Opening Night!

Took that picture right off mlb.com, but what the hell do you people want from me?

That's a hell of a way to open a new stadium. O-Diesel Perez pitched five good frames, which should have been good enough to get him the first win of 2008, but for Paul LoDuca's godawful defense. Zimmy with the walk off shot in the ninth made it all okay for now, however. Jon Rauch, the Nats pitcher with the most wins in 2007 (with 9, ugh) gets the first curly W of 2008. Beautiful stuff. Matt Chico will face Brett Myers tomorrow in Philly.

In the meantime, Elijah Dukes is headed to the 15 day DL with a nagging hammy injury. It's not supposed to be too bad, but he wants to give it some time to heal up. And Chad Cordero had a cortisone shot following some pain in his right arm during warm ups and in the 'pen. He's not going on the DL, but he'll take a few days. Rauch will close in his absence.

Okay, stuff I missed:
John Patterson gets released. This was like a late installment of Christmas for me. That much should be apparent from any of my other entries. I don't like John Patterson. My only question mark was whether or not he was hiding another injury, because I found it funny we didn't even trade him for a bag of balls, just an outright release. Whatever, it makes me happy to see that the team will cut dead weight when necessary. But let's hope...

Shawn Hill can bounce back from his phantom injury and prove he's not dead weight. He's becoming our Carl Pavano. Should have started opening day, but if he can't stay healthy, he's going to get overtaken by plenty of other guys in the organization like...

John Lannan, who was optioned to AAA after having a phenomenal spring training. He'll be on the roster in no time, especially if Hill can't get healthy. I understand why the club went with Chico for the rotation, the kid was a horse last year, but Lannan is truly an exciting prospect, unlike...

Paul LoDuca, who, if I need to say it again, sucks. I love how the team is determined to start anyone except Jesus Flores. You know where Jesus could pick up some experience? In Nationals Park. He's the presumptive catcher of the future, so let him be the catcher of the present, too. I don't need to point out that Paul Lo Duca, one of whose most attractive characteristics is supposed to be his bat. Well, his OBP last year was .311. Jesus Flores, whose bat isn't ready for the Majors, put up an OBP last year of .310. Now, to be fair, Lo Duca struck out every 13 or so at bats last year, and Flores struck out every four, but Lo Duca hits nothing but singles and doesn't walk, while Flores hits singles and walks. I mean, it's not a big gap. But I'm just whining at this point, the team has made it very clear they're going to start that asshole for this year, so I suppose I'll just have to accept it. But I won't have to like it.

Well, that's it for tonight. The Washington Nationals are on top of the NL East, baby. More tomorrow after the Philly game.