Nationals vs Braves, Game 1

[sportsfan882]

First Pitch: 7:35 PM EST

TV: MASN HD, MY20 HD

Radio: 107.7 FM, 1500 AM



(49-85) 5th Place NL East

Harris - LF
Guzman - SS
Zimmerman - 3B
Milledge - CF
Belliard - 1B
Dukes - RF
Flores - C
Bonifacio - 2B
Perez - P

SP: Odalis Perez (5-10, 4.21 ERA)


(59-75) 4th Place NL East

Anderson - CF
Prado - 1B
C. Jones - 3B
McCann - C
Escobar - SS
Infante - LF
Francoeur - RF
Johnson - 2B
Campillo - P

SP: Jorge Campillo (7-6, 3.37 ERA)

[JMUalumni]

Do you think the Nats have retracted a bit with Bonifacio still being the leadoff guy of the future, or do you guys believe they will still try to have him bat there next year?

[oakviewnatfan]

I think Manny is being smart unlike with Felipe and picking match-ups for Emilio that will build his confidence instead of constant failure.  Switching him with Harris and Anderson is a great idea plus it is competition which he forgot about with Felipe and destroyed his confidence.

[spidernat]

Debbi Taylor interviewing Rick Eckstein: "What's it been like for you and David to being in professional baseball?"     

[HalfSmokes]

Do you think the Nats have retracted a bit with Bonifacio still being the leadoff guy of the future, or do you guys believe they will still try to have him bat there next year?

I think he'll lead off if he shows he can walk and hit for average, otherwise there is no reason to move him back

[JMUalumni]

This Ben Goessling guy must be Debbi Taylor's brother-in-law, jeez.  He's awful.

It didn't sound like he knew anything about our minor league teams.  He was searching for an answer in that segment and only came up with Jordan Zimmerman and Tyler Clippard as possible call-ups in September ("and other guys like that").  It's a pretty reasonable thing to ask of a reporter that covers the team to at least have a working knowledge of the minor league teams.

[The Chief]

Joel Hanrahan emerged as a lights-out closer?  That's certainly news to me.

[spidernat]

I was about to quote Chief on Ben Goessling being Debbi Taylor's brother-in-law but he chickened out. 

Seriously though, dude is terrible as well.

[spidernat]

Joel Hanrahan emerged as a lights-out closer?  That's certainly news to me.

Yeah. It sounds like he's been reading eagleskins' posts.

It didn't sound like he knew anything about our minor league teams.  He was searching for an answer in that segment and only came up with Jordan Zimmerman and Tyler Clippard as possible call-ups in September ("and other guys like that").  It's a pretty reasonable thing to ask of a reporter that covers the team to at least have a working knowledge of the minor league teams.

Dude you'd be perfect for that job. 

[JMUalumni]

Yeah. It sounds like he's been reading eagleskins' posts.

Dude you'd be perfect for that job.  (Image removed from quote.)

I wish... it would sure beat my day job

[The Chief]

I didn't chicken out, I was

uh

trying to move things

yeah that's it.

Actually I just felt sorry for the guy, if he's like most of the other people who cover this team, he probably just got the job the other day on a lost bet or something.

[Air Zimmerman]

we usually don't respond well after a sweep...so it'll be interesting to see how this series goes.

Dukes > Kemp, now Dukes is gonna prove Dukes > Francoeur.

btw, the lineup looks so much better without big ears.

[spidernat]

Actually I just felt sorry for the guy, if he's like most of the other people who cover this team, he probably just got the job the other day on a lost bet or something.

It seems that way. Last year we used to have Don Baylor!    Getting rid of Debbi Taylor would go a long way towards making the broadcast more enjoyable.

[sportsfan882]

Let's see just how predictable this team is. Anything other than getting swept or losing 2 of 3 to the hapless Braves would be a major shock.

[The Chief]

We've had the Braves' number this year, it'll be interesting to see how this series goes now that we're really off the charts in garbage time, and they're out of any reaslitic possibility of contention as well

[spidernat]

Dukes should be moved to the cleanup spot. Milledge should bat 5th and Flores 6th. That would drop Belliard to 7th. Dukes is only 23 so he is still about 5 years away from fully coming into his power potential. I think if Dukes stays healthy he could eventually hit 35+ bombs a season.

[JMUalumni]

btw, the lineup looks so much better without big ears. is it now a consensus that the team is better w/o Kearns?

I can dig this.  I think that a majority of people on this board may have agreed with this, long before he was placed on the DL.

[The Chief]

I can dig this.  I think that a majority of people on this board may have agreed with this, long before he was placed on the DL.

I think so too, but most people just don't want to be seen agreeing with AZ for some reason

[JMUalumni]

Dukes should be moved to the cleanup spot. Milledge should bat 5th and Flores 6th. That would drop Belliard to 7th. Dukes is only 23 so he is still about 5 years away from fully coming into his power potential. I think if Dukes stays healthy he could eventually hit 35+ bombs a season.

I can dig this too, I also think that he could end up with 30+ steals in a fully healthy season.

[sportsfan882]

  That ball should have been caught.

[sportsfan882]

Odalis Perez's rookie card:

[spidernat]

That has to be a Belliard error. Pathetic with the glove.

[JMUalumni]

Odalis Perez's rookie card:

Wow, I can tell just from that card how much he has changed his mechanics since he was a rookie.

[sportsfan882]

Chipper hit the first ever HR in Nationals Park on Opening Night against Odalis Perez.

[The Chief]

Chipper hit the first ever HR in Nationals Park on Opening Night against Odalis Perez.

Yeah but Zimm hit the first one that mattered