Nationals

Edit on the opposing pitchers and lineups. We really should rock these guys!:

vs. Craig Stammen(R)

CF-Fukudome

SS-Theriot

1B-Lee

3B-Ramirez

RF-Bradley

LF-Hoffpauir

2B-Fontenot

C-Hill

vs. Jordan Zimmerman(R)

CF-Fukudome
SS-Theriot
1B-Lee
3B-Ramirez
RF-Bradley

C-Fox
LF-Hoffpauir
2B-Fontenot

vs. Garrett Mock(R)

CF-Fukudome
SS-Theriot
1B-Lee
3B-Ramirez
RF-Hoffpauir
LF-Soriano
2B-Fontenot
C-Hill

Ryan's Hope

I think that was the name of a TV show in the 80s that I never watched. Anyway, we signed former Blue Jays and Orioles closer, B.J. Ryan. The good news: He's a lefty and would allow us to move Marshall to the roation until Dempter is back if we want. He had 3 great seasons-36 saves and a 2.43 ERA in 2005, 38 saves and a 1.37 ERA in 2006, and 32 saves with a 2.95 ERA in 2008. The bad news: He had ligament replacement surgery in 2007(but he did bounce back), he has been injured this year and has control and velocity problems(that is really not good), and he currently has a 6.53 ERA. He has given up 22 hits(5 HRs) and 17 walks in 20 and 2/3 innings. He's starting off in AAA Iowa. Overall, I'm glad we did it. Really why not?

Here We Go!

Here's to hoping we put it together in the 2nd half! All the pieces are there. Let's just hope that A. Soto and Dempster are back soon and B. Soriano and Bradley have huge turn arounds in the 2nd half! I'd still like to see Hoffpauir in RF, LF, and 1B vs. righties. Almost in a straight rotation until someone really shows they turn it around. If Soriano or Bradley really shows it, then only give him starts over the other one. If both do, turn him into our #1 left handed pinch hitter and give him spot starts when someone needs a day off. Use Fox as the back-up catcher until Soto is back and give him some starts to rest Ramirez. Maybe a couple for Fonsy too, then I guess he turns into our #1 pinch hitter. Still waiting to hear about B.J. Ryan, but kind of hope it happens. Looks like we're getting ready to face 3 lefties, so come one Soriano and Bradley!:

vs. Ross Detwiler(L)

CF-Johnson

SS-Theriot

1B-Lee

3B-Ramirez

RF-Bradley

LF-Soriano

2B-Baker

C-Hill

vs. John Lannan(L)

CF-Johnson(1-6)
SS-Theriot
1B-Lee(2-5, HR)
3B-Ramirez
RF-Bradley
LF-Soriano
C-Fox
2B-Baker(1-3)

vs. Scott Olsen(L)

CF-Johnson(2-6)
SS-Theriot
1B-Lee(2-8, HR)
3B-Ramirez(5-12, HR)
RF-Bradley
LF-Soriano(3-12)
2B-Baker(2-7)

C-Hill

All-Star Break

Well, I think it's safe to say that the major theme for the first half of the season was disappointment and injuries! I'm sure I'll miss some, but Soto, Marmol, Lee, Johnson, Ramirez, Zambrano, Harden, Bradley, and Dempster all missed significant time. Add to that that almost everyone got off to a bad start, and I think you have to agree that A. It's amazing we're only 3 and a 1/2 games out after all of these bad breaks and playing this bad and B. It's seriously unlikely we can continue to play this poorly! I don't like the fact that Soto and Dempster will not be healthy for the July 16th return, but there really is a lot of room for optimism. There are some pleasant surprises. Randy Wells would be a good place to start. Couple that with Lilly being an all-star, and I still think it's hard to beat our rotation. What do we do while Dempster is out? I say deal for a closer and move Marshall to the rotation, but Hart looked goods in his start, and we all know I'd love to see Samardzija get his shot at starting. Fox is a nice surprise. We just need him getting AB's. I say rotate him whenever we can. Give Ramirez a few days off. Use him as the back-up C until Soto is back. Obviously our #1 pinch hitter. We're going to have to figure out how to play him soon or deal him. I still like Hoffpauir too even though his average has really dipped. The blame can obviously be thrown at Bradley, Soriano, and Soto mostly. Now that D-Lee has found his stroke and Ramirez is back, you just have to believe that those 3 guys have to atleast get closer to what they should be doing at some point. If they do, I still say this lineup is deadly:

CF-Fukudome(Johnson vs. lefties)

SS-Theriot

1B-Lee(Hoffpauir with a few starts)

3B-Ramirez(Fox with a few starts)

RF-Bradley vs. lefties(I'd like to see Hoffpauir vs. most righties)

LF-Soriano(Hoffpauir with a few starts vs. some righties)

C-Soto(when he's back)

2B-platoon Baker/Fontenot

Fox and Hoffpauir would be our first 2 pinch-hitters. I still say with Fox, Hoffpauir, Fuld, a couple catching prospects, and some of our young arms that we have a lot of trade bait for an upgrade at 2B, CF, and the bullpen. Speaking of the bullpen, it obviously concerns me, but I like Guzman and Ascanio. Throw in Marmol if he ever gets right and Gregg. Marshall and I say Hart and Stevens.

Just when I was thinking we'd be to full strength with A-Ram, Johnson, and Guzman back, Soto goes down along with Dempster for 3-4 weeks! That is our strength I guess. I figured Marshall would take the spot and now they say Hart. Not too excited about that. Maybe we should have gotten Pedro? Just kidding! Maybe we pull the trigger to get Heath Bell and bring Marshall into the rotation until Dempster is back? I can't imagine that we're not close to making a real deal with these little deals that only make sense from a money stand point. We'll see. Anyway, I love this lineup now. Bradley is hitting a little, but I'd still like to see Hoffpauir vs. righties. Ramirez back, Fox a stud, Lee, Fukudome batting leadoff. I like it. We have to get Soriano to wake up and find Fox and Hoffpauir some at-bats. Obviously a huge series coming up vs. the Cards. Please pitch around Pujols! Yes, even you Big Z. Here's a look at the next few games and the match-ups although I'd prefer they have Hoffpauir in for Bradley and we need to get Fox some at-bats:

vs. Brad Thompson(R) (Sat.)
CF-Fukudome

SS-Theriot

1B-Lee

3B-Ramirez

RF-Bradley

LF-Soriano

C-Hill

2B-Fontenot

vs. Cris Carpenter(R) (Fri.)
CF-Fukudome

SS-Theriot

1B-Lee

3B-Ramirez

RF-Bradley

LF-Soriano

C-Hill

2B-Fontenot

vs. Wainwright

RF-Fukudome(.286, HR)

SS-Theriot(.250)

1B-Lee(.261)

3B-Ramirez(.400, HR)

LF-Hoffpauir(1-5)-Soriano = 4-22, Bradley 0-4

CF-Johnson(2-3)

2B-Fontenot(.286)

C-Hill(0-3)

vs. Lohse

CF-Fukudome(3-9)

SS-Theriot(10-19)

1B-Lee(.389)

3B-Ramirez(7-13, HR)

LF-Soriano(.378, 2HR)

RF-Hoffpauir(1-2)-Bradley = 3-12

C-Hill

2B-Blanco(2-6)

Rain Delay...Bored...

If you could make the lineups and roster decisions(assuming we can't trade) what would you do? Can you imagine a lineup like this?

CF-Fukudome(vs. right)/Johnson(vs. left)

SS-Theriot

1B-Lee(maybe Hoffpauir here and there vs. right)

3B-Ramirez

2B-Fox-I know, but what if he could be there?

RF-Bradley(vs. left)/Hoffpauir(vs. right)-I know they won't do this, but I would!

LF-Soriano(maybe even rotate he and Bradley to sit vs. righties for Hoffpauir)

C-Soto

Soto as your 8th batter!? Now that's 10 players. Who would your other 2 or 3 roster players be? I assume Hill and who else? Blanco, Fuld, Baker? I say Baker and that's it.

Then...

Zambrano

Harden

Dempster

Lilly

Wells

Gregg

Marmol

Marshall

Guzman

Who else? Heilman? Ascanio? Hart? Samardzija?

Maybe It's Time?

Just when I was thinking we'd be to full strength with A-Ram, Johnson, and Guzman back, Dempster goes down for 3-4 weeks! That is our strength I guess. I figured Marshall would take the spot and now they say Hart. Not too excited about that. Maybe we should have gotten Pedro? Just kidding! Maybe we pull the trigger to get Heath Bell and bring Marshall into the rotation until Dempster is back? I can't imagine that we're not close to making a real deal with these little deals that only make sense from a money stand point. We'll see. Anyway, I love this lineup now. Soto seems to have woken up, Bradley is hitting a little, but I'd still like to see Hoffpauir vs. righties. Ramirez back, Fox a stud, Lee, Fukudome batting leadoff. I like it. We have to get Soriano to wake up and find Fox and hoffpauir some at-bats. Obviously a huge series coming up vs. the Cards. Here's a look at the next few games and the match-ups although I'd prefer they have Hoffpauir in for Bradley and we need to get Fox some at-bats:

vs. Kenshin Kawakami(R)

CF-Fukudome

SS-Theriot

1B-Lee

3B-Ramirez

RF-Bradley

LF-Soriano

C-Soto

2B-Fontenot

vs. Brad Thompson(R)

CF-Fukudome
SS-Theriot
1B-Lee
3B-Ramirez
RF-Bradley
LF-Soriano
C-Soto
2B-Fontenot

vs. Cris Carpenter(R)

CF-Fukudome
SS-Theriot
1B-Lee
3B-Ramirez
RF-Bradley
LF-Soriano
C-Soto
2B-Fontenot