We’ve gone from “He’s my closer” to “This is my line-up” #Nats

Posted on June 10, 2016 by Stephen G. "Ghost" Mears

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Chisox 3 runs in the 1st is all they needed + MLB Draft Kieboom x2: Postgame

Posted on June 9, 2016 by Stephen G. "Ghost" Mears

The Nats were in position to steal this game in the 9th inning with the tying runs on-base and Daniel Murphy at the plate, but it was not meant to be. The Nationals who scored 10.33 runs per game during their previous 3 games could only manage 1 run in this game with a reconfigured line-up.

The highlight of tonight’s game turned out to be Gio’s 6 scoreless innings, but unfortunately it was the 3 runs he gave up int he 1st inning was all the White Sox needed. The Nats lose 3-1 with the only Nats run coming from a Daniel Murphy home run. Continue reading →

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Game #60 Gonzalez vs. Gonzalez for Chicago finale: Game Thread

Posted on June 9, 2016 by Stephen G. "Ghost" Mears

The Nationals went wire-to-wire with the win last night in Chicago to secure another series win, and the Nats offense has now scored 31 runs in their last 3 games. The Nats are hoping for a Gio Gonzalez rebound game tonight.

Gio’s current ERA is at 3.94 which is actually higher than his 2015 ERA, and it is due to 3 poor outings in a row where his ERA started at 1.86 before getting tagged with 18 earned runs over his last 15 2/3 innings of work. Gio has taxed the bullpen along the way averaging just under 5 1/3 innings over his last 3 starts.

The White Sox scratched scheduled starter Carlos Rodon for tonight and have inserted Miguel Gonzalez who was DFA’d from the Orioles before the season and picked up by the White Sox.

Both Gio Gonzalez and Miguel Gonzalez have almost identical ERAs and are separated by 0.01 and both pitchers have much to prove for their respective teams.

Gio Gonzalez has Chicago White Sox ties as he was drafted by the Chisox in 2004 in the 1st round, and then traded to the Phillies. Gio was then traded by the Phillies back to the White Sox who then traded him to the Oakland A’s. Gio never played in the Major Leagues for the White Sox. For some reason, Gio has never pitched well against the White Sox and has a career 0-4 record with a 5.23 ERA in 6 career starts. Hopefully this is lucky start #7 for Gio against his former team.

Continue reading →

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Today is Draft Day. #Nats will get to add 2 Top Prospects to the Farm

Posted on June 9, 2016 by Stephen G. "Ghost" Mears

Today is the day when dreams are realized at the MLB Draft. Teenagers and college players will become professional baseball players, and future stars will get their start. Rounds #1 and #2 will be picked tonight with coverage on MLB Network at 7pm EDT.

There is no clear cut #1 pick this year for the Philadelphia Phillies.  Do they go for the college pitcher who could be starting for them next year or Mickey Moniak who is a High School outfielder who will not be ready for the Majors for a while.

Continue reading →

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Nats clinch series win in Chicago. Increase record to new season mark: Postgame

Posted on June 8, 2016 by Stephen G. "Ghost" Mears

The Nats with this win tonight clinch a series win against the White Sox, and improve to a season high 13 games over .500 winning by a score of 11-4 as Max Scherzer pitched a 7 inning shutout. The Nats will go for the series sweep tomorrow for the final game against the White Sox. The Nats now have a 6-2 record on this road trip, and improve to 9-2 in inter-league play.

From the start of tonight’s game, the Nats had a laugher as they knocked out James Shields in his White Sox debut at 2.0 innings as Shields gave up 7 runs. When Robin Ventura removed Shields from the game, he received a round of boo’s from the Chicago fans. Continue reading →

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Game #59 is Max Scherzer and the Chicago debut of James Shields: Game Thread

Posted on June 8, 2016 by Stephen G. "Ghost" Mears

The Nationals won a comeback game last night in Chicago, and Dusty Baker really likes when the team wins the first game in a series. “We were ‘0’ for Chicago before [winning last night’s] game…I like the way we fought back…and kept adding on,” Dusty Baker said. “Good hitting breeds confidence, and confidence is spread around.”

Tonight, the Nats will face James Shields who is making his Chicago White Sox debut. Max Scherzer will face a team that is familiar to him from his time in the AL Central with the Tigers although there are many new faces on this 2016 White Sox team, and while Scherzer has faced 8 of these White Sox players before, the last time Max faced the White Sox on August 30, 2014, only Adam Eaton, Jose Abreu, and Avasail Garcia were in the line-up. The White Sox roster has seen major turnover in the last 2 years. Continue reading →

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Why can’t baseball players run out plays like Pete Rose did 50 years ago.

Posted on June 8, 2016 by Stephen G. "Ghost" Mears

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The Nats score 8 unanswered runs to launch a comeback win in Chicago: Postgame

Posted on June 8, 2016 by Stephen G. "Ghost" Mears

Joe Ross did not have his best stuff tonight, and was probably fortunate to only give up 5 runs over his 4 innings of work.  The Nats worked to claw back from the 1st and 2nd inning deficits, and went ahead in the 5th inning and never looked back.

Blake Treinen relieved Joe Ross and provided 3 shutout innings in relief and more than doubled his highest pitch-count for the year going to 66 pitches tonight.

The Nats picked up 1 1/2 games in the standings today over the Mets as the Pirates swept the Mets in a doubleheader. The Nats now have a 3 1/2 game lead over the Mets as the Nats move back to 12 games over .500. Continue reading →

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Game #58 is back to Chicago for an AL series: Game Thread

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

The Nationals are back in Chicago, and this time is for an inter-league series against the Chicago White Sox of the American League which will bring the designated hitter into the Nats line-up and some American League strategy.

The Nats will face Mat Latos today who they know well from his National League days, and the Nats will start Joe Ross who has only faced Jimmy Rollins on this Chicago roster. Continue reading →

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The Draft is on Thursday and the #Nats have picks!

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

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