Tonight's Lineups From Citi Field

No Delgado and no Reyes. I hope we can get to them tonight and get this road trip started with a victory.

Good to see that Nick's feeling better. I hope he doesn't come down with any sudden ailments in the next two hours or so.

Heh. Maine.

Here's my idea: once Dukes gets back here, use Willy extensively in right, while sticking Dunn in left. I don't think we can afford to have two minus defenders at the corners, nor can we afford to keep Kearns in the lineup for much longer. Willy is a plus with the bat AND the glove, not to mention his speed and clubhouse manner.

jaumiusk

Kearns is the best defensive oufielder the NATs have. The 9-2 force out is a prime example. No other NAT outfielder would have had the presence of mind to even attempt that play. You can knock him for his hitting, but only a fan with very little understanding of how outfielders how outfielders have to think ahead and not react can watch him play defense and complain. He is the one player taht manny can depend on to give him 100% consistent defense.

Though I know it won't happen, when Dukes gets back they need to put him back in right, platoon Willy and Maxwell in center and cut Kearns loose.

But like I said......

Next year think about a platoon in center of Bernadina and Maxwell with Dukes in right and Dunn in left.

Posts calling types of posts tiresome are tiresome.

the bottom line is kearns is in the last year of his deal and in all likelihood he is not on the team next year or any time in the future, with dukes back I'd put willie in center and kearns can be a late inning defensive replacement for dunn, willingham would be the fourth outfielder and when he cracked the lineup dukes is in center, elijah and jesus are sorely missed, austin in the 5 hole is not good

Against a RHP, Kearns in RF & Dunn in LF is the Nationals best bet.

Calling for a platoon of Dukes is foolish. When Dukes isn't hitting the lineup loses a lot, he is a pretty damn good RF too, for now he has to do in CF. Willie Harris is nice and all, but, he is a utility player and nothing more. Fans always fall in love with guys who "do it the right way", but you can't impede the development of a future stud to let Harris get more ABs. Sorry. I know Dukes' OBP has dropped from last year, but I have a suspicion that it will be up around .380 by the end of the year, especially if Manny lets Flores hit behind him and stops fooling around.

Wait, did someone just say Willie Harris and plus bat in the same sentence? I like Willie and all, but plus bat? You're kidding, right?

Amen Rickfelt, Amen.

Interesting article by Joe Posnanski over on SI.com, on the relatively recent phenomenon of the player who both walks and strikes out a lot (sound familiar?). Here's the top ten list:

Highest percentage of walks + strikeouts in baseball history (min. 100 walks, 100 K's):
1. Jack Cust 2007: 53%
2. Jack Cust, 2008: 51%
3. Jack Clark, 1987: 49%
4. Mickey Tettleton, 1990: 48%
5. Jim Thome, 1999: 47%
6. Ryan Howard, 2007: 47%
7. Jack Clark, 1989: 47%
8. Mark McGwire, 1998: 47%
9. Jim Thome, 2001: 46%
10. Adam Dunn, 2006: 45%

Posnanski goes on to argue that a really good hitter who could cut his strikeout rate to around 4% (the way George Brett did in his historic season) could very well hit .400. He suggests Joe Mauer as a candidate if Joe weren't a catcher. But he also points out that the whole of MLB strikes out at a much higher rate than it once did, which may be why .400 has become so elusive.

Read the article, it's fun.

Man was just watching the movie Major League. Funny and sad how for the first part I thought I was watching the Nats. Would be great if the Nats could turn into the 2nd part. Great Flick.

Next year think about a platoon in center of Bernadina and Maxwell with Dukes in right and Dunn in left.

Posted by: sjt1455 | May 25, 2009 5:38 PM
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Yep. The OF will be better next year. The problem will be the hole at First Base with the departure of Nick Johnson.

WOOOOHOOOO!!! Let's do this!!!

AAARRRGGGHHHHHH!!!!!!!

"Calling for a platoon of Dukes is foolish" I agree wholeheartedly, I don't think anyone ever called for dukes to platoon, if you thought that's what I meant it is not, I think willie in cf, dukes in right or left with dunn at the other spot is the lineup we should use with ham as 4th outfielder and kearns as 5th essentially a defensive replacement because I would never in my life use him to pinch hit unless he was the only man left and the pitcher was batting

and that, ladies and gentelmen, is why Kearns needs to play.