A V-8 that needs a major tuneup

  • If you look at the box score, it was another bad start for John Patterson: 6 runs, all earned, in 5.1 innings, sending his ERA to a stratospheric 7.71. But Patterson and the Nats put their best spin on it: there were several hits that landed just missed the gloves of the Nats defense, and then there was the Nats continued batting woes with runners in scoring position. "Overall," Patterson said, "it was better than it has been." In other words, not as bad for a pitcher who is "a V-8 engine running on perhaps five cylinders". However you explain it, it's still a 9-3 loss to the Phillies, the team's fourth straight defeat.
  • When a team like the Nats is struggling, what's a manager to do? "[P]reach, teach and be patient," says Acta, who adds that "frustrating" is not in his vocabulary.
  • Jesus Colome, who was tagged with a two-run homer last night, has, like many pitchers, learned the difference between throwing and pitching. "The last couple years, I want to throw hard, throw hard. Now I don't care about hard. I am patient and I use my breaking ball in any situation in the game." Also: Ray King is scheduled to pitch the first inning tonight for Double-A Harrisburg; if that goes well he could come off the DL Friday.
  • Robert Fick got the start last night in left and hopes to use it as an opportunity to get more playing time. "I know I'm a bench player on this team. I'm not going to get too far ahead of myself, but I sure would like to play there a lot." Presumably, though, that opportunity will be limited, especially when Nook Logan returns and Ryan Church shifts back to left.
  • Even though Felipe Lopez moved from shortstop to second base and back to short, he has been hitting well, batting an even .300 for the season after last night's game. He said he hasn't been thinking about what will happen when Cristian Guzman is ready to come off the DL. "When it happens, it's going to happen."
  • Jim Bowden says that the Nats underestimated the impact their decision last week to wear Virginia Tech caps for a game would have on VT alums and others. "We've received thousands of letters and E-mails from all over the country, telling us what a class move it was."
  • The Nationals have become the first "major organization" in the US to deliver tickets by mobile phone; the ticket is delivered by a picture message and scanned at the gate. But how are you supposed to save the ticket stubs?

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