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You can't make this up. Marquis goes against Roy Halladay. At Phily. Seriously.

Jollay wrote:You can't make this up. Marquis goes against Roy Halladay. At Phily. Seriously.

A true match up made in hell....lol

Watch Marquis go 7 5 1 1 1 4, and Halladay 3.2 7 6 6 2 3

Nats win 8-3......LOL

Almost a moral victory for the Nats in a 1-0 loss. Marquis goes five innings for the FIRST TIME THIS YEAR and only gives up a run. Halladay is hittable, but spreads out the Nats' hits and goes seven shutout innings, and Madson and Lidge close it.

Strasburg versus Kyle Kendrick tonight. Interesting game with a very hostile crowd for Strasburg. Kendrick is imminently hittable but gets some of the most, if not the most, run support in baseball.

I was listening to portions of the Philly broadcast (Harry Kalas is severely missed btw) last night, and that was Halladay's 8th start without giving up a run, and 14th start out of 26 giving up one run or less.

Phenomenal.

Halladay has been just amazing since Opening Day. I didn't even think he was particularly sharp last night--but still seven shutout innings.

Nats jump all over the Phils early. 3-0 Nats in the first as Kendrick is wild, even walking in Adam Kennedy for one run. Only a great play by Chase Utley on Willie Harris with two outs prevents more damage. If the Nats keep it up, this would be the third game this season they've beaten up Kendrick.

Strasburg really easily faces his biggest test this year. Utley was activated the other day, and Ryan Howard is back tonight after hurting his ankle at Nats Park a few weeks back.

Strasburg is passing the test early. Low pitchcount (for once) in three almost flawless innings. 5-0 Nats.

Ian Desmond has upped his batting average to the mid-.270's. He's been on a tear in the number two hole. 2-3 tonight, and perhaps most importantly he seems to have played better in the field of late. Maybe since the Nats moved Danny Espinosa (AAA) to second base, Desmond is more relaxed...

Phily fans seem really happy with Kendrick...but he gets out of the fourth after allowing two men on to start the inning. Still 5-0 Nats.

Strasburg goes out in the midst of one of his best performances, before finishing the fifth inning at only 56 pitches. He definitely felt something, but he didn't motion toward the dugout--Riggleman and the trainer came sprinting out. I suppose it could be serious, but I doubt it.

Might as well shut the guy down the rest of the year. They're going to treat him a little too much with kid gloves anyway, and he's nearing his innings limit for the year.

No way Strasburg pitches the Cubs/Cards homestand now, since that will be a heavily attended stand regardless.

Now we await the "news" on his injury. Can't help but put faith in the Nats' trainers, who consistently botch their assessments (see Jesus Flores, Chien Ming Wang).

Nats win 8-1 as Bernadina adds an insurance three-run bomb.

Riggleman says Strasburg was adamant about staying in the game, removing him was "precautionary". Of course that will be the company line, but I can't believe it's that serious, if anything.

Still, I can't see him pitching again this year. Why risk anything?

Tough to rely on him to pitch 180-210 innings next year if he is shut down, though. He only would have pitched about 125 innings (with minors) this year.

Official word--strained flexor tendon, with an MRI Sunday. If true, probably not serious.

The Nats ought to shut him down for the year.

And not for the reason of just protecting him.....because anything that gets near Strasburg causes the organizational panic light to go off, and this has to be a huge distraction for his teammates with anything that gets near Strasburg.

If he's injury prone, better to be conservative for sure....The Nats would be better served by aiming for a full run next year.

They probably will, craig, even if it's not that serious.

Nats lose 6-0 to the Phils in the finale as Oswalt shuts down the Nats. Went up to Phily for the game and had a great time, even through the massive rain that came in the sixth and the Nats' inability to score. It was something like the 103rd straight sellout up there.

Per Jim Riggleman it is likely Strasburg will go on the 15-day DL and miss his scheduled start Thursday. He would then likely return for the homestand in early September, unless the Nats decide to just shut him down at that point.

He needs tommy john surgery. Out 12-18 months. Unreal. If 18 months is best case scenario, we're looking at mid-2012.

Rafael122 wrote:He needs tommy john surgery. Out 12-18 months. Unreal. If 18 months is best case scenario, we're looking at mid-2012.

That really sucks about Strasburg

The Rays had a high end prospect (JD McGee) suffer the same injury almost two years ago.

He returned a few months ago and is now being groomed as a closer.

McGee had some issues with mechanics as well, but so far has regained his former velocity.