Power Pros Forum

There hasn't been much to root for in our nation's Capital since the Washington Nationals moved in in 2005. After finishing last in their first two seasons in D.C., the Nationals stole fourth place last year from the Marlins. There isn't a whole lot to expect from the Nationals this season, as the N.L. East is one of the toughest in baseball, featuring last year's Eastern Champion Philadelphia Phillies, the New York Mets, who won the Division in 2006, and the Atlanta Braves, who took the Division crown for 14 straight seasons. But hey, there's always the Marlins to beat up. The Nationals have a new stadium, but it's looking like the same old team. Many have this team finishing at 4th place.

ROSTER (You may choose 2-3 players as agents)

SP Matt Chico 91/D/B
SP Tim Redding 93/D/B
SP Shawn Hill 91/D/B
SP Odalis Perez 91/C/B
SP Michael O'Connor 89/E/A
RP Saul Rivera 92/C/E
RP Ryan Wagner 92/E/E
RP Jesus Colome 98/C/E
RP Chris Schroder 93/B/E
RP Luis Ayala 95/B/E
RP Jon Rauch 93/B/E
CP Chad Cordero 93/C/E

C Paul Lo Duca 2/D/C/E/D/D/C
C Johnny Estrada 2/D/C/F/D/D/B
1B Nick Johnson 3/C/A/D/B/C/D
1B/LF Dmitri Young 2/C/B/D/F/F/G
2B Ronnie Belliard 2/D/B/D/E/D/D
3B Ryan Zimmerman 3/D/B/D/B/C/B
SS Christian Guzman 2/D/D/B/F/C/B
2B/SS Felipe Lopez 2/E/D/C/D/C/E
OF Wily Mo Pena 3/E/C/D/D/E/D
CF Elijah Dukes 3/G/D/D/C/C/C
OF Lastings Milledge 2/E/D/B/E/E/D
RF Austin Kearns 3/D/C/D/D/C/C
OF Rob Mackowiak 2/D/D/D/E/D/D

The Nationals open up the 2008 Season at their new ballpark, against the Atlanta Braves.

I'll take Cordero and Zimmerman

And I'll also take Elijah Dukes temporarily in hopes that ED44 will come back to claim him

I will take the left side of the infield:
1B Nick Johnson 3/C/A/D/B/C/D
1B/LF Dmitri Young 2/C/B/D/F/F/G
2B Ronnie Belliard 2/D/B/D/E/D/D

Opening Day - 3/30/08 vs Atlanta Braves
Ryan Zimmerman's sixth inning RBI single gave Washington the opening day win.

The Nationals got a strong performance from Tim Redding, who pitched six innings of shutout baseball to earn the win. The Nationals bullpen got the final nine outs, and although Chad Cordero got into some trouble in the ninth, he pitched out of it to secure the save and the Nationals' victory. Washington's offense didn't score often against John Smoltz, but used good small ball to get runners into scoring position, and Nick Johnson scored a run on a sac fly, and Ryan Zimmerman came through with the go ahead single in the sixth. Below is a play-by-play summary of the game, as I was too bored to make a box score.

TOP 1
Tim Redding pitching for Washington
Kelly Johnson single to right
Yunel Escobar strikeout looking
Chipper Jones pop to short
Mark Teixeira fly out to right

BOT 1
John Smoltz pitching for Atlanta
Christian Guzman groundout to second
Paul Lo Duca groundout to short
Ryan Zimmerman groundout to third

TOP 2
Brian McCann groundout to first
Jeff Francouer groundout to pitcher
Matt Diaz single to left
Mark Kotsay groundout to pitcher

BOT 2
Nick Johnson groundout to first
Austin Kearns groundout to second
Ronnie Belliard popout to second

TOP 3
John Smoltz groundout to short
Kelly Johnson single to center
Yunel Escobar groundout to third, Johnson advances to second
Chipper Jones flyout to right

BOT 3
Wily Mo Pena single to right
Elijah Dukes bunt ground out to third, Mo Pena advances to second
Tim Redding groundout to second, Mo Pena advances to third
Christian Guzman strikeout swinging

TOP 4
Mark Teixeira strikeout swinging
Brian McCann infield single to shortstop
Jeff Francouer groundout to shortstop, double play

BOT 4
Paul Lo Duca single to centerfield
Ryan Zimmerman single to centerfield, Lo Duca advances to third, Zimmerman caught advancing to second
Nick Johnson out on a sacrifice fly to left field. Lo Duca scores
Austin Kearns groundout to pitcher

TOP 5
Matt Diaz strikeout swinging
Mark Kotsay strikeout swinging
John Smoltz groundout to third

BOT 5
Ronnie Belliard groundout to second
Wily Mo Pena pop out to second
Elijah Dukes pop out to first

TOP 6
Kelly Johnson pop out to shortstop
Yunel Escobar line out to pitcher
Chipper Jones ground out to first

BOT 6
Felipe Lopez pinch hits for Tim Redding
Felipe Lopes hits an infield single to third
Christian Guzman bunt grounds out to pitcher. Lopez advances to second.
Paul Lo Duca pop out to first
Ryan Zimmerman single to right field. Lopez scores
Nick Johnson groundout to second

TOP 7
Brian Schroder pitching for Washington
Mark Teixeira ground out to second
Brian McCann ground out to shortstop
Jeff Francoeur strike out swinging

BOT 7
Austin Kearns singles to center
Ronnie Belliard grounds into a force out to pitcher. Austin Kearns out at second. Belliard safe at first.
Wily Mo Pena grounds into a double play to second.

TOP 8
Jon Rauch pitching for Washington
Matt Diaz grounds out to second
Mark Kotsay singles to right field
Ruben Gotay pinch runs for Kotsay
John Smoltz grounds into a double play to third

BOT 8
Gregor Blanco replaces Gotay in CF
Elijah Dukes flies out to left
Johnny Estrada pinch hits for Rauch
Johnny Estrada grounds out to short stop
Christian Guzman grounds out to second

TOP 9
Chad Cordero pitching for Washington
Kelly Johnson grounds out to second
Yunel Escobar grounds out to second
Chipper Jones doubles to left-center field
Mark Teixeira doubles to right-center field. Jones scores
Brian McCann intentionally walked
Martin Prado pinch runs for McCann
Jeff Francoeur pops out to second

Nationals win 2-1

3/31/08 @ Philadelphia PhilliesNick Johnson rounds third after hitting the game-winning homer in extras.

It took extra innings, but the Nationals pulled off the upset of last year's division champion Phillies by a score of 6-3. Odalis Perez out dueled Cole Hamels, and Washington led 3-1 into the ninth, but Chad Cordero blew the save. It took until the 12th for another team to strike again, and it was the Nationals scoring three runs on Nick Johnson's second home run of the day. Chris Schroder got the save and gave Washington back-to-back wins to start the season.

TOP 1
Cole Hamels pitching for Philadelphia
Christian Guzman doubles to center field
Paul Lo Duca lines into a double play to first
Ryan Zimmerman flies out to center field

BOT 1
Odalis Perez pitching for Washington
Jimmy Rollins strikes out swinging
Shane Victorino pops out to catcher
Chase Utley grounds out to shortstop

TOP 2
Nick Johnson homers to left field
Austin Kearns grounds out to second
Ronnie Belliard flies out to right
Wily Mo Pena singles to center field
Elijah Dukes singles to right field. Mo Pena advances to third
Odalis Perez grounds out to shortstop

BOT 2
Ryan Howard grounds out to shortstop
Pat Burrell singles to center field
Geoff Jenkins singles to right field. Burrell advances to second
Pedro Feliz strikes out swinging
Carlos Ruiz strikes out swinging

TOP 3
Christian Guzman grounds out to second
Paul Lo Duca singles to right field
Ryan Zimmerman doubles to right-center field. Lo Duca advances to third
Nick Johnson pops out to catcher
Austin Kearns singles to left field. Lo Duca scores. Zimmerman scores
Ronnie Belliard singles to right field. Kearns advances to second
Wily Mo Pena grounds out to second

BOT 3
Cole Hamels pops out to catcher
Jimmy Rollins pops out to catcher
Shane Victorino strikes out swinging

TOP 4
Elijah Dukes flies out to left field
Odalis Perez pops out to shortstop
Christian Guzman singles to right field
Paul Lo Duca grounds out to shortstop

BOT 4
Chase Utley flies out to left field
Ryan Howard reaches on error by second baseman
Pat Burrell flies out to center field
Geoff Jenkins grounds out to first

TOP 5
Ryan Zimmerman grounds out to shortstop
Nick Johnson flies out to left field
Austin Kearns grounds out to first

BOT 5
Pedro Feliz grounds out to short stop
Carlos Ruiz pops out to pitcher
Cole Hamels lines out to second

TOP 6
Ronnie Belliard grounds out to pitcher
Wily Mo Pena singles to right field
Elijah Dukes grounds into a double play to first

BOT 6
Johnny Estrada replaces Paul Lo Duca due to injury
Jimmy Rollins flies out to left field
Shane Victorino singles to center field
Chase Utley singles to left field. Victorino advances to second
Jayson Werth pinch hits for Ryan Howard (???)
Jayson Werth strikes out looking
Pat Burrell grounds out to third

TOP 7
Greg Dobbs replaces Jayson Werth at first base. Jason Werth replaces Geoff Jenkins in right field.
Dmitri Young pinch hits for Odalis Perez
Dmitri Young flies out to right field
Christian Guzman singles to center field
Johnny Estrada grounds into a force out to second base. Guzman out at second. Estrada safe at first
Ryan Zimmerman flies out to right field.

BOT 7
Jesus Colome pitching for Washington
Greg Dobbs grounds out to first
Pedro Feliz grounds out to shortstop
Carlos Ruiz singles to right field
Cole Hamels singles to center field. Ruiz advances to second
Jimmy Rollins flies out to center field

TOP 8
Nick Johnson grounds out to second
Austin Kearns pops out to catcher
Ronnie Belliard singles to left field
Wily Mo Pena singles to center field. Belliard advances to second
Elijah Dukes grounds out to second

BOT 8
Jon Rauch pitching for Washington
Shane Victorino grounds out to first
Chase Utley singles to left field
Jayson Werth grounds into a force out to second base. Utley out at second. Werth safe at first
Pat Burrell singles to right field. Werth advances to third
Greg Dobbs hits an infield single to shortstop. Werth scores. Burrell advances to second
Chris Snelling pinch runs for Burrell
Pedro Feliz strikes out swinging

TOP 9
Ryan Madson pitching for Philadelphia
Lastings Milledge pinch hits for Jon Rauch
Lastings Milledge strikes out swinging
Christian Guzman grounds out to third
Johnny Estrada grounds out to shortstop

BOT 9
Chad Cordero pitching for Washington
Carlos Ruiz singles to right field
Chris Coste pinch hits for Ryan Madson
Chris Coste singles to right field. Ruiz advances to second
Jimmy Rollins strikes out swinging
Shane Victorino singles to center field. Ruiz scores. Coste advances to third
Chase Utley singles to center field. Coste scores. Victorino advances to third. Utley out advancing to second.
Jayson Werth grounds out to first

TOP 10
Rudy Seanez pitching for Philadelphia
Chris Coste replaces Carlos Ruiz at catcher
Ryan Zimmerman singles to center field
Nick Johnson singles to left field. Zimmerman advances to second
Austin Kearns singles to center field. Zimmerman out at home
Ronnie Belliard grounds into a double play to second

BOT 10
Chris Snelling grounds out to third
Greg Dobbs flies out to center field
Pedro Feliz grounds out to short stop

TOP 11
Wily Mo Pena singles to right field
Elijah Dukes out on a sacrifice bunt to third. Mo Pena to second
Rob Mackowiak pinch hits for Chad Cordero
Rob Mackowiak strikes out swinging
Christian Guzman lines out to short stop

BOT 11
Luis Ayala now pitching for Washington
Rudy Seanez grounds out to second
Chris Coste strikes out swinging
Jimmy Rollins lines out to pitcher

TOP 12
Johnny Estrada doubles to center field
Ryan Zimmerman singles to right field
Nick Johnson homers to left field. Estrada scores. Zimmerman scores
Brad Lidge pitching for Philadelphia
Austin Kearns flies out to right field
J.C. Romero pitching for Philadelphia
Ronnie Belliard grounds out to first
Wily Mo Pena grounds out to second

BOT 12
Chris Schroder pitching for Washington
Shane Victorino pops out to shortstop
Chase Utley singles to right field
Jayson Werth flies out to center field
Chris Snelling grounds out to short stop

I like the update style!

Bravo duder. High class all the way with LGM.

I'll take Estrada and Guzman

J.C. Romero pitching for Philadelphia
I hate him, and Philadelphia so why didn't you destroy them?

Hate is a strong word boy, use better diction!!! You have lots to learn, son!

I thought the ED was an acronym for Eric Davis? or am I missing some back story to Dukes?

Why arent you tanking them yet?

This particular form of ED on the forum is generally used for EricDavis44. However, he did make a whole persona behind Elijah Dukes in a season log back in the day. So, that's probably what AgentP is getting at with this comment.

ED44 is for Eric Davis, yeah. But if I'm not mistaken ED44 also was the agent for Elijah Dukes in logs, including redsfan's Reds and probably a Nationals one before that.

Yep, what Nick and dish said above me is correct