Official 2012 Washington National Season

[Santheb]

8-2 on the road trip, with one big laugher against the Giants. They are showing NO signs of slowing down. Although Desmond's impending return has me worried about Lombardozzi. He's obviously the best leadoff man the team has, dude had four more hits today and has been very hard to get out on this road trip. Werth's ankle is worrisome too, but he's been nothing short of great since he's been back.

I can't lie. I'm so excited about these Nationals that I haven't even really been paying attention to the Redskins, when normally in August I'm itching for September to hurry up and get here. This team is young, very talented and very good, with an excellent manager and a REAL GM. If Rizzo and Davey don't win Executive and Manager of the year respectively, then that is just another rigged award.

Stay hot, Nats!

edit: just looked it up, 20 of the next 26 games are against the NL East (the others are against the Cardinals and the Cubs). Six of those games are against Atlanta. This is the stretch where the Nationals need to shut the door and let Atlanta know that they're competing for the wild card, not the division. I think they can do it.

[cal_junior]

Originally Posted by Santheb

Desmond's impending return has me worried about Lombardozzi. He's obviously the best leadoff man the team has, dude had four more hits today and has been very hard to get out on this road trip. Werth's ankle is worrisome too, but he's been nothing short of great since he's been back.

I've been thinking about this very thing for the past few weeks. At this point there is no way to sit Steve Lombardozzi. The guy is too good at the plate. Davey's going to earn his money over the next few month.

[Santheb]

Originally Posted by cal_junior

I've been thinking about this very thing for the past few weeks. At this point there is no way to sit Steve Lombardozzi. The guy is too good at the plate. Davey's going to earn his money over the next few month.

Exactly. He's just too solid. Doesn't make many outs on the basepaths, plays solid defense, always puts the ball in play (and therefore not striking out), and seems to be well liked.

Regardless, its good to have to be making decisions like that. It means the team is very deep, which we all already knew.

[Ibleedburgundy]

Rob Dibble is a complete jackass:

Originally Posted by Rob Dibble

“Do you need your dad to talk to the general manager? You know, that’s sad to me. Is Scott Boras gonna come out? If he talks about Stephen Strasburg, so help me God, I’m gonna go bananas tomorrow night, because this kid is a man. He’s 23 years old, he’s married, he’s making $4 million a year. Speak up for yourself....Nobody’s dad gets involved in their Major League kid’s career. It just doesn’t happen. But it shows you, Tony Gwynn pitched him once a week, every Friday at San Diego State. He goes to Washington, the PR people walk him to the bullpen, almost hold his hand to walk him out there. I mean, it’s just been one thing after another.”

.......

“That’s all you need to know. It’s out of my hands. I don’t want it in my hands, even though I’m a professional pitcher trying to — from spring training to the end of the season — win championships....He’s in a totally different world. Remember the Stepford Wives? He’s a Stepford Pitcher.”

.......

“If Stephen Strasburg is naive enough to think that he’s going out there by himself every fifth day, and the defense and the catcher and the pitching coach and the manager and everybody else isn’t out there pulling, trying to get this guy to win, and then he just goes out there and gets 18 outs and acts like this is the way it’s supposed to be? It’s kind of sad in a way. I feel sorry for someone that thinks that’s all it’s about, getting my 18 outs and going and taking a shower and doing it again in five days, and when I get to 160 innings then I’m just gonna sit on the bench and hope that they can do it without me. That’s sad. That’s what it really is.”

.......

You still talk about Strasburg like he’s a phenom. He won his 14th game [Wednesday]. Look at his numbers: 225 innings pitched over three years, and he did have the Tommy John surgery, but he doesn’t have any type of numbers to back up the whole phenom thing. So for Mike Rizzo to be claiming that we’re protecting this guy? You’re getting paid to pitch, pitch the guy in the postseason if he’s not hurt. If he’s hurt, put him on the DL. I want to stop talking about it, because you know what, no one’s that special. And that got my ass canned when I was in DC, because I would just remind everybody, listen, nobody’s that special....A once in a generation pitcher that can’t even average six innings pitched a start? And now he’s gonna be shut down because he can’t pitch in the postseason?”

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/...9ba8_blog.html

Wow! What a jealous douche!

[Santheb]

Gotta love the Beast!!

[cal_junior]

Originally Posted by Santheb

Gotta love the Beast!!

Absolutely. Let's get the Dodgers going and make this a fun night.

[Santheb]

I have no idea what just happened but the Nats win so WOOOT!

edit: upon further review, it looks like the Nationals need to send a thank you card and maybe a six pack because he definitely lost the game for the Braves tonight. That was some type of terrible defense. What a wild play. Six games up!

edit 2: for those who probably missed it

[Patrick]

And now 10-4 against Atlanta this year ....... LOVE IT!!!!

[Santheb]

Ugly, ugly series vs the Phils. Goes back to what I said about the Nats vs top pitchers, but even Kyle Kendrick looked good against the Nats. Thank God those guys are way out of it.

[cal_junior]

Originally Posted by Santheb

Ugly, ugly series vs the Phils. Goes back to what I said about the Nats vs top pitchers, but even Kyle Kendrick looked good against the Nats. Thank God those guys are way out of it.

Even good teams look bad without their best hitters. Get Morse and Desmond back in there (and bench Bryce Harper for a few games) and they'll be fine.

[Patrick]

Was up in Philly for the game Saturday. Really nice stadium and was amazed how different the baseball fans are compared to the football fans.
Anyway, Nat need a shot in the arm with some energy. They looked very sluggish. Hopefully returning home this week will give them a jump start to finish out the last month strong (or at least play .500 ball).

[Santheb]

Originally Posted by cal_junior

Even good teams look bad without their best hitters. Get Morse and Desmond back in there (and bench Bryce Harper for a few games) and they'll be fine.

I hope so. Cliff Lee had them in the palm of his hand yesterday.

[cal_junior]

Originally Posted by Santheb

I hope so. Cliff Lee had them in the palm of his hand yesterday.

Lee was very good against a bad lineup for six innings, no doubt about that. But if Werth and LaRoche play the game the way it's supposed to be played the score is 4-2 with nobody out in the top of the 7th.

If the Nats have this much trouble scoring runs with Desmond and Morse in the lineup I'll be worried. But since the All-Star break they've been a very good offensive team.

[Patrick]

Well I guess we can give the Nationals a congrats for securing it's first winning season here .... Way TOO early to even discuss it but I have to laugh when a Washington/Baltimore WS is memtioned. Right now I'd just thinking about another win .... then another and another. ......22

[cal_junior]

Originally Posted by Patrick

Well I guess we can give the Nationals a congrats for securing it's first winning season here .... Way TOO early to even discuss it but I have to laugh when a Washington/Baltimore WS is memtioned. Right now I'd just thinking about another win .... then another and another. ......22

Agreed. All I care about is winning the division. Anything beyond that is icing.