Syl Apps All-Stars
Gordie’s Chapeau Astuce
Rocket Riot Boys
The Eddie Shore
Toe-d the Blake Sprocket
Little Brawl of Hate
Grant’s Fur Coat
Gump
The Caddie Looper Mario
Two Line Brass
Cross Czech Machine
DIY Clapper
Credit: Nicholas Savalas
I had my head shaved Monday. The fundraiser kinda fell apart at church, and there was nothing done at the festival Sunday. You helped me raise $250 for the church, which is great. It was below my goal of $1,000, so there will be no picture of me posted here. Instead, you’ll have to settle for Mr. Tavales.
Finally getting around to updating the blog, and getting around to posting about my 2011 Jazz Fest experience. I went just two days this year, Thursday and the second Friday. The big draw for me, of course, was Wilco.
Record: 9-9. Standing: 3rd, 3 GB. Streak: L2.
Feeling good: Uh, not much to feel good about. I think Gorzelanny getting to the fifth means the Nats are still the only team not to have a starter yanked before the fifth all season, but he needed 108 pitches to do it. Looks like Brian Broderick had a good afternoon, too.
Feeling bad: Where’s the offense? Anybody who’s not a little concerned about Jayson Werth might want to start. I’m not typically one to panic, but he’s on his way to his worse month since 2007. Just because you pay a guy $126 million doesn’t turn him into Babe Ruth, but he’s not very productive right now with the bat in his hand. .209/.293/.358, Gulp.
Feeling shame: Meh.
Nationals or Natinals: They got a 0 because there was no O. Get the Pirates.
Record: 9-8. Standing: 3rd, 2 GB. Streak: L1.
Feeling good: I’m not going to complain about a loss after a four-game win streak. The Nats rallied to beat Milwaukee in the first game, then soundly dispatched the Brewers in a Sunday doubleheader, shutting up the always immature Nyjer Morgan. And a second consecutive doubleheader started out just promising, with the Nationals putting up a big crooked number early against St. Louis. The pitching chinks in the armor appeared late in the opener, and the nightcap was disappointing.
Feeling bad: Not going to complain about being above .500.
Feeling shame:
Coverage of note:
Nationals or Natinals:
Record: 5-7. Standing: 3rd, 4 GB. Streak: L2.
Feeling good: About Jordan Zimmermann, and Jordan Zimmermann alone. He deserved better tonight, but runner-up to Cliff Lee ain’t too shabby.
Feeling bad: Back-to-back games where nobody can feel like the Nats have a chance to win is a terrible feeling. Washington played pretty well, but two losses is two losses.
Feeling shame: Nats defense let down Zimmermann and the relievers. Only one run was earned, and the Nats pitching staff deserved better striking out six and walking none.
Nationals or Natinals: The only ‘O’ was the total runs. Natinals.
Record: 5-5. Standing: Tied 2nd, 2 GB. Streak: W2.
Feeling good: Heck, yeah! Feeling great! Nats at .500. Jayson Werth goes 2-for-4 with a homer, a double and a walk in his first game against his former team. Livan Hernandez also baffled ‘em with BS in another strong start, six strikeouts and a walk in getting to the seventh inning, plus a squeeze bunt.
Feeling bad: Knowing that Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee are back-to-back the next two days. And that Ryan Zimmerman is on the DL.
Feeling shame: Nope.
Nationals or Natinals: The ‘O’ is strong after this one.
Record: 4-5. Standing: Tied 3rd, 3 GB. Streak: W1.
Feeling good: I left to walk the Biloxi Bay Bridge with the Nats down 3-1. Smelled a little like a repetitious no-offense, good-pitching afternoon. Got back home pleasantly surprised by an extra-innings victory. Ivan Rodriguez is starting to get some hits, and the pitching staff struck out 17 guys. 17. Wow.
Feeling bad: I feel bad for doubting the Nats.
Feeling shame: I go to the box. Two minutes. I feel shame.
Nationals or Natinals: NatiOnals. (No ‘O’ for Saturday’s loss, though.)
Record: 3-4. Standing: Tied 4th, 2 GB. Streak: W2.
Feeling good: Jordan Zimmermann got another good start under his belt, and added a two-RBI single to give himself the lead in the second. The Nats bullpen expanded its roster of contributors to include Doug Slaten and Chad Gaudin, then got another stellar performance from Tyler Clippard to get out of a seventh inning pinch. The team went 3-for-9 with RISP, and Ivan Rodriguez got his first hit of the regular season.
Feeling bad: Ian Desmond puts up an 0-for-5 as the leadoff struggle continues.
Feeling shame: Shame struck out today.
Nationals or Natinals: Ohhh, baby, ‘O’. Nationals.
Record: 2-4. Standing: 5th, 3 GB. Streak: W1.
Feeling good: For finally beating the Marlins. That almost never happens. Literally. The Nats had lost seven straight to Florida, and a mind-boggling 41 of the last 55 meetings. Also, Tyler Clippard was the nuts in the sixth, entering with runners at second and third and nobody out. He got a groundout allowing a run, then two strikeouts, throwing 10 strikes in 11 pitches. That started a stellar night for the bullpen, which didn’t allow a run in the next five innings, striking out six more batters and allowing just two hits.
Feeling bad: Nothing really. Didn’t you read? 14-44. Any win is a good win in that joke of a ballpark near Miami. (And is the new ballpark they’re building down there going to have a capacity of 5,000 to fit in all their regular fans?)
Feeling shame: Danny Espinoza tried to steal third in the top of the 10th and got gunned down. There were runners at first and second with one out and the top of the order up. Yeah, not real smart.
Nationals or Natinals: Big “O” today.
