April 24, 2008
Nats Roundup: Lollygaggers!
At 6-16, the Nationals are currently the worst team in baseball. I wish that I could find some ray of hope, but when fellow fans in my section of Nationals Park lamented when pitcher Tim Redding was pulled from last night's game, it was because batting .222 makes him an offensive weapon on this team. In fact, he had the only RBIs in last night's game. The middle of the lineup is currently batting .209, and the team is 14th in the National League in runs scored, with 78. Those numbers would doom any team, but are particularly bad considering that the Nats are 15th in the league in team ERA, at 4.75. So, the team is scoring 3.5 runs per game, and giving up 4.75. It is a wonder that they have won 6, some may even say "a miracle".
Chad Cordero
After starting the season injured, and then failing to break 80 mph against the Mets on April 16, the Nationals became very concerned about Chad Cordero's health. The Chief claimed that the velocity problems were do to the cold, and an insufficient warm up. The team still had an enhanced MRI done, and the results are "rotator cuff tendinitis," but nothing more. Chad needs to build up some strength, but will not require surgery and is not going to go on the DL. The team needs him to shore up a bullpen that currently leads the National League in walks, has the fourth highest team ERA, and the fourth highest number of runs allowed.
Felipe Lopez
One of the few surprises this season has been Felipe Lopez. After starting the season on the bench, Lopez has earned a spot as the Nationals' starting second baseman. While he is only batting .255, he has gotten on base in 4 of his 5 starting games, and has brought some life to the top of the Nationals order. Lopez has been rewarded by becoming John Smoltz's 3,000th strike out victim. Lopez is following Mike Bacsik, who gave up Barry Bond's 756th homerun last year, on an infamous path to the Hall of Fame. I guess it will be nice to see some curly Ws in there, no matter how they got in.
Briefly Noted
First, congratulations to Rob Mackowiak on his first hit of the season. Sure, he is only batting .077 with 5 strikeouts in 13 at bats, but at least...hmm... Boswell thinks that the team is putting too much pressure on itself because of the new stadium... Paid attendance at last night's game was 32,780, the biggest crowd since opening day.
Meaningless Statistic of the Week: The Nationals are currently tied with the Giants for least number of intentional walks granted while playing at home, with 1.
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Relief pitcher King was a disaster. He disgraced the number 42.
what was the deal with all the seats supposedly facing home plate? I've only sat in the upper deck so far, but still -- if those faced home plate, it was home plate at RFK.
They dont face home plate. Most face second base.
According to this, the seats should all face home plate. Frankly, I spend so much time turning away in disgust that I haven't notice yet.
Maybe the Nats are just gearing up for a miraculous turn-around and race to the pennant, ala Major League?!?
I predict we keep losing big for another month or so, until the Lerners threaten to take away the team's right to discounted Ben's Chili Bowl. The Nats rally against the evil Lerners, and as quickly as you can put together a rousing speech and an inspiring baseball montage, they'll be in a one-game do-or-die playoff with the Braves for the last playoff spot! Nick Johnson calls a home run, but SURPRISE! he lays down a suicide squeeze and Guzman comes barreling home to win the game with 2 outs in the bottom of the ninth!
Unfortunately there will still only be 28,000 people in the stands to see it....
the crowd was so big last night b/c half of them were Mets fans.
though it was pretty cool to see so many people out. it was a great night for baseball...the weather was nice, i had a great group of friends with me, and the beer was flowing like wine.
I'm going tonight to suckle off the corporate teat, I wonder how much beer they're going to provide?
We need Pedro Serrano
fuck you, jobu, i do it myself
Fuck you Jo-Bu! [drinks shot]
The lamest part of the game: The tons of empty super-pricey seats behind home plate and the absolute usher prohibition on letting people move into this seats in the later innings. So every time the camera is focused on the batter, the folks at home get a lovely backdrop of empty seats. I think most of those seats are sold-out season ticket holders, but it looks awful on TV.
Supposedly they still have yet to sell some of those insanely pricey tickets behind home plate. Some are $300 a seat, I have read.
Hillrat,
At 7.50 a pop I hope you get as much free beer as possible to make up for the rest of suckers paying for it.
Great win tonight. Where has all that offense been???
They had 13 hits last night, and only one was an extra base hit (fortunately, it was Lopez's grand slam...). Not exactly inspiring.