Game #112 Max Scherzer and the #Nats face the #Indians: Game Thread

The Cleveland Indians hoped to begin August with Jonathan Lucroy as their catcher and Andrew Miller as their closer. They did not get Lucroy who vetoed the trade, and the only big need the Indians filled was for the back of their bullpen with Miller. Since then, Danny Salazar was placed on the DL. Like the Indians, the Nationals added a coveted back of the bullpen arm in Mark Melancon by the end of the trade deadline.

The Cleveland Indians enter today’s game up by 2.5 games over the Detroit Tigers for 1st place in the AL Central division, and find themselves with a 5-5 record in their last 10 games. The Nationals played two games in July against the Indians and split the two-game series. Continue reading

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What did we learn about the season series with the Giants? #Nats

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Questions, questions and more questions

This past Saturday was the Nats Fan Appreciation Day and more than a few Talk Nats writers, readers and commenters attended.

Lots of questions were asked and answered. But in such an environment, can you expect more than the typical cliché answers? As a result, the suggestion was made to the collective of the Talk Nats writers who write the most, to take advantage of two off-days and have a post on Monday (the first off-day this week) where we asked you to comment on what questions would you most like to asked Dusty Baker and Mike Rizzo – assuming that they were connected to a lie detector. Then we would take the most popular questions (based on up-votes) and have two polls on Thursday (the second off-day) where you could vote for the one question to ask: one poll for the Baker question; and one for the Rizzo question. Continue reading

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51 Games Left and Counting Down

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You Just Saw The Best Win Of The Year: Postgame

“Playoff type of atmosphere,” said Charlie Slowes just before Mark Melancon struck out the Giants’ final batter Hunter Pence for a 1-0 win for the Nats. With that, Mark Melancon is 1-for-1 in save opportunities for the Nats.

Melancon and Ramos celebrate

On this day, Tanner Roark took the mound in a familiar spot for another start after a Nats loss. Roark, in his own right, has been one of the best starting pitchers in the Majors, and arguably would be facing the best pitcher in the Majors in Madison Bumgarner considering Clayton Kershaw is currently on the DL. Continue reading

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Game #111 The season series is tied at 3-3. Season finale decides tiebreaker: Game Thread

Today is not just any game on the schedule as there could be post-season implications based on which team wins this game today in Nats Park. Rules state that the team with the best regular season record in each league will get home field advantage in the LDS (league divsion series) and the LCS (league championship series); however, if there is a tie for best record than the head-to-head record would determine home field advantage for that particular series. If the Nationals and Giants both finish the 2016 season with 96 wins for example, today’s game would determine the home field advantage.

It is a tall order it would seem on the surface for the Nationals against Madison Bumgarner on the mound for the Giants, but Tanner Roark is more than capable of pitching better than him. If there is any good news, it is the way that the Nationals hit Bumgarner in Nats Park in the past as the Nats slash a very good .292/.333/.496/.829 with a 5.00 ERA and that is not a typo. Continue reading

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Do you want the good news or the bad news?: Postgame

This game was an absolute dud on the pitching side. Stephen Strasburg could not get into a rhythm and the Nationals lost 7-1, and that is some of the bad news. Bryce Harper had a grimace while batting and was pulled early from the game after three strikeouts, and according to Dusty Baker the situation with Harper was a sore neck.

The good news is that the Mets lost their game, and the Marlins are currently losing 11-3, and that is good news. The Nationals should not lose any ground in the standings. One more game comes off the calendar with 52 games remaining.

More good news is Wilson Ramos was 3-4 tonight and raised his batting average to .337. Danny Espinosa had two hits with the only RBI, and Trea Turner and Anthony Rendon each had a hit. The Nationals had their chances early in this game with runners on base including a one out bases loaded situation where the Nats could not score.

Jayson Werth drew a walk and set the longest mark in the MLB this year with 37 games consecutively where he has reached base safely.

Ben Revere and Anthony Rendon had some very good plays on defense but there were quite a few plays like a pop-up to leftfield which became an RBI double, a single to shortstop that rolled through, and two balls to rightfield that Bryce was not deep enough on.

Here is one that Espinosa did not dive on. Maybe he doesn’t get the ball but maybe he does. Effort is contagious. Get dirty and try to help your pitcher.

defensive effort

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Game #110 Strasburg’s turn!: Game Thread

It should be no surprise that Ryan Zimmerman is going back to the DL. The choice to replace Zimmerman’s spot on the active roster is Brian Goodwin who had stepped up his game this year at Triple-A Syracuse. Goodwin was a former 1st round pick in 2011 as a compensation pick for Adam Dunn signing with the White Sox. Thoughts yesterday were certainly pointed in the direction that the Nats would not play a 5th game short today on the bench, “They are contemplating. Should have had Goodwin in the clubhouse …” — Steve M. http://disq.us/p/1aomu58 Zimmerman’s DL stint will be retroactive to August 1st.

In other news, Bryce Harper has reportedly purchased a $2.7 million home in a swanky gated community outside of Las Vegas that we expect will be Bryce’s off-season home for himself and his fiancée Kayla Varner. You can view the home here.

bryce harper home

In line-up news, Trea Turner is back to 2nd base in Dusty Baker‘s ‘speed’ line-up with Ben Revere back in center field, and Daniel Murphy at 1st base. Continue reading

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6th 18-gamer: With Just 54 Games to Go, Things are Still Looking Up

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Gio Gonzalez with a pure gem. Turner & Ramos with the fireworks: Postgame

Gio Gonzalez threw a 2-hitter over 7 innings with only 1 walk in a Nats 5-1 win over the San Francisco Giants. It was one of the best games Gio has ever thrown as a Washington Nationals’ pitcher. Bruce Bochy stacked his line-up with right-handed batters, and it did not faze Gio Gonzalez who was efficient and effective.

The Nationals runs on offense once again had Trea Turner front and center. He had a double and a home run, and two runs scored.

Photo by Sol Tucker for TalkNats.com

Photo by Sol Tucker for TalkNats.com

Wilson Ramos had a big home run to go with a walk and a Sac Fly for 2 RBIs as Ramos set his career high with his 17th home run of the season. Ramos closes in on his career high in RBIs as he currently has 61. Continue reading

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