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

Posted on August 7, 2016 by Stephen G. "Ghost" Mears

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

Posted on August 6, 2016 by Stephen G. "Ghost" Mears

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

Posted on August 6, 2016 by Stephen G. "Ghost" Mears

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

Posted on August 6, 2016 by Section222

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

Posted on August 5, 2016 by Stephen G. "Ghost" Mears

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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Game #109 Three games in DC with San Francisco: Game Thread

Posted on August 5, 2016 by Stephen G. "Ghost" Mears

The Nationals are 64-44 with a 7.0 game lead in the NL East, and a year ago at the same point the Nationals were 56-52 and -2.5 games behind in the NL East. Game #108 ended with a devastating loss a year ago as Drew Storen had a 4-1 lead and walked a batter and 2 straight singles to load the bases for Carlos Gonzalez who hit a grand slam to win the game. What a difference a year makes!

The Nationals will be playing the Giants for three game this weekend that should have the feel of post-season baseball if Bruce Bochy plays these game like he did last week in San Francisco.

Dusty Baker adjusted his pitching rotation to have Gio Gonzalez start tonight, and he will face Jeff Samardzija of the Giants. Stephen Strasburg will pitch on Saturday against Matt Cain, and Tanner Roark and Madison Bumgarner are set for Sunday.

You might recall that last week against the Nationals at AT&T Park  Samadzija took the loss in the  4-1 game. Samardzija gave up four runs on seven hits in six innings against the Nats.

Even if Ryan Zimmerman is healthy Dusty Baker could sit him as he is a career .053 batter against Jeff Samardzija in 19 at-bats. By the way, in regular season games, Hunter Pence is .059 against Gio Gonzalez in 17 at-bats.

Continue reading →

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“We like the team we have” — Mike Rizzo, General Manager of the #Nats

Posted on August 4, 2016 by Stephen G. "Ghost" Mears

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Nats are 64-44! #1 in the NL East, #2 in pitching in the MLB, #8 in offense in the MLB, and #1 in fielding in the MLB

Posted on August 4, 2016 by Stephen G. "Ghost" Mears

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Nats sweep the D’Backs: Postgame

Posted on August 3, 2016 by Stephen G. "Ghost" Mears

The Nationals swept the three-game series from the Diamondbacks, and the Nats head home with a 6-3 road trip in the books.

To add to a good day, the Cubs swept the Marlins to give the Nats a 7 game cushion in the NL East with 54 games remaining in the regular season.

Max Scherzer pitched a good game striking out 11 in 8 innings with 3 earned runs. Mark Melancon was warming up in the top of the 9th in a 4-3 game figuring to make his first save, and when the Nats scored 4 runs with 2 outs in the top of the 9th Melancon pitched with a 8-3 lead to close the game out.

The Nationals offense was helped by a 451 foot blast from Trea Turner and another home run from Daniel Murphy. Every starter had at least one hit today and perhaps the biggest hit was Scherzer’s 2-run single with bases loaded and 2 outs.

IMG_20160803_181342

ESPN Stats and graphics

Here is the game highlights video which you can watch here.

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Game #108 Rest days for JDub & the Buffalo: Game Thread

Posted on August 3, 2016 by Stephen G. "Ghost" Mears

We had a scare in the 9th inning last night as Wilson Ramos was knocked backwards after he took a foul tip to his upper chest. It looked serious as the trainer Paul Lessard sprinted out to Ramos’ aid. It appeared after removing Ramos’ chest protector that the issue was the foul tip broke his gold chain. Dusty Baker joked after the game, “I don’t know what he was reaching for down there and pulled out some gold. Ramos has been a Godsend. He feels good about himself. I can’t imagine not having Ramos. He’s figured it out. It takes some time. I’m hoping we do something with Big Ramos here to retain him soon.”

“They have told me absolutely nothing still,” said Ramos in response to Baker’s comment. “I’d like [to stay with the Nats], but those are decisions they make … They haven’t made any calls or communicated with [my agents]. We’re still waiting.”
Continue reading →

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