From Nationals.com (Bill Ladson): “Center fielder Nook Logan suffered a hyperextended left foot, while shortstop Cristian Guzman suffered a mild left hamstring strain. Both players are listed as day to day.” It is noted that Kory Castro could be called up if Logan goes on the DL.

Also: “The Guzman injury appears to be a lot worse” and if he can’t play “second baseman Felipe Lopez will move over to short and Ronnie Belliard will be the second baseman.” Lopez is quoted as noting that he Lopez doesn’t want to move again.

Tonight: RHP Shawn Hill vs. LHP Scott Olsen.

Olsen has started 35 games in the majors, and has amassed a record of 13-11, with an ERA of 4.03. 201 IP, 187 Ks, 85 BB.

Hill started 3 games in 2004, but only made it to a total of 9 innings. 1-2 record and 16.00 ERA. In 2006, he started 6 games, and did much better - appearing in 36.2 IP 16 K 12 BB 4.66 ERA (1 W 3 L).

First game of the season is over. Nationals lost. Patterson lasts just 3.2 innings (80 pitches) before being pulled for a rule 5 pick-up. Patterson gave up 6 runs to start the season with an ERA of 14.73. Jimmy LeVale Speigner finished the fourth, and pitched the fifth and sixth innings, giving up just 1 run to leave the game with an ERA of 3.86. Bowie came in for the 7th inning, and gave up 2 runs, leaving with an ERA of 18.00. Jesus Colome then came in to pitch the 8th inning and 9th, and while he gave up 2 walks, he also struck out one batter, and didn’t give up a hit or a run. It wasn’t pretty (30 pitches, 16 strikes, 14 balls), but Colome ended up the only pitcher on the Nationals side to not give up a run. Shortstop Josh Wilson to first baseman Dmitri Young for the last out in the top of the 9th inning. Wilson to Young?

On the Marlins side - Willis left after 100 pitches, and 6 innings, after giving up just 1 earned run (and 1 unearned), off of 1 walk and 7 hits, while also striking out 3 (1.50 ERA). Some guy named Jorge Julio came in to “close” for the Marlins. Yes, yes, I recall, Julio was the O’s closer back when I paid attention to the O’s. Jorge made it interesting, walking Church, and throwing 13 pitches in the 9th (8 balls, 5 strikes), but the Nationals scored no runs in the 9th.

Batting - Young hit two doubles, and Zimmerman hit a triple. Logan left the game with his batting average at 1.000 (1 for 1; he came out injured). I’m not certain, but Guzman apparently injuried himself swinging, and missing, the baseball. I’ll have to look later to see what happened with Guzman. He left the game 0 for 3.

John Patterson vs. Dontrelle Willis

Florida up in second inning. Scored 1 run in top of first to lead off game (After 1.2 innings, Patterson has an ERA of 16.20 according to the GameDay log).

Line-Up: Nationals:
Lopez, Felipe 2B
Gusman, SS
Zimmerman, 3B
Kearns, RF
Young, 1B
Schneider, C
Church, LF
Logan, CF
Patterson, P

So far: Zimmeran got his first hit of 2007 in his first at-bat with 2 out, and Kearns immediately got his 1st LOB when he got the third out of the inning.

Giving up 2 more runs in the Second, Patterson's ERA drops to 13.50. Nationals now up in the Second, with Young leading off with a ground out. Schneider up for his first time in 2007. 2 strikes 2 balls. 5th pitch, in play, Out (Ground out). Church up for first time. Called strike. Ball, low, outside corner. Another called strike. . . . Now full count. another foul. 8 pitches so far thrown to Church. Another ball - Church walks with 2 out. Logan up for first time in 2007. Ball, in the dirt, can't really tell with GameDay. 3rd pitch - IN PLAY, NO OUT - ground ball to center - Church to 2B, Logan to 1B. Pitcher Patterson up. 2 strikes. Swinging strike - inning over.

. . . .

Game continues, I return to watching . . . and not "talking" . . .