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Strasburg against Hudson in Game 1. These next seven games are really it for the Nats.

In other news, Craig Stammen will be called up tomorrow and pitch Tuesday. The Nats will make a corresponding move at that time. Ross Detwiller is also at Harrisburg now, in case someone missed it.

0-0 after two. Strasburg seems to be purposely not showing the braves his breaking stuff yet, and they have four hits off him.

Gonzalez just turned a sweet double play. Again, if Riggleman is serious about fixing the defense, get rid of Kennedy or Guzman and start Gonzalez at second. You can pinch for him late if necessary.

Jollay wrote:0-0 after two. Strasburg seems to be purposely not showing the braves his breaking stuff yet, and they have four hits off him.

Gonzalez just turned a sweet double play. Again, if Riggleman is serious about fixing the defense, get rid of Kennedy or Guzman and start Gonzalez at second. You can pinch for him late if necessary.

Kennedy was with the Rays a couple of spring trainings back........they liked his bat, but were in fear of him playing up the middle.

We suffered with Riggelman in Seattle two years ago to the tune of 101 losses. Must be some kind of common theme here.

Nats lose 5-0. Really depressing. Lotta run/defense support for Strasburg.

Depressing.

As for Riggleman, I think the jury is still out. He's definitely a players' manager, but that is always called into question when the team is underperforming. I think there's little he can do about the poor defense, and little he can do about guys like Lannan/Marquis being complete disasters this year.

We'll see. Something has got to change, though, in a hurry.

Nats are 12 back, 10 1/2 back in the Wild Card race going into tonight.

Craig Stammen versus Derek Lowe tonight. Really can't afford to lose again to the Braves and stay viable.

But that is what is almost certain to happen.

Jollay wrote:Nats lose 5-0. Really depressing. Lotta run/defense support for Strasburg.

Depressing.

As for Riggleman, I think the jury is still out. He's definitely a players' manager, but that is always called into question when the team is underperforming. I think there's little he can do about the poor defense, and little he can do about guys like Lannan/Marquis being complete disasters this year.

We'll see. Something has got to change, though, in a hurry.

He's probably the right guy for this stage of the nats development.

As for down the road, probably not.

craig01 wrote:

Jollay wrote:Nats lose 5-0. Really depressing. Lotta run/defense support for Strasburg.

Depressing.

As for Riggleman, I think the jury is still out. He's definitely a players' manager, but that is always called into question when the team is underperforming. I think there's little he can do about the poor defense, and little he can do about guys like Lannan/Marquis being complete disasters this year.

We'll see. Something has got to change, though, in a hurry.

He's probably the right guy for this stage of the nats development.

As for down the road, probably not.

Agree with that. Probably similar to a Ned Yost in Milwaukee.

Nats get a lift from unlikely sources. Stammen goes 7.1 innings and gives up two runs. Alberto Gonzalez goes four for four. Nats win 7-2. Defense was nice except for a Nyjer Morgan misplay on a single that turned a ball into a triple. Hammer had a two-run bomb.

Incidentally, Tyler Walker went on the DL with shoulder inflammation to make room for Stammen...

Big game tomorrow for the Nats. JD Martin against Jair Jurrjens.

Gonzalez starts again tonight at short. And why wouldn't he?

Can you imagine all the excuse making Dibble would be doing for the offense if it were missing a Jason Heyward type force?

Nats need this one--this is actually one of the more important games this year. Martin has pitched well but like most others is getting no run support.

Hopefully that trend is over going into a big homestand.

Braves take the finale 4-1. Nats had their chances, most notably in the sixth when they loaded the bases with no outs. Only got one.