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Associated Press |
It doesn't matter how many All-Stars make up their roster, how much experience their manager brings to the table, how many savvy moves their GM has made to address various areas of need. And it certainly doesn't matter how many people predicted this 98-win ballclub from one year ago would take it up another notch this season and experience October jubilation.
You are what your record says you are. And right now, the Nationals are 28-29, a full 6 1/2 games behind the NL East-leading Braves.
"We deserve to be where we're at right now," first baseman Adam LaRoche said. "We've played like crap."
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114 comments:
NatsJack, that is true but that's the Angels problem. The weaknesses with the Nats that were shown last year weren't fixed except for the #5 starter and the closer.
What wasn't fixed was the Front of the bullpen, 2nd base, power Lefty off the bench.
Well, Adam LaRoche says the Nationals have played like crap. He should talk to the NI's and he'll see most nothing but rainbow! His statement does carry more weight though, and they are playing like crap. At least LaRoche agrees with me. We need bats.
"We deserve to be where we're at right now," first baseman Adam LaRoche said. "We've played like crap."
Thank you Adam LaRoche for speaking the truth.
Great signs is Abad and Erik Davis playing well.
Hey Rabbit34, what ideas did you have in the off-season?
I just know all the people that kept telling me Espi needed 1000+ at-bats and Henry would improve because of those bone chips and Zach Duke is a former All Star and the best of the rotation in Syracuse and Chad Tracy was the leader of the bench.
Like I said, they got a closer which they needed even though they overpaid and they got a #5 pitcher.
I see some of those people that told me I was wrong in the off-season are finally agreeing with me. The one big mouth that told me that there was no way Rendon would play 2nd base. The excuses about his ankles. The excuses that Espi is a superior shortstop to Desi. Just too many excuses.
That's right, I'm an armchair GM.
I wonder what those team stats would be without Espi. Why is he still a starter? Why are Henry and Duke still on this team? Why is Eck still a coach? Are they going to change at this point??? I think the Nats have been playing at a disadvantage, I really do, but I have watched most of the struggling players pull themselves together. Now, I think they are what they are going to be. This just cannot go on. The silver lining-- that depth you all thought we did not have? Karns is going to be a nifty little pitcher at some point, Davis, too. Rendon will be up sooner now. Just when I think they have hit bottom, well, I just don't know. This lineup just does not seem to function without Bryce.
Even game five against the Cardinals looks good now. At least they were in the playoffs. Time to clean off your big-screens guys.
The April 1 cover story entitled "Mr. October-Stephen Strasburg-The Nationals wii break through and win the World Series" was the kiss of death.
baseballswami, again, were you saying this on November 1st, March 31st or May 1st?
Eckstein isn't the problem. 4.70 runns scored last year. The problem is execution and personnel.
That above was on the cover of Sports Illustrated.
GoSM, of course they werent supporting your theories because they were happy with Henry and Espy until the press turned on them. They fly with the media and when the media bashes them then they get upset. You could scream from the rooftops and they wont care.
Rizzo hasnt DFA'd one player to this point. The changes have all been injury DL moves.
I don't know, ghost. Really, I don't . It just seems that in any other organization, it would at least be a question. I did not think Eck was a good hitting coach previously, but the the team did so well that I thought I had to be wrong. It's not mechanics or scouting reports. There does not seem to be a good plan at the plate. And if he has a good plan and they are not listening, then that is a problem, too. Sometimes the same voice just stops working and it's nothing against the teacher. Just a need for a fresh approach. Maybe we need to do what the Royals did and instead of demoting the hitting coach, just bring in someone extra. It kind if creeps me out that things can go south this much and nothing changes- it's just sit and wait and see if it goes away.
Why is Espi playing? Can anyone out there give me an answer?
I suppose when Werth returns then Lombo will be on the bench and Espi will be in the line up.
It was also difficult to get off to a good start with the slump to start the season with Adam Laroche, the poor fielding of Ryan Zimmerman, the bench slump, Espinosa slumping, and poor situational hitting. The month of May you have Werth, Ramos, Harper, Mattheus and Detwieler injured.
Im shocked the Nats arent worse off then they are and that is because of the great starting pitching.
Helloooooooooooooo.....why is Espi playing?
baseballswami, yes the plan at the plate isn't working but it could be poor execution. Rizzo and Davey won't get rid of Eck so it doesn't matter.
Different situations call for different plans. A 1-1 tie last night calls for a different plan.
I believe it's the personnel not executing mostly.
4.70 runs per game last year. As in, the year Morse produced (RBI+runs-HR) 97 runs in 102 games, nearly a run per game.
The notion that they had to choose between Morse and LaRoche was a false choice, at least until they acquired Span. They could have left Harper in CF another year, trundled along w/ Morse in LF and just outscored everybody. That approach worked most of last year. (Notice that except for BA, Morse's OBP and slugging are almost exactly the same as last year.) Span is a nice CF but you can't out-defense anybody if you can't score more than one or two runs a game. Span over Morse was really the first poor decision, Gorzellany the second; not selling Bernadina while the market was high was the third.
Davey says changes are coming. Like him not shaving.
You keep trotting out 2-3 guys a night who are hitting below .200 and you lose. You keep playing guys who are overmatched and you lose. You keep thinking its going to get better but it isn't.
Davey went from manager of the year to gettting outmanaged on a regular basis.
BigCat said...
Helloooooooooooooo.....why is Espi playing?
Great question. Why wasn't he replaced in the off-season is my question?
BigCat- a voice crying in the wilderness.
Espi is playing simply because that's the way Davy wants it.
Ghost, I know you want to say "I told you so". Im laughing at all the people who are just pounding on Espy and these are people who were his biggest supporters.
Athletic supporters with no balls. Go figure.
GoSM, I think most Nats fans knew that HRod and Duke weren't the answer... And most were pissed about the 3 lefties going.. We all hopes that things would work out and folks thought maybe goods hrod would show up based on his preseason performance... Duke, well, you knew he would come in on losing situations...
As far as Espi, people shouldn't give up on him.. He is obviously hurt... What should happen is DJ needs to be an adult and DL Espi and have him get his surgeries and come back next year ready... He looks lost at the plate...
As far as Eck, he deserves his share of blame to as he hasn't done anything to he'll
Ps peoples approach and work on their swing... And the situational hitting is awful...
What Nats fans didn't suspect was that injuries would hit us ike this... And that the SP would start out kinda poor...
Nats actually are running parallel to their last years runs at this point lat year... Its just starting pitching was outstanding then... Once we get the line up that hasn't been around since April 9 or so back with the substraction of Espi and the addition of Lombo or Rendon, things should look up....
Hopefully hrod and duke are gone as Kearns and a bad can fill in...
Will the Kool-Aid drinkers FINALLY admit it is time to get the heck out of Jonestown?
See Kilgore's story about the Nats being "overly optimistic" about Strasburg's injury (surprise! surprise!). My bet is neither he nor Harper will play until after the All Star break, at which point the Nats might as well start calling up the remaining kids on the 40-man roster because it will be time to begin thinking about how to crawl out from under the wreckage of this disaster and starting trying to fix things for next season.
Davey's philosophy is to let guys express their talents and stay out of their way. He seems to truly believe that his faith in them is enough. I feel that he is absolutely shocked that this is continuing and thinks that any day now it will stop. He does not really believe any changes are needed because it's just going to turn around. Any day now. Really. Just stay the course. Just believe in the guys. Any minute now. Just give it another minute.
Nats128, I sure told P**** No wonder why he left. He of the "RZim to 1st" cry and missing the big picture.
I feel sorry for the starters. They are doing their job and getting poor offensive support and at times poor defense.
Espi is playing because Davey loves his glove and is loyal to all veterans especially 2b because he sees himself in Espi...dumb but true...just hoping he scraps that practice and makes wholesale changes b/c they are needed.
swami @ 806pm, you are so right. but now he needs to change course and mix it up...will he?
MrsB loves the Nats said...
GoSM, I think most Nats fans knew that HRod and Duke weren't the answer...
If you believe that then you haven't been following the chatter here long. Just last week was P**** claiming Henry had better numbers than Storen.
On your Espi theory of him being injured, he has the worst swing & miss % in the Majors from 2011-2013 for players with at least 1,000 ABs. Can't fix that easily.
The winter moves told the tale. the GM made some painfully bad moves - dumping a high average power guy (morse), keeping an aging Laroche who just had his career year, acquiring a leadoff guy who has an anemic BA, an average to poor base stealer, and Zero power. Then he allows 3 key bullpen lefties to leave and fails to replace them - oh yeah, Zach Duke.
And most people cheered these moves!! Predicting World Series or Bust!!!
The seeds of this fallow season were thus sewn.
Then Davey 'the genius' has a laid back spring. (does anyone really think Davey is any good at this juncture?) Veterans barely played - 'they'll be ready," Davey would repeat. "they'll be ready."
But they weren't ready. Hitters were rusty, pitchers were too -- the bullpen never has been set -- and game strategies are virtually paralyzed.
If this team turns on each other in the clubhouse, it's all over butthe shouting.
Manny Acta is on ESPN right now as an analyst so he's available...haha! & so is Barry Larkin - hitting coach?
You know I have been watching Abad-- not bad at all. Maybe Davis will work out also. Today was good for him. Maybe some unexpected answers there. Karns is certainly not all the way ready but he has nice stuff. Can strike guys out. Good poise. Suzuki probably would have helped some had he been out there- he knows those hitters better. Nice future starter- now he will know what to work on and be even more motivated.
Well, hrod does have better numbers than storen.... Or he did... So the thought process was more so that good hrod has been showing more than bad hrod... No matter that Davey only used him in situations where we were already losing, he actually did well...
Espi needs to get healthy first.... Simple as that.. After that, then some major changes need to happen to his plate approach, which is why he needs to he dl'd and then spend time in the Cuse or Harrisburg.... But a good hitting coach would help him... And idk if rick ecksteon is....
Paul Brandt, Davey was traded so the team could make room for their young stud Bobby Grich. He has never forgotten that. He's sees himself in Espi as a great glove 2nd baseman that can hit HRs. I think that experience has shaped how he treats the incumbent.
Where did all the Espi bashers come from? And where did all the Morse for Span bashers come from? and listen to all these folks who now bash Davey.
I was insulted, harassed, trolled, and asked to leave by so many of the same names when I pointed all of this out, point by point back in April.
Where is the Supreme Michael Morse Hater Natslady who comes in with arms of data from Fangraphs that don't prove squat, who even reported negative posts to Zuckerman -- Natslady, where are you now?
Ghost, spot on...i knew that but didn't tell the whole story...thanks for doing so but Davey needs to tell Danny - we are going with someone else, go get the surgery & get ready for next year...dude is killing us.
MrsB quit drinking the Koolaid. Henry was never doing 'good." Comparing him in any way to Storen, even if the numbers belie, is a joke. Henry is a jok -- Storen just needs movement on his fastball.
Ghost- I think you are on the right track there. But at what cost to the other players? Watching Major League and trying to picture HRod with black glasses, a leather jacket and a Harley. Wild Thing walk up music might be fun.
Steve - please... Facts are facts... Hrod was performing better than Storen.. That's not drinking kool aid... That's paying attention... And for your info, I never wanted hrod nor duke on the team... I'm not an hrod fan and cursed something serious when I found out he made the roster...
MrsB loves the Nats said...
Well, hrod does have better numbers than storen.... Or he did...
So like P**** you give no weighting to High Leverage situations?
There are the simple stats like ERA and then you have to look at the stats behind it like the situation.
Henry hadn't started 1 inning this year as a High Leverage. It is proven once again that Henry can't handle it.
Read the rest of the post GoSM.... I said it seemed as if good hrod was around more but DJ only used him in situations where we were losing... Although that's his guy, he doesn't trust him...
Had Mathues been available I doubt hrod would have come in on Saturday.... He'll, had we scored at least 1 run he wouldn't have either....
Hard to compare reliever stats and draw conclusions. It's so situational. What inning? Game situation? Who are the hitters? Mop up or very low leverage ? High stress in a tie game with the 3,4and 5 hitters up? Stolen bases against? Number of balls vs. strikes? I watch almost every inning of the Nats and you will never convince me that HRod performs better than Storen in anything but a tiny sample size. You can't compare them side by side in the same game situation. But if you watch a lot- and you see HRod coming in, don't you wish you had an oxygen mask? Lately, Drew's pitches have looked filthy nasty. I am sure hoping that trend continues.
MrsB loves the Nats said...
Steve - please...
Can you address him as SteveJ not to be confused with SJM or SM or me.
Thanks from GoSM
MrsB loves the Nats said...
Read the rest of the post GoSM.... I said it seemed as if good hrod was around more but DJ only used him in situations where we were losing... Although that's his guy, he doesn't trust him...
Had Mathues been available I doubt hrod would have come in on Saturday.... He'll, had we scored at least 1 run he wouldn't have either....
I don't think Davey likes him but his boss does and you are correct that without Mattheus and Davey needing to see Erik Davis in a lower leverage situation it was Henry's inning and the results were painful.
Mrs. B is NatsLady. Pay attention, girl. HRod is not better than Storen -- never was.
Facts are Facts? Yes. time you consider facts in your rants. Henry has a WHIP 1/4 run higher than Storen -- and henry just gets garbage time. And the comparisons could go on late into the night. Facts is Facts, natslady aka Mrs. B
MrsB, come on, are you cutting Hrod's lawn? to compare him to Storen is absurd. They come into each game in such different circumstances its silly to just do tit for tat. I will take storen over Hrod in any situation other than we need to scare the sh%# out of a rookie or we are down 10 -0 in the 4th.
Ghost of Steve - all you've done here tonight is parrot what I have been stating here for a month and a half. I would Want to be Called Steve J is I were you -- the Ghost is well, just a shadow of the J
Guarantee MrsB is a Fanagraphs fanatic -- hmm come to think of it, so is NatsLady
SteveJ, now that is funny. My posts are well documented. All you have to do is read through them in Mark's archives.
I'm glad we agree on a lot.
If your basing it off facts and #s as most of y'all like to do.... Hrods era is lower than storens... That is why I said that hrod was better...
As I will keep repeating myself becuz for some reason yall aren't reading, this is what is seems like BECUZ HROD WAS ALWAYS PUT IN THE GAMES WHERE ER ARE LOSING... DAVEY DOESNT TRUST HIM AS HE SHOULDNT... it doesn't matter that hrod can throw 100 mph as if he can't find the sz its all irrelevant and he is a bum...
This doesn't in anyway imply that I like HRod over Store... as I don't... I've said time and time again, I don't like hrod.. Never have and never will... I don't understand why he is on our squad... But for whatever reason, since he is in the bp, we have to use him...
And I'm not NatsLady... I'm
Well, I see it's getting good and weird in here...
::: kicks back, cracks a cold one :::
Oh- I think there are quite a few things we all can agree on at this point. Misery just loves company. But I really am hoping for better times to come.
May be Natslady is Peric ;) since she would agree with him all the time on Henry and Espy.
Natslady is a nice person tho she just falls in love with horrible players. Her 2 year love affair with Henry and Espy speak volumes. You have to be OBJECTIVE not subjective if you want to be taken for real.
Picking and choosing the stats to use to support your stance is not the way to go around it.
I don't pay attention to that fangraphica stuff your spouting... Totally different situations on where you can compare HRod and Store..
Case in point on Saturday... Store, had a very good outing.... It was 1-2-3-4 but there were no runs and he got outs... Hrod, who woupdnr have even been up if Matheus was available or if we have scored when we had runners in scoring positions, HRod wouldn't have trotted his worthless self out there...
No one is disagreeing that HRod is a bum... Cuz he is... But when folks said that hrod was better than storen, it was based on the fact that his era was lower than storens....
"MrsB loves the Nats said...
Never have and never will..."
Who says that all the time...
I know a lot of people here have a certain disdain for Angelos and the Orioles, but Showalter and company showed us how to handle Espi with their 2b Flaherty. The night we started our series with Baltimore he was recalled from Norfolk (AAA). They sent him down to Norfolk to be in a less pressurized environment to get himself straight at the plate. It worked. Showalter and company are managing their whole organization well right now. The Nats are not.
I think I know who Peeic is... If its the same person that is on Wapo....
I've been very consistent on both boards about these players... I don't like HRod, I don't like Duke, I don't like Clip, I think Moore needs to be sent down to the farms and learn, I think Espi is a selfish JA at this point and DJ needs to be an adult is sit his behind down, I don't like the fact that we have Kobernus up and won't play him... I think Lombo is a decent utility guy but itsnt the answer at 2nd base either...
I'm not a Davey hater but I do talk about his loyalty all the time...
Its really simple.
Nats Lady is not even posting right now so how did she get in the middle of this? You should just turn to this ridiculous Major League movie and have a few laughs. We need that Asian dude to come in and challenge everyone with " you have no marbles"!!!!! Seriously - a fictional baseball train wreck. The kind you can laugh at instead of rant until you drop.
"MrsB loves the Nats said...
No one is disagreeing that HRod is a bum... Cuz he is... But when folks said that hrod was better than storen, it was based on the fact that his era was lower than storens...."
I like that response! The one who kept pounding the point on Reliever ERAs was Peric. Hes gone in hiding since Rendon is now taking over 2nd base.
That just makes me smile.
95Nats, Absolutely... Or even a page from the Yanks book as they called people up left and right to accomodate their injured folks...
We keep wanting to hold folks out and not put them on the DL and waste a roster spot while waiting for them to return when their injuries get pushed back...
I will jeep saying that I don't understand why we have Kobernus but aren't playing him...
MrsB does LOVE HER SOME CAPITAL LETTERS i will give her that but hey, she (i think) brings some new insight and i like that too. Rest up you Nats and sweep them Mets...if we do that we can focus on the next series...baby steps as Bill Murray said in What about Bob - love that movie.
MrsB, I like your ideas and what about Chad Tracy as you didnt mention him.
128 - I understand why folks said Hrod was better... I didnt and don't agree but they were looking at the ERAs... So I understood... Didjr support it but understood...
No question would I DFA Hrod and Duke yesterday and leave Kearns, Davis and A bad on the squad... And yes I would take Store over HRod 15 out 10 times as IDC if HRod can throw 100 mph, if he can't fins the SZ, he is worthless....
Hahaha.... You really want to know how I feel about Chad Tracy.... Tell your kids to go to bed and get ready for me to use every curse word in the dictionary....
Hated that we designed him last year and wanted to keep DeRosa....
I think Chad is useless...
The injury management issue has got to be one of the things we all agree on right? Screw around a while, short bench- delaying the process. Very nonproductive.
Glad to see things didn't get crazy today...
MrsB, what are your opinions on gun control?
To lighten the mood, someone on another site I frequent SERIOUSLY suggested Lombo is a hall of fame caliber player. Dead serious. He wasn't joking.
Hahahahah Paul.... Not touching that one with a 10 foot pole....
like Lombo but HOF, no...imagine the same person has a bronze statue/waterfall of Espi in his/her circular driveway.
The thing about the Lombo/Espi debate.... I tell people its not Lombo is great... He is just better than Espi on offense, which isn't that hard to do...
No question Espi is the better defender but until he can get 100% and contribute to the offense, he is hurting the team more than helping... Lombo is serviceable at best... Just a guy who does things well but nothing really great.
"David Proctor said...
To lighten the mood, someone on another site I frequent SERIOUSLY suggested Lombo is a hall of fame caliber player. Dead serious. He wasn't joking."
Was his name Gamer? That guy was on here saying Lombo is the local whiz kid.
We endured the same with Justin Maxwell. I liked the Lombo comparisons to Jamey Carroll. Lombo has to take walks and so does Span and others.
OBP is a must for these slap hitters.
"David Proctor said...
Glad to see things didn't get crazy today..."
It wasnt a game the Nats had the matchup like Saturday. On Saturday you have a great Gio start and some lucky BABIP and then the Nats didnt capitalize when they had the golden opportunity.
Span's approach has changed. I think he was told to be more aggressive. He's going after more pitches instead of walking. That's okay when he's hitting two triples, but sometimes you have to take your walk.
MrsB, re. response on my gun control ?...nicely done!!! i like you! haha!!!!
Speaking of OBP, our's fell lower than the fish. I'm not sure how I feel about that...
David P. Ha! Glad I went to work after the game! Posted my thoughts in my blog. I'm out for the night, still love the Nats! It's gonna be fun to watch 'em regroup and creep out of this hole.
One thing I will say about Lombo is those 2 Sac Flies were great to see. Need more of that.
Tomorrow is an off day. I can bet Rizzo will be in old man Lerners office getting his a## chewed.
I will bet you that 1 human sacrifice will happen as Werth will be activated and it will most likely be Henry Rodriguez. If it is a cop out and Kobernus goes I will be disappointed however not suprized.
I love Span... youre right David that it does look like he is being more aggressive... Issue is he has no one to cover him and he just is a sitting duck on the base...
I love that Span takes at least 5/6 pitches most at bat and when Jason he's also another one to take a lot of pitches....
so when werth comes back is he in the #2 hole? what about putting him #1 and dropping span?
would like:
werth - rf
harper - lf
zim - 3b
laroche - 1b
desmond - ss
span - cf
lombo - 2b
suzuki - c
p
If HRod brows another pitch for this team the whole organization should be embarrassed
On Tuesday I will be happy to see Jayson Werth, but absolutely holding my breath every time he runs or goes after a ball in the outfield. On Tuesday I will also be thrilled to hear FP back on the TV broadcast. So do we all think the move will be Kobernus back to triple A? Not very dramatic. Hate the thought of Lombo back on the bench and Espi in the lineup. I know it seems like bashing him, but he clearly cannot play right now. This is not the best thing for him or his future career. One game at a time now.
I did not post during game....no reason to vent any more...
the ship has sunk
sure Nats lady, its only a flesh wound
Mick- I didn't post either. Trying to stay hopeful. If not a great season, at least regain respectability.
Monte Python's Dark Knight put up a better fight than this pathetic team, lol
Nats 128 said...
Tomorrow is an off day. I can bet Rizzo will be in old man Lerners office getting his a## chewed.
I will bet you that 1 human sacrifice will happen as Werth will be activated and it will most likely be Henry Rodriguez. If it is a cop out and Kobernus goes I will be disappointed however not suprized.
I think you are right that a meeting will be taking place somewhere.
Just don't know if there will be just the Werth move that will require the one corresponding move or possibly 2 moves as I just don't think they want to show panic. There's just a lot of players not improving.
I'm also surprised as I said a month ago that Rizzo hasn't moved up Ian Kroll. He's the lefty they got in the Michael Morse trade and he's been doing great in AA and we need to find out quickly if he can handle the move up.
http://www.milb.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?pos=P&sid=t547&t=p_pbp&pid=571871
swami...I am already thinking about 2014 and enjoying the rest of this season watching the players who are good in 2013. Looking forward to a new and competent manager who is not arrogant and full of himself. Davey can't get the hell out of here fast enough.
Davey can take the bald headed stooge Rizzo with him
The Nats have Mattheus, Christian Garcia and Kroll as 3 to watch for the bullpen when they are ready.
Keep in mind that right now Davey is carrying 8 relief pitchers and he may want a larger bullpen due to the issues with Strasburg.
Kobernus isn't being used and Werth could take his place.
I agree that if Kobernus goes and the dead wood stays then management will stick with these guys and go down with the ship
mick, i knew you couldn't help yourself...haha...good to have you back...we still have time to recover but changes need to be made and fast...they need to rock the boat a bit and if that means Davey must go, then do it...i like him but maybe its time.
so next season Werth will be 50 years old?? so why in 2e014 will Werth remain healthy?? No depth on this team, only garbage
lol paul...
Just finished watching Elin @Virginia game.
He batters there had great situational understanding. Runners were always advance.
I wish Nats batters were as well coached.
At the same time saw something I never saw in Arkansas @ Kansas State game. 2 wild pitches on the same intentional walk scoring a run each pitch. Taking a3-2 lead to a 4-3 deficit.
Steve J - Just wanted to say I agree 100% with your assessment of when and where the seeds were sown for this season. I love the Nats, but I don't view them thru rose-colored glasses as so many seem to feel a true fan must do.
This team is in serious, serious trouble and it's not just because of the players, but also due to how they are being managed.
I, too, was amazed at how people were applauding all of Rizzo's off-season moves, because I didn't agree with many of them.
Well, the seeds sown back then have now taken root and what we have to show for it are a lot of weeds.
Fredi Gonzalez in Atlanta is known to bench players who are underperforming. See BJ and Heyward.
Davey doesn't. He just stays the course come hell or high water.
This may explain why the Braves are able to overcome their slumps and the Nat's are still sending out a B squad.
Hey everyone: just got back from a terrific concert at the Birchmere! Patti Griffin was so much better than Danny Espinosa it wasn't even funny.
Hate to say it but I turned the game off after Dukes did his thing and did not listen on the way into Va. did check the score when we arrived and have read Mark's instant analysis.
Lots of changes could and should be made. It will be interesting to see if they are. The absolute first change for me would be making Danny get his surgeries. Rendon will be up soon and that could be a spark. I move Karnes into long relief and thank Mr. Duke for his service. I keep Davis up and tell Henry we really appreciated him. That gives us one more position player to make 25 and I bring Corey Brown up to fill that. I realize about a week ago I spoke about not making wholesale changes but drastic measures might be what are needed.
We have time but that won't help if we don't change things as soon as possible. Werth will help but he can't carry a team anymore. When everyone is healthy (and I have no idea if that will actually happen) my lineup is
Span
Rendon
Harper
Zimm
LaRoche
Werth
Desmond
Suzuki
And that my friends should score 4+ runs a game. Not one player in that lineup batting under .200 where we have often had as many as 4.
Go Nats!!
Apologies if already noted:
Rendon went 1-2 with a double, but made a fielding error.
At Harrisburg, Taylor Jordan had another excellent outing, moving to 3-0. Brian Goodwin has 6 triples in just 55 games.
At Hagerstown, Brandon Miller is doing a nice Willingham impression. He belted his 11th home run.
"Well, Adam LaRoche says the Nationals have played like crap. He should talk to the NI's and he'll see most nothing but rainbow!"
This is HILARIOUS in retrospect. What LaRoche would see if he read here is a group of fans who, with notable exception, are wracked with despair, spewing inane vitriol, and/or have utterly given up and turned on this team from management down to the backups.
Those of you who actually feel this place is too optimistic, keep telling yourself that as you vomit diatribe upon diatribe on here at a 10 : 1 clip compared with anything resembling rational critical analysis.
Good luck and be sure to keep it weird, because at least that's entertaining!
PS - I didn't mean top imply that any and all who are despairing are expressing it in irrational fashion. Certainly there are folks who are quite concerned but still capable of refracting that concern through the lens of reality and common decency towards the utter strangers who play and/or coach for the Nats.
In other word "with notable exception" did not just refer to people who lack deep concern for the current state of affairs.
I am hoping for one of the following line ups when Werth returns. If my line ups either Duke is DFA or Espi is benched/DLed
1: Span CF
2: Werth RF
3: Zim 3B
4: LaRoach 1B
5: Desi SS
6: Lombo LF/2nd
7: kobernus LF/2nd
8: Suzuki C
9: Pitcher
or
1: Span CF
2: kobernus LF/2nd or Lombo LF/2nd
3: Werth RF
4: Zim 3B
5: LaRoach 1B
6: Desi SS
7: kobernus LF/2nd or Lombo LF/2nd
8: Suzuki C
9: Pitcher
or if they are really desperate for change.
1: Werth RF
2: kobernus LF/2nd or Lombo LF/2nd
3: Zim 3B
4: LaRoach 1B
5: Desi SS
6: Span CF
7: kobernus LF/2nd or Lombo LF/2nd
8: Suzuki C
9: Pitcher
Eric:
It's not just the fans. After Erik Davis' commendable debut yesterday, Charlie and Dave were dripping with sarcasm over Henry Rodriguez' 10th inning debacle the night before.
"It's amazing what you can do if you just throw strikes."
If I remember, the Grich promotion was acrimonious. That is, Davey was pissed and O front office was happy to go with Grich.
So probably Davey does not want to give up on Espi.
What do you think about Suzuki 6th?
I wish they would have Danny get his surgeries too, sjm. Then come back, rehab, and remake his brain and spirit along with his swing.
I hope Mark Z. made it back from Atlanta, where he was stuck. And that our boys are getting some rest today while the grownups have a good long talk about what comes next.
Go Nats.
To sjm308:
Totally agree with your roster moves--
--Danny to DL (avoids demotion to 'Cuse and saves embarrassment)
--Rendon to 2B (but needs a couple weeks at 'Cuse to get familiar with new position)
--Karns stays for long relief, Duke goes
--Henry becomes "historical"
--Corey Brown comes up
Agree with your lineup with one exception--put Werth at #2 and Rendon #7. We need Werth to get on base and less pressure on Rendon at #7.
GOSM:
Different situations call for different plans. A 1-1 tie last night calls for a different plan.
I believe it's the personnel not executing mostly.
Huh????? How is that not on Davey???
SteveJ
I was with u in April. Saw u torched. U were right. I have always been anti espi, Davey, hrod, Tracy. I love Lombo and Moore but seems Moore may not be ready, and at 27 that's not good.
Drew - I wasn't commenting on the fact that fans are growing derisive, I was commenting on the idea that the vibe here is rainbows and unicorns. That was an utterly absurd assertion.
Actually they have a 4th game tonight.
Because of his cool beard
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