Author Topic: The Cardinals are taking out their weekend-acquired frustrations on the Padres..  (Read 651 times)

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Offline PC

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They had 10 consecutive hits in the fifth inning and scored 10 runs in that inning :shock:

I'll bet they're wondering why they couldn't do that against the lowly Nats.  :P

Offline soxfan59

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  • Gough, Gough White Sox!!!
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The Nats are getting more and more respect in the press. 

Here's an excerpt from an op-ed piece in today's Chicago Tribune Sport's page . . .

Quote

Unknown gets best of Bonds

Nats' Lannan holds Giants slugger hitless



SAN FRANCISCO

Phil Rogers | On Baseball  August 7, 2007

And now the game of keep-away begins.

Keep away from the record book, that is.

With Barry Bonds one swing away from being the first man to hit 756 home runs in the major leagues, the focus is almost as much on a string of obscure pitchers from the Washington Nationals as on Bonds.

Left-hander John Lannan, a 22-year-old who had climbed through the farm system after starting the season in Class A, was the first in line to try not to become to Bonds what Al Downing was to Hank Aaron—the guy who gave up the home run that is destined to be replayed forever (or at least the next six years the way Alex Rodriguez is going).

Lannan did not look too worried when he faced Bonds in the first inning, after a 30-second ovation from the sellout crowd at AT & T Park.

He never did look too worried, in fact, handing Bonds an 0-for-3 night that included one walk and ended with back-to-back swinging strikes, the first on an 89-m.p.h. fastball and the second on a 3-2 curve worthy of Tom Glavine.

In addition to the strikeout and walk, Bonds also hit a foul pop to third baseman Ryan Zimmerman and grounded into an odd double play—shortstop D'Angelo Jimenez to Zimmerman, who was covering second, to first baseman Dmitri Young.

Manny Acta, the manager of the surprisingly solid Nationals, had said before the game his message to Lannan would be, "Go get 'em." Pitching coach Randy St. Claire said he wouldn't even have a message, not beyond the scouting report, anyway.

"Surprisingly Solid!"  See?  The rest of the nation is starting to take note of the development of the Washington Nationals! 


Offline tomterp

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Ok soxfan59, I'll see your article and raise you one:

http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/articles/2007/08/07/standup_guy_lannan_keeps_bonds_at_bay/

Standup guy Lannan keeps Bonds at bay
   

By Nick Cafardo, Globe Staff | August 7, 2007

SAN FRANCISCO -- Washington Nationals first baseman Dmitri Young is admittedly not a big fan of Barry Bonds, but after Bonds went 0 for 3 with a walk last night at AT&T Park, Young had to be impressed with kid teammate John Lannan, a 22-year-old lefthander who stood up to the mighty slugger in a hostile environment.

Young didn't go that far either, but when asked whether he was rooting for Bonds, he raised his eyebrows a few times and said, "I don't know how you can write this."  Young has never warmed up to Bonds, and it has nothing to do with whether the Giants slugger did or he didn't juice. Young is a gregarious guy, one who has done his share of awful things and lived to tell about them. But he loves people and loves engaging in dialogue. From that perspective, he never has been impressed with Bonds.  "It would be nice if he just talked to someone," Young said.

Bonds long has had a reputation for being surly and treating those around him shabbily. In the past couple of years, that has changed somewhat. You hear better things about him, and he now has an entire clubhouse of teammates who say the right things about him and often answer questions on his behalf when he's not talking.

Former Red Sox outfielder Dave Roberts even said the Giants were planning a big party for him this week if he breaks the home run mark.  But when Young was asked how he felt about Bonds breaking the record, he said, "I'm indifferent about it."  Young was a teammate of Bonds's on the National League squad for this season's All-Star Game and brought his children to the festivities.  "The kids had a great time," said Young. "They spoke to almost everyone."

Though the Nationals lost in extra innings last night, 3-2 -- after Young put them ahead with a homer in the 10th -- Young got part of what he wished for: Lannan didn't give up Bonds's record-breaker.

"No, I wouldn't want to see that, because the kid has to live that down," Young said. "If it's a veteran guy, that's different because that guy would have been around the game for a long time and it would be cool when he looked back on it. But this is this kid's third major league start.

"You don't want that, but I'm sure he would handle it fine if it did happen."
Bonds had said Sunday that he knew of Lannan but knew nothing about him.
Mr. Bonds, meet Mr. Lannan.

Nick Cafardo can be reached at cafardo@globe.com