Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Submit questions for Beltway Baseball

A four-game losing streak. Ryan Zimmerman's struggles. Michael Morse's potential breakout. Oh, and pine tar inside Joel Peralta's glove. Yes, there's plenty going on in NatsTown right now.

Good thing we're taping a new episode of Beltway Baseball this afternoon at Nationals Park. CSNwashington.com's Chase Hughes and the Washington Times' Amanda Comak will join me to discuss all those topics and more.

And, as always, we'll take your questions on the Nats. Submit them here in the comments section, and then we'll pick the best ones to answer on the air. The full episode will be posted tomorrow morning.

42 comments:

MicheleS said...

What happens to CMW? is it time to make a change?

Holden Baroque said...

By the time you post this episode, the Rays will have already had the umps undress Strasburg on the mound. Maddon's excuse was basically "but everybody else is doing it too!", and FP was laughing about how many new gloves we'll see today.

So, if a Cy Young candidate gets busted, would that hurts his chances, or will the voters figure it isn't news?

The Real Feel Wood. Accept no substitutes. said...

So, if a Cy Young candidate gets busted, would that hurts his chances, or will the voters figure it isn't news?

It's only cheating if you get caught. That's the corollary to Maddon's unwritten rule "everybody does it." If there's a Cy Young candidate out there who sits in the dugout one night and watches an opposing pitcher get caught and then takes the mound the next day with anything on his person that might arouse suspicion, then that pitcher is unqualified for the Cy Young on grounds of pure stupidity alone. It's like someone who spots a speed trap ahead and puts pedal to the metal. They deserve what's going to happen to them, whether the law is unfair or not.

Section 222 said...

How prevalent is the use of pine tar or other "foreign substances" in baseball today? Do you think any Nats pitchers do it? If so, who?
Wouldn't you think that Davey would have found out how strong the glass of his house is before challenging Peralta?

SCNatsFan said...

Mark - any word with DeRosa or has Tyler Moore stolen that roster spot?

Candide said...

Section 222 said...How prevalent is the use of pine tar or other "foreign substances" in baseball today? Do you think any Nats pitchers do it?

That's like asking your neighbor if he thinks his adorable little kitty cat kills birds.

CN said...

Mark,
Do you think Davey's glove inquiry was a direct response to the batter's eye cover delay from the inning before? Given the circumstances of the initial delay, the Nats pen was on a roll and Gonzales sat for several minutes during an at bat while they covered up the sign. He subsequently gave up a walk & single, putting runners on the corners IIRC. Obviously didn't come back to hurt the Nats, but it was pivotal at the time...

Doc said...

We know all the negative stats for The Face. We also know that he is rarely powering the ball to right-center these days.

Davey,Rizzo, and Eck watched Zim in the cage in the past few days. Did they find anything out??

Does anybody know what he's doing wrong???

Candide said...

CMW looked awful last night - except when he threw pitches that Babe Ruth couldn't hit. That makes me think maybe his problem might simply be mechanics. If so, why not have him work out his problems on the sidelines and throw a few simulated games, until he gets straightened out? Detwiler certainly looked last night like he could handle the job in the meantime (though he only went through the order 1-1/3 times).

Anonymous said...

I really think its time for the CMW experiment to be declared a dead issue and he should be given his walking papers. I understand John Lannan has righted his ship and would be a welcome addition to the pitching staff. Detwiler has seemingly transitioned nicely into long relief and I wouldn't change that. What say you?

Laddie Blah Blah said...

We know Harper is a great Nevadan, but is he vice-presidential material?

http://go.bloomberg.com/political-capital/2012-06-19/harry-reid-to-reporter-thats-a-clown-question-bro/

natsfan1a said...

Laddie, one of the CSN folks posted an item about that yesterday. ;-)

Holden Baroque said...

It's only cheating if you get caught.

Thanks for sharing, but I was asking Mark.

Holden Baroque said...

That's like asking your neighbor if he thinks his adorable little [wuss] kills birds.

Although, depending on the neighbor, the answer might be, "Not enough."

The Real Feel Wood. Accept no substitutes. said...

Soul Possession, My Hitterish Sofa said...
It's only cheating if you get caught.

Thanks for sharing, but I was asking Mark.


Shoulda e-mailed him then. His address is top left on the page.

Anonymous said...

Mark: Do you think DJ was disappointed in his team's response to the pine-tar incident?

I believe DJ did this to spark his own team and wake them up. But they did not respond at all.

Do you think he was disappointed?

Holden Baroque said...

And, as always, we'll take your questions on the Nats. Submit them here in the comments section,

The Real Feel Wood. Accept no substitutes. said...

Soul Possession, My Hitterish Sofa said...
And, as always, we'll take your questions on the Nats. Submit them here in the comments section


Of course. But if you're going to get all snotty just because someone else deigns to comment on a question you feel is only worthy of Mark, then you shouldn't post it here. That's a cowardly, nay even a [wuss] move, don'tchaknow.

NatsLady said...

Mike Rizzo addressed the CMW question and the pine tar question and RZ on the radio today. He also said Tyler Moore is the long-term power first baseman. Mark, I know it's early, but do you see the Nats picking up ALR's option?

NatsLady said...

Mark prefers that this thread be specifically for questions directed at him for use in his show. He said so. I don't blame him, he has enough trying to sort through which questions to use without all the discussions.
We have plenty of opportunities to answer each other's questions. I would like to hear Mark's answers. Thank you.

alexva said...

What was your take on the players reaction to Davey's protest? Do you get the feeling they wished he had left it alone?

Unknown said...

I think it was an inevitable move to move Brad Lidge off the roster. After last night's game, I thought that C.M. Wang's days were also numbered. However, Davey Johnson's comments suggest more patience for Wang. Should Wang be demoted to the bull pen or triple A until he figures out his mechanics?

Mr. Doggett said...

Here's a question for Mark.

Mark, is there any way humanly possible for you to write a post that does not result in some commenter questioning another's integrity?

Mr. Doggett said...

Ok here's a real one:

What's the deal with the TV negotiations? How is that going to affect the cash flow for the organization and subsequently allow us to pay players more money?

Scooter said...

Mr. Doggett said...
Mark, is there any way humanly possible for you to write a post that does not result in some commenter questioning another's integrity?


I think that's all up to the commenters, you lying weasel.

Scooter said...

[Darn]! Sorry. I forgot to leave that one for the big Z to answer.

Carry on, weasels.

peric said...

Carry on, weasels.

Hamsters.

baseballswami said...

I will throw you a hanging curve, Mark -- who do you think will be in the all star game representing the Nats? (There - a nice, non-controversial question.)

natsfan1a said...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMx1_1z63Zs

Scooter said...

Fun with numbers!

My dad and I were talking about the team's two switch-hitting middle infieders. I thought (as I know others here have) that the Dozer had been falling off lately, and the Noser had been heating up just a little. Turns out I was half-right:

Month of June, vs RHP as LHB
Lombardozzi: 42 PA, 6 for 40, 1 2B, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 6 K - 150 / 190 / 250 (BA/OBP/SLG)
Espinosa: 44 PA, 8 for 41, 2 2B, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 15 K - 195 / 250 / 317

Of course this doesn't tell you anything about what will happen next week. Anything can happen in 100 ABs, let alone 40. But if you wanted to see June numbers, without worrying about stats batting right-handed confounding your analysis, there you have it.

baseballswami said...

So in the giant game of rock, paper, scissors -- Atlanta is killing Phil Hughes and the yanks. On tv. I know I should be rooting for Atlanta to lose, I really need to do that. But watching the yanks be so frustrated is just fun. We really did wear them down. Interesting conversation by the announcers about how the Braves are aggressive hitters and always swing at the first pitch. Anyone care for another round of hitting approach debates?

Scooter said...

Swami, I understand your quandary. Sometimes you just have to be a fan and root with your heart.

And I'm pretending you didn't write that last sentence.

Section 222 said...

Gee, the conversation sure has slowed. How long till the lineups for tonight come out? I'm getting kind of tired of flipping back and forth between this post and the last to see who has said what. The next time Mark makes a "Submit Questions for Beltway Baseball" post, can we agree to just submit questions for Beltway Baseball on it, and keep discussing (and answering the questions if you must) on the last one?

Ron In Reston said...

Agree? On this blog? Not likely ;)

And since I know you'll be reading these, it was a pleasure meeting you on Sunday, Mark. My daughter thought it was pretty cool, too. Hope you had a great Father's Day, game result notwithstanding.

Drew said...

Ok, here's my weekly inquiry:

Do you think the Nats will pick up the 2013 option for Adam LaRoche? Should they?

If they do, does the resulting OF of Morse, Harper, Werth take the Nats out of the running for a free agent CF such as Bourn or Upton?

How do Tyler Moore and Brian Goodwin factor into the Nats' decision?

ehay2k said...

What does pine tar help with, beyond gripping the ball? If it's only a matter of grip, how is it better than the rosin bag?

BTW, I thought they way Jose held his cap with his glove hand after what seemed like every warmup toss looked suspicious. It was like he was trying to cover the glove. Did someone in the dugout also pick up on that? Maybe that's why Tschida was looking at DJ to see if he was going to do anything? It just seemed like such a setup.

ehay2k said...

After reading Drew's comment, I'll ask: If Moore is our long term 1b as Rizzo spake, then what shall happen to the Prince of Hacked Gorse, Mr. Morse? And likewise LaRoche - mayhap he will join another team via trade?

I beseech the, Zuckerman, pray tell, what's up wid dat?

The Real Feel Wood. Accept no substitutes. said...

Section 222 said...
I'm getting kind of tired of flipping back and forth between this post and the last to see who has said what.


But think of all the exercise you're getting going to so many places to see if someone might have knocked that chip off your shoulder.

baseballswami said...

Sorry Scooter - I know it was evil. Lineups are all over twitter - the usual tonight: Lombo, Harper, Zim, ALR, MM, Desi, Espi, Flo and SS. Expecting we will see the gamer soon. I am going to the game - so hot out. But will there be fireworks? And not the ones in the sky? Hope the ball carries for us and Strassie is on his game.

Section 222 said...

Praise be, the lineups have been posted. pRAA/peric, feel free to stay here and talk amongst yourself.

Ghost Of Steve M. said...

JD said...
and as much as I like Stammen and Gorzo and Lannan and Maya and Duke I don't want any one of these guys starting for me in August unless we are up by 5 or more games by then.

June 20, 2012 11:28 AM
________________________________

It seems to be quality in, quality out. These 2 pitch guys are relievers or AAA for a reason.

What has shown with this team with the exception of Morse, the good players are a known quantity which includes Stras, Gio, JZim, EJax, LaRo, Zim, Werth, Harper, Ramos, Clip, Storen. Not including Desi yet as he is still a work in progress.

Sure, Zim is slumping and Espi has his set of problems, but there has been a known pedigree and history and Draft status with all of those players.

When you start counting on too many fringe players and retreads, its back to Bowdenomics. Your luck factor is probably 1:4. For every Chad Tracy you get stuck with a Nady, Lidge, Wang, HenRod

I don't care if Joel Hanrahan becomes the greatest closer somewhere else if I got good value back on his trade (Burnett) or ridded the team of a problem player (see Nyjer). The Yankees aren't crying about DFA'ing Justin Maxwell or Austin Kearns.

Retreads sometimes find themselves and its usually by maturing, working harder, and good coaching. As I said in the first days of Spring Training, you would see a new Craig Stammen, but why would you consider putting him in as a starter again?

Detwiler. The mystery man. Sure, he takes over in a game where he got to face the lefties and pitch 3 innings and he was on his game. He shouldn't have lost his job to Wang in the first place as neither of them are good starters. They would have been great starters on a lousy team like the Nats 2 years ago but this team is built around pitching and you need pitchers that can go 6+ innings at better than a 3.50 ERA for the 5th spot. They don't have to be a superstar, they do have to fit into a low scoring team's system.

JaneB said...

It's probably too late. But HRod. Rizzo says we are sticking with him. Does this mean they worked on getting him straight so he doesn't implode if someone gets on?

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