Nationals (18-10) @ Pirates (12-16)

Post #1 » by **Rafael122** » Tue May 8, 2012 2:28 pm

6 game road trip for the Nats beginning in Pittsburgh and ending in Cincinnati. Nats have lost Jayson Werth to a broken left wrist for the next 12 weeks. Good news is though, it looks like LaRoche and Zimmerman are coming back tonight.

Pitching matchups for the series:

Edwin Jackson vs. AJ Burnett
Ross Detwiler vs. Erik Bedard
Stephen Stasburg vs. Kevin Correia

Post #2 » by **Jollay** » Tue May 8, 2012 3:25 pm

Some "used to be aces" power going for the Pirates...

Perhaps Harper bats #2 now? Maybe Ankiel? Also, Lombardozzi was hitting well in that spot, do you bench him considering Espinosa's output?

Post #3 » by **Rafael122** » Tue May 8, 2012 6:02 pm

Jollay wrote:Some "used to be aces" power going for the Pirates...

Perhaps Harper bats #2 now? Maybe Ankiel? Also, Lombardozzi was hitting well in that spot, do you bench him considering Espinosa's output?

Didn't Lombo have some playing time in the outfield?

Post #4 » by **Jollay** » Tue May 8, 2012 8:06 pm

Yeah--forgot about that...why not? Although as discussed, like to see Moore get some ABs as well.

Post #5 » by **Jollay** » Tue May 8, 2012 8:09 pm

Just saw the lineup...Harper is batting second with Bernadina batting eighth in left.

Be interesting to see if this becomes the norm versus righties. Bernadina really doesn't have many more chances to produce. I expect he could still be the fourth OF next year, but he needs to show something at the plate now.

Post #6 » by **Rafael122** » Wed May 9, 2012 12:05 am

Christ, Desmond is awful as a lead off guy, and Espinosa looks lost to the point where you may have to send him down for a few weeks to get his mind right again.

Put Moore in at left, put Lombo in at 2nd and have him lead off, and move Desmond down to 6th or 7th in the lineup.

Post #7 » by **Jollay** » Wed May 9, 2012 3:08 pm

Disappointing, but good game last night. LaRoche puts the Nats up 4-3 with a two run bomb off Hanrahan, then Barajas wins it with a two run bomb off H-Rod.

Rodriguez' two wild pitches off breaking balls weren't the ultimate factor, but come on buddy, get it together. Wish his second pitch was just an average to good change up instead of a curve or whatever he throws--he'd be unhittable.

Love the MASN announcers too. Santangelo--"he should just throw his cheeze," then Barajas wins the game by punishing a fastball. "Well, he knew it was coming because his breaking stuff wasn't working."

Genius--if you stick to the fastball I'm pretty sure they'll always suspect it's coming.

Nats look like they are convinced H-Rod will eventually master the breaker though.

Post #8 » by **Rafael122** » Wed May 9, 2012 6:09 pm

I agreed with FP though, his best pitch is the fastball, at 100 MPH, throw that bastard and if he hits it, FINE, if not, it's a win. He hit it, ok, he won that battle. It was like he was experimenting with off speed pitches during that inning.

Post #9 » by **Jollay** » Thu May 10, 2012 5:59 pm

Rafael122 wrote:I agreed with FP though, his best pitch is the fastball, at 100 MPH, throw that bastard and if he hits it, FINE, if not, it's a win. He hit it, ok, he won that battle. It was like he was experimenting with off speed pitches during that inning.

Yeah, I agreed with the premise, but then he came back after and said the reason Barajas was able to hit it was because he knew it was coming.

Well, we would have in the above scenerio also.

Do agree with what you're saying though.

Guess it's up to Strasburg to avoid the sweep now. Not sure he even can slow down McCutheon--that guy will be a legit all-star the next ten years.

Post #10 » by **Rafael122** » Fri May 11, 2012 5:57 pm

Strasburg was dominant, that 6th inning killed him though. He probably could have pitched into the 7th or 8th but he threw 30 pitches that inning.