And on the day after, he did not rest
Submitted by Jeff on Thu, 08/09/2007 - 5:39am.
- Barry Bonds did not rest on his laurels last night, homering in the bottom of the first, the 757th of his career. Unlike Tuesday night, though, the Nats couldn't enjoy it, since they were unable to figure out Matt Cain (six scoreless innings, plus his first career home run). Giants shut out the Nats, 5-0. (Box score)
- Members of the Nationals reflected on being witnesses to history Tuesday night. "I'm not going to lie to you: I had the best seat in the house," said Brian Schneider. Pitcher Mike Bacsik, who has parlayed the home run into everything from interviews to free drinks in a local bar, hasn't shied away from watching the shot: "Oh gosh, if I said 100 times I might be lowballing the number."
- Bacsik has earned praise from around the league for how he handled the situation, including both challenging Bonds at the plate and being gracious about it afterwards.
- Bacsik and the rest of the rotation, though, have to wonder who will be the odd man out when Shawn Hill returns next week. Acta said that someone will have to be bumped, and perhaps sent down to the minors, if only until rosters expand on September 1. Manny Acta: "we're going to have to take into consideration some of the younger guys, the amount of innings that they have thrown this year. If we have to shut down some of the younger guys . . . we'll do that." However, Acta said that Matt Chico, despite recent struggles, is not being considered for a demotion.
- Dmitri Young left the game in the second because of left hamstring tightness after running out a ground out in the first. Young will get this afternoon's game off but is expected to be ready to play Friday night in Arizona.
- Ross Detwiler will make his Potomac debut tonight as the P-Nats visit Frederick. "I graduated from boot camp," he said of his time in rookie ball in Viera, where he made four starts. Detwiler will be on an 85-pitch count for tonight's game.
- Barry Larkin, special assistant to Jim Bowden, will be in Europe for the next three weeks, but not on vacation: he'll be teaching top European baseball players in Italy. "I realize we'll be working with young people from different parts of the world, but baseball has a universal language. I don't foresee any problems communicating."