Nationals vs Rays, Game 1

[Kevrock]

Man, I've always liked Maddon, but this sour grapes bullcrap is pathetic.

Agreed. I would say that calling the opposing manager a "wussy" is more bush than having a cheater's glove checked.

[MarquisDeSade]

Straight from the cheater's mouth.  This team and it's manager are shameless. 

Just like some of the posters here.

[OldChelsea]

THIS DAY WITH THE '05 OVERACHIEVERS: Sunday 19th June 2005, the Nats salvaged their series at Texas with an 8-2 win in the finale...every starter had a hit, topped by a 5-run eighth inning...http://espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=250619113 - record now 40-29.

[OldChelsea]

ATTENDANCE at this match: 27,835  

(Image removed from quote.) (Image removed from quote.) (Image removed from quote.) (Image removed from quote.) (Image removed from quote.) (Image removed from quote.)

...our best Tuesday turn-out of the season thus far; best since Strasburg's return-amid-rain against the Dodgers on 6th September 2011 (29,092).

Nats now averaging 29,542/fixture, 537 better than the 2008 average of 29,005 - still on pace for best Nats Park attendance ever.

[Sharp]

...our best Tuesday turn-out of the season thus far; best since Strasburg's return-amid-rain against the Dodgers on 6th September 2011 (29,092).

It's weird... people I never knew even followed baseball are asking for extra Nationals tickets.  I know we've always maintained that all the Nats needed to do was start winning and the people would come, I just never expected it to happen this quickly.

[OldChelsea]

It's weird... people I never knew even followed baseball are asking for extra Nationals tickets.  I know we've always maintained that all the Nats needed to do was start winning and the people would come, I just never expected it to happen this quickly.

I'm still surprised (pleasantly) by the 32k we turned out for that afternoon Mets match Thursday-before-last (and almost all Nats fans too - Mets aren't bringing the away support like they used to at RFK). Granted that R. A. Dickey is becoming a major crowd-puller with his unbelievable pitching, but 32k for a weekday afternoon is phenomenal no matter how one looks at it.

[houston-nat]

Dirk Hayhurst on Twitter:
On Peralta: He's awesome. Life of the party & super teammate. Not a villain, just a pine tar junky. I'd bid on his confiscated glove on Ebay

[tomterp]

Tim Tschida was tonight's home plate umpire; he was also the home plate umpire on June 14, 2005 when Donnelly got ejected.  Weird.

I actually kind of like that guy.

[Lintyfresh85]

Dirk Hayhurst on Twitter:
On Peralta: He's awesome. Life of the party & super teammate. Not a villain, just a pine tar junky. I'd bid on his confiscated glove on Ebay

For what it's worth... noted Nats lover Mitch Williams called the ejection BS, last night on MLBN.

Said pine tar on a glove is no different than pine tar on a bat... and that it does nothing to give a pitcher an advantage.

[tomterp]

For what it's worth... noted Nats lover Mitch Williams called the ejection BS, last night on MLBN.

Said pine tar on a glove is no different than pine tar on a bat... and that it does nothing to give a pitcher an advantage.

Then Mitch, why would they do it if it gives no advantage?     

[Lintyfresh85]

Then Mitch, why would they do it if it gives no advantage?     

Paraphrasing...

Better grip on the ball... same way a batter uses pine tar to better grip the bat.

Pine tar apparently doesn't rub off on the ball, though... and that's where no advantage is gained... as it doesn't move the ball in any manner.

[Kevrock]

In hot weather, pitchers combat grip issues from sweat. I imagine that pine tar would be especially useful to someone who throws a splitter.