Washington, DC

Tonight was the first game of another long Nats homestand. Also, the first of four ballgames I am going to in five days (going to the whole Cubs series starting Friday!).

After the rainy and gloomy days of this past week it was a nice sunny and warm day for the start of the game, although, it did thankfully cool off as the sun set.

Here is a photo of the outfield showing that the grass has kind of recovered from the Papal Mass. See the photo of what it looked like when I took the ballpark tour to see that it was in a sadder looking state just four days ago.

Last week was the official Jackie Robinson Day (Nats were at the Mets that day), but tonight was the Nats home game in memory of Jackie Robinson. Thankfully that did not include the confusing thing of them all wearing 42, which all major league players wore on April 15. Well, there still were some 42 players, but it was only Lastings Milledge playing centerfield and Ray King who came into pitch in the 6th. I think it is great that the league pays tribute to Jackie Robinson, but I sure as heck do not want to try to keep track of who is at bat and such at a game with everyone on both teams being number 42. Thus I must make a mental note to avoid ballgames on April 15 or at least scoring an April 15 ballgame.

Speaking of keeping score I love how the free Nationals Inside Pitch magazine has a free score card. I grew up going to Diamondback games were you could buy an official program and scorecard (with baseball diamonds in the boxes!!!!) for just a $1. Until a couple years ago I thought that was typical, but have since learned programs are expensive and am glad that I can still score without forking over money for a program. I still get programs, but for times like this week when I am going to four games in the same homestand I sure would not want to buy the same program four times just for the scorecard, which is something I also did at Diamondback games.

Well, I guess I should say something about the actual game in this game wrap up post. It comes down to it being another loss. The Mets won 7 to 2, but I got to give props to the guy that batted in the Nats only runs. The two runs scored off a double hit by the last person one would expect, the pitcher Tim Redding. At the time it gave the Nats the lead 2 to 1. The Nats had plenty of hits in the early innings, but they just continue not get the batters around the bases. Oh, well, this weekend’s series against the Cubs is one that I cannot be disappointed from because I will be happy no matter who wins, but it would be nice to see the Nats get out of this slump.