The wind is playing a major factor in this game now. Nick Johnson hit what looked like a routine fly ball to right-center that wound up getting pushed all the way to the track for a double (making Nick 3-for-3 with a pair of doubles). Then, Florida's Dallas McPherson sent what should have been a routine fly ball to left-center that was blown all the way over the fence for a solo homer off Steven Shell.
That puts the Marlins back ahead, 3-2, entering the seventh. Shell was otherwise solid, retiring the other five batterws he faced and striking out Josh Willingham swinging. Wholesale lineup changes forthcoming -- that'll probably be all you hear from me until postgame.
Comments (3)
My Guess at the Rotation for opening day is
Perez
Bergman
Lannan
Redding
Shell
This should not be a surprise people who really follow the team. Hill and Patterson have “stuff” but can not pitch even a week of ST before they get hurt. Almost any FA, (minor league or major league) can come in and out play our "prospects" either because they have talent (fastball over 88 MPH) or experience (don’t walk the lead off hitter) or both.
This holding pattern is going to continue for a few more years until true talent like Smoker and Ross D are ready. If I am correct about all this (big IF I know!) then why would the Nats refuse to spend even a bit and bring in more experienced FA starters. I doubt the team really feels Chico, Mock and Clippard are ever going to be long term solutions here. Nats Front Office seems to me to just have their heads in the sand thinking much like Hill can stay healthy and Patterson at age 30 is going to "get it back" and that Randy SC can make MLB pitchers out of soft tossing late round draft picks..
Posted by JayB | March 8, 2008 7:59 AM
A question for Thom- I appreciate that the Nats want consistency in their approach throughout their system, but saying that all levels want to teach "fundamentals" seems cliche. I would expect that every club would say the same thing.
What particular teachings distinguish the "Nationals Way" from the approaches of other major league clubs?
Posted by Positively Half St. | March 8, 2008 8:39 AM
Hey Mark,
So much for the "staff checking for comments often".....over 2 hours and counting.....this issue leaves you none competitive in the space.
You and Tom are kicking the competition by effort and skill but the Blog thing……you are going to have to put some more resources to it or get the policy changed.
Posted by JayB | March 8, 2008 9:30 AM