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Nats Park, Walk-Off Wonder of the World
By Jamie Mottram | June 30, 2008
Now that I’ve moved from D.C., I do things like go to the beach when the Nats and O’s go into extras. I believe this is known as pulling a Simmons.
What I missed is Washington topping Baltimore in the 12th on a two-out, two-strike, two-run walk-off homer by roly-poly Ronnie Belliard. What’s amazing isn’t that it was off George Sherrill, just days after we denounced his All-Star-ness, but that, according to AP:
Of Washington’s 18 home wins, eight have come in the final at-bat.
We’re all familiar with the first of those, when Ryan Zimmerman became Mr. Walk-Off, and Elijah Dukes’ blast was terrific. But eight? In just 44 games? That’s a lot. That’s lucky. That’s exciting last-place baseball.
Imagine, though, if those eight games had gone the other way. The Nats would be 25-58, which would be the worst record in MLB by far and put them on pace for a 49-113 season. Now that is historically bad.
So thank goodness for the power of the walk-off, and its presence at our palace on the banks of the Anacostia. It’s uncanny really.
Bonus: Watch SportsCenter’s game highlights after the jump …
Topics: Fat Nats, Nationals, Stats Are Cool | 3 Comments »
June 30th, 2008 at 10:05 am
Yesterday, I disappointingly went against my #1 rule for watching sports live…..never leave a game early.
Maybe it was fatigue from the bloody marys, maybe it was the Nats leaving a bunch of runners on base, maybe as a “pitching duel” the game was just boring…but as I watched the O’s score in the top of the 12th while one foot was out the door standing in left field close to the exit, I resigned to the fact that the Nats would probably lose.
Shame on me….lesson learned, again.
June 30th, 2008 at 10:08 am
I was at the game and it was the third walk-off win out of the ten games I’ve been to this year. Holy dubious honor, Batman! They really are the most exciting last-place team in baseball.
June 30th, 2008 at 10:24 am
The most unwatchabe team in baseball, until the last at bat.