Where's Da Meat?
Manny Acta said before the game that Dmitri Young's back was still a little tight, and he couldn't play first base -- even though he played it last Thursday in an exhibition game. He said before the game, though, that Young was available to hit.
That, though, may have been a fabrication. He just sent Willie Harris up to hit in the ninth with two outs and the bases loaded. I think it's possible Acta wanted Charlie Manuel to think Young was available -- even if he wasn't.
Jesus Colome on in the ninth. It's tense.
By
Barry Svrluga
|
April 3, 2008; 4:28 PM ET
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Posted by: Natsural | April 3, 2008 4:39 PM | Report abuse
from previous post
with hanrahan having already been used, who's the long man in case this games goes into deep extra innings?
aren't some of our relievers going to be running on fumes because of overuse by memorial day?
Posted by: natsscribe | April 3, 2008 4:40 PM | Report abuse
Yes, inning-ending DP.
Tense, why, I hadn't noticed.
Posted by: natsfan1a | April 3, 2008 4:40 PM | Report abuse
See, we should have gotten Livo. He could have pinch hit.
Posted by: Section 506 (Before moving) | April 3, 2008 4:42 PM | Report abuse
I SUCK!
Posted by: Jason Bergmann | April 3, 2008 4:44 PM | Report abuse
Schroder has to be the long man, he and Big John are they only guys left out there
Posted by: SwiftIt | April 3, 2008 4:44 PM | Report abuse
No way, Bergmann, you rock. I hope that Philly just dug deep and found something and you didn't hurt anything.
Posted by: Section 506 (Before moving) | April 3, 2008 4:45 PM | Report abuse
I do find it funny that Livo went to an AL team. It's especially funny that he could probably hit better than most of the guys that team uses as DH.
Posted by: John in Mpls | April 3, 2008 4:45 PM | Report abuse
If Manny isn't going to use DMH as a pinch-hitter with runners on base as in the ninth inning, wouldn't the team be better off if he were on the DL?
Posted by: leetee1955 | April 3, 2008 4:46 PM | Report abuse
So who'll hit for Colome if we go to the 11th?
Posted by: Juan-John | April 3, 2008 4:46 PM | Report abuse
It's the first week of the season. We can't be concerned about burning out our bullpen already. Plus if there is a chance of winning a game against a division rival, I think you have to take it.
Posted by: Diz | April 3, 2008 4:47 PM | Report abuse
What's up with Zim? The 2 HR's have been fantastic and he's had a few sac flies but really, nothing else? That's very unusual, 0-6 doesn't suit him very well...
C'mon Nats!
Posted by: Gibby | April 3, 2008 4:47 PM | Report abuse
hes swinging too hard and not choking up to make contact. hero complex
Posted by: Anonymous | April 3, 2008 4:48 PM | Report abuse
PH Chico.
---
See, we should have gotten Livo. He could have pinch hit.
Posted by: natsfan1a | April 3, 2008 4:49 PM | Report abuse
Jon Rauch has a HR off the Rocket while he was juicing.
Posted by: Section 506 (Before moving) | April 3, 2008 4:49 PM | Report abuse
Forgot to cover 3rd. 2 Int BB are coming
Posted by: SwiftIt | April 3, 2008 4:49 PM | Report abuse
Colome - what the??
Posted by: natsfan1a | April 3, 2008 4:49 PM | Report abuse
It's deja vu all over again.
Posted by: natsfan1s | April 3, 2008 4:50 PM | Report abuse
Good heads-up play by Rollins.
Horrendous play by Colome.
Posted by: John in Mpls | April 3, 2008 4:50 PM | Report abuse
They're walking to get to Howard?
Tempting fate once is one thing, but...
Posted by: Juan-John | April 3, 2008 4:51 PM | Report abuse
colome waS a friggin' SPECTATOR!!!!!
Posted by: natsscribe | April 3, 2008 4:51 PM | Report abuse
Hearing the voice of NFL films say "J-Roll" over and over and over and over and over again is making me want to find a bridge to jump off of. You in-market folks don't know how lucky you have it not having to deal with the pitfalls of MLB Extra Innings.
Posted by: McBride | April 3, 2008 4:51 PM | Report abuse
What'd Colome do?
Posted by: NatsNut | April 3, 2008 4:51 PM | Report abuse
Walking Howard too
Posted by: SwiftIt | April 3, 2008 4:51 PM | Report abuse
Can't say I like this, Manny
Posted by: Section 506 (Before moving) | April 3, 2008 4:52 PM | Report abuse
Colome has to cover 3rd on that play
Posted by: SwiftIt | April 3, 2008 4:52 PM | Report abuse
when was the last time a team had 4 more errors than the other team and still won? not good.
Posted by: longterm | April 3, 2008 4:53 PM | Report abuse
More irony - it may have to be Lopez who makes the throw home on a sacrifice fly attempt.
Posted by: John in Mpls | April 3, 2008 4:53 PM | Report abuse
This is the right move, a DP gets you out of this.
Posted by: SwiftIt | April 3, 2008 4:53 PM | Report abuse
Colome's head was up his abscess and he wasn't covering 3rd.
Posted by: natsfan1a | April 3, 2008 4:53 PM | Report abuse
does "colome" translate to "choke" en espanol?
Posted by: leetee1955 | April 3, 2008 4:54 PM | Report abuse
Hey... Hey...
START HIM OFF WITH TWO BALLS!
that'll work.
Posted by: Section 506 (Before moving) | April 3, 2008 4:54 PM | Report abuse
Uh OH, 3-0
Posted by: SwiftIt | April 3, 2008 4:54 PM | Report abuse
a friggin' walk-off walk. what a bummer.
Posted by: natsscribe | April 3, 2008 4:55 PM | Report abuse
Walk Off Walk
Posted by: SwiftIt | April 3, 2008 4:55 PM | Report abuse
How the hell do you throw a 4-pitch walk? At least throw a big meatball on 3-0--even if it gets crushed, you lose just as bad as if you miss the strikezone. God what an idiot.
Posted by: colome's mom | April 3, 2008 4:55 PM | Report abuse
Why oh WHY is Holey-Butt still on this team?!?
Posted by: Juan-John | April 3, 2008 4:56 PM | Report abuse
On 4 straight pitches no less.
I guess that tells you who you don't want on the mound in a clutch situation
Posted by: Diz | April 3, 2008 4:56 PM | Report abuse
Gamecast is slow
Posted by: BigC | April 3, 2008 4:56 PM | Report abuse
That was ugly.
Posted by: NatsNut | April 3, 2008 4:57 PM | Report abuse
Hey, one loss is nothing to be ashamed of.
Posted by: Bill from Foxboro | April 3, 2008 4:57 PM | Report abuse
WHAT>!>!?!?! How do you walk in the winning run on 4 straight pitches? You've got to be kidding me...
Posted by: Gibby | April 3, 2008 4:57 PM | Report abuse
Not even one strike?!
Posted by: unbelievable | April 3, 2008 4:57 PM | Report abuse
Look on the bright side, your workday is done and we're still in 1st!
The bar is open!
Posted by: FRANK 20 | April 3, 2008 4:58 PM | Report abuse
As long as it is only one loss.
Posted by: John from Memphis | April 3, 2008 4:58 PM | Report abuse
That was bad. But, we won the series and are still leading the division. We'll bounce back.
Posted by: natsfan1a | April 3, 2008 4:58 PM | Report abuse
It's probably going to be hard for this team to win when Zimm has lines like this: 0/6, 2Ks, 7 LOB. (not knocking him, he's still great, but we need him if we're gonna win)
Posted by: mrlogical | April 3, 2008 4:58 PM | Report abuse
S - O - B (same old bullpen) great gag job by colome--- and rivera; keep lopez in the dugout too; 1 - 4; BA .250==that's the highest it'll be ALL YEAR!!
Posted by: natcrzy | April 3, 2008 4:59 PM | Report abuse
HOLYAASGKNHJWLb ASDGJKWHEGw!!as ASDGS!
Throw him a fastball down the middle and let him hit a home run for the love of Jesus!!!!! Don't walk the game away!!! ARGH!! The only consolation is those [RF] cheesesteak loving peons that ruin delicious meat with cheeze-whiz won't be able to enjoy their victory since they know in those stony little pieces of garbage that they call hearts that the Nationals destroyed themselves. If I had a Coke can right now I would kick it into the wall and knock the stupid thing senseless in a glorious explosion of carbonated sugar. ARGH! Philadelphia, huh, how many of you actually know Greek with your stupid itty bitty ballpark? ARGHAMBNQWGKNW~
Posted by: Section 506 (Before moving) | April 3, 2008 4:59 PM | Report abuse
Not to bag on Colome, but he's one of those pitchers who pitches best either when his team is two runs ahead or two runs behind - in other words in no-pressure situations. You can't trust him when the going gets tough.
Posted by: leetee1955 | April 3, 2008 4:59 PM | Report abuse
Thanks for the giggle, 506. You are the most awesome ranter I know! :)
Posted by: natsfan1a | April 3, 2008 5:00 PM | Report abuse
What part of "when the based are full, walking a batter will score a run," does he not understand?
This is just strange. I would be absolutely fine if they beat him by hitting a grand slam off him or something like that where at least he pitched to the batter. But to lose the game for your team with a walk is just ridiculous. If you have 3 balls on the guy, just shoot it down the pipe and let it rip--you've already got the bases loaded at that point and you know another ball will lose the game for you. What's the point?
Was Colome trying to protect his ERA with that walk or something? Wow.
Posted by: Michael | April 3, 2008 5:00 PM | Report abuse
where did our heads go today?
I'll take two out of three any day but today...we lit up Moyer, there's no way we should have lost.
Posted by: VT Mikey | April 3, 2008 5:01 PM | Report abuse
There's the ranting 506 we know and love. Baseball season has officially begun, my friends.
Posted by: NatsNut | April 3, 2008 5:05 PM | Report abuse
Don't put it all on Colome, they left the bases loaded in the 2nd with 0 outs, and botched a double steal.
Posted by: SwiftIt | April 3, 2008 5:07 PM | Report abuse
Okay, I'm better now. I don't know what that thing with the soda was, it just entered my head.
Still have dark looks for Rivera and Colome.
But any day where we get 14 hits and turn the order over 6 times (5 times in 9) is awesome. Everyone but Zimm got a hit, which is awesome. Lopez seemed alright in left field. Flores, Guzzie, and Bells were superstars. We've got a great deal to be happy about here.
Posted by: Section 506 (Before moving) | April 3, 2008 5:07 PM | Report abuse
position players: if you want to take the bullpen out back and rough them up a bit, we'll look the other way.
Posted by: NatsNut | April 3, 2008 5:07 PM | Report abuse
Short Memories here in the NJ. Last night the pen saved a win for an offense that produced 1 run. It's a team game
Posted by: SwiftIt | April 3, 2008 5:11 PM | Report abuse
I never thought I'd be wishing for Cordero to pitch...
Posted by: Chad's ex-wife | April 3, 2008 5:11 PM | Report abuse
"Short Memories here in the NJ. Last night the pen saved a win for an offense that produced 1 run. "
====
Yeah, but what have you done for me LATELY ???
Posted by: Anonymous | April 3, 2008 5:13 PM | Report abuse
161 - 1. That wouldn't be too bad. Not that Colome is the first pitcher ever to do this, but it is frustrating when the guy can't throw one strike out of four pitches in that situation. Except for one rotten inning, we're still the best team in baseball. Strange game, though -- all those runs, in the Philly bandbox, and only a lone, solo home run. Ah well, let's sweep the next series...
Posted by: Fisch Fry | April 3, 2008 5:14 PM | Report abuse
"Short Memories here in the NJ. Last night the pen saved a win for an offense that produced 1 run. It's a team game"
Not an accurate comparison, SwiftIt (who by the way wrote the word SWEEP earlier during the game), because the position players last night didn't rack up a bunch of errors. Throwing four balls in a row with bases loaded is a pitching equivalent of an error.
Posted by: Section 506 (Before moving) | April 3, 2008 5:14 PM | Report abuse
Hey, I'm about as pissed as anybody (especially because of the 4-pitch walk).....but that's a series win in the division on the road, I'll take it all day every day. Onto St. Louis where hopefully we can take another 2 of 3. 2 out of 3 everytime and we've freaking clinched in August.
That's the goal, winning series.
Hopefully the bullpen will get back to form and settle down when Chief is back - but offensively, we've got a lot to be happy about.
Let's hope PLD explodes during the 1st half and Jesus does well in Harrisburg - trade Duc away and let Jesus save us (today he looked like he was walking on water)
Posted by: Corey | April 3, 2008 5:15 PM | Report abuse
time to shave off the 3 game winning facial hair and toss the lucky winning T into the wash...start it up again tomorrow night.
So sorry to stray from baseball but GO CAPS!
Posted by: VT Mikey | April 3, 2008 5:16 PM | Report abuse
Well I guess I lost the office pool. I picked 162-0.
Posted by: mebbe next year | April 3, 2008 5:17 PM | Report abuse
cahrlie just announced that the "Nats Talk Live" program will only air following home games this season. Good thing. The station may have lost its FCC license today the way some callers probably feel after today's game.
Posted by: leetee1955 | April 3, 2008 5:19 PM | Report abuse
I'm just saying that Colome didn't lose the game alone, but you're right, I shouldn't have typed Sweep. I'll take the blame for this one
Posted by: SwiftIt | April 3, 2008 5:19 PM | Report abuse
Of course, that should have read Charlie...
Posted by: leetee1955 | April 3, 2008 5:20 PM | Report abuse
Flores looked great on offense, but he's not ready to play every day behind the plate. Some of those WPs could have been blocked. The one by Rivera really hurt
Posted by: SwiftIt | April 3, 2008 5:24 PM | Report abuse
4 straight pitches?
Philadelphia? Hmmm. Was this game stolen? Watching from Nairobi, this looks suspicious.
I'm just saying.
Posted by: Kamau | April 3, 2008 5:25 PM | Report abuse
14 hits and 4 Philthy errors!! We should have had about 14 runs---
Even with all their E's, the 3rd baseman saved the game in top 8 when he knocked down that grounder, preventing nats from getting go-ahead run.....oh well, 161-1; bring on the cards
Posted by: natcrzy | April 3, 2008 5:25 PM | Report abuse
Boy those crabcakes are going to be especially delicious tonight at OPACY.
How many runs has the Nats bullpen already given up this year? By contrast, the O's bullpen has an E.R.A. of 0.00. Now that's just too sweet.
Looks like it's going to be a long year in Washington.
Posted by: O's Exec | April 3, 2008 5:28 PM | Report abuse
Man, that was ugly. i hate walks, you still with us? Breathe deeply and stay away from sharp objects.
506, I think your statement to the effect that "HOLYAASGKNHJWLb ASDGJKWHEGw!!as ASDGS!" about sums it up. Breathe deeply and stay away from soda cans.
And 1a, cudos for this one: "We may abscess about his butt too much."
This game was kind of like a food fight. We threw everything we had at them, and they threw everything they had at us, and everyone got real messy, and it wasn't clear who, if anyone, could be declared the winner. And then Colume slipped on a banana peel and fell face first into the mashed potatoes and gravy, the Phils snuck out the back door and we got sent to the principal's office.
Posted by: Bob L. Head | April 3, 2008 5:31 PM | Report abuse
SwiftIt, apology accepted. And you're right about the team thing.
Does anyone remember last year when Ray Knight was subbing for Don Sutton and (I think) Hanrahan was pitching a no hitter against the Mets in the sixth, or something, and Knight said something about it and Carpenter said...
CARPENTER: uh, oh....
KNIGHT: What? You're not superstitious are you Bob? I don't believe in any of that. Nohitternohitternohitternohitternohitterno-
CRACK! [Base hit]
Posted by: Section 506 (Before moving) | April 3, 2008 5:33 PM | Report abuse
Perfect summary Bob! Post of the day!
Posted by: Section 506 (Before moving) | April 3, 2008 5:34 PM | Report abuse
Cheers for Bob L. Recap!
Posted by: natsfan1a | April 3, 2008 5:39 PM | Report abuse
could be worse....could be an OOOOOOOOOO,s fan
Posted by: bl(O)ws | April 3, 2008 5:41 PM | Report abuse
I hate walks. I hate intentional walks. Werner Wolf says that a major league pitcher loses the strike zone after having to throw 8 balls in a row. It breaks their rhythm. Don Drysdale knew this, and would say, "Aww, Skip, can't I just hit him?"
Posted by: flynnie | April 3, 2008 5:53 PM | Report abuse
"Boy those crabcakes are going to be especially delicious tonight at OPACY."
Better get there early. If they pack them in there like they did last night, there may not be enough crabcakes to go around.
Oh, what am I saying? McCormick and Schmick's probably throws away enough leftover crabcakes every night to feed an OPACY crowd.
Posted by: Anonymous | April 3, 2008 5:53 PM | Report abuse
Boy those Nat's sure to know how to completely blow a lead don't they?
Posted by: O's Exec | April 3, 2008 5:54 PM | Report abuse
Seems like Acta was treating this as a spring training B game. From what I read about Nick Johnson's workout schedule it was far more grueling than playing two days in a row. I don't buy Manny's starting Boone for Johnson. (Boone for Johnson, Lopez in right and Flores starting seemed like a lot of platooning changes. There seemed to be a chemistry in the lineup for the first 3 games.)
Was that a misread on the double steal?
The table got set all day long for our 3rd and 4th and 5th hitters to drive in runs. I think playing Johnson would have made a difference.
I don't think there is a more pitiable sight than watching a pitcher walk in a run in extra innings in four pitches.
Posted by: Dale | April 3, 2008 5:55 PM | Report abuse
Team played fine, except for two pitchers who couldn't find the strike zone for a strike to save their lives.
Posted by: Section 506 (Before moving) | April 3, 2008 6:02 PM | Report abuse
you can not blame the offense for this. Today, the pitching failed. Yesterday, the pitching succeeded. It's going to happen. Now, onto St. Louis and hope that the team rebounds and takes at least 2 of 3 (I'm hoping they come home with a 6-1 record, but will be quite happy to start the homestand at 5-2).
Posted by: e | April 3, 2008 6:05 PM | Report abuse
Up
Posted by: gnu post | April 3, 2008 6:08 PM | Report abuse
what exactly are crabcakes made of??
Posted by: bl(O)ws | April 3, 2008 6:10 PM | Report abuse
I know what we could have instead of the big baseball at NatsField. This is the 21st century. Let's have a holograph projector. NASA is just up the road. I'm sure they could build one. We could have a giant holograph of Ol' Leatherpants picking up a phone to trade whoever just screwed up, or a giant holographic head of the player who just did something great, or a Homestead Greys series. The Soccer Stadium in Munich has a laser projection screen for it's outer wall. That would be good, too. Anything but thinking about the last 4 hours would be good.
Posted by: flynnie | April 3, 2008 6:12 PM | Report abuse
BAD BACK,BASES LOADED WILLIE HARRIS INSTEAD OF DA MEET HOOK I KNOW HE'S OVERWEIGHT BUT COME ON MANNY!!!!.This game should have been won, no contest, Bergman pitched well enough to win Felipe Lopez in left a player with that attitude no way he plays for my ballclub after those statements he made during spring training and Aaron Boone for Nick Johnson was NJ hurting or is Boone's daddy making out the lineup card,the bullpen didn't do their job either I despise the Phillies and their smug know it all fans we should have run up the score on dem bumms!!!!!!!!!!!!.
Posted by: DARGREGMAG@AOL.COM | April 3, 2008 6:18 PM | Report abuse
what exactly are crabcakes made of??
Posted by: O's fans (an endangered species) | April 3, 2008 6:20 PM | Report abuse
totally agree aol.com---- Dmitri must be hurting---if available he should have PH in the 8th(?) for Lopez....
Posted by: natcrzy | April 3, 2008 6:29 PM | Report abuse
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Inning over I guess?