Friday, March 8, 2013

Beltway Baseball: Reader questions



In our final Beltway Baseball segment of the week, Chase Hughes and I answer your questions on Tyler Moore, Wilson Ramos and the chemistry inside the Nationals' clubhouse. Thanks to everyone who submitted questions, and sorry we couldn't answer them all. Enjoy the segment!

28 comments:

JayB said...

People.....Nothing against Mark...he knows I think he is great and the best we have in DC.

It does not mean I do not question things he does or that I need to lead the Mark Cheer section as some of you feel is required to post here.

I liked Danny's responses to Ladson. It shows he is thinking the right way now and that someone has finally gotten his attention and he is accepting coaching and following through on changes needed.

Njack has shared in the past (using his great contacts, jealous) that Nats were very frustrated with Danny and his approach. Njack can weigh in if he wants but as I recall and my eyes clearly showed that Nats felt Danny was not accepting coaching and not modifying his approach or swing K after K all season long.

Mark, Njack, hell everyone agrees that Danny and his issues are one of the main stories of Spring Training.

Bill L was the first to finally write or video clip anything of substance and detail about the issues and his progress owning and addressing them. It is not like strikeout is a bad word or you can hide from 200 of them. Glad Danny is using the word and facing he facts.

Oh and now Kilgore has a long written piece (by today's standards) on the whole Strikeout, Coaching acceptance, winter work and new swing.

MicheleS said...

Thanks for answering my question Chase/Mark. It's so odd to be going into a season with little to no position battles (love me som TyMo- see ball hit ball).

Also good to hear about the new guys fitting in. That article that was in the links yesterday (I think from EmDash) gushing about the team made me giddy.

MicheleS said...

JayB. I certainly hope you shared your positive comments with Ladson and now with Kilgore. After seeing some of the commentary, Especially on WaPo, they might be a refreshing change.

baseballswami said...

Interesting , watching Chien Ming Wang pitch in the WBC. Shutout into the sixth? If he gets a contract I think he should pay the Nats back for the last two years.

MicheleS said...

Swami.. bet he ends up with the Yankees. And the first time he fields a ball at 1B, he pulls a hammy

natsfan1a said...

Carrying forward:

JayB, you don't need to lead the cheering section, but you might try framing your concerns in a less combative, accusatory manner. It's not so much content as the way you say it, imho.

sjm308 said...

WoooooHooooo - first reader question is from??

Oh wait, that doesn't go up in the standings does it? Anyway, MicheleS leads off NatsInsider!!
I think it is great how I actually look forward to seeing whose questions Mark will answer. We just have so many comments that make me think. I am going over to the drink list now to put an imaginary soda in for natsfan1a just for her input to JayB. I have said many times, great fan, not so great in negativity. Today was a little better than yesterday which I thought was pure snark.

One other thought. Last year JayB railed against our woeful bench pretty much all spring. Turned out that our lads had one of the best benches in the game. He railed about Davey and his stubborn habits. Turned out Davey won Manager of the Year. This year he is railing about Danny. Guess we can start to clear a spot on the trophy case.

That is of course snark as well, but wishful thinking and I think JayB would be happy if that turned out as a positive for Danny.

Go Nats!! Go Insiders!!

DaveB said...

sjm ... Actually I was thinking that snark in reverse, as it now appears that Danny has cleared JayB's bar for personal contrition in admitting how he has failed all of us by being too stubborn. Surely that will doom his season this year, as he really needs JayB to continue railing against him to reach his full potential. :-)

baseballswami said...

Michele-- I think you are spot on. They are desperate, he will work cheap for another chance and they have a history. I actually don't fault the Nats for the two years. It was an educated gamble. He shows flashes of returning to form. Hammy is made of Silly Putty, though.

baseballswami said...

Meanwhile, Japan ties it up in the eighth and I really must accomplish something. I foresee an epidemic of illnesses today right around lunch time.

NatsLady said...

After great effort by CMW this game is unwinding for his team. Bullpen, bullpen, bullpen!

NCNatsie said...

Waking up under the palms in Cocoa Beach. Will be at the game. So excited. Anybody know who's pitching?

UnkyD said...

NC: Looks like Miller v. JZim... Enjoy!!

NatsNut said...

Speaking of chemistry, I love it and I believe Davey when he says their makeup is "off the charts." But as I think about all the players now, I see a noticeable lack of goofball. As Boz mentioned, they're all kind of cerebral and introverted. And they may be goofballs in the clubhouse, but they all just seem so serious on the field. Gio is fun, of course, but do ya'll see anyone else being as playful as Morse? I'm really going to miss that guy.

natscan reduxit said...

… over at the Post yesterday A.M., Adam wrote, "The Nationals limited Gonzalez to 50 pitches to comply with WBC rules …"

… I have no problem with a pitch count in ST, for any number of team reasons, but does anyone know what he was getting at by the reference to "WBC rules"? Does the WBC have that much clout?

… and oh yeah, Go Nats!!

natsfan1a said...

Thanks, sjm, but I think you have it in the column for me buy you one. That's okay, because they're imaginary anyway, and I'll be happy to do so. ;-)

I am going over to the drink list now to put an imaginary soda in for natsfan1a

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

WBC has rules about pitch count in each round of the series. Gio is not pitching in the WBC until round 2, but it makes sense that he should comply with the pitch count rules for round 1 even if he is still pitching for his MLB team during the round 1 timeframe.

NatsLady said...

WBC rules. (Yes, they do count pitching before the pitcher gets to the tournament.)

A pitcher must:

- Not pitch until a minimum of four days have passed since he last pitched, if he threw 50 or more pitches when he last pitched;

-Not pitch until a minimum of one day has passed since he last pitched, if he threw 30 or more pitches when he last pitched;

-Not pitch until a minimum of one day has passed since any second consecutive day on which the pitcher pitched;


NatsLady said...

These rules could create a problem for relievers in extra-inning games--like the one we have now with JPN and TPE.

Faraz Shaikh said...

man this game reminds me so much of a Nats game.

Faraz Shaikh said...

Yay Japan won!

Ghost Of Steve M. said...

I have to admit I've enjoyed these WBC games and was able to watch the Netherlands/Cuba game that was on tape delay.

Andrelton Simmons was going 1st to 3rd on a single and for a split second Cadillac'd it and he got thrown out at 3rd costing the Netherlands a real big inning. I hope he does that a few more times in the regular season!

sjm308 said...

I am also enjoying this. The crowds are terrific and the camera work is also excellent. You can just see how important this is for the athletes.

On previous comments: 1A - you do understand how weak my computer skills are so please feel free to move your imaginary drink to the proper column.

DaveB - excellent analysis on the JayB snark so I will appeal to him to continue his rants on Danny to insure that mvp type season.

NCNatsie - ENJOY!! very jealous but hope its as good as I think it will be.

Tcostant said...

I watch CMW pitch that first game, he was amazing. His mistake was signing with an NL team, he just doesn't need the extra injury risk assocoated with batting.

He doesn't owe the Nationals anything. Sometimes these things work out and sometimes they don't.

I wish him all the success in the world.

NatsLady said...

Mattheus not so good against a string of lefty batters yesterday, of whom Ankiel was the only major-leaguer. He (and Leon) also allowed Ankiel to steal 2B, so that was an extra run.

Grades and comments.
Lefties

http://ladyandthenats.blogspot.com/2013/02/lefties-for-hire-as-of-372013.html

natsfan1a said...

sjm, I posted one in the appropriate column but left the other one from me to you just because. :-)

On the WBC, have only seen a few innings so far (including the end of the Italy/Mexico game) but it is compelling and intense. I also love watching and listening to the fans in winter ball or WBC. They have some truly awesome noisemakers.

Am planning to watch today's Nats game (almost done clearing the desk here).

sjm308 said...

On previous comments: 1A - you do understand how weak my computer skills are so please feel free to move your imaginary drink to the proper column.

MicheleS said...

Cough Cough.. Had to leave the office, wasn't feeling well..

1A.. ding ding.. you said it with your comment about tone.

I am loving these WBC games. The games have been really fascinating. Italy.. Who Knew!

waddu eye no said...

natsie - sing 'em a few bars....

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