Author Topic: Nationals @ Cubs, Game 1  (Read 22692 times)

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Offline sportsfan882

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Nationals @ Cubs, Game 1
« Topic Start: August 22, 2008, 01:52:13 PM »
First Pitch: 2:20 PM EST

TV: MASN, WGN

Radio: 107.7 FM, 1500 AM, 1390 AM




(45-83) 5th Place NL East

Bonifacio - 2B
Guzman - SS
Zimmerman - 3B
Milledge - CF
Belliard - 1B
Langerhans - RF
Harris - LF
Nieves - C
Lannan - P

SP: John Lannan (6-12, 3.81 ERA)



(78-49) 1st Place NL Central

Soriano - LF
Theriot - SS
Lee - 1B
Ramirez - 3B
Johnson - CF
Soto - C
DeRosa - RF
Cedeño - 2B
Marquis - P

Jason Marquis (8-7, 4.67 ERA)

Offline UMDNats

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Re: Nationals @ Cubs, Game 1
« Reply #1: August 22, 2008, 01:53:50 PM »
Talk about random start times.

I wonder how many runs we score this weekend. I'm thinking less than 6. But I hope I'm wrong and we pull out a win.

Offline JMUalumni

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Re: Nationals @ Cubs, Game 1
« Reply #2: August 22, 2008, 01:58:20 PM »
I can't remember the last time we had an early start time on the series opener.  Interesting scheduling choice indeed.

Offline sportsfan882

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Re: Nationals @ Cubs, Game 1
« Reply #3: August 22, 2008, 02:00:24 PM »
The Cubs always play these 2:20 Friday games for whatever reason.

Offline sportsfan882

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Re: Nationals @ Cubs, Game 1
« Reply #4: August 22, 2008, 02:01:53 PM »
Rain?

Offline JMUalumni

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Re: Nationals @ Cubs, Game 1
« Reply #5: August 22, 2008, 02:02:13 PM »
The Cubs always play these 2:20 Friday games for whatever reason.

I was thinking it has something to do with Wrigley Field.  Maybe its tradition or something along those lines.  I can just picture Wrigley as a better day park for some reason.

Offline JMUalumni

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Re: Nationals @ Cubs, Game 1
« Reply #6: August 22, 2008, 02:03:40 PM »
Rain?

There is a nasty isolated storm cell hovering right over Chicago currently.  I would expect a delay, but it should clear soon.

Offline PANatsFan

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Re: Nationals @ Cubs, Game 1
« Reply #7: August 22, 2008, 02:04:25 PM »
Too bad I get New York CW instead of WGN. Sucks.

Offline spidernat

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Re: Nationals @ Cubs, Game 1
« Reply #8: August 22, 2008, 02:15:07 PM »
They are showing the US/Cuba game right now.

Offline blue911

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Re: Nationals @ Cubs, Game 1
« Reply #9: August 22, 2008, 02:18:37 PM »
I was thinking it has something to do with Wrigley Field.  Maybe its tradition or something along those lines.  I can just picture Wrigley as a better day park for some reason.

I think the Cubs are restricted in how many night games they can play.

Offline JMUalumni

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Re: Nationals @ Cubs, Game 1
« Reply #10: August 22, 2008, 02:22:26 PM »
I think the Cubs are restricted in how many night games they can play.

Interesting.  I know the Nationals asked the scheduling committee not to give them day games at home during the weekday.  I think it was because the Metro was (and still is) unable to handle the influx of game attendees that would use the system during the work day.  Any idea why they wouldn't be able to play the games at night?  Is there some other team(s) that also uses Wrigley?

EDIT:  nevermind, found it this on Wikipedia:

Quote
In recent years, the Cubs have successfully lobbied for additional regular-season night games (up to a potential 30 per year, as of 2007). However, per their agreement with the city, they still play most of their games during the day. Due to the limited night schedule, night games at Wrigley Field are considered an "event" and are almost always sold out well in advance. Some observers compare the atmosphere of a Wrigley Field night game to that of Rush and Division streets, the longtime epicenter of Chicago's nightclub scene.

Offline spidernat

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Re: Nationals @ Cubs, Game 1
« Reply #11: August 22, 2008, 02:23:40 PM »
Strasburg is impressive. He has the mentality of a stud. He pounds the strike zone and challenges hitters with his stuff. It's refreshing to see after seeing so much of our garbage that is afraid of the strike zone. He just got a lucky break on a bad call at second though.

Offline spidernat

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Re: Nationals @ Cubs, Game 1
« Reply #12: August 22, 2008, 02:25:06 PM »
Any idea why they wouldn't be able to play the games at night?  Is there some other team(s) that also uses Wrigley?

No. It's just a matter of tradition and the amount of people they draw for day games. People (especially college kids) love to go there for the atmosphere so they take advantage of it.

Offline JMUalumni

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Re: Nationals @ Cubs, Game 1
« Reply #13: August 22, 2008, 02:28:19 PM »
Strasburg is impressive. He has the mentality of a stud. He pounds the strike zone and challenges hitters with his stuff. It's refreshing to see after seeing so much of our garbage that is afraid of the strike zone. He just got a lucky break on a bad call at second though.

I was impressed with that as well.  In the game against the Netherlands he was in the zone and was just pounding the strikezone.  Versus Cuba, he was still pounding the strikezone, but he didn't seem to have the same movement or velocity behind his pitches.  I don't know if you know the outcome yet so I won't go further, but he seems to get rattled later after getting hit a couple times.

They had a close-up of his face before he threw his pitches, he has a pretty intimidating demeanor as he prepares to throw, I like it.

Offline blue911

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Re: Nationals @ Cubs, Game 1
« Reply #14: August 22, 2008, 02:29:12 PM »

EDIT:  nevermind, found it this on Wikipedia:



Sometimes us old farts know something.

Offline MDoyle

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Re: Nationals @ Cubs, Game 1
« Reply #15: August 22, 2008, 02:32:26 PM »
Angel Hernandez is umpiring second by the way.  He's the guy that called Perez twice on balks and then promptly threw his ass out.

Offline spidernat

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Re: Nationals @ Cubs, Game 1
« Reply #16: August 22, 2008, 02:32:45 PM »
I was impressed with that as well.  In the game against the Netherlands he was in the zone and was just pounding the strikezone.  Versus Cuba, he was still pounding the strikezone, but he didn't seem to have the same movement or velocity behind his pitches.  I don't know if you know the outcome yet so I won't go further, but he seems to get rattled later after getting hit a couple times.

They had a close-up of his face before he threw his pitches, he has a pretty intimidating demeanor as he prepares to throw, I like it.

Yeah I know the outcome. I posted his line earlier this morning. He has been throwing 94-97 and his curve was just under 80.

Offline d_mc_nabb

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Re: Nationals @ Cubs, Game 1
« Reply #17: August 22, 2008, 02:36:38 PM »
Yeah I know the outcome. I posted his line earlier this morning. He has been throwing 94-97 and his curve was just under 80.

Does he have a good curve? I've heard he has a good fastball and great slider, but I don't know about his change and curve.

Offline JMUalumni

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Re: Nationals @ Cubs, Game 1
« Reply #18: August 22, 2008, 02:40:56 PM »
Yeah I know the outcome. I posted his line earlier this morning. He has been throwing 94-97 and his curve was just under 80.

His four seamer touches 100 and is usually 97-98

Does he have a good curve? I've heard he has a good fastball and great slider, but I don't know about his change and curve.

He has two really good pitches (fastball and slider) and a very good changeup.  His curveball is a good fourth pitch and is probably his weakest pitch, which is not a bad thing.


Offline spidernat

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Re: Nationals @ Cubs, Game 1
« Reply #19: August 22, 2008, 02:41:14 PM »
The curve he's feature today looks decent. He may not have had his best stuff today but from the looks of it, he can throw it for strikes.

Offline sportsfan882

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Re: Nationals @ Cubs, Game 1
« Reply #20: August 22, 2008, 02:41:47 PM »
Angel Hernandez is umpiring second by the way.  He's the guy that called Perez twice on balks and then promptly threw his ass out.
I'd laugh if he is behind the plate tomorrow when Perez pitches.

Offline JMUalumni

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Re: Nationals @ Cubs, Game 1
« Reply #21: August 22, 2008, 02:42:39 PM »
The curve he's feature today looks decent. He may not have had his best stuff today but from the looks of it, he can throw it for strikes.

I don't see any reason why he won't dominate the college competition this season.

As a side note, I just looked up Cuba's pitcher from today.  He is 37.

Offline d_mc_nabb

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Re: Nationals @ Cubs, Game 1
« Reply #22: August 22, 2008, 02:43:35 PM »

He has two really good pitches (fastball and slider) and a very good changeup.  His curveball is a good fourth pitch and is probably his weakest pitch, which is not a bad thing.



Thanks.

Offline blue911

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Re: Nationals @ Cubs, Game 1
« Reply #23: August 22, 2008, 02:43:41 PM »
He has two really good pitches (fastball and slider) and a very good changeup.  His curveball is a good fourth pitch and is probably his weakest pitch, which is not a bad thing.

His curve sounds candy-assed.

Offline sportsfan882

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Re: Nationals @ Cubs, Game 1
« Reply #24: August 22, 2008, 02:44:50 PM »
US's defense is horrible. What a joke.