National League Division Series, Game 3

[Optics]

Desmond and Ramos should sit. Rendon at 2B, Cabrera at SS, Zimm at 3B, hope and pray his fielding doesn't freak us.

We need offense.

[PC]

How many runs do you think we're going to get from this bunch when everyone (except Rendon) is 1 for 10 or worse (I'm looking at your 0 for 11, Denard!)?

[sportsfan882]

How many runs do you think we're going to get from this bunch when everyone (except Rendon) is 1 for 10 or worse?

1. Though we did get 2 off him earlier in the season at this park. Had 8 hits vs him that day too.

[Clever]

How many runs do you think we're going to get from this bunch when everyone (except Rendon) is 1 for 10 or worse (I'm looking at your 0 for 11, Denard!)?

Four.

[Minty Fresh]

Seriously?

It's an elimination game and those are the guys who have gotten you here in the first place. You don't just bench them because of 2 bad games.

Fine.  Then why bat Desmond and/or Span ahead of Harper and Rendon?  Why can't Desmond and Span hit 7th and 8th respectively?  Don't change the lineup because it worked so well in games 1 & 2?

EDIT:  Though I guess with a lefty it's all moot anyway...

[UMDNats]

I expect Span to break out of it, and Desmond and Ramos are pretty much always feast or famine. Hopefully they break out today.

[Lintyfresh85]

Only change I would have made is Zimmerman over LaRoche.

[Clever]

Fine.  Then why bat Desmond and/or Span ahead of Harper and Rendon?  Why can't Desmond and Span hit 7th and 8th respectively?  Don't change the lineup because it worked so well in games 1 & 2?

Why would you base the lineup on the last two games over the 162 before that?

[Minty Fresh]

Why would you base the lineup on the last two games over the 162 before that?

Because unlike June 24th, this game actually freaking matters?

[J0TAS]

Enough finger pointing. He's being paid to make the lineup we can just nag and moan but that's his call. Not happy either but it is what it is. These guys need to be patient and swing a something solid, I know easier said than done but I'm hoping we don't get swept away today. If you can live another day, then you can fight another day.

[Minty Fresh]

Enough finger pointing. He's being paid to make the lineup we can just nag and moan but that's his call. Not happy either but it is what it is. These guys need to be patient and swing a something solid, I know easier said than done but I'm hoping we don't get swept away today. If you can live another day, then you can fight another day.

[Optics]

I just hope it ends mercifully. I don't want a slow agonizing death like Game 2. We all know the series is over, just come out and blow us out 9-0 or something. Make it painless. That's all I can ask for from these gag artists.

[spidernat]

why not? freak their hurt feelings. this is a must win game. You should start the players who give you the best chance of winning that game. Lobaton should be in there.

moron

[spidernat]

I just hope it ends mercifully. I don't want a slow agonizing death like Game 2. We all know the series is over, just come out and blow us out 9-0 or something. Make it painless. That's all I can ask for from these gag artists.

We may need to win an extra inning game to exorcise the demons of Saturday. 

[Slateman]

Desmond and Ramos should sit. Rendon at 2B, Cabrera at SS, Zimm at 3B, hope and pray his fielding doesn't freak us.

We need offense.

Zim hasn't done crap with the bat either. Tried to tell y'all

[varoadking]

Zim hasn't done crap with the bat either. Tried to tell y'all

He got pinch hit single in game 2.

[sportsfan882]

Jim Bowden ‏@JimBowden_ESPN  30s31 seconds ago
Fister pitching to Ramos 13gs 2.99 ERA 38K 17 BB; pitching to Lobaton 11gs 1.53 ERA 55K 5 BB….Ramos starting #Nationals @MLBNetworkRadio

[thisizit]

I expect Span to break out of it, and Desmond and Ramos are pretty much always feast or famine. Hopefully they break out today.

Though I would have liked to see Zimmerman's bat in the lineup, I'm OK with sticking with the team that got you here.  These guys can turn it around.  Get a good pitching performance from Fister, and either Span or Werth going along with Rendon and we've got a chance.

Also, some well hit balls from Nats on Saturday that had no chance to go out with the wind blowing in.  Gonna be 81 degrees at gametime, so maybe one of those goes out.  And if Fister is on he is a groundball pitcher. 

Who knows.  Let's have the same attitude we want the players to have.  Which definitely is that this can be done.

[ac921ol]

Jim Bowden ‏@JimBowden_ESPN  30s31 seconds ago
Fister pitching to Ramos 13gs 2.99 ERA 38K 17 BB; pitching to Lobaton 11gs 1.53 ERA 55K 5 BB….Ramos starting #Nationals @MLBNetworkRadio



with those stats, Im starting Lobaton.

[Slateman]

At least with MadBum and Fister on the mound, it'll be over quickly.

[WVUGold]

Face it, this is an underdog postseason. Royals are going to win it all.

[spidernat]

That crap doesn't tell the whole story. Ramos caught Fister in his first game back from injury where he gave up 5 runs in a short outing. He also caught him when he came back from the skin cancer removal where he had another short outing and was charged with 4 runs. Other factors as well.

[Minty Fresh]

That crap doesn't tell the whole story. Ramos caught Fister in his first game back from injury where he gave up 5 runs in a short outing. He also caught him when he came back from the skin cancer removal where he had another short outing and was charged with 4 runs. Other factors as well.

None of that will explain 38:17 vs. 55:5.

[whytev]

oh god

I guess it's dance with the one who brought you.

[whytev]

So, we're gonna get swept with our best offensive player getting 3 AB's?

If this happens, can we trust Williams again?

You mean our historical best offensive player right?  Because this year it has been Rendon.