SB Nation - Chris Dickerson

Fantasy Baseball: Profiling Yesterday's Non-Tenders

raygu — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 17:00:20 -0000

by Al Behrman - AP

2 months ago: Pittsburgh Pirates closer Matt Capps pitches against the Cincinnati Reds in the ninth inning of a baseball game, Friday, Oct. 2, 2009, in Cincinnati. Pittsburgh won the game 3-1. (AP Photo/Al Behrman)

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Yesterday was the last day that teams could offer contracts to their arbitration-eligible players, and there were some interesting non-tenders for sure. Let's take a look:

Matt Capp, CL, PITT

The Pirates will now go into spring training looking for a closer, unless they veer off course and sign a free agent like Jose Valverde, Mike Gonzalez, Fernando Rodney, or Kevin Gregg. They also could dangle Andy Laroche in a deal for a closer since they traded for Akinori Iwamura to play second base. That assumes that Pedro Alvarez wins the Pirates 3B job out of spring training, otherwise Laroche will be the Pirates 3Bman. Here is what MLB.com said about the Pirates closer situation:

In the meantime, the Pirates now have even more work to do to construct a bullpen that had already lost Jesse Chavez in an offseason trade. One thing the Pirates do seem confident in, though, is that their next closer could come in-house, as both Joel Hanrahan and Evan Meek are likely to garner consideration for the role.

I don't see either Hanrahan or Meek keeping the job. Capps Is coming off his worst year of his career as he ended the year with a 5.80 ERA. Could the Phillies take a chance on Capps to backup Lidge?

Jonny Gomes, OF, CIN

Gomes is coming off a season where he went 20-51-.267-.338-.541-.879. Gomes could be a nice pickup for a team that wants to platoon his vs. left-handed pitchers as he hit .307-.369-.545-.914 against lefties in 2009. In his career, Gomes has hit .274-.369-.517-.885 vs lefties.

it appears the Reds will go into spring training with an open competition in LF with Wladimir Balentein, Chris Dickerson, Chris Heisey and Todd Frazier vying for the spot.

Kelly Johnson, 2B, ATL

Johnson is coming off a down year where he lost the second base job to Martin Prado in Atlanta. He went 8-29-7-.229-.303-.389-.692 in 2009 after going 12-69-11-.287-.349-.446-.795 in 2008. Johnson's BABIP in 2009 was a very low .247, much lower than his career BABIP average of .311. There were some positives in his 2009 season, as he lowered his K% from 18.4% to 15.6% and increased his BB% from 8.5% to 9.3%.

Johnson could be a nice sleeper in 2009 should he land a second base job. If he can bring his BABIP close to .300 and continue to show improved plate discipline, he could have another season like he did in 2008. Do you hear me Ned?

Poll

Which player has a better chance at landing a starting job in 2010?

Hunter Pence and the Astros Outfield Defense

davoag — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 16:25:47 -0000

More photos » by Pat Sullivan - AP

Congrats to the second-best right fielder in the majors.

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Don't know if you noticed, but Hunter Pence was a close second to Ichiro in the third annual Fielding Bible Awards, which were announced Monday. It was a nice finish for Pence, who has worked hard to turn himself into a very capable right fielder. Since Michael Bourn also finished in the top five in center field, it gives the Astros two premier defenders patrolling the vast expanses at MMP.

Still, that leaves one very big hole in left. Here is a snapshot of the most interesting section of votes to me, the left fielders. Note that Carlos Lee got three votes from his mother, his agent and his horse. If you look at the top vote-getters, though, something very interesting stands out. The winner, Carl Crawford, spent the majority of his minor league games in center field. David DeJesus, Nyjer Morgan, Lance Nix, Juan Pierre and Chris Dickerson all played the majority of their games in center field. Why does this matter? Well, I'll tell you after the jump...

So, everyone knows Carlos Lee isn't the best fielder. He looks slow, sometimes takes bad angles and can look disinterested at times. However, it's interesting to note that Lee had his highest total of outfield assists since 2004 last season with nine. The problem with Lee isn't his instincts or his arm, it's his range.

There's a reason so many former center fielders topped the Fielding Bible list, and I would say it's the same reason why people decry Derek Jeter as a Gold Glove shortstop, even though he may make fewer errors than a Troy Tulowitzki. Center fielders just have more range than your average left fielder. They're (generally) faster and have experience taking better breaks on the ball. Ideally, they have a decent arm, but that's not really necessary. This all plays very well in left field, a position where teams are wont to dump guys who can't play at first. Is hitting really more important than outfield defense, though?

Way back in September, I saw a couple of posts from Joe Posnanski on his blog that got me thinking about this. This first one brought up the idea of team's thinking completely outside the box about things, like making the best defense possible, regardless of how they hit. Would the runs you save equal the runs you give up? This follow-up post talks about whether there SHOULD be a separate Gold Glove for left fielders. Is it an important enough position to reward the best fielder there, or is it a hotbed of guys who couldn't hack it somewhere else?

I saved both of these posts, because it immediately made me think of the Astros minor league teams. For instance, the Express would routinely trot out an outfield with one of the best fielders in the minors, Yordanny Ramirez, and two players who have been center fielders in the past (Brian Bogusevic and Reggie Abercrombie). The same went for Corpus, where Collin DeLome, Josh Flores and Mitch Einertson all shared the outfield together (before Flores got hurt again) and all had played center at times in the past. Add to that another talented outfield in Lancaster of J.B. Shuck, Jon Gaston and T.J. Steele who could all play center. That's nine athletic players the Astros can and did move around all three outfield spots this season. Is the organization's philosophy changing? I think it has under Ed Wade and Bobby Heck.

It seems that the Astros will have more than enough players to fill the hole once Lee departs for greener pastures (in however many years that will take). Will it make them better as a team? Certainly Brian Bogusevic isn't the hitter Lee is, but he has a little pop, some speed on the bases and has a great arm in the outfield. Same goes for Collin DeLome, who's maybe not as athletic as Bogey, but definitely has more home-run potential. Either of these guys could start next season and probably be an upgrade over the sure-and-steady bat of Lee.

Whether this philosophy will work is another story, but for now, it looks like the Astros could have a potentially Gold Glove-caliber outfield in a couple of years. Now, if we can just do something about that infield...

Arizona Fall League: Saturday's Roundup

raygu — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 14:25:04 -0000

Here's a look at Saturday's top performances:

Dustin Ackley, OF, SEA-2-5, RS, 2 2B, 3 RBI (.313)

Russ Mitchell, 1B, LAD-3-5, 2 RS, 5 RBI (.365)

Trayvon Robinson, OF, LAD-1-4, 2 RS, SB (.280)

Joseph Dunigan, 1B-2-4, 3 RBI (.289)

Ike Davis, 1B, NYM-2-5, 2 RS, HR, RBI (.340)

Domonic Brown, OF, PHI-2-5, RS, 3 RBI (.258)

Jose Tabata, OF, PIT-3-5, 2 RS, (.328)

Brandon Allen, 1B, ARI-0-5, RBI (.175)

Brandon Crawford, SS, SFG-3-5, RS, 2 SB (.333)

Freddie Freeman, 1B, ATL-2-4 (.308)

Chris Heisey, OF, CIN-0-3, 2 K (.364)

Zach Cozart, SS, CIN-2-4, 2 K, SB (.354)

Yonder Alonso, 1B, CIN- 0-4 (.244)

Drew Storen, RP, WAS-1 Inn, 2 H, K, S (2) (1.17 ERA)

Jemile Weeks, 2B, OAK-3-5, 2 RS, 2 SB

Brad Emaus, 1B, CLE-4-4, 2 RS (.314)

Grant Desem, OF, OAK-0-4, RBI (.393)

Josh Bell, 3B, BAL-0-4 (.333)

Starlin Castro, SS, CHC-2-4, SB (.417)

Josh Vitters, 3B, CHC-1-5 (.333)

Starlin Castro is now leading the AFL in hitting with his .417 Avg.

With Chris Heisey close to making the Reds roster in 2010, what do the Reds do with the logjam at 1B with Joey Votto, who I wrote about yesterday, and AA first baseman Yonder Alonso? The Reds have an abundance of outfielders in Jay Bruce, Drew Stubbs, Chris Dickerson, Willy Taveras, Jonny Gomes and Chris Heisey. You can also throw OF, 3B, 2B prospect Todd Frazier into the OF mix.

Checking out Bill James Projections for 2010

Slyde — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 14:50:17 -0000

We're still a week away from the World Series, but now is as good of a time as any to start checking out projections for the 2010 season. I've gotten my hands on the initial set of Bill James Projections for next season, so I thought I'd share them with you. The full set of projections will be available with much, much more in the 2010 Bill James Handbook, which comes out next month and you can pre-order here.

I've broken the projections down a bit into groups, the first set being players who don't really have competition for their position (yet), and the following sets split up among players from 2009 who could be part of a position competition. First, the "starters":

**Starters**
Name	2009 Projection	2009 Actual	2010 Projection
Name	AVG/OBP/SLG	AVG/OBP/SLG	PA	AVG/OBP/SLG
Jay Bruce	.296/.351/.540	.223/.303/.470	574	.274/.340/.537
Paul Janish	N/A	.211/.296/.305	188	.223/.301/.319
Brandon Phillips	.263/.313/.431	.276/.329/.447	613	.269/.322/.434
Scott Rolen	.268/.356/.453	.305/.368/.455	482	.278/.357/.442
Joey Votto	.307/.386/.536	.322/.414/.567	502	.311/.397/.550

The James projections were way off on Bruce, as most systems were. As you can see though, they are still very optimistic about the young right-fielder. I think that is justified since he suffered from quite a bit of statistical bad luck last season, but I think we all know that he still has some adjustments that he needs to make at the plate before he'll likely achieve that projection. Offensively, Janish is a black-hole, but if he's the only one and he doesn't bat 2nd, his defense is well worth having in the lineup. BP's projection is what it almost always is. I'd like to see more power from Rolen, but I think that ship has sailed. Votto is...well...awesome.

**Left Field**
Name	2009 Projection	2009 Actual	2010 Projection
Name	AVG/OBP/SLG	AVG/OBP/SLG	PA	AVG/OBP/SLG
Wladimir Balentien	.239/.312/.444	.234/.305/.385	160	.244/.316/.431
Jonny Gomes	.251/.356/.486	.267/.338/.541	278	.245/.331/.486
Darnell McDonald	N/A	.267/.306/.400	174	.270/.321/.414
Laynce Nix	N/A	.239/.291/.476	214	.257/.309/.467

Based on these projections, there aren't a lot of outstanding prospects for a typically high offensive position like left field. I'd still like to see Gomes brought back, especially given these other options. However, I'm also not convinced that Balentien can't outperform those projections. I'm not sure if he's good enough for an everyday starter role, but I think he could potentially put up a little more power.

**Center Field**
Name	2009 Projection	2009 Actual	2010 Projection
Name	AVG/OBP/SLG	AVG/OBP/SLG	PA	AVG/OBP/SLG
Chris Dickerson	.268/.360/.454	.275/.370/.373	254	.276/.372/.429
Drew Stubbs	N/A	.267/.323/.439	544	.267/.336/.390
Willy Taveras	.267/.323/.315	.240/.275/.285	277	.271/.322/.321

To be honest with you, I'd give Chris Dickerson the starting job in center field next year, if I thought he would stay healthy. I wouldn't be upset if Drew Stubbs is out there, especially if his power surge last season is real (the James Projections don't think so). Willy Taveras should be gone.

**Catcher**
Name	2009 Projection	2009 Actual	2010 Projection
Name	AVG/OBP/SLG	AVG/OBP/SLG	PA	AVG/OBP/SLG
Ryan Hanigan	.275/.357/.382	.263/.361/.331	344	.277/.361/.366
Ramon Hernandez	.253/.319/.411	.258/.336/.362	120	.260/.328/.405

Surely no one thinks that Hernandez is worth $8 million more than Hanigan next season.

What do you think? Are they way off anywhere? Does this change your opinion of any of the players?

Thursday Off Night Open Thread

Slyde — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 20:30:28 -0000

I had hoped to do a Red Reporter After Dark show tonight, but my schedule is getting in the way. Alas, we'll just have to settle for the traditional open thread. Here are some questions to get you started:

Based upon what you've seen so far, and assuming these are the only choices, who should be the starting center fielder for the Reds on Opening Day - Willy Taveras, Drew Stubbs, or Chris Dickerson?
With the Reds for all intents and purposes out of the race, who are you rooting for to make playoffs this year? Are you hoping to see any specific players that you'd like to see or is it teams themselves that you are rooting for?
Who should be in the Reds 5-man rotation right now (not counting pitchers who are injured)?
If you could sign Matt Holliday or trade for J.J. Hardy, but only one or the other, which would you do? I'll let you determine the terms of the deals that would be acceptable to you.
What is the one sporting event in history that wish you could have seen live? What is the most memorable sporting event you actually attended?
Which 9/9/09 release item are you more excited about, Beatles Rock Band or The Machine by Joe Posnanski?

If you are watching the Bengals game tonight, might I suggest giving some love to Kirkendall, jsl413, and the rest of their crew at Cincy Jungle?

Tuesday's Frosty Mug

KLSnow — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 14:13:21 -0000

More photos » by Charles Dharapak - AP

Hey look, untucked shirts!

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Some things to read while getting that long-awaited promotion.

Well, today is the day you may or may not have been waiting for, as Jeff Suppan returns from the DL to make his first start since July 27. Even before going on the DL, Suppan had gone nearly a month and a half without a win (dating back to June 12), and was knocked around in two rehab starts before being activated. I haven't decided on my evening plans yet, but I think it's fair to say this: If you're only going to miss one Brewer game this season, tonight might be a good one to skip.

No roster move has been annnounced to make room for Suppan, but it's being assumed that a position player will be sent down to give the Brewers an extra bullpen arm for what could be a long week. That player will most likely be Hernan Iribarren. Nats320 enjoyed watching Iribarren play this week, mostly because of his name.

Collin Balester shut the Brewers down for five innings yesterday before the Brewers broke through in the sixth. Even with the rough conclusion, it was a huge improvement over his previous outing and Baseball Musings notes that Balester did it while working on a small change at the end of his delivery. Balester has posted a 4.91 ERA in 11 innings against the Brewers this season and a 7.92 ERA against the rest of baseball.

The Brewers will face a depleted Reds roster this week, for whatever that's worth: In the last week, they had already placed Willy Taveras, Johnny Cueto and Aaron Harang on the DL, and yesterday outfielder Chris Dickerson (ankle) and catcher Ryan Hanigan (hit by foul ball) joined them.

Dave Bush is expected to return from the DL on Thursday for the final game in this series, and while the game was previously going to go untelevised, FS Wisconsin has picked it up, so we'll all be able to see how he looks in his return.

Despite winning three of four this weekend, the Brewers moved up a few spots and are now projected to draft #12 in Andy Seiler's 2010 draft projection.

On power rankings and playoff odds:

WhatifSports dropped the Brewers two spots to #19.
The Sporting News has the Brewers at #18.
Cool Standings gives the Brewers a 1% shot at making the playoffs.

Once each year, TangoTiger asks fans to help evaluate defense as part of the Fans Scouting Report. This year's evaluation forms are open, but just 11 Brewer fans have checked in to help rate the players we watch everyday. Take a moment today to add your thoughts.

Around baseball:

Blue Jays: Placed Edwin Encarnacion on the DL with a hamstring strain.
Royals: Released reliever Ron Mahay.

This seems doubly appropriate on the day of the return of Jeff Suppan: MGL wonders if elevating a pitcher's pitch count is always a good move. In the case of a below average starter (see Suppan, Jeff), teams might actually be handicapping themselves by chasing them from the game faster and moving to a potentially more effective bullpen pitcher.

This year's Arizona Fall League may have significantly more star power than usual. On top of the expected professional debut of Stephen Strasburg, the Braves are now expected to send Jason Heyward, baseball's #1 prospect, to play in the league.

Ever wonder what it's like to be on the road with a MLB team? Alyson Footer is on the road with the Astros for the next ten days, taking lots of pictures and detailing the life of a traveling major leaguer. Interesting stuff.

Happy birthday today to Rollie Fingers, who turns 63. Also, Sam Narron, who pitched for the Cardinals in the 30's and 40's and is the grandfather of the Brewer farmhand with the same name, would have turned 96 today.

That's all I have for you today, unless you wanted to read about Brandon Inge's tattoos.

Drink up.

Washington Nationals Win 5-4 On Lazy Toss By Cincinnati Reds.

Ed Chigliak — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 21:59:46 -0000

More photos » by David Kohl - AP

4 months ago: Washington Nationals pitcher John Lannan throws against the Cincinnati Reds in the first inning during a baseball game, Sunday, Aug. 16, 2009, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/David Kohl)

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Willingham's Hustle Wins The Series For DC!!!

• Ryan Zimmerman spent the majority of this afternoon's series finale with Cincinnati Reds on the bench, but the Washington Nationals' "Interim" Manager Jim Riggleman called on the Face of the Franchise with two on and two out in the eighth and the tying run standing at second in the form of Adam Dunn, who'd been hit by a pitch and moved into scoring position by Josh Willingham's one-out single. Two innings earlier, an RBI double by Willingham followed Dunn's leadoff double and scored Dunn from second to make it 4-3 Cincinnati, and now both were on again, with Zimmerman facing veteran left-hander Arthur Rhodes, against whom, Zimmerman was 2 for 4 with 2 doubles and an RBI so far in his career. Make it 3 for 5, Zimmerman hit a bloop single to right where defensive replacement Chris Dickerson missed on a diving play allowing Dunn to score and tie it, and when the Reds made a lazy throw back to the infield, Josh Willingham broke from the third, the throw came home quickly, but Hammer lowered the boom on Reds' catcher Ryan Hanigan and knocked the ball loose as he fell over home, 5-4 Nationals on pure hustle by Willingham and pure laziness by the Reds.

• DC lefty John Lannan was two-thirds of the way through his fifth scoreless frame with a 2-0 lead when he issued a two-out walk to Drew Sutton and an RBI single to Joey Votto, bringing up the unstoppable Jonny Gomes, who got a two-strike two-seamer inside from Lannan and lifted it to left and out of the park for his 4th HR in 4 games in this series and a 4-3 Cincy lead after five innings. DC right-hander Jason Bergmann finished off the sixth and Jorge Sosa (W, 2-1) and Mike MacDougal (S, 13) held and closed the Nationals' 43rd win of '09. Lannan lasts 5.2 IP and surrenders 7 hits, 4 ER, 1 HR and 3 walks, collecting 2 K's and throwing 109 pitches, 70 for strikes.

Other Highlights:

• Wil Nieves - 3 for 4, with 3 singles to right field.

• Jonny Gomes - Game 1 - 3 for 4, 3 HR's, 5 RBI's.

- Game 2 - 1 for 3, 1 2B

- Game 3 - DNP

- Game 4 - 2 for 4, 1 HR, 3 RBI's.

--------------------------------------------

Weekend Total = 6 for 11, .545, 4 HR's, 1 2B, 8 RBI's.

• Washington takes 3 of 4 from Cincinnati, and the Nationals break even, going 3-3 on the 6-game trip through Atlanta, Georgia and Ohio. Nationals now 11-3 in their last 14, 15-7 in their last 22.

Nationals win, 5-4 final.

Miss The Game? The DC Faithful Were Watching...

Check Out The SB Nation's Cincinnati Reds Blog: Red Reporter GameThread.

"Game 118: Here comes The Judge!" - Doghouse.

BACKPAGE:

• E: 105.

• Taking The Suicide Out Of The Squeeze.

For The Completists, Full Game Report After The JUMP...

Nationals now 43-75.

BACKPAGE:

• E: 105

Ryan Zimmerman got a rest today, as mentioned above, and his fill-in at third, Ronnie Belliard, of course committed the Washington Nationals' 105th Error of 2009 on a routine grounder to short off Reds' shortstop Paul Janish's bat. Belliard charged in on the two-out roller and had it go right under his glove and into left field. Outcome: DC starter John Lannan gets Reds' catcher Ryan Hanigan swinging at the first pitch, and popping out to left. No damage done...this time.

• Taking The Suicide Out Of The Squeeze.

Josh Willingham and Adam Dunn led off the sixth with doubles, the second one a run-scoring hit for Willingham that brought the Nationals within one at 4-3 and left the tying run at second. Willingham took third on a wild pitch from Reds' righthander Justin Lehr, and all Elijah Dukes had to do was hit one in the air to tie it. Dukes K'd. Alberto Gonzalez was up next and he squared to bunt on the first pitch, Willingham was headed home, SUICIDE SQUEE-, but Lehr came inside and upstairs with a first-pitch curve, and Gonzalez...well...he ducked...he held the bat up, but he ducked, and instead of a suicide squeeze, Willingham was just dead. It's ruled caught stealing, but no one watching was letting Alberto Gonzalez off the hook, though, if you watch the play, the best he could have done with that pitch was to let himself get hit...

GAME REPORT:

Washington Nationals At Cincinnati Reds. Game 118 Of 162.

Justin Lehr gets a fly ball to center from Nyjer Morgan to Willy Taveras for the first out of the afternoon. Cristian Guzman throws his bat at an 0-2 curve that he has no excuse for swinging at. Ronnie Belliard pops up over home, and the pitcher gets in third baseman Adam Rosales’ way and causes him to drop it. Adam Dunn takes a curve that bounces off his shin. Justin Lehr gets out of the inning when Josh Willingham grounds out to short...Reds’ leadoff hitter Willy Taveras pops out to right to start the bottom of the first. Drew Sutton grounds out to Guzman at short. Joey Votto gets called out on strikes after watching a two-strike fastball all the way in...

Elijah Dukes hits a sharp grounder to short that Paul Janish handles. Janish throws out Alberto Gonzalez after a backhand stab and throw. Wil Nieves pushes a two-out single through second, but John Lannan pops out to end the DC second...The dangerous Jonny Gomes goes back up the middle with a leadoff single. Wladimir Balentien works the count full, fouls off a few, but eventually flies out to left. Adam Rosales lines into Elijah Dukes’ glove. Paul Janish grounds to third and right under Ronnie Belliard’s glove. E: 105. Ryan Hanigan lines to left to end the second.

Nyjer Morgan grounds out to Drew Sutton at second. Cristian Guzman chips a 3-1 pitch out to second. Ronnie Belliard’s grounder jumps up at Adam Rosales, who makes the play and throws a laser to first...Lannan gets Justin Lehr swinging through a two-strike heater upstairs. Willy Taveras almost beats out a routine grounder to short. Drew Sutton pops out to the catcher to end the third.

Adam Dunn lines to right field through the shift for a leadoff double. Josh Willingham takes one for a ride, deeeeeep to left and into the upper deck!!! Two-run HR, 2-0 Nationals. Elijah Dukes flies out to right. Alberto Gonzalez pops out to Willy Taveras. Wil Nieves lines a two-out single to center to turn the lineup over, when John Lannan flies out to Taveras...Joey Votto lifts an 0-2 pitch to left for a leadoff single. Jonny Gomes lines out to center on a 2-2 pitch. Elijah Dukes catches the second out off Wladimir Balentien’s bat. Adam Rosales takes a two-out walk. Paul Janish grounds out to Gonzalez who takes the force at second.

Nyjer Morgan grounds out to Janish at short. Cristian Guzman lines out to left. Ronnie Belliard ends a quick frame with a routine grounder to third...Reds’ catcher Ryan Hanigan singles to center and takes second on Lehr’s sac bunt. A groundout from Willy Taveras moves Hanigan to third. Drew Sutton takes a two-out walk in front of Joey Votto, who gets jammed and pops to left, and has it drop in. 2-1 DC. Jonny Gomes gets a fastball on the inside corner and he destroys it, deeep to left and over the wall for a 3-run blast. 4-3 Reds. Lannan walks Wladimir Balentien with two down. Adam Rosales flies out to right to end the fifth.

Adam Dunn powers a double to right off the wall to start the Nationals’ sixth. Josh Willingham bounces one off the out-of-town scoreboard in left. Dunn scores, 4-3 Reds. Elijah Dukes up, and Willingham takes third on a wild pitch. Dukes K’s chasing. Alberto Gonzalez squares to bunt, but ducks on when the first pitch comes in high and tight, hanging Willingham out to dry on what was apparently a suicide squeeze attempt. Ugh. Gonzalez grounds out to end the top of the sixth...Lannan gets a weak fly to left from Paul Janish. Ryan Hanigan flies to Morgan in center. Justin Lehr lines a double to the right field corner with two down. Dukes fights with it and is able to hold Lehr at second. Cristian Guzman gets to a chopper up the middle from Taveras, but his throw is off and Dunn makes a great play to save a run. Lannan’s out. Jason Bergmann on to face Drew Sutton. Taveras takes second without being challenged. Sutton gets a full-count slider from Bergmann and K’s chasing it.

Jared Burton takes over for the Reds in the seventh and gives up a leadoff single to Wil Nieves who rolls a single past first. Willie Harris flies out unproductively to left. Nyjer Morgan will face Daniel Ray Herrera. Morgan goes down chasing junk. Cristian Guzman flies out to Jonny Gomes in right to end the top of the inning...Joey Votto vs Jorge Sosa. Votto flies out to Willingham in right, Hammer shields his eyes and catches it. Jonny Gomes pops out behind the plate. Wladimir Balentien strikes out to end the seventh.

Ronnie Belliard grounds out on a 1-1 fastball from Nick Masset, who’s replaced by lefty Arthur Rhodes when Adam Dunn steps up. Dunn takes one off the jersey and takes a base. Josh WIllingham lines to right for a one-out single, Dunn to second. Elijah Dukes flies out to center on an 0-2 bender in on the fists. Ryan Zimmerman pinch hits, and lobs a liner over second, Chris Dickerson slides in and misses, Dunn scores, 4-4, and the Reds take their time throwing it in, and Hammer takes off for home, running the catcher and scoring, 5-4 Nationals. 5-4 Nationals!!! Wil Nieves grounds out to short...Adam Rosales flies out to Willingham in left. Paul Janish hits a one-out single to center. Ryan Hanigan flies out to center. Mike MacDougal’s on early. Chris Dickerson grounds out to Dunn at first.

Josh Bard flies out to center to start the ninth. Reds’ right-hander Carlos Fisher gets a grounder back to the mound from Nyjer Morgan. Cristian Guzman can’t hold up on a two-strike curve in the dirt...Willy Taveras vs MacDougal. Taveras pops out to second. Drew Sutton grounds to third, Ryan Zimmerman fields, spins and throws to first to get the second out. Joey Votto K’s swinging over a 1-2 fastball outside. Nationals win, 5-4 final.

Nationals now 43-75.

Who loses to the losers? Reds fall, 5-4.

Brendanukkah — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 21:10:44 -0000

More photos » by David Kohl - AP

Though he didn't get his third win, Justin Lehr did still have a quality start. (AP Photo/David Kohl)

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Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game

Josh Willingham. Ryan Zimmerman hit the two run base hit to win the game, but Willingham went 3-4 at the plate with a double and a home run, scoring twice and driving in three runs.

Key Plays

The game was scoreless until the fourth inning, when Adam Dunn led off with a double, and Willingham followed with his 19th home run of the year. The Reds would have trouble getting those two out all game.
Often a lead of any size seems too daunting to overcome for the Reds, but in the fifth inning they battled back. Ryan Hanigan led off with a single and Lehr sacrificed him to second. Hanigan went to third on a groundout by Willy Taveras. Drew Sutton then walked, and Joey Votto continued to actually play baseball by hitting a single to the outfield to drive in Hanigan. Up stepped Jonny Gomes, who's been enjoying Washington pitching. BAM! Over the fence went the baseball, and a 2-0 deficit had turned into a 4-2 lead.
In the sixth inning, the Dunn-Willingham combination bit Lehr again, as they both hit doubles to lead off the inning. Dunn's run made the score 4-3, and a wild pitch by Lehr put Willingham on third base with no outs. Fortunately, he was caught stealing home, and the inning passed without further damage.
With two outs in the bottom of the sixth, Lehr hit a double, and Willy Taveras singled, then stole second. Runners on second and third with a chance to add some Great American Insurance runs, but Drew Sutton struck out.
Dusty turned to his bullpen in the seventh inning, using Jared Burton and Danny Ray Herrera. Then in the eighth, Nick Masset came in to retire Ronnie Belliard before giving way to Arthur Rhodes. Rhodes then hit Adam Dunn with a pitch, gave up a single to Josh Willingham, and then pinch hitter Ryan Zimmerman hit a dying quail out to right field. Chris Dickerson, who replaced Gomes as part of a double switch (even though Balentien had just batted, and Gomes - our only power threat - was due to come up 4th in the ninth inning), couldn't make the shoestring catch and instead deflected the ball back in towards the infield. Drew Sutton came out half-heartedly to retrieve it and lob the ball back in, but Willingham alertly flew around the bases to take advantage and scored from first. Two runs, and the Reds had squandered the lead.

FanGraphs

Other Notes

Arthur Rhodes got the loss, his first decision of the year.
Adam Dunn was hit by a pitch twice in this game. For the series, he went 4-8 with two doubles, a home run, six walks, five runs scored, and those two HBPs.
Reds pitchers allowed no walks in this game.
The Reds only have seven more wins than the Nationals. Washington won the season series, 4-3.
Josh Willingham's 19th homer gave the Nats three players with more home runs than Reds leader Jay Bruce's 18. Dunn has 31 and Ryan Zimmerman has 24. Votto and Phillips both have 17 and Gomes's blast today gives him 15 - in 196 plate appearances. He has four in his last three games.

Final - 8.16.2009	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Washington Nationals	0	0	0	2	0	1	0	2	0	5	7	1
Cincinnati Reds	0	0	0	0	4	0	0	0	0	4	8	1
WP: Jorge Sosa (2 - 1) SV: Mike MacDougal (13) LP: Arthur Rhodes (0 - 1)

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Washington Nationals Win, 10-6 Over Cincinnati Reds, While Everyone Talks Stephen Strasburg...

Ed Chigliak — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 05:44:20 -0000

More photos » by Tony Tribble - AP

4 months ago: Washington Nationals' Josh Willingham (16), Ryan Zimmerman (11) and Elijah Dukes (34) celebrate after scoring on a double by teammate Alberto Gonzalez in the third inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Saturday, Aug. 15, 2009, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Tony Tribble)

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Nationals Win Overshadowed By Strasburg Talk...

• So...did, uh...Strasburg sign yet? In case you were caught up in the first comments from the Washington Nationals about the negotiations with their '09 1st Round draft pick Stephen Strasburg and his agent Scott Boras, and didn't notice, the Nationals took a 10-6 decision from the Cincinnati Reds Saturday, after putting together a six-run third with four-straight hits to start the inning by J.D. Martin, Nyjer Morgan, Ronnie Belliard and Ryan Zimmerman, a one-out RBI single by Josh Willingham and a two-out bases-loaded-double by Alberto Gonzalez which gave the Nationals a 7-1 lead and chased Reds' starter Johnny Cueto from the game. The Nationals added 3 runs in the fourth on a 3-run triple by Elijah Dukes, providing enough of a lull in the action for everyone to shout out their own opinion on the Strasburg situation, including everyone following along in last night's GameThread and even MASN announcers Rob Dibble and Bob Carpenter, whose argument in distilled form was posted earlier tonight on Mr. Dibble's blog.

• DC's J.D. Martin (2-2, 4.61 ERA) earned his second win with 6.2 innings on the mound over which he allowed 6 hits and just 1 unearned run on an RBI single by Joey Votto in the third which turned into perhaps the best defensive play of the year by the Nationals when Elijah Dukes' throw in from right on Votto's hit was on target and cut by Adam Dunn on the infield grass so he could cut down Votto at first after he'd taken too big a turn and failed to notice that DC second baseman Ronnie Belliard had snuck in behind him...Was that the Nationals? It was, but they played a little like the old Nationals as well, with three errors, #'s 101-103, on a wild throw by first by Martin, a pickoff throw to an first empty first base, again by Martin and a defensive miscue in right center that resulted in Elijah Dukes missing a fly ball by Willy Taveras that resulted in Reds' sixth run crossing.

Nationals win, 10-6 final.

Miss The Game? The DC Faithful Were Watching?

Check Out The SB Nation's Cincinnati Reds Blog: Red Reporter Game Thread.

Game 116: Not even Logan Kensing could lose this game..." - Doghouse

BACKPAGE: (Today In Two Parts: Read Part Two HERE)

• Strasburg, Strasburg, Strasburg!! RIZZO!!!

For The Completists, Full Game Report After The JUMP...

Nationals now 42-75. (Countdown To 100 Losses Stands At...25.)

GAME REPORT:

Washington Nationals At Cincinnati Reds. Game 117 Of 162.

Nyjer Morgan chops one straight down that Reds’ starter Johnny Cueto handles with ease. Ronnie Belliard sends a broken bat groundout to Paul Janish at short. Ryan Zimmerman pops out to right where Chris Dickerson makes the catch while straddling the line...Cincinnati’s leadoff man, Chris Dickerson doubles over Josh Willingham’s head in left. Willy Taveras chops one straight down and then runs into it on the bounce and is called out. Cue argument. DC righty J.D. Martin walks Joey Votto with one down to bring up Brandon Phillips with two on. Phillips takes a 2-2 pitch from Martin to the warning track in left where Willingham makes the grab. Laynce Nix flies out to end the first.

SHAKE N BAKE!! SHAKE N BAKE!! Adam Dunn goes all the way the other way with a HR to left, just over the wall on a towering shot. 1-0 DC. Josh Willingham lines out to short. Elijah Dukes single to right on a curve from Cueto. Josh Bard pops out to Chris Dickerson in right. Alberto Gonzalez grounds into a force at second to end the top of the frame...Adam Dunn tosses to J.D. Martin covering on Adam Rosales' groundball to first. Ryan Hanigan grounds to Belliard at second. Paul Janish tries to bunt his way on, but runs into it as he heads to first, and is called out by the umpire. Again?

J.D. Martin drops a broken bat single into short center to start the third. Nyjer Morgan doubles off the wall in right for a single that moves Martin to third. Ronnie Belliard, Belli, Belli, Belli lines to left and over Laynce Nix’s head to the wall, Martin scores, Morgan to third, 2-0 DC on the RBI double by Belliard. Ryan Zimmerman rips an RBI single through short to score Morgan and move Belliard up, 3-0 DC. And Adam Dunn’s up. Zim takes second on a wild pitch. Dunn grounds back the mound so hard it knock Cueto’s glove off his hand, but he makes the play. One out. Josh Willingham grounds back to the mound, Cueto fields it and tries to catch Belliard at home, but the Reds’ pitcher drops the ball, Belliard safe, 4-0. Josh Bard swings through a high two-strike fastball. Alberto Gonzalez waits on a curve and drives it to left, Zimmerman, Willingham and Dukes score, 7-0 Nationals. Cueto’s done. Kip Wells on in relief for the Reds. J.D. Martin K’s to end a long top of the third...Kip Wells starts the Reds’ third with a line drive single to left. Chris Dickerson flies out to Nyjer Morgan in center. Willy Taveras drops a bunt toward third, and J.D. Martin throws it right by Adam Dunn at first. Joey Votto lines an RBI single to right, Wells scores, 7-1 DC, but Adam Dunn cuts Dukes' throw in and fires to first to get Votto too far off the bag. Brandon Phillips grounds to short to end the third.

Nyjer Morgan starts the fourth with a single over short. Ronnie Belliard rips a hanging bender to left for the second-straight single. Ryan Zimmerman tips a 2-2 fastball upstairs into the Reds’ catcher’s glove. Adam Dunn walks to load the bases. Josh Willingham pops out foul of first. Elijah Dukes drives a liner to right and scores three with a triple for a 10-1 DC lead. Kip Wells gets a weak grounder from Bard to end the fourth...J.D. Martin pops up Laynce Nix. Adam Rosales beats Ryan Zimmerman to the line at third with a one-out double. Ryan Hanigan K’s swinging through a two-strike fastball outside. Paul Janish pops out to the catcher.

Kip Wells is back for the fifth. Alberto Gonzalez grounds to first, J.D. Martin K’s looking and Nyjer Morgan grounds back to the mound to end the frame...Kip Wells rips a low liner into Ryan Zimmerman’s glove. Chris Dickerson strokes a single to right. Willy Taveras pops out to second to end the fifth.

Ronnie Belliard K’s swinging at a two-strike curve from Kip Wells. Ryan Zimmerman shatters his bat on a long fly ball to right. Adam Dunn pops out foul of third and Adam Rosales leans into the stands to make the grab with an assist from the fans who prevent him from falling...J.D. Martin hits Brandon Phillips on the hand. Laynce Nix flies out to Willie Harris in left. Adam Rosales grounds into a force out at second. Ryan Hanigan flies to center to end the sixth.

Paul Janish catches a pop fly off Willie Harris’ bat. Elijah Dukes K’s swinging through a two-strike fastball. Josh Bard works for a two-out walk. Alberto Gonzalez lifts a line drive single over short. J.D. Martin beats out an excuse-me single. Daniel Ray Herrera takes over on the mound for Wells, and gets Nyjer Morgan looking to end the frame...Logan Kensing gets a pop fly to short center from Paul Janish. Craig Tatum K’s swinging. Chris Dickerson takes a two-out walk from Kensing, and takes second on a pitch in the dirt. Willy Taveras singles to center to score Dickerson, 10-2 Nationals. Joey Votto doubles over Nyjer Morgan’s head in center to score Taveras. 10-3 Nationals. Drew Sutton takes Kensing deeeep to right and GONE!! 10-5 Nationals. Kensing out, and Tyler Clippard gets a groundout from Laynce Nix to end the seventh.

Ronnie Belliard vs Daniel Ray Herrera. Belliard K’s swinging. Ryan Zimmerman rips a single through short with one down. Adam Dunn walks to put two on for Willie Harris. Willie Harris grounds into a force at second, but beats the relay to first. Elijah Dukes is fooled by a change and he grounds out to short...Adam Rosales flies out to Nyjer Morgan in center. Kevin Barker K’s swinging through a high heater from Clippard. Paul Janish takes a two-out walk. Craig Tatum goes down swinging to end the eighth.

Reds’ right-hander Jared Burton pops Josh Bard up to start the ninth. Alberto Gonzalez flies out to right field. Tyler Clippard gets an AB, and K’s trying...Chris Dickerson grounds out to second. Clippard gets a fly ball to right from Willy Taveras, Dukes and Morgan converge and Dukes drops it when he flinches. Taveras takes third. Sean Burnett on to face Votto. Votto grounds to short, Alberto Gonzalez makes the play. Drew Sutton flies to right to end the game. 10-5 Nationals win.

Nationals now 42-75.

Cincinnati Reds' Jonny Gomes Hits 3 HR's, Washington Nationals Held To 2 Hits. 7-0 Cincy.

Ed Chigliak — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 04:30:04 -0000

More photos » by David Kohl - AP

4 months ago: Washington Nationals pitcher Collin Balester looks down at his glove as Cincinnati Reds' Ryan Hanigan rounds the bases after hitting a solo home in the second inning during a baseball game, Thursday, Aug. 13, 2009 in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/David Kohl)

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• Better Living Through Chemistry...

It took the Cincinnati Reds' right-hander Bronson Arroyo all of 2 hours and 7 minutes and 103 pitches to finish a complete game shutout against the Washington Nationals tonight. DC's batters K'd 3 times, grounded out 13 times and hit 11 fly ball outs, managing just two hits, a leadoff single to center by Adam Dunn in the second which was erased by Elijah Dukes' DP grounder and Ryan Zimmerman's line drive single to left in the seventh, an inning which ended three batters later with Zimmerman stranded at second. Nationals' starter Collin Balester gives up 3 HR's, two to Jonny Gomes, (who hits a third off DC reliever Jason Bergmann), and one to Reds' catcher Ryan Hanigan. Balester lasts just 5.0 innings, and gives up 5 hits and 5 ER. Jonny Gomes ends the night 3 for 4 with 3 HR's and 5 RBI's. Arroyo, who was featured in a USA Today article by Bob Nightengale entitled, "Reds' Arroyo is gambling on supplements despite the risk", proclaiming his belief in better living through chemistry makes a strong argument for his case.

Reds win, 7-0 final.

• Miss The Game? The DC Faithful Were Watching...

• Check Out The SB Nation's Cincinnati Reds Blog: Red Reporter GameThread.

• "Game 115: You Can't Beat Chemistry." - Doghouse.

BACKPAGE: Today In A Separate Post. (CLICK HERE)

• Aaron Crow Cries Over The Cornfields.

• Strasburg Offer On Table? According to Report...

For The Completists, Full Game Report After The JUMP...

Nationals now 40-75 (Countdown To 100 Losses Stands At...25.)

GAME REPORT:

Washington Nationals At Cincinnati Reds. Game 115 Of 162.

Bronson Arroyo does the high straight leg kick and throws a 2-2 change to Nyjer Morgan, who grounds out to Brandon Phillips at second. Cristian Guzman hits a weak grounder to second. Ryan Zimmerman pops one up over third and Adam Rosales makes the catch...Reds’ leadoff hitter Chris Dickerson hits a one-hopper to third, Ryan Zimmerman fields and throws on the run and in time, Adam Dunn picks it. Ryan Zimmerman’s receives a grounder from Brandon Phillips and throws him out. Joey Votto takes a curve in the dirt and walks with two down. Elijah Dukes backs up to the track to catch out No. 3 off Joey Votto’s bat.

Adam Dunn hits a line drive off the outside edge for a single to center. Lance Nix charges in and slides as he catches a low liner from Josh Willingham. Elijah Dukes grounds to Alex Gonzalez to Brandon Philips to Joey Votto, double play...Laynce Nix doubles to the wall in right center to lead off the Reds’ second. Jonny Gomes hits one into the upper deck off Colln Balester on a full-count fastball that begs to be hit. 2-0 Reds. Adam Rosales grounds out to short. Ryan Hanigan unloads on a 1-2 bender from Balester for a 3-0 Reds’ lead on the second HR of the frame. Bronson Arroyo flies out to Nyjer Morgan in center. Chris Dickerson flies to left center, Josh Wilingham dives to make the grab.

Josh Bard grounds out to Alex Gonzales at short. Alberto Gonzalez lines out to Alex Gonzalez at short. Collin Balester K’s swinging to end DC’s third...Alex Gonzalez sends one screaming out to short, but Guzman’s there. Joey Votto sneaks one under Balester’s glove and up the middle, but Guzman fields it behind second and throws to first in time. Brandon Phillips keeps Guzman busy, groundout to end the third.

Bronson Arroyo hits Nyjer Morgan as he squares to bunt. Cristian Guzman chops out to first with Morgan already on second. Ryan Zimmerman’s just a step too slow to beat the throw from Adam Rosales to first on a groundout. Adam Dunn walks with two down. Josh Willingham grounds out to short, and the Nationals waste a leadoff runner...Lance Nix rips a single through second to start the Reds’ fourth. Jonny Gomes hits his second HR of the night to left and into the walkway behind the stands. 4-0 Reds. Balester walks Adam Rosales. Ryan Haningan grounds to second, but Rosales was running so no chance for a DP. Bronson Arroyo pops out to third, and Balester hits the outside edge with a two-strike heater to get Chris Dickerson looking to end the fourth.

Elijah Dukes flies out to right field. Josh Bard flies to left center and a sprinting Lance Nix makes the catch. Alberto Gonzalez lines to short...Alex Gonzalez goes down swinging. Joey Votto grounds out to Guzman, who stands behind second waiting for it. Brandon Phillips flies out to left and it’s a quick five in the books...Jorge Padilla pops up to first to start the sixth. Nyjer Morgan grounds out to Brandon Phillips. Cristian Guzman flies out to center to end the top of the frame...Laynce Nix pops out to Zimmerman foul of third. Jason Bergmann on for Balester. Jonny Gomes gets a fastball letter-high and down the middle, and Gomes has his third HR of the night, this one to straight center for a 6-0 Cincy lead. Adam Rosales pops out to third. Bergmann gives up a single to Hanigan, but strikes out Arroyo to end the sixth.

Ryan Zimmerman starts the seventh with a line drive single to left. 16-straight!!! Adam Dunn gets sawed off at the handle and flies out to right. Josh Willingham K’s swinging through a two-strike change. Elijah Dukes grounds out to third to end the DC seventh...Chris Dickerson grounds out to Alberto Gonzalez at second. Alex Gonzalez grounds out to third. Saul Rivera’s got two outs. Joey Votto takes a two-out walk from Rivera. Brandon Phillips flies to right center, and Jorge Padilla misplays an out into an RBI double, misjudging the flight of the fly, Votto scores. 7-0 Reds. Laynce Nix grounds out to end the seventh.

Bronson Arroyo gets Bard to K swinging over a two-strike bender outside. Alberto Gonzalez pops out foul of third. Jorge Padilla grounds out and the Nationals have nothing through eight...Jonny Gomes vs Mike MacDougal. MacDougal gets a backwards K with a slider outside. Adam Rosales grounds out to short. Ryan Hanigan grounds to third, Ryan Zimmerman handles it.

Willie Harris grounds out to start the ninth. Cristian Guzman grounds out to second to end his hitting streak. Ryan Zimmerman flies to deeep right and...Laynce Nix catches it at the wall. Reds win, 7-0.

Nationals now 40-75.