Center of Power (DC Photos and Notes 4/25)

by 08Cubs on Apr 25, 2008 11:12 PM CDT

A good, close, ballgame tonight unfortunately went the wrong way for the Cubs as backup catcher Wil Nieves hit his first career home run off Bob Howry - a walk-off, to boot . If the win itself wasn't unexpected (the Sun Times story on the bullpen this morning is certainly looking well-timed), getting it via power certainly was. Other than Ryan Zimmerman's walk-off to open the park the place has been virtually a homer free zone for the Nats before Felipe Lopez's hit the first grand slam in the stadium last night. This certainly should have been a winnable game (should have capitalized in the 8th), but those are the breaks.

It's late so I don't have profound analysis, but wanted to put up some photos and quick notes from the game tonight.

1) After opening night, tonight's game had the best crowd and atmosphere of any at Nationals Park. The weather was beautiful and the seats were largely full. As the park's not new to me, I'll leave it to others to describe their impressions, but a ballpark that really hasn't quite settled in yet really started to do so tonight.

2) I haven't seen the replay, but Reed Johnson's catch absolutely stunned me. I have no idea how he got to that ball.

3) This is the first time I've been able to see the Cubs in person all season, but Dome is absolutely as advertised. Two notes: First, I've posted a picture below of A-Ram batting with Dome in the on deck circle. I may have taken about 20-30 similar photos, and what I immediately noticed flipping through them is that Dome's head is up watching what is going on intently in every one of them. I don't recall ever seeing that before. Second, the last Cub off the field, well after the walk-off? Fukudome, who seemed to stride in very slowly taking it all in.

4) I don't absolve him, but after tonight I understand the Bartman thing a lot better. I sit in the front row next to the dugout. Nick Johnson caught Theriot's foulout in the 9th literally in my lap, over the rail. The funny thing is - I was watching the ball the whole way and had absolutely no idea Johnson was four inches in front of me. Of course, the difference is I didn't try to touch the ball, either. If I'd been thinking, I suppose I should have since it was in the stands.

Photos:

Aramis bats, Fukudome watches.

Lastings Milledge breaks for second.

Aramis Ramirez beats Odalis Perez to the bag in the third.

Dome's single in the eighth.

Let's hope Carlos brings us 10,001 tomorrow.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation, Bleed Cubbie Blue, or Al Yellon, editor-in-chief. FanPost opinions are, however, valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.

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chicagocubs.com has hi-lite of Johnson catch

for all of us that didnt get a chance to see

btw love the pictures.

by Madison Cub Fan on Apr 26, 2008 12:48 AM CDT 0 recs

Will anyone disagree with this statement?

At the end of the year ESPN will show the best defensive play of every team. This catch will be the highlight hands down.

by ak123 on Apr 26, 2008 1:52 AM CDT up 0 recs

And yes

I do know it is April :)

by ak123 on Apr 26, 2008 1:52 AM CDT up 0 recs

You don't have to leave BCB

to see that catch.

Alan Trammell: Assistant (to the) Manager

by northsider on Apr 26, 2008 7:41 AM CDT up 0 recs

Thank's for this

I always love pics from “out of town”. No matter the result. Nice seats dude, & thanks again for posting the pics.

"It makes sense it really does" -Lou on Soriano hitting 3-4-5

by TheRamZamDLEE on Apr 26, 2008 3:06 AM CDT 0 recs

Haha...

Didn’t notice this when I saw it earlier…but when watching the clip on Cubs.com, DeRosa is just frozen after being like a few feet from seeing that catch.

by MillsChC on Apr 26, 2008 3:48 AM CDT 0 recs

Dempster's Reaction

Dempster’s Reaction on the highlights was great too he just screamed “oh my god!”

"You would never guess that a little innocent walk like that could lead to two runs" -- Dusty Baker

by KyCubsFan on Apr 26, 2008 10:54 AM CDT up 0 recs

Great summary...

... and thanks for the pics. It’s great when BCB readers are at road games and can post excellent recaps like this one.

And Reed Johnson’s catch has to be the catch of the year. And as noted above, yes, I know it’s only April.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Apr 26, 2008 4:14 AM CDT 0 recs

Thanks!

Great pics.

Who says Aramis doesn’t hustle?

by John Q Freejazz on Apr 26, 2008 9:05 AM CDT 0 recs

I too was there last night

basically on top of you, 08 cubs, in the upper deck. I remarked to my buddy, “wow, that showed a lot of restraint not to grab that foul ball from nick johnson. guess all the bartman stuff rubbed off.” ;)

some other observations:

—Johnson’s catch was definitely the best defensive play I’ve ever seen in person, possibly the best I’ve ever seen period. watching the video, it’s hard to see how fast he was actually moving. even going at a full out sprint, it was hard to see how he’d get there, but then the full extension into the wall…awesome to see.

—the rest of the Cubs, unfortunately, looked pretty listless, probably b/c of the flight from Colorado. Fontenot and Lee’s errors were pure lack of concentration (no bad hops, at least not that I could tell) and Soto and Cedeno were absolutely fooled by Perez’s changeup, even though he was throwing them a steady diet of it for 6 innings.

—one exception…Aramis’s headfirst slide into first, taking out Perez in the process, was totally unexpected. I was definitely impressed. In warmups and during the game, he just looks like a more motivated player that when I’ve seen him in person previously, when he’s always sort of seemed detached. great hustle (even though I haven’t seen the replay to actually see if he was safe…more on that later.)

—pretty impressed with Dempster, even though I wish he’d stop doing that weird thing with his glove during his windup.

—Fukudome is a machine, most of his hits were hard hit drives to left, including the ground rule double.

—my one complaint about Nationals Stadium on my first visit: you pay for that awesome scoreboard, and they hardly show any replays or highlights on it! they showed Johnson’s catch, N Johnson’s HR, Perez’s strikeouts…and that’s about it. No one wants to see Johnny Estrada’s 75-foot tall face for half an inning, show some highlights from the night’s other games or the plays from tonight instead! kinda annoying. but otherwise, a pretty nice park, especially the view as you enter from the metro.

I’ll be watching Z from home today, go Cubs!

by PrincetonCubs on Apr 26, 2008 10:53 AM CDT 0 recs

Also good to know

There is actually a Cubs meetup group for the DC area, a bunch of people are going to Finn McCools near Capitol Hill before the game for drinks and such. There is bus from there to the stadium that leaves every 20 minutes. Maybe I’ll see some of you there, I’ll be there with the Marmol shirt on. Let Go Cubbies!

by Dome is my home-ay on Apr 26, 2008 4:06 PM CDT 0 recs