The World Series is in Washington DC!
If you can't go, and I assume you can't because no one has offered to take me, then I suggest going out and enjoying the build-up for the game. Especially today with everything around the team being so positive. Tomorrow could be the same or it could start to skew into worry depending on the outcome and if it heaven forbid gets to 2-2 - you don't want to be out and about staring into the worried eyes of other Nats fans. Get out there! Dance to baby shark! Wear your oldest Nats gear to prove how real a fan you are!
Tonight features Greinke vs Sanchez. Greinke is still looking for a signature performance in these playoffs. He had a terrible start against the Rays giving up 6 runs (3 homers) in 3.2 IP. He had a meh first start against the Yankees (3 runs, 2 homers in 6IP) and a hold on one the second time around (1 run, 4 walks, in 4.1). He's a mix-em up pitcher now who contrast well against Verlander and Cole but has recently failed in the playoffs against better bats. He can hit for a pitcher though so he's a good choice to hold off until today.
Sanchez has had the opposite playoff experience. He had the performance the Nats needed against the Dodgers (though the game would be blown up by the Nats pen later) and a masterful performance against the Cardinals. It's hard to say what exactly to expect. The Cards game was a mastery of keeping a team oddly pressing off-balance. The Dodger game was surviving some shaky situations (bases loaded 2 outs in 1st, gave up 2 out hits in every other inning) with strikeout stuff. The Astros are more like the Dodgers than the Cardinals so tonight may be more about surviving than keeping them off stride. But who knows? Unlike the Game 1 Cardinals, no one would be shocked if a back against the wall Astros team would be pressing and swinging early.
It's the third coin flip game in a row and the Nats have called it right twice. Now they are at home and if they call it right now they'll get what has to be considered a favorable match-up next with Corbin vs.. Miley? Bullpen?* and then Max again who has a chance to win any game he's given.
Worst case scnerio for tonight would be something tha forces Davey to use Corbin but still ends up in a loss, negating the advantage they have and praying that a completely stale Ross can keep the series from getting back to Houston.
*I say this even though I know the Astros hit lefties great. Corbin is better in DC and has to be considered better than whatever the Astros throw out there.
46 comments:
Rooting for a sweep for the obvious reasons, but more specifically to me: I have to leave very early in the morning on Monday for a flight, meaning I can't have Sunday's game be one of consequence. But so help me God if I have to start my celebrations at 5:30 am in whatever bar is open in Reagan National, I will answer the call.
Going to the game tonight! Couldn't get tickets myself, but I'll be going with a season ticket holder friend of mine. This will be my only World Series game as the NLCS ticket buyers presale was a farce but I'm happy to enjoy one.
Wearing my old block Nationals Strasburg jersey that my brother got me in 2009. Perfect since Cordero is pitching. And all postseason long I've been wearing my blue and red block DC Nats hat from 2005 since it's now thoroughly my lucky hat for this postseason. Still the most elegant hat in Nats history and perfect for Cordero.
This one:
https://img.beckett.com/images/items_stock/185223/5029794/5030202/front.jpg
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_D-LlI9f-pQo/SPqK0hGFnSI/AAAAAAAAKOQ/nVTiEkCYcy8/s1600/IMG_1004.JPG
Lately, people have thought it was a Mystics cap, I guess just cause it says DC on it?
Really nervous about the next two games as Astros hitters are so good. It took a lot of struggling for Scherzer and Strasburg to get through them so not sure how it'll go for Sanchez and Corbin. But here's to hoping!
@cass, I'm with you on the superstition train. The Nationals are currently 9-0 when my dog wears his Nationals bandana (wild card game, then the last 8 games), so that thing is in a hermetically sealed case until 5:06 this evening. Can't ruin the juju
I like the Nats chances tonight if the Astros are pressing. If they continue their grinding, 5 pitch AB approach, I don't think the Nats will have a chance without lighting up Greinke
Congrats cass! Hope they get a win for you. Yes, definitely nervous. Astros are a scary team to face.
By the way, isn't Wade Miley not on the World Series roster?
interesting article from the site which should not be named about using Corbin in relief in Game 1
https://blogs.fangraphs.com/patrick-corbin-reliever/
I'm not superstitious, but I'm a little stitious so keep it up guys. I'm more worried about Greinke than any other Astros starter for two reasons: 1. The Nats are throwing their "worst" starter against him and 2. At this stage of his career he's the kind of breaking ball slop thrower that confounds the Nationals.
Think 1-0 and stat in fight. Let’s finish this thing. I will be nervous like hell just like I have been since wild card game. Go NATS!
Not sure what the deal is with the Sanchez "worst starter" talk. I mean yes I guess he is, but we're talking about an Astros team that feasts on the high gas. Anibal threw, what, something like 20 different velocities in his last start? The Astros have some great hitters but the slower tricky stuff isn't where they make their money. Plus you're talking about a guy for whom no one had any expectations, and he's pretty much delivered each time. The moment definitely isn't too big for him.
Yes I'm going tonight. Yes I'm going tomorrow. Yes I'm going to Game 5 (if necessary). As a season ticket holder since 2005, I've earned it. And I guarantee Miley isn't starting tomorrow -- he's not on the roster.
@elchupinazo Worst starter is in quotes because it doesn't mean he's bad, he's just not nearly as good as the big 3. However, he's head and shoulders above the Astros #4 starter. Sanchez has pitched great, but he does so on smoke and mirrors and the Cardinals offense isn't very good, the Astros offense is historic.
I have been watching the games at home by myself wearing a plain navy hoodie and red workout pants. I was wearing them during the last two Dodgers games just because it was what I was wearing when I put the kids to bed, and well after those games it wasn’t my choice anymore. I have tons of Nats gear but I am obliged to wear this outfit on behalf of the entire DMV.
If I were wearing my gear, I would probably rock my Stephen Strasburg 1924 throwback jersey the team wore against the Giants in 2012, and this year’s 4th of July hat, which has the old block W on it in a flag design, outlined in gold.
My oldest Nats gear would be a road grey jersey with no name on the back from the first year they started wearing the script “Washington” on the front (2011 I think?), and a classic red cap I got in 2008 when I first moved to DC and became a fan. The only distinguishable difference between that one and the one they wear now (other than the fact that mine is floppy, worn out, stained, and just plain old) is that the MLB logo on the back is half gold. I’ve always been a little bummed that they took the gold elements out of the team’s logo and uniforms, which is part of the reason I got the new 4th of July hat this year.
Anyway, I call on all commenters on this blog to stop pretending they are doing work and talk about their favorite Nats gear.
@JW yeah, I keep trying to froth myself up into laying down a scorcher of a take about how the Astros play in a pretty lousy division and a band box of a park. Those things are still true, but it's pretty hard to look at their lineup and convince yourself that they don't have at least 5 All Stars in there.
Maybe if they lose tonight and go down 0-3, I'll have the courage to throw out that take. What's most important is that right now, they're in their worst-case scenario, pitching-wise. Maybe they feel better with Sanchez against Greinke than Corbin, but it can't be by much.
Going to all 3 (hopefully 2) games this weekend. We decided to become Nats Plus members so we could go. Wearing my Soto jersey (it's his birthday!!!) Hopefully get there around 5 and party the rest of the weekend. Go Nats!!!
Why is everyone assuming the Astros would throw a bullpen game if they're down 3-0? They haven't announced starters yet because if they win tonight, they may do a bullpen game 4, but if they lose tonight they are absolutely starting Cole tomorrow.
Personally I would rather start Sanchez tonight regardless of Corbin pitching relief Game 1. Astros are going to come out looking to do early damage and Sanchez's off-speed and cutting junk is a good antidote. I could easily see Nats park being a madhouse and Corbin walking 4 guys in the first inning with sliders in the dirt
@Kenny B You're right, I'm just looking for new info on the game tonight getting nothing done. Am I weird because I've never been a huge fan of "gear"? I have a curly W hat I wear a lot that's from 2011, but the best "gear" I have is the rally towels from playoff games in 2012 and 2014. I also have a jersey from a friend of mine who played for the Nats (sorry, not naming who it is), but I never wear that and it's more for my son than it is for me. I think I have one generic Nationals shirt.
My favorite Nats gear is a holey unofficial "Washington Senators" sweatshirt that was purchased by my mother for my birthday right after it was announced the Expos would be moving and everyone just assumed the Senators would be their name
Unfortunately that sweatshirt is back in the possession of my mother because I idiotically left it behind a few Christmases ago and she refuses to give it back because it's "cozy", much to the chagrin of my wife who also found it cozy
@elchupinazo Yeah, I don't think there's a huge difference between Sanchez and Corbin because they're both good, not great, pitchers. On most teams they're the #2 starters and on a number of teams, Corbin is the ace. Still, I wish I could find the stats on how the Astros as a team fare against breaking balls.
@ocw5000 I totally agree. If the Astros lose tonight, Cole is pitching game 4. I really hope game 4 doesn't get rained out because that would be a huge break for the Astros. If that happens, they'll definitely pitch Cole and the Nats may or may not throw Scherzer.
I don't have any gear to wear. I have a Harper t-shirt that is in the drawer. I do have a superstition that came about during the wild card game...
Everyone else had gone to bed and I was watching us lose. So after the 7th I decided to get up and do some dishes while watching on my phone. I figured if I'm going to be exhausted and disappointed the next day, I might as well not have to do dishes. The second I get into the kitchen, the rally starts.
NLDS game 5. I notice we're down 3-1 again going to the 8th. My wife is up watching with me this time but I tell her, sorry, I'm going to the kitchen. My feed ended up being ahead of hers, so she hears me screaming at the HRs before she sees them.
So, we'll see if I feel the need to do some dishes tonight. :-) Hopefully they're running away with it and I can relax.
These "how I've been watching the playoff games" posts are hysterically entertaining. Thanks for sharing.
I was a kid when the Nats moved to DC, so I've lost/destroyed/forgotten anything I had in the early days. My prized Nats gear is a Danny Espinosa shirsey that I bought either in 2014 or 2015. He's my favorite not-worth-remembering Nat by a lot. It's Adam Eaton, but even grumpier and much worse!
Come on, Nats! Sanchez continuing to be lights-out in the playoffs would be a narrative I'd actually enjoy reading!
Well, if everyone else is keeping their routines, then I guess I have to as well. I've been sitting on my couch when watching games. When either team has runners in scoring position or the Nats are up 1 in the 8th or 9th inning, I stand. I'll probably continue that ritual tonight.
No way Hinch does a bullpen game 4 if the Astros lose tonight. As long as the Nats have 3, it will be Cole, Verlander, Geinke, and Cole again, all on short rest. Maaaybe a bullpen game 6 if Greinke says he absolutely can't do it, maaaaybe a bullpen game 5 if he knows this after tonight so Hinch can plan it and give Verlander game 6. But only when Hinch has that as an excuse. Without it, he'll be skewered by the local media if he loses an elimination game without his big 3 starting, and that matters to coaches as no coaching job outside of Bellichek is ever safe. At any rate, definitely Cole 4 and 7.
Espinosa is definitely worth remembering! I loved him.
See if you can spot the difference between me and you
Watching : I turn it on, on the TV and then try to convince my kid not to watch Disney for a half hour before bed so I don't have to follow on the cable app on the Fire which has as delay, then put the kid to bed following on the phone, then watch the rest of the game.
Gear : I own no Nats gear. I'm not a big wearer of athletic stuff. To give you a feel of that I have one piece of Giants gear I drag out basically for Giants superbowl. It's a Chris Calloway jersey I got for like $5 on massive discount because he was off the team and never popular to begin with. I'd wear a Nationals hat if I had one but it would only be occasionally bc I'm not much of a hat wearer. When I put on one, I tend to cycle through as many of my hats as possible that day because it may be weeks before I wear a hat again. The last hat I bought was a Durham Bulls hat about 3 years ago - specifically to wear working in the yard. before that... probably over a decade.
I feel like Desmond really derailed Espinosa's career. Espinosa was an elite defensive shortstop. He could have enjoyed a much longer career if he'd been a glove first SS, but I think once he left the Nats teams viewed him in some other role. Even if he hit .225, a glove first SS who hits 25 dingerz a year has value. Also, someone should have stopped him from switch hitting and made him pick a side. I think Rick Eckstein really hurt Danny. He remains one of my favorite all-time Nats.
I think Espinosa was exactly what he was, great defense, and absolutely someone hitting 7 or 8. And a magnificent facial hair grower
Danny Espinoza=Adam Eaton, but even grumpier and much worse: that is perfect!!
I have a Nats hat, but haven't been wearing it. I have rally towels from 2012, and from this year's Wild Card game. I have a Werth garden gnome I used to rub during playoff games years ago, but since it failed so many times I've just left it sitting on the mantle.
This year, I watch on TV until the Nats are tied or have a small lead in the late innings. Then I go pace around the kitchen with Charlie and Dave in my ear, wondering why this matters so much to me, heart in my mouth on every pitch.
Chris Calloway??? I'm a Redskins fan, but Chris Calloway is probably my favorite Giants player. This is only because I used to watch NFL Primetime as a kid, and every time Calloway made a catch in the highlight reel, either Chris Berman or Tom Jackson would go 'Hi-de-hi-de-hi-di hey!' a la Cab Calloway. So fun.
I don't have much Nats gear. I do have a nice Red Nationals sweatshirt, but other than that, not much. A generic white Washington Nationals T-Shirt, a red ballcap, and a blue Nats fedora I got from the Nats-Brewers game in 2017, where Bryce struck out against Hader, got thrown out, and then the Nats erupted for a ton of runs and won the game.
I don't have TV at home, so haven't been able to watch much of the playoffs. I did go to the Game 2 watch party at Nats Park; that was fun. And I went to the wild card game; super cool! I kinda prefer to just shut myself off completely from the game, go to bed, and then wake up the next day and see what happened. I get nervous when the page is loading...........
Espinosa is one of my favorites too. I thought I was basically alone in that.
I am more nervous tonight than I was for game 1. This game is HUUUUUGE! It will either give the Nats an almost insurmountable 3-0 lead or let Houston right back into a legitimate competitive situation. Praying like mad for the former.
I am a big Danny Espinosa fan too. It's too bad he preferred to play shortstop, because he was the best defensive second baseman I've ever seen. NO SECOND BASEMAN, not Joe Morgan, not Chase Utley, Ryne Sandberg, or Jackie Robinson ever turned a quicker double play than Espy.
One hour and 17 minutes to first pitch. I hope I can survive.
Up at 2:30 AM in Nairobi getting ready to watch on MLB.
Danny Espinosa should be throwing out the ceremonial first pitch. Love the guy.
Davey tonight has to basically just force himself to not use Corbin IMO. They can lose this game. They just have to avoid losing both of next two. The best way to do that would be to use Corbin in a loss. It’s simply not worth it.
The umpires are starting to make me feel like the fix is in. Before you call me crazy remember Phil Donaghe in basketball. It's not that outlandish and the calls in the last two games have nearly all gone Houston's way. Bring on the robot umps now.
Well this “bullpen game” is classic Nats: completely lost at the plate against some schmuck I never heard of who’s having a good night.
Whatever happened to NOT using the anybody but Doo or Hudson?
We know that tho other RPs suck. Doesn't Dave?
You guys, I'm starting to think Fernando Rodney might not be a very good pitcher.
Now we play best of three.
Only run production was a ground out. Rendon's ricochet off the pitcher was the only "hit" with runners in scoring position in two games at Nats Park.
Maybe the Nats only play well as extreme underdogs... That's pretty much where we're back to. Gut feel is that the Astros have to really blow it for them to lose at this point. Even the G2 win was very high stress and tenuous until the 7th.
Okay. DM used the sucky pen because he didn't want to waste a decent reliever. If the Nat's score tonight then the dregs can stay seated.
It's hard to blame DM when the Nats score only one run in Games 3 and 4. Didn't matter that the bullpen imploded; the Nats didn't score. And the bullpen's reversion to its yearlong failures is not DM's fault either.
Oddly, I think the Nats would have benefited from the DH in Games 3 and 4. DM had to choose between AssCab and Kendrick. Would have been good to have both in the line-up. And Corbin, and especially Sanchez, are terrible hitters.
When Rainey was pulled for Rodney, I said looks like Davey is conceding game 4. A 3 run deficit was not insurmountable at that point, so I think criticism of the decision is warranted. To put out that fire, he should have gone Doo vs. Brantley, or even Hudson given Brag-man on deck. Conceding a WS game, down 3 is just a terrible look.
He either concedes down by 3 or or when the score is less lopsided.He can't put Doo and hud out there for 8 outs every night.
Scherzer scratched for game 5 and Ross is going out there. Everyone pray to whatever god you believe in.
Every night? They haven't pitched since G1. Plus another off day coming.
Well that's it folks. Max scratched. Nats put up a good fight against a better team. Maybe they'll get super lucky, but otherwise it's over.
Maybe the Astros will, as Kenny B said of the Nats “look completely lost at the plate against some schmuck I never heard of who’s having a good night.” Good luck Joe...
Outside of a miracle let’s hope for a Strasburg CG Shutout on Tuesday and a Scherzer/Greinke game 7.
My god how this series has turned terrible fast. So disappointed that this is how the season will end.
PS... I really don’t like Bregman.
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