Thank goodness this road trip's over
Submitted by Jeff on Fri, 06/30/2006 - 5:39am.
- The road trip started with high hopes, after the Nats had a walk-off victory over the Yankees at RFK what seemed like an eternity ago. Then they ran into the Red Sox (swept in three games), but then, the Sox are hot right now (winners of 12 straight through last night). Then won one of three in Baltimore, but winning the finale raised hope. However, the Nats had a brutal trip across the border, getting swept in Toronto without holding a lead at any point in the three games. Nats lose Thursday night, 8-4, ending the road trip with a 1-8 record. May RFK be kinder to the Nats.
- Adding injury to insult, John Patterson left the game last night just a couple pitches into the fourth inning, complaining of a "dead arm". Patterson said it wasn't a return of the tendonitis that sidelined him for two months, but instead something like the feeling pitchers get in spring training as they get their arms in shape: odd, since Patterson worked out regularly and had three rehab starts before returning to the rotation last week.
- Struggling hitters, part 1: Brian Schneider got the night off last night, having just 7 hits in his last 46 at-bats. Schneider said he's trying not to think about his struggles at the plate. "If you worry about it on a day-to-day basis, you're just going to drive yourself crazy."
- Struggling hitters, part 2: Jose Guillen also got the night off, after going 2-for-25 on the road trip. Robinson hinted that Guillen wouldn't spend long on the bench. "You can't come out of a slump from the bench. I wouldn't do that [sit Guillen for an extended period] without talking to him and telling him why I'm doing it."
- Two pitchers are hurting: Shawn Hill's elbow, which stiffened during his start Wednesday, was still aching Thursday, while Livan Hernandez tweaked his knee in batting practice Tuesday. Fortunately, neither pitcher is currently in danger of missing a start nor going on the DL.
- Stan Kasten dropped some hints about his plans for the Nationals in a speech Thursday, but offered few surprises: a focus on trading for young prospects over the next month, a "cleaner appearance and entertainment around the stadium" at RFK for its "grand re-opening" in July, and "an aggressive new community relations program". As for getting Nats games on TV? "He said talks are ongoing, and that 'at some point in the near future we will resort to any means necessary to get the games on TV.' He declined to give specifics."
- While the Nats struggled on their AL East road trip, they're not alone: Tom Boswell examines how the AL is drubbing the NL in interleague play this season and believes it's all in the pitching: "Inspect every starter and important reliever in the two leagues. The conclusion is inescapable. The huge preponderance of gifted 25-and-under pitchers call the American League home."