Cogitations and Reflections: Red Sox In Town

It's been a while since I last posted. Baseball season here in Washington has been slow but in the past week it seems things may be turning around. At least the talk about our challenging the 1962 Mets' record had eased since we began playing the AL East teams. Nevertheless, a few pics and commentary from last night's game and then I'll catch up with pics from the season so far (and some other events as well, including some of the pics I owe from the missing couple of days in Ireland).

It's easier to begin with a win; particularly a nice win like last night and the convincing 9-3 defeat of Smoltz. It was the first game on the mound for Smoltz after his release from Atlanta and rehab. The Boston reporters tend to minimize the loss for him but the Nats have beaten him before and there were enough runs scored from the Boston bullpen after Smoltz left that the Nats would have won anyway forgetting about the 4 run 1st inning. This was the only Boston game we attended and as the Nats lost the other two it was just as well. This was the 3rd consecutive record crowd and, in large part, thanks to the Red Sox fans. Fortunately, after the 4 run 1st inning they were somewhat subdued. In the seats directly in front of us were a couple of Sox fans who started off challenging the worst in me. The fellow was wearing his Sox cap but also an "Ireland" jersey. He had one of these shrill whistles that not only rings the ears but sends out vibrations... and we were right behind him. It was difficult but the 4 runs in the first were like good aspirin for a headache. He was much more tempered as the game went on and the two were gone by the 7th inning. After a while it seemed the game became less interesting and they became more interested in each other. Not a distraction in the lest as the Nats (and Jordan Zimmermann) kept our attention.

It appeared that many STH had unloaded tickets on stubhub or elsewhere and as we learned - "for a profit." It's nice to know that some capitalism remains, particularly here in DC. I'm not certain how many of the fans were Sox fans but I can say the 4 run 1st was a godsend. It was nice to see the stadium packed and I long for the day when Nats fans keep their tickets, can buy out the remaining ones, and can fill the park as the Caps did this year at the Verizon Center.

Before the game a meeting on the field between Adam Dunn and David "Big Papi" Ortiz, neither of whom had a game worth wring home about.

"Big Papi" has a wonderful smile but best evidenced before games and not after, at least when playing the Nats.

The day and the game really belonged to Jordan Zimmermann, the 22 year old from Auburndale, Wisconsin, near Marshfield, which then, of course, means near Eau Claire, Altoona, Chippewa Falls and so on... No wonder he can throw hard!

He had a masterful game giving up 1 run in 7 innings, striking out 6 and walking only 1. When I was checking he reached 95 and was in the low 90s most of the game with the exception of his change-up.

Nick Johnson wasn't long for the game. This was a play made early in the game (top of the 1st) and gave me a chance to use a little natural lighting. Night games are terrible for pics as the lighting at Nats Park is not as good as it was at RFK. I've concluded that the surface is darker and doesn't afford enough reflection. Bring back the old days at Wrigley and before that at most parks when day games ruled - at least for the sake of photography. Back to Nick - as in the bottom of the first he was hit by a Smoltz pitch in his shin and after eventually scoring left the game.

The next two pics are the very delivery by Smoltz when Nick was hit. Nick has a very open stance and brings his right foot in toward the plate in anticipation of his swing. That was his undoing. Although Nick has been "fragile" in the past all Nats' fans hope the swelling is down this morning and he'll soon be back. Dunn took over 1st base and played flawlessly.

One of those great moments! "Big Papi" fanned by Zimmermann. The ump was slow with his hands and I missed the ump's call but what happened is clear enough from "Big Papi's" expression.

In the 6th inning with Willie Harris and Anderson Hernandez on 1st and 2nd, J. Zimmermann came to bat in an obvious bunting situation. He laid down a "beaut" and the Boston relief pitcher, Daniel Bard (no relation to our Josh), failed to field it. His excuse in this morning's Boston Globe was that he was concentrating on making a play at 3rd but when he went to field the ball everyone was shouting 1st and in trying to turn himself around to make a play at 1st, he lost grasp of the ball. Zimmermann was safe; the bases were loaded; and Cristian Guzman promptly singled home Harris and Hernandez.

Unfortunately I was on the wrong side for a good pic but this in some fashion shows the unusual batting stance of Kevin Youkilis. His right hand is up on the bat which is pointed at the pitcher. His right hand contact with the bat is with fingers. He will bring the hand (and fingers) down in preparation for swinging but it is most unconventional. He went hitless as a pinch hitter.

Ryan Zimmerman had an outstanding game in the field. It seemed that there was a spectacular play in every inning. He was leaping, diving, throwing off balance, and doing everything necessary to defend the "hot box." Here he had charged a ball only to have it take a strange hop on him. He adjusted and made the out.

Tyler Clippard, brought up from Syracuse 2 days ago, appeared in relief in both the 8th and 9th innings. He did give up 2 harmless runs in the 9th on a home run to PH Rocco Baldelli but otherwise none of our all too frequent (this year) bullpen collapses occurred.