Nats' Lannan Gets It

So, the Nats study Lannan, wondering if he's a future key, just as he studies the league. "Tons of promise, a competitor, willing to learn," Dmitri Young said. "He's not shy, but he's quiet, knows his place, humble. In a rookie, that's a nice change."

"John's got one of those sneaky fastballs that people miss, one of those 88 mph lefties who can spot it," Ryan Zimmerman said. "He battles and works quick."

In every discussion of Lannan, however, the talk always ends up highlighting his personality more than his pitching arm or his gangly gait. In his first big league start, straight from AA ball, Lannan was ejected after he hit the Phils' Chase Utley and Ryan Howard with pitches in the same game. He's hit only one man in 14 starts since.

After that debut mortification, Lannan faced down Barry Bonds three times when the Giant was going for homer No. 756 in San Francisco. In fact, Lannan loves pitching on the road or in games with some extra significance. Can "Moxie" be a nickname?

"Going home with that win was big for us. I like coming into those situations. When we really need it, that's when I want to step it up," Lannan said. Where'd that come from? "Just ask my dad. I don't know what it is. But it's always been there."

So far Lannan, who gained size and speed during college but was still only an 11th-round pick, has been a quick learner. After a previous game with a rain delay, he had a poor outing. "I was jumpy," he said. This game had a 121-minute delay. "I found a chair and didn't move much," said Lannan, who allowed one run in 7 1/3 innings with 71 strikes in 105 pitches.

The dark side of Lannan is that when hitters foul off too many of his best pitches or his command isn't precise, he can get whacked and have his confidence shaken. Twice he's allowed six runs this season and, in another game, a dozen hits. The contrast to his Orioles showing -- first-pitch strikes to 20 of 27 hitters -- can be stark.

"I have a lot to learn. I have to trust my stuff and be aggressive like I was today. You see so many great fastballs up here. It's hard to believe that -- " said Lannan, then stops.

It's hard, even for him, to believe that command of a decent fastball with late movement, plus the heart to get ahead in the count then change speeds, has always outweighed almost every consideration in pitching. Not in every game, but over a career.

"Something clicked today. This was my best game of the year -- to build on. Last time [when he allowed 12 hits], I got frustrated, not timid, but I didn't repeat the fastball, get ahead then expand the plate like I did this time. I don't have that big power two-seam sinker like Hill. But mine's got just enough sink to get a ground ball.

"I've got to get over the fact that everybody gets hit up here," said the southpaw who's been living on the edges since high school. "It's a hard thing to do."

So far, he seems to be getting the knack of it remarkably well.