Winston-Salem, NC -- Before I expand on my Opening Day thoughts in a separate blog, I wanted to make this point. The Nats won a thrilling opener, 3-2, thanks to some late inning heroics by the franchise cornerstone, Ryan Zimmerman. It was, quite possibly, the best way to christen a brand new ballpark. Conversely, the Orioles opened their season yesterday with a 6-2 loss to the Rays. According to separate reports, the ballpark was 2/3 full. The energy and emotion inside of Camden Yards appeared to have been sucked out and infused along the banks of the Anacostia River in DC.
Maybe this was a sign to Peter Angelos that "this is what you get" for trying to implement an artificial blockade around DC to prevent a MLB franchise from moving there. Those days of sucking DC dollars are over. If ol' Peter had kept his hands to himself, his team may actually be contending, rather than initiating another rebuilding year. Yes, the Nats would have came to town regardless, but at least the Orioles could compete for the region's fans because their product on the field would be contending (and entertaining).
I don't mean to keep taking shots at ol' Peter, but sometimes it's too easy. The Nats have their own flaws, but when that farm system begins to reap the rewards of building through the draft and trading pricey veterans; look out NL East!
By refusing to catch the President's opening pitch on Sunday night, Paul Lo Duca (admitted steroid user) missed the opportunity to practice one more warm-up pitch. Maybe he would have prevented that passed ball in the 9th inning if he had the one extra practice throw. Food for thought.
7 comments:
Are you saying that b/c Paul LoDuca is an admitted steriod user, he no longer can express his desire to not catch a ball from one of the worst people of our times? I wonder if you would have that same food for thought had it been Clinton he was refusing to catch.
His use of steroids and refusing to catch the opening ball are not to be linked.
I'm saying that the passed ball wouldn't have occurred if he had properly warmed up, i.e. catching a warm up ball.
Ok listen here you real life Stephen Colbert...that "warm up ball" was very slow, way up and to the left, forcing the manager to stand up and catch it. You might have had a case if it were in the dirt.
By the way, I only support 3rd and 4th parties.
Lo Duca would have stretched his legs better catching the President's ball. He was too stiff in his attempt to catch Rauch's pitch, which led to the passed ball.
Ok fair enuff. Sorry about the Stephen Colbert comment.
Do you think Jesus Colome talked to the President at all that game and got some pointers on how to throw 4 straight balls to lose the game?
At least the President didn't bounce the pitch.
The Nats should be 4-0. You can't blow a 5-0 lead, even if those 5 runs came in the 1st.
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