New Season, Familiar Result – The Post
Lannan roughed up on first Opening Day – The Wash. Times
Let’s go over what went right yesterday for the Nationals:
- Adam Dunn hit his first homer in a Washington uniform
- That new Washington uniform he was wearing looked pretty sharp — good to see on the field
What went wrong — everything else.
It was an ugly 12-6 loss to the Marlins. Hopefully this is not the beginning of a trend and just some residue from a week over constant travel. That being said, this was brutal.
CF Lastings Milledge, who was fined (All Nats All The Time) for missing Manny Acta‘s pep talk on Sunday swung at the first pitch of the season and grounded out. I doubt I was the only one who was thinking “here we go again” with Milledge. His fielding remains a “work-in-progress” too. I use the quotes because I am not sure he is working on it.
Emilio Bonifacio, acquired by Florida in the Josh Willingham/Scott Olsen trade, had the game of his life yesterday, hitting the first Opening Day inside-the-park home run in 41 years (AP/Sports Illustrated).
A very bad start to the season, but they play again today, game time 7:10 or so. Scott Olsen faces his former team in his Nationals debut.
THOMAS BOSWELL – A Veteran Voice Emerges – The Post
The Nats may have some veteran leadership for the first time in a long time/ever:
Then, after this ghoulish game was in the books and the quiet Nats locker room was emptying, an unusual, almost unique thing happened. Somebody tried to act like a leader. Dunn, who rebounded from his bad start with a resounding game — an RBI-double to left that the wind kept in the park and a three-run, 430-foot homer that landed 25 rows up the right field stands — held court just as veteran stars on winning teams are supposed to do. Preach calm. Make a few jokes. Needle teammates.
“This is a young team. They’re just really excited to get the new season started. You never want to lose, but if we were going to, I’m glad it was like that,” said Dunn, who has six home runs and 15 RBI the past five Opening Days. “Everybody will get their focus back. You’ll see a different team tomorrow . . . I’m glad that one is over. This is not how we are going to play this year.”
I like what he is saying but go out and prove it on the field and at the plate.
Also, Dunn switched to ash bats instead of maple — “Those bats shatter. One of them is going to end up sticking out of somebody’s neck. Maybe [a fan] in the stands. I’m not being that guy that did it.”
Lannan’s Outing Leaves Room for Improvement – The Post
Yes, he can improve, maybe next time John Lannan will only give up one run an inning.
New season means same old Nationals – The Wash. Times
Yes, optimism did take a hit yesterday, but how many times have the Nats won on Opening Day? Once I think, last year and we saw how that turned out. Even four games in we were optimistic last year. Hopefully, they got it out of their system, as Dunn suggested.
Rob Dibble Thinks the Nats Have 90 Win Potential – DC Sports Bog
Do you wonder if MASN analyst Rob Dibble still believes the Nats can win 90 games this season after yesterday? Maybe just 89 now.
TOM ROBINSON – Unlike other native sons, playoffs not in Zimmerman’s future – Virginian-Pilot
A columnist from Zimmerman’s hometown (or the one next to it) laments that the Nats third baseman won’t be in contention for the playoffs this year like his Tidewater counterparts “Mike Cuddyer (Minnesota), David Wright (Mets), Mark Reynolds (Arizona) and the Upton brothers, B.J. (Tampa Bay) and Justin (Arizona).”
By the way, Zimmerman did not sign a contract extension yesterday, ending negotiation for the season between him and the front office. No worries on that front.
