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Well, we may have been reluctant at first due to his, um, colorful past (as were many others). We also doubted his All Star chances. Now, though, we’re now firmly aboard the Dmitri Young Chuckwagon. In the same week he was named to the NL team for next week’s All Star Game in San Francisco, Young went 3-4 yesterday. His day was highlighted by a grand slam, cementing the Nats 6-0 win in front of almost 40,000 boisterous patriots at RFK. Dmitri has hit .413 and slugged .594 over the past eight weeks, which is great, but we really love him because of photos like this one.
[Amusing side note: After watching him chug to second after lacing one down the left field line for his 7th inning double yesterday, D’meathook was a mere triple from hitting for the cycle, inspiring a hilarious conversation to concoct a scenario where Young gets a triple: “bloops a ball into short right, where the RF dives, breaks his collerbone, and lays prostrate on top of the ball…” It’s fun! Create your own Dmitri triples at home!]
Young’s resurgence in the first half and supportive clubhouse presence has almost certainly marked him as the club’s most tantalizing trade commodity, so we have to give some credit where it’s due. By taking a chance on Young before the season, GM Jim Bowden has created an opportunity to land a decent prospect and kept the team’s offense within driving distance of respectability.
In the longer term, Nats fans have even more reason to be thrilled with the steady improvement of their young lefty, Matt Chico. As detailed in today’s WaPo game recap, Chico has kept his composure through the offense’s June swoon where he received little run support. After getting knocked around by the Tigers (doesn’t everybody?), Chico surrendered just one run in 19 innings in his next three starts, including 7 shutout innings yesterday. The 24-year-old is doing all Manny Acta could hope for in throwing strikes and eating innings. Perhaps most importantly on D.C.’s M.A.S.H. rotation, he’s the only National pitcher that made all of his scheduled starts in the first half.
The Nats now look to build a little momentum in the last few games before the All Star Break. Jason Bergmann will try to return to his early season form this evening in the series finale with the Cubs.
Photo by Flickr user The Ardvaark.
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its too bad DCist readers don't like sports. posts regarding the nats or the caps never get any comments.
Can anyone explain to me the logic behind walking Zimmerman?
Not sure why ANYONE would walk anyone to get to Young these days. Kinda stupid, really.
Here's how Dmitri gets a triple: rightfielder chases after a line drive down the line. As soon as he's about to pick it up, Teddy flies into him while suspended on a cable. Both fall down, and the centerfielder has to flag down the ball. Nook Logan would've come home standing, but Young isn't Nook Logan.
I like sports. In fact I was at the game on Monday night. That was the most tedious, frustrating, boring game ever. The Nats didn't show up until the 5th inning and even then they couldn't keep the rally going on a Nook Logan double when he drove in their first run. It wasn't until the 9th that they scored another run. Sure they kept the Cubbies scoreless for the remainder but they allowed 7 runs in the first four innings. Unless you have an offense to go with that defense you're not going to win games.
DC isn't much of a baseball town. At least not for the Nats. There were more Cubs fans than Nats fans on Monday and I'm sure it's the same at most of the other games too. I'd like to think that the new stadium will bring out more people, if only to see the new digs but long term attendance is all on the team. Until they get their act together and start winning games it's going to be a long uphill battle.
As for hockey, well, admittedly I'm not a huge fan so I have no argument there.
foggy: presumably they loaded up the bases to create a play at any plate. obviously not too smart in hindsight!
@Foggy Maggoo:
They were hoping to get a double play, and didn't bank on Young hitting that grand slam (obviously).
I was a little confused too though...didn't really seem like a good strategy.
Speaking of the George bobble head, that's the primary reason we went to the game yesterday. But we must have missed the 20,000 cutoff. So I had to buy one from an entrepreneurial security guard. Looks like there's going for about $40 on EBay now.
joeadk -- The George bobblehead was the big draw for me, too. (Well, that and the fourth-inning Running of the Presidents, which never fails to amuse me.) I missed out on the 20,000 cutoff, too -- but I also felt like the giveaway was kind of disorganized. A security guard (less entrepreneurial than yours) told me that folks were supposed to pick up vouchers somewhere near the main gate, then go to the concourse behind center field to actually pick up the things. Signs said bobbleheads were limited to one per person, but I saw people walking away with as many as three each.
Ah well. There will be three more opportunities: bobblehead giveaways are planned for Abe, Tom and Teddy in the coming months.
Oooh, please make more crazy predictions for this weekend's games! D'Meat Hook just hit his first triple of the season of a shot off the right-center wall.
Such an all-stud.
I just about fell off my chair when I heard Carpenter's "Dmitri's going for three!... Are you kidding me?!" call tonight. Absolutely fabulous. It's almost like he reads DCist (does he??)
Too bad Ayala gave those runs right back, but seeing Young's first triple in nearly a year made it worth it.
the 4th of july game was majority cubs fans, easily. the nats just don't pull it in. walking zimmerman made sense since there was only one out and runners on 2nd and 3rd.
as for the bobbleheads, i got one, but my poor GW is missing his right leg below the knee, no doubt due to a revolutionary war injury that history has failed to mention. and the reason people were seen walking away with several bobbleheads is because they probably went to pick them up in the centerfield concourse with several of the vouchers in hand. that made more sense than trying to hand the things out at the gate.
also, how hard is it to be among the first 20,000 fans at a nats game? honestly. most nat games are lucky to even get that many people to show up. put in a little hustle and show up before the 5th inning next time to get your jefferson on august 4.
"also, how hard is it to be among the first 20,000 fans at a nats game?"
Closing down the Midtown Bar Crawl the night before made it hard to get up for the 12:00 game. and there were close to 40,000 there. plus, the operation seemed to be less than optimal with said people walking around with 4 or 5 vouchers. The other mistake was buying tickets for will call.
I'd have to disagree with guest #11. There were lots of Cubs fans at RFK on the 4th, but it wasn't close to a majority. That place blew up for Ronnie's double and then Dmitri's bomb.
Also, having gotten there in the top of the first and missed a bobblehead voucher, it was a little difficult. I've seen the mismanagment of a lot of RFK giveaways in the last 3 years (out at some gates while giving away 2 at a time at other gates), so I'd have to agree with joeadk's "less than optimal" assessment.