Ballou HS Rocks the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
Photo of the Day: November 27, 2009
Morning Roundup: Black Friday Edition
Car Pushed Into Anacostia River By Train
The Saturday Morning Post
With 1.8 percent of the season over, the Nationals were on pace to win a record setting 162 games. Currently, they are on a six-game losing streak, and now find themselves at the bottom of the NL East. That said, it is still too early in the season to be that worried about wins and losses, right Detroit? For example, a quick look at the standings show Baltimore, Kansas City, and Florida leading their divisions, and we know that that can't continue. Besides, it doesn't look like that many of you are paying attention anyway.
Bullpen Issues
As I, and many others said, the bullpen was going to be the Nationals' rock this year. Well, with Chad Cordero out, that hasn't been the case. Jon Rauch has been filling Cordero's closer spot, and is currently posting an ERA of 6 with a blown save, and the bullpen as a whole has only converted only one save out of four opportunities. Again, it is too early in the season for these statistics to mean much, but this early trend is disturbing. The team hopes that once Cordero returns, everyone can go back to their normal roles and the bullpen will return to form.
The Injured
It wouldn't be a Nationals season without some of our key players on the DL. Dmitri Young, Elijah Dukes, Shawn Hill, Wily Mo Pena, Ryan Wagner, and Chad Cordero are all injured. Each of these players is expected to make big contributions to the team this year. Honestly, there are times when it seems like the teams in this town need better athletic trainers. You know things are bad when Felipe Lopez is your starting left fielder.
Briefly Noted: The new stadium thinks that Tim Redding struck out Henley Ramirez on a 58 mph pitch... Shawn Hill is feeling good, and may join the team soon... the benevolent Peter Angelos wishes the Nationals well.
Meaningless statistic of the week: The Nationals are currently tied with the Phillies for the National League lead with 4 batters being hit by a pitch in the first 6 innings of a game.
Photo by Flickr user Liliang
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Eh... Cold Weather, DC other playoff teams playing, crappy competition, and school still being in = crappy attendance. I noticed last year at RFK, once the schools released, attendance took a big jump. As for the new stadium angle, yes it should be higher, but new stadiums are a dime a dozen nowadays.
In fact the Nationals are on par, attendance wise, with other similar market sized teams:
From Monday and thier next game:
Philadelphia at Cincinnati: 14,647, 67F
Next Game: Road
Seattle at Baltimore: 10,774, 52F
Next Game: Road
Atlanta at Colorado: 24,304, 41F
Next Game 24,640 54F
Florida at Washington: 20,487, 50F
Next Game: 23,340. 65F
Chicago at Pittsburg: Home Opener: 37,491 62F
Next Game: 9,735 69F
Minnesota at Chicago WS: Home Opener: 38,082 53F
Next Game: 16,499. 42F
San Diego at San Francisco: Home Opener: 42,861 59F
Next Game: 30,310 54F
St. Louis at Huston: Home Opener 43,483 80F
Next Game: 29,187 Roof Closed
Meh, the new stadium left me cold. It's got no real character to it, and that's not something that will change with age because it wasn't built that way.
For what it's worth, in this 6 game losing streak, half the games were 1-run losses. And in each one, I believe, the team was in position to win it but left runners stranded. I'd like to believe that if Young were available on the bench he might have been able to knock in a run or two, rather than having to rely on Felipe Lopez.