The Nats Thread (old thread link inside, too many load issues)

[G.A.C.O.L.B.]

Yeah they put him on the DL Friday I think. Called up Ryan Perry. Was a Tigers 1st round pick in '08. Supposed to be their closer of the future. Been wondering if they're going to go strictly HRod or if they'll give Perry (or someone else) some shots to close too.

Also

Adam Kilgore @AdamKilgoreWP

Throwing this out for the hell of it: In 56 innings since TJ surgery, Stephen Strasburg has 58 strikeouts, 8 walks and 0 homers allowed.

I love Harper but Strasburg really is a god.

---------- Post added May-1st-2012 at 02:07 PM ----------

GREAT article from Sports Illustrated about Harper, Strasburg and the Nats. Exciting times we live in

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/201...&sct=hp_t12_a0

With Harper, future of Nationals -- and maybe the game -- has arrived
Tom Verducci
May 1, 2012

On April 7, 1984, a 19-year-old phenom named Dwight Gooden walked to the mound at the Astrodome in Houston for his big league debut with the New York Mets while a 22-year-old named Darryl Strawberry took his place in rightfield for career game number 126 and Davey Johnson, a manager in his first full season with the team, watched from the dugout. Gooden would win the game, Strawberry would hit a home run and the balance of power in the National League reached a tipping point. Over the next seven seasons no team won more games, no team delighted and annoyed more fans and no team drew more attention than the New York Mets.

Twenty-eight years and 21 days later, 19-year-old outfielder Bryce Harper and 23-year-old pitcher Stephen Strasburg were on a major league field together for the first time, as Harper made his debut at Dodger Stadium for the Washington Nationals and Strasburg made career start number 22. And the manager watching from the dugout, in his first full season with the team, was Davey Johnson.

What happens next -- tonight, when Harper makes his home debut, tomorrow, and over at least these next five years (the Nats control Strasburg through 2016, Harper through 2018) -- will be one of the most compelling narratives in baseball. The fascination lingers whether the Nationals become another version of the Gooden-Strawberry Mets or an empty promise. Harper, an irresistible, potent mix of power, speed, youth and ferocious confidence, and Strasburg, a jaw-dropping power pitcher, already are two of the five biggest drawing cards in baseball.

Continued at Link...

Seriously worth the read

[G.A.C.O.L.B.]

Buster Olney @Buster_ESPN

ELIAS: WAS staff has allowed 6 HRs, fewer than some individual pitchers. Last time that happened by end of April:'97, with ATL Braves staff.

[GoSkins0721]

Buster Olney @Buster_ESPN

ELIAS: WAS staff has allowed 6 HRs, fewer than some individual pitchers. Last time that happened by end of April:'97, with ATL Braves staff.

Serious pitching by these guys up and down the staff.

But I want to see some bats come to life for multiple games in a row. Not a million runs per game, but a nice consistent 4-6 runs for a 5-7 game stretch. The young guys (Desmond, Espinosa, Ramos) need to relax and stop pressing so much at the plate. Lombo, too, for that matter. Get some guys on base, get some back-to-back hits/BBs in multiple innings, and put some runs on the board.

And hope like hell Zim & Morse come back healthy & hot soon!

[Tulane Skins Fan]

Serious pitching by these guys up and down the staff.

But I want to see some bats come to life for multiple games in a row. Not a million runs per game, but a nice consistent 4-6 runs for a 5-7 game stretch. The young guys (Desmond, Espinosa, Ramos) need to relax and stop pressing so much at the plate. Lombo, too, for that matter. Get some guys on base, get some back-to-back hits/BBs in multiple innings, and put some runs on the board.

And hope like hell Zim & Morse come back healthy & hot soon!

A healthy lineup should be average to above average. Need to get these guys healthy though and hope for a little baby step forwards from some of our young guys.

[StillUnknown]

Strasburg should have wound up in Seattle, but the Mariners blew the No. 1 pick of the 2009 draft by making the mistake of winning their last three games, allowing Washington to pass them for the worst record in baseball. Yuniesky Betancourt will live in Seattle infamy for going all Ted Williams in that final series, smacking seven hits in 12 at-bats. If not for a fluky hot streak by Betancourt, the Mariners might have Strasburg and Felix Hernandez in the same rotation.

Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/201...#ixzz1teZR1S83

I almost forgot about that. Mariner fans have to be sick every time Stras takes the mound.

[BRAVEONAWARPATH]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/...HKtT_blog.html

Bryce Harper’s debut and zaniness of Saturday overshadowed a noteworthy development for Stephen Strasburg. In his first four starts, he averaged between 95 and 95.9 mph with his fastball on a per game basis, according to BrooksBaseball.net. Saturday against the Dodgers, Strasburg’s average fastball velocity jumped up to 96.6 mph.

Pitchers coming off Tommy John surgery, even ones as far removed as Strasburg, continue to build and strength and flexibility, and so the uptick may be a natural side effect of his progress in that regard. It’s also possible the warm weather and the electric atmosphere may have had something to do with the extra velocity. Either way, it’s something to watch going forward.

---------- Post added May-1st-2012 at 09:25 PM ----------

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/...osuT_blog.html

Ryan Zimmerman feels ‘great’ playing catch, expects to come off disabled list Sunday


Ryan Zimmerman played catch today for several minutes in shallow right field at Nationals Park, his first baseball activity since receiving an anti-inflammatory shot Friday in Los Angeles and landing on the disabled list with an inflamed joint in his right shoulder. “It felt great,” Zimmerman said.

Zimmerman plans to hit fit for the first time Friday. Whether or not that will allow him to come off the disabled list Sunday, the first day he is eligible, is “up to Zim,” Manager Davey Johnson said. And Zimmerman believes he’ll be ready.

“As long as I take groundballs and throw and stay in shape, hitting takes only two days,” Zimmerman said.

Zimmerman’s first game back, then, could be the Nationals’ showcase against the rival Phillies on ESPN’s “Sunday Night Baseball.” Zimmerman, sticking to his typically even keel, said the primetime game would not motivate him to return too soon.

“It’s another game, just like next Sunday when we play 1 probably,” Zimmerman said. “The whole point of this is to be here for September and to be healthy for the rest of the year. It sucks now. But it’s the right thing to do. Hopefully everything will go fine this week and good this weekend. I’ll be back soon. In September, we’ll not even remember it happened.”

Zimmerman sustained the injury while making a series of dives at third base and a head-first dive into home plate. Zimmerman’s style of play lends itself to throwing his body around constantly. It adds risk, but it also makes him one of the best defensive players in baseball, and the Nationals have no plans to alter his approach.

[JWB]

I almost forgot about that. Mariner fans have to be sick every time Stras takes the mound.

And Jim Riggleman was the manager!

[JWB]

Karl Alzner wearing a Harper jersey at the game. Love to see that!

[skinfan2k]

This pitching staff will keep this team in games. Its really up to the offense if this team wants to win 90+ games.

[G.A.C.O.L.B.]

Such a different vibe from Harper. Obviously nervous in his first home game

[ffxdrummer]

Zimmermann's gotta be pulling his hair out at this point.

[G.A.C.O.L.B.]

That ****er was out

---------- Post added May-1st-2012 at 08:57 PM ----------

****ing umps man

[STBonecrusher21]

Hell of a throw. Was definitely out.

Man this kid is fun to watch. He should make training camp arrive much faster this year.

[TaylorPickSix]

I gotta ask (I was in Vegas when he got called up) - is the rat tail a rookie hazing thing, or just Harper's style?

Also imagine how much better this offense is gonna be when Zim and Morse get back (plus Harper)? I really think Morse coming back will be what brings it all together. Let's just hope our record isn't horrendous when that happens.

[hunterx]

I gotta ask (I was in Vegas when he got called up) - is the rat tail a rookie hazing thing, or just Harper's style?

Also imagine how much better this offense is gonna be when Zim and Morse get back (plus Harper)? I really think Morse coming back will be what brings it all together. Let's just hope our record isn't horrendous when that happens.

We don't know what Harper will do at this level on offense. He's been a boost for the fans, but not so much for the team yet. He's had 2 great throws and 1 great catch, so he has no doubt improved the defense in either LF or CF with his speed and toughness. It will just take him some time to get a feel. We will probably see some 3/4 nights followed by 0/4. I am looking forward to seeing the development.

I believe his hair is his style. I have grown to like it. Rebellious, wild thing type. He's a different type of player with a very strong personality, and he thinks extremely high of himself. This is the attitude he's had his entire youth, and not just because he was the #1 pick and now playing in the Majors at 19...as some Harper-Haters will tell you.

Baseball is a long season, and bringing Zimmerman back will bring with it some tough decisions for Davey Johnson.

Does he move Lombardozzi to 2B long term and bench Espinosa? But then...what if he needs to rest Zimmerman or Desmond...Espinosa doens't have the experience at those positions like Lombardozzi.

---------- Post added May-2nd-2012 at 09:04 AM ----------

I would like to see Lombardozzi leading off with Desmond in the 2 spot. With Zimmerman in the 3 spot, Desmond will have to be pitched to. He won't have to see as many borderline breaking balls that he goes chasing.