Adam Dunn's blast was still streaking toward the stands when my wife asked: How many of those runs is he going to give back in left field?
Wow. She isn't going to get over this Lastings Milledge thing any time soon. The answer she got, at least for last night, was NONE.
Amazing how a simple thing like a victory eight games into the season brightens a mood. It is a beautiful crystal-clear blue sky day down this way. I feel great. Went to bed with a smile and woke up with a smile.
Anyone know how to clean champagne out of Berber carpets?
Friday, April 17, 2009
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Rain - a blessing and a curse
I had a feeling it was futile before I even got in the car. Raining hard here, rained hard pretty much the entire drive. Ever the optimist *** I felt like Charlie Brown standing on the mound screaming as the rain soaked him.
But the rainout turned out to be an OK thing. MASN was kind enough to invite a bunch of us blogging types to invade their suite (there goes the neighborhood). Instead, several of us got together at a place in Crystal City. Kristen and Stephanie were there from We've Got Heart. Chris, late of Capitol Punishment and now with NBCWashington.com, was there along with Brian from Nationals Farm Authority and Ian from Nationals Pride. Also there - our host Todd Webster from MASN, Rob Dibble and his wife (whose name escapes me and I hate that - I'm terrible with names).
We watched the Caps lose. Every team I watch these days loses. I won't watch them anymore. I promise. We ate, drank some (but stopped early because we had to drive) and talked a lot.
Dibble was very entertaining, very engaging. To say it was an enjoyable evening would be an understatement. Yeah, I know. I haven't been the most open-minded about Mr. Dibble but I'm also not an unreasonable person and I promise to be much more open-minded now. I hope once he gets to know the team/town/audience better that we will see and hear in the booth the same guy we saw/heard last night. Those who were there will vouch for this point - it will be fun and entertaining.
I'm not going to back away from my feeling about cheering in the booth. That's probably just a holdover from my "no cheering" media days. I still don't like it. That's OK. There's plenty about me not to like either.
But I will look past it and listen. I heard enough last night to move my knowledge level up a few points.
As for the cursed part - Zimmermann now debuts on Monday. Saturday and Wednesday are part of my ticket plan. I bought Sunday to see the originally scheduled debut. Not sure I can make another trip on Monday, as much as I'd like to, since I do have some actual work to get done. I may be unemplo ** self employed but I do have SOME stuff to get done.
Heck, I can just stay home and listen to Bob and Rob. I learned a bit about Zimmermann last night and I'm sure I'll learn more Monday.
Thanks Todd/MASN for hosting the evening, thanks Kristen for helping pull it all together - thanks to all of you for putting up with me. We bloggers do get out of our basements every now and then and we have fun when we do.
But the rainout turned out to be an OK thing. MASN was kind enough to invite a bunch of us blogging types to invade their suite (there goes the neighborhood). Instead, several of us got together at a place in Crystal City. Kristen and Stephanie were there from We've Got Heart. Chris, late of Capitol Punishment and now with NBCWashington.com, was there along with Brian from Nationals Farm Authority and Ian from Nationals Pride. Also there - our host Todd Webster from MASN, Rob Dibble and his wife (whose name escapes me and I hate that - I'm terrible with names).
We watched the Caps lose. Every team I watch these days loses. I won't watch them anymore. I promise. We ate, drank some (but stopped early because we had to drive) and talked a lot.
Dibble was very entertaining, very engaging. To say it was an enjoyable evening would be an understatement. Yeah, I know. I haven't been the most open-minded about Mr. Dibble but I'm also not an unreasonable person and I promise to be much more open-minded now. I hope once he gets to know the team/town/audience better that we will see and hear in the booth the same guy we saw/heard last night. Those who were there will vouch for this point - it will be fun and entertaining.
I'm not going to back away from my feeling about cheering in the booth. That's probably just a holdover from my "no cheering" media days. I still don't like it. That's OK. There's plenty about me not to like either.
But I will look past it and listen. I heard enough last night to move my knowledge level up a few points.
As for the cursed part - Zimmermann now debuts on Monday. Saturday and Wednesday are part of my ticket plan. I bought Sunday to see the originally scheduled debut. Not sure I can make another trip on Monday, as much as I'd like to, since I do have some actual work to get done. I may be unemplo ** self employed but I do have SOME stuff to get done.
Heck, I can just stay home and listen to Bob and Rob. I learned a bit about Zimmermann last night and I'm sure I'll learn more Monday.
Thanks Todd/MASN for hosting the evening, thanks Kristen for helping pull it all together - thanks to all of you for putting up with me. We bloggers do get out of our basements every now and then and we have fun when we do.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
An explosion south of Richmond
That noise many of you up D.C. way just heard was my lovely wife after hearing the news that her favorite Washington National was now a Syracuse Chief.
This is not a happy woman. I've hidden the phones. She's trying to go straight to the top, right past Manny, Uncle Stan and the IGM (interim GM). She wants El Jefe on the line. It could get ugly if she's successful. If we see Uncle Stan or the others coming on our visit this weekend, I'll point her in the other direction.
"Did he make those errors at second base yesterday??"
No, but he doesn't play second base.
"Did he look like a drunk beginner ice skater in left field?"
No, but they're paying Dunn lots of money to hit lots of home runs and he has to play somewhere. No DH in this league.
"Did he have anything to do with the Plunk Plunk Boom Boom?"
No, he's not a pitcher.
"He'd probably be a better one!" Hard to argue with that at this point. Maybe he'll come back as CC Sabathia?
She went on to say that she's seen enough to know he's hardly the problem with this team. She can't believe management thinks sending her dude out is going to fix things. No, I tried to explain, no one in management could possibly be that dumb. It's more about fixing HIM at this point than fixing the team.
Actually, I think the fix is simple. He's playing the wrong position and batting in the wrong spot. He's not a center fielder or a leadoff hitter and I wonder about anyone who thought it was a good idea. He's a corner outfielder and No. 6 hitter at this stage of his career. That might be all the fixing he needs. I still think the guy has a shot at being a very good player. A future MVP as many thought when he was overvalued as a Mets prospect. No. But he can still be plenty good.
But no one asked me. Or my wife.
They haven't asked me about the lineup, either, but to me that's simple given the current personnel. This is how it should look:
Dukes - 8
Guzman - 6 (assuming speedy return)
Zimmerman - 5
Dunn - 7
Johnson - 3
Willingham - 9
Flores - 2
Hernandez - 4
Pitcher - 1
When Kearns plays once a week, he can slide right into the six hole. When Nieves plays (please remove Bard, please), he can hit seventh.
Give it a whirl and see what happens. As long as the lineup can score 12-15 runs a night, it should be OK.
The bright side to the Milledge move, my wife decided, is we can go see him locally when Syracuse visi *** oh, wait. No team here anymore.
This is not a happy woman. I've hidden the phones. She's trying to go straight to the top, right past Manny, Uncle Stan and the IGM (interim GM). She wants El Jefe on the line. It could get ugly if she's successful. If we see Uncle Stan or the others coming on our visit this weekend, I'll point her in the other direction.
"Did he make those errors at second base yesterday??"
No, but he doesn't play second base.
"Did he look like a drunk beginner ice skater in left field?"
No, but they're paying Dunn lots of money to hit lots of home runs and he has to play somewhere. No DH in this league.
"Did he have anything to do with the Plunk Plunk Boom Boom?"
No, he's not a pitcher.
"He'd probably be a better one!" Hard to argue with that at this point. Maybe he'll come back as CC Sabathia?
She went on to say that she's seen enough to know he's hardly the problem with this team. She can't believe management thinks sending her dude out is going to fix things. No, I tried to explain, no one in management could possibly be that dumb. It's more about fixing HIM at this point than fixing the team.
Actually, I think the fix is simple. He's playing the wrong position and batting in the wrong spot. He's not a center fielder or a leadoff hitter and I wonder about anyone who thought it was a good idea. He's a corner outfielder and No. 6 hitter at this stage of his career. That might be all the fixing he needs. I still think the guy has a shot at being a very good player. A future MVP as many thought when he was overvalued as a Mets prospect. No. But he can still be plenty good.
But no one asked me. Or my wife.
They haven't asked me about the lineup, either, but to me that's simple given the current personnel. This is how it should look:
Dukes - 8
Guzman - 6 (assuming speedy return)
Zimmerman - 5
Dunn - 7
Johnson - 3
Willingham - 9
Flores - 2
Hernandez - 4
Pitcher - 1
When Kearns plays once a week, he can slide right into the six hole. When Nieves plays (please remove Bard, please), he can hit seventh.
Give it a whirl and see what happens. As long as the lineup can score 12-15 runs a night, it should be OK.
The bright side to the Milledge move, my wife decided, is we can go see him locally when Syracuse visi *** oh, wait. No team here anymore.
What would you do?
We had plenty of time on the way back to the car yesterday. We "upgraded" to the club level - a treat for the family for the opener - and it took forever to get through the logjam out of there, through the logjam downstairs and actually out of the stadium. Good thing it won't be that crowded anymore.
During the walk, we discussed the question: You're off to a brutal 0-7 start. What would you do?
We came up with no good answers but talked about a lot of things.
*A manager change won't solve anything. I'm still not sold on Manny as a great manager and it seems something else comes up every day. I heard lots of grumbling yesterday, particularly with the whole Rivera thing. But unless there's someone out there who is a magician, I don't see that a switch will do any good now. I'd love to have a chance to judge Manny with a full deck. If you have a great alternative for a new manager, present it.
*The GM we loved to hate is gone and we're left with his mess. Rizzo is not going to be able to fix it quickly. It is a poorly constructed team. Why, my son asked, trade for a guy like Willingham if you aren't going to use him? Who among those in the glut of OF/1B types can be moved for anything of value? Maybe they want to use Johnson to "showcase" him but is that necessary? There's no question he's a quality player - when he's able to play. His injury history is why the Nats won't get full value for him. Dukes' off-field history decreases his value. But he may be the one guy you don't want to trade anyway. History aside, dude can really play. Milledge appears to be a guy who was overvalued as a Mets prospect. He might be a fine player, I don't yet see the greatness that was predicted for him. He won't bring back close to what he cost. You can't trade Dunn. Kearns? Might be time to stroke that check and say thanks, man, good luck.
*The best thing to do may be hope that Zimmermann is the real deal and Strasburg signs quickly (no matter what it costs - he is a MUST get). Is there one pitcher currently on that team that scares opponents? That inspires the sure-fire confidence in those on our side? Maybe I'm being sacriligious here but is Randy St. Claire the Be All End All of pitching coaches we've been led to believe? In four-plus years of Nats-dom, name me one pitcher he's developed into a stud. The current rotation (Zimmermann excluded) is pretty much four No. 4 starters. We Need The One - and he isn't coming via trade.
*Tell me again why this team is carrying three catchers? Of all the problems it has, catching doesn't appear to be one of them. The Flores-Nieves combination is just fine. Josh Bard is not an upgrade. Go with Flores-Nieves. If that doesn't suit, move Nieves and get Montz up as a backup. But there's a wasted roster spot there with three (and I don't think any of them can play elsewhere but I could be wrong).
*I am not clear on the thinking that led anyone to believe Milledge was a leadoff hitter. I would love to see Dukes-Guzman-Zimmerman-Dunn as the first four for a stretch, just to see if it works. Guzman is a perfect two-hole hitter and there's nothing wrong with having a power hitter who can run like crazy up top. You could have Willingham-Milledge-Flores after the first four. Or Johnson-Milledge-Flores or whatever. Give Dukes a look up top. Leading off and playing center field *** every single day, please. Put Milledge in a corner. Yeah, he had some nice plays yesterday. He can make them in right, too. Dukes will cover more ground and has a better arm.
*Who besides Zimmermann is in the farm system that we really, really can't wait to see? Is the farm system really any good?
EDIT - great, fast work by my friends at We'veGotHeart (see cool links to the right) getting up the news that Milledge has been sent to AAA. No word on a call-up or other move in the initial post. Clears up a logjam (Dunn, Dukes, Willingham PLEASE across the outfield). Could be good for him IF he goes down with a good attitude. Be something to watch anyway.
During the walk, we discussed the question: You're off to a brutal 0-7 start. What would you do?
We came up with no good answers but talked about a lot of things.
*A manager change won't solve anything. I'm still not sold on Manny as a great manager and it seems something else comes up every day. I heard lots of grumbling yesterday, particularly with the whole Rivera thing. But unless there's someone out there who is a magician, I don't see that a switch will do any good now. I'd love to have a chance to judge Manny with a full deck. If you have a great alternative for a new manager, present it.
*The GM we loved to hate is gone and we're left with his mess. Rizzo is not going to be able to fix it quickly. It is a poorly constructed team. Why, my son asked, trade for a guy like Willingham if you aren't going to use him? Who among those in the glut of OF/1B types can be moved for anything of value? Maybe they want to use Johnson to "showcase" him but is that necessary? There's no question he's a quality player - when he's able to play. His injury history is why the Nats won't get full value for him. Dukes' off-field history decreases his value. But he may be the one guy you don't want to trade anyway. History aside, dude can really play. Milledge appears to be a guy who was overvalued as a Mets prospect. He might be a fine player, I don't yet see the greatness that was predicted for him. He won't bring back close to what he cost. You can't trade Dunn. Kearns? Might be time to stroke that check and say thanks, man, good luck.
*The best thing to do may be hope that Zimmermann is the real deal and Strasburg signs quickly (no matter what it costs - he is a MUST get). Is there one pitcher currently on that team that scares opponents? That inspires the sure-fire confidence in those on our side? Maybe I'm being sacriligious here but is Randy St. Claire the Be All End All of pitching coaches we've been led to believe? In four-plus years of Nats-dom, name me one pitcher he's developed into a stud. The current rotation (Zimmermann excluded) is pretty much four No. 4 starters. We Need The One - and he isn't coming via trade.
*Tell me again why this team is carrying three catchers? Of all the problems it has, catching doesn't appear to be one of them. The Flores-Nieves combination is just fine. Josh Bard is not an upgrade. Go with Flores-Nieves. If that doesn't suit, move Nieves and get Montz up as a backup. But there's a wasted roster spot there with three (and I don't think any of them can play elsewhere but I could be wrong).
*I am not clear on the thinking that led anyone to believe Milledge was a leadoff hitter. I would love to see Dukes-Guzman-Zimmerman-Dunn as the first four for a stretch, just to see if it works. Guzman is a perfect two-hole hitter and there's nothing wrong with having a power hitter who can run like crazy up top. You could have Willingham-Milledge-Flores after the first four. Or Johnson-Milledge-Flores or whatever. Give Dukes a look up top. Leading off and playing center field *** every single day, please. Put Milledge in a corner. Yeah, he had some nice plays yesterday. He can make them in right, too. Dukes will cover more ground and has a better arm.
*Who besides Zimmermann is in the farm system that we really, really can't wait to see? Is the farm system really any good?
EDIT - great, fast work by my friends at We'veGotHeart (see cool links to the right) getting up the news that Milledge has been sent to AAA. No word on a call-up or other move in the initial post. Clears up a logjam (Dunn, Dukes, Willingham PLEASE across the outfield). Could be good for him IF he goes down with a good attitude. Be something to watch anyway.
Monday, April 13, 2009
Arrrrggghhhhhhhhh!
I'll try to post something of some substance tomorrow. Right now, that's about the best I gots.
Just got home, pretty much yelled that the whole way home. My family at least understood.
Great crowd, great atmosphere. And another L.
Some guy behind us actually said the Nats were on a pace to lose 100. Uh, my son noted, they're on a pace to lose 162.
Three home runs. Was it 12 hits? Eight runs. You win that game.
But three errors and the inning we dubbed Plunk, Plunk, Boom, Boom will do a team in.
Arrrrrrgggghhhhhhhhhhh.
Sad news about Harry Kalas. Got a text right when I got to the stadium. Philly has some classic voices - who is the old Spectrum announcer? - and it is a shame to see one go. RIP.
Just got home, pretty much yelled that the whole way home. My family at least understood.
Great crowd, great atmosphere. And another L.
Some guy behind us actually said the Nats were on a pace to lose 100. Uh, my son noted, they're on a pace to lose 162.
Three home runs. Was it 12 hits? Eight runs. You win that game.
But three errors and the inning we dubbed Plunk, Plunk, Boom, Boom will do a team in.
Arrrrrrgggghhhhhhhhhhh.
Sad news about Harry Kalas. Got a text right when I got to the stadium. Philly has some classic voices - who is the old Spectrum announcer? - and it is a shame to see one go. RIP.
Dazed and confused
Here I am, back in my easy chair for another couple of hours. Then we'll load up the wagon and head north for the home opener. I should be pretty excited. Instead, I feel like I've been clubbed in the head.
My son and I had a great time in Atlanta. Father-son bonding and all. But, daggone, 0-6 to start the season? I refuse to rationalize it anymore (like I ever did?). This team could not afford this kind of start.
I was sitting in surpringly empty Turner Field in the seventh inning yesterday when a young man and his wife plopped down in my row. They had on Nationals hats and she carried a pretty cool Nats mini-backpack. He was from Vienna, graduated from James Madison High just like I did. Moved to Atlanta in 2005. Sat through all three games over the weekend, just like I did. His father flew in and saw two of the games with him. So he had a father-son weekend, too, and enjoyed it except for, well, those pesky losses.
"What concerns me," he said, "is I don't see any fire on this team. Something's wrong."
I wish I could have offered an argument. I could not.
The team will score runs. If opponents keep putting lots of people on base for Dunn, Zimmerman, Johnson, Kearns, Willingham, eventually they'll pay for that? Won't they? Willingham won't always look at a clear strike with the bases loaded? Will he?
But you sense an air of something - defeatism maybe? - EVERY time the other team gets a chance. They make a mistake, we whiff with the bases loaded. The Nats make a mistake, Escobar hits it out. It felt like everyone in the park knew that was coming, including those on the field.
I also don't have a lot of confidence in that pitching staff right now. I can only hope Zimmermann is the real thing.
And it isn't in any way fair to single out one player for this 0-6 mess, but I do wonder if Josh Bard is really necessary? I probably just caught him on a bad day. Or not. I saw nothing that indicates he is any kind of an upgrade. Brian McCann stole a base. Yeah, yeah, he got a great jump against the pitcher but a solid throw still gets him. Flores and Nieves would have wasted him blindfolded.
If I had a dollar for everyone who has told me not to panic yet, I could afford season tickets on the presidential level. So I'm not going to panic yet. But it is not too early to be very concerned. 0-6 and the Phillies and Marlins up next?
I do not have the answer. But something has to be done, and fast.
My son and I had a great time in Atlanta. Father-son bonding and all. But, daggone, 0-6 to start the season? I refuse to rationalize it anymore (like I ever did?). This team could not afford this kind of start.
I was sitting in surpringly empty Turner Field in the seventh inning yesterday when a young man and his wife plopped down in my row. They had on Nationals hats and she carried a pretty cool Nats mini-backpack. He was from Vienna, graduated from James Madison High just like I did. Moved to Atlanta in 2005. Sat through all three games over the weekend, just like I did. His father flew in and saw two of the games with him. So he had a father-son weekend, too, and enjoyed it except for, well, those pesky losses.
"What concerns me," he said, "is I don't see any fire on this team. Something's wrong."
I wish I could have offered an argument. I could not.
The team will score runs. If opponents keep putting lots of people on base for Dunn, Zimmerman, Johnson, Kearns, Willingham, eventually they'll pay for that? Won't they? Willingham won't always look at a clear strike with the bases loaded? Will he?
But you sense an air of something - defeatism maybe? - EVERY time the other team gets a chance. They make a mistake, we whiff with the bases loaded. The Nats make a mistake, Escobar hits it out. It felt like everyone in the park knew that was coming, including those on the field.
I also don't have a lot of confidence in that pitching staff right now. I can only hope Zimmermann is the real thing.
And it isn't in any way fair to single out one player for this 0-6 mess, but I do wonder if Josh Bard is really necessary? I probably just caught him on a bad day. Or not. I saw nothing that indicates he is any kind of an upgrade. Brian McCann stole a base. Yeah, yeah, he got a great jump against the pitcher but a solid throw still gets him. Flores and Nieves would have wasted him blindfolded.
If I had a dollar for everyone who has told me not to panic yet, I could afford season tickets on the presidential level. So I'm not going to panic yet. But it is not too early to be very concerned. 0-6 and the Phillies and Marlins up next?
I do not have the answer. But something has to be done, and fast.
Saturday, April 11, 2009
At least I got a serenade
Excuse me if I've told this story before. It bears a repeat.
When I take my son the Braves Fan/Virginia Tech graduate to a game between the Braves and the Nats, we have a simple deal. I buy the tickets and the food and all. If Zimmerman hits a home run while we are there, the boy has to stand up and sing the U.Va. fight song. Loud and proud.
Tonight, he did to a rousing round of applause from those around us. I was proud of him. He took his punishment graciously.
The night went downhill from there.
A friend made me promise not to panic too early and I guess five games qualifies as too early. But anyone among us fandoms who isn't getting a bit concerned needs to maybe start getting that way. I'm going to keep from ranting here but this is a team that couldn't afford a bad start and it is off to a very bad start.
Some things that did chap my tail tonight.
*Home plate umpire Chuck Meriwether and first-base ump Eric Cooper. When Cooper rang Milledge up from first on a phantom swing, even my son the Braves fan said, "WHAT?" Sure didn't look close from our angle. Milledge tossed his helmet and his bat in frustration and then walked away. It looked like Meriwether took off behind him to give him some grief. Yo, Chuck. Be a pro. Either toss him when he tossed his stuff. Or, better yet, understand it is a momentary show of frustration and let it go since he's walking away. Don't follow him. Don't continue the argument. Who are you, some Angel Hernandez wannabe? (We'll ignore the rest of Milledge's bad night at the plate and make it clear here that Meriwether and Cooper didn't have anything to do with defeat No. 5).
*When Kelly Johnson got the hit that drove in the winning run, how did second base end up uncovered? There's no play at first there, none. The play, if there is one, will be at second. Someone has to be there. It's a fundamental thing.
I suspect we'll see Gonzalez at second and maybe leading off tomorrow? Willingham in left, Dunn at first, Nieves/Bard behind the plate and maybe Dukes in center? A guy in front of me tonight asked when Willingham got hurt, since he didn't seem to be playing much. "Isn't he supposed to be pretty good?" he said. So I hear. And he isn't hurt.
This is the kid's Christmas present, so I'm happy he's enjoying the trip so much. We ate at The Varsity this afternoon, kicked around town a bit. Great fireworks show after the game. Very well done. One more and then we'll fly home and prepare to head to D.C. on Monday. I hope my head doesn't explode before then.
When I take my son the Braves Fan/Virginia Tech graduate to a game between the Braves and the Nats, we have a simple deal. I buy the tickets and the food and all. If Zimmerman hits a home run while we are there, the boy has to stand up and sing the U.Va. fight song. Loud and proud.
Tonight, he did to a rousing round of applause from those around us. I was proud of him. He took his punishment graciously.
The night went downhill from there.
A friend made me promise not to panic too early and I guess five games qualifies as too early. But anyone among us fandoms who isn't getting a bit concerned needs to maybe start getting that way. I'm going to keep from ranting here but this is a team that couldn't afford a bad start and it is off to a very bad start.
Some things that did chap my tail tonight.
*Home plate umpire Chuck Meriwether and first-base ump Eric Cooper. When Cooper rang Milledge up from first on a phantom swing, even my son the Braves fan said, "WHAT?" Sure didn't look close from our angle. Milledge tossed his helmet and his bat in frustration and then walked away. It looked like Meriwether took off behind him to give him some grief. Yo, Chuck. Be a pro. Either toss him when he tossed his stuff. Or, better yet, understand it is a momentary show of frustration and let it go since he's walking away. Don't follow him. Don't continue the argument. Who are you, some Angel Hernandez wannabe? (We'll ignore the rest of Milledge's bad night at the plate and make it clear here that Meriwether and Cooper didn't have anything to do with defeat No. 5).
*When Kelly Johnson got the hit that drove in the winning run, how did second base end up uncovered? There's no play at first there, none. The play, if there is one, will be at second. Someone has to be there. It's a fundamental thing.
I suspect we'll see Gonzalez at second and maybe leading off tomorrow? Willingham in left, Dunn at first, Nieves/Bard behind the plate and maybe Dukes in center? A guy in front of me tonight asked when Willingham got hurt, since he didn't seem to be playing much. "Isn't he supposed to be pretty good?" he said. So I hear. And he isn't hurt.
This is the kid's Christmas present, so I'm happy he's enjoying the trip so much. We ate at The Varsity this afternoon, kicked around town a bit. Great fireworks show after the game. Very well done. One more and then we'll fly home and prepare to head to D.C. on Monday. I hope my head doesn't explode before then.
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