Oh man, tough, tough weekend for the Washington Nationals. They got swept by the Atlanta Braves, who are off to a very strong start and already hold a 4 game lead in the division. It is a long season. Especially when you are reminded more of 2008 than 2012. It isn’t time to panic, but the team has some stuff to work through. Also, Danny Espinosa needs to shut up (Hardball Talk). So does Stephen Strasburg. If your team gets swept, you aren’t the better team. It has been proven. Now go, get better (The Post) and return the favor at the end of the month and be the better team again.
Also, can you imagine if Bryce Harper had said what Espinosa said?
The heartbreak of the series though – Wilson Ramos is on the DL with a bad hamstring. Kurt Suzuki will get the bulk of the catching responsibilities for at least 15 days with Jhonatan Solano who had to wait 20 minutes due to the “rule prohibiting teams from having more than 25 active players in the clubhouse at once.” Just what a guy who woke up at 4 a.m. and flew in from Syracuse needs. Hey, I work up at 4 a.m. today! I wasn’t in Syracuse though.
FRIDAY
Stopper Ross Detwiler was done in by the bullpen again. Detwiler left after 7 innings with a 4-1 lead. He’s been the best D.C. starter thus far out of the 5th spot in the rotation. Tyler Clippard, Drew Storen and Craig Stammen blew it, as did Ryan Zimmerman, who made a critical throwing error in the ninth while playing in his 1000th game.
SATURDAY
Another Zimmerman error proves to be the difference as the third baseman extends the inning for the Braves, who capitalized with a Evan Gattis homer. Strasburg was okay, striking out seven and giving up no earned runs.
SUNDAY
Gio Gonzalez, fresh off of his visit to see D.C. United (2-0 loss to Red Bull NY) stunk up the joint, giving up 7 earned runs.
.@nationals pitcher @giogonzalez47 visited RFK last night to cheer on #DCU: bit.ly/17zELJh #StandUp4DC
— D.C. United (@dcunited) April 14, 2013
Now, the Nats get a little of what they need — a series with the Marlins. They probably don’t need a trip to Miami though, I’d be happier if they were going some place less exciting.
140 CHARACTERS OR LESS
The Braves will choke. This I promise. #nats
— Nats Inquisition (@natsnq) April 15, 2013
Note to the #Nats: New Continuing Resolution gives flexibility to stagger furloughs so offense, pitching, defense not all off at same time.
— BallWonk (@ballwonk) April 14, 2013
Tough series to say the least.. In the words from the famous poet juvenile we gotta “bounce back”
— Denard Span (@thisisdspan) April 14, 2013
Desmond: ‘The division just got tougher. I don’t think there will be any 100-win teams this year.’ #Nats
— Chase Hughes (@chasehughesCSN) April 14, 2013
Golfers want silence when hitting stationary balls at their feet. Baseball batters, in screaming crowds, hit 90 mph fastballs
— Neil deGrasse Tyson (@neiltyson) April 14, 2013
IN SCORES OF OTHER GAMES
The Nats bullpen nearly did in the Caps, who also had a big lead on Saturday night.
So the #Caps blew a 5-1 lead with #Nats bullpen (Storen, Clippard, Stammen) in attendance. bit.ly/YlP9NS
— Nats Enquirer (@NatsEnquirer) April 14, 2013
Tough series to say the least.. In the words from the famous poet juvenile we gotta “bounce back”
— Denard Span (@thisisdspan) April 14, 2013
GIFs of the Game: Brett Gardner homers off foul pole, Hiroki Kuroda dominates sbn.to/10WpRHA
— The Pinstriped Bible (@pinstripebible) April 15, 2013
Also, the New York Yankees triple play on Friday night against the Baltimore Orioles was sweet. More like OrioLOLes, amirite?