Nationals @ Rays, Game 1

[mitlen]

Yes, but seriously it’s Max, missing it would be dumb.

True dat.    Didn't know it was a baseball trip.

[imref]

TBH there were a fair amount of Nats fans there. Still plenty of empty seats, for sure, but pretty impressive nats fan  turnout, especially considering it’s a weekday series against a meh opponent in a meh ballpark.

the park needs to be within walking distance of Ybor.

[Air Desmond]

There’s an old adage in baseball. Momentum is the next days starting pitcher.

Gio Gonzalez completely erased all the good vibes from Sunday’s win.

[Scraps]

such an ugly stadium for such a beautiful location.   Seems crazy that they can't get something built in downtown.

Terrible stadium, terrible atmosphere! I’ll never return to Tropicana Field or any other indoor Park. I thought Minneapolis sucked but this STINKER really knocked the buzzard off the S#IT WAGON!!!

Tropicana Field gets a zero.

[bluestreak]

Terrible stadium, terrible atmosphere! I’ll never return to Tropicana Field or any other indoor Park. I thought Minneapolis sucked but this STINKER really knocked the buzzard off the S#IT WAGON!!!

Tropicana Field gets a zero.

I liked Target field. I thought it was a great place to watch a game. I agree with you on the Rays stadium though.

[Ali the Baseball Cat]

I'm not surprised at the turnout.  In times like this, what is more rational a decision than going to a hot swamp to watch bad baseball in an ugly air conditioned Roswell hanger?

[skippy1999]

I liked Target field. I thought it was a great place to watch a game. I agree with you on the Rays stadium though.

I think he meant the old, domed stadium in minny

[Scraps]

according to many of the pretentious experts here, gio is an outstanding pitcher (not a #4 masquerading as a #2)     I think Scraps named him Milkshake because of how soft he is

If Men drink whiskey and pu$$ies drink milkshakes Gio Gonzalez is the original  “Dairy Queen”.   

Guess we’ll just have to get ‘em tomorrow.

Let’s go Naaaaaats!!!

[slhubic]

(almost) unbelievably pathetic,

almost.  sadly this team does not seem able to pull the nose up.

[Scraps]

I feel responsible for this.

As you should.
I could have made MILLIONS at the greyhound races yesterday yet you send me 4 hours out of my way to a pathetic ballpark knowing damn well Gio was gonna flop???   

[Scraps]

I think he meant the old, domed stadium in minny

Yes

[OldChelsea]

I had it set up to listen to this match in the usual fashion...but mercifully about midway through Nats on Deck my meds kicked in big-time and I slept through the entire debacle.

[RobDibblesGhost]

I had it set up to listen to this match in the usual fashion...but mercifully about midway through Nats on Deck my meds kicked in big-time and I slept through the entire debacle.

So did the Nats

[Natsinpwc]

As you should.
I could have made MILLIONS at the greyhound races yesterday yet you send me 4 hours out of my way to a pathetic ballpark knowing damn well Gio was gonna flop???   

Well. You still got to see some dogs.

[Natsinpwc]

There’s an old adage in baseball. Momentum is the next days starting pitcher.

Gio Gonzalez completely erased all the good vibes from Sunday’s win.

True. But also tough to win if you don't score. True team effort.

[Slateman]

Gotta say, I'm encouraged by Miller's efforts. He came on with a runner on first and no outs and proceeded to five outs without giving up a run, and would have gotten out of the second inning but for a wild pitch. He's keeping his K rate up, but giving up hits.

[aspenbubba]

I had it set up to listen to this match in the usual fashion...but mercifully about midway through Nats on Deck my meds kicked in big-time and I slept through the entire debacle.

No , you were prescient and over dosed on purpose knowing full well that the Nats couldn't ride their good fortune two games in a row.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Gotta say, I'm encouraged by Miller's efforts. He came on with a runner on first and no outs and proceeded to five outs without giving up a run, and would have gotten out of the second inning but for a wild pitch. He's keeping his K rate up, but giving up hits.

This is like telling a passenger on the Titanic, "You get a great view of the iceberg from really close up if you stand on the bow."

[spidernat]

Today's game is the second of the road trip and it's a quick turnaround from last night's debacle so FP has the team well insulated with ready made excuses.

[imref]

Today's game is the second of the road trip and it's a quick turnaround from last night's debacle so FP has the team well insulated with ready made excuses.

do we need FP excuse bingo cards?

[spidernat]

do we need FP excuse bingo cards?

Haven't we done that before?

[dcpatti]

Nats have had good success against Eovaldi so I’m cautiously optimistic that today’s offense will be better, despite the usual “day game after a night game” malaise and the fact that apparently the team is allergic to giving Max any run support. Hopefully Max gives us a gem and I won’t have to pout on my flight home tonight. I’m not in the Free Beer section today so another turd could get expensive.

That said, Snell is a legitimately good pitcher in the middle of a really good season, and the Nats are bad against lefties in general. A dominant lefty that we’ve never faced before = honestly if we could have scored negative runs, that’s the recipe for it.  The Nats really, really need to learn how to hit lefties. Been that way for 2 years or more, too.

[Natsinpwc]

Nats have had good success against Eovaldi so I’m cautiously optimistic that today’s offense will be better, despite the usual “day game after a night game” malaise and the fact that apparently the team is allergic to giving Max any run support. Hopefully Max gives us a gem and I won’t have to pout on my flight home tonight. I’m not in the Free Beer section today so another turd could get expensive.

That said, Snell is a legitimately good pitcher in the middle of a really good season, and the Nats are bad against lefties in general. A dominant lefty that we’ve never faced before = honestly if we could have scored negative runs, that’s the recipe for it.  The Nats really, really need to learn how to hit lefties. Been that way for 2 years or more, too.

Might be better to hit the dog park. 😏