Boone for hitting coach '08!

Anyone know why this was scheduled for 4:35?

Can anyone find out why Cordero was still out there pitching in the first place? A "Pop", then "Clicking", and finally a "Strain"???

Whether it was his insistence or that of the front office's, it should be noted WHY.

At any of the variables here requires some sort of rehabilitation, and not just the waiting game for a few weeks. The news that it is overcompensation on one muscle for a problem with another is laughable. A pre-med student could have said that...

Who is running the medical show?

My guess on the start time is that the 1:05pm weekday starts haven't worked out too well attendance wise. I don't think there are any 1pm Thursday games on the schedule this year. They still want to call it a day game during the week, and hope that more people will be able to slip out of work an hour early vs. taking 1/2 the day off.

Anyone know why this was scheduled for 4:35?

Posted by: Section 204 Row K Seat 11 | April 30, 2008 11:00 AM

-----

Because the games are too long, of course!

question for every1 who watched the game on tv last night......who do you like listenin to more, carpenter/sutton or carpenter/knight..why.

my vote goes to knight. i think hes more interesting and gives more all around info than just stuff on the pitchers.

I believe the issue with the start time is that the Nats didn't want to schedule weekday day games the first year so that the parking and Metro issues could be better understood... but the Braves still have a plane to catch today.

Doesn't "keeping your head still" qualify as a technical modification to Zimm's hitting approach? Isn't this exactly what the team is not getting from Lenny Harris's mental approach? I won't go so far as to 2nd Boone's nomination for hitting coach but it does tend to highlight the teams need for a hitting coach with a different coaching philosophy and some experience.

Lenny has to know he's living on borrowed time. Apply that situation to any other work environment. Your boss brings in a "consultant" who asks the big question "what would you say you do here?", fixes your most glaring problem (Zimm... duh), and in short order optimizes you right out of a job. Eesh. Poor guy was put in a no-win situation with that gig.

Rhetorical question: How many other MLB teams would delay disabling a pitcher whose velocity had so alarmingly? It has been clear since Spring training that Cordero isn't right, yet the Nats kept running him out there when he could barely reach the speed limit. Team management should stop taking the words of players who aren't going to be truthful about how injured they may be and use their eyes and brains in such situations. The very idea that Cordero could become a pitcher who relies on pinpoint accuracy to get hitters out with diminished stuff is sheer lunacy.

...who do you like listenin to more, carpenter/sutton or carpenter/knight...
_____________

Charlie and Dave (by about 1000%).

Good point. Wil Leadsonz* also referred to Larkin having worked with some of the players.

should read had DROPPED so alarmingly?

On the other hand, N@sfan, the Os were playing the Rays - there are a lot of Braves fans in this area.

Are there any times that the Marlins are here, and the Rays are there, at the same time? That would really be a better comparison.

Posted by: Traveler | April 30, 2008 11:14 AM
-----
lowest Nats attendence so far this year was when we hosted the frozen Fish on Final Four night -- 20,487. Still haven't heard back from Angelos...

My "good point" referred to mkevin's earlier post on hitting woes.

I'm with you re. Charlie and Dave, OldGuy!

I've had the same persistent pain in my left forearm for over a year and a half. If Hill comes up with a sure cure, let me know. Meanwhile, I would suggest he stay away from his computer keyboard, drive as much as possible with the other arm, and cut down on his 'self-satisfaction'. Seriously. It's a repetitive motion problem, aggravated by other strains.

Please don't tell me that Larkin shows up one night, Zimm goes 3 for 4 the next night, and we assume that he magically fixed him. Please, please, let's not anoint him co-messiah already, along with Mike Rizzo.

Here's a question from Northern VA that probably stands no chance of getting answered here -- why the 4:35 start time? TV announcers were discussing this last night - couldn't remember a 4:35 start. I do, it was against the Phils in 2006. I forget who was pitching for the Phils, but he was totally ineffective until he batted and realized that the sun angle was really screwing up his hitting as the ball transitioned from sun to shade. When he returned to the mound, he started mowing down the Nats who couldn't keep their eye on the ball. There hadn't been another 4:35 game again for that reason - let's hope it clouds up or Hill figures it out first...

Sutton over Knight by light years

Ray Knight was talking about what an excellent hitting coach Lenny Harris is last night, which made me slap my forehead. My concern with his analysis is that it seems to be unrealistically positive all the time.

He also mentioned that he reads the blogs, and disagrees that Lenny should be fired. If you are reading, Ray, I can only say "Thanks for 1986". That is going to have to hold me until the Nats win their first World Series. As for your work now, please dial down the hyperbole a notch.

It was moved because of the big Wiz game tonight.

Harry Kalas and Richie Ashburn

It was moved because of the big Wiz game tonight.

Posted by: boom | April 30, 2008 11:41 AM
---
right.
;)

Say it again: "There is no DeShawn-LeBron rivalry."

Ugh... please don't let this descend into a Wizblog this afternoon or I'm going to have to check-out until the chat for fear of being caught sleeping at my desk. Zzzzzzzzzzzzz....

i thought that 4:35 game against the phils was in 05 (it was on 4/27, my birthday, and i took the afternoon off work).

anyway, if you also remember from that game, loaiza had 11 or so strikeouts, at least partially due to the shadows in the transition spot.

Isn't it obvious?

A 1 pm start time means fans eat lunch then go to the ballpark.

A 4:30 start puts them in the park at dinner time . . . $$$$$$$$$$

The Wiz play at 6, so that doesn't work out too well.

231 - me thinks you're right on the year. the shadows were nas-tee

It's not even a "getaway day" concession for either team considering the Nats are at home tomorrow against Pittsburgh and the Braves are off before going home on Friday. Day games are too few and need to start at 1:35 so we can play hooky from the office.

Charlie and Dave (by about 1000%).
Posted by: OldGuy

i have to agree with this 2. although i hardly ever listen to the radio and when i want to cant seem to ever get a good signal. but agree these guys are really good.

A 4:35 start? Better hope Shawn Hill's arm holds up for at least six innings, I'm not usually awake until later. Zzzzzz.

Anyone else having issues submitting chat questions?
Anyone, anyone?

...who do you like listenin to more, carpenter/sutton or carpenter/knight...

I can't take SUTTON anymore... He drives me crazy...

Maybe it's just me but I actually long for the days of Tom Paciorek as well.

Also, Count me in on Boone for Hitting Coach...

Finally did anybody see the boxscore for the potomac Nationals Last night (the 2nd game) http://potomac.nationals.milb.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=t436&t=g_box&gid=2008_04_29_wswafa_potafa_2

When was the last time you saw a team win win 3-2 with NO HITS!!! and only one error on the other team... WEIRD!!!

Who is going to be promoted when Chad Cordero goes on the disabled list? Will it be a pitcher, or is it time to bring back Elijah Dukes?

I second (or fourth?) the Charlie & Dave motion. One problem though -- the radio is 3-5 seconds faster than my television feed, so it's like living just a little bit in the future. Perhaps one day I will catch up with 506, who is at least a full game ahead at this stage.

And gameday is even a little faster than radio. When it gets too suspenseful I click over to gameday to get some relief.

506, this was great:
______________

"Anyone know why this was scheduled for 4:35?"

"Because the games are too long, of course!"

Posted by: Section 506 (Before moving) | April 30, 2008 11:15 AM

i wonder how different the shadows will be in the new stadium. i don't think it's oriented quite the same angle that RFK is, and the roof line is significantly different.

Yeah I HATE THAT PROBLEM!!! There were some games last year where the TV was ahead of the Radio, which isn't a problem if you have a Tivo or DVR because you can just pause the game for the 3-7 seconds and then sync it to the radio, but if the radio is faster there is no fix.
Also, I doubt the radio will want to purposely delay their signal as people at the game listening will want to hear what is going on at the same time.

-----------------------------------------
I second (or fourth?) the Charlie & Dave motion. One problem though -- the radio is 3-5 seconds faster than my television feed, so it's like living just a little bit in the future. Perhaps one day I will catch up with 506, who is at least a full game ahead at this stage.

Re: the start time. I'm guessing, here but DC is an oddball town for fans & work. My guess is that the club is experimenting to see what time for day games works best.

On another, not specifically Nats, subject, it seems to me that the injuries have been growing over the past few years. While I suspect that there is not one attributable cause, there may not actually be a cure for the problem. To me, the logical work around would be an expansion of rosters (maybe to 28...2 pitchers and 1 position player). I'm not sure of the true value of bringing a player up from AAA for a week and then sending him back (and he knows he's due for a return trip). He doesn't feel part of the team, probably can't really get into the rhythm of the game, etc. I know that the Union would love it and the owners would hate it, but...it would probably do the players more good and the fans would much rather know that X or Y is part of the team, not just a "donut spare tire".

Please comment, or Barry can carry this thought through to the chat.

i believe Home at RFK pointed due West, whereas at Nats Park it points SW, which oughtta make a difference.

I'm further ahead than that Bob, wait until you see what happens on Saturday!!!!

i think expanding the rosters changes a whole lot of what happens in the game, though, far beyond the injury issue. it changes late game strategy with substitutions significantly, especially in the NL. i don't think i'd like that.

I seem to remember something in the Post about the differences in the gate for weekday (which I've always known to be appx. 1:00 p.m. starts) v. weeknight games and assumed that was a primary reason. But then later Kasten was asked and as Wigi said his explanation that for this first season they want to be mindful of avoiding rush hour traffic conflicts caused by 1:00 p.m. starts, at least this year. Methinks the former probably has more to do with it than the latter. But by God if they don't give me any 1:00 p.m. game, I'll pretend and make today one, it's a 1/2 day for me!

I actually like both the Bob/Don and Charlie/Dave combos. I appreciate Don's stories and color (70's and 80's are right in my wheelhouse), and just around bedtime I'll put on the headphones to listen to Charlie and Dave bring things home...this is not advisable if you are actually trying to fall asleep, especially on nights like last night).

Maybe it's just me but I actually long for the days of Tom Paciorek as well.
posted by: NatsFan

i always liked paciorek. thought he did a really good job and was real listenable.

I think Ray does alright paired with Holliday, but with Carpenter he talks too much. He gets so enthusiastic (which is cool), but without Johnny's dryness (and compounded by Carpie's giddiness) he gets carried away.

Sutton and Carpenter make a good team, despite the vague feeling that Sutton dislikes Carpenter.

I will not be around for the chat, but can someone please paraphrase my concerns about Cordero into a readable sentence that might actually get answered in the chat. I sent some in, but I think it might be a tad too testy...

two phrases that should be banned from English forever: "methinks" and "without further ado"

If what you're saying has otherwise no connection to Shakespeare whatsoever, i.e. baseball game times, please don't use it. It's a big, ugly brick in the middle of an otherwise fine sentence.

(Not picking on you at all MNF, you just reminded me of it).

And if I hear "without further ado" in an introduction one more time I think I'm going to punch someone in the face!!

I'm sure the Cordero issue will be a hot topic in the chat. I'm hoping I didn't over engineer my "China Syndrome" question. I'm really curious to hear if the team considered the political ramifications of Larkin working with the Chinese team.

Without further ado, methinks it's time for NatsNut to put her money where her mouth is! Banger!

First, I think injuries fluctuate from year to year; even if there are more injuries this year (or the first month of this year), one year doesn't mean the rules should be changed. Second, like 231 said, more guys on the roster dramatically changes how a game/team is managed.

Third, it doesn't matter, the owners would never agree to it.

but without Johnny's dryness (and compounded by Carpie's giddiness) he gets carried away.
Sutton and Carpenter make a good team, despite the vague feeling that Sutton dislikes Carpenter.
Posted by: Section 506

"giddy"--exactly. i was really in the tank for carpenter last season but he needs to get more serious. also the so-called relationship between the 2 is weird. maybe because of post season reports last year that sutton wanted carp out.

MeThinks we should work these two phrases into as many posts as possible today :-) So... without further ado... I got nothing.

More and more, Carpenter reminds me of Michael Reghi. And that's not good. I've never been able to stand Don Sutton, it's like he invented baseball. Him or Gene Mauch. (Or some of you all.)

All the world's a field, and all the pitchers and catchers merely players.

Methinks.

D'oh!!

[quote]And if I hear "without further ado" in an introduction one more time I think I'm going to punch someone in the face!![/quote]

You mean you WANT further ado? You do know that further ado slows games down even more than a 7:10 pm start does, don't you?

Cordero's first few fastballs last night maxed out around 80-82 MPH (that's according to MASN's gun for you radar affectionados out there). Then he threw one at 87. I'm wondering if he didn't injure himself on that pitch trying to throw harder than his arm/shoulder was capable of. I agree with the sentiment "what the heck was he doing out there?".

Yes, I'd much rather HAVE ado than to HEAR "without further ado".

Ado is highly underrated.

We're without Freddy Adu, does that count?

Given the injury discussions (and potential injury to any poster who uses certain expressions), methinks that this might be a good time to bring up some stats that I came upon while browsing through this year's media guide last night. Without further ado ;-), I bring you Nationals team totals for games missed due to players being on the disabled list (p. 306 in your media guide if you are scoring along at home):

2007, 1260
2006, 1615
2005, 1434

Not sure what to make of that, other than I hope that we tick down rather than up on games lost due to injury this year.

Can you have "closer ado"?

Reghi was better than carpenter. At least MR had fun calling games and didn't think he was a know-it-all like carpy. Hell jim hunter is better than carpenter (that's not saying much).

As far as Chief: the reason he was out there was because he said he was healthy, Dr. James Andrews said he was healthy, so why not put him out there? The only way you're going to find out if he can pitch in a game situation is - well put him in during a game situation. Can't fault Acta/Bowden/think tank on this one. Now we know, Chief isn't ready.

btw one lastings milledge didnt get much play in todays article even though it was his 2 run double that meant the game was 6-3 instead of 4-3 after corderos meltdown. and things may have gone much differently had it been 4-3. not to mention his great catch in ctr.

this guy is gonna be a star for many years. and after church becomes church again and is down at .250 this season, and even many years down the road when church and schneider aint even playin, milledge will be a star in this league.

you know i aint crazy about the gm but this was a great great trade. give him that. it was a steal for 2 holes in the lineup. enjoy watching a rising star.

111, there's a difference between healthy as in "no structural damage" and healthy as in "ready to perform at major league level".

If he's out there trying to throw fastballs and only coming up with 80MPH, he needed to rehab more before being put into a game. And Ray Knight commented that his form was horrible. He just wasn't ready to be out there, and there was no value in rushing this.

According to C&D, Rauch was up after the leadoff walk with a 4 run lead. The situation was as safe as they're likely to get, if you really need to see him in a game situation to evaluate it. And I'm OK with that (which Stan must be so relieved to hear).
But Chief can't risk further injury. He may already be done, as in finished in baseball. He should be asking John Patterson for a list of medical references. Former closers have really short careers.

"As far as Chief: the reason he was out there was because he said he was healthy, Dr. James Andrews said he was healthy, so why not put him out there?"

Actually, Dr. James Andrews told Chief he was healthy just so he'd go out there, get hurt again and have to come back to see him for further consultation. It's on the follow-up visits where those doctors make their real money, y'know...

It's hard to find fault with the team over the Cordero situation. They sent him to a specialist who said everything was structurally sound. Chad wanted to pitch. Chad said he needed to throw more, not less, to get his velocity back up. At that point I think the only thing you can blame the team on is putting him in a situation where he felt like he had to over throw like closing out a tight ballgame. When he came into the game last night that wasn't the case. It was a different story by the time he left but given the circumstances it's hard to find fault with what they did.

I'm pretty sure Dr. James Andrews doesn't need more money. He's the best at what he does and gave the Nats the thumbs up as far as Cordero's health report. Let's not spin this around and blame our management.

ummmm, I think Ray's Gut was kidding...

On the topic of 4:35 game time shadow... I took a look at the Clark Construction Cam (remember that?) and the shadow creeps in from behind home plate on the left side, moving towards right field.

I have no idea what that means for pitchers, though. Don't you think the team will have thought of this, and Shawn will be prepared?

Yup, Rauchie jumped off his seat in the pen as soon as that 4th ball was thrown. I thought it very odd at the time, but makes sense now.
---------------------

According to C&D, Rauch was up after the leadoff walk with a 4 run lead.

Posted by: CE | April 30, 2008 1:23 PM

Carpenter and Paciorek were a better team. Sutton has no playfulness. Carpenter is an above average play-by-play man, but the very best play-by-play men are much better. As an analyst, Sutton is a Johnny One-Note. Knight is ok as a change-up, but he would be difficult to take for more than a few games per year. Holliday struggled when he filled in fo Carpenter. Proctor was decent and funny. Darling started out so bad, that by the end of the year when he was actually good everybody hated him anyway. I always liked the TBS model. Get 4-5 good guys and rotate them mid game between TV and Radio. Charlie, Dave, and 2 guys TBD.

Re Cordero: I recently reread "Ball Four" (after three decades or so) and it includes some instructive examples of how pitchers (a) are generally unwilling to admit they're hurt either to themselves or to management; (b) tend to minimize any pain they do admit to feeling; and (c) are eager to show that in a game they can throw through any problems they may be having. While that book is dated in many ways (imagine any of today's major leaguers worrying about the price of a room service hot fudge sundae), I suspect that pitchers as a species are still apt to behave in the manner Bouton chronicles. And management can be just in stubborn in ignoring the warning signs because they don't want to admit to themselves that a star (or even an average) pitcher is ailing and might need to be replaced.

One of the great things about this blog is that you never know when you're going to be motivated to chase after some obscure fact in order to join the conversation. For example, I learned today that "without further ado" (and, of course, "much ado about nothing") are among the few ("we few, we happy few") surviving uses of the noun "ado," which means, roughly, "[what] is being done."

Lurker, it depends on where the shadows cut across the diamond. It's harder for the hitters if the ball is coming out of shadows into sun, but as N@tsfan mentioned, there isn't any direct sunlight anyway, it won't make as much difference.
I noticed the lights were on for last Saturday's game, for instance, and it really made a difference, even though the sun was still up there, somewhere.

Even if it was an accident, this might be as good a time as any to run a sore-armed pitcher out there against Atlanta.
**********************
I have no idea what that means for pitchers, though. Don't you think the team will have thought of this, and Shawn will be prepared?
Posted by: lurker | April 30, 2008 1:38 PM

This is a bit off topic but I found this story incredibly heart-warming...

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/columns/story?columnist=hays_graham&id=3372631

A girl hits her only home run ever in a college game and tears her ACL rounding the bases and is unable to continue. If you are on the opposing team what do you do? There is something about baseball that makes stories like this possible.

I'm sorry. But Dr. Andrews would never recommend a strengthening regimen WHILE repeating the same motion that causes the problem in the first place. Like I said last night, that is counter productive. It does not make sense. And it goes against his history as an orthopedic specialist.

What I am saying is that I think there is something fishy going on. Period. Medically speaking, having Cordero pitch AT ALL after the popping sounds were insanely stupid.

And to use the fall back "well the doctor said he was healthy so he should be pitching" line is not accurate. He did not say he was healthy. He said he needed to do some significant rehab work on the shoulder.

After all, was it not Bowden that dealt two injured pitchers to Cincy? Whose to say this wasn't his call again? Trying to mask what was a 'minor' injury and ride it out as long as possible.

If you review the facts from the get go. They do not add up. I do not care what the team said about that meeting, nothing about this adds up. If its Cordero's mentality about wanting to pitch, that is another thing entirely.

Ring Lardner's "You Know Me, Al" from 1916 covers it, too.
**********
I suspect that pitchers as a species are still apt to behave in the manner Bouton chronicles. And management can be just in stubborn in ignoring the warning signs because they don't want to admit to themselves that a star (or even an average) pitcher is ailing and might need to be replaced.
Posted by: Section 133 | April 30, 2008 1:44 PM

*was" insanely stupid, not were. apologies grammar police.

And lurker, if Wrigley is any guide (it faces the same direction as StadiaNatsa), the shadow will give pitchers an advantage when (and if) the line is between the mound and the plate, because it's harder for the hitters to pick up the spin on the ball when it enters the shade.

There. Two obscure facts in a row. I get my NJ nerd sticker for the day!

They was a big crowd out to the park so Callahan says to me I did not know if I was going to pitch you or not but the crowd is out here to see you so I will have to let you work so I warmed up but I knowed the minute I throwed the 1st ball warming up that I was not right and I says to Callahan I did not feel good but he says You wont need to feel good to beat this bunch because they heard a hole lot a bout you and you would have them beat if you just throwed your glove out there in the box. So I went in and tried to pitch but my arm was so lame it pretty near killed me every ball I throwed and I bet if I was some other pitchers they would not never of tried to work with my arm so sore but I am not like some of them yellow dogs and quit because I would not dissapoint the crowd or throw Callahan down when he wanted me to pitch and was depending on me. You know me Al. So I went in there but I did not have nothing and if them giants could of hit at all in stead of like a lot of girls they would of knock down the fence because I was not my self. At that they should not ought to of had only the 1 run off of me if Weaver and them had not of begin kicking the ball a round like it was a foot ball or something. Well Al what with dropping fly balls and booting them a round and this in that the giants was gave 5 runs in the 1st 3 innings and they should ought to of had just the 1 run or may be not that and that ball Merkle hit in to the seats I was trying to waist it and a man that is a good hitter would not never of hit at it and if I was right this here Merkle could not foul me in 9 years. When I was comeing into the bench after the 3th inning this here smart alex Mcgraw come passed me from the 3 base coaching line and he says Are you going on the trip and I says No I am not going on no trip and he says That is to bad because if you was going we would win a hole lot of games and I give him a hot come back and he did not say nothing so I went in to the bench and Callahan says Them giants is not such rotten hitters is they and I says No they hit pretty good when a man has got a sore arm against them and he says Why did not you tell me your arm was sore and I says I did not want to dissapoint no crowd that come out here to see me and he says Well I guess you need not pitch no more because if I left you in there the crowd might begin to get tired of watching you a bout 10 oclock to-night and I says What do you mean and he did not say nothing more so I set there a while and then went to the club house. Well Al after the game Callahan come in to the club house and I was still in there yet talking to the trainer and getting my arm rubbed and Callahan says Are you getting your arm in shape for next year and I says No but it give me so much pane I could not stand it and he says I bet if you was feeling good you could make them giants look like a sucker and I says You know I could make them look like a sucker and he says Well why dont you come a long with us and you will get an other chance at them when you feel good and I says I would like to get an other crack at them but I could not go a way on no trip and leave the Mrs and the baby and then he says he would not ask me to make the hole trip a round the world but he wisht I would go out to the coast with them because they was hard up for pitchers and he says Mathewson of the giants was not only going as far as the coast so if the giants had there star pitcher that far the White Sox should ought to have theren and then some of the other boys coaxed me would I go so finely I says I would think it over and I went home and seen Florrie and she says How long would it be for and I says a bout 3 or 4 weeks and she says If you dont go will we start for Bedford right a way and I says Yes and then she says All right go a head and go but if they was any thing should happen to the baby while I was gone what would they do if I was not a round to tell them what to do and I says Call a Dr. in but dont call no Dr. if you dont have to and besides you should ought to know by this time what to do for the baby when he got sick and she says Of coarse I know a little but not as much as you do because you know it all. Then I says No I dont know it all but I will tell you some things before I go and you should not ought to have no trouble so we fixed it up and her and little Al is to stay here in the hotel untill I come back which will be a bout the 20 of Nov. and then we will come down home and tell Bertha not to get to in patient and we will get there sometime. It is going to cost me $6.00 a week at the hotel for a room for she and the baby besides there meals but the babys meals dont cost nothing yet and Florrie should not ought to be very hungry because we been liveing good and besides she will get all she can eat when we come to Bedford and it wont cost me nothing for meals on the trip out to the coast because Comiskey and Mcgraw pays for that.

I second (or fourth?) the Charlie & Dave motion. One problem though -- the radio is 3-5 seconds faster than my television feed, so it's like living just a little bit in the future. Perhaps one day I will catch up with 506, who is at least a full game ahead at this stage.

Posted by: Bob L. Head | April 30, 2008 12:10 PM

*************

I love it. That way I can listen to the game throughout the house and if something exciting happens run over/down to the TV to see it.

Of course, that was a couple of years ago I get no Nats on TV at all now.

But as far as that goes, I prefer the radio announcers a bjilllion times over the TV guys. Even their dumb jokes are better.

Frailty, thy name is Cordero!

That's why the games o faster on the radio. But if you put the radio further ado, I mean further away, so that by the time the sound reaches you, it's even with the TV.

**********
One problem though -- the radio is 3-5 seconds faster than my television feed, so it's like living just a little bit in the future. Perhaps one day I will catch up with 506, who is at least a full game ahead at this stage.

Posted by: Bob L. Head | April 30, 2008 12:10 PM

its amazing to me how are announcers love austin ks so much that no matter what he does they drool all over him.

he hits a routine flyout to left and boy did he connect and really hit that thing. great out.

but lasitngs milledge smacks a 2-run double to the gap and well he really shouldnt have swung at that ball. but he'll learn.

austin ks hits a dp grounder to short, what a shot. and look at him run it out. boy what a professional.

am i missin somethin here?
AAAARRRRRGGGGHHHHHH.

new post

Ok... this is pure genius. Bear with me and follow the logic.

Game starts at 7:10. Watch the first couple of innings on TV. As the game goes on gradually turn the volume up on the radio and down on the TV whilst (another olde word?) simultaneously inching closer to the radio and away from the TV screen. By the 9th inning, the volume on the TV is off, the radio is up full blast, you're pressing your ear to the speaker on the radio and can't see the TV screen at all. You've effectively shortened the game by 3 to 4 seconds.

Harris didn't notice a simple thing like Zimmerman not keeping his head still? Pathetic.

personally, i think it was ridiculous that chad was even out there. the active roster isn't the place to rehab an injury or regain form. before last night's setback, he should have, at the very least, been on the dl and regaining his form somewhere in the minors. i don't care how the team was spinning dr. andrews' report, but it's been obvious since before the season started that there was something wrong with chad. he had no business being on the mound last night. i'd really like to know who is responsible (bowden, manny, or chad) for running him out there night after night until he blew himself out.

So, since the Opening Day game was originally a part of this series and the Nats won that one and last night, we can say they've taken this series now, right? And, a win tonight would be their first sweep, yes?

I apologize if I missed it while skimming through the above comments, but what was the attendance for last night? Out in 140, it was pretty empty (not empty enough, though...Nick's homer went right to the guy in the seat NEXT to ours).

I agree that I'd rather listen to Charlie and Dave than any of the TV guys. I like Sutton, but he just seems a bit arrogant. Who was the guy who did color before him? I'll never forget him screaming "Get up, get up, YEAH!" when Zim hit the walkoff homer against the Yanks.

Oh, and since it's Wednesday (Food section day in the Post), here's my ballpark food update...

I found the Kosher Sports cart and tried a potato knish last night. It was pretty darned good (not that I would really know a good knish if it walked up and introduced itself), except it was still a bit cold in the middle. Considering the poor guy was trying to heat them on his flat griddle (assume they had been frozen), I'd say they did okay. That was just an appetizer, though.

Later I found my new favorite food at the park...the crabcake sandwich and fries from Cantina Marina (right next to Five Guys). $12.50 and worth every penny...big chunks of crab, a cajun version of Old Bay spice, and a great creole mustard on it. As food hottie Rachel Ray would say, "Yummo!" My buddy had the shrimp taco and he said it was outstanding.

That's all from 140...goodnight, Mrs. Calabash.

I also liked the team of Paciorek and Carpenter. The problem with announcers is that they are chosen by the management of the team and cannot say that the Emperor has no clothes. I remember when Red Barber questioned the official attendance at a Yankees home game at the end of a bad year by saying "10,000 of them must have come disguised as empty seats." He was fired the next day. None of the Nats' announcers would dare to do something like that.

Well, I was very impressed with Nick Johnson's HR last night....... and the timing of it! He's one of my favorite players. Keep it up, Nick!

Wow, Eric...thanks for passing that story along. It restored my faith for another day.

"Manny Acta said afterward that Zimmerman's head was much more still in his final at-bat, when he hit the double in the seventh."

See, now I took that figuratively, meaning he wasn't thinking so much.

Tell me about it!

*********
None of the Nats' announcers would dare to do something like that.
Posted by: WA2CHI | April 30, 2008 2:29 PM

Boy, don't I know it!
***********
None of the Nats' announcers would dare to do something like that.
Posted by: WA2CHI | April 30, 2008 2:29 PM