This series bookends the last day of August and the first days of September in St. Louis where the Nats have a crucial 3 game series.
The Cardinals bring their MLB best 84-46 record into this series, and as we know the Nats need to turn their 66-63 record into at least 68 or 69 wins before they leave St. Louis. No pressure.
Do you want some good news or bad news? Well we already told you the Cardinals have the best record in the MLB as the bad news, and the good news is Gio has a 2-1 record against them in his career with a 1.85 record. The Cardinals are on another run winning 7 of their last 8 games and finding consistency with rookie callups and some of their veterans.
John Lackey (RHP) pitches for the Cardinals. The Nats have little experience against Lackey except for 1 game of data for some of the players, and the exception is Jayson Werth and Yunel Escobar. Werth has 12 ABs with a .500 BA and Yunel Escobar has faced him 34 times with a .400 BA. Ryan Zimmerman is 2-3, Ian Desmond 1-3, Lobaton is 1-3.
Lackey is a fastball and slider pitcher with the occassional slow curve at 78mph and a changeup that comes in at around 84mph. Lackey has the 4-seam and sinker versions of the fastball and stays at 92mph. His slider is his putaway pitch and has late break which gives him swing & miss on that pitch. The key is hitting Lackey’s fastballs and finding holes if you swing over his sinker and hit it on the ground.
On 2 strikes Lackey will try to get you to chase inside, outside or below the zones as you can see and doesn’t go above the zone much. He will throw you a “chase” slider outside the zone in 2 strikes. The key is hitting his fastball before he can get to his slider.
By the way, Happy 80th birthday Frank Robinson! Do you have an extra birthday wish or 2 for the Nats?
Here is the lineup:
- Werth LF
- Rendon 2B
- Harper RF
- RZ 1B
- Yuni 3B
- Desi SS
- Lobo C
- MAT CF
- Gio P
Going Deep with the Nats! 
Absolutely horrible – as Charlie says. This is a reflection of bad managements. I’m very upset!!!😡😡😡😡😡
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“ELIAS: Since 1969, only 2 teams have come back to win a division after being 6.5 games back (or more) entering Sept.: ’78 Yankees, ’95 SEA”
Might not be apples to apples with the season going into early October, but there is a chance.
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Last night’s loss was the most infuriating for me. I have not been as critical on MW as others until now. The loss was clearly on him. I really thought he would have learned from his mistakes last year in the playoffs but it’s clear that he has not. This was a playoff caliber game for us and he managed the same way with his best relievers and defenders sitting and watching as the ship was sinking. How can he continue managing the same way and expect different results? Rizzo will be very busy this offseason! I think we’ll see almost an entirely new BP with Pappelbon the only guarantee.
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Had the win for the taking in a playoff atmosphere and anytime you blow a 2 run lead that late in the game you have to wonder why.
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I cant believe I am still so angry…
Rizzo wont fire Matt. Pointless. As Rizzo then would be admitting that he may have made a mistake. And then that would open up the door to asking about other Rizzo ‘failures’ i.e. not acquiring another bat at the trade deadline, more BP help, etc.
With that said – I love those people who now are saying that MW is a ‘scapegoat’ like some of his decisions (actually lack of) don’t play a part in what happens in the game. And then when you ask people, so what about ‘insert topic here’, the answer is, ‘Well, errrr, uhmmmm, he knows more about baseball than any of us combined.’ Love people like that…
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Egos are at stake here.
How can a GM be ok with the handling of the 7th inning debacle of last night.
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Because someone will say Jansen made good pitches and didnt get the usual results. And I mean becuz if the choice is Jayson Werth vs Matt dD, then how do you not go with Werth.
Mind you, I dont agree but thinking of the other side in this one.
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It doesn’t matter. You knew how the inning was lined up and needed Rivero earlier.
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Im just giving you alternate persepective… Cuz I said this:
Mrsb loves the Nats says:
August 31, 2015 at 10:30 PM
Why in the hell is Thornton or Rivero not in here… like seriously… why….
Matt, what are you doing…
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I like what you’re saying. I’m fairly ticked at pissing away last night’s game.
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Why wasn’t Storen warming up, and with two outs and a tie game, why not bring him in to face Heyward. If you cannot figure how to manage important situations during the season, how would you expect to make good decisions during the pressure of post-season games?
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Storen doesn’t have good numbers against Lefties but why not against Piscotty
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Simple fact is that there is blame to go around — manager, GM, players.
BUT, IMHO, MW is just not up to the task. I believe that, with a better manager, the Nats would have won at least 2-4 games more so far. In the pennant race, that’s a huge factor.
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Absolutely. There is a wealth of blame (sad isnt it!) to go around. From Rizzo on down to each player. But you are 100% that a few managerial choices can and probably would be the big difference in a pennant race.
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I don’t agree that he won’t fire Matt. He fired Davey under eerily similar circumstances (great first year followed by surprisingly bad second year). Plus Rizzo isn’t where the buck stops. The Lerners shelled out a bunch of money for this team. They may well make the decision for Rizzo.
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Well, ya know Davey ‘retired’. I think Rizzo encouraged him but I think DJ was just tired at that point.
But I bet you a million blog points, that Rizzo will defend Matt and say that the line up didnt produce given injury etc. He will be able to use the WAR reference and the number of games that each batter missed as further proof that MW did the best he could in a given situation….
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Well I don’t know how to bet blog points, but I’d make gentleman’s/gentlelady’s bet that, unless the Nats go on a big run, MW will be fired.
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Aight, Im down. What are the stakes! 🙂
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Mr. Ted Lerner has to be livid. Losing that game last night was not acceptable.
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Mrs. B–
Not sure, I guess a public hat tip to the winner? I’d offer to buy you a beer at a game, but as you may have surmised I’m not local these days.
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the good news
http://espn.go.com/blog/sweetspot/post/_/id/62350/after-disastrous-loss-matt-williams-time-running-short-in-d-c
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the quote of the day, from channel 7 sports, DC:
“At least Williams will have his two top relievers ready to go Tuesday. The question: Will Williams even be around to use them? After this game, it wouldn’t surprise me to see general manager Mike Rizzo fire Williams on Tuesday morning. He may as well do it now, because he’s almost guaranteed to do it after the season.”
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Personally I think that’s ridiculous, not because Williams deserves to keep his job but because I doubt that Rizzo is ready to own his mistakes yet.
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What was he thinking in the 7th? Answer: I don’t think MW was.
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I sometimes think he’s afraid of crossing Werth. Just my groundless speculation.
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Casey Stengel is alleged to have said that the secret to successful managing is “keeping the guys who hate you away from the ones who haven’t made up their minds yet.”
Just a little nugget to file away.
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You know, I’ve thought that too. And wondered if he was intimidated by Max, also.
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*IF* that were the case, that makes things that much worse…
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That’s a great quote Stoatva. More like the secret to life.
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Interesting that the defensive replacements were never brought up by the writer or any poster in that thread.
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Game was moving too fast for us.
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Janssen didn’t have it last night. He wasn’t his usual hyper-twitchy self which says to me that, for whatever reason, he didn’t have the energy level he needs. That’s the kind of body language Williams and McCatty should be reading, along with the good contact the Cards were making.
You have a two-run lead, a total gift from Matheny and Seagrist–who, believe it or not, “won” the game. Put up your best defense. Keep Danny (who had just pinch hit for Gio, if I recall) in the game and say “thankyouverymuch” to Escobar. Sub out Werth for den Dekker. Yes, call on Janssen, but tell the bullpen that Rivero, Storen and Treinen should all get up, walk around and stretch those rubber-band thingies.
To me, this was a case (another case) where the game moved too fast for Williams. He simply didn’t expect to be presented with a two-run lead in the seventh inning and he didn’t have his plan ready. That’s a lesson he’ll learn, but at this point, it’s very, very difficult to wait for him to catch up.
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this was a case (another case) where the game moved too fast for Williams.
This is, verbatim, what I’ve been grumbling to my section-mates at the ballpark for well over a year.
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I’m starting to come around to that way of thinking.
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I am not sure that replacing MW will create a big difference in W’s and L’s, but it would me more enjoyable to watch a team that seems to be talented AND can play good fundamental baseball. A lot of that is on MW as the manager.
One thing that always bothers me in professional sports is when fans say “get rid of player XYZ or fire the coach/manager” without any consideration of who is available as a replacement. I think MW could be a good MLB manager some day, but am coming around to the idea that he needs to learn elsewhere. Who might be available that would be better? Bud Black is out there. He managed the Pads and has initials BB….which seems to have worked out well for the Giants with their manager. 😃
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You’re right, is Gardenhire or Bud Black the answer. Last night seemed to be part of the bullpen strategic shortcomings that you’d hope MW had mastered where you go situation vs handing an inning to a reliever.
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“You have a two-run lead, a total gift from Matheny and Seagrist”
An absolute gift
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Astounding. Chavez Ravine looks little more than half full, maybe less, for pennant race game against Giants, of all teams. It’ll probably go in the books as a sellout anyway, but row upon row of empty seats everywhere you look.
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On a positive note, well done RZ. Go ahead HR, and great throw to second to start that DP. A triple away from the cycle. Can’t ask for more than that!
Ghost, I’ve been meaning to ask you, how many “questionable” commenters have you had to deal with on a daily basis.. Just wondering😎
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/waves
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The questionables have slowly gone away. We set up in the system a “pending” and “spam” catcher and it’s done it’s job. The first few days there were many and each day it’s lessened. We move them to trash and then permanently delete. After a while these people don’t return.
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From 9/4/14 article about Bo Porter’s firing: Most GMs these days hire a “yes man” to be the manager, as managers become more of an extension of the front office and less independent thinkers.. Which is just one reason we won’t see him here either.
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Have to say, this is the one I thought we had little chance to win going in, though for completely different reasons than I expected.
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I felt the same, Gio v Lackey didn’t look good for the good guys. But Gio pitched reasonably well (a so-called Quality Start), keeping our boys in the game. Matheny, for whatever reason, didn’t manage well, and Seagrist pitched terribly. I HATE to return gifts like that!
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And Texas is right, how does Casey not cover 1st…
I’m done. Later.
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Texas is texnat
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Fwiw, Gio did a decent job tonight… he gave what was expected, actually more.
The win was there. Last 3 losses, the wins have been there…
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+1 You’re right, it was a decent job, not a great job. I didn’t like the walk that scored but it is what it is. Nats had the game within their grasps to win.
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Yep. He got thru 6 and gave up 3. The walk definitely hurt but it wasn’t an issue as the Nats took the lead.
NL made a point that maybe Paps not being available had something to do with non match ups… I don’t know that I agree. I’m getting a headache… I am so angry
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me too. big headaxhe
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Eagerly awaiting tonight’s episode of Matty and the Pussycats.
“Matt, how disappointing is this?”
“Matt, how awesome was Zim’s home run?”
“Matt, are you buying lunch for us tomorrow?”
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MMN is 26. Looking bleak my friends.
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Yep, needed to be a 3.5 not 6.5. Winning series is fine but sweeping series are needed given the easy schedule the Mets have.
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If I wasn’t a fan of the Nats I would think this was a great game…
I will not rain on any parade who wants to keep hope alive but I’m looking forward to the offseason to what acquisition will happen thru out the line up and the staff.
Of course I have my hopes.
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If you’re going to watch matt post game I’d suggest removing any heavy objects you might be tempted to throw at the TV.
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This loss hurts. Great comeback ruined.
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I think that’s on
WerthRendon, as Ray said. Both runners needed to be cautious and the ball bounced right back to Molina. Remember, if they go to 2nd and 3rd, they take bat out of Bryce’s hands.LikeLike
So why wouldn’t it be Rendon’s responsibility? He’s the one got caught.
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I’m sorry, as Ray said, it’s on Rendon. The trail runner has to be sure the lead runner is going.
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It’s on werth, he tricked rendon. At least that was mccarver’s take.
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McCarver hasn’t been sober after the fifth inning in twenty years. If he blames Werth it was definitely on Rendon
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So McCarver is doing color on the Cards’ broadcast. He and that drunk play by play guy must make quite a pair.
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Deuces, I’m semi-joking. Is Shannon the okay by play guy? He’s like the ghost of Harry Caray, without the charm.
“And the batter, uh… hits the ball. And, uh, er…. Stone?”
“Right you are, Harry. Sharp grounder to second, crisp throw to first and that’s the second out. Back to you, Harry!”
“Aaaargh.”
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“Play by Play” of course.
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I thought Ray was blaming Rendon on that?
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Right. My mistake. I meant it was on Rendon, as Ray said.
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I would agree. Werth would have been a dead duck if he went. 1st base coach has to be screaming as a 2nd set of eyes. That was unfortunate. 2 hits to start the inning.
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Bottom line was a wild pitch that incredibly got caught. Both runners got iced. Just not getting the bounce. Very frustrating.
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Nats get few lucky bounces but they aren’t making their own luck.
The positioning of Werth like even Ray admitted was an issue.
If Werth was at regular positioning he catches the liner by Piscotty and it’s inning over. That made the score 5-4
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I agree Ghost, it’s a Zen thing. When your winning, you make your breaks. Also agree with you on Jason’s positioning in LF. After the RZ blast, Matt should have been thinking defensive replacement. Jayson is our lead off hitter. We just need to think defense in the late innings.
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MW did pull CRob over the weekend for a defensive replacement. I can see it both ways but that cost Janssen. Piscotty made a defensive swing and hit the ball into the spot Jayson normally is standing at.
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Veteran like Werth knows that balls rebound hard off of that brick wall.
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Werth hung Rendon out on that. And with the tying run, in Harper, at the plate. Werth hadn’t distinguished himself since the 7th.
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Talk about unlucky bounces. Off the wall and courtesy bounce right back to Molina. That’s living right. Should have been bases loaded with RZim up to bat with no outs.
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Ray, I disagree… think that’s on Jayson..
Think it’s too much to ask Ryan to do it again. I expect a DP here.
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He’d have been dead meat at third. That ball one hopped back to Molina.
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Just an easy popout. I was hoping for a double. Oh well. Let’s see if Clint has any magic on that stick.
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/cue Twilight Zone music
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Don’t tell me this is a well managed team
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If anybody did they would be telling a fib.
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Certainly some questionable moves.
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/crickets
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Looks around room as everyone is silent.
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Do the Nats have the greatest 9th inning comeback in their history for tonight?
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Unless the Nats come back in the 9th, they will be 2-19 in their last 21 at Busch. Their 7th was bad enough to lose to anybody, but still, wow.
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Would have been bases loaded if not for that TOOTBLAN.
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Playing the best team in baseball… while your post season hopes are going down the drain…
And play it like you always do.
#FireMattWilliams
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Yep, I really thought he would play do-or-die baseball tonight like it was a 5 game playoff series. Clearly not.
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That’s why he will be sitting on the couch come October.
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Yep. Last week he did matchup baseball and tonight he doesn’t. I don’t get it but I think it was a poor decision to go to Janssen when you saw all the lefties lined up.
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Except that he’d play a five game playoff the same way.
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He did last year. Was hoping he’d change. Hope. Hope. Hope.
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Last year when the rosters expanded people seemed to think Matt was learning because he was playing match ups to beat the band. Of course with 25 guys on the playoff roster he went right back to his book.
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Yes he did.
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Remember his comments, how he was going to learn….
Yeah…. no.
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Not to pick on Turner, but that shows the arm he doesn’t have to play SS, I’d say.
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I’d say that was a mercy call. Haven’t seen one like that overturned all year.
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He has a good arm, not a great arm.
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Agreed. By no means terrible, but not a cannon.
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Certainly good for 2nd base.
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Maybe Matt needs to get back on the roids. His depressive affect is rubbing off on the team.
They don’t test managers, do they? Go for it!
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5 runs in the 7th. All scored with two outs. Nats had the lead. How does that happen? Bad managing.
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Somebody needs to be responsible, that’s for sure.
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Cishek. Check.
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Cishek Out.
Snickers
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Depressing…
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Destructive. Had the lead and refused to go matchup until it was too late.
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My hope is that the Nats get a new manager with substantial experience from outside of rizzo’s comfort zone. As good as he has been at building the roster, he has been about that bad in picking managers.
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Bring back Bo.
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As 3rd base Coach? Did you see what Houston did after he was let go?
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I think Correia and the other kids had more to do with that than any managerial change. You might as well say MW’s a genius because his team won 96 games last year.
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They were winning before Correia came up. Correia just made them better and keep in mind the injuries that Houston has had.
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Cishek and Rosenthal. End of story.
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Matt Williams. End of Story.
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Let’s play the game and see.
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They will whether I approve or not.
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This now looks like a clinic by the Cardinals. Wong annoys me.
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All their moderately talented well coached well focused players annoy me.
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Matheny didn’t have his bullpen ready and that 3 run HR by RZim was due to poor coaching decisions then our manager for some reason left Janssen in for all the lefties. Why Matt why?
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“That’s the way we’re set up to do it. I’d do it again.”
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We were saying leading up to this that we hoped MW would play this like a playoff game. He got a gift 3 run jack by RZim to take a 2 run lead because Matheny brain-f@rted and what does MW do? Leaves Janssen in after he was way over done and didn’t play matchup baseball.
I don’t get it. I never will.
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If he has post season aspirations, he HAD TO KNOW that he has to play this like post season. For crying out loud, rosters expand this week.
Bevy of lefties and he goes with Jansen, becuz as stoatva said ‘that’s what we do…’
Still looking to see where he learned his lesson from last year. I cant stand him.
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What will you do with the money you’re saving on postseason tickets?
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In a few days, that might be a good topic for a blog post! 🙂
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Going to wizards games….
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Maybe the better double switch was in left.
I think I just lost my twenty five bucks.
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None of this happens…. none of it… if the lefties were in there earlier….
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None of this would have happened if Matt Williams were alive today!
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Wow. Bullpen meltdown. Sad.
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Oh, and Werth is a liability in the field. Wonder if MW considered a defensive switch once we took the lead. The ball is going to find Werth.
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Espinosa could have gone to left when Turner came in.
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He didn’t want to concede offense for defense…
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I guess so. But it’s 5-3 with three innings left. Werth will get one more AB, in the 9th. Was that worth the risk?
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You don’t really want to talk to me about MW today…. my feelings on him and his inept is duly noted.
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Just horrible. Bullpen. Werth. Bullpen management when it all started to go wrong and leaving Janssen to let the inning get out of hand. And worst of all is squandering the 6th inning comeback and Zim HR. Still time, but if they lose, this one will hurt and it should.
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Player positioning is a huge problem. Piscotty hit it directly to where a LF should have been standing. Because of his range they moved him back.
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Yep. And then werth moved up for heyward. Tim mccarver has been talking about Nats positioning all night long
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I’ve been railing on Nats positioning for 3 seasons. They get Wiedemaier and the BABIP defense gets worse.
Jayson just doesn’t have the wheels to play good LF.
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Williams should be fired for this. It’s the same thing over and over. Just brain dead.
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Should have brought in a lefty for Carpenter….
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How’s about Rivero for Moss and to stay in for the pinch-hitter and Carpenter.
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I think Matt is not allowed to color outside the lines, honestly. Or does so at his own peril.
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Really? I seriously doubt that. In game managing is his prerogative. And he’s not good at it. Can’t blame that on Rizzo.
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He knows at whose pleasure he serves.
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Sure he does. But what evidence is there Rizzo dictates his managerial approach? None that I can think of. I think he paints by the numbers all by himself. Surely Rizzo didn’t tell him to use Barrett last year in Game 4 instead of Stras or Clip.
Maybe he lacks creativity because he lacks experience. That’s Rizzo’s fault for hiring some whose only managerial experience was in that pressure cooker, the Arizona Fall League.
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Yeah but Jansen isn’t a protected guy like that. Going to the lefty was the textbook inside the lines move.
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Janssen couldn’t get it done….gives up a hit to Mr PED
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29 pitches.. Won’t see him tomorrow. Why are we not playing match up baseball!
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Just unbelievable. That broken bat nubber cost him 2 runs.
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But if he gets over to first it’s an out not a hit…..
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Agreed, just frustrated because he made a good pitch.
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And Matt sits right there with his dumb a$$… I hate him. I absolutely hate him.
This Team deserves to fail as long as his inept ass is the manager.
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You get the feeling that Matt knows he won’t get fired for losing as long as he pushes the buttons Rizzo has given him to punch.
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Rizzo gave him rivero and Thornton too.
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Not for “A” bullpen. Speculation on my part, but I’m starting to believe it.
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I am so livid right now… I HATE HATE HATE pitchers owning innings…
This should have been match up baseball here… if nats lose this game, I am blaming MW and this inning.
Livid.
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I’m beginning to think this goes through MW to Rizzo.
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Yep, MW has done a great job of playing matchup baseball but in Janssen’s defense that was a good pitch.
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There were 2/3 lefties that inning…. use Rivero or Thornton to get them out.
If you have hopes for october, you have to play smarter. Rosters expand tomorrow. More relief is coming.
This is a terrible terrible decision by him. Just dumb as bricks.
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I agree. The Cardinals are darn lucky.
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That’s not luck. Thats inept management by Matt Williams.
I hate him. Nats need a new manager ASAP.
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Players still have to execute. He got the doubleplay ball. He made some good pitches.
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Players should be put in the best situation possible…. there are 2 lefties available. Use them
We just saw what happened when the Cards left their lefty in for Ryan…. and saw what happened.
Think MW learned anything. Nope. And it bites us in the butt again.
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You read what I said after the leadoff hit “Where’s Rivero and Thornton”.
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Werth in no doubles when a single scores a run. Williams continually inept at bullpen management.
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The SL announcing team said as much. Basically said the Nats gave the inning away with that positioning.
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Boy that was a reach “hit”
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Des also-like. It’s what they do. And just did again.
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cardinals baseball. They bring up these kids right.
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That was some job of hitting by Piscotty. Went down and got that.
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My heart is in this game like it’s October….
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Mine too. Look at that at-bat by Piscotty. Went down and got that and if Werth is at normal depth it’s hit right to him.
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Why are we not using the bullpen like it is October. Big gamble by MW.
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I don’t get it either.
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I’m going to lose it if Jansen gives up a hit….
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Throw strikes
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Cardinals announcers surprised that Nats not bringing in a lefty to face carpenter
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Me too…
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They’re not the only ones.
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I agree.. This is nuts. Both managers not playing the matchup??
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He did a pitch around on Carpenter. At least he didn’t give in to him but why not Rivero.
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Nats need a doubleplay here.
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And that’s what you call the summoner.
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Well played.
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Keep calling ’em
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I’m just hoping for a K here.
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Glad for Gio. Off the hook & chance for the W.
Janssen has to make that play.
Blue still stiffing our pitchers
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Hoping Janssen can get Carpenter out here.
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Busch league umpiring.
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Why in the hell is Thornton or Rivero not in here… like seriously… why….
Matt, what are you doing…
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Goodness this cardinal team gets some breaks
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That. Cannot. Happen.
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Fail by Janssen there
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Our three closers need to step up.
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Where is Rivero and Thornton for these lefties?
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I’m with you, but Matt is Matt.
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Talk about dumb luck. Another nubber becomes a single.
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I should have known you would post this… before me… hahaha
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I don’t get that. Rivero has to be warm.
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Need Casey to have a clean inning here
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https://twitter.com/masnkolko/status/638537432422486016
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Exactly.
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Even Carp didn’t immediately go into his SEE YOU LATER on RZ’s blast. The way Heyward went back I thought he had a play on that.
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C.l.u.t.c.h.
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Zimmerman!!!huge!
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Very cool! I’m sure everyone is glad now the ump called that 3-0 pitch a strike!
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Hope the bullpen boys are feeling it tonight.
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Not a great start.
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hOLY moly. that was so massive. I just went apeshit in my living room. wow.
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Glad I don’t have any pets. They’d all be hiding right now.
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Glory, glory…. that was awesome!?!?!?!?!?
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You know the Mets are following this game..Saying WTF!
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Clutch RZ!
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YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSZZZZZZZZZZZSSSSSS
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Did you see that. As I said below, that was Ryan’s biggest hit of the season.
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Man I was over here mad as hell…. I was about to cuss the blue out on that 3-1 call…. but man I just scared the hell out the dog… lol
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Matheny should have been pleased with the walk as Siegrist was scared to throw a strike.
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Double Jaysus!!!
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Thanks blue for not calling that ball to RZ😎
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Ryan!!!
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Jaysus.
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Glad the umpire blew that ball four call.
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Huge moments in this season right now.
THAT WAS INSIDE!!!!
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Sssh!
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I will admit… I feel like this is an October game….
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Do you let RZim swing 3-0
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Well you do 3-1. That is Ryan’s biggest hit of the season. WOW!!!!
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Six walks by the Cards. Did you ever?
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It’s like Siegrist is pitching around these guys.
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Ryan Zimmerman has the perfect matchup.
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That looked like an intentional walk. Like they wanted no parts of Bryce….
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Situational hitting is a fail… Jayson and Anthony have to move him over….
Why no steal call….
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The time is now. If this team has the balls to win this division it starts right now. No more excuses. This is it. Get it done. I only expect base hits and RBIs for the rest of the game.
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Agreed. No excuses. This one is there for the taking.
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No excuses from anyone here. Gio needed to hold them to 2 runs or less and didn’t do it. Nats need some big hits in the 7th.
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Hope Danny is looking to steal here….
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Nice AB Danny 😎
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Nats must capitalize on the leadoff walk.
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At 93 Siegrist the easy thrower of the bunch.
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Woo! LoW!
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Actually, the composition of this St Louis bullpen has changed considerably in recent years.
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Pretty good performance from gio. Bad luck in the 4th. Bryce should have had the fly ball, and then two hard luck ground balls.
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That walk cost Gio dearly Tex. Bryce should have taken a better route to the ball hit by Molina but that walk cost him a run.
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Beat me by 1 second.. hahahaha
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I know I know. But gio is gio. And he was unlucky not to get out of the inning.
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Even the single by Wong was just under Rendon. BABIP worked for the Cards. Now BABIP needs to work for the Nats.
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Started with the walk…. after going 0-2…
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Lackey has no control at the moment and both desi and Taylor first pitch swinging. Could have been a big inning.
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That’s why Matheny pulled him.
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WHY IN THE *BLEEP* DO YOU ALL KEEP SWINGING AT THIS FIRST PITCH WHEN LACKEY HAS SHOWN THAT HE IS WILLING TO WALK YOU… ARE YOU FRICKIN PAYING ATTENTION.
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Beat me to it
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I *bleeping* preach this s**t day in and day out… this is getting ridiculous…
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Desi had just started to get into a good groove and need a ball to drive.
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I haven’t been this mad since Max was out there the other day…. I am hot right now.
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Arghhhhhhhhhhhhh….. why desi…. why…
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I know, but better than a K with No go lobo and MAT behind him.
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I’ll take that run, frankly.
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Desi fell into his trap on the sinker. You beat Lackey when you hit those where they ain’t. Desi rolled that right to where Peralta was standing for an easy doubleplay.
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Looked center cut to me, and Desi pulled off of it. YM, as always, MV.
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It’s sinker. You see a straight 4 sink then it dips. That’s what a good sinkerballer is supposed to do to you and that’s what Desi did.
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Others may have certainly noted/said this (pardon me if this is so), but Gio is obviously on a slow move down. A look at his yearly stats shows it (even though he was good in July of this year). His last 4 games (which include this one) have been just real ugly.
According to Baseball-Reference, he is signed through next year, with a team option for 2017 and a 2018 vesting option if he pitched 180 innings in 2017.
Not sure what his issue is, but I certainly think/hope the Nats know. At this rate, I’m just hoping he’s serviceable in 2016, if he is still with the Nats. Although serviceable is not the level a contending team needs.
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He is probably the 4th best pitcher…
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He has regressed year over year since he arrived in 2012. Not sure what Rizzo will do with his inconsistency. Staff ERA is important and his 4.16 doesn’t do it for me.
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They will keep him… the issue is that he seems to really only give you 4/5 good innings, which hurts your BP over the long run…
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Not sure the Nats will have many better opportunities than last inning with 2 on with Brcye up and Lackey missing spots.
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And the next opportunity that arises the Cards will open the bullpen gates and unleash a stream of 97-99 mph relievers.
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Here is another situation. Need Desi to hit a single/double.
I don’t want a sacred fly as I want the inning to keep going and no double play.
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Pulled off of a hittable pitch, it looks like.
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Good play Gio on that throw from Rendon
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No style points, though.
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I will give Gio props on that as Rendon threw a bullet that was behind him.
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I don’t remember Bryce last home run…
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Hit well and right to Heyward.
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Friday a week ago against the Brewers. Only remember because there.
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I understand that Taylor wasn’t even supposed to be in the majors until tomorrow, but he has to get a clue on those breaking pitches.
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He hits mistake breaking balls which has been a good thing but good breaking pitches are his downfall.
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Werth got the same pitches and laid off them. Part of it, I think, is learning the pitchers around the league, what they throw and when.
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It’s not just recognizing the pitch out of the hand, it’s knowing when it’s coming. Ray keeps saying (along with half the audience), “Lackey’s going to keep throwing it until you show him you can hit it.” I wish somebody’d clue Michael A to that, cuz he seemed to be the only one who didn’t expect that slider away for strike 3.
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Or just, what Stoat said.
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Hopefully 3rd time around for MAT is the charm.
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Nats bats were going to have to score more than 1 anyway….
Come on guys, pick Gio up…
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Fortunate to get out of that with three.
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single single single single single single single
Where have we seen this before?
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Curse of the 4th inning for Gio.
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Just not pitching smart.
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Another terrible terrible Terrible pitch…. what in the hell….
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Harper was positioned too deep for Molina, and then took a bad route.
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Sure did, went out and around and in.
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Don’t see the Cardinals leave many runs on the table.
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Gio gets his groundball but hit to where Rendon was not.
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Cardinals baseball. They say you can’t steer ’em, but the Cards may not know that.
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Finding those gaps and that ball inches in front of Bryce was a killer.
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Terrible pitch to Molina….
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Lucky that wasn’t deposited in the RF seats.
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Thought Anthony would have charged that.
.
But im still pissed at the walk…
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Bryce took a bad route to that ball. Walk leads to a run.
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Gio throws a good pitch to Heyward and gets a nubber single on him. Hold them down Gio. Stay in control.
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Important for Gio to go after these guys in 0-2 counts.
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I don’t get the philosophy to get to a 0-2 count on Piscotty then nibble on 3 balls to run the count to 3-2. He got him but you can’t waste pitches that never look like a strike.
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Cards tv guys talking about how they are skipping martinez’s start tomorrow. Good break for the Nats.
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Earlier speculation was back tightness. What did they say the reason was?
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I think that’s what they said, but they were speculating that they are looking for excuses to hold his innings down.
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Oh yeah. They were ready for that one. Nice DP.
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Huge break for the Nats!
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Help keep Gio’s pitch count low then Carpenter I think was 1st pitch swinging.
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NICEEEEEEEE….. that was a great throw by Ryan…. no panic by Desi…
Nice DP….
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Lackey running down the line like Livan in tortoise-mode.
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Leadoff walks cant happen Gio and to a lefty really cant happen. Guy hitting .217
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But RZim with a heck of a play. 3-6-4 doubleplay.
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Let’s go Zim
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Gio with the old saying “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again”. Kept trying that curveball on Wong and finally got him.
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I’d love to hang here… miss you guys… But it’s too much like work, reading up from the bottom, with replies on comments… I’ll be over there…
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See, I love the most recent first sorting. When you arrive late you have to scroll through, regardless, if you want to read all the comments. But once you’re up to date, not having to scroll all the way down every time you refresh is great. As far as new comments nested as replies… no difference.
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Once you get used to it, its fine. On NI it’s newest on the bottom. We had a choice of both ways but with the standard WordPress format the “comment box” stays at the bottom.
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I agree, it’s a little cumbersome. The new site will have the comment box at top and sort features to your liking on newest or oldest and I think the other choice is most popular.
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Jonny Gomes to the Royals. I wonder if he is going there as a pitcher (snark)
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Yeah…. I thought Desi would have crushed that fat pitch too.
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Just missed it.
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Can I get 5 more innings of that, Gio, please?
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wow, that was close! i was sure they had, but teplay showed safe. 🙂
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Welcome to the In-Game. What do you think so far?
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Btw – I wouldn’t mind if the Nats somehow got Jayson Heyward….
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He will be a Free Agent. He is also a lefty that the Nats need.
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I wouldn’t either, but I’ll bet he’s frustrating over the course of a season. Terrific talent, but…
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Great camera work and slide by Bryce and the ump got it right.
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Strikes Gio…. strikes….
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A quick unearned run to give the Nats the lead. We will take it and I know MrsB didn’t like first ball swinging by Escobar.
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You already know…
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Esco probably thought he could get a mistake pitch out of Lackey based on his frustration. I think he got a 2 seam sinker that looked like a fat 4 seamer and rolled it over.
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Didn’t like the send but it worked out thanks to Harper
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With 2 outs is when you do it. Henley the last 3 bad sends were with 0 or 1 out.
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Hahaha, so I liked the send… only becuz I was in my living room RUN HOME BRYCE… 😊😊
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OMG…. I don’t know that he is safe… but dang….
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100% beat it for sure on the replay. Watching it live I thought he was out. Before replay as the throw beat him they might have called him out.
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What was on that baseball that Bryce just hit to Wong. Wong was wrong. E4
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I cant imagine the post season without the Giants…
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You may say I’m a dreamer
But I’m not the only one
Hey, it’s an odd-numbered year.
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Nice picture for this thread Ghost!
This series is huge. Hope coaches and clubhouse leaders have this team hungry tonite! GYFNG!
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I can’t take the credit, AllstarsSportsMarketing posted it. I only helped with the edit.
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Where is FP tonight?
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Under the weather..
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Thanks. Get well FP
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Sup party people…. was wayyyyy too busy today to get on…. hope everyone had a productive day…
So, I’m crazy, becuz I got a feeling, we win 2 of 3… and no this has nothing to do with post season aspirations but just a feeling.
Think Gio will be effective today in 5. Here’s to the Nats Bats going.
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Hello MrsB. I hope we get “effective” Gio.
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Me too. Need good Gio tonight
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I hope we see good Gio tonight. Phil Wood used the term “pitch efficient”.
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I like Yunel hitting fifth. Zim is far more of a power threat but Yunel is a classic dependable keep the line moving kind of hitter, so if the top of the order gets on a roll in any inning, he’s the least likely guy to deflate it other than Bryce.
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I like the pressure to put on the other team 1-8 now with Ramos hitting and in the lineup.
Tonight is a tall order.
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Does that include the Mets series?
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Yup.
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Thanks. That better be a Nats sellout with Nats fans!!!!!
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So with 33 games left…how many do we need to win? 20? 23? And how many do we need to take from the Mets?
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Losing 5 to 7 games might not work but the most critical games are head to head with the Mets.
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I am tired of doing the math because logically it doesn’t look good particularly these next 3 days but I’m a one game at a time kind of guy anyway so let’s see if we can win tonight and will look at it again tomorrow.
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There are lots of permutations, some more likely than others, but none are *that* likely.
Just win, baby, and let the rest sort itself out.
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Lackey is having another good year and somehow has the best ERA of his entire career. It seems like you can get 2 runs against him, maybe 3 if you can put together a few hits in a row.
Gio really needs to be on top of his game.
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Every one of their pitchers has been excellent and this is after they lost Wainright for the year. They must know what they are doing in St.Louis as far as pitcher development. They have also been without Adams and Holiday for huge chunks of this year. Unbelievable.
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Carlos Martinez is scratched for tomorrow.
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Saw that. He’s been good all year.
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I hope it’s a good break for the Nats missing him.
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You know, when you can log in to a competitor’s website and steal all their hard-earned intelligence it makes life easier. That’s failing Ethics 101 in spectacular fashion.Sure makes a couple of psi in a football look pretty tame. The Cardinals should be tied to the post and lashed. But, it won’t happen.
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That Gio stat must not include postseason.
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It does not.
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