Nationals vs White Sox, Game 1

[hammondsnats]

Friday, June 18 | 7:05 pm
MASN HD / MLB NETWORK | 1500 AM


Nationals Park (41,546)

Chicago White Sox 31-34 (3rd/AL Central) LF Pierre 3B Vizquel CF Rios 1B Konerko RF Quentin C Pierzynski SS Ramirez 2B Beckham SP Floyd (2-7, 5.64)

Washington Nationals 31-36 (5th/NL East) CF Morgan 2B Guzman 3B Zimmerman 1B Dunn LF Willingham C Rodriguez RF Bernadina SS Desmond SP Strasburg (2-0, 2.19)

[NatsDad14]

This is a big test of the Riggleman regime. Does he start Bernadina and Morse today? He has to, but he really doesn't have to in his mind because he has to stroke the egos of his veterans.

[PANatsFan]

If the Nats keep playing at a .200 clip, when will things change?

[soxfan59]

The game thread title for today over on Southsiders.net is "Baby Jesus vs. Hot Sox"

[OldChelsea]

Famous saying of the late 1940's at the Boston Braves: 'Spahn and Sain and pray for rain'

Today's Nats: 'Strasburg starts, our pitching wizard - then bring back last February's blizzard'

[but could they get all the snow cleared up in 4 days?]

-------
For those going tonight:

METRO - delays on the Red Line all weekend due to improvements (http://www.wmata.com/about_metro/news/PressReleaseDetail.cfm?ReleaseID=4519)

WEATHER - high in mid 80's, low in high 60's/low 70's, wind from SSE at 5-10mph, very little chance of precip

Interesting bit, too, in Capital Weather Gang about weather's effect on baseball: http://voices.washingtonpost.com/capitalweathergang/2010/06/can_the_wind_make_strasburgs_f.html#more

[hammondsnats]

This is a big test of the Riggleman regime. Does he start Bernadina and Morse today? He has to, but he really doesn't have to in his mind because he has to stroke the egos of his veterans.

I know what you're saying, but if the think tank feels Morgan is the starter than he's going to be in the line-up.

[PANatsFan]

Freak hailstorm directly over the field, por favor

Otherwise tomorrow I can get my bobblehead, knock back some cold ones, and go play with the baby by the 4th inning when it gets out of hand.

Tonight is going to be epic. Some nice revenge for all times I'm sure the old-timey White Stockings pounded the original Nationals.

[KnorrForYourMoney]

Freak hailstorm directly over the field, por favor

NO, freak you.  You shouldn't have engaged in speculative buying.

I'm going to the start against the Royals.

[ColtonWillems]

I'm pretty giddy like a little school girl. Can't wait to get home from work tonight and watch the DVR'd recording of the game.

Start up a new streak boys...LETS GO NATS

[PANatsFan]

NO, freak you.  You shouldn't have engaged in speculative buying.

I'm going to the start against the Royals.

I already declared I won't buy any more tickets this season due to Philly shenanigans. These are free blood donation tickets.

[NatsDad14]

I'm officially off the Riggleman Bandwagon:

Nationals
1. Nyjer Morgan, CF
2. Cristian Guzman, 2B
3. Ryan Zimmerman, 3B
4. Adam Dunn, 1B
5. Josh Willingham, LF
6. Ivan Rodriguez, C
7. Roger Bernadina, RF
8. Ian Desmond, SS
9. Stephen Strasburg, SP

[ronnynat]

I dig the lineup. Nats win 6-1.

[Evolution33]

I was squarely on the Bernie and Morse bandwagon before i went to sleep last night. Then when I woke up this morning I started to think about what Nyjer did last year and that if the Nationals could get him going they would be a better team than if they gave up on him.

[Lintyfresh85]

I'm officially off the Riggleman Bandwagon:

Nationals
1. Nyjer Morgan, CF
2. Cristian Guzman, 2B
3. Ryan Zimmerman, 3B
4. Adam Dunn, 1B
5. Josh Willingham, LF
6. Ivan Rodriguez, C
7. Roger Bernadina, RF
8. Ian Desmond, SS
9. Stephen Strasburg, SP

Switch Guzman for Kennedy, and that's my perfect RHP lineup.

[The Chief]

Switch Guzman for Kennedy

A post with your name on it saying that seems redundant to me

So much for giving morse a fair shot

[PANatsFan]

I was squarely on the Bernie and Morse bandwagon before i went to sleep last night. Then when I woke up this morning I started to think about what Nyjer did last year and that if the Nationals could get him going they would be a better team than if they gave up on him.

I wish these guys didnt have such enormous egos and he could go to AAA and work on that instead of starting and losing games for the Nationals.

[NatsDad14]

A post with your name on it saying that seems redundant to me

So much for giving morse a fair shot

Riggleman will never be a manager for a winner because he is stubborn. His ceiling is .500 and maybe a wild card run if given a lot of talent

[hammondsnats]

I'm officially off the Riggleman Bandwagon:

again what did you expect?  nyjer morgan is their starting CF.  if he wasn't, the club would come out and say it.

don't get me wrong, i think morse should be in the line-up, just sayin.

[Nathan]

Brought my phone charger with me to work today.  Should be good to go to listen to Charlie and Dave tonight

[Galah]

Looking forward to seeing the game tonight instead of reading about it on the game day thread

Great night for baseball

Let's go Nats - POUND the Southsiders

[tomterp]

I was squarely on the Bernie and Morse bandwagon before i went to sleep last night. Then when I woke up this morning I started to think about what Nyjer did last year and that if the Nationals could get him going they would be a better team than if they gave up on him.

I don't by any means think they should "give up" on him.  However, Morse and Bernadina have earned greater playing time, and Morgan deserves less.  Not dramatic changes, but moderate ones, in plate appearances and innings played.

[RL04]

Tough night.

St. Stephen pitching, US Open golf and Friday Night Lights all on at the same time.

I can DVR FNL but what do I do about the other two . . .

[DPMOmaha]

Strasburg.  The US Open won't be decided tonight.

[ronnynat]

 

[PC]

Nyjer Morgan is like crack cocaine to Jim Riggleman.