Distinguished Senators, the Washington Nationals Blog That Is Great

Thursday, April 07, 2005

Randy Like the Wolf

Here's the lineup:

Wilkerson, CF
Guzman, SS, dammit
Vidro, 2B
Guillen, RF
Cordero, 1B
Castilla, 3B
Davis, LF
Schneider, C
Loaiza, P

Pretty much what I figured, except for some reason I thought JJ Davis would be in center. It's still B-Wilk out there. I'll see you in the comments. Go Nats!

184 comments:

Ryan said...

"April is Loiaza's month." That's supposed to be a compliment?

Chris Needham said...

Since they're running out all the scrubs, today would've been a good day to rest Schneider's knees. I guess they're waiting til Saturday then.

Chris Needham said...

Lofton's playing some ugly center field. Apparently the season with Bernie Williams last year rubbed off on him.

Ryan said...

Thanks, Kenny!
That's why Wilk's leading off. Nine pitches.

Chris Needham said...

An 1880s style hit and run! Guzman would've been perfect... A Modern Day Wee Willie Keeler

Ryan said...

At least Guzman didn't ignore it this time.

Chris Needham said...

It's a singles juggernaut!

Ryan said...

1-0! That's all 2003 Loaiza would need. We'll see what the 2005 version will require.

Ryan said...

Quick, Chris - we need a Cordero joke!

Chris Needham said...

Ummm. ummm...

That last swing was almost as the blow he used when he smashed his wife's face in with a telephone!

Chris Needham said...

Insert the word 'hard' in the appropriate spot!

Ryan said...

That may have been too good - you crushed his spirit.

Yuda said...

According to this morning's Post, Cordero destroys Randy Wolf's pitching.

10-for-22 with a dinger lifetime.

I know, small sample sizes and all, but there's a chance he's picking something up, too.

Ryan said...

I really liked the Cordero signing, actually. He hits lefties and we have some guys who can't. Yeah, Terrmel, I'm looking at you.

Chris Needham said...

Are you looking at Church too?

Chris Needham said...

And to be fair, Guzman doesn't hit lefties either. Nor righties :)

Ryan said...

Man, don't you ever say anything like that about Soul Patch again. He'll be our hero from now on. What are Johnson's splits like? I don't feel like looking it up.

Chris Needham said...

Just from my Diamond-Mind-addled brain, he doesn't have power against lefties, but he still gets on. (More strikeouts too, obviously)

Chris Needham said...

Vinny and Esteban are going to make me take back all those horrible things I've said about them.

Ryan said...

Mets are losing again! Hah!

Yuda said...

According to Harry Kalas, Esteban is a lifetime .174 hitter. And he had some good cuts up there.

Hit him ahead of Guzman, too.

Basil said...

Ryan, I was going to make a "Randy like the wolf" joke earlier, but couldn't fit it in. I am afraid you'll kill me for Soul Patch-related reasons, subsequent to reading my latest, rambling post. (Nothing bad, though.)

Say hey, there's a game. And we're winning. Too bad my office neither has a window nor faces south. I'm guessing XM won't work here, though it might be worth trying for these early games. (The office policy is anti-streaming audio, too.)

Oh well, I'll game track.

Chris Needham said...

Don't feel bad, Basil.

I've discovered that I need to precariously balance my walkman on my left knee, while dangling it forward on a box under my desk.

I expect to start clotting in the next hour or two. If I stop posting, send the paramedics.

Chris Needham said...

Alright... which one's calling the game now? I can't get them straight.

(He's the one I like least)

And Wilkerson's an effing beast!

Yuda said...

Since 2002:

Johnson vs. RHP: 259/370/435 (892 PA)
Johnson vs. LHP: 260/401/388 (242 PA)

Not a ton of appearances vs. lefties, but it's worth seeing if he can hit them.

At the same time, though, sitting him against tough lefties might help keep him healthy.

Ryan said...

What did Wilk do? I was getting coffee.

Chris Needham said...

Short of a padded suit, like those sumo wrestler things you see at bars or county fairs, there's not much that would. (and even then I'm not sure that'd help Nick!)

Yuda said...

Right now on the Philly broadcast we've got Harry Kalas doing play-by-play and Larry Anderson -- best known for being traded for Jeff Bagwell -- doing color commentary.

That's not entirely fair to Anderson -- I'm told he had a wicked slider, one of the best ever.

But, as he says, "they still love me in Houston!"

Yuda said...

Which means on radio (if you're listening to Philly radio), it's Chris "Wheels" Wheeler. He's the weakest of the three although I like all three of them.

That may be because I've spent years listening to them, though.

Chris Needham said...

Doubled off the left field wall.

Single, double. Move over Bob Meusel!

Yuda said...

Time to walk back to the office. I'd better hide this beer that's on my breath first, though. ;)

Chris Needham said...

Who wants to listen to that Philly crap? Although, I would pay to hear Harry Kalas read the classified ads.

Ryan said...

Sounded reasonable to me, Basil. What I'd really like to know is how much better Church is in CF than Wilkerson.

Basil said...

That eases my worried mind, Ryan. ;-)

Speaking of announcers, how do you tell the Nats guys apart? There's one who sounds sort of like he's drunk. He drags his syllables a bit; sounds a bit like Harry Caray, actually, I think. The other guy is pretty generic. Which is which?

Basil said...

So, Stevie-Lo has a perfect game going, huh?

Ryan said...

I can't tell announcers apart, and I never could. Guess I'm a visual learner. Buck Martinez is the only exception.

Chris Needham said...

Wilkerson's looked shaky out there, but he's made all the plays. There were a few gap shots that made me hold my breath, but he got to them.

Church is definitely the unknown. BBAmerica says he's the best defesnive OFer in the system, but that was when he was primarily playing the corners. (Given Wilkerson and Rivera, why the hell wasn't he playing center last year more?)

Chris Needham said...

You're gonna ruin it Basil! ;)

When I hit the shift key, my radio gets all staticy. That's weird.

Ryan said...

Frank shoulda left the lefties in there.

Chris Needham said...

Those are the best kind of predictions. The completely stupid ones that make you a genius if the 1 in a 10 billion shot comes in and everyone shrugs off as a joke if it's wrong ;)


There's only been two games where I thought a pitcher had it. Once was in person, with Pedro against the Os, back when he was PEDRO. I settled for the 15K one-hitter.

The other was David Wells. The season he had his perfect game, he pitched against the A's a month later. I hadn't seen pitches move like that since Kerry Wood. (He gave up one hit, to Giambi)

Yuda said...

So what will it take for Esteban to become ¡Esteban!?

Basil said...

A perfect game might get him there, Yuda. ;-)

Fifteen outs to go.

Ryan said...

Did any of you guys ever watch that crappy Cities of Gold cartoon on Nickelodeon? That's all I can think of when I hear "Esteban."

Chris Needham said...

He's a better hitter than Guzman!

Ryan said...

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0122356/

Chris Needham said...

I don't remember that one!

I do remember having the bejesus scared out of my by Nickelodeon's 'The Third Eye'. I think that's what it was called.


What'd Guzman do? Sac?

Yuda said...

The play-by-play guy on radio right now reminds me of Jon Miller -- mostly in terms of the quality of his voice although he's doing a solid job on the play-by-play as well.

Ryan said...

Yep. He's not even trying anymore.
Loaiza scores on a Vidro sac fly.

Chris Needham said...

Can you tell when he's not trying though?

Ryan said...

Good point. And it's more like Frank's not letting him try. How many more games does Guz hit second?

Ryan said...

I hate Modest Mouse.

Chris Needham said...

C'est La Vie!

Nice try, Basil!

Ryan said...

D'oh!

Yuda said...

Guzman hasn't tried since little league.

Ryan said...

Hey, who replaced the wife beater?

Chris Needham said...

NJs in. Did something happen? My radio's in and out.

Basil said...

C'est La Vie!

Well, Yahoo! game tracker is telling me it's the top of the fifth, so that's what I'm going with as official. ;-) (PS: What happened?)

Re: Esteban---I just think of that dude who tries to pawn off guitars on one of the shopping channels. Cool shades.

Ryan said...

I just heard the announcers say they were waiting for a report on why Cordero left, so no one knows, evidently.

Yuda said...

Dave and Charlie (is that their names?) were speculating that Cordero is hurt, NJ was in the on-deck circle even with Wolf still pitching.

Chris Needham said...

Well, Escobar's about due to come off the DL. But, how many outfielders does one team need?

Would they bring up Cordero?

Chris Needham said...

errr.. Harris.

But we're probably ahead of ourselves at this point.

Basil said...

Just refreshed---guess it only works when you're physically at the computer. I step out for a moment, and it freezes.

Anyway, screw you, Thome. You big, hulking freak.

Basil said...

Whoa. Wil Cordero's hurt? The spouse extracted her vengeance on the field?

I know....I'm worthless as a blind chatter, so to speak.

Ryan said...

I don't think you're useless, Basil. You're very special.

Basil said...

You're too kind, Ryan. ;-)

Speaking of worthless, how's Guzman looking today? Judging from past comments, he laided down a sac bunt at a pointless moment?

Yuda said...

Just remember, Basil -- it's not that you're behind in the game. The rest of us are just living in the future.

In other news, I think I'm going to have a Nats Bloggers Barbeque on Saturday the 23rd. 1:10 away game against the Mets which, of course, isn't on TV.

Chris Needham said...

Aren't MOST Sacs pointless?

Especially when done by your number two hitter?????

If he's a bad hitter who needs to sac, why is he hitting second, damnit?

Ryan said...

Guz has bunted twice (right?), so who knows. Isn't he supposed to be able to hit a little bit against lefties?

Chris Needham said...

You forgot the smilie to indicate your use of irony there, Ryan.

Ryan said...

^_^

Basil said...

Especially when done by your number two hitter?????

If you're Jim Leyland, then probably not. I recall he used to SAC bunt Jay Bell out of the second slot all the time around '91-92.

Made just no sense at all, considering Bell could hit a little and Van Slyke/Bonilla/Bonds could do so even better. But whatever works . . .

Yuda said...

Can somebody explain to me why the Phillies sent Marlon Byrd to AAA so they could purchase Jose Offerman's contract?

Chris Needham said...

And how many WS did Leyland win with Pitt, huh? huh? I guess that's more the steroid-riddled choking dog's fault though ;)

Ryan said...

Speaking of Leyland (sorta), who stayed up to watch the Braves/Marlins? That was some good stuff.

Chris Needham said...

I'm a dork. I stayed up for Rangers Angels even. That explains the bags under my eyes and my desire to crawl under my desk.

Basil said...

That or a 27-hopper that couldn't peg Sid Bream? ;-) (I know, I know; it was a decent throw.)

Was the Braves/Marlins game on TBS? I watched a little bit of Giants/Dodgers last night, but I had no chance of making it past the fourth.

Yuda said...

I'm a dork. I stayed up for Rangers Angels even. That explains the bags under my eyes and my desire to crawl under my desk.

Learn the power of MLB.tv -- I haven't been to bed before 1:30 during baseball season in three years.

Chris Needham said...

How 'bout that Perfect Game?

Basil said...

I stayed up for Rangers Angels even.

All of it? Was it a west coast game or in Texas? If it was one of those 3 1/2 hour, California games, man, you're a stud.

Chris Needham said...

I learned the power last year. My gf is still pissed at me ;)

It's a dangerous drug

Ryan said...

Loaiza just turned back into a pumpkin.

Yuda said...

So we had, what, five innings of 2003 Esteban Loaiza and now we've got the 2001 vintage?

Basil said...

What the hell? Jose Offerman should be collecting baggage carts at the local airport or stacking the milk at the store, or something other than scoring runs in a big-league game.

Consequently, Yuda, I have no answer to your question.

Chris Needham said...

Burrell's been a beast lately.

Time to start the parade of relievers, i think!

Basil said...

Don't tell me what Burrell does; I want to suffer on my own time, okay?

Basil said...

Ugh. I'm suffering now.

Esteban, I put my trust in you. I haven't been so deflated since I learned that her father's the district attorney.

Chris Needham said...

I hate Kenny Lofton. HATE him.

Ryan said...

Thanks again, Kenny!

Hey Basil - YOU'RE RISKING A PATIENT'S LIFE!

I actually watched that father's the district attorney show. It was great for the four episodes it was on.

Chris Needham said...

I watched the first episode, and other than ogling the chick, i hated it.

I can't stand when they edit shows with such fast, styliezed cuts in lieu of drama or actual tension.

Ryan said...

EXACTLY - it was so self-conciously edgy and sexy that it was like a parody of an edgy drama. Plus it had Clarence Williams III, my favorite actor who has never played a character named "Lester Diamond."

Ryan said...

Cordero's on the DL - that was quick. Free Brendan Harris!

Yuda said...

Cordero's already on the DL?

Talk about fast.

Basil said...

My friend's wife likes the "you're risking a patient's life" show. Unfortunately, neither of them gets the joke.

I think we need another reliever. Hey, what's Danny Rueckel up to?

Chris Needham said...

Seriously? Baerga?

They must loath Harris. There's gotta be a story behind that or something. They're buried the kid.

The good news is we've got room on the 40-man. so we won't lose anyone bc of this.

the bad news is they'll actually use him.

Basil said...

Baerga? Oh. I should have seen that coming. The Yahoo! tracking says "Guzman: Impotently grounded out to pitcher." I swear it's true.

Ryan said...

Basil - get a screen cap of that. That's the kind of thing you can milk for months.

Chris Needham said...

And Loiza started this inning because????

Ryan said...

Why is Loaiza still out there?

Chris Needham said...

because Frank hates us.

I know a manager who wants a Lame Duck Award!

Yuda said...

Loaiza started this inning because he feels like a seven-inning guy to Frank, or something.

Utley's coming up? Get Eischen in immediately.

Ryan said...

Worrell's warming up. Thanks, Charlie!

Basil said...

Well, okay, it's not true. ;-)

Anyway, if you guys continue chatting, these afternoon games will be the professional death of me. Fortunately, I was super-productive yesterday....

Yuda said...

Aren't you a lawyer? If they fire you, sue.

Chris Needham said...

C'mon Basil... stop pretending. I know you work for the government! ;)



Joe Horgan's up!

Chris Needham said...

i'm sure glad you warmed up the lefty so you could bring him in to face the lefty polanco, frank.

jesus.

Basil said...

Hey, even the government's got standards! (Okay, stop laughing...)

Anyway, let's say I sued (though, really, I couldn't). Let's say I lost at the agency or district court stage. This is kind of funny, but if I appealed, my file would likely end up where? Why, the exact office where I currently work!

In good news, I just scouted out my new office. Super big. No window, though. No XM, likely.

Yuda said...

If this game is lost, I think Loaiza and Frank have to share the Lame Duck award.

Chris Needham said...

Whadya expect, Ryan...

It's an afternoon game. But Lunch. Warm Sun. I imagine his blood sugar's through the floor. ZZZZZZ

Basil said...

This calls for vomiting with rage.

Chris Needham said...

Big lunch. Jesus. That's what happens when I'm trying to type out a few things at the same time.


I can't fault Loaiza for sucking. He shouldn't be on the hook for this loss. He should've never been put in the place and he never should've faced Polanco.

Yuda said...

FYI, Polanco hits right-handed.

Ryan said...

The announcers' reasoning was that you have to bring Loaiza back out because he's a veteran. See why I have such regard for the sports media?

Basil said...

Did they just intentionally walk Abreu with Horgan? If so, I hate when they do that with a new pitcher. It gives me the creeps, like it gets the guy back out of rythmn or something.

Chris Needham said...

Alright... I'm an idiot. I could've sworn he was a lefty. That's what happens when I go by memory.

Yuda said...

Worrell isn't likely to suck two games in a row.

Chris Needham said...

We need to get Guillen hopped up on cold medicine more often!

Ryan said...

Worrell is still in top form, it would appear.

Chris Needham said...

I have the hugest mancrush on NJ!

Yuda said...

I stand corrected.

Actually, I sit corrected. But the point stands. Or sits. Something.

Basil said...

Hey, a triple! (This delayed reaction thing is kind of fun!)

Chris Needham said...

You couched it, Yuda. He's not likely. That doesn't mean he won't stink it up! ;)

Basil said...

Productive out. Buster Olney finds sweet release.

Ryan said...

I have a mancrush on Worrell. I freaking love this guy.

Chris Needham said...

If Osuna starts the bottom of the inning, I'll be filled with a murderous rage.

Tucker was up, I think. Ayala would be my choice though.

(Thome's up first?)

Chris Needham said...

He was great when he was covering the Orioles.

And I've been meaning to pick up that book for a while.

Ryan said...

You should, Yuda. In fact, you should give in and be a Nats blogger. Forever.

Basil said...

I just finished his The Last Night of the Yankee Dynasty last week -- it was really good. I should write a review or something.

Please do. I admit that my view of Olney is rather Larry Mahnken-ized. Plus, you write well.

Actually, I've been interested in doing some book reviews myself. A few years ago, I was going to write some as part of a project Don Malcolm was working on (but never got to, I guess). I just didn't have the time, ultimately.

So I might get back into it, though I'm not sure the blogosphere needs an 1,189th review of "Lords of the Realm."

Basil said...

Well then, that seals it; we have a collective mancrush on Yuda, too.

Ryan said...

Hey, Basil, have you heard of this book called Ball Four? Maybe you should review that one.

Ryan said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Chris Needham said...

Lords of the Realm is my favorite baseball book. I pick that one up every year or two.

Chris Needham said...

Frank didn't double switch did he?

Of course not. That'd require having to walk over to the ump before strolling to the mound for a chat.

Basil said...

Ryan: "Ball Four"? Sounds familiar. About some relief pitching prospect for the Twins, right?

There's also this one I just heard of called "Moneyball," but I think that's about the NBA three-pointer contest, actually.

Yuda said...

Stupid work -- I now have no idea what's going on. Still 4-4?

Ryan said...

And there's this guy named James Bill or something. He's supposed to be pretty good.

Wagner's out - has Manuel been reading BP or something.

Ryan said...

Still 4-4

Chris Needham said...

This should be fun!

Tony Blanco the K machine against Billy Wagner!

Does he see more than 4 pitches?

Yuda said...

If we claimed Travis Hughes off waivers, then I think purchasing Baerga is going to cost us somebody.

Basil said...

Frank didn't double switch did he?

I thought that was just Yahoo being Yahoo! He actually didn't? Who's still on the bench? Bennett? Carroll? Church?

Oh, it's all set up, Ryan. Here it comes!

Basil said...

Oh, Blanco. I forgot.

Chris Needham said...

That was inevitible!

What worries me about this is that he's not going to use Cordero in the 9th, which means Osuna, probably.


Pinch hit for Guzman!

Basil said...

And there's this guy named James Bill or something.

It's William James, actually. His friends called him Bill. He wrote "The Varieties of Religious Experience" about 100 years ago. Hell of a book. Lots of baseball strategy and stuff.

Chris Needham said...

I didn't see the Hughes transaction, but I think we were actually at 38 men. Did you count Beltran on the 60-day? That doesn't count against the 40-man.

Basil said...

Manuel didn't double switch either, huh? He's got Wagner up second in the bottom half. Not that Wagner's a two-inning guy, anyway.

Yuda said...

Oh, Beltran's on the 60? Then we're at 40 now, with Baerga. Stupid, but not unconcionably so.

I only know about the Hughes transaction because the radio guys just said we claimed him and optioned him to New Orleans. Just happened this morning. Pravda hasn't updated yet.

Chris Needham said...

I'm almost relieved that that wasn't a groundout.

Basil said...

You know, Wilkerson's pretty good. It just dawned on me.

Ryan said...

Surprise sur-fucking-prise.

Yuda said...

Would it be spitting on the memory of Endy Chavez to start calling Guzman "Inning-Endy"?

Basil said...

Well, I don't know what Guzboy did, but Chris didn't make it sound good...

Chris Needham said...

Holy shit! Cordero's in?

What the hell came over Frank? Does he realize we didn't score there?

Great move, but stunning!

Ryan said...

I can't believe it's the 9th already. This game is just flying by.

Yuda said...

Charlie Manuel clearly not reading BP. Thanks for the out, Chuck!

Basil said...

I've decided that Rollins is a dead-ringer for that Holdsclaw basketball chick, except for the moustache.

Chris Needham said...

Eh... playing for one run in that situation's the right move. That's all they need now.

Basil said...

Wow, that was quick. I guess Rollins chased the first pitch and popped out.

Basil said...

BTW, at what point does Blogger just up and die? 200 comments?

Chris Needham said...

The way Charlie (Dave?) called that I was getting really nervous!

Yuda said...

Maybe, except Michaels can hit. He'd be a starter on most teams in baseball -- hell, he should be playing center over Lofton in Philly.

Given that Rollins and Polanco are the guys coming up at the top of the order, I'd rather have Michaels with Lieberthal on first than waste Tomas Perez bunting him over.

Also, if you're playing for the run, you've got to pinch run for Lieberthal.

Ryan said...

What's this about Blogger dying? Do I need a new post?

Chris Needham said...

YEAH!!!!!

YEAH!!!!!


Your knee is gimpy, but I love ya!

Ryan said...

And after you were bitching Vidro this morning, Chris! Good thing I didn't say anything bad about him.

Chris Needham said...

I said his range stinks and he's gonna fall off a cliff eventually. They're still true. But he's a saint for now ;)

Yuda said...

Back to Manuel bringing Wagner in -- if you're the home team and it's tied going into the ninth there can't be a save situation. It's save-centric thinking that you use the closer that way, since you're not costing him any stats.

More noteworthy that Frank brought in Cordero.

Chris Needham said...

What was surprising is that he didn't doubleswitch to keep Wagner out there for more than one inning.

Not that I'm complaining!

Yuda said...

"Maybe they had to make a move to get Baerga today."

That's a chance I'd have been willing to take.

Ryan said...

My heart leaps when NJ walks.

Chris Needham said...

That's the Vinny we'll come to know and love (?)

Basil said...

Hey, Vidro! My inattentiveness has paid dividends!

Ryan, I was just speculating based on Blogger's well-earned rep. Your post is fine, as far as I know.

Ryan said...

Let's see if Burrell can do another number on us.

Chris Needham said...

First place! First place!

Ryan said...

BOO-YA!

Chris Needham said...

I could learn to love facing Philly's pitching!

I suspect it won't be as easy when we're facing the Braves or Marlins!

Ryan said...

U-S-A! U-S-A!

Basil said...

We won? F#@k yeah!

Basil said...

I am somewhat sad that Vidro did it off of Rheal Cormier, who has one of the best names ever.

Ryan said...

Poor Basil.
"Did we win the war?"
"Yes, Basil."
"What did we do with the Kaiser?"

Chris Needham said...

I might have to give the award to Wil Cordero for getting injured so NJ could knock in the tie-making run.

Yuda said...

Guess I'd better do some work. Catch everybody later.

Basil said...

Yuda, if they fire you, then sue. ;-)

Anonymous said...

Wow. So THIS is the place to hang during the radio games. So much more snark than Ballpark Guys.

Ryan said...

Darn tooting it is. Your one-stop shop for bitching about Guzman.

Anonymous said...

Hell, I'm good for 25 comments per game on that topic alone.

Ryan said...

Then be there next time! I'm thinking maybe Monday night, definitely Wednesday afternoon.