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US Presswire photo Adam LaRoche clubbed two of the Nationals' six home runs. |
"This is something we were thinking about in spring training," first baseman Adam LaRoche said. "We knew we were capable of doing it. Unfortunately, we had some injuries and some streakiness this year. But we haven't had a six, seven-game outburst like this where we go out and score 18 runs. It's nice. We owe the starting pitchers for what they did the first couple months."
Consider the favor returned after Tuesday night's offensive explosion against a beleaguered Cubs pitching staff. Behind 19 hits -- six of them homers -- the Nationals muscled their way to an 11-5 victory that felt even more lopsided.
They're 31 games over .500 again, matching their high-water mark of the year. They've scored at least eight runs in five of their last seven games. And coupled with the Braves' 6-0 loss to the Rockies, the Nationals found themselves at night's end owning a season-high, 7 1/2-game lead over Atlanta with 27 left on the schedule.
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62 comments:
Don't pay too much attention to that out-of-town scoreboard, Nats -- leave that chore to the fans; don't worry, we're on it! Just focus on winning each game, each series. Keep pounding the ball on offense and keep pounding the strike zone from the pitcher's mound. Let the other teams feel the pressure. And all the rest will take care of itself. GYFNG!
That game left me feeling a bit sorry for the Cubs' fans. Samardjia is a talent, and Castro and Barney are solid, with Rizzo an up-and-comer at first. Otherwise, the Nats could put a better team on the field with their farm hands.
It also makes you wonder how good the Reds really are, with so many of their games coming against the Cubbies, Brewers and Astros. Lately, the Pirates have not been much, either. If the Nats and Reds swapped divisions, the Nats would win 105 games, and the Reds would be lucky if they could win the NL East, over the Braves.
Nice to see the site already is updated with the new magic number. 17 more games to guarantee a playoff spot and the 20 to guarantee the NL East crown.
You know the old saying "Act like you've been there before", not sure what its like here in DC and can't wait!
Jayson Werth is playing out of his mind. Had some time to sit around and stew. I like it.
I was feeling sorry for them on the way home from the Sunday game. Such a season isn't fun, as we well know, and they've had, er, a number of them.
That game left me feeling a bit sorry for the Cubs' fans.
On Monday's game the Cub broadcasters noted that the Nats' pinch hitters, going back to when they started keeping track of team PH stats, ranked 4th or 5th all time.
I guess we can say that Davey/Rizzo know how to build a bench.
I checked a number of websites. Either they've all got it wrong, or I'm dreaming, or -- more likely -- the magic number is 20 and the lead is 7 and 1/2 games.
IMHO the scoreboard to watch now is the Reds.
BTW, checking the home delivery post is no help.
natsfan1a said...
I was feeling sorry for them on the way home from the Sunday game. Such a season isn't fun, as we well know, and they've had, er, a number of them.
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Sunday was the Cardinals. Don't tell me you felt sorry for them!
Sam, probably could start a "Best NL Record" Magic Number once the NL East Division is won.
I think that Magic number is 26.
I was at the game last summer where Livo was pitching, we got a big lead on the Cubs and they came back and beat us. I was thinking of that as I watched the game last night. It just seemed like a great example of how things have changed. We had "that game" against Atlanta earlier this season. Does anyone else feel that weekend was some kind of turning point for the Nats? I do. I like the way they put their heads down and go about their business. I love the way Harper, Moore and Lombo have shown so much talent, hard work and class. I don't remember another first place team that has had so many contributions from 3 rookies. Posey with the Giants for sure in 2010, but not 3 of them. Love these guys! I could talk about them all day - but, alas, my coworkers get really tired of it.
Er, that would be Monday. I lose track of days of the week when I have a day off. We older people tend to do that, sometimes even when we don't have a day off. :-)
Gonat said...
natsfan1a said...
I was feeling sorry for them on the way home from the Sunday game. Such a season isn't fun, as we well know, and they've had, er, a number of them.
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Sunday was the Cardinals. Don't tell me you felt sorry for them!
September 05, 2012 6:15 AM
I too check the Reds more than Atlanta these days. Having said that, if the Reds where in this division they would be third at best.
baseballswami said...
I was at the game last summer where Livo was pitching, we got a big lead on the Cubs and they came back and beat us. I was thinking of that as I watched the game last night. It just seemed like a great example of how things have changed. We had "that game" against Atlanta earlier this season. Does anyone else feel that weekend was some kind of turning point for the Nats? I do. September 05, 2012 6:28 AM
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Absolutely was in agreement with Mark on the July 21st doubleheader that the Lannan win against the Braves was probably the biggest of the season.
Think about what a loss would have meant in that game. Nats would have held only a 1/2 game lead instead of going into Sunday with a 2 1/2 game lead and winning the Sunday game and getting the lead back to 3 1/2 games.
MicheleS just saw your post on your Father and Cubs. Thank you for sharing, that was a wonderful summary
Gonat... I agree with you to the extent that beating a solid Cards team 3 of 4 is a turning point that the Nats are here to stay on the big MLB stage.
However, I think there were 2 critical points of the season that the Nats emerged from as a solid contender, the first was how the team responded to the 9-0 collapse. You mentioned the Cubs game last season, that you attended and I listen to on radio, MASN did not carry that game. Like all fans, after the Braves game, the first thought was that Cubs game, how would Nats respond? Answer was 2 words John Lannan.
second critical point was Werth return and energizing this team. perhaps the third and final piece was this weekend
Laddie and 1a, I started to feel a little bad for Cubs fans too. I even started feeling sorry for the starting pitcher, but it helped that he was followed by 17 different pitchers so no one guy got it too bad. Last night was my first of 5 games this week! GYFNG
Eugene has it right. The fans will watch the scoreboard (we are all over that task).. The guys need to take care of business on the field.
I always feel sorry for cubs fans, but if Theo does things right (and it looks good so far with dumping salaries/old players, getting prospects), the Cubs will be back in about 3 or 4 years.
We will stop feeling sorry for them when they start getting those juicy draft picks. Speaking of -- any word on how Giolito is doing?
NatsJack, I am looking forward to seeing more of Christian Garcia. In the playoffs, teams generally carry 4 starters and 8 relief pitchers and unless Lannan becomes a relief pitcher on that roster, Garcia may find his way onto the post-season roster.
The Cubs have Starlin Castro. In 2008, the Nats had Ryan Zimmerman.
You have to start somewhere and its usually hitting rock bottom.
I wonder if Werth has consciously remade himself as an on-base percentage guy or if the wrist has forced that? His OPS is an outstanding .882, second highest of any year since he became a regular in 2008.
His home run production has dropped off the table, even taking into account that he has only 207 AB's. He has only 4 HRs this year, a steep decline from prior years -- 20 (2011), 27 (2010), 36 (2009), 24 (2008).
But what he's lost in HR production has been made up for in improved on-base percentage -- his .404 OBP this year is the highest of his career as a regular (2008 forward).
This is wonderful for a team that had a gaping hole in the leadoff spot -- in 2011 Nats leadoff hitters had a collective .285 OBP, far worse than the league average. I just wonder if Werth has consciously made adjustments in his swing to increase his OBP or if he's simply adjusting to some loss of power in the wrist.
I'm not sure Cubs have a path back to respectability. Their young pitchers certainly didn't look any better than their old pitchers and maybe worse. If they had ready-for-success prospects other than Rizzo you'd think they would have brought them up three months ago. And there's nobody on the roster they can trade for prospects -- Garza being untradeable in his present condition.
Think we will see much more of Garcia this month as an audition for the post season.
Gorzo looked bad, again, last night and is doubtful for October.
I noticed the Magic number was just changed from 17 to 16 for the Wild Card.
Snopes, Werth's power was due to be on the decline anyway and the wrist injury certainly didn't help.
He is so much better as a OBP guy and let the 5 guys behind him supply the power. As we have seen, Werth will occassionally get hold of one or two!
I think Werth is really looking for on-base percentage, not power. That double last night was a real example. Time and again he shows that he really thinks he can handle that low-outside pitch and lob it into the outfield. That was not a strike; he could have waited for a pitch that he could drive to the wall -- but he went for hitting the ball "where they ain't." He's always been a long-count hitter. And his OBP last year was not shabby, but still the worst of his career (as a starter).
Just for the heck of it, I tried to see when the first time "magic number" was mentioned.
As near as I can figure, it's this, from April 10:
fast eddie said...
From the glass-is-half-full dept.:
After last night's loss, our Magic Number to clinch the division remains at 159.
I also noticed that I was pretty early with the following suggestion just a week later
A DC Wonk said...
Bozo said...
What's the Nats' magic number?
Hey, I like that thinking. Perhaps we should have a "magic number" box in the place where there used to be a countdown to the season start! ;-)
In any event, the magic number is 148, with 150 left to play...
April 18, 2012 4:36 PM
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We've come a long way!
GYFNG!!
I got curious about how last night's disappointing paid attendance stacked up against other games with playoff implications last night:
Angels at A's - 11,688
Rangers at Royals - 12,462
Astros at Pirates - 12,785
Orioles at Blue Jays - 13,556
Twins at White Sox - 15, 698
Rockies at Braves - 16,686
Phillies at Reds - 17,806
Cubs at Nats - 17,648
Yankees at Rays - 17,652
Indians at Tigers - 27,729
Mets at Cardinals - 34,108
Padres at Dodgers - 40,619
Diamondbacks at Giants - 41,038
Our attendance is obviously not yet there with the mega-market teams or the true baseball towns like Detroit and St. Louis or the phenomenon of Giants attendance. But last night wasn't as awful in context as I'd originally thought.
Two more quick things:
1. I'm in agreement with some posts above: the "scoreboard watching" I do is of the Reds. Opinions may differ, but I think it's pretty important to take the top spot, because then the Nats would play a team that burnt their best pitcher the day before (and had to travel while the Nats rest, etc etc.). (Plus, I have a good friend who's a Reds fan).
2. Feeling sorry for other teams? I try not to feel sorry for then until they leave town. I'll feel sorry for the Cubs on Thursday night ;-)
3. Speaking of our leadoff position . . . Werth is the best leadoff guy in baseball right now. There's nothing more demoralizing to a team as when you are facing a top team in baseball and you're losing and it's still the first inning. So -- get this:
The Nats have scored in the first inning six out of the last eight games.
NatsJack - No complaints here. Werth is the ideal lead-off hitter, something we've never had since 2005.
Hey snopes -- good work!!
alm, I wouldn't be so hard on Gorzelanny, he hadn't seen any game action for 10 days and was bound to be a little rusty. He did get the K on Rizzo when all was said and done.
He's not a closer, not an 8th inning guy but he has done his job well this year.
Seconded. Maybe you should send those attendance stats to the WaPo, as they tend to worry so about Nats attendance. This ought to make them feel better about it. :-)
"Hey snopes -- good work!!"
Random stats -- mostly about hitting, because we all already know that we're the best pitching in baseball:
1. "Subs" (anyone who didn't start the game) are batting a collective .312 for the season. (Best bench in baseball. Ahem) Pinch hit average is .299 (the league PH average is .238)
2. Nats as a team are batting .278 since the All Star Game.
3. Players age 25 and under are hitting with a higher BA than the rest of the team. (Hello great future!)
4. Interesting pitching stat: with two outs and RISP, opponents are hitting .203 against Nats pitching. Opponents are hitting .183 in extra innings.
5. Second best fielding pct in NL.
I believe that you missed something there, Wonk. The comments related to "fans" not "teams."
2. Feeling sorry for other teams? I try not to feel sorry for then until they leave town. I'll feel sorry for the Cubs on Thursday night ;-)
We missed the game last night due to a social obligation thing. We had exchanged our tickets for tonight's game instead. We'll still be in 311, but in different seats. I sure hope that the weather holds out and the Nats play another great game. SJM308 we may look you up tonight
It can be a weird world sometimes. Around where I live there isn't much love between the locals and the constant onslaught of bicyclists that come out here to enjoy our scenic area. The problem is we have to drive on narrow, curvy roads with cyclist riding abreast, or right down the center, often refusing to move over. You get the idea. So, about a month ago I got a knock on my front door while I was watching the Nats game. Some guy's new derailer jammed up and got twisted into a pretzel. He couldn't get a hold of anybody to come get him. Long story short, I [none too happily] gave him and his toasted bike a ride home in my truck. About a 25 mile round trip. So we get home last night and there's 2 tickets, infield gallery seats, to the Nats game Friday night, with a note of thanks from the guy that I gave a ride to.
Jack,
It was a perfect storm for EJax:
123 pitches last game, running the bases twice and huge run support. So it was a no brainer to get him outa there in the 6th.
Watch for Gio to hit the wall kinda early tonight too. It would be nice if we Davie could insert Lannan in there somewhere to give EJax and Gio an extra day. They have been work horses this past month.
Volstadt used to be on the Marlins; right? is he any good?
I kinda enjoyed last night's game which was more of a team batting practice.
Joe Seamhead said...
It can be a weird world sometimes. Around where I live there isn't much love between the locals and the constant onslaught of bicyclists that come out here to enjoy our scenic area. The problem is we have to drive on narrow, curvy roads with cyclist riding abreast, or right down the center, often refusing to move over. You get the idea. So, about a month ago I got a knock on my front door while I was watching the Nats game. Some guy's new derailer jammed up and got twisted into a pretzel. He couldn't get a hold of anybody to come get him. Long story short, I [none too happily] gave him and his toasted bike a ride home in my truck. About a 25 mile round trip. So we get home last night and there's 2 tickets, infield gallery seats, to the Nats game Friday night, with a note of thanks from the guy that I gave a ride to.
A random act of kindness gets returned with a thoughtful gift of Nats! Gotta love it!
Thanks for sharing that story!
Hey, fellow Insiders. Behind on comments, but I'd like to poll the room: under what circumstances would they cancel BP today? I'm going tonight, and for an evening game I like to get there good and early. But if there's no batting going on, there is nothing to do down there.
I'd appreciate any input. Thanks!
PS Can't stand Volstad.
Scooter, its a night game so just rain or the threat of upcoming rain.
Seconded. Atta way, Joe!
A random act of kindness gets returned with a thoughtful gift of Nats! Gotta love it!
Thanks for sharing that story!
I thought the same thing! Good point.
Its not always the quantity of the home crowd, but the quality. Lately, the crowds at Nats Park have been high quality and high volume! Hoping for another dry night at the park tonight
JD said...
Jack,
It was a perfect storm for EJax:
123 pitches last game, running the bases twice and huge run support. So it was a no brainer to get him outa there in the 6th.
Watch for Gio to hit the wall kinda early tonight too. It would be nice if we Davie could insert Lannan in there somewhere to give EJax and Gio an extra day. They have been work horses this past month.
September 05, 2012 9:47 AM
EJax was winded in the 4th but you knew Davey was going to keep him in there for the 5th to get the win, just not sure why he left him in for the 6th.
He was very forturnate that the ump gave him the 3-1 strike against Castillo as he should have walked and eventually struck him out and the laugher eventually turned into a nailbiter with the 5 run lead and bases loaded at the hands of Gorzo.
I was very concerned with his 120+ pitch last start and my guess if this wasn't the Cubs and was a good offensive team, EJax probably wouldn't have seen a W.
I think Davey made mistakes last week leaving EJax, Gio and JZim in past the point where the results were worth it. Team wins and shutouts are more important than individual complete game shutouts or even 5 inning qualified wins.
Danny Rouhier on 106.7 going off on Angelos right now. Nice!
For the out-of-towners:
http://player.radio.com/player/RadioPlayer.php?version=1.2.14023&station=114
Great story Joe. As a biker &nats fan it is doubly appreciated.
We will be closer to you tonight. 310 row b with redcarpet
Scooter, even if they don't have BP, if you arrive early, then you can go to Justin's and partake in good reasonably priced beverages and better food than the park.
Re: Werth' s previous "power". He played in Citizen's Bank Park. That means his HR totals are quite inflated.
I'd like to poll the room: under what circumstances would they cancel BP today?
Basically, if they have to put the tarp on. But the problem is that unless there's an area-wide monsoon the weather wherever you are when it's time to head down to the stadium may not resemble the weather at the stadium once you arrive. You'll just have to get there at 4:30 when the gates open and take your chances. Even if there's no BP, usually you can still get the $5 beers at the Scoreboard Walk.
Steve... why are they going off on Angelos?
don't get me wrong, i love it
The glass is half full for Nats, but I thought I would point out that last season, the Braves were 80-55 with 27 games left and look what happen. The difference is with 27 games left the Nats are getting stronger
mick said...
Steve... why are they going off on Angelos?
don't get me wrong, i love it
September 05, 2012 10:20 AM
Danny's personal hatred is he believes Angelos sandbagged the O's to keep baseball away from Washington so he could always say he can barely sustain his team.
got it... that is right, I do remember Danny saying this and what is sad is that he is probably right.
thank you Ghost!
Rizzo on 106.7 in 1 hour from now.
mick, any time. I truly believe it. He played the whiner for a long time in complaining about his falling attendance and inability to compete against the Yankees. It was his battle cry against the big bad New Yorkers all the while he was getting 9 sell-outs a year from their fans and the same from the 9 games with the Red Sox.
Keep in mind that MLB guaranteed Angelos a minimum value if he ever sold his team plus the MASN deal. The Yankees head to Baltimore tomorrow night for 4 games and they are sold out for all 4 games.
Last week in their 4 game series against the White Sox they didn't go over 10,995 in attendance. The Yankees and Red Sox save his butt plus the inter-league.
I hope the Orioles don't sniff the playoffs this year. That would be great!
Ghost.., interesting points and i agree with you. I will say, what ia wlays found strange about Angelos is that when he first bought the team, he seemed committed to win, he had great attendance and fan base, he went after Alomar, Palmero and a few others and of course hired Davey. In 1997, you had the spitting incident with Alomar and the blow out with Davey.... why did Angelos go stupid and cheap over night? That is a huge mystery to me?
On another note, i have mixed feelings about teh O's making post season, think Buck S is a great manager and I think it would be great forboth Nats and O's to play n post season, because it would make the DC metro area look like New York on the the big MLB stage. I see a net positive for baseball in DC by both teams getting in. i loathe Angelos as much as you, but I like the O's players and Coach Buck
NatsJack -
I agree about Jackson's baserunning contributing to his running out of gas.
It was interesting how Davey beat himself up in the post-game press conference for not hooking Jackson earlier. Part of the reason why players love Davey is that he's not that old-school "personal stats don't matter." Of course, they do matter to the players, since they affect the value of their contracts.
Davey's leaving Jackson in last night might have cost him a bit of money as an off-season free agent. It was classy of Davey to publicly apologize for that error.
Thanks for the BP input, y'all.
Good article on the SS shutdown. Glad I'm not the only one who feels he needs to finish his season now. Sorry, I know this topic is beaten to death. And double sorry, hate to link off this page.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/writers/tom_verducci/09/04/stephen-strasburg-shut-down-mike-rizzo/index.html?eref=sihp&sct=hp_wr_a3
Oh and I have to say the President Club seats were sweet. Now I'm spoiled.
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