Observations from 8 games and a 7-1 record for the #Nats

Posted on April 15, 2016 by Stephen G. "Ghost" Mears

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UPDATED: Bryce Harper 100th HR: History Made in Grand Style!!

Posted on April 14, 2016 by Andrew Lang

It’s official, Bryce Harper has joined the 100 Home Run Club becoming the 8th youngest to reach 100 HRs in MLB history in GRAND style. Bryce had never had a Grand Slam as part of his career 100 HRs which made this 4 times as special plus he did this on him mom’s birthday, and the first MLB HR that Bryce has hit on April 14th. Harper’s manager Dusty Baker told him right after the Home Run, “You got a flair for the dramatic.” Bryce sure does, and he is making baseball fun for himself.

Here’s the list of the youngest to 100 home runs:

  1. Mel Ott:                    22 years, 132 days
  2. Tony Conigliaro:    22 years, 197 days
  3. Eddie Mathews:     22 years, 292 days
  4. Alex Rodriguez:      23 years, 16 days
  5. Andruw Jones:       23 years, 62 days
  6. Miguel Cabrera:     23 years, 127 days
  7. Johnny Bench:       23 years, 161 days
  8. Bryce Harper:         23 year, 181 days

Bryce accomplished this feat with fewer at-bats to reach 100 HRs than Mel Ott, Andruw Jones, Miguel Cabrera and Johnny Bench. Bryce also pushed Ken Griffey Jr. out of the Top 10 list of youngest players to reach 100 home runs.

We spoke after the game with  a VP of the Marucci Bat company who made the bat that Bryce hit his 100th HR with and possibly as poetic as the baseball universe aligns, Bryce hit this HR with the exact same CU7 Marucci model that Bryce smashed his 1st HR with. The VP of Sports Marketing for Marucci is Kyle Ourso and he has dealt with Bryce since he was swinging wood bats at the College of Southern Nevada so they have quite the history together. Even back then in 2010, Bryce was swinging the  CU7 Marucci model that Ourso hooked him up with which was that classic all black bat with BRYCE HARPER etched in block letters and filled in with white paint and measuring 34/32.

bryce harper HR 100 A

Screengrab from the Kirk Cousin’s twitter feed.

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Game #8 Series finale with Braves: Game Thread

Posted on April 14, 2016 by DonH

The Washington Nationals wrap up their 4 game series at Nationals Park with the Atlanta Braves. Dusty Baker is waiting to see how Stephen Strasburg is feeling this morning as players arrive in order to fill in his line-up card.

Jayson Werth is also scheduled for a day off; however, we know Jayson has talked himself back into the line-up before and he did hit a booming 2-run HR last night to push the margin of victory to 3 runs in that 3-0 win.

Ryan Zimmerman is due back in the line-up today as well as Anthony Rendon who pinch-hit late for Dusty last night.

For now we have prepared the Stephen Strasburg  vs. Braves batters box as well as the Yusmeiro Petit box.

Stay tuned for changes and updates and expect sunny skies and 63°F warm air for 1st pitch at 4:05pm.

After the game, the Nats will most likely bus it up to Philadelphia to start their road trip.
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“I think this has been an amazing day for sports fans” —Kobe Bryant

Posted on April 14, 2016 by Stephen G. "Ghost" Mears

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#Nats win with a Roark shutout & Drew/Werth HRs & Papelbon Save #5: Post Game

Posted on April 13, 2016 by Stephen G. "Ghost" Mears

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Breaking: Stephen Strasburg scratched. Tanner Roark now starts Game #7 Game Thread #Nats

Posted on April 13, 2016 by DonH

We learn now that Tanner Roark will start instead of Stephen Strasburg against Matt Wisler.  Strasburg was officially scratched the Nationals are reporting due to illness.

This shouldn’t change the Braves line-up as they were preparing for a right-handed pitcher. Roark last pitched on Thursday which was the Nationals’ home opener which means Roark is pitching today on regular rest. Roark threw 99 pitches in that game and was scheduled to pitch tomorrow against the Braves.

The key for Roark is to get off to a good 1st inning and allow his arm motion to be free and easy and be concerned more with movement and location rather than velocity which has put him in trouble in the past. Roark is more of a finesse pitcher than a power pitcher. Does Roark have the ability when he needs it to throw mid-90s gas in a reach-back fastball? Yes, but use it strategically.

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#Nats go to 5-1 on the season! Bryce Harper goes clutch! Post-Game!

Posted on April 12, 2016 by Stephen G. "Ghost" Mears

Gio Gonzalez pitched a shutout and the bullpen picked each other up and Felipe Rivero gets the Save as Blake Treinen was nails in the 8th inning to save a bases loaded 1 out situation to induce a 6-4-3 tailor-made doubleplay.

Bryce Harper comes up huge with an oppo low liner down the leftfield line that scores 2 runs in the bottom of the 8th for the only runs in the 2-1 final against the Braves. Continue reading →

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Game #6 Gio Gonzalez gets his 1st start of 2016—#Nats Game Thread

Posted on April 12, 2016 by Stephen G. "Ghost" Mears

The weather forecast shows improvement for this evening that should allow the Nats to get this game in without rain, however it will be a chilly evening. Gio Gonzalez will get the start for the Washington Nationals and Jhoulys Chacin for the Atlanta Braves.

According to Dusty Baker, he doesn’t want to pitch Jonathan Papelbon 3 games in a row which should set a new 9th inning man for the Nats tonight. Dusty said that could be Shawn Kelley, Blake Treinen or Felipe Rivero as well as a combination.

Jose Lobaton will start at catcher tonight and Wilson Ramos will get a rest day. This is an interesting move that Dusty will sit Ramos who just went 4-4, and it seems like the right move. Ramos will be more effective with regular rest in a marathon season.
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#Nats improve to 4-1 as Scherzer finishes well and Murph/Ramos the stars

Posted on April 11, 2016 by Stephen G. "Ghost" Mears

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Game #5 Braves in for 4 game set – #Nats Game Thread

Posted on April 11, 2016 by Stephen G. "Ghost" Mears

The Washington Nationals are seeing improved weather today, and might even see some sunshine as temperatures are above 70°F now in Washington DC for the first time in a while.

The Nats will host the Atlanta Braves for a four game set as Bud Norris is set to face off against Max Scherzer at 7:05pm.  The Braves are winless on the season and the Nationals are on top of the NL East with a 3-1 record.

Bryce Harper has reached the 100 double club and tonight will try again to join the 100 HR Club.

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