Entering The Fifth: Nats 2, Marlins 1

Cool, Volstad pulled in the 5th. Not that it's any better facing the reliving corps of the Marlins...

1st+3rd >>> bases loaded?

So much for the vaunted reliving corp. How can you walk the opposing pitcher in 4 pitches? But hey, still no ERs in 20+ innings. (Dunn charged to Volstad)

Cabrera got on base!! His first base ever!!

Ok, I get the game plan for the Fishies. If the Nats have RISP, then walk the bases loaded and sit back and watch as no runs cross the plate.

Auditioning, Closer #1, Steve Shell. He of the 6.75 ERA...

No match-up pitching today; The bullpen is short-armed, so the remaining b'pen has to do what they can. C'mon Shell!.

To quote Han Solo: I've got a very bad feeling about this...

No kidding, not feeling confidence in Shell at all right now.

I spoke too soon-good job, Shell!!

WOW! What a pitch! Holy shamoly, crisis averted!

Shell with the K - YES!

Does Zimmerman keep trying to steal? There were a lot of pickoff attempts for him earlier too.

Dukes out for Maxwell on a double-switch?

Dunn caught stealing? What is going on out there?

Is Hanrahan gonna blow it in the 9th again? If we win today that COULD'VE been 4 in a row, if Hanrahan didn't blow those two saves. That disappoints me, they're definitely playing better, but they still can't hit with the bases loaded, hopefully that doesn't come back to bite us in this game.

Nice job Hinckley!

Hanrahan is not pitching today, he's pitched three days in a row. So who has a guess as to who our set up/closer is today?

I'm guessing Hinckley will come back out for the 8th (because of the double switch). If he can get through it, then that will leave...Rivera (?!?!) to close?

Nats have six BB from the 2 through 6 hitters. That's a lot of pitches seen by our best hitters. And it's one reason Volstad was chased in the fifth - he was over 100 pitches, averaging over 20 an inning.

Seven BB in all for the Nats through six innings. Nice.

@nervous:
In character, as always.

The bench had a double-steal on play, regardless. Dunn had the play beat, but overslid the bag.

Or Ledezma...

Despite the fly-out just now, nice to see Kearns get above the Mendoza today.

Awesome DP!!!

Ugh. It is like Groundhog Day with this team.

DP was just in time or the Nats would be down by 2...

I don't freakin believe it!!!! this team is snakebitten!!!

Ouch!

Taverez - STAT!

That was bound to happen. They left the bases loaded 3 times, it came back to haunt them. Now they will probably lose in extra innings for the 3rd time in a row.

Holy shamoly shiznit, that was unexpected to put it mildly...

I'm sick of free baseball.

Hard to tell, but it looked like Amezega (sp?) slapped the plate, before the (cue benny hill music) homeplate runaround... we might've been gifted a call there...

Taverez - STAT!

Come on Zim!

Tavarez pitched the last two days, you think they'll put him in over Rivera?

Oh lord, here we go again!

Just three outs... That's all. Three outs.

So who is it going to be...Saul? Oh boy...

Nope, Rivera is in there. Hopefully he can do the job.

Nice start to the inning...

Wow. Just, wow

I give up

carpenter thinks that maybin is faster than boni; he's alone in that opinion.

They just can't get it done!

Yeah, I heard that too, nova. Boneheaded Bob's at it again!

this can't be happening.

I swear Rivera would be on the first thing smokin to Syracuse,you walk a guy that's been in a slump and then groove a two strike pitch send his azz to the "Cuse".

c'mon nervous, you kind of new it would happen!

I'd love for Dibble to start throwing things at that damn donkey Florida fan I keep hearing over the broadcast...

I am always optimistic. Until the bullpen crushes me. Again.

Bye bye, Nats.

well then, that's that.

And again.

Was Tavarez available?

Holy cow I didn't realize Rivera had thrown 40 pitches this inning!

43... and counting

Man, just when you think you know what it feels like to have your heart ripped out...

what happened in these last three games are a big part why attendance and tv ratings are way low!

"Was Tavarez available?"

He pitched the last two days, but in hindsight he was probably the better choice.

I seriously think the Nats should consider cutting the entire bullpen and bring up 2 or 3 of the best relievers from each minor league team. It is unheard of to have a bullpen blow three consecutive games.

Pretty smart bringing someone with an 8+ ERA who it looked like the Marlins' lineup was hitting about .500 off. Tavarez was obviously the better choice.

Please tell me someone will get demoted after this. At this point, I don't even really care who it is. I can only imagine what Manny will say today if he was deflated yesterday.

Yes, Tavarez was warming up in the bullpen a few minutes ago.

We lead MLB in blown saves.

The young guys are the reason the bullpen hasn't been doing well, the veterans (the couple that there are) are getting the job done.

This bat will never catch up with that speed.

skippy - If you consider today's performance "getting the job done", then yes.

If someone does get demoted, it has to be Rivera and/or Hanrahan. One of those two has to go!

what, skippy?

Rivera did the Nats a favor by giving up the three-run double. The bullpen couldn't endure extra innings again.

If you're going to blow the save, may as well blow the game, too. Atta boy, Saul.

Okay nervous I'll give you Rivera as a veteran not doing well.

rivera's carera over?

Son of a...
I've got McEnroe screaming in my head "you can't be serious!"

This evening could be interesting. The Nats already had to make a move to make room for Zimmermann. They might make a few now.

overa?

"Rivera did the Nats a favor by giving up the three-run double. The bullpen couldn't endure extra innings again.

If you're going to blow the save, may as well blow the game, too. Atta boy, Saul."

Haha I guess this is true, it would have been prolonging the inevitible if he let it go to extra innings!

I think the entire bullpen needs a mental adjustment. Their job is to get outs. It doesn't matter HOW they get the out.

These guys are trying to out think the batters instead of concentrating on throwing good pitches.

I mean - you get 5-6 good innings from a starting pitcher. At most a reliever needs to get 3 outs. They can't even do that.

The last three games we were leading going into the 9th. Florida was able to win every one by scoring 13 runs in the 9th and later innings.

Amazing.

BRING BACK FRANK!!!!

BRING BACK FRANK!!!!

Uhh.. this team suckkkkkksssssssssss

The way this is going, things could get pretty ugly pretty quickly with this team. Ownership cannot afford to be too patient with this situation. Manny, I hope your resume is updated - altho not all of this is your fault. You will be the sacrificial lamb. And Saul, you might work on yours too. Don't be too surprised to hear the phrase "Designated for assignment".

Is it too early to start the countdown to 100 losses again?

Later this evening the Marlins will be coming over to kick my dogs.

Manny says they'll have a brand new bullpen tomorrow. We'll see what happens.

Wow he really said that?

JZ has got to be thinking no less than complete game will get him a victory.