"Obviously, I want to be here and I feel like I should be here, but that stuff is out of my hands. I'm not going to worry about it. I want to pitch well every time out, whether it's here or [playing] softball or wherever."
(Tyler Clippard, via Washington Times, 6/15/2008)
Nats 5, Mariners 2: Hell freezes over: Nats win back-to-back games.
Clippard! Much, much better the second time around; Jesus Flores comes up big, yet again, leaving no doubt who deserves to play every day when Lo Duca returns.
Unfortunately for Clippard, he'll be sent back to AAA (move will be official on Tuesday), the odd man out as Paul Lo Duca returns on the scene like ants at a picnic. But with news that the Nats messed up the timing of Odalis Perez's move to the DL with Clippard's two callups (now Perez can't come back until June 26), will Clippard be back to start in 5 days? Who'll be the odd man out then (*cough* Wil Nieves *cough*)? Or do the Nats just wait for someone else to get injured?
Meanwhile, Manny's making it sort-of clear who's going to start behind the plate with the return of Jimbo's $5 Million Mistake (via Nationals dot com):
"It's still about four months to go and a lot of at-bats left, but the way [Flores] is playing right now, there is no way we are going to be able to not play the kid and not be able to feel like he's part of out lineup right now. He is doing it offensively and defensively. As far as Paul is concerned, he is gong to get his playing time, too. We are going to get him at-bats. Flores is not going to catch every single time. He doesn't do it now."
(AP Photo/Kevin P. Casey)
The Nats don't need to send down Nieves!
(psst.....Wily Mo)
Posted by: editor | June 15, 2008 at 07:44 PM
I don't know, editor, just don't see them carrying 3 catchers...(as bad as Wily Mo is going)...
Posted by: The Nationals Enquirer | June 15, 2008 at 08:04 PM
Well Lo Duca won't necessarily be a catcher, since Manny wants to play him in left or at first. I'd rather see Dmitri in left than Lo Douscha.
Posted by: editor | June 15, 2008 at 10:21 PM
Damn... I hadn't seen any of the stuff about Lo Duca going to left or first when I made that comment about carrying 3 catchers. Lo Duca just won't go away.
Posted by: The Nationals Enquirer | June 16, 2008 at 07:13 AM
Oh, and it *won't* be Clippard pitching for OP again in 5 days, unless they have a change of heart and keep him around, demote someone else...another aspect of that little technicality they ran into with the timing...
Posted by: The Nationals Enquirer | June 16, 2008 at 07:14 AM