Sunny Sunday Interlude

To give ourselves a break from our intensive rounds of negotiations, I took Ryan to the Nationals game today — well, he did all the taking, guiding us to the park via the Metro, etc., but I paid, and that means I get the credit.  We sat out beyond left field  where I could observe Christian Yelich closely. Jose Fernandez took the mound for the Marlins, and the two biggest hitting stars in the National League were in the game (Harper and Stanton).  It was an idyllic setting.

Here is my summary of the game:

•  I got to shake hands with Herbert Hoover. Herbie was recently added as the sixth member of the Nationals Stadium Fantasy Presidents’ Race. Today he came in last, but he’s still a Newberg hometown hero.

(As a sidenote: I believe Hoover is the only president ever elected, so far, with experience in neither elective office nor as a general in the military. He was only a successful engineer and administrator of a vast relief program that saved millions of people from starvation. What did he have over any of the current candidates?  So relax, we’ll be fine.)

• Wolverine Christian Yelich had a tough day. His first inning single — even the Captain Kangaroo agreed he was safe, as we could clearly see from where we sat — was stolen when the review umpire in New York confirmed the out ruling on the field. The appeal took like 15 seconds, so clearly there was a mixup in New York and the review ump for a game somewhere else — St. Louis? Cincinnati? — picked up the phone to D.C. by mistake.   Also, Yelich later grounded into a double play, thereby stealing from his own past production nearly the value of another single. Essentially, Yelich was 0 for 5 in 4 plate appearances.
• Former EFLer Stephen Drew had a tough day.  In the third inning he lost a pop up in the sun (strangely, since we could see it the whole way). It would have hit him on the head right where he was standing near second base but he had his glove up to protect him, so it bounced off that instead. Two Marlins scored to give Miami a 2-0 lead.
• Marcel Ozuna and former Drive/Wolverine Giancarlo Stanton had a tough day. Former Kangaroo/Wolverine/Elephante) Ryan Zimmerman lined one to right center.  Racing back and toward center, Stanton called for the ball. Racing back and toward right Ozuna did not stop.  As the ball eluded them both, Stanton crossed just in front of Ozuna, but Ozuna’s left foot caught on Stanton’s left heel, sending them both spinning. Stanton bounced hard off the center field wall, his head bouncing off the fence.  Ozuna landed hard on the track, his head snapping even harder to bounce off the track.  Then they just lay there, unmoving, the ball resting two feet from Ozuna’s elbow. Zimmerman rounded the bases for a home run while Marlins raced to the outfield. After a couple of tense minutes, both men were on their feet.
• Except for Drew’s error, Former Wolverine Joe Ross had a good day for five innings. Then in the sixth his day turned rough.  He served up a homer to the quickly-recovered Stanton. After an out, Ross gave up a single to the equally quick-healing Ozuna, then another to Pear JT Realmuto in the form of dying quail that landed in short center field, and then was fumbled by former EFLer Ben Revere, allowing the runners to reach second and third. Then I saw something I never thought I’d see: Ross gave Kangaroo (and former Cheese/Wolverine) Adeiny Hechavarria an intentional walk!  Hechavarria’s line coming into the game was .205, .240, .286. This brought up pitcher Former Kangaroo Jose Fernandez, whose batting line coming into the game was .231, .286, .231.  He drilled a single, driving in two more runs, and Ross’ day was over: 5.7 ip, 5 r, 3 er, taking the loss.
• Kangaroo Bryce Harper had a rough day.  He walked once, and came to bat in the bottom of the fifth with two out and two on. He drilled a low line drive to short left field, but was robbed of a single by Yelich’s spectacular diving catch. Ryan disputed the spectacularity of Yelich’s play, saying it was more like he tripped and fell on his way back to the dugout. But you can judge for yourself. And if you do, I invite you to comment below: was it more of a spectacular catch, or more of a stumble on the way to the dugout?  Whatever you think of Yelich’s defensive prowess, this is indisputable: Harper went 0 for the day.

Oh, by the way: it was a beautiful spring day.  And Ryan agreed to let me take over first place.