Jesus Saves!

.....but, how effective do you think he'll be at the dish once every team gets a look at him and figures out how to pitch him, hense, a sophomore slump?

As long as he keeps nailing Jose Reyes though, I don't care!

Hate to bring back an old topic or make an excuse, but...

Around the first of the year some of those of us who posted regularly, and with some sense of reality had a discussion about Zimm and his operation. There were a couple of posters who indicated that they had understood (read, done research?) that complete recovery from hamate surgery could take a year. Some of us (myself included) poopooed the idea.

Is it possible that we were wrong and that recovery can be long and drawn out? Anyone know? Can Chico do some research?

Just questioning.

At this point, the Nats have nothing to lose by moving Flores up to the 5 or 6 holes while the outfielders (hopefully) get their act together. Is it me, or does Kearns look totally lost during quite a few of his at bats?

"my laptop pulled a Palmeiro-in-Congress and lost all memory of its past."

Howler, Chico! What was the error message-the little hand pointing at you and saying, "I have never, never used your gamer!" Did Will Clarke appear, saying, "They finally got you now, big boy!"

Nice outing for Ayala last night - I would have liked to see him stay in and pitch to Beltran, but it was a good move to get him out of there on a good note, I think.

Sutton said during the game that St. Claire had been working with him to start from the middle of the rubber a bit more, so that his front foot would land a little bit more north-south coming towards home. His stuff (in the 1 AB) didn't look like it was tailing as much last night.

Still though, I was surprised we didn't see Chico (the pitcher, not the journalist)in the 7th - with all those lefties coming up and considering Manny had warmed him in the 6th, I thought we were gonna see him, especially since they had a 4 run lead at that point.

Here's hoping Flores shows enough to stick this time around - oh, and Chico (journalist, not pitcher) - I'm sure these other crazies will call you on it, but I think you missed an NJ injury in the reverse-chronological-litany - I seem to remember him missing time in '05 because of a heel problem.

Last was me, laughing too hard to sign.

Chico: Where the fark is my #%*# gamer, you glass bowl?

Dell Latitude:

"Not in Starkville, where my teammates hated me;
Not in Texas, where Canseco bated me;
Not in Charm City - it was B-12!
Not in Congress - I'm only a Dell!"

JayB...thanks for trying to give everyone here some perspective (see previous post). Honestly, I've just been lurking for the last couple of days because it was just too damned hostile in here and it bums me out. I know we're all fans, and I can understand folks who get frustrated with some of the team's decisions, the players' performance, etc. But, SoCH...I'm sorry, I will never be able to support your philosophy:

"I think good fans boo when it's merited"

You want to mutter under your breath or even commiserate with your section mates at Nats Park, as in "How could Austin have overplayed that fly ball?!" I'm fine with that. But, booing your own team lowers you to the level of New York or Philly fans and I'm not going there. I know this analogy is a stretch, but to me it's like those fans who booed Dubya on opening night. I don't agree with pretty much anything he's done, but he's still our president and I will not show disrespect for the office. I learned that in the military a long time ago.

Express views and opinions, yes. Back 'em up with stats, who cares. Disrespect my family, my friends, my team, my hometown, or my country in public...never. I don't know near as much about the baseball world as all the folks here do, but I do know that.

Have a good day everyone...and GO NATS!

[RF] new posted. JayB, SoCH, Matt, LAC - there is a complement for you at the end of the last thread.

Catcher50, Chico - Search "Hamate" in the archives. Bottom line was, most everything out there says that while you may feel good and be able to play, hamate surgery robs you of power for a year or so. Chico, you might want to talk to WMP, who had it.

This is from a 3/31/04 Baseball America article on hamate injuries and the effect on prospects:
"Minor league officials contacted for this story seem to agree that wrist injuries require about a year of recovery time--not for a player to get back on the field but for his swing and power to return to pre-injury form."
http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/features/040331wrist.html
Lots of articles in ESPN and medical mags canbe found by googling "Baseball injury hamate recovery"

So Ayala gets a flyball and its a huge outing, Hanrahan gets two flyballs and 'let's it get away' according to Barry in the chat yesterday, interesting...

Not to be too statsy (sidenote: we should have opposite day sometime. People who use stats aren't allowed to and have to go by gut and people who use gut have to use stats), but Hanrahan and Ayala both inherited two runners. Hanrahan allowed one to score (charged to Ayala), Ayala allowed none to score.

To be fair to Hanrahan, the Mets only needed 4 runs to win, not all 6.

Regarding Zimm, what are you guys seeing that suggests a loss of power is the problem? His power seems fine to me--when he has good at-bats and stays on the ball, he is hitting the ball hard. Last night is a good example.

The huge problem I've seen is that he's having too many bad at-bats--swinging at awful pitches, and getting mixed up and taking good pitches. When you swing at a breaking ball over six inches off the plate, it really doesn't matter what shape your wrist is in. That's a mental approach problem, not a physical problem.

Three out of four from the Mets wouldn't be bad.

The Nats make "The Onion". Somebody's paying attention.

www.theonion.com/content/news/nationals_book_it_after_foul_ball

"Not to be too statsy (sidenote: we should have opposite day sometime. People who use stats aren't allowed to and have to go by gut and people who use gut have to use stats), but Hanrahan and Ayala both inherited two runners. Hanrahan allowed one to score (charged to Ayala), Ayala allowed none to score.

To be fair to Hanrahan, the Mets only needed 4 runs to win, not all 6."

Hanrahan also had a guy on third, they obviously wanted a strikeout in that situation and Church did an excellent job of putting the bat on a tough pitch. They wanted a groundball out of Ayala, didn't get that either. So, in a way, they both failed.

"Search "Hamate" in the archives. Bottom line was, most everything out there says that while you may feel good and be able to play, hamate surgery robs you of power for a year or so. Chico, you might want to talk to WMP, who had it. "

So is hamate surgery what causes a batter to swing wildly at pitches way off the plate, missing them entirely? Because that seems to be Wily Mo's problem. Or are you suspecting that his strikeouts don't look as powerful as they used to?

I'm with you on that on CIL. His power is surely not the problem. Zims pitch selection seems to be the problem. To me of little knowledge, he seems to be pressing to hard realizing he is carrying the team logo squarely on his forehead. He is only 23, I believe, and this just may be wearing on him. The responsibility at such an early age as having the title of..franchise player..might be asking a b it much of a player who spent such minimal time in the minors. I'd rather focus on Austin Kearns, while a very good right fielder, his bat is lacking. To me, his swing just looks to long and I've noticed that he just can't seem to catch up to hard throwers. When he faces a pitcher who tops out in the 80s', it seems his success rate climbs. I guess you could say this about a lot of players, I just seem to notice it about AK because I pay attention to Nats players more than others.

Loved watching Zimm pashnuggedah-smash that ball nearly into the upper deck last night.

Hated watching Zimm go out on three pitches off the plate in his next at-bat. Woulda thought he was past that kinda fishing.

And Bob L. -- condolences about your grandma. Mine was 96 when she died this past January. Wotta gift to have them this long, even if it is "their time" to go.

Barry never had any "computer problems."

Kearns and WMP are looking ATTROCIOUS at the plate lately. If Kearns doesn't lose his job all together, he should at least be moved down the lineup. I've been a Kearns backer for a long time, but it's looking more and more like he's nothing more than a defensive starter batting 7th on an otherwise offensively loaded team - or a career #4 outfielder.
His production is basically equaling that of a Langerhans. Hey, why doesn't Manny try him at leadoff??!!

Macs back-up all of Chico's documents

i was surprised how lame the gamer was this morning and immediately thought something's not right. blame the cheap china made Dell!

Apple assures all articles appear appropriately

That's exactly what I was thinking when I read the Notebook. However, Mr. Harlan did point out in the Journal that he was only listing the greatest hits, so to speak.

But that damn bruised heel (an injury he suffered when he scored awkwardly - I can't find another way to say it) cost him more games than anyone would have thought.

I think I've been so excited to see him (and his .400+ OBP) back that I forgot about this tendency of his.

-----

I seem to remember him missing time in '05 because of a heel problem.

Bonus points for alliteration. The bar has been raised.

-----

Apple assures all articles appear appropriately

I think Manny was holding back Chico to pitch long relief today so he can give Bergmann the early hook. Remember in Jason's 2 big league starts he was pretty much lights out until the 5th and 6th inning, then got shelled.

I'm still in a ton of pain from this stupid pinched nerve in my neck, so I'm probably going to go home soon, but wanted to say what a great team win last night. Redding looked good (not great). He kept the Nats in the game even though the offense wasn't helping him out until the 7th.

What do you all think will be the lineup for this afternoon's game? The Mets are throwing Mike Pelfrey out there, and he doesn't do too well versus lefty bats. Maybe Harris and Mackowiak get starts?

2B -- Lopez
SS -- Guzman
3B -- Zimmerman
1B -- Boone
CF -- Milledge
LF -- Mackowiak
C -- Nieves
RF -- Harris
P -- Bergmann

BTW ... Dmitri went 1-3 with a double and a walk last night in his second rehab game in Harrisburg. No errors at first base, either. I sense he'll be recalled later today or tomorrow with Nick going on the DL. DY and Boone will platoon at first for the next 2 weeks.

So, if memory serves me, Dmitri is now 2-5, with a double, and 3 walks in his FIRST TWO rehab games? What a pro, who cares what he weighs?

"So, if memory serves me, Dmitri is now 2-5, with a double, and 3 walks in his FIRST TWO rehab games? What a pro, who cares what he weighs?"

Capitol Punishment used to. But then again Capitol Punishment used to care about a lot of things, but not any more. Maybe Dmitri's weight is one of those things.

More importantly, do you think a massage might help Austin Kearns?

go mac and never turn back

hell with dell, mac is back

"The Only Real Solution Is A Mac"

When I read this, I thought, Noooooo! Mackowiak's been sent down, just when he's starting to hit! Phewww!

Let's serve up some Bread of Affliction to the "fancifully announced" attendance of 49,000 + or -. (quoted from NY Times gamer.) I like that, and think it should be in every gamer. "Attendance was fancifully announced at ____."

Bench Kearns.

Does anyone EVER work with ZIMM on his batting? Is this guy ADD? Can he focus?

Ohhhhhhh Wily Mo.

DY in OPACY this weekend, yes?

"More importantly, do you think a massage might help Austin Kearns?"

Yeah, a "sudden release" would probably do Austin a world of good.

Also, am I the only person who's chafing at the fact that Boz wrote a feature editorial about the O's that wound up on the front page of the Sports section? As I just posted on his blog, as long as Angelos is running that team, I don't want to see anything about the O's on the front page unless it's about how big a can of whoopass the Nats opened up on 'em. I don't really want to see anything about them at all, but I guess the folks in Tween ('tween Charm City and DC) are entitled to a half of page six or seven.

Any word on who was moved to make room for Bergmann?

Any word on who was moved to make room for Bergmann?

Chris Schroder was moved for Bergmann.

http://washington.nationals.mlb.com/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20080515&content_id=2704507&vkey=pr_was&fext=.jsp&c_id=was

Long-time posters will think this is particularly amusing - I genuinely hate the Orioles now.

Every time I hear them mentioned I flinch thinking it's going to lead to another coverage fight on the blog.

According to NFA Schroder was optioned back to AAA, did he even pitch?

I:

applaud Wednesday's total team effort;

will not bash Bowden today;

will not bash Kearns today;

desire win over Mets; and

fervently pray for OPACY sweep.

That is pretty funny, 506. For me it's never been about the O's--just more Nats. As for Boz, the guy is a lost cause. Maybe we'll learn in the next couple days that he took the buyout, that would be a great development. Then Mike Wise can start writing some more whiny idiotic columns tangentially related to baseball.

Chico don't worry, you're doing fine so far.

Why oh why oh why did they send Schroder down in the Bergmann transaction?

Yes, Schroder pitched an inning and a third in the Nats' 10-4 win over the Mets on Monday night. One hit, one walk, no runs.

What was that MKevin? You wanted to know how Zimmerman has done since his 48-hour rest period? Glad you asked! I'd hate to throw out unsolicited statistics, after all.

In 9 games since the May 4 sit-down:

12 for 38, with 8 runs, 2 doubles, 4 home runs, and 7 RBI (but only 1 walk and 11 Ks!)

By my hurried and possible flawed math that's a .316 AVG, .333 OBP, and .684 SLG

Those of you who said sit him down may have been very, very right.

new post... and it's not pretty.

I know the Nats are not home again until next week, but I've been meaning to rant about some policies at Nationals Park that defy common sense.

I have really been enjoying trying to get to know the park. I have purchased tickets in the Outfield, LF line, Infield Gallery, and upper infield gallery. I've attended just under half of the home games to date. I have a partial (20) game plan but will proabbly attend 35-40 games this year. So I wanted to try different views. However, even when I tell ushers that I only want 60 seconds to walk down sit in a seat and return (just to decide if I want to buy tickets in that section) I have been refused. And, it has not always been a polite refusal. It is particularly irksome when you wander into a completely empty (and inexpensive) section such as 238, 243, or 245 and are pursued with vigor by someone telling you to leave. To date, I have only made these shopping trips after the 7th inning so its not like I'm trying to take a seat of a customer who is running a little late.

I'm interested in trying the seats in front of the red porch (clearly these are available) and the usher there explained (without ever making eye contact) that he could not let me pass, not even for a minute. Now if I am going to spend $200 for a night in the red seat section I would at least like to know what I'm getting myself into.

Slightly more understandable, but no less irritating, was the usher who told me I could not block the aisle at the top of section 104. This would have been fine except that I was in a line of people that had stopped moving and the usher was overly aggressive. I had no more desire to block that aisle than she did.

Generally I find the concession personnel to be very friendly and accomodating and the usehers of the more expensive sections are generally refined and skilled at their jobs. But this guard dog mentality for empty sections late in the game is not professional. It is more likely to reduce revenue than produce it. It's not pleasant or reasonable. I think it is either poor marketing or poor training, or poor management or possibly all three.

White House Event: respect the office.

Ball Game: boo if you hate, cheer if you like, polite applause if you respect.

Home team screws up: Some fans notice, some are too busy standing in line for chili.

Ayala.

OK, the guy is leading the majors in appearances. And the Nats use him to get 1 batter out in the 8th. Can someone explain this to me? Are they trying to make his arm fall off? Carpenter and Sutton say it's a reward for working hard on the side? A reward for just doing your job? Ugh. If you are going to reward him, couldn't they have let him pitch to the next batter - a whole 2 outs to get? But no, the Nats for some reason need to use 3 right handed pitchers in a row and then have Ruach batting 1st (or 2nd) the next inning.

Can someone help me on this one?

Because he had options, methinks.

---

Why oh why oh why did they send Schroder down in the Bergmann transaction?

Ayala, Charlie and Dave said that Wright had very good numbers vs. Rauch.

Thought some of you might enjoy this.

http://tinyurl.com/68alyq

CiL, ABM - C50 asked about the hamate stuff, so I replied with what I had dug up last year. I'm not sure I buy it is a problem for Zimmerman, and have not said so. He does seem to drive the ball OK. His average would have nothing to so with his hamate. You don't see him shaking his hand or flexing his fist when does not square up on a ball.

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