Gamethread: Nationals @ Braves, Aug. 11, 2009 (113/162) WIN

[sdp]

Having a hard time finding a lineup...

McLouth still has some discomfort in his hammy.

Go Braves!

[Dreamscape]

I love when the Braves face the Nats. I get to watch it on MASN usually.

I hate it when the Braves face the Nats. Rob Dibble is an extra special moron.

[sdp]

Infante activated and in the lineup!

R. Church cf
M. Prado 1b
C. Jones 3b
B. McCann c
Y. Escobar ss
G. Anderson lf
M. Diaz rf
O. Infante 2b
T. Hanson p

[Bad Blood]

Excited for Infante, if for no other reason than it moves Diory back to AAA. Nothing personal against him, but he just isn't ready for MLB.

[Dreamscape]

Well, bye bye Diory.

Now, if only we can get rid of Norton...

[Dreamscape]

Infante activated and in the lineup!

R. Church cf
M. Prado 1b
C. Jones 3b
B. McCann c
Y. Escobar ss
G. Anderson lf
M. Diaz rf
O. Infante 2b
T. Hanson p
Yahoo says McLouth is starting in center. He's either a late scratch or a late addition, I guess.

[Bad Blood]

Maybe this has already been touched on... but why is Church leading off? Just because he takes McLouth's defensive spot doesn't mean he has to take his line-up spot... let Infante bat first

[Dreamscape]

Church has done a superb job getting on base since he was acquired, coming into tonight with a .400 OBP in 18 games with the Braves. I don't mind him leading off at all.

[Dreamscape]

Not too good of a start for Hanson as Morgan singles to open the game.

[Hobbes]

Maybe this has already been touched on... but why is Church leading off? Just because he takes McLouth's defensive spot doesn't mean he has to take his line-up spot... let Infante bat first
Infante has missed a lot of time. Bobby's going to let him get his feet wet before sticking him in the spotlight at leadoff.

[Dreamscape]

Like Morgan, Hanson just couldn't put Zimmerman away and it's a base hit. 1-0 Nats.

[Dreamscape]

Yay, Zimmerman's first steal. Way to give him a present.

[Dreamscape]

28 pitches to strike out the side. A very Chuck(ie) James start.

[BigWorm]

A very nice second inning for Hanson.

[Dreamscape]

Yep, came right after the hitters and dominated them. And now, Lannon's trying to give the Braves with back-to-back walks to McCann and Esco to open the bottom of the second.

[Dreamscape]

Bases juiced for MattE (thanks Lauren)!

[sdp]

Nyjer Morgan is the kind of player who everyone hates.

[Dreamscape]

Well...a double play is hardly preferable...

But we're tied.

[Dreamscape]

Nyjer Morgan is the kind of player who everyone hates.
Kinda like Juan Pierre?

[Lauren T.]

Bases juiced for MattE (thanks Lauren)!
Yeah, I turned on the TV just in time for his GIDP. He's been doing that a lot lately. ;)

Glad to see Infante back and in the lineup, and Ronnie Gant tempering Chip Caray makes the PTV broadcast quite tolerable. Chip sounds SO stupid next to Ron. <3

[4maddux_cy's]

Ronnie is one of my all time favorite Braves so listening to him talking about that hr against Nolan Ryan for his first career jack was really fun. I miss seeing him play.

[Dreamscape]

Nicely done, Prado! And man, Willingham has no range. But I guess moving catchers to the outfield typically doesn't happen for defense...

[Dreamscape]

God, I love seeing the team work a walk. Those things tend to have a habit of causing a rally.

As in, what's happening now.

[Dreamscape]

As MASN tries to figure out how to pronounce Prado's name, he lets a ball get past him Roger Dorn style.

[Dreamscape]

Be-a-utiful pitch, Tommy.

[Chris_Moderato]

God, I love seeing the team work a walk. Those things tend to have a habit of causing a rally.

As in, what's happening now.

A suggested solution to your MASN-Dibble issues...drop the $20 for the MLB radio Gameday option. It syncs up and it's soooo much better than listening to Dibble say "yes!" when the Nats get a base hit.

[Dreamscape]

Church hammered the hell out of that one.

[Dreamscape]

A suggested solution to your MASN-Dibble issues...drop the $20 for the MLB radio Gameday option. It syncs up and it's soooo much better than listening to Dibble say "yes!" when the Nats get a base hit.
I have MLB radio. What I need is a better connection to handle it.

[Hobbes]

Way to go McCann! Great at-bat.

[Dreamscape]

Brian McCann - Professional Hitter.

[Lauren T.]

Hey Dream, what did I say! Two more runs!

[Hobbes]

Can somebody fill me in on the Eckstein flap? I didn't have the sound up and just saw him arguing with the ump.

[Hobbes]

Wow, Kensing has a 9.85 ERA and .358 BAA.

[Dreamscape]

Eckstein was mad because Morgan was called out at third when he was actually safe. It was a bad call, but he kept on the third base umpire even after the next batter singled and I guess the ump had enough.

[Dreamscape]

Hey Dream, what did I say! Two more runs!
This looks like three. I'm glad the Braves didn't listen to you.

Pssh, settling for two runs...

[wordslayer©]

If Hanson keeps pitching like this, and if Jurrjens can hold it together, and if Vasquez keeps doing what he is doing, this team may very well find itself playing in the playoffs.

[Chris_Moderato]

If Hanson keeps pitching like this, and if Jurrjens can hold it together, and if Vasquez keeps doing what he is doing, this team may very well find itself playing in the playoffs.

Tommy Hanson is GOD.

[Dreamscape]

Not a great outing, but 96 pitches in six innings with six hits, a run, 8 K's and no walks...good enough, I guess :)

[4maddux_cy's]

Tommy Hanson is a bad man. This is fun stuff.

[Dreamscape]

Okay...he's going to continue? Not so sure I agre with that call.

[Dreamscape]

I love Church's approach.

[Wahoo]

Church hammered the hell out of that one.

That's what she said.

[Chris_Moderato]

You know, I haven't had a chance to watch many games this year, so that was the first time I've gotten to see Garret Anderson half-assedly going after a ball I've seen others hustle for. He may have had a play on that one if he'd made the effort. That sucks.

[Wahoo]

Hanson got away with one. He left a pitch way up on that one, fortunately only gave up a double.

Edit: Another one left up in the zone, but somehow gets a groundball out of it.

[Hobbes]

Great outing Tommy.

[-Dr. Brave-]

Tommy lowers his ERA to 3.05.

I think he might have a future in the big leagues.

[Hobbes]

You know, I haven't had a chance to watch many games this year, so that was the first time I've gotten to see Garret Anderson half-assedly going after a ball I've seen others hustle for. He may have had a play on that one if he'd made the effort. That sucks.
Yes, it's quite annoying and frustrating. :thumbsdown:

[Wahoo]

The question is...is it too much to expect for this kid (Hanson) to actually improve? Because if he does, he's going to be spectacular.

[Hobbes]

CHIPPER!

[Dreamscape]

Chipper, it's always nice when you find the power.

[sdp]

Chipper hit the hell out of that ball.

[luvdembravos]

Boy the Nats have a crappy bullpen...just shows how hot their hitters have been to win 8 games in a row.

[Hobbes]

The ump made the right call on that fan interference.

[-Dr. Brave-]

And the fan gets kicked out of the game.

[Lauren T.]

Norton's up to bat! Yay!! :p

[luvdembravos]

Church is so much better than Francoeur.

[Dreamscape]

Church is so much better than Francoeur.
Like I said to Lauren, the best thing about Church is that he's not Francoeur.

[Hobbes]

Braves win!

[Dreamscape]

Four-in-a-row. Great to see it continue.

[luvdembravos]

Braves win! Tomorrow night should be batting practice with Stammen on the mound.

[Dreamscape]

Braves win! Tomorrow night should be batting practice with Stammen on the mound.
Never ever ever ever say something like that.

If he goes out and throws seven scoreless, it's all your fault.

[luvdembravos]

Never ever ever ever say something like that.

If he goes out and throws seven scoreless, it's all your fault.

LOL.

I went to the Marlins-Nats matinee last Thursday and Stammen was absolutely horrible...no way can I see that guy pitching 7 scoreless innings against anybody. But if we lose, you can blame it on me. :D