Nats Enquirer

MASN's Gary Thorne and Jim Palmer ripped Nats decision to shut down Strasburg during last night's O's broadcast

Interestingly (or not, if you don't give two bleeps about the Strasburg Shutdown debate) MASN's Gary Thorne and Jim Palmer went out of their way to trash the Nationals decision to shut down Strasburg during the sixth inning of last night's Orioles/Mariners game. Given the game situation (2 on, 2 out, 1-1 game), it was an odd tangent.

If you're in the "MASN hates the Nats" conspiracy camp, a little more fuel for the fire: is Peter Angelos writing their copy or something? Is there a directive from MASN management to slam the Nats, given the nasty, ongoing stalemate over cable rights fees? Or is it just a couple of guys who were bored with a tie ballgame with playoff implications? Admittedly, we loved the part where Palmer said he texted Davey Johnson in August and told him to trip Stras, give him a leg injury. Here's how we heard it:

Thorne: I think it's an abomination that they have removed him. If there's something really wrong, that's one thing. But if they've just taken him out because they've locked themselves into the innings limit, there's no guarantee he'll ever get to the postseason again. There's no guarantee Washington will ever get to the postseason again. And to take him out, the best pitcher, and have that be the number one concern rather than winning and the fans, I just think it's a terrible thing for baseball.

Palmer: And I guess the other side of the coin is, their rationale on the innings - and that's all it is is rationale is 'Well, we want to protect him. We did it with Zimmermann.' But at the end of the day, there were ways they could have minimized the innings.

Thorne: Even in September.

Palmer: Well, I texted Davey Johnson back in August. I said 'Trip him. Give him a leg injury.' ...the bottom line is they're a much better ballclub and they could have minimized the innings some way, he didn't have to pitch five times in April...

And on and on...until Thorne ended the conversation with "It's a sin." And then seemed to wake up and realize that Mark Reynolds was at the plate with 2 on and 2 out in a 1-1 game in the sixth inning of a game with playoff implications.

(Thanks to reader Andrew for the tip. Screencap via MASN/MLB.com)

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Video: Wale gives Bryce Harper new walkup music

So one of the key takeaways of the Wale-Bryce Harper meet up on Monday is that Harper got some new walkup music. Video above, via ESPN First Take. Enough of that Bieber sh-t. A mix of "Ambition" as walk up music? Perfect. Also, our favorite part of the video is when Harper talks about his love for country music AND rap.

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Here's how far Matt Kemp was from home plate when the final out was recorded in the 4th inning

That's pretty far.

Matt Kemp scored the sixth run of the game for the Dodgers in the fourth inning, despite the fact that Ryan Zimmerman clearly tagged Adrian Gonzalez out at third with Kemp at least six? seven? feet from home plate. It would be so much easier if we could just blame the shitty umpiring on the NFL Replacement Refs, but alas, this is MLB, and these are professionals.

Here's Davey Johnson on the play, via his postgame interview:

"He was already out...they obviously blew the call. It wasn't reviewable. They all discussed it, evidently nobody was paying attention. Kemp wasn't running. Just wasn't running. Tag play was before, and they obviously missed it. But you'd think when the three of 'em got together somebody would've been paying attention, that Kemp was not at home. ...they're all huge runs."
(Davey Johnson, via postgame press conference/MASN, 9/19/2012)

Later, the Nats staged a comeback for the ages to tie the game in the 8th. Matt Kemp's HR in the 9th should've been a game-tying shot. Instead, Nats lose Game 2 of Wednesday's doubleheader 7-6. Game 1, different story.

Go clinch something tomorrow, boys.

(Screencap via MASN/TV)

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Thank you, Jose Reyes

Seems strange to be pulling for Jose Reyes and the Marlins, but so it was last night. Marlins beat the Braves on a Jose Reyes walk-off single in the 10th, and the Nats lead in the NL East is back to 5 1/2 games. Meanwhile, the magic number to clinch the pennant stands at 10; and a playoff berth could be locked up with a sweep of the Dodgers today.

Just don't ask Michael Morse what the magic number is, OK? (via Thomas Boswell/Washington Post):

"I have no clue. I don’t pay any attention to that. We need to go out and win our next series, the same as we have all year. Just go out and play. Been that way since I was a little baby."
(Michael Morse, via Washington Post, 9/19/2012)

(Screencap via MLB.com/FOX)

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Apparently Michael Morse "was getting electrocuted today"

Well, despite the rainout tonight and the spectre of a doubleheader against the Dodgers on Wednesday, three pieces of good news for the Nationals on Tuesday. The Marlins beat the Braves to reduce the Nats magic number for the NL East to 10. Danny Espinosa has a bone bruise - not a tear - in his shoulder ("This is the best news we could have gotten"). Oh, and Michael Morse is apparently ready to return (Morse was in the Nats lineup Tuesday night after missing four games with a bad hand). Here's Davey Johnson describing Morse, via the Washington Post:

"He had some electrodes attached to him. I don’t know what that does. But he was getting electrocuted today when I was talking to him. I guess that’s helping it. So we’ll see tomorrow."
(Davey Johnson, via Nationals Journal, 9/18/2012)

(Screencap of Morse yelling after a HR in Milwaukee via MASN/MLB.com)

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Bryce Harper with Wale at Ben's Chili Bowl Monday night

Apparently Bryce Harper and Wale have been hanging out around DC today doing some sort of photo shoot -- maybe for ESPN's First Take. Up above, Harper at the counter at Ben's Chili Bowl Monday night, where he and Wale apparently cut the line. (Photo by @Chriswjones)

Remember, it was last November when Harper asked Wale on Twitter to name drop him. And now they're at Ben's together. The kid's come a long way.

Here's a Tweet from @Wale:

 

Here's a shot from Harper:

Bryce Harper on WhoSay

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Zim: "We’re fine"

"We’re fine. We’ve put ourselves in a great position. We’ve played well all year, and we have two weeks left of playing baseball. Everything is right in front of us."
(Ryan Zimmerman, via Washington Post, 9/17/2012)

"I feel fine about where we're at."
(Davey Johnson, via Nats Insider, 9/17/2012)

Braves sweep Nats. NL East lead down to 5 1/2 with 16 to play, but no worries...

(Screen cap of Braves fans and a dog in the rain via ESPN/MLB.com)

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Gio Gonzalez tips his cap to Chipper Jones

"He’s one of the greatest third baseman to ever play the game. It was an honor to be on the same field especially at his house."
(Gio Gonzalez, via AJC.com, 9/17/2012)

On his way off the field in the sixth after missing out on his 20th win of the season, Gio Gonzalez tipped his cap and gave a thumbs up to Chipper Jones (who was standing on third thanks to a walk and a Freddie Freeman double).

(Screen cap via ESPN/TV)

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"Even with my old eyes, I knew I was right."

There's Davey Johnson in the process of getting ejected for the first time this season on a blown call by first base umpire Marvin Hudson in the sixth, which was immediately followed by a game-tying home run by Jason Heyward. Here's Davey, via Washington Post:

"If I can see it from 150 feet that the throw beats him, and he’s on the bag and he was out of position, I wanted him to get help. Those are critical points in games. I’ve got old eyes and I can see that. He’s a good umpire. I felt like the object is to just get this right. We don’t need to give them a little added momentum here. Get some help. I probably overreacted, but it was really a critical point in the ballgame. My pitcher pitched a heck of a ballgame. We had a lead. We don’t need to give them any gifts."
(Davey Johnson, via Washington Post, 9/16/2012)

Braves 5, Nationals 4: Sure, the blown call hurt, but so did Ryan Mattheus losing the ability to throw strikes in the 8th. NL East lead down to 6 1/2, but no worries...

Yeah, Hudson blew it:

(Screen caps via MLB.com/FOX)

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Video: Flying Shark! Roger Bernadina's leaping, wall-crashing catch

Not nearly as impressive as the Flying Shark video from Houston back in August, but here's video (via MLB.com) of Roger Bernadina's leaping, wall crashing catch of a Jason Heyward fly ball in the fifth inning last night:

Shark was shaken up, but wasn't hurt.

(Screen cap via MLB.com/MASN)

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