Series Preview: 6/12-6/14 Washington Nationals @ Tampa Bay Rays
6/12: Craig Stamen vs. Matt Garza (7:38 FSF)
6/13: Jordan Zimmerman vs. Andy Sonnanstine (6:08)
6/14: Ross Detwiler vs. James Shields (1:38 FSF)
Stammen has pitched better than his ERA indicates. A 49.7% strand rate will regress at some point, hopefully after the Nationals are out of town. So far, he's striking next to nobody out (3.22) and giving up enough walks/homeruns to pay for it. He does get a fair amount of groundballs though thanks to a heavy ~90 MPH fastball.
Zimmerman is outpitching his ERA as well. His biggest issue is homeruns allowed. He's impressively striking out 9.35 per nine while only walking 2.42, but the 1.21 homeruns and .351 BABIP have wreaked havoc; making him appear to be a lot worse than he really is. A mid-90s fastball, slider, curve, and change are all at his disposal, and he too gets a fair amount of grounders.
Oh hey, look, another young Nationals starter with a poor ERA and good peripherals. A .357 BABIP and low-60s strand rate are to blame yet again. Detwiler is striking out almost eight per nine and walking only three. He throws a low-90s fastball, curve, and change-up.
C Wil Nieves/Josh ard
1B Nick Johnson
LF Adam Dunn
RF Elijah Dukes/Austin Kearns
DH Dukes? Willingham? Dunn?
Rays playoff odds: 22.2%
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That pic reminds me of Of Mice and Men
I hope David Eckstein shoots Adam Dunn for choking puppies.
Rays Win!
If we don't sweep the season is over
Simple as that. We need to make a run. We are playing against the worst team in baseball…by far. If we don’t do it now we won’t ever do it.
And I don’t think that strand rate will regress that much. The Nats have a Devil Ray esque bullpen.
This is a ridiculous comment...
Obviously everyone wants a sweep…but if, God forbid, they take 2 of 3 from the Nats, the season will be far from over.
Sure we won't be mathematically eliminated
But if we can’t sweep the Nats given the time of year and how we’ve been playing…then how can we truly expect to make the playoffs? At that point we would really have to reevaluate the goals for the season. Sure anything is possible.
A sweep is what we all want
but somewhere along the road, sheer odds say the Nats will win a game or two. Its not like they are 0-50. Yes, we should sweep, but im not ready to hop off the wagon if its 2-1 in this series.
By this token, the favored team would always win, which, as much as we would like to say it wil happen, it doesnt. As a fat bald loud ESPN announcer would say “Thats why they play the games”
The reason their all outpitching their ERA...
Adam Dunn in RF, The Hammer in LF, Dukes in CF, Guzman at SS, etc…
Fun facts about that Nats
They have the worst road record in the league at 6-20.
They’ve only won 2 series all year, against the Braves and Diamondbacks.
They’ve been swept 6 times this year (Marlins x2, Phillies x2, Braves, Mets), 4 on the road, 2 at home.
"Where we all wait in earnest with pudding in hand for the Upton comet to sail through the roofed skies, so that we may meet Him."
Dustin Ackley will have the better pro career.
by R.J. Anderson on Jun 12, 2009 11:58 AM EDT up reply actions
I hate you so very much! You suck at life.
It worked…
Tools Whore
My statement has a decent shot at being accurate.
Deep down you know this.
by R.J. Anderson on Jun 12, 2009 12:54 PM EDT up reply actions
I hate you so very much. I hope you die in a fire, but not a very hot fire, a smoldering fire
so that death comes slowly and painfully.
Tools Whore
So after this series Barty will come up for Dillon?
I would have much rather seen PtB stay down and work on his timing and carry an extra arm (Winston) during the 6-game NL road trip than have PtB sitting on the bench next week.
Sign lady must die.
Well, Dillon is out of options, so he's probably up for good at this point.
Which means Kap or somebody else will have to go, or they’ll just have to risk Joe D making it through waivers.
Joe Dirt should stay.
Kapler should GTFO and not look back.
Sign lady must die.
by EminenceFront on Jun 12, 2009 12:36 PM EDT up reply actions
What bothers me is...this guy was a manager somewhere?
RD over and out.
by ReasonableDoubt on Jun 12, 2009 12:46 PM EDT up reply actions
Those who can't learn, teach.
Those who can’t teach, manage AA.
Sign lady must die.
by EminenceFront on Jun 12, 2009 12:48 PM EDT up reply actions
I was liked that teacher motto.
“Those who can’t do, teach.” Well, how the fuck are you supposed to help me if you can’t do it?
Yeah. It really doesn't make much sense does it?
Sign lady must die.
by EminenceFront on Jun 12, 2009 12:53 PM EDT up reply actions
Remember that guy who posted here earlier in the year telling us how sorry we'd be for criticizing Kapler after he delivered all those clutch home runs and win so many games for us?
"Where we all wait in earnest with pudding in hand for the Upton comet to sail through the roofed skies, so that we may meet Him."
Ross Detwiler is a lefty
so if we dont sweep, dont be too concerned
Rotation: 1. James Shields 2. Matt Garza 3. David Price 4. Jeff Niemann 5. Andy Sonnanstine...... Coming Soon: Wade Davis......Scott Kazmir?
This picture is better

Swav or Die
For the lulz
by SRQman on Jun 12, 2009 1:45 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
I miss him.
"Where we all wait in earnest with pudding in hand for the Upton comet to sail through the roofed skies, so that we may meet Him."
DL list is about to drop a lot !
Burrell back so its 8
Barty back soon makes it 7
Bradford back soon makes it 6
And now
The Rays host the Nationals to open a three-game interleague series tonight, but Tropicana Field is already buzzing with acrtivity as LHP Scott Kazmir – rehabbing from a right quad strain (and working through mechanics) – is throwing a simulated game.
If this goes well, Kazmir will then likely move to a minor league rehab assignment, the next step in him rejoining the Rays rotation.
With pitching coach Jim Hickey, manager Joe Maddon and executive VP Andrew Friedman watching, Kazmir is facing Rays hitters Gabe Kapler, Reid Brignac and Joe Dillon.
Backup C Shawn Riggans (also on the DL), is catching.
If they both return it’s 4. Aki, Percy, Nando and Shouse
Aki wont be returning, Percy may never come back, we have no use for Shouse and Nando well…..miss his speed, wont be til September
Rotation: 1. James Shields 2. Matt Garza 3. David Price 4. Jeff Niemann 5. Andy Sonnanstine...... Coming Soon: Wade Davis......Scott Kazmir?
Man would it be nice if he even resembles what he once was
LHP Scott Kazmir has thrown two innings so far in his simulated game, and looks pretty good.
Kazmir has thrown 29 pitches, and is throwing strikes, making them put the ball in play. By rough count, he’s recorded eight outs, and given up a couple hits.
One funny moment., Joe Dillon fouled a ball off his left leg (he’s fine). After he walked it off, he went over and put on a catcher’s left shin guard before taking his next at-bat.
Rotation: 1. James Shields 2. Matt Garza 3. David Price 4. Jeff Niemann 5. Andy Sonnanstine...... Coming Soon: Wade Davis......Scott Kazmir?
It would be awesome if all he had to ever face was Kapler, Briggy, and Dilldog
Maybe he can simulate himself throwing strikes.
Rays Win!
by Sandy Kazmir on Jun 12, 2009 3:36 PM EDT up reply actions
Ecconomical and throwing strikes, thats all you wanna see from Kazmir
LHP Scott Kazmir was encouraged with how he felt after throwing a three-inning (44 pitches) simulated game Friday afternoon at the Tropicana Field.
Kazmir, who is on the DL with a right quad strain (and to rework his mechanics) said his direction is good, delivery feels good, and both his changeup and slider have more bite (and hitters said his fastball has more life). He said the next step is making a start next week in Port Charlotte, a five or six inning outing in five days and see where he’s at from there.
Kazmir was watched by manager Joe Maddon, pitching coach Jim Hickey, executive VP Andrew Friedman and assistant to the pitching coach Brian Anderson, who was “thoroughly encouraged and impresed”
“He showed as much command as I’ve seen from him,” Anderson said. “He had a really good changeup, he was able to get his fastball consistently in on righties, which is a big key for him. If he does that, everything else falls in to place. He had the best slider I had ever seen from him….That’s was what I heard about when I heard about Kaz’s slider. That has to be close to what that was, because that was nasty.”
“Put it this way, if his stamina was where you’d like it to be, I would take that out on the mound tonight and feel good about my chances of winning…
“I’m telling you right now, if that kid had 100 pitches in him, you’d run him out there tonight and he’d go six or seven (innings) and win.”
Rotation: 1. James Shields 2. Matt Garza 3. David Price 4. Jeff Niemann 5. Andy Sonnanstine...... Coming Soon: Wade Davis......Scott Kazmir?
I will not believe it until I see it.
Tools Whore
Yeah I really want to get my hopes up, both to see Kaz do well, but we could really use vintage Kazmir
But I’ve gotten them up everytime only to be disillusioned again and again this year. Please do well Scotty we need you to go crazy from here on out.
Rays Win!
by Sandy Kazmir on Jun 12, 2009 4:58 PM EDT up reply actions
I won't let him break my heart again.
He’s going to have to prove that he’ll be faithful.
Tools Whore

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