Love those Nats!

Goodbye to Schneider and Church

Fri, 30 Nov 2007 18:11:26 -0500

In what came as quite a shock, the Nationals announced a trade today that will give every Nats fan a moment of pause. One of the few remaining original Nats, Brian Schneider, is now a member of the New York Mets. Outfielder Ryan Church is also headed to Shea Stadium.

What do we get? Mets outfielder Lastings Milledge. One would expect that Milledge will fill a hole in center field. What hole? Well, let’s be honest. Nook Logan, who played CF most of last year, although improving as the season went on, just didn’t have the numbers at the plate needed by an outfielder. BUT, let’s wait a see what Manny Acta does with our newest player.

As for Ryan Church, I gotta say, as much as I like Ryan, we all had to see something like this coming. With the addition of Willy Mo Pena last season, Ryan was left standing in the dugout as much as playing in the outfield. I’ve always enjoyed watching him play and wish him luck. That being said, now as a member of the Mets, I don’t want to wish him too much luck.

Brian Schneider, The Schneider-man. A leader on the team. A cool head when things weren’t going our way. A blessing when it came to getting our young pitchers through some rough innings. A huge shock to see him go. He was loved by the fans at RFK, and will be missed.

In the end, we can only hope that the pain of seeing beloved players moving to the Mets... will be softened by knowing the long-term goal is an improved team.

Jason

Grass goes down at Nationals Park!

Thu, 1 Nov 2007 11:11:44 -0400

Oh Happy Day!!! Our new ballpark is really starting to look... well... like a ballpark.

I read somewhere that it should take about a week to get all the grass down. Check out the progress on your own at the stadium’s webcam website.

Also of note, it looks like the scoreboard is almost done. Once that is complete, rest of the seats are in place, and a few other touches (like the completion of the left field wall), I think the rest of the work is interior work. That means the progress we can see as outsiders will be limited, but I’ll still be checking the cameras once a day... just to get the blood pumping.

Jason

Photo: http://clarkconstruction.oxblue.com/clarkhuntsmoot/

Teddy takes a spill. Still winless.

Sat, 1 Sep 2007 22:32:14 -0400

On a night that was sure to be great for Teddy, he was robbed of his first win in the President’s Race.

Teddy Roosevelt bobblehead night at RFK. The crowd was strongly behind Teddy. The fun began with a funny video, the inning before the race, of Teddy working out and preparing for the race. The crowd laughed and cheered. Everyone at RFK was sure Teddy was going to win.

When the race began, at the next inning break, Teddy came out from the right field fence carried on a throne by members of the Nat Pack. The other presidents were walking behind Teddy, escorted by members of the Secret Service. The crowd chanting “Ted-dy Ted-dy”, it was an incredible scene. About half way to first base, the throne was lowered, but Teddy suddenly took a tumble to the ground! With that, the other presidents took off for the finish line. Teddy got up quickly, started running for the finish line, but couldn’t get past George Washington. In what was a photo finish, Teddy finished second by a nose (George’s nose), and the crowd was STUNNED. An odd quiet fell across the crowd, then loud “Boo”s, finally more “Ted-dy” chanting.

If Teddy couldn’t win on Teddy Roosevelt bobblehead night... when could he win?

Oh by the way, the Nats beat the Giants 4 to 1.

Jason

We’re Winning... oh, nevermind.

Fri, 31 Aug 2007 09:19:05 -0400

Could someone please explain to me how one team could lose so many games... that they WERE at one point winning? Let me be a little more clear: Of the seven straight games we’ve lost, we were winning all of them at some point. So, in all of them, the other team came from behind to win. Again, my question, why can we not hold onto a lead?

What is the problem? As a whole, I’d say the team has been playing better since the All-Star break. Bats have come alive, and starting pitching has been able (on most days) to last into the 6th or 7th inning.

So, again, what is the problem? Maybe it’s a little of everything. Bad luck? Who knows. I have noticed the bullpen giving up more hits recently.

Whatever the problem, could we please figure it out? The mental health of so many fans depend on it.

Jason

Congrats to Zimm!!!!!

Sun, 26 Aug 2007 15:09:32 -0400

OK, who realized that the home run Ryan Zimmerman hit in the 1st inning today, set a new career record for him? It was his 21st home run of the year. He hit 20 in his first full year with the Nats in ’06. (You know, the year he should have won Rookie of the Year.)

Congrats Ryan!

As for the rest of the game...
Joel Hanrahan, 89 pitches, 5 walks, 8 hits, 9 earned runs in 2-and-2-thirds innings. Well, that about sums it up.

Incredible defensive plays:
Felipe Lopez, a Sportscenter quality diving catch.
Ryan Zimmerman, fighting the rolled up rain tarp for a pop-up foul ball.
Austin Kearns, an incredible catch in right field and hitting the fence. His head snapped back like he’d been hit in the face. Watching the replay, I don’t know how he avoided getting hurt. Way to go Austin!

Sometimes it’s hard to Love those Nats, but today they showed a “never say die” attitude that made me proud. It’s that kind of attitude that’s going to really help them in the years ahead, and why we Love those Nats!

Jason

Suffering with Chad Cordero!!

Sat, 25 Aug 2007 15:00:32 -0400

Would someone PLEASE explain to me why Manny Acta took Shawn Hill out of the game last night? Is the idea of a complete game lost in today’s MLB? He was doing a GREAT job! Sure, it’s possible that Manny knew something we didn’t. It’s easy for us to second guess him the following day, and I don’t mean any disrespect. I’m a huge fan of what he’s done this year, but that’s a topic for another day.

Back to the topic at hand...
Does anyone else feel that Chad Cordero is holding on by a thread? He just doesn’t seem to have the “stuff” he had a couple of years ago. I know he’s had some personal issues this year, and I don’t want to unfairly point a finger at a pitcher’s performance after a loss in the family. However, I think that is in the past, and I think if we were to ask him... he’d agree.

I just don’t see the control and energy in Chad that we all came to know and expect from “The Chief”. It pains me to suggest this, but maybe we should have traded him when we had the chance. Sorry Chad.

All that being said, I’ll still cheer for you next time you walk out on the field, but I’ll also be praying for a good outing.

Jason

I HATE band-wagon riders!!!

Fri, 24 Aug 2007 11:45:22 -0400

OK, I know this is my first blog entry, and anyone reading this will need time to get to know me. I’m sorry to start with a negative comment (relax, it’s not about the Nats), but I can’t bite my lip anymore...

I HATE band-wagon riders!!!

Now, who could I be talking about?

I don’t know how many Nats games I’ve been to, but I’ve been to my fair share. Generally, my “bride-to-be” and I have a great time cheering for the Nationals... except when we’re surrounded by rude fans from the other team.

I have NO problem with people cheering for their team, in fact I encourage it. What I have a problem with, is the fans who sit quietly, or comment under their breath, until their team takes the lead. Then suddenly they’re loud and yelling “you suck”. OH NO, Zimmerman just hit a two-run home run... so they sit quietly again, waiting for the tide to turn.

Come on people, backing your team only when they’re winning... grow up, buy some balls, and cheer for your team rain or shine! It’s easy to like a team that’s winning. The measure of a true team fan is cheering for them when they’ve lost eight games in a row.

So, Mets fans, and Philly fans, and all you fans that were nowhere to be found when your team was battling for last place for years on end... YOU ARE BAND-WAGON RIDERS! Now, go home!

Jason