Monday, July 03, 2006
Soriano - All-Star
A day late and all that, but I just noticed that article on Nationals.com about Soriano and his historic All-Star selection. I was slightly confused, I mean it's great an all that he was selected, but historic? Then I clicked on the link and noticed what the title was referencing. Soriano, Stan Musial, Pete Rose, and Robin Yount were all All-Stars in more than one position. That's the list, the complete and unabridged list of players selected to the All-Star team for more than 1 position, according to Bill Ladson. Wasn't Cal Ripken selected as both a SS and a 3B (different years)? Ladson Article. According to Baseball-Reference.com, Ripken was an All-Star each year from 1983-2001. He played SS from 1983-1996 (All-Star years, and 6 games at 3B in 1996 and 3 games at SS in 1997). He then played 3B from 1997-2001 (with some DH work in 2000-2001). So, that Ladson article does not include an exhaustive list of the players selected to the All-Star team in more than 1 position.
Oh, and the Nationals won the Devil Rays series 2-1 and will now host the third place Florida Marlins (35-43) for four games, and then the NL West first place San Diego Padres (42-39) will stop by for three games to finish out the first half of the 2006 baseball season. The Padres will first face the Phillies for three games in Philly. Hopefully the Padres will sweep the Phillies and then get swept by the Nationals. The worst the Nationals can do is end up with a record of 35-55 for the first half of 2006, and the best they can do, now, is end up with a record of 42-48 for the first half. Lose all, win all.
Tonight
Rookie RHP Ricky Nolasco (6-4, 3.26 in 8 GS, 19 total games) will pitch for the Marlins, and Pedro Julio Astacio will make his Nationals debut. He has a career record of 124-119, 4.61 era, in 326 games started. 2106.1 innings pitched, with 2183 hits, 1080 earned runs, 277 home-runs given up, 695 walks, and 1622 strike-outs. In the last three seasons, Pedro has pitched for the Mets, Red Sox, Rangers, and the Padres. In that three year stretch, he amassed a record of 9-12 in 30 games started.
According to the probable pitchers information provided on Nationals.com, Pedro is taking the place of Shawn Hill in today's start. Hill was placed on the 15-day DL on 7/1/06, and Pedro was activated from the 60-Day DL. Meanwhile, RHP Santiago Ramirez was released.
July 4th:
Likely: LHP Scott Olsen (6-4, 4.26) against RHP John Patterson (1-2, 4.41).
Olsen had 3 good, low-era, starts in April (2.12 April ERA), raised his ERA to a height of 6.64 in 6 starts in May (before lowering it to 5.83; in May, his ERA was 7.98), and gave up only 8 earned runs in June to lower his ERA to 4.26 (2.12 ERA in June). This is Olsen's first start in July. Will his July be like April and June, or like May?
Wednesday
TBA vs. Michael O'Connor (3-5, 3.77)
After a rocky start in his last appearance, O'Connor has something to prove on Wednesday.
Thursday:
LHP Dontrelle Willis (5-7, 3.96) vs. Livan Hernandez (6-8, 5.46)
Willis' first win this season came off of a Nationals loss, and has recently improved his performance.
Friday:
RHP Woody Williams (3-1, 3.04) vs. Ramon Ortiz (6-6, 4.90)
This will be Williams second start after coming off of the DL. His last start before the DL stint occurred on May 12th. Since then he pitched on July 1st. He pitched six solid innings, giving up just 1 run off of 8 hits and 1 home-run, and struck-out 4.
Oh, and the Nationals won the Devil Rays series 2-1 and will now host the third place Florida Marlins (35-43) for four games, and then the NL West first place San Diego Padres (42-39) will stop by for three games to finish out the first half of the 2006 baseball season. The Padres will first face the Phillies for three games in Philly. Hopefully the Padres will sweep the Phillies and then get swept by the Nationals. The worst the Nationals can do is end up with a record of 35-55 for the first half of 2006, and the best they can do, now, is end up with a record of 42-48 for the first half. Lose all, win all.
Tonight
Rookie RHP Ricky Nolasco (6-4, 3.26 in 8 GS, 19 total games) will pitch for the Marlins, and Pedro Julio Astacio will make his Nationals debut. He has a career record of 124-119, 4.61 era, in 326 games started. 2106.1 innings pitched, with 2183 hits, 1080 earned runs, 277 home-runs given up, 695 walks, and 1622 strike-outs. In the last three seasons, Pedro has pitched for the Mets, Red Sox, Rangers, and the Padres. In that three year stretch, he amassed a record of 9-12 in 30 games started.
According to the probable pitchers information provided on Nationals.com, Pedro is taking the place of Shawn Hill in today's start. Hill was placed on the 15-day DL on 7/1/06, and Pedro was activated from the 60-Day DL. Meanwhile, RHP Santiago Ramirez was released.
July 4th:
Likely: LHP Scott Olsen (6-4, 4.26) against RHP John Patterson (1-2, 4.41).
Olsen had 3 good, low-era, starts in April (2.12 April ERA), raised his ERA to a height of 6.64 in 6 starts in May (before lowering it to 5.83; in May, his ERA was 7.98), and gave up only 8 earned runs in June to lower his ERA to 4.26 (2.12 ERA in June). This is Olsen's first start in July. Will his July be like April and June, or like May?
Wednesday
TBA vs. Michael O'Connor (3-5, 3.77)
After a rocky start in his last appearance, O'Connor has something to prove on Wednesday.
Thursday:
LHP Dontrelle Willis (5-7, 3.96) vs. Livan Hernandez (6-8, 5.46)
Willis' first win this season came off of a Nationals loss, and has recently improved his performance.
Friday:
RHP Woody Williams (3-1, 3.04) vs. Ramon Ortiz (6-6, 4.90)
This will be Williams second start after coming off of the DL. His last start before the DL stint occurred on May 12th. Since then he pitched on July 1st. He pitched six solid innings, giving up just 1 run off of 8 hits and 1 home-run, and struck-out 4.
