Saturday, April 6, 2013

From potential devastation to pure elation

Associated Press
Craig Stammen and Wilson Ramos celebrate the end of a wild victory.
CINCINNATI -- The line between a postgame clubhouse thumping with music, laughter and good vibes following a big win and a postgame clubhouse silent with players mulling around while questioning their ability to bounce back from a bad loss is razor-thin.

The scene underneath the third-base stands at Great American Ball Park late Saturday afternoon could have been one of dismay, of soul-searching, perhaps even underlying panic. The Nationals, fresh off a record-setting, 15-0 thumping at the hands of the Reds, had just blown a 5-1 lead late and were on the verge of dropping their second straight game in demoralizing fashion.

But the moment Craig Stammen got Jay Bruce to whiff at a curveball with the tying run on second base in the bottom of the 11th inning of a wild afternoon on the banks of the Ohio River, none of that mattered. Inside the clubhouse minutes later, the music blared, everybody was in a joyous mood and whatever blemishes there were during this 7-6 victory seemed insignificant in the bigger picture.

What if the Nationals had lost?

"I don't even want to think about that," right fielder Jayson Werth said. "Obviously, it would be drastically different. What I liked about the game is we continued to fight."
Read more

94 comments:

bg said...

That is a fine line. DJ needs to stick with the hot pitcher and not pull someone just because that's how he has always done it. Det should have pitched beyond the 6th. Clippard should have pitched one more inning the way he mowed them down in the 7th. Go with who is hot until he shows himself to be tired.

Holden Baroque said...

Mark, just a detail, but on tv it looked like Harper's throw did not go to the backstop, but only because Storen was in position and backing up home.

Unknown said...

and fight they did!!

Good job Go Nats!!!

Unknown said...

Got to agree with BG on Davey's handling of the pitchers. they are big boys now, Davey -- Det can pitch eight or nine if you let him; clip could easily have gone two innings --

Everyone knows I am not Davey's biggest fan-- and they let me know about it. Don't care. Davey's got to adjust -- and start to give his pitchers more respect.

skidge said...

I'm a huge Harper fan, but the quote from him here bothers me a bit.

bg said...

I'm more concerned over Soriano shrugging off his blown save. He should have been mad about it, but instead defended it as "the first time" it's happened. His last performance against the Marlins wasn't great tho he got the save that time.

ehay2k said...

I disagree about letting Detwiler pitch another inning. First, it's not warm, and cool weather is not a friend to a pitcher's arm. Second, Davey thinks it's too early in the season to let his pitchers go deep. 82 pitches is enough for Detwiler right now. Only Haren knows his arm well enough to pitch more this early.

BigCat said...

test

Joe Seamhead said...

I wondered about pulling Det, too. All I could come up with is Det hasn't had as much work this spring due to the WBC. Also,Clip,Store & Sore should be a good 3 inning strategy with a 5-1 lead.
I agree that a loss would have been brutal to their heads. This was an important win.
Tomorrow is no easy task, either. Cueto is tough. He and SS should be a good game, but you never know in that ballpark.

mick said...

if they had lost after Stammen struck out Votto twice, I would have still been proud of Nats. so it does not sound like sour grapes, i will bitch about the HP ump now... he is a disgrace to the game, worse than Ed rush... you do not protect good players, you call the game fairly... to hell with him! the same pitch was a ball all game long except to Votto. i hope that fat load of an ump is not at Nats Park this season

skidge said...

Yeah, Soriano too. Contrast w/Desi. I liked what he said on TV, that Stammen should have been interviewed instead.

Candide said...

John Lannan is perfect through 3: three strikeouts, six groundouts.

Someone explain to me again why we non-tendered him and signed Haren for $13 million.

sjm308 said...

As Mick has noted, I do not read the game posts. I wonder how many people had Davey yanking Desmond before he hit his shot? Mr Hayes, I am glad to see that at least on this post and maybe the one before you have toned it down a little and are proclaiming the Nationals as your team. We will chose to root for our team in different ways.

Dave said...

I understand the frustration with Haren's disaster last night, but since he had a layoff of nine days, I'm willing to see one more start before I start to hit the panic button.

But I might then.

True, Lannan was fine as a spot-starter for us against Atlanta last year when we needed him. But he wasn't always the stopper of our staff. I guess he really wasn't ever the stopper, in fact.

If Haren gives up bombs next time (Thursday? my next game), then I may jump on the "why Haren?" bandwagon.

Anonymous said...

This has always been a site marked by civil conversation. Today's comments by Steve Hayes include the following:

"I like talking baseball and do not like personal attacks."

"This site is a riot. Just talking baseball is considered persinally attacking players."

To poster djinFL: "Grow up, old man."

Poster CWJ is "the forum jerk."

Davey Johnson is "childish."

In reference to Desmond's errors: "Trouble at home, Desi" and "Anyone got Desi's cell phone #? I want to remind him to take his meds before all the games."

NatsJim said...

Candide, I know you're being rhetorical, but he's just not Rizzo's type... I wanted him to be our 5th starter, I figured he's a gamer with a lifetime ERA right around 4.00 and would be one of the best 5th starters in the league, but there was clearly no love for him from Rizzo. The odd thing is that from what I've read and what little I've seen of Haren, he doesn't appear to fit the Rizzo mold either so I'm not sure why he went after him so aggressively in free agency.

Having said all that, In Rizzo I Trust... but I did want Lannan as our 5th starter. Probably one too many left-handed starters than the ideal but I didn't see that as a big problem. If he just put up his 2011 numbers it would have been good enough, and I suspect he'd have done much better than that with this team backing him up. I think Haren will work out, may just take him a little while to find his groove. Fortunately he won't be starting any more games for us in Great American Ballpark.

Joe Seamhead said...

Cubs up 4-1 over Braves!

Candide said...

NatsJim said...Candide, I know you're being rhetorical...

Hey, where would we be without rhetorical questions?

Candide said...

I notice the TV ads are talking about next week when "Adam Dunn and the White Sox come to Washington..."

Dunn may make the trip, but I'll be very surprised if anyone actually sees him in Chicago's lineup, except as a pinch hitter.

sjm308 said...

Snopes - thanks for those quotes and I guess I overrated mr hayes (again, I don't read or post during games). so he is a youngster that can't handle maturity or an older idiot who looks at things in a negative manner. Desi has always been a class act and to defame him lets me know to not respond to his posts in the future. Thanks for that again.

Ishmael said...

Steve Hayes is Jim Riggleman?

John C. said...

I am always amused by the number of barstool geniuses and internet posters who are more brilliant than a borderline Hall of Fame manager. All the comments about handling the pitching staff presume that this is the game we MUST win!!! Davey is managing for the whole season. It's a very different mindset.

The Nationals took Haren over Lannan because Haren is better (or at least has much more upside). Look at the records. One game apiece isn't going to change that. I wish John well (and hope the Philly bullpen blows most of his games), but I don't romanticize him either. There were posters who were irate because the Nationals went with Detwiler over Lannan in the rotation last year. It was for the same reason; Detwiler is better, too.

BigCat said...

Bottom line people is we are 4-1. I didn't see the game today. I saw Haren last night. Not good. But as Dave said, 9 days is a long time off for a control guy. Lets give him some time. He is a proven professional winner/battler. So now we are back around to Moses at the top of the rotation..then Gio...then Zim....jeez...we are gonna win a LOT of games this year.

BigCat said...

162 games is a looooong haul. The cream will rise to the top. I think that butt whippin the Reds put on us will make us better. 102-60

NatsNut said...

Same here, except I actually don't like it one bit. Does Harper already think he doesn't have to listen or learn?

skidge said...
I'm a huge Harper fan, but the quote from him here bothers me a bit.

Joe Seamhead said...

Hayes comes on here and just blasts Rizzo, Johnson, ALR, Span, Werth, etc. Why? Because he's trying to get a reaction from folks here. Then he compounds it by coming on to a sight called Nationals Insider and doesn't like it when nobody shows him any love when he praises the Orioles. Then he cops a misogynist attitude with Jane B by implying that "girls" can't judge ball players their quality of play like guys can, only by their character. Hayes is trying to be a shock jock with Rush Limbaugh and/or Howard Stern tactics in that he's trying to shock us into a response. He makes no bones that he is looking to get a rise out fans on this blog wearing their Nationals rose colored glasses, then comes on here and bogarts the joint. Personally, I think he has been here before with a different ID.

UnkyD said...

Steve Hayes said
Funny how ordinary Davey is with a bad pitcher on the mound. He's always genius when his staff is only giving up a run or two.

Haren is washed up
Duke is low quality
Henry is well, Henry
Rizzo dissed three lefties who contributed mightily to our monster 2012 -- but he let go. Were left with Zach Duke and Henry? good luck.

meanwhile we're now TEACHING our great acquisition to steal bases?????
Do you think Seattle is teaching Morse to hit??
Nope, if they're not laughing at the Nats yet, they will be soon. Span is an average player -- and a lousy basestealer -- Rizzo f'ud up BIG TIME on this trade -- and on his off season handling of our bullpen and getting rid of Jackson and picking up a damaged, out of shape, washed up Haren.
But I have been saying this all year. The Nats are not as good as last year and will win 5-8 less games.

April 06, 2013 12:14 PM
Steve Hayes said...
Davey's penchant for the left/right thing.

How childish. Davey thinks he's playing Strat-O-Matic. He lets the best lineup get crowded out by his L/R novelty.

Oh Davey, you are so grossly overrated.
The Emperor wears No Clothes.
Davey is a genius when his pitching staff is blowing em away. Very average at best when they're not.
-----------------------------
UnkyD says:
Respectfully, Steve Hayes, and with all the affection I reserve for fellow baseball fans.... Please continue to offer your opinions... That's what we're all here for. But please don't whine when folks disagree with you. Someone referred to you as a clown... I don't think I saw anything more personal than that reference. I would say that your commentary above was easily more personal than anything that was said to or about you. Which is fine... Others have made similar points... Just don't be offended by a little push-back.
-------------------

Steve Hayes:
Desi is hitting .105 with 4 errors -- trouble at home, Desi??


And:
Anyone got Desi's cell phone #? I want to text him to take his meds before all the games
---------------------

UnkyD says:
Please........ Don't protest that you're simply "talking baseball", when you stoop to this level. Yes, I know it's a joke, and you're just a funny guy. But, by the same token, you know that many grown-ups don't find this amusing. Again, make personal attacks and insinuations as you wish... At the risk of hearing what others think of your sophomoric wit.
----------------------

Steve Hayes:
What is it with Oriole fan haters here? I saw Orioles fans referenced several times today like their bad people. I believe if you're a true baseball fan, you root for both teams -- especially since their in different leagues and were our only baseball teams for4 40 years.
---------------------------
Unkyd says:
As has been noted, most if us bear Os fans no particular animus. It's Angelos we object to. And it's worth noting that its not unheard of for Os fans to come-a-trolling here (Poopy McPoop, comes to mind). I personally grieved when the Senators left (I was 11), but I never blamed it on the O's, I enjoyed Cal's career and the Streak, went to some games... But I never bought a cap. Same as I enjoyed the beginning of Torre's run, with the Yanks ( lived in NJ, driving limos...heard a lot of that, with Mike and Russo on the box...). It was fun... But I didn't buy that cap either... I just spent three decades without "my own team". So forgive me, if I don't care to divide my loyalties, now. But I guess I'm not a "true baseball fan", in your humble estimation....
------------------
And finally (UnkyD concludes), if you find that your stream of consciousness has you making 1/2 a dozen or more comments, while your fellows are catching a breath, you may safely expect them to be at least moderately annoyed. Say what you will, and as much as you wish, but please, no more of this "gosh, y'all are SO sensitive!" nonsense.... Believe it or not... You were barely acknowledged, today.....

Joe Seamhead said...

Davey sounded more than a little peeved with Bryce after the game. I won't be shocked to see Tyler get a start in left before he gets one in right. Bryce needs to get the fundamentals down as to when it's inappropriate to throw home.

Anonymous said...

Joe Seamhead -

I hadn't thought of that, but it sounds perfect. I'd give even odds that Tyler Moore gets his first start of the season tomorrow in left field. The combination of the steely look in Davey's eyes in the post-game interview and Bryce's immature "I can't win" comment calls for some drastic measures.

Davey loves Harper. So some discipline is in order here.

SonnyG10 said...

I wouldn't be surprised to see Davey sit Bryce for a bit. Sounds like his performance is going to his head. Maybe JW needs to have a word with him.

Joe Seamhead said...

One last thing. Well, two, then I'll try to act my age. I was the one who quoted the lyrics from clowns/jokers but I never called another poster either name directly.If you thought I did, I guess if the shoe fits....
Lastly, and then I'm done with whoever this poster is, but I took of fence at his sexist, derogatory condescending comments to longtime poster Jane B, who can certainly stick up for herself, but is too classy to respond to this:

Steve Hayes said...
Janet when guys criticize players for not hitting or for making errors, it has nothing to do wsith their character. When chicks talk sports it seems to have everything to do with their character. Everyone knows Desi is a great guy; but its okay to say he's not playing well when he doesn't.
April 06, 2013 4:49 PM

UnkyD said...

Thanks, Joe.... I meant to play the mysoginist card there, as well. Even more embarrassing than the Desi stuff.

Buy hey... He's just talking baseball...

Joe Seamhead said...

Back to baseball, the Braves losing 5-1 in the bottom of the 8th to the Cubs.

Joe Seamhead said...

Also, Phillies behind 3-1 but with the bases loaded in bottom of 9th, nobody out.

tayo said...

Harper just needs to strike a balance of when to be aggressive and when to play it safe. he'll get there with more experience but I am not worried about him or his throw. The team we have can make up for his young aggressive mistake(i.e. I don't think we will be hurt too much by them)

sjm308 said...

Still very happy I don't read or post during games. Think the core "Insiders" did a fine job of keeping this place classy. Lord knows the guy they are referencing did not.

Go Nats!!

Joe Seamhead said...

Phills win with 3 runs with 2 out in the bottom of the 9 th

mick said...

after the game i have been watching the Final Four and checking in here, what did I miss about Bryce, p;ease someone fill me in?

mick said...

was Davey mad at his play in the field where he almost broke his wrist? or something else

NatsJim said...

Davey's mad about his throw home after Desi's error that allowed the tie run to get in scoring position; apparently Bryce had a quote after the game that has some folks upset, but I haven't heard or seen it yet.

Dave said...

Mick, Davey is apparently upset that Bryce, in his hyper-enthusiasm, once again missed the cutoff man on a throw in and allowed the tying run to get to second (Mesoraco). Bryce over-threw, and the ball went to the backstop.

mick said...

thank you NatsJim.... I hope it is a 1 day story and then lets move on

mick said...

thanks Dave

Joe Seamhead said...

Mick, he threw home again when he should have hit the cutoff,allowing runners to advance. His throw was not only I'll advised, it sailed way past the plate. Luckily the pitcher backed up Ramos.
Dang! Atlanta just came back from 5-1 to beat the Cubs. Both Uptons hit homers in the bottom of the ninth.

Dave said...

I probably owe you some sort of cola beverage, NatsJim.

Bryce, in his comment, said, "If I throw him out, I’m perfect. If I don’t, everybody looks at me and says, ‘You’re terrible.’ Nothing I can do." Rubbed Davey and others the wrong way.

Joe Seamhead said...

Oops, I was slow on the post. I might owe somebody a tasty beverage!

mick said...

thanks Joe

Dave said...

Tasty beverages all around. Three-way owe-me-a-coke.

Dave said...

Meanwhile...stupid Cubs. Stupid Royals. Phillies and Barves both win in walk-off fashion.

SonnyG10 said...

I guess we're just going to have to take care of things ourselves, Dave.

SCNatsFan said...

It's obvious some posters in here just want to get a reaction. It is important we don't give them the rise they are looking for. Opinions are welcome but people who just come here to inflame aren't worth the effort to reply.

peric said...

Mark talks Nats AND Ori-holios? NOOOOOOOOOO ...

Yuck.

peric said...

Syracuse loses when Ryan Tatusko walks 3 in a row in the 11th inning and then Zach Walters is unable to handle a slow roller. And Doug Harris was watching ...

Not good boys!

peric said...

BHarp still needed more time in the minors to hone his fielding. But Davey decided that he could teach him all that he would have learned there ...

That's just the way the cookie crumbles.

Fortunately, when the next "phenom" gets to the majors his fielding will be sublime. With Rendon you can count on it.

peric said...

Got to agree with BG on Davey's handling of the pitchers. they are big boys now, Davey -- Det can pitch eight or nine if you let him;

IT'S EARLY and IT'S COLD. Dave is doing this with all the pitchers. Not just Detwiler. It makes sense if you think about it.

Plus the bullpen needs its reps to get ready for the meaty part of May.

NationalsFanatic said...

Although I read Nats Insider and the comments frequently, I rarely post. However the above mentioned "Steve Hayes", reminds me of another poster who I know has posted here before and was also permanently banned by the Washington Post. Yes non other than "Poopy McPoop". If you read what he has written, the tone, the manner and the frequency it was written, it fits. It would not surprise me at all if in fact this "Steve Hayes" is really one "Poopy McPoop"! Yes if it looks "P**p" and smells like "P**p", it probably is. Even though it's hard, it's really best to ignore it until it dries up and turns to stone (like all good Trolls do).

Unknown said...

A few years ago I was working as a car salesman and I screwed up a sale really bad. The buyer got so mad he left the building screaming at me, and he was right to do it. The owner was livid.

The problem was I was selling 15 cars a month and was exhausted. The next highest person was averaging eight.

My point is people who usually produce at a high level are more apt to make big mistakes. You never hear about a guy hitting .200 throwing to the wrong base.

High risk - high reward. That's the world of Bryce Harper. And really, I think he took the runner trying to score on his arm personally.

I'd be surprised if Davey was really upset with Harper. By the end of the year the games he loses for the Nationals will be miniscule when compared to the games he single-handedly wins for the team.

Farid @ Idaho

My point is

MicheleS said...

On Harp, At some point I see Werth taking him out behind the Wood Shed and having a conversation something like this "Hey you think you should be playing Right Field b/c you are a better fielder than me? Yea Right." I am deleting all the expletives that I am sure would be in their every other work, if not 98% of the words. This is a family blog after all.

MicheleS said...

Hey Mark, I think my stuff is going to the Spam filter

Joe Seamhead said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Joe Seamhead said...

(Sometimes I hate auto correct.)

Farid, good points, but there are times when even Bryce with his arm can't beat the runner. Johnson sure came across as being frustrated.

Joe Seamhead said...

This should be a good game today,though in that park I'm not sure it will be the pitcher's duel that it should be.I expect we'll see Tyler Moore in for ALR today.

sjm308 said...

Good Morning All

I don't think I welcomed Mick back but its good to read his name again. Where were you?

Advice well taken on Mr. Hayes. I actually stopped reading comments on the Post first, because I found this wonderful blog and second because of the garbage like PmcP wrote.

I think Farid makes a good point and Davey can be pissed in the moment but when he takes a step back he realizes what a treasure he has. This will be Bryce's first full year at ONE position. He will actually be moved one more time when Werth and he switch but please remember he is 20 years old and that 3 years ago he was a catcher.
I myself can live with him not being perfect if the end result is 30+ HRs, excitement in the field and on the basepaths, and a youthful joy of playing to win.

Go Nats!!!

natsfan1a said...

I also stopped reading comments on the Post blog quite a while ago due to both the "improved" interface and the trolling.

Another_Sam said...

I know DJ's approach and I'm okay with it; five or six from the starter followed by three outs each from the bullpen staff intill he runs out of pitchers. Mostly worked last year.

Gonat said...

2 words: Wilson Ramos

ehay2k said...

Bryce will definitely get a talking to, but you can bet it will be from his father! ;-)

He's still just 20, with less than 3 years professional experience. There is a lot to work on, and he is, for the first time in his life, playing against guys that are, in comparison to him, not vastly inferior in skill. He could ALWAYS throw out the kid trudging home, and the cutoff man was a risk because he probably couldn't make a throw home from the in filed as accurately as Bryce could from anywhere. So I get where is head may be, even though I disagree with his throws home. It will just take time to break the habit.

As for Desi, I'm glad he got the homer, because if not he'd really be beating himself up today, pressing and making more errors. He's best when he's relaxed, as we saw the before-and-after baby comparison. Like a new man once the baby came (and he was probably then too tired to be anxious anyway!)

As for McP, he can post somewhere else. But I'm scrolling past his posts.

GYFNG!

Gonat said...

Candide said...
John Lannan is perfect through 3: three strikeouts, six groundouts.

Someone explain to me again why we non-tendered him and signed Haren for $13 million.

April 06, 2013 8:02 PM
_________________________________

Rizzo would come on here and read Peric constantly bashing Lannan so Rizzo decided to dump him.

Seriously though, did you say something prior to the time Haren was signed or Lannan dumped? If you didn't than it's easy to do it in hindsight but let's face it one start and Lannan gave up 3 over 7 although he did look great.

I was very surprised by signing Haren as the 5th starter as he appeared like a reclamation project and all I could think of was it was just a cash outlay on a 1 year deal with high reward if Haren gets back to form.

On Lannan, he was clutch last year. His "stopper" start that 3 week of June vs the Braves was classic, but for some reason Rizzo has never really seen him as part of his rotation.

Section 222 said...

I'm out of town and didn't see yesterday's game or read the in game blog. Did I miss anything? :-) Actually I listened to a fair amount on the radio, including the last several innings, and just watched the Condensed Game, which was nearly 19 minutes long compared to the usual 10-12. Wow.

On the Harper/Davey issue, it seems to me that Davey is playing it exactly right. He's not going to bench Harper for these kinds of mental errors, but he's also not going to ignore them. That's two cutoff men missed already, although neither of them cost us a run. But Davey isn't going to be satisfied until Harper is near perfect and he's going to keep pointing these things out. Bryce will learn I'm sure.

Anyone know if today's game, which has to be the premier pitching matchup of the day, is on MLB Network?

Gonat said...

Talking about Bryce, when Bryce went straight to the wall on Votto's triple, was that played properly? Shouldn't he have read it better and just played the rebound?

Also I was very surprised Span had gone full out to back that up as he wasn't in position to back up Harp.

Having Votto at 3rd instead of 2nd was big in the outcome.

Joe Seamhead said...

I was wondering who poor Steve Hayes was and what he had done to get that guy to try to make him look bad by using his name.

Great piece on Harper in the WaPo this morning.Al Kaline hopes to meet him someday? Pretty good stuff.

mick said...

now that I'm up to speed on Davey/Bryce thanks to my friends here and the newspaper.... Davey is 100% correct in his approached. I love Bryce as much as anyone. As a coach myself, I would sit Bryce 1 game. This is Davey's team, I would say privately to Bryce ... young man, I played and coach on WS championship teams, I know what it takes to get there, I may not be right all the time, but I know in order to win you do not call out your coach or team publicly, now shut your mouth and take your medicine

mick said...

Gonat said...
Candide said...
John Lannan is perfect through 3: three strikeouts, six groundouts.

Someone explain to me again why we non-tendered him and signed Haren for $13 million.

I hear you my friend....Nats may have been wrong on this... oh well.

SonnyG10 said...

I'm not so much concerned that Bryce threw to the wrong base, but regarding his comment, I don't want him to get too big for his britches. Maybe he didn't realize how his comment sounded. I really think he wants to be a good teammate and wants to learn to play the game the right way, but sometimes success swells the ole noggin.

mick said...

agreed SonnyG10

SonnyG10 said...

Regarding Steve Hayes during the game thread yesterday, it did not take me long to start scrolling past his entries. As far as I'm concerned, NJ was right that Steve was talking to himself.

mick said...

anyone else feel that the Nats played like the old Yankee teams, who had nerves of steel after losing a lead? I am really impressed with Stammen

mick said...

Gonat

I just feel there should have been a loyalty issue with Lannan, he earned it in my view

Joe Seamhead said...

Well, If the Bryce is Right, concerning his comment, in fairness to him, if he had thrown the runner out at the plate we'd all be giddy about it.

mick said...

Hey coach SJM....I worked hard this winter so I could spend time during the season with all of you

thanks for the post

A DC Wonk said...

I just feel there should have been a loyalty issue with Lannan, he earned it in my view

Loyalty goes just so far. Fact was: he was being paid $5 million, and he played in only six games.

Giving him free agency, in a way, _was_ loyalty, because he could find a team where he could be a regular in the rotation, which is what every pitcher wants, right?

.I worked hard this winter so I could spend time during the season with all of you

Well, done. I look forward to a fun season with you!

NatsJim said...

Gonat, I don't think you can blame Harp for making the effort on Votto's triple - although he didn't get it he came within a foot or two and with the shortened porch in GAB he likely thought he had a little more room. In retrospect, sure, he should have played it off the wall, but he was close enough to actually getting it that I don't think I'd fault him for it.

mick said...

me too DC wonk, I missed you all

NatsJim said...

Wonk, re: Lannan, before they non-tendered him I was in favor of letting EJax walk and just giving the 5th spot to Lannan - I won't pretend to know what he'd have gotten in arbitration after spending most of the year in Syracuse, but my thought was that it would be a lot less than what we'd paid for Edwin and I suspect we'd have gotten the same results from Lannan as we'd gotten from Edwin. Of course at that point I had no idea we'd spend $13M on Haren, I was simply comparing it to the $10M we'd paid for Edwin. But as I said last night it was clear that there was no love for the guy from Rizzo, so I was fine with it when they non-tendered him since I realized he just wasn't Rizzo's type. But that's what surprised me about the Haren deal, he's not really Rizzo's type either... but I still think he'll work out and give us 180 innings, an ERA around 4, and a .500+ record. But again, I think Lannan would have given us the same thing... I'm just thankful Haren has given us something to worry about early!

NatsJim said...

Wow, that was a long way of saying we could have given him the regular spot in a starting rotation you'd mentioned...

mick said...

I am also a little concerned with Soriano's post game comments. His 2nd outing verse Marlins was not very good as well

mick said...

NatsJim... well said

mick said...

I liked Lannan a lot, thought he was a great club house guy as well. But alas, I guess business is business

mick said...

Haren's over career record is not bad, let's see how April and May goes

MicheleS said...

Tracy playing 1B again today.

SonnyG10 said...

Sure would like to see T-Mo start at first today.

natsfan1a said...

You were missed, too, Mick.

mick said...

me too DC wonk, I missed you all
April 07, 2013 10:27 AM

realdealnats said...

Random thoughts:
Harp was right to go to the wall
Harp should've hit the cutoff man
Denard was probably thinking wall and "need to play a whole season"
Davey was fine with going to his BP when he did
It's not just a marathon it's a chilly and it's April
Desi will come around
Espi was great in the field!!!
Werth is more than carrying his weight
We're experiencing "a little chop" last 2 games
Just what the doctor ordered.
Tough Juice called for
We're 4-1 which projects to 16-4 which puts us ahead of last year.
Love this team, Love Davey and how he handles players, Love Rizzo.

realdealnats said...

Random thoughts #2:

Bryce will learn to censor what he says, and I think he's done a fairly good job of it so far.

What he said is true, but given the situation and the facts it was a stretch and he didn't need to say it

All in all, except for Votto, where the HP ump totally caved to the crowd and the moment, I thought he had a pretty fair strike zone all game.

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