Monday, May 02, 2005

Highway To Hell

Is there anything more deflating than a close, tension-filled game being blown open in the 9th inning? I know the pillows on my couch certainly don’t like it when that happens, and it’s a good thing they don’t bruise.

This is a stupid team playing stupid baseball right now. It’s not the small-ball fundamentals they’re getting wrong either -- at least the kind the bunt fetishists always seem to talk about. They’re the heads-up little league fundamentals that you rarely see winning teams screw up. There were two glaring examples last night.

One was Brad Wilkerson throwing to the wrong base in the 9th inning, on the bases-loaded SF. The throw HAS to come into second base to keep the double play in order. It didn’t. And, in actuality, Jose "Guzman-Lite" Reyes would’ve scored from first on the ensuing double anyway. But, that’s absolutely the wrong play in that situation.

The other was in the 7th (? I’m going by memory here, so forgive some errors!) Wilkerson was batting, with Cristian Guzman on second base. There’s one out. Guzman attempts the steal, and is thrown out. It’s unclear whether David Wright actually got the tag down, but Mike Piazza’s limp-wristed throw beat him clearly.

The old baseball adage is that you can’t be thrown out at third on the first or third outs. But, why is it acceptable on the second? (Especially when one pitch later, Brad Wilkerson strikes out for the delayed double play) Piazza, despite not having thrown out multiple base runners in the same game since the Carter administration, has a clear shot at third with a lefty hitting. It’s an easy, short, obstructionless throw down to the bag.

I know why he was trying to do it. It’s obviously easier to score from third with less than two outs, but it’s also not an automatic lock, especially with a strikeout machine at bat. Let’s face it, with Wilkerson at bat, it’s probably either a hit, or a K. If Guzman is on third, the K doesn’t help. And if Wilkerson gets a hit, he scores from second anyway. Further, the Nats would have had Wilkerson and Nick Johnson up, trying to drive that run in. NJ has been the team’s hottest hitter over the last week or so. He didn’t get a chance.

Earlier, The Walking Stick, who’s doing his best Grizzly Adams impersonation, was thrown out by Piazza, when he tried to steal second. NJ demonstrated, again, his patented feet-first belly-down slide into second. As he starts his slide, he corkscrews himself around, as if he were trying to drill into the bag. It works about as well as you’d imagine.

John Patterson, who I swear was wearing eye shadow, pitched less than spectacularly. He couldn’t get his curve over for strikes. And when he did, it just didn’t have the same bite we’re used to. It was an effective outing for a pitcher who was working with little.

Joey Eischen relieved and made one of the ugliest plays you’ll see, both in terms of comedy and tragedy.

First, the comedy. He dived off to the right side of the mound to snare a high bouncer. As he lept into the air, he did his best Flipper impersonation, arcing and twisting his body to the right in a half-moon shape.

Then, the tragedy. When he landed, he planted with his right arm, snapping his arm. He’ll be out 8-12 weeks after surgery. (That’s definitely a pretty extreme way of avoiding having Frank blow your arm out on you!)

I did a similar thing a few years back. They generally don’t do surgery unless you only break one of the arm bones, and then they usually put a plate in. Thankfully, he had the smarts to plant with his right arm. Since he doesn’t need to worry about batting (although he’s already batted twice) he can probably come back on the low end of the estimate. If Chad Bentz could do it last year, Eischen can this year.

As frequent commenter Brian pointed out, the Official Least Favorite Pitcher of Capitol Punishment Joe Horgan has yet to retire a batter while in the minors. Further, he’s turned up lame, complaining of a sore shoulder. Speculation is that Claudio Vargas or Tony Armas will make the trip north. The only other viable option, and I use that in the most generous meaning possible, is Ed Yarnall. (I can practically hear your sighs as you read that!)

There was some competition for the Lame Duck. Ryan Church put in an early and a late bid, with a stink-fest offensive performance. 0-4. Yay. Then, in the 9th inning, he decided he’d take a lovely riparian stroll around the Anacostia as Carlos Beltran was ripping a double over his head. What an ugly route to the ball.

But the real Lame Duck was Luis Ayala. When he came in the eight, I said I wasn’t happy with the move. He got through the 8th. But then, Frank decided to Press His Luck. And he landed on the Whammy. Single, Single, Bunt single (on a truly horrid bunt defense) and the bases were loaded. I don’t really remember what happened next -- my rising blood pressure caused me to black out. But, I do remember that it hurt.

The next thing I know, there are two outs in the bottom of the 9th and Wilkerson’s in the box as the tying run. No Chance. None. Game Over. I can go to bed.


WTF Frank Senior Moment
As it has frequently in the past, it mirrors the Lame Duck. Ayala has pitched like festering dung lately. Even those African beetles wouldn’t want a piece of him.

When he’s going right, I wouldn’t necessarily disagree with trotting him out there for a second inning. (I would argue that he’s not appreciably better than Cordero) But, he’s not going right lately. (And you can argue that he is appreciably worse than Cordero)

But, in Frank’s defense, we’ve got an extra short bullpen now. The only other available relievers were Chad Cordero and Gary Majewski. Jon Rauch is out there, but I’m pretty sure he’ll start Tuesday. And Zach Day still has whooping cough or rubella (I forget which)

If the game had gone long enough, it would have been fun watching Zach Day fall off the mound after each pitch though.


Now they’re on the road, facing the unstoppable juggernaut that is LA, the cavalcade of seniors in San Fran, and the impossible to figure out Diamondbacks in AZ. We’ve got nine games, and 4-5 is probably the best we can hope for.

Tread water! That’s all I’m asking!

95 Comments:

  • What, no love for Matt White as a replacement for Joey?

    By Blogger Brian, at 5/02/2005 10:58 AM  

  • Think Jesse Orosco's had a phone call yet?

    By Blogger Chris Needham, at 5/02/2005 11:34 AM  

  • Christ, not Tony Fossas.

    Steve Howe? Tom Burgmeier? Dave Righetti?

    I know where Dave LaPointe lives. Maybe we can make a trip up to NY and see how his arm's doing?

    By Blogger Chris Needham, at 5/02/2005 11:48 AM  

  • I'm sure the Nats could coax Dan Plesac and Paul Assenmacher out of retirement.

    By Blogger Brian, at 5/02/2005 12:14 PM  

  • Let's not forget the inanity of burning a pinch-hitter to BUNT. I mean, Jamey Carroll's no Mark Bellhorn, but fer CRISSakes ...

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 5/02/2005 12:25 PM  

  • "but Mike Piazza’s limp-wristed throw beat him clearly"

    I feel guilty for finding that so funny.

    By Blogger Ryan, at 5/02/2005 12:26 PM  

  • Yeah... good point on the PH bunt. I've never understood that one either.

    But, what gets me crazy about that is the use of a PH, a bunt AND a steal attempt.

    If you REALLY want a runner in Scoring position and you're going to steal anyway, have him steal second.

    By Blogger Chris Needham, at 5/02/2005 12:28 PM  

  • a PH, a bunt AND a steal attempt

    Frank managing 'by his gut' at its finest.

    By Blogger Brian, at 5/02/2005 12:31 PM  

  • Oh - and I'm going to big swig of Kool-Aid and say the Nats take two of three from the Dodgers. That .667 clip masks a soft schedule and a week-long lucky streak.

    I'm guessing win-loss-win.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 5/02/2005 1:28 PM  

  • That previous post was me - just in case y'all want to ridicule me in the future.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 5/02/2005 1:29 PM  

  • That was pretty easy to figure out, actually.

    And you're right. We're getting the assend of their rotation.

    Scott Freakin' Erickson is going on Tuesday. That's guaranteed win night, right?

    By Blogger Chris Needham, at 5/02/2005 1:30 PM  

  • this is off topic, but has anyone seen the P-Nats new mascot?

    I give you ...
    http://potomacnationals.com/images/news/1114919227.jpg
    Uncle Slam

    I'm speechless.

    By Blogger Brian, at 5/02/2005 1:39 PM  

  • Oompa Loompa diggady dee

    That's brutal.

    Some sort of hallucinogenic nightmare created that thing!

    By Blogger Chris Needham, at 5/02/2005 1:40 PM  

  • It gets even worse

    http://potomacnationals.com/cgi-bin/dist/news.cgi?id=1

    Where are your eyes drawn in this picture?

    By Blogger Brian, at 5/02/2005 1:44 PM  

  • That's the girlfriend-beating Scott Erickson to you.

    By Blogger Chris Needham, at 5/02/2005 1:55 PM  

  • Stolen from somewhere else:

    ''According to the Associated Press, the Baltimore police concluded that Erickson's girlfriend Lisa Ortiz: initiated the fight by hurling objects; decided to come back twice after Erickson carried her out of the apartment; repeatedly kicked the apartment door; caused Erickson two minor injuries, one of them to his pitching arm; and herself suffered no injuries.'' He has also been charged with assault as well, which makes it hard to determine if there are false allegations on one side, or if it is mutually abusive. According to Celebrity Watch, ''Baltimore Orioles baseball player Scott Erickson was charged with second-degree assault in 2002 after a fight with his live-in girlfriend, Lisa Ortiz. After Ortiz accused Erickson of cheating on her, he grabbed her and threw her out of their apartment. Police say that Ortiz attempted to get back into the apartment and bit Erickson while trying to do so. He then threw her into an elevator. Ortiz said in a statement, 'This is a private matter between Scott and myself…Scott has never been physically abusive toward me, and in no way do I feel threatened.' Charges against Erickson were eventually dropped.''

    By Blogger Chris Needham, at 5/02/2005 1:57 PM  

  • I'm not sure.

    By Blogger Chris Needham, at 5/02/2005 2:01 PM  

  • I believe they are two different Lisas

    By Blogger Brian, at 5/02/2005 2:04 PM  

  • I think we now know what Mr. Erickson's particular fetish is.

    By Blogger Chris Needham, at 5/02/2005 2:06 PM  

  • His dream ...
    http://www.mattscdsingles.com/acatalog/lisa%20lisa%20forever%20promo.jpg

    By Blogger Brian, at 5/02/2005 2:07 PM  

  • Cut the crap. We know George Will is your source!

    And Yankee Stadium didn't kill Weaver. Stottlemyer has blood on his hands!

    By Blogger Chris Needham, at 5/02/2005 2:20 PM  

  • 30 comments and no Screech talk? What's wrong with everyone?

    By Blogger Ryan, at 5/02/2005 2:29 PM  

  • If you don't like it, Take it To trustthedust.com

    By Blogger Chris Needham, at 5/02/2005 2:30 PM  

  • Oh, I did, but there's nothing there yet. If I miss a Screech stand-up appearance because he's too busy playing chess at a master level and designing software in German to update his site, I'll be pissed.

    By Blogger Ryan, at 5/02/2005 2:40 PM  

  • Screech is a fag.
    -Mario Lopez

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 5/02/2005 2:42 PM  

  • C'mon Brian... we know that's you ;)

    By Blogger Chris Needham, at 5/02/2005 2:43 PM  

  • I think we take 2 of 3 from the "LAD's" as well. Erickson gets a beating of his own tonight - and I like our chances of taking 1 out of next two - Day/Weaver and Livan/Odalis

    By Blogger Rocket1124, at 5/02/2005 2:43 PM  

  • I would never say such a thing. ;-P

    By Blogger Brian, at 5/02/2005 2:45 PM  

  • the early projected match-ups for the WAS/SF series
    Fri: The Landlord vs Lowry
    Sat: Cyrus Patterson vs Schmidt
    Sun: Steve L vs Woody from Toy Story

    By Blogger Brian, at 5/02/2005 2:52 PM  

  • Ah, but what are the projected matchups for the Cubs Series? That's what I really wanna know!

    And, is it safe to assume Rauch for tomorrow's game? I haven't heard anything.

    By Blogger Chris Needham, at 5/02/2005 2:55 PM  

  • I'm warming up my Giant Baba gallery . . .

    By Blogger Ryan, at 5/02/2005 2:56 PM  

  • If you have one of something is it still technically a gallery?

    Altho, I guess that sorta worked for Warhol.

    By Blogger Chris Needham, at 5/02/2005 2:57 PM  

  • MLB and ESPN are listing Harry Potter A.K.A. Puberty Boy

    By Blogger Brian, at 5/02/2005 2:57 PM  

  • They should make him and Rauch do one of those dizzy bat races to see who gets to start.

    By Blogger Chris Needham, at 5/02/2005 2:58 PM  

  • Yuda - where are your seats again?

    By Blogger Brian, at 5/02/2005 2:59 PM  

  • I've got lots of Giant Baba pictures, but only one where he's in a Giants uniform talking to Svrluga.

    By Blogger Ryan, at 5/02/2005 3:07 PM  

  • Through George Will?

    Or your Bankruptcy Sheister friends? ;)

    By Blogger Chris Needham, at 5/02/2005 3:14 PM  

  • errr.... shyster.

    By Blogger Chris Needham, at 5/02/2005 3:15 PM  

  • Have you ever been there before? I went last year ... great ballpark. Bonds sure gets a different reaction there than anyplace else.

    By Blogger Brian, at 5/02/2005 3:15 PM  

  • Did y'all see JMadison's cri de coeur about Mets fans taking over RFK on the BPG board? That got some shit started.

    By Blogger Ryan, at 5/02/2005 3:22 PM  

  • The NatPack thing has gone to his head ... I'd prefer the visiting team not be louder than the Nats but you're dealing with obnoxious Mets fans (is that redundant?)

    By Blogger Brian, at 5/02/2005 3:24 PM  

  • Yes, it is redundant.

    I think he's overstating it. I was at Saturday's game and I saw Sunday's on ESPN. In both cases, Mets fans were pretty loud when the Mets did something, but they were nowhere near as noisy as the Nats fans. It's really not comparable to Camden when the Sox are in town.

    By Blogger Ryan, at 5/02/2005 3:26 PM  

  • What is everyone's opinion of the "Yankees suck" chants?

    Personally, I find it incredibly stupid. Makes no sense in a NL ballpark unless you are playing the Yankees and even then I find it stupid.

    By Blogger Brian, at 5/02/2005 3:31 PM  

  • I'm of two minds. On the one hand, I really hate the Yankees, so it's to be sympatico with everyone. On the other hand, complaining about the Yankees even when they're nowhere around just reinforces the idea that they're the center of the damn universe. On balance, I'm against them.

    By Blogger Ryan, at 5/02/2005 3:32 PM  

  • Where does our esteemed Yankee fan fall on this one?

    By Blogger Brian, at 5/02/2005 3:33 PM  

  • Yeah, what's the word, Craphonso?

    By Blogger Ryan, at 5/02/2005 3:34 PM  

  • Your esteemed Yankee fan just had the piss scared out of him when the IT guy came up to see him.

    False Alarm!

    RE the Yankees Suck chant, I'm practically ready to partake in them.

    But, they piss me off in general. Enjoy your win, boys.

    My favorite has been at Camden Yards the last 5 years or so. On the odd occasion that the Orioles would actually be winning, that chant would sometimes start.

    I'd just point to the flags (order of standings) on the flag court and laugh, BITCH!

    By Blogger Chris Needham, at 5/02/2005 3:36 PM  

  • Did anyone else catch the RFK welcome (on the Jumbotron) Saturday?

    By Blogger Brian, at 5/02/2005 3:40 PM  

  • nope...?

    Did they welcome Omar The Vandal back?

    By Blogger Chris Needham, at 5/02/2005 3:41 PM  

  • Nope ... right after they welcomed Costco, they welcomed ...

    RON MEXICO!!!!

    I kid you not.

    By Blogger Brian, at 5/02/2005 3:42 PM  

  • How ill-informed does their staff have to be?

    Unless they're look that Virginia Ragland woman and just hate sports.

    By Blogger Chris Needham, at 5/02/2005 3:43 PM  

  • And America.

    By Blogger Ryan, at 5/02/2005 3:44 PM  

  • I imagine she owns a lot of cats.

    and she has one of those painted plywood signs that look like a fat lady bending over her garden.

    By Blogger Chris Needham, at 5/02/2005 3:45 PM  

  • You want to find out if your theories are correct after the Cubs game on Sunday?

    By Blogger Ryan, at 5/02/2005 3:48 PM  

  • I'll start drinking lots of fluids now just to be ready.

    By Blogger Chris Needham, at 5/02/2005 3:49 PM  

  • Let's find some Deadheads to teach us how to make paper skeletons, too.

    By Blogger Ryan, at 5/02/2005 3:51 PM  

  • Where can we find some damn dirty hippies around here though?

    By Blogger Chris Needham, at 5/02/2005 3:52 PM  

  • (This WAS a baseball thread, right?)

    By Blogger Chris Needham, at 5/02/2005 3:53 PM  

  • Baseball?

    What's that?

    Ok, so who's staying up late all this week? I want to, but I may chicken out.

    By Blogger Rocket1124, at 5/02/2005 3:55 PM  

  • It's about to turn into a "Do you think I can get away with sneaking a flask into the game" thread. You know, like they always have on BTF.

    By Blogger Ryan, at 5/02/2005 3:55 PM  

  • I ain't staying up. I'm already a wreck from allergies and staying up last night.

    By Blogger Ryan, at 5/02/2005 3:56 PM  

  • Geek that I am ... here is a tentative guess at the Nats/Cubs series
    FRI: Cyrus Patterson vs Wood
    SAT: Steve L vz Zambrano
    SUN: PubertyBoy or GiantBaba vs Dempster

    By Blogger Brian, at 5/02/2005 3:56 PM  

  • 503, Craphonso's in 403.

    By Blogger Ryan, at 5/02/2005 3:56 PM  

  • I'm just pathetic enough and keep quirky enough hours that i'll probably catch a bunch of the games.

    I can't guarantee I'll be lucid.

    But when has that ever stopped me?

    By Blogger Chris Needham, at 5/02/2005 3:56 PM  

  • What's the over/under on Chuck Zambrano plunking Guillen?

    By Blogger Ryan, at 5/02/2005 3:57 PM  

  • I don't have my season tix (Sec 417) for the Cubs series, but I plan on going Friday night for $7 and sitting in 417 anyway (there is constantly an open seat in my row)

    By Blogger Brian, at 5/02/2005 3:58 PM  

  • It's Guillen's destiny to lead the league in HBP and Sac Flies.

    By Blogger Chris Needham, at 5/02/2005 3:58 PM  

  • And I still think that JJ Davis is on pace to lead the league in GIDPs.


    Speaking of him... is he alive? I haven't seen him in about a month!

    By Blogger Chris Needham, at 5/02/2005 3:59 PM  

  • I'm wondering about Sledge. Is he in the doghouse? It's not like my boy Soul Patch is doing much.

    By Blogger Ryan, at 5/02/2005 4:00 PM  

  • one of the Nats pitchers really needs to drill an opposing batter the next time Guillen gets plunked

    By Blogger Brian, at 5/02/2005 4:00 PM  

  • I know the Sunday game has been sold out for a few weeks. Saturday's game didn't have much left.

    By Blogger Chris Needham, at 5/02/2005 4:02 PM  

  • I found two adjacent to Friday night right now

    By Blogger Brian, at 5/02/2005 4:02 PM  

  • And now that I look at it, Church is hitting .375 over the last week.

    By Blogger Ryan, at 5/02/2005 4:06 PM  

  • Church was going to get the Duck last night. But, then I expected I'd have been garroted at the next game from someone sitting a few rows behind me.

    By Blogger Chris Needham, at 5/02/2005 4:07 PM  

  • "Gas on the Fire" Ayala was a solid choice

    By Blogger Brian, at 5/02/2005 4:08 PM  

  • Damn right. I'ma be drunk and belligerent the next time you see me, so tread lightly.

    By Blogger Ryan, at 5/02/2005 4:09 PM  

  • sounds eerily familiar Yuda

    By Blogger Brian, at 5/02/2005 4:11 PM  

  • She just doesn't get it.

    If you're forced to smack her around a little bit, I'll understand and won't keep brining it up like I do with all the other players.

    By Blogger Chris Needham, at 5/02/2005 4:11 PM  

  • plus, I've heard the scalper market gets a bit anxious right around 1st pitch. A buddy got 3 seats first row upper deck LF for $5/ticket 2 minutes prior to 1st pitch.

    By Blogger Brian, at 5/02/2005 4:13 PM  

  • My wife may be an O's fan, but at least she's a fan.

    By Blogger Ryan, at 5/02/2005 4:13 PM  

  • Saturday night

    By Blogger Brian, at 5/02/2005 4:13 PM  

  • women are silly.

    By Blogger Rocket1124, at 5/02/2005 4:15 PM  

  • Oh, that. Baseball isn't an optional expense like food.

    By Blogger Ryan, at 5/02/2005 4:16 PM  

  • test!

    By Blogger Chris Needham, at 5/02/2005 4:58 PM  

  • Wha' happened?

    By Blogger Ryan, at 5/02/2005 4:58 PM  

  • oh yeah "Fuck you Blogger"

    By Blogger Rocket1124, at 5/02/2005 5:02 PM  

  • what's even more impressive is that we're all still here after the Blogger blackout

    By Blogger Rocket1124, at 5/02/2005 5:04 PM  

  • Are you a fan of magical realism, Yuda? That would explain it.

    By Blogger Ryan, at 5/02/2005 5:04 PM  

  • I miss the old WCP. In fact, I wrote a one act play about it:

    WC: All Republicans are evil and stupid and I'd rather they were dead.

    TFD: Yeah!

    A Republican: Hey, that's not fair, Will.

    WC: I didn't mean all Republicans! It's just . . . I can't take this poisonous debate anymore! I'm shutting down the blog!

    -Fin-

    By Blogger Ryan, at 5/02/2005 5:11 PM  

  • Twins Fan Dan (?) - he used to write on WCP and still hangs around.

    By Blogger Ryan, at 5/02/2005 5:15 PM  

  • Well, get back in there, Yuda! Tell Will how great his book is!

    By Blogger Ryan, at 5/02/2005 5:16 PM  

  • It's really gone downhill since they moved. No crazy predictions, no politics, no shutting it down then starting it back up a week later to the rapturous welcome-backs of his loyal fans.

    By Blogger Ryan, at 5/02/2005 5:21 PM  

  • Well, I guess I'll just sit here all by myself and bitch about Will Carroll. *sigh*

    By Blogger Ryan, at 5/02/2005 5:38 PM  

  • What the hell kind of rat-ass job has you working after 5?

    By Blogger Chris Needham, at 5/02/2005 5:55 PM  

  • I just stuck around because I wanted make fun of Will.

    Actually, I slept in today, so I'm making up for that. But I'm leaving now, and will desperately try to think of something to write about for when I get home.

    By Blogger Ryan, at 5/02/2005 6:01 PM  

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