffly blow off the question but he will at least know that others are seeing Lopez do it again and hopefully address it privately.....at least when it happens again we know either Acta has no juice with him or Acta does not teaching what he preaches as far as hard fundamental baseball.

Barry,

It seemed that manny if not all the quotes on Patterson in the paper today from Acta were from the Q and A the morning before he pitched. Again do not know if you saw the game but Acta did and Patterson looked much different that the last game he pitched. If that fastball was even 85 MPH I would be surprised.

Saw a reply of the game on MASN last night and Patterson looked horrible - even in the first two innings before all the runs. Anytime a fastball was close to the plate, the O's were right on it. If this is all he brings to the regular season, he'll get hammered.

Here's how I see the future: The Nats give him a couple of starts based on his past/potential, he gets smacked around, then he goes to the DL.

JP has pitched well until this game and looked good in the first 2 innings today. Good grief, the poor guy has the flu and had a bad day and all of a sudden he should be thrown in the garbage can! You all must be fair weather fans. Have a little patience - he really is pitching better than last year when his arm was throbbing almost constantly. I believe Manny when he says that it takes time to regain arm strength after surgery.

Posted by: jpsfanandproudofit | March 16, 2008 09:45 PM

Hes Garbage! Throw him in the trash! Lets bring up Smoker!!!! Just because he has a sweet last name.

JayB means business. I can tell from the capital letters.

Good point about sliding into second.

Lopez, Guzman & Belliard have all logged about 70 innings so far this spring, all in 10-12 games and had the same general number of official AB's. But, Guzman and Belliard have obviously been more productive with the bat (I know, its just Spring Training).

If Lopez turns into a utility guy, wouldnt it benefit the team to play him at second base during the spring? Either to showcase his versatility for a trade or to give him some practice when he subs for Belliard (or replaces Belliard if Ronnie is traded?). He hasnt really had much game experience at 2B with Guzman at SS.

Two things.

Kyle, you really need to get some fresh air or the squirrels are going to come and bury your head somewhere.

JayB, are you really clubbing Manny already? I mean, the guy is a well respected up and coming manager. Are you really getting on him about dead air on ST Q&A sessions and Lopez's base running in ST?

Good grief. Your a tough person to please. Your the polar opposite of the guy who does the Nats320 blog.

Shouldn't Patterson have gotten his "arm strength" up to speed by now?!? Heck, why not just send him to the minors right now until he can demonstrate the stuff everybody thinks he has on a consistent basis?

JJ, I think he'd have to pass through waivers, which wouldn't happen, to be sent down, but to answer your (rhetorical?) question, not necessarily. It takes a long time, even young guys, at least now that they're peeing into a cup.

*********
Shouldn't Patterson have gotten his "arm strength" up to speed by now?!? Heck, why not just send him to the minors right now until he can demonstrate the stuff everybody thinks he has on a consistent basis?

Posted by: Juan-John | March 17, 2008 10:50 AM