sent to LA for RHP Luis Garcia and a player to be named. Just announced on the postgame.
Good for him, maybe he'll get a chance to play in the playoffs again.
He's responsible for one of my better moments as a Nats fan with that walk-off he hit against the Orioles last year.
All I know about Garcia is he's a Class A pitcher. I'll leave the dissection of the details to those who know more than I do. That's just about everybody.
Thanks for the memories Mr. Belliard.
Here is Garcia's player page - at first glance seems like a nice prospect.
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Khalil Greene
You knew it was coming. Admit it. Never a doubt. The only question when Albert Pujols stepped up in the ninth last night was not whether he'd crank one out of there but rather in what state would it land. I understand it came down in Delaware, somewhere near Dover.
My thinking today, though, has little to do with Pujols and more to do with the guy who tied the game in the eighth - Nats killer Khalil Greene. Every time he comes up, I think back to this game in 2005 in San Diego when he doused what little playoff hope the Nats have left.
I have always loved the guy. I have always wanted him to be a Nat. I seem to remember some rumor, maybe in 2006, that a Greene-Cordero trade was in the works.
He's a terrific defensive player. His recent offensive stats don't justify my love, I know that. Those who really understand stats can rip this argument to shreds easily.
Still, I'd take him in a minute. I don't know what's going on with this social anxiety disorder that's put him on the DL a couple of times. I'm pretty sure he's a free agent after this season and I would be rather happy - maybe unreasonably and unjustifiably happy - if he ended up a Nat.
It was just two years ago he hit 27 home runs and drove in 97 for San Diego. He faded hard in 08 and has seen the bottom fall out in 09. Good. That means they can get him at a discount.
Here's a story from earlier in the season where he talks about this social anxiety thing.
Here's another one.
He will be a free agent.
My thinking today, though, has little to do with Pujols and more to do with the guy who tied the game in the eighth - Nats killer Khalil Greene. Every time he comes up, I think back to this game in 2005 in San Diego when he doused what little playoff hope the Nats have left.
I have always loved the guy. I have always wanted him to be a Nat. I seem to remember some rumor, maybe in 2006, that a Greene-Cordero trade was in the works.
He's a terrific defensive player. His recent offensive stats don't justify my love, I know that. Those who really understand stats can rip this argument to shreds easily.
Still, I'd take him in a minute. I don't know what's going on with this social anxiety disorder that's put him on the DL a couple of times. I'm pretty sure he's a free agent after this season and I would be rather happy - maybe unreasonably and unjustifiably happy - if he ended up a Nat.
It was just two years ago he hit 27 home runs and drove in 97 for San Diego. He faded hard in 08 and has seen the bottom fall out in 09. Good. That means they can get him at a discount.
Here's a story from earlier in the season where he talks about this social anxiety thing.
Here's another one.
He will be a free agent.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
That sinking feeling
Love taking 2-3 from the Cubs. Love taking any game from the Cubs.
Hate, hate, HATE losing Nyjer Morgan. Broken hand? I suspect that's it for this season.
My afternoon smile has turned into an evening frown. Are the Nats just cursed? Even when things are going well, something bad has to happen.
Hate, hate, HATE losing Nyjer Morgan. Broken hand? I suspect that's it for this season.
My afternoon smile has turned into an evening frown. Are the Nats just cursed? Even when things are going well, something bad has to happen.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
I got it
Let me go on record right now, before they give the answer, that I nailed the AFLAC trivia on tonight's broadcast. Quickly. I don't know whether to be proud or ashamed.
(Four Nats who were traded/let go/signed elsewhere and then came back - one of them obviously Livan)
Got home from my wife's birthday dinner just in time to see that long home run and Dukes' dropped ball. And hear the trivia question.
(You get the others yet, if you aren't watching? I'll post the answer in the comments section. NAILED it!)
(Four Nats who were traded/let go/signed elsewhere and then came back - one of them obviously Livan)
Got home from my wife's birthday dinner just in time to see that long home run and Dukes' dropped ball. And hear the trivia question.
(You get the others yet, if you aren't watching? I'll post the answer in the comments section. NAILED it!)
Happy Birthday Sue
Today is my wife's birthday. It's No. 50, but please don't tell her I told you that. Actually, if you want to have some fun and see an interesting reaction, tell her I told you it is No. 60. Please clear out a room in the basement first because I might need it.
What better present could there be than waking up to the news that the Nats have signed Livan Hernandez and that he'll pitch on her birthday.
As mentioned in a previous post, Hernandez was on the mound in the first Nationals game I saw. I love watching him pitch. Later that same summer, I was there when he threw a 63 mph beauty to Vernon Wells that Wells swung at when he was halfway there. He had time to reset and swing again.
Yeah, I know. That was a long time ago. I know he's not a long-term answer. I'm still happy he's back.
Plus, it saves me from having to go out and buy an actual present. I can't top Livan Hernandez.
What better present could there be than waking up to the news that the Nats have signed Livan Hernandez and that he'll pitch on her birthday.
As mentioned in a previous post, Hernandez was on the mound in the first Nationals game I saw. I love watching him pitch. Later that same summer, I was there when he threw a 63 mph beauty to Vernon Wells that Wells swung at when he was halfway there. He had time to reset and swing again.
Yeah, I know. That was a long time ago. I know he's not a long-term answer. I'm still happy he's back.
Plus, it saves me from having to go out and buy an actual present. I can't top Livan Hernandez.
Monday, August 24, 2009
Who? Who? WHO??
First, thanks to the Nationals for conducting a second Bloggers Day yesterday. Since I wasn't able to make the first, another one was most appreciated. We were even written about in the Washington Times. That's me, Mr. Senior Citizen. I think I'm going to change the name of this to Grandpa's Blog or Droolings or something.
The Nats don't have to do this. Most teams just ignore us and hope we'll stay in our basements. There's another motive, too, let's not forget that. Stan Kasten is no dummy. He's been in the sports management business a long time. He admitted yesterday that they're still trying to figure out the Blogosphere (so are we) - but he does understand we reach people who might not otherwise be reached. So maybe it helps them, too. Nothing wrong with helping each other.
Uncle Stan and Mike Rizzo spent about 20 minutes chatting with us, and then Stan came back for some more during the game. One thing they said really intrigued me - they'd like to add a veteran pitcher to provide a mentor for the youngsters and some stability to the rotation. Not a No. 1 type - no Sabathias, Stan said - but a solid, proven pitcher who could help on and off the field.
Right away, my mind went into overdrive. Who? Who? WHO?? They can't say, of course, it would be tampering. But since I'm already thinking pretty much of 2010 and 2010 alone, I went to Cots and found a list of free agents.
One name jumps out at me, maybe not the first one who would jump out to most: Jason Marquis. Not great but much better than people think. When he pitched against the Nats the other night, MASN threw up an interesting graphic about the number of teams he's been on that have been in the playoffs.
He's won 37 games the past three seasons (including 14 thus far this season). He has 93 career victories. He turned 31 last week. He qualifies as a veteran but he has some years left. This is his sixth straight year with at least 10 wins.
Plus, he can hit. Career average of .205 and I seem to recall him being used as a pinch hitter here and there.
Another option: Kevin Millwood, though the asterisk by his name means there's an option controlled either by the player or the team. So he may not be available. He's a little older (35 in December) and not quite as good as Marquis. His best years, by far, came earlier in his career. But he is a veteran still capable of a lot of innings. And, unless he's changed dramatically in recent years, he's one of the best people I dealt with in my previous career.
I was covering the Richmond Braves way back in 1997 when they brought him up. His numbers in AA weren't that great and I remember thinking, "This is the best they have?" Well, in Richmond, he was darn near unhittable. Two one-hitters over a stretch of seven starts. He got yanked up to Atlanta pretty quick.
He won 45 games his first three full seasons. I covered a 1999 playoff game against Houston where he threw a one-hitter, maybe the best pitched game I've seen live. I thought for a long time that he was the game's next great pitcher.
That didn't quite work out but I think he still has some value. I'd rather see Marquis but I'd never complain about Kevin Millwood.
An interesting choice/risk given his injury: Brandon Webb. Without the injury, he falls into the Sabathia class and isn't even a topic of conversation.
Look over that list and form your own opinions, with that silly song "Who Will It Be Now?" playing over and over in your head.
The Nats don't have to do this. Most teams just ignore us and hope we'll stay in our basements. There's another motive, too, let's not forget that. Stan Kasten is no dummy. He's been in the sports management business a long time. He admitted yesterday that they're still trying to figure out the Blogosphere (so are we) - but he does understand we reach people who might not otherwise be reached. So maybe it helps them, too. Nothing wrong with helping each other.
Uncle Stan and Mike Rizzo spent about 20 minutes chatting with us, and then Stan came back for some more during the game. One thing they said really intrigued me - they'd like to add a veteran pitcher to provide a mentor for the youngsters and some stability to the rotation. Not a No. 1 type - no Sabathias, Stan said - but a solid, proven pitcher who could help on and off the field.
Right away, my mind went into overdrive. Who? Who? WHO?? They can't say, of course, it would be tampering. But since I'm already thinking pretty much of 2010 and 2010 alone, I went to Cots and found a list of free agents.
One name jumps out at me, maybe not the first one who would jump out to most: Jason Marquis. Not great but much better than people think. When he pitched against the Nats the other night, MASN threw up an interesting graphic about the number of teams he's been on that have been in the playoffs.
He's won 37 games the past three seasons (including 14 thus far this season). He has 93 career victories. He turned 31 last week. He qualifies as a veteran but he has some years left. This is his sixth straight year with at least 10 wins.
Plus, he can hit. Career average of .205 and I seem to recall him being used as a pinch hitter here and there.
Another option: Kevin Millwood, though the asterisk by his name means there's an option controlled either by the player or the team. So he may not be available. He's a little older (35 in December) and not quite as good as Marquis. His best years, by far, came earlier in his career. But he is a veteran still capable of a lot of innings. And, unless he's changed dramatically in recent years, he's one of the best people I dealt with in my previous career.
I was covering the Richmond Braves way back in 1997 when they brought him up. His numbers in AA weren't that great and I remember thinking, "This is the best they have?" Well, in Richmond, he was darn near unhittable. Two one-hitters over a stretch of seven starts. He got yanked up to Atlanta pretty quick.
He won 45 games his first three full seasons. I covered a 1999 playoff game against Houston where he threw a one-hitter, maybe the best pitched game I've seen live. I thought for a long time that he was the game's next great pitcher.
That didn't quite work out but I think he still has some value. I'd rather see Marquis but I'd never complain about Kevin Millwood.
An interesting choice/risk given his injury: Brandon Webb. Without the injury, he falls into the Sabathia class and isn't even a topic of conversation.
Look over that list and form your own opinions, with that silly song "Who Will It Be Now?" playing over and over in your head.
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Trivia Time
We had some time to kill on my most recent visit to the park, so the four in our group talked a little about the brief history of the Washington Nationals. It evolved into a trivia contest - a low-grade trivia contest for anyone who has followed the Nationals closely.
So to take your mind off this growing losing streak and the ugly starting pitching that has contribted to it, I thought I'd share some of the questions with you before I head north to take part in Bloggers Day Part II. Try to do it the "honest" way first, without looking up the answers. I'll post them later in the week.
*How many players have appeared in at least one game in each of the five seasons? Name them.
*Name the Nats All-Stars by season (I drew a blank on one and then kicked myself when I remembered the answer).
*Name the Nationals' Opening Day starters by year.
*How many in the Nationals' Opening Day starting lineup in 2005 are still on the club?
*Who was in that 2005 Opening Day starting lineup?
*This is one I'm not sure I can do - but can you name the starting rotation as it stood on Opening Day in each of the five seasons?
So to take your mind off this growing losing streak and the ugly starting pitching that has contribted to it, I thought I'd share some of the questions with you before I head north to take part in Bloggers Day Part II. Try to do it the "honest" way first, without looking up the answers. I'll post them later in the week.
*How many players have appeared in at least one game in each of the five seasons? Name them.
*Name the Nats All-Stars by season (I drew a blank on one and then kicked myself when I remembered the answer).
*Name the Nationals' Opening Day starters by year.
*How many in the Nationals' Opening Day starting lineup in 2005 are still on the club?
*Who was in that 2005 Opening Day starting lineup?
*This is one I'm not sure I can do - but can you name the starting rotation as it stood on Opening Day in each of the five seasons?
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