Author Topic: Nationals @ Braves, Game 1  (Read 19209 times)

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Offline 2k6nats

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Nationals @ Braves, Game 1
« Topic Start: April 21, 2008, 11:46:06 AM »
  Game Time: 7:00 pm    TV: MASN    Radio: WWWT 1500, 107.7 FM


Matt Chico
0-3, 4.81 ERA

Tim Hudson
2-1, 3.38 ERA

(2B) Felipe Lopez
(SS) Cristian Guzman
(3B) Ryan Zimmerman
(1B) Nick Johnson
(CF) Lastings Milledge
(RF) Austin Kearns
(LF) Wily Mo Pena
(SC) Johnny Estrada
(SP) Matt Chico

Kelly Johnson (2B)
Yunel Escobar (SS)
Chipper Jones (3B)
Mark Teixiera (1B)
Jeff Francouer (RF)
Brian McCann (SC)
Matt Diaz (LF)
Mark Kotsay (CF)
Tim Hudson (SP)

_______________________________________ _____________

In his last start, Chico admitted that he didn't feel right once he stepped on
the mound against the Mets. He was rushing to throw his pitches, and couldn't
find a happy medium when he was on the mound. Not feeling right proved to
be costly for Chico, as he gave up three home runs in a 5-2 loss. The Nationals
were ahead, 1-0, when he gave up a solo home run to Ryan Church in the
bottom of the first inning. The biggest blows came in the fifth inning. The
Nationals had a 2-1 lead when Jose Reyes tied the score with a solo shot.
Three batters later, Carlos Beltran hit Chico's first pitch -- a changeup -- for
a three-run home run.

Hudson provided some concern Wednesday night when his fastball was
clocked between 83-85 mph -- at least seven mph slower than normal. He
allowed four earned runs in three innings and was removed with what the
Braves hoped was just a dead arm. In his two previous starts against the
Nationals this year, Hudson has worked 15 innings and allowed just two
earned runs.

Offline EmpireNat

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Re: Nationals @ Braves, Game 1
« Reply #1: April 21, 2008, 11:52:00 AM »
I've got money on a Nationals win (great odds!!), so this one means a lot!! Hopefully we can replicate the form we showed when we faced Hudson on opening day, even though the hitting was below par, we managed to scrape out a victory, so hopefully with Pena down the order, Guzman and Lopez on decent form and Milledge at #5, we can get some decent AB's. Also, I have faith in Chico to deliver, if he gets into a groove then we should keep it competitive.

Go Nats!!

Offline 2k6nats

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Re: Nationals @ Braves, Game 1
« Reply #2: April 21, 2008, 11:54:37 AM »
Hopefully we can replicate the form we showed when we faced Hudson on opening day, even though the hitting was below par, we managed to scrape out a victory

We faced him on April 11th.  He pitched 8 innings, giving up no runs for the win.

Offline blue911

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Re: Nationals @ Braves, Game 1
« Reply #3: April 21, 2008, 11:56:48 AM »
The Braves batting order doesn't look right. McCann usually bats behind a Francouer against lefties and where is Matt Diaz?

Offline DPMOmaha

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Re: Nationals @ Braves, Game 1
« Reply #4: April 21, 2008, 11:59:59 AM »
Will this be the THIRD time we''ve faced Hudson this year???  That's not cool.  I'm not happy that TBS doesn't show braves games anymore, won't get to watch the Nats much, I think one of the Cubs games are on WGN.  This sucks! 

Offline EmpireNat

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Re: Nationals @ Braves, Game 1
« Reply #5: April 21, 2008, 12:01:02 PM »
We faced him on April 11th.  He pitched 8 innings, giving up no runs for the win.

Opening day was the one I was talking about, obviously we don't want a similar fate awarded to us on April 11th.

Offline blue911

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Re: Nationals @ Braves, Game 1
« Reply #6: April 21, 2008, 12:02:53 PM »
I'll confess, I love watching Hudson pitch. I hope that Shawn Hill can develop into a Hudson clone.

Offline EmpireNat

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Re: Nationals @ Braves, Game 1
« Reply #7: April 21, 2008, 12:04:05 PM »
So, confidence in Chico tonight guys?

Offline DPMOmaha

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Re: Nationals @ Braves, Game 1
« Reply #8: April 21, 2008, 01:03:37 PM »
So, confidence in Chico tonight guys?

History tells us the Nationals/Expos usually put up a good fight against Ace's , especially when most people are writing them off.  Sooo...I'm expecting a good outing, he'll keep us in the game.  So, I'd say I have a 6 out of 10 on the confidence meter.  Maybe that's a bit high.  We'll see.

Offline sportsfan882

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Re: Nationals @ Braves, Game 1
« Reply #9: April 21, 2008, 01:06:28 PM »
So, confidence in Chico tonight guys?
He'll be fine but for us to win he'll have to be perfect. You have to figure that the offense will not score more than 1-2 runs. 

Offline nats2playoffs

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Re: Nationals @ Braves, Game 1
« Reply #10: April 21, 2008, 01:50:49 PM »
Quote from: 2k6nats
Hudson provided some concern Wednesday night when his fastball was clocked between 83-85 mph -- at least 7 mph slower than normal. He allowed 4 earned runs in 3 innings and was removed with what the Braves hoped was just a dead arm. In his two previous starts against the Nationals this year, Hudson has worked 15 innings and allowed just two earned runs.

I have Hudson on my WNFF fantasy team, so I'm watching to see if he continues to have arm problems.  "I felt all right physically," Hudson said. "I just couldn't get anything behind the ball. It was a weird feeling. My heater's usually a lot better than that."

The Nationals are due to pound someone with 9 or 10 runs (and then lose their next 3 or 4 games.) 


Offline tomterp

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Re: Nationals @ Braves, Game 1
« Reply #11: April 21, 2008, 02:02:50 PM »
The Braves batting order doesn't look right. McCann usually bats behind a Francouer against lefties and where is Matt Diaz?

I thought I had read that Chipper has a small boo-boo, and wasn't going to start.  Guess I heard it wrong.

Re: Nationals @ Braves, Game 1
« Reply #12: April 21, 2008, 02:32:44 PM »
I thought I had read that Chipper has a small boo-boo, and wasn't going to start.  Guess I heard it wrong.

No, you were right. He was thinking about sitting out this game to rest up. I don't know if a final decision has been passed down or not.

With how the Nats have been playing, they won't need him to win.

Oh God, I am just not excited about Nats 08' baseball anymore. Even if we win tonight, we'll drop the next three or so. This is our team. It is a scary thought. :(

Offline tomterp

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Re: Nationals @ Braves, Game 1
« Reply #13: April 21, 2008, 03:31:34 PM »
Oh God, I am just not excited about Nats 08' baseball anymore. Even if we win tonight, we'll drop the next three or so. This is our team. It is a scary thought. :(

QFT.

5 of our starting lineup are hitting below replacement level, meaning below AAA / waiver wire level, including the face of the franchise.  Nice.


Offline NatsAddict

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Re: Nationals @ Braves, Game 1
« Reply #14: April 21, 2008, 04:29:53 PM »
QFT.

5 of our starting lineup are hitting below replacement level, meaning below AAA / waiver wire level, including the face of the franchise.  Nice.

I wonder what Lenny's Value Over Replacement Coach is running.

Re: Nationals @ Braves, Game 1
« Reply #15: April 21, 2008, 04:34:50 PM »
I wonder what Lenny's Value Over Replacement Coach is running.



"Hi, I'm looking for Lenny Harris..."

Offline sportsfan882

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Re: Nationals @ Braves, Game 1
« Reply #16: April 21, 2008, 06:20:42 PM »
Speaking of Lenny, here's a little quote from from Barry:
Quote
Harris said: "Me, I don't feel any pressure at all." In a lengthy conversation about his role and how his guys are doing, he said it's up to him to try to get them more disciplined.

Offline blue911

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Re: Nationals @ Braves, Game 1
« Reply #17: April 21, 2008, 06:24:19 PM »
Lenny's a moron and I'll fight any man that says elsewise.

Offline ronnynat

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Re: Nationals @ Braves, Game 1
« Reply #18: April 21, 2008, 06:37:42 PM »
Have we had 2 homers in the same game yet?

Offline sportsfan882

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Re: Nationals @ Braves, Game 1
« Reply #19: April 21, 2008, 06:38:28 PM »
Wow. 34 strikeouts to only 4 walks over the last 4 starts by National starters.

Offline sportsfan882

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Re: Nationals @ Braves, Game 1
« Reply #20: April 21, 2008, 06:40:18 PM »
Have we had 2 homers in the same game yet?
April 5, 2008 against the Cards in a 5-4 loss. NJ and Flores homered in back to back innings (8-9).

Offline ronnynat

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Re: Nationals @ Braves, Game 1
« Reply #21: April 21, 2008, 06:44:50 PM »
April 5, 2008 against the Cards in a 5-4 loss. NJ and Flores homered in back to back innings (8-9).

I don't even remember Flores hitting one. I guess all of these losses have blocked some positive things out.

Offline Air Zimmerman

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Re: Nationals @ Braves, Game 1
« Reply #22: April 21, 2008, 06:47:23 PM »
So, confidence in Chico tonight guys?

nope.

but, GO NATS!!! maybe tonight we can conquer the dominating demon that is tim hudson.

Offline nats2playoffs

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Re: Nationals @ Braves, Game 1
« Reply #23: April 21, 2008, 06:51:00 PM »
Quote
Harris said: "Me, I don't feel any pressure at all." In a lengthy conversation about his role and how his guys are doing, he said it's up to him to try to get them more disciplined.

Lenny...


Offline ronnynat

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Re: Nationals @ Braves, Game 1
« Reply #24: April 21, 2008, 06:54:48 PM »
So, confidence in Chico tonight guys?

I have confidence in Chico, but it's our offense that needs to step up for us to have a chance.

This is the type of game where I really wish Lenny used past game tapes to actually teach our guys how to approach the opposing pitcher better. :?