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Nats Bounce Back to Sweep Season Series from Sox
Posted by Steve Elliott at Jul 20, 2004 5:00PM PDT
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By Steve Elliott
If the adage is true, and good pitching beats good hitting, what does great pitching do to average hitting? How about 13 strikeouts, 3 hits, and 1 run! If not for an overmatched and overwhelmed home plate umpire, the results would have been even more extreme.
Brandon Kellbach turned in another dominant performance on Tuesday night at Zirkel Field, reversing a Nationals' skid and leading the team to a 9-4 victory over the rival White Sox. Though Brandon struck out 13 in 8 innings of work, the number could have been greater. Brandon's velocity and sharp, late-breaking curve froze the plate official on numerous occasions, extending White Sock at bats unnecessarily. Despite the challenges of an arbitrary strike zone, Brandon continued to prove himself as a worthy acquisition to the squad.
Offensively, the team started slowly. After quiet first and second innings, though, the team posted a crooked number to take the lead. After Mike Wajerski was thrown out at third trying to stretch his leadoff double, Kellen Haynes stepped up and ripped a double of his own. Alex Franson's bloop single then put runners at the corners.
Aggressive play then benefited the team. Franson broke early from first on a steal attempt, attracting the attention of starting pitcher, Paul Jungbauer. With his back to third, he delivered the ball to shortstop Andy Tuler. During the exchange, Kellen Haynes broke from third for home. Safe on a close play, the Nats successfully executed the double steal, opening the flood gates. James Herkowski, Joe Reisinger, Brian Gibson, and Jake Paige all contributed RBI singles and the Nats were comfortably ahead 5-0. This proved to be more than enough for staff ace, Brandon Kellbach.
Ahead 9-1 in the ninth, Tim Ustruck relieved Kellbach. The Sox rallied for three, but the deficit proved to big to overcome.
Next up is the regular season finale versue the regular season champion Milwaukee Angels. Game time is 7PM Saturday at Zirkel Field.
If the adage is true, and good pitching beats good hitting, what does great pitching do to average hitting? How about 13 strikeouts, 3 hits, and 1 run! If not for an overmatched and overwhelmed home plate umpire, the results would have been even more extreme.
Brandon Kellbach turned in another dominant performance on Tuesday night at Zirkel Field, reversing a Nationals' skid and leading the team to a 9-4 victory over the rival White Sox. Though Brandon struck out 13 in 8 innings of work, the number could have been greater. Brandon's velocity and sharp, late-breaking curve froze the plate official on numerous occasions, extending White Sock at bats unnecessarily. Despite the challenges of an arbitrary strike zone, Brandon continued to prove himself as a worthy acquisition to the squad.
Offensively, the team started slowly. After quiet first and second innings, though, the team posted a crooked number to take the lead. After Mike Wajerski was thrown out at third trying to stretch his leadoff double, Kellen Haynes stepped up and ripped a double of his own. Alex Franson's bloop single then put runners at the corners.
Aggressive play then benefited the team. Franson broke early from first on a steal attempt, attracting the attention of starting pitcher, Paul Jungbauer. With his back to third, he delivered the ball to shortstop Andy Tuler. During the exchange, Kellen Haynes broke from third for home. Safe on a close play, the Nats successfully executed the double steal, opening the flood gates. James Herkowski, Joe Reisinger, Brian Gibson, and Jake Paige all contributed RBI singles and the Nats were comfortably ahead 5-0. This proved to be more than enough for staff ace, Brandon Kellbach.
Ahead 9-1 in the ninth, Tim Ustruck relieved Kellbach. The Sox rallied for three, but the deficit proved to big to overcome.
Next up is the regular season finale versue the regular season champion Milwaukee Angels. Game time is 7PM Saturday at Zirkel Field.
Newcomer Earns Respect of Teammates
Posted by Steve Elliott at Jul 18, 2004 5:00PM PDT
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Less than a week earlier, Brandon Kellbach was enjoying the benefits of professional baseball - well-lit fields, clean uniforms, manicured infields, and sloped, clay pitching mounds.
Fast forward to Friday July 9. Brandon, now the newest National, takes the field in undersized dance pants and skull cap of a hat. As he begins his warmups, he looks around for a bullpen mound. There is none to be found. The sun begins to set and the field takes on a strange glow. The softball lights are positioned at a lower angles, highlighting the strange cut of infield grass. Brandon will soon take the mound on a field strangely configured for both baseball and softball games.
A prima donna would have complained, or worse, walked. Brandon is no prima donna. He showed his 'mates that his only concern was winning baseball games. The game began and Brandon quickly showed that the "obstacles" were mere hurdles to success. Racine batters were overmatched. No, it was not that they had inferior equipment. They were not swinging broomhandles. Brandon just made it look that way.
Staked to a 3-0 first inning lead, Brandon powered the squad to its only win of the week. Facing a potent Racine lineup, Brandon struck out 12. His debut was an impressive shutout.
Congrats and welcome aboard Brandon.
Fast forward to Friday July 9. Brandon, now the newest National, takes the field in undersized dance pants and skull cap of a hat. As he begins his warmups, he looks around for a bullpen mound. There is none to be found. The sun begins to set and the field takes on a strange glow. The softball lights are positioned at a lower angles, highlighting the strange cut of infield grass. Brandon will soon take the mound on a field strangely configured for both baseball and softball games.
A prima donna would have complained, or worse, walked. Brandon is no prima donna. He showed his 'mates that his only concern was winning baseball games. The game began and Brandon quickly showed that the "obstacles" were mere hurdles to success. Racine batters were overmatched. No, it was not that they had inferior equipment. They were not swinging broomhandles. Brandon just made it look that way.
Staked to a 3-0 first inning lead, Brandon powered the squad to its only win of the week. Facing a potent Racine lineup, Brandon struck out 12. His debut was an impressive shutout.
Congrats and welcome aboard Brandon.
Another Last Inning Loss Adds to Woes
Posted by Steve Elliott at Jul 16, 2004 5:00PM PDT
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By Steve Elliott
The Nationals continued a disturbing trend Friday night, falling behind early to the Pewaukee Muskies. Starting pitcher, Nick Kibler, struggled out of the gate. Rust and a questionable interpretation of the strike zone contributed to early wildness. Pewaukee took advantage. Jumping to a 4-0 lead, they threatened to blow the game open early.
To his credit, though, Kibler weathered the storm and kept the Nationals in the game. As his pitch count increased, his command of the strike zone improved. When Chris Marks' disputed double down the right field line scored two, the team was back in the game at 4-2. In the seventh, Marks again came through. His hit-and-run double scored Alex Franson from first and the locals found themselves locked in a 4-4 game.
The ninth, however, was a microcosm of the season. Kellen Haynes led off with a single to center field. When Alex Franson reached on an infield single, the team was positioned to take the lead. Hot-hitting Chris Marks stepped to the plate. After a failed attempt to sacrifice, he flied to right, advancing the lead run to third base with one out. Brian Gibson stepped to the plate. A high bounder to the mound was snared by Muskies' pitcher, Steve Schulte, and converted into an inning-ending double play.
Nick Kibler took the mound again to start the bottom of the ninth. When the winning run reached base, Brandon Kellbach was summoned to shut the door. Kellbach, like Kibler earlier in the evening, was challenged by a questionable interpretation of the strike zone. Several potential third strikes were called balls, extending at-bats and the inning. Pewaukee's baserunner was able to advance from first to second to third when curveballs bounced away from Stengel. With the winning run on third, two outs, and two strikes on the hitter, Kellbach appeared to throw a third strike and end the inning. Called a ball, Kellbach responded with a curveball that got by Stengel, allowing the winning run to score.
Next up for the Nats are the rival White Sox. The team sits at 7-6 after suffering its third consecutive league loss (fourth overall) and is at risk to fall to fourth in the standings if it cannot reverse direction.
The Nationals continued a disturbing trend Friday night, falling behind early to the Pewaukee Muskies. Starting pitcher, Nick Kibler, struggled out of the gate. Rust and a questionable interpretation of the strike zone contributed to early wildness. Pewaukee took advantage. Jumping to a 4-0 lead, they threatened to blow the game open early.
To his credit, though, Kibler weathered the storm and kept the Nationals in the game. As his pitch count increased, his command of the strike zone improved. When Chris Marks' disputed double down the right field line scored two, the team was back in the game at 4-2. In the seventh, Marks again came through. His hit-and-run double scored Alex Franson from first and the locals found themselves locked in a 4-4 game.
The ninth, however, was a microcosm of the season. Kellen Haynes led off with a single to center field. When Alex Franson reached on an infield single, the team was positioned to take the lead. Hot-hitting Chris Marks stepped to the plate. After a failed attempt to sacrifice, he flied to right, advancing the lead run to third base with one out. Brian Gibson stepped to the plate. A high bounder to the mound was snared by Muskies' pitcher, Steve Schulte, and converted into an inning-ending double play.
Nick Kibler took the mound again to start the bottom of the ninth. When the winning run reached base, Brandon Kellbach was summoned to shut the door. Kellbach, like Kibler earlier in the evening, was challenged by a questionable interpretation of the strike zone. Several potential third strikes were called balls, extending at-bats and the inning. Pewaukee's baserunner was able to advance from first to second to third when curveballs bounced away from Stengel. With the winning run on third, two outs, and two strikes on the hitter, Kellbach appeared to throw a third strike and end the inning. Called a ball, Kellbach responded with a curveball that got by Stengel, allowing the winning run to score.
Next up for the Nats are the rival White Sox. The team sits at 7-6 after suffering its third consecutive league loss (fourth overall) and is at risk to fall to fourth in the standings if it cannot reverse direction.
Tough Loss Leaves Squad Looking for Answers
Posted by Steve Elliott at Jul 14, 2004 5:00PM PDT
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By Steve Elliott
Baseball has the best cliches of all the major sports because they ring true. "We're just going to take it one game at a time and Lord willing, good things will happen" "Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, and sometimes....it rains." These classic lines from "Bull Durham" stress the necessity of allowing the game to come to you and maintaining an even temperament.
There is a fine line between having an even temperament and being flat. "Bull Durham" also points out the need for timely, directed, and channeled fire and intensity. In one classic scene the manager and coach "address" the squad while they shower, throwing bats at their feet and lambasting them as a bunch of "lollygaggers."
Contradictory logic? No, young grasshopper. Perfect wisdom. The game must be played with "fear and arrogance." Fear is defined as humility and respect. This is the strong suit of this year's Nationals squad. Arrogance is a type of confidence bordering on cockiness. Many refer to this quality as swagger. The 2004 squad deperately seeks this.
On Tuesday, the locals reached a new season low, losing to the previously winless Milwaukee McGuire's Cats 8-4. Play-by-play is available on the "2004 Stats and Box Scores" page in the left hand menu column.
Though the team showed some life in battling back from a 6-0 hole, it deperately lacked the emotion and energy which all contending squads possess. Management can tinker with personnel, lineups, batting orders, and on-field strategy, but ultimately this is a private matter that each player must address. The issue is one of heart. On-the-field play should reflect passion and desperation; Passion for a boys' game and the desperation of a man treating each play as if it could be his last.
The 2004 squad can shape its destiny in the next month. Shopping is over. We have the ingredients for a gourmet meal. It's up to us. We can settle and eat the easy and fast, pre-packaged food of losers or we can do a little blending, add fire, and create a gourmet meal. The latter requires energy,effort, commitment, patience, and determination.
Who's a chef? Who's a sous-chef? Who's a cooks assistant? You've found a home in our kitchen.
Too tired? Unable to sacrifice? Satisfied to eat what's served and go to bed? You better get out of our kitchen before we show you the back door.
.............The WINNING TRADITION CONTINUES.......... -Jeff Neibauer HOF #3
Baseball has the best cliches of all the major sports because they ring true. "We're just going to take it one game at a time and Lord willing, good things will happen" "Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, and sometimes....it rains." These classic lines from "Bull Durham" stress the necessity of allowing the game to come to you and maintaining an even temperament.
There is a fine line between having an even temperament and being flat. "Bull Durham" also points out the need for timely, directed, and channeled fire and intensity. In one classic scene the manager and coach "address" the squad while they shower, throwing bats at their feet and lambasting them as a bunch of "lollygaggers."
Contradictory logic? No, young grasshopper. Perfect wisdom. The game must be played with "fear and arrogance." Fear is defined as humility and respect. This is the strong suit of this year's Nationals squad. Arrogance is a type of confidence bordering on cockiness. Many refer to this quality as swagger. The 2004 squad deperately seeks this.
On Tuesday, the locals reached a new season low, losing to the previously winless Milwaukee McGuire's Cats 8-4. Play-by-play is available on the "2004 Stats and Box Scores" page in the left hand menu column.
Though the team showed some life in battling back from a 6-0 hole, it deperately lacked the emotion and energy which all contending squads possess. Management can tinker with personnel, lineups, batting orders, and on-field strategy, but ultimately this is a private matter that each player must address. The issue is one of heart. On-the-field play should reflect passion and desperation; Passion for a boys' game and the desperation of a man treating each play as if it could be his last.
The 2004 squad can shape its destiny in the next month. Shopping is over. We have the ingredients for a gourmet meal. It's up to us. We can settle and eat the easy and fast, pre-packaged food of losers or we can do a little blending, add fire, and create a gourmet meal. The latter requires energy,effort, commitment, patience, and determination.
Who's a chef? Who's a sous-chef? Who's a cooks assistant? You've found a home in our kitchen.
Too tired? Unable to sacrifice? Satisfied to eat what's served and go to bed? You better get out of our kitchen before we show you the back door.
.............The WINNING TRADITION CONTINUES.......... -Jeff Neibauer HOF #3
Locals Fall to Wisconsin State League Power
Posted by Steve Elliott at Jul 12, 2004 5:00PM PDT
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By Steve Elliott
The baseball gods have again sent a message to the Nationals. Interpreting the message is the challenge.
On Monday night, West Allis' finest (along with a washed up GM) headed south to historic Simmons Field in Kenosha. On the slate: A 7:30pm tilt with the State League's Kenosha Kings. Most Nats are at the ballpark by 6:30pm for BP. Yes, most Nats were at the ballpark an hour before game time!
Not so fast says Kings' management. Game time is 7PM, they claim. Please prepare and assemble your merry band of vagabonds immediately so play may begin promptly. Confused and a bit perplexed, the washed up GM challenges the decision. Phone calls go out to local officials, umpires and priests. Dramatic pause. Kings' manager returns and relents. An early victory in gamesmanship for the Nats. The game will begin at 7:30pm as originally planned.
Fast forward: second inning. No, it is not locusts. Earthquake....uh uh. Rather, the plague is fog. This is no ordinary fog, mind you. Players disappear in the outfield. Every batted ball is an adventure. What to do, you say? Delay!
Nationals players consider a revolt. Insurrection is certainly better than playing and departing Kenosha after midnight for the long haul home. The washed up GM, in an attempt to avert a mutiny, explains to the squad that the fog is a mere illusion. (Kenosha, battling an operating deficit, employed one of its finer special effects in hopes of slowing play and generating more beer sales. Ground fog it was. Successful it was. Play was suspended and the supporters in attendance headed to the concession stand.
When the fog lifted, play resumed. Unfortunately for the Nats, the fog had already infiltrated their heads. Foggy and sluggish, the team fell by a score of 9-3.
What are the baseball gods trying to tell us? The world may never know.
The baseball gods have again sent a message to the Nationals. Interpreting the message is the challenge.
On Monday night, West Allis' finest (along with a washed up GM) headed south to historic Simmons Field in Kenosha. On the slate: A 7:30pm tilt with the State League's Kenosha Kings. Most Nats are at the ballpark by 6:30pm for BP. Yes, most Nats were at the ballpark an hour before game time!
Not so fast says Kings' management. Game time is 7PM, they claim. Please prepare and assemble your merry band of vagabonds immediately so play may begin promptly. Confused and a bit perplexed, the washed up GM challenges the decision. Phone calls go out to local officials, umpires and priests. Dramatic pause. Kings' manager returns and relents. An early victory in gamesmanship for the Nats. The game will begin at 7:30pm as originally planned.
Fast forward: second inning. No, it is not locusts. Earthquake....uh uh. Rather, the plague is fog. This is no ordinary fog, mind you. Players disappear in the outfield. Every batted ball is an adventure. What to do, you say? Delay!
Nationals players consider a revolt. Insurrection is certainly better than playing and departing Kenosha after midnight for the long haul home. The washed up GM, in an attempt to avert a mutiny, explains to the squad that the fog is a mere illusion. (Kenosha, battling an operating deficit, employed one of its finer special effects in hopes of slowing play and generating more beer sales. Ground fog it was. Successful it was. Play was suspended and the supporters in attendance headed to the concession stand.
When the fog lifted, play resumed. Unfortunately for the Nats, the fog had already infiltrated their heads. Foggy and sluggish, the team fell by a score of 9-3.
What are the baseball gods trying to tell us? The world may never know.
