This HAS been awhile, hasn't it?

Wow. 9 months since I last wrote a blog here? Amazing...lol
Anyway, nice to see the Nats pull one out today against the Mets.
And only 161 more games to go...
So, I'm trying something new--from here on out, these entries get posted on Facebook as well as Twitter and/or Google+. Which means I can't use bad words (like I used to...lol) any more.
So if you read this on FB, make the attempt to follow me on Twitter. Really.
I'll do this whenever I get a chance. For some reason I can't put up pictures here (like I once did), but otherwise I'll try to give you my take on the Nats...lol
Bye for now...

So now you KNOW...

Only two more to go.

Two more starts for Stephen Strasburg, and then he gets shut down for the 2012 season. This coming Friday at home against the Marlins, and then a week from Wednesday (9/12)...against, dare I say??...the Mets.
(Oh, get your tickets early for both games, won't you? LMAO)
Look, we've known since the start of the season this was happening. No one had an inkling the Nats would have the season they're having...not even me.
So you'll understand why I'm not sweating this. I have all the confidence in John Lannan to pick up where Strasburg leaves off.
(And if that's not confidence, you tell me what is...lol)
Now if we can have the Braves start losing, so that they're out of the wild card picture...that'll make me so happy.

This is NOT a collapse, I tell you...

Okay, so the Nats salvaged something out of this series with the Phillies. It's not the end of the world, you know.
But what pisses me off, is the absolute arrogance and piety of these so-called Philadelphia sports "fans" on Twitter. So I said last night, "You're in LAST place. STFU." Whereupon...
They come after me with a vengeance. And no originality, either...you know, typical "hey yo, living at home, etc." Trolls.
(Thankfully it didn't show up in my timeline...but it did in a few of my followers' lines. Que sera, sera...)
At any rate, to the game itself last night. Anyone doubt Jayson Werth didn't want payback, after how Phillies fans laughed at his hurting his wrist back in May?
He contributed, as did Adam LaRoche by smacking a homer. And who the fuck was Michael Martinez trying to impress, thinking he could run on Bryce Harper? Bro threw you out, clown!!
Ah, it's great to be in 1st. Yet the front office sticks to the plan to shut  down Stephen Strasburg after 160 IP. I got mixed feelings on this, but...I look at it as being on the safe side.
Still, there's this twinbill today w/the Marlins. Yes kids, a real honest-to-God twi-night doubleheader. Game 1 at 4, Game 2 around 7.
Fire sale Phillies and Marlins. And now Cliff Lee is on waivers. Mike Rizzo, are you listening? Make sure he doesn't go to Atlanta or the Mets...all right? ROFL
OK, done here. God, why aren't people following this blog? Come September this may be the only place to find out about the Nats...lol

First-place Nats...SUCH a nice ring to it

At last, there's a cushion between the Nats and Mets. 1 1/2 games separate them...and who figured we have Atlanta to thank for this?
Keep it up, Atlanta...LMAO
Anyway, I think we can now say the NL agrees with Gio Gonzalez. All I wondered was, had he hit it out (instead of Justin Maxwell hauling it in on the warning track)...would the crowd have torn the joint down?
Funtime In Southeast D.C., I call it...although this probably says it better:
Natitude.
Enjoy it, America...it's for real!!

Already, a season-defining series

So here we are 4 (or 5) days into the 2012 MLB season, and for the Nats it's already make-or-break time.

Yes, kids, it's time for "Meet The (2012) Mets". Thought you'd enjoy that one, Mike...lol
At any rate, 1st place in the NL East is at stake these next 3 days. And yes, you have to wait till Wednesday for the main event...Johan Santana facing off against Stephen Strasburg.

Oh, what fun so early in the season...LMAO
Gee, I wonder if it's too early to call in to WFAN and gloat about the Nats. Nah, I'll wait...until we're solidly in 1st later on in the year. (Hint, hint.)
It's wonderful to actually write this entry on the computer instead of using my phone. I'll have to remember this now. LMAO

Have fun, Mike, watching the Nats make a run at the wildcard this year...

Gary

To "Begin the Beguine" for another year

So now spring training is done for 2012. Good.
Come Thursday, the Nats launch an assault on the wildcard in the NL...which means it's time to give my prediction on how (and where) the Nats will finish.
Last year I said it would be 77-85...and it wound up 80-81. So I'll just reverse those numbers, and say 85-77 (and contend for the wildcard).
Oh, and 2nd or 3rd in the NL East, too. Meaning, ahead of the Mets and Marlins...again!! (Just like last year...lol)
This year I can honestly say the Nats are a playoff-caliber team...provided everything falls in place. And by that I mean Stephen Strasburg fully recovers from Tommy John surgery (just as Jordan Zimmermann did last year).
Now add Gio Gonzalez and Edwin Jackson to this rotation, and there's no telling what'll go down. Plus, I can say I have no reservations about Henry Rodriguez sharing the closer duties w/ Brad Lidge (until Drew Storen comes off the DL) at the start of the season.
All this, and Bryce Harper, too...
What, you didn't think I was leaving him out of this piece? Personally, I'm holding out for seeing him up w/ the big club by the time my brother and me go to Boston on June 8 to watch the Nats take on the Red Sox.
(His "bucket list" deal...before he retires from the government...and truthfully my only chance to see Fenway Park. I may never get this chance again.)
So that's it. Have at me, people...lol

The unthinkable?

Let me state for the record that it's my view the deadline for Ryan Zimmerman's contract extension...is Opening Day. NOT this Saturday.
Having said that...
Here is my message to the Lerners and Mike Rizzo: GET THIS FUCKER DONE, NOW!! Just the thought of trading Zim makes me want to puke.
WHY that is being floated is a mystery to me (not to mention Nats fans altogether). There's no way in hell I picture Zim wearing a Mets uniform...just as Mets fans can't fathom David Wright wearing a curly "W" cap.
(Am I right, Mike?)
And you all thought the Albert Pujols situation last year was a fluke...or Prince Fielder, for that matter. We're about to live it here in Nats Town, so please don't laugh at us.
Now if you'll all excuse me, I need to throw up...

One less worry as spring training begins

Well, I don't have Mike Cameron to rip into as the Nats roll into Viera.
Rather than be the brunt of many an insult that would be hurled at him--for taking up (possibly) Bryce Harper's roster spot--Mike Cameron did the honorable thing and announced his retirement today.
Mind you, this doesn't take away from his career achievements. Just that I (and other Nats fans) wondered why he felt coming to the Nats would re-energize his career.
Any way you look at it, he still deserves some respect for his career.
And I'll leave it at that...

This speaks for itself

No comments from me.
Just my friend Mike's heartfelt statement on Gary Carter's passing.
N.Y. Mets ~ Gary Carter; The Kid
Pass this blog entry around, folks. Okay?

It's a short one

However one chooses to remember Gary Carter--whether as an Expo or a Met--no one ever questioned his heart nor his love of the game.
R.I.P, dude.
That's all I needed to say. Somehow spring training doesn't seem important right now...

As spring training awaits...

The comedy stylings of my friend Mike (aka The Brooklyn Trolley Blogger)...
N.Y. Mets ~ Sandy, Sandy, Take My Team..., Please
...presented here as my Valentine's Day gift to the 1 of you who read this blog.
Christ, I need more people to read this damned blog of mine...LOL

In over his head?

From RssViewer: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/sports/rss/mlb/SIG=11udf83fd/*http%3A//sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=ap-valentine-girardi
My only question: WHY would Bobby Valentine give up a cushy gig at ESPN, for this?
Beats shit out of me. Seriously.

Good for Nick!!

Even though it is the O's, it's wonderful Nick Johnson is gonna make the attempt to come back.
I still cringe when I visualize Nick snapping his leg @ Shea a few years ago. Not a good thing...
Anyway, good luck Nick!!
Nick Johnson signs with Orioles

A matter of "Gio"-physics, I guess...lol

     I think I've gotten over my initial shock over yesterday's Christmas surprise from the Nats by now. To refresh your memory:
     Gio Gonzalez (assuming the "t's" are crossed and the "i's" dotted) should be the #2 starter for the Nats when Opening Day rolls around. To get him, though, it meant sending 4 prospects over to Oakland. Tom Milone, Brad Peacock, AJ Cole...

     ...and, Derek Norris?? Unfortunately, true. (This is where the shock came in, gang.)
     But then I realized it made sense--Derek thrown into the deal, I mean. I'll explain:
     Had he still been with the Nats, he'd be starting 2012 @ Syracuse backing up Carlos Maldanado (who the Nats re-signed the other day). Which meant it would've been 2013 or '14 before Derek would see time in Washington. As it stands now, he'll probably start the year @ the A's Triple-A...and maybe get to Oakland before the year is out (or '13).
     Now. as to Tom Milone and Brad Peacock...and again, I'm only speculating here...there's a possibility one or both of them could see the bigs this year. After all, Brad only gave up 1 ER in 12 IP in September. And who can forget Tom Milone hitting the very first pitch he saw in the bigs for a HR?
     So now (for the moment) Gio Gonzalez is penciled in as the #2 starter behind Stephen Strasburg--and ahead of Jordan Zimmermann. This'll work...lol
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     Speaking of early X-mas presents...nice to see my favorite Trolley Blogger decided to follow this little ol' blog of mine. Took your sweet time to do it, didn't you Mike? LMMFAO

     So to the rest of you...follow his lead, will you?? Oh, and Merry Christmas too!!

Gary

For God's sake...DO SOMETHING!! Please?

     The annual MLB winter meetings are happening this week in Dallas. And so far, I've heard absolutely NOTHING out of the Nationals' camp.

     All right, what's the fucking problem? ARE we going after Prince Fielder, or not? (And exactly how much is it gonna cost us?) Look, if the Marlins can throw around money for Jose Reyes and Heath Bell--not to mention offering Albert Pujols a 10-year deal--certainly the Lerners and Mike Rizzo can find a couple hundred million for Prince. RIGHT??

     I mean, now that we know Chris Marrero is out for spring training (and Adam LaRoche ain't the long-term answer @1B, and Michael Morse belongs in LF full-time...IMO), we need somebody to man the position. Am I right? So something has to be done. Right??

     Well, that and finding a CF. Or does Roger Bernadina figure in the Nats' future plans? We already know Laynce Nix is in Philly, so that option is off the table.

     So having ranted on the inaction in Dallas, let me move on to other matters. Namely, how Danny Espinosa got shafted for NL Rookie of the Year.

     You can NOT convince me Craig Kimbrel (or Freddie Freeman) of the Braves beats out Danny. Who are you trying to bullshit here? There's a bias here against either the Nats as a team, or D.C. as a baseball city. Either one or the other. What DO we have to do to get respect for the Nats?

     So there you have it. I've written yet another blog post here.

     Yee-ha.

     Gary