Sunday, June 23, 2013

Game 75: Rockies at Nats

Mark Zuckerman / NATS INSIDER
The Nats and Rockies face off in their series finale today, as long as the weather holds up that is. It was raining heavily through the morning and scattered thunderstorms are expected throughout the day. There does, however, appear to be a window in the afternoon to get the game in.

Ross Detwiler (2-5, 3.34 ERA) is making his his 11th start of the season and his second against the Rockies in just the last ten days. On June 13 Detwiler took a no decision after allowing three earned runs in five innings in Colorado. The lefty has a 6.19 ERA through four total appearances against the Rockies.

Pitching for Colorado is left-hander Jorge De La Rosa (7-4, 3.21) who allowed three runs against the Nats on June 12 in a Rockies loss. He is 3-2 with a 4.84 ERA against the Nationals in six career starts.

Jayson Werth is back in the Nats' lineup after a one-game absence due to an illness. He is hitting cleanup with Adam LaRoche and Denard Span getting the day off.

Stay tuned for updates throughout the game...

COLORADO ROCKIES at WASHINGTON NATIONALS
Where: Nationals Park
Gametime: 1:35 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN2, WUSA-9, MLB.tv
Radio: WJFK (106.7 FM), WFED (1500)
Weather: Scattered thunderstorms, 85 degrees
NATIONALS (37-37)
CF Jeff Kobernus
2B Anthony Rendon
3B Ryan Zimmerman
RF Jayson Werth
SS Ian Desmond
1B Chris Marrero
C Kurt Suzuki
LF Steve Lombardozzi
LHP Ross Detwiler



ROCKIES (38-38)
CF Dexter Folwer
2B D.J. LeMahieu
LF Carlos Gonzalez
RF Michael Cuddyer
C Wilin Rosario
1B Jordan Pacheco
3B Nolan Arenado
SS Josh Rutledge
LHP Jorge De La Rosa

UMPIRES
HP Rob Drake
1B Joe West (cc)
2B Sam Holbrook
3B Andy Fletcher
1:43 p.m. -- Ross Detwiler started the day off with a perfect first inning, featuring strikeouts of Fowler and Gonzalez. He even got D.J. LeMahieu out which has been quite the task for Nats pitchers over the last few days. Detwiler threw 14 pitches (9 strikes).

1:57 p.m. -- The Nationals got three men on base in the first, but came away with nothing. Kobernus led off with a walk, but was thrown out on a steal attempt. Zimmerman walked and Werth singled with two outs, but a Desmond pop up on the first pitch ended the inning. De La Rosa is at 18 pitches (10 strikes).

2:03 p.m. -- We are no longer tied as a Michael Cuddyer solo home run to right field puts the Rockies up 1-0. Detwiler's at 25 pitches through two.

2:11 p.m. -- Lombardozzi reached base on a bunt with two outs, landing at second after a throwing error to first by Arenado. But Detwiler promptly struck out to end the frame. De La Rosa needed only ten pitches and is at 28 through two innings.

2:30 p.m. -- The Rockies put three more on the board in the third inning to make it a 4-0 game. Rutledge, LeMahieu, Cuddyer, and Rosario all singled and Fowler added a walk. LeMahieu had the first RBI of the frame to continue his tear this series against the Nats. In this four-game set he is 8-for-15 with a homer and 5 RBI. Detwiler is at 54 pitches already and probably won't be out there much longer.

2:36 p.m. -- The Nats went three up, three down in the bottom of the third. Kobernus, Rendon, and Zimmerman all went down with flyouts. De La Rosa is settling in and has thrown just 37 pitches through three. No signs of like for the Nats' offense.

2:52 p.m. -- Another three runs in the fourth inning off Detwiler and Craig Stammen in relief and we have ourselves another blowout. Arenado got things started with a solo homer off Detwiler and Cuddyer added two more runs with a two RBI single with two outs. On to the bottom of the fourth we go with a 7-0 score.

3:03 p.m. -- The bottom of the fourth was quite eventful for the Nationals. They scored two runs to make it 7-2, one on a groundout by Marrero and another on sac fly by Suzuki. Werth also came out of the game after hitting a single. He jogged slowly into first base and moments later was replaced by Roger Bernadina who scored the first run. We'll see what Werth's situation is after the game.

3:10 p.m. -- Wilin Rosario led off with a single in the top of the fifth, but a nice double play by Desmond and a Rutledge flyout ended the frame. Still 7-2 as Nats are up in the bottom of the inning.

3:24 p.m. -- Rendon hit a one out double to make things interesting in the bottom of the fifth. He was joined on base by Zimmerman who walked, but a Bernadina sac bunt and a Desmond strikeout gave the Nats three outs and the end of the inning. Still 7-2.

3:29 p.m. -- A quick three up, three down for Stammen to get through the sixth inning. Nats will send Marrero, Suzuki, and Lombardozzi up next with a five run deficit.

3:41 p.m. -- Marrero led off the sixth with a single to left field, but Suzuki, Lombardozzi and a pinch-hitting Tracy all got out to end the inning. Ian Krol is now in to pitch for Washington as we move to the seventh.

3:47 p.m. -- Krol make quick work of Gonzalez, Cuddyer, and Rosario in the seventh. It's the top of the order for the Nats in the bottom of the inning to face Rob Scahill who replaced De La Rosa.

4:02 p.m. -- The Nats loaded the bases with Rendon and Bernadina each getting singles and Desmond a walk, but with two outs Marrero popped up to shallow right to end the inning. Still 7-2 with the eighth inning up next.

4:07 p.m. -- Another crisp inning for Krol in the eighth. The young lefty is now through 8 2/3 innings in his MLB career without allowing a run and just one hit on his resume.

4:30 p.m. -- The Nats nearly came back in the eighth inning with four runs scored. Lombardozzi and Span singled and Jeff Kobernus then walked to load the bases. A Zimmerman single and Solano double brought home four runners to make it a one run game. It's 7-6 now.

4:37 p.m. -- Fernando Abad came in to pitch the bottom of the ninth and allowed a one out single to Fowler. That was it for the Rockies though as the Nats head to the bottom of the ninth looking to complete the comeback. It's still 7-6 with Marrero, Suzuki, and Lombardozzi up next.

4:43 p.m. -- Rex Brothers shuts it down as the Nats fall 7-6 to the Rockies and to 37-38 on the season.

314 comments:

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SCNatsFan said...

Time for Kobernus or Marrero to step up and show they should stay here. C'mon Nats, win the series.

Doc said...

Let's hope that Det starts mixing in more of his offspeed stuff to-day. His ERA has crept up the more hitters have had opportunities of seeing just his two kinds of FB's.

phil dunton said...

Two infielders in the outfield... that's risky.

Gonat said...

Marrero needs to really step up. Lets go! Glad to see Werth is back!

Pete said...

Interesting to see Davey playing the splits. Fingers crossed for a series win!

BigCat said...

Yes Phil. I like Lombo, but good gosh, did you see that throw home the other night? I think Nyger threw better and he couldn't throw out Ironsides(Raymond Burr) tagging from 3rd. I see Harper is being very cautious on his return. I'll bet dad has a close eye on this.

sjm308 said...

Agree with Phil that this is not our best defensive Lineup, but I am actually happy that Davey is finally giving players an occasional day off.

Bringing over comments from the last post. Ghost, I am not saying Haren was the right move, I am merely mentioning that at least its only one year and I, like others thought it was a decent gamble. If you look at most of the other starters, they were all looking for multiple years. Haren needed to show his stuff to get that last multiple year deal and it looks like that will not happen now. Again, he could turn it around but I don't see it. I do agree with Mick that my choice would have been another year of Lannan but he and Rizzo had probably had enough of each other.

Mick - I just don't understand what you think emailing Mark will do? Are we grown men/women going to shake in our boots awaiting Mark's decision on what is and is not an attack? If you threaten emailing Mark anytime someone disagrees with you he will soon think your email is spam. Just lighten up, talk baseball and try and understand that you will not always be on the right side of each argument. In my opinion, Natsjack did nothing outrageous in disagreeing with your statement and just because you happen to agree with him a few times does not make him your buddy. He and I have gone back and forth a couple times and it is what makes this site fun. Natsjack WILL poke the bear and I kinda like it.

sjm308 said...

Big Cat - Dad and don't forget Mr. Boras

BigCat said...

oh yeah, forgot about Mr Boras. He is always laying in the tall grass...watching...isn't he?

Ghost Of Steve M. said...

Big Cat, Lombo has a better arm than Nyjer. On those 300 foot throws he has to hit the cutoff. His throws are serviceable from LF to 2nd base.

BigCat said...

That throw I saw was on a hard grounder to left. He charged the ball fine, used his legs well in throwing, but the ball sailed high and up the third base line. it looked like a Billy Kilmer pass

Ghost Of Steve M. said...

sjm, lucky its only 1 year. If the team didn't have Ohlendorf they would have to stick with Haren. Rizzo has an alternative TRY IT! Doing nothing isn't a solution. McCatty has tried fixing him. Someone said Harens location isn't the problem that its the movement. True that cutter with good movement fixes mist location issues unless its center cut. Still want both.

Section 222 said...

Just read the end of the last thread. Yikes. Lighten up folks. The rain has stopped, the game is about to start, and we have Det on the mound. Life is good.

Well, it's pretty good. The lineup looks kind of AAA to me. I'm all for giving guys a day off, but how about one at a time over the course of a week? And yes, I get that we're going against a LH pitcher.

BigCat said...

We just gotta get the hitting going, just a little. Good God...its just putrid! Every game its the same, 1-0 going into the 6th or 7th

I have always said that pitching and defense can carry a club a long way, but lord have mercy. If we had average or below average pitching we'd be 10-15 games below .500.

Someone said Span had some comments about Eck. I missed that. Were they derogatory?

Ghost Of Steve M. said...

I like some of Mick's provocative posts. Gets you thinking. Haynesworthless was just the wrong name. McNabb is the perfect comparison and the Redskins benched him and it was the right move.

Section 222 said...

Big Cat and others, it's NyJer, not NyGer. The mistake is getting old, and if it's not a mistake, it's reprehensible. Call him Morgan if you can't remember how to spell his name.

Nyjer was a cancer. He had a terrible arm, got terrible jumps in the field, was a sure out against lefties, made regular mistakes on the basepaths, and had a bizarre personality that led to irrational explosions that hurt the team. It's just crazy to think he'd be a better option than any of the guys who have played the outfield, even the infielders.

Why are we still talking about that guy?

BigCat said...

Mick, I think you said a while back that you are a coach or used to be a coach. i'll bet you're pretty intense in that dugout

Exposremains said...

One thing for sure is that all of Rizzo's free agent starting pitcher signing have been a big fail and cost about 40 millions to the team.

Exposremains said...

Rizzo is good at evaluating young pitchers but not so much veterans.

sjm308 said...

I as well love to read Mick. His passion is undeniable and he takes each loss hard.

mick said...

BigCat said...
Mick, I think you said a while back that you are a coach or used to be a coach. i'll bet you're pretty intense in that dugout

at times I was...but I never yelled at a player during games, I always addressed mistakes during practices and felt I had a great relationship with my players.

sjm308 said...

Haren to the dl

Doc said...

As far as Rizzo's signing of Haren--it could have been worse!

Like the Cubbies, he could have signed EJax to 4 yrs./$40mm. What's Edwin now, something like 2-10 and an ERA close to 6.00

mick said...

Ghost Of Steve M. said...
I like some of Mick's provocative posts. Gets you thinking. Haynesworthless was just the wrong name. McNabb is the perfect comparison and the Redskins benched him and it was the right move.

I like that better!

sjm..I hear you...your probably right

mick said...

sjm was an intense coach as well and a good coach

Section 222 said...

Make sure you check out Kilgore's post about Bryce's batting practice. Look forward to hearing about it from any NI's who were there early. Wow!

Section 222 said...

Wait, did I miss something? Did sjm coach Mick at some point, or were you opposing coaches? Details?

MrsB loves the Nats said...

Did I hear Dan Haren is going to the DL... Whoa!

I wonder if its too late, though...

And I wonder if this means we see T Jordan this year...

Eugene in Oregon said...

222: Well said on both your points @ 12:49.

SCNatsFan said...

This team will just hope to tread water playing weak hitting infielders in the outfield.

UCLA is going to the CWS hitting .182 Rizzo must be smiling

Eugene in Oregon said...

SCNatsFan: Given the way Miss. State has been playing, I don't think UCLA's approach is going to hold up.

MrsB loves the Nats said...

Good inning Ross...

David Proctor said...

Our running game sucks. Which is fine, we don't have to run (the 5 worst running teams last year were all playoff teams). But I wish we wouldn't bother trying.

SCNatsFan said...

For a gu here for his base running Kobernus keeps making outs on the base path. Running himself right back to northern NY.

MrsB loves the Nats said...

2 walks in the first inning... Hopefully, we take advantage of it... Although I liked Kobernus's aggressiveness....

SCNatsFan said...

I think Haren got hrodded

David Proctor said...

If Kobernus doesn't get picked off, he might score there with his speed. Unacceptable for the rookie.

MrsB loves the Nats said...

The pick off hurts now....

MrsB loves the Nats said...

Of course...

phil dunton said...

Game over.....the way the Nats are hitting.

MrsB loves the Nats said...

Naw Phil... We are winning this one 6-1...

David Proctor said...

Marrero still hitless...

baseballswami said...

A while back we could not get anyone on base. Now we are getting them on but not scoring them. Can we take that next step please? At least they are making the pitcher work hard and I do like that. Never know when that might benefit you later.

MrsB loves the Nats said...

Great bunt Lombo!

MrsB loves the Nats said...

Be nice if Det could help himself out.... But I'm not expecting it...

phil dunton said...

Marrero is totally wasting a roster spot.

David Proctor said...

Det is our worst hitting pitcher. I'd be shocked.

Section 222 said...

They are setting this up for Haren to DL when Harper returns. (Hopefully next week).

This comment is from the other thread relating to Haren headed to the DL. Maybe Bryce is the corresponding move, but with RossO taking Haren's rotation spot, that leaves only Sori, Clip, Storen, Stammen, Abad, and Krol in the pen. I would think Davey would want another reliever. Seems like Kobernus is on the bubble for that move once Bryce returns. When is Mattheus going to be healed?

Marrero is not speedy.

MrsB loves the Nats said...

Did Det just get caught up looking at Lombo steal the base...

David Proctor said...

Mattheus is still several weeks away. Charlie Slowes said that Davey may not make Ross O the spot starter and it may "be someone we haven't seen before." Not sure what that means, kind of cryptic.

EmDash said...

Was Kobernus trying to steal, or did he just get picked off and keep going just in case?

Strike zone today is wide and high; that could be problematic for Det's usual style.

Guys should've learned from the first inning that waiting out De La Rosa is the more successful strategy, right? His control doesn't look great, and he's nibbling an awful lot.

MrsB loves the Nats said...

222 - I would think Marerro is the odd man out... Hasn't done anything to justify being bought up...

SCNatsFan said...

Emdash I think he was going on first move and got caught

MrsB loves the Nats said...

I wish Det would do more off-speed pitches....

EmDash said...

Yeah, Marrero for Harper makes sense, and maybe an extra reliever for Haren for a few days until they need another starter? Davis, maybe.

baseballswami said...

That one run doesn't bother me as much as it would have a couple of weeks ago.

MrsB loves the Nats said...

Sigh....

David Proctor said...

*waits for people to blame Zimmerman for not getting to that ball even though he had no shot*

EmDash said...

Det not getting the low strike tends to be problematic for him...

Good play, but wow is CarGo fast.

MrsB loves the Nats said...

Yeah I was just about to say, this blue isn't conducive for the way that Det pitches....

MrsB loves the Nats said...

Wow....

David Proctor said...

Come on Det...

Section 222 said...

Let the Zim play put to rest the assertion that he never dives any more. "Past a diving Zimmerman" is becoming a not uncommon refrain.

Det has been keeping the ball on the ground. They just have eyes.

"I think it's pretty clear that DeLaRosa is not going to shut out the Nats today," says Carp. Pretty clear? Hmm.

MrsB loves the Nats said...

This is a disaster....

David Proctor said...

How did Rosario get to that ball? Sigh.

David Proctor said...

"Let the Zim play put to rest the assertion that he never dives any more. "Past a diving Zimmerman" is becoming a not uncommon refrain."

Zimmerman had no shot on that ball. Even Gold Glove Zimmerman isn't going to get to that.

jeffwx said...

Harper, our last best hope...hard to score four with this lineup

Eugene in Oregon said...

"I think it's pretty clear that DeLaRosa is not going to shut out the Nats today," says Carp. Pretty clear? Hmm.
=============

With four runs already scored, he doesn't have to shut them out.

MrsB loves the Nats said...

I'm not sure this line up will score 4 runs... Sigh

phil dunton said...

Haren isn't McCatty's only problem.

mick said...

the issue is, can the Nats hit and get at least 4 runs? Det looks like a frighten puppy, look of no confidence and despair...

just makes me sick...will this team ever get going, i really doubt it

Section 222 said...

DP, i didn't say he should have got it. Relax. You may have missed a discussion earlier this week where someone said he never dives anymore. He does dive, just not as successfully as he used to

God forbid anyone should criticize the FoF. But it's pretty clear to me he's not a GG caliber 3B any more. There's no shame in that. It's just a fact.

jeffwx said...

not with so many minor leaguers in the lineup

MrsB loves the Nats said...

I wonder what DJ's logic is for leading off with Kobernus... Is it his speed?

phil dunton said...

Mrs. B.... The Nats couldn't score 6 runs in a week.

David Proctor said...

Woah, I'm not jumping on you. Zim is certainly open to criticism, but I don't find that he's significantly worse at 3B than he used to be (throws notwithstanding) and the data tends to back that up. I just get slightly peeved when people act as if Zimmerman is washed up at Age 28 when nothing suggests that to be actually true.

It's all good though, I'm perfectly calm.

jeffwx said...

it's clear minor league hitters are rarely a cure for a bad bench...Morse would have been worth keeping esp. in place of the lombo/bernadina/kobernus/Moore/Marrero who had to start so many games with little results

SCNatsFan said...

Nice answer guys.

Just when you think this team has turned a corner they remind you they are a .500 squad.

MrsB loves the Nats said...

We had DeLa Rosa on the ropes the first inning for sure... And got nothing from it...

We don't take advantage of our opportunities when we have them... Poor base running by Kobernus, dumb first pitch swining by Desi...

I'm hoping we still win this game but this is the type of stuff that pisses me off...

jeffwx said...

actually, I'm amazed they are .500 with the 6-8 hitters they have to play.
The team was built with no room for injury, slumps or the unexpected.
Would love to have one yankee bench player of Wells, Overbay,Hafner to fill unexpected gaps

Section 222 said...

Glad you're calm, so am I. We just disagree. The data doesn't back that up as far as I can tell. And you can't separate his throws from the rest of his defense. He's gone from the best in baseball to middle of the pack in just a few years. He's not washed up, he's just not great any more. To me, that says we don't lose much by moving him to 1B in the next few years.

But it's all good, I agree. Except that the Nats are down by 4, and that's a tall hill to climb I'm afraid.

Oops make that 5.

MrsB loves the Nats said...

Well... And game over... Sorry to say, we will split the series....

David Proctor said...

Looks like we got bad Det today. He only succeeds when he keeps the ball down (like Haren, really) and he's leaving everything up.

baseballswami said...

And here we go, right on cue, with the gnashing of teeth and wringing if hands. The Rockies lead the national league on many hitting categories. They have a great offense that we have managed to hold down occasionally with great pitching. We have an awful offense, we are last in many offensive categories. This is what good hitting looks like. Maybe our hitters will pick up a few tips. I like the way the Nats have been getting on base. Need to step it up to the next level.

Section 222 said...

Do we get halfprice pizza if the Rockies score 7 two days in a row?

Secret wasian man said...

NO way Mick. This team is awful. I cant wait for the season to end and Davey gets his BIG BUTT outta here. You cant win games sending out Kobernus, Marrero... The pick off play in the first was just a perfect example of why they stink.

phil dunton said...

This is what offense looks like.

jeffwx said...

And of course, no room for injury in the starting staff

David Proctor said...

Even if we lose this game, which looks likely, we did win the season series against them. If that counts for anything.

Did I hear people booing again? I hate it.

baseballswami said...

And apparently Ross is not getting the low strike call-- hence the ball is up. And what do good hitters do with that??? I think we all know.

MrsB loves the Nats said...

David - he has to throw every thing high as the blue isn't calling anything low... I'm looking at pitch track and there have been some low strikes that's not getting called...

baseballswami said...

Section222- if the Rockies score 14, is the pizza twice as much?

David Proctor said...

"You cant win games sending out Kobernus, Marrero... The pick off play in the first was just a perfect example of why they stink."

This is just hilarious because many people here were calling for Davey and Rizzo's heads for not playing them sooner. No matter what they do, it's wrong.

baseballswami said...

People booing Ross? Really? Bandwagon ex- Yankee fans.

jeffwx said...

yes....just seeing what the amazing rockies are doing outside of Coors makes me a bit envious...even with Tuto.

Secret wasian man said...

You have a pitcher who cant find the plate. Is pacing back and forth. really pressing. What do we do? Get caught in a pick off. BUSH LEAGUE!!!

MrsB loves the Nats said...

No DJ should have played Kobernus when he was how, which is when he cam up... But he kept sticking with Mr Pop up Chad Tracy...

Section 222 said...

The Rocks are a .500 team, and their offensive prowess is based at least in part on Tulo, who is on the DL. If all the Nats can muster in a 4 game series is a split, then they are destined to be a .500 team too. No excuses.

jeffwx said...

It's good they tried something different. The team just isn't deep enuf to have solutions. There is no answer except for more games against Miami and the return of Harper.

MrsB loves the Nats said...

I didnt hear anyone booing... But this was a bad outting for Det...

David Proctor said...

Chad Tracy, despite his awfulness, has won us two games and put us in a position to win a third and we couldn't capitalize. I feel safe in saying Kobernus would not have made that impact, even if playing every day.

There's a reason the Tigers didn't want him.

MrsB loves the Nats said...

Hahahaha NJ at your post at 2:41.... So true man... So true...

jeffwx said...

Sorry NJ, Who wants a 220 hitting 2b man playing the outfield everyday. Speak for yourself.

Secret wasian man said...

great post proctor. I have planned on going to games and then looked at the lineup and "JUST SAID NO"

Joe Seamhead said...

Det's body language said that he had given up several batters ago. Five runs in three innings, and the book isn't closed on him yet.

MrsB loves the Nats said...

Kobernus wasn't given a chance until he languished on the bench... We don't know what would have happened had he used him when he first came up...

baseballswami said...

Kind of doesn't matter much at this point. Not like any of the choices are lighting it up. We continue to blame the pitcher, the bench players. Rizzo-- it's clearly the offense. But we can't possibly think the hitting coach has any effect. Does this make any sense at all??? Does not matter if the Rockies score 20 if we cannot even score one.

Eugene in Oregon said...

NatsJack @ 2:41 p.m.: Don't forget that a poster or two wanted Nyjer Morgan back as lead-off hitter.

David Proctor said...

Well Stammen did his job. That was a broken bat bloop. You can't help that.

Secret wasian man said...

Zimm has struggled hitting this year because there is no power behind him. AKA Morse. And that is just the FACTS Mr. NATS JACK!!

baseballswami said...

David- Lombo has won us a game or two also, but everyone just loves to make him a scapegoat for some reason.

MrsB loves the Nats said...

Joe - it also hurts that this blue like everything up and in... Which it what most batters feast on...

But, here is hoping the bats can come alive... *sigh*

jeffwx said...

and Yes, I'd wish they'd would have signed Morse or someone like him, given that injuries always happen. Even the team America loves to hate thought of that. Oh and I am a yankees fan since 1971. Nats fan since 05

MrsB loves the Nats said...

Wait a minute Swami - who hasn't said something about the hitting coach.. I think most have...

baseballswami said...

Again-- won't matter if the hottest hitting team in the league scores fifty-- if we cannot even score one.

Joe Seamhead said...

MrsB loves the Nats said...
I wonder what DJ's logic is for leading off with Kobernus... Is it his speed?
June 23, 2013 2:31 PM
-----/////

Davey seems to have developed some weird fetish for second basemen. Too bad it doesn't translate into winning baseball.

Unknown said...

At the game now. Crowd is getting restless. If the Mats don't counter, it's too hot and sweaty to watch a blowout. I bet people leave with their bobblehead by the 7th.

MrsB loves the Nats said...

And Lombo isn't a scape goat.. People are back to reality and see he is a good utility player (awful OF) but the comparison between he and Espi were why they wanted him in...

Not becuz he was this prowess wasting on the bench...

baseballswami said...

Mrs. B-- oh, yes, we say it all the time!! But the organization makes him sound like he taught Babe Ruth how to hit. No problem there-- no sirree. Denial is just a river in Egypt.

jeffwx said...

Everyone Swami...that doesn't make sense,,,who exactly is blaming lombo for all our woes...he's not the backup outfielder you are looking for ???
Are you defending him out there ?? It's just we don't have any choices... They weren't built for any injuries/slumps in my opinion.

MrsB loves the Nats said...

That low strike is for DeLaRosa... But Det don't get that...

baseballswami said...

Just saying that there is so much focus on small cogs in the wheel, like bench players, when the real problem is so very much bigger.

phil dunton said...

Rizzo and Davey love Eckstein. Even if the team never scores another run, that love affair won't ever end.

jeffwx said...

Oh great, more sub 200 hitters in the outfield.

David Proctor said...

Great, another injury.

Joe Seamhead said...

Well, there goes Werth.

phil dunton said...

Werth's legs were shot when he signed his fat contract.

jeffwx said...

Ok, what is the real problem..Is Eckstein the scapegoat for all our woes ?

MrsB loves the Nats said...

The issue is, we can't/couldn't afford the major injuries to which we have sustained this year....

That's the issue... And then the slow start by some bats and the woeful bench....

It's a cluster $&8$ but yeah I do believe that if Eck isn't the problem, he isn't the answer..

David Proctor said...

My hope is it's just a cramp because he was sick yesterday. Dehydration or whatever.

David Proctor said...

Hey, we scored a couple of runs. Even if we lose this game because Det melted down, I'll be content if we score some more runs. Show some life.

MrsB loves the Nats said...

But also Swami - (to play devil's advocate) it's a double edge sword becuz Eck was *the reason* they scored all over the place next year...

I will say, we have been getting more hits lately... Now need to work on our situational hitting and scoring runs...

baseballswami said...

Jeff- lots of people are posting if only Lombo wasn't in left field. I agree he is a utility infielder and should not be out there. Just saying the guy is for sure way down the list of our problems. He has hits and Rbi's at least. Him playing everyday in left is a bad management decision, maybe , on multiple levels, but it's not like he is solely responsible for our malaise. Chad Tracy hits once in a while- another small piece of the puzzle. It's like counting the deck chairs on the titanic.

Secret wasian man said...

Is the team bad because they are hurt? Or are they hurt because they are bad.?

jeffwx said...

yes, DP, it is good to see some ABs with RISP.

David Proctor said...

Secret wasian man said...
Is the team bad because they are hurt? Or are they hurt because they are bad.?


That doesn't even make sense...

baseballswami said...

Issues with this team are complex and multiple. But they center around the hitting at this point of the season. Other things scuffle here and there, but the hitting is the elephant on the room. Eck has got to be some part of it- but there is no ONE answer or person to blame.

Eugene in Oregon said...

"Zimm has struggled hitting this year because there is no power behind him. AKA Morse."
=================

Ryan Zimmerman's 2011 line: .289/.355/.443; 118 OPS+
Ryan Zimmerman's 2012 line: .282/.346/.478; 122 OPS+
Ryan Zimmerman's 2013 line: .268/.345/.464; 123 OPS+


How is 2013 'struggling' compared to the previous two seasons with Michael Morse in the line-up?

MrsB loves the Nats said...

Well, we put a crooked number up... Hopefully we can do it again and again... We show signs/life ...

jeffwx said...

Agreed Swami, there isn't one solution to this offense or one problem. As Mrs B says, we couldn't afford injury this year.

jeffwx said...

yes, there only 1/2 bad.

MrsB loves the Nats said...

Hahahaha... natsJack, you're making me laugh today man...

jeffwx said...

or maybe they're just 1/2 good (w/o Harper)

David Proctor said...

Our outfield right now is Lombardozzi-Kobernus-Bernadina. Yikes.

A DC Wonk said...

Joe Seamhead said...

MrsB loves the Nats said...
I wonder what DJ's logic is for leading off with Kobernus... Is it his speed?
June 23, 2013 2:31 PM
-----/////

Davey seems to have developed some weird fetish for second basemen. Too bad it doesn't translate into winning baseball.

Huh?

Kobernus has lots of speed -- he stole 21 bases in AAA in just a few months, to go along with his .333 average and .378 OBP. That makes him a perfect table-setter if he can get going in the big leagues.

Do you have a better leadoff candidate for today's game?

SCNatsFan said...

I love that people keep blaming dehydration for Werth's woes. As if it is sooooo difficult to stay hydrated. Maybe he should shave the caveman beard if he can't stay cool.

baseballswami said...

Jayson-- oh. He did look a little green and it's super humid today. But that outfield . Hope it's not the hammy :(

Section 222 said...

Put me down for not thinking that Eck is the cause of our offensive woes. And apparently Davey doesn't think so either, nor does Rizzo, nor do the players. You don't think if there were an easy fix, they'd do it?

People make fun of Eck's clipboard and how hard he works. Remember Lenny Harris. He sat around playing poker with the players? Is that what we need? The fact is the folks who are critical of Eck have absolutely no idea: (1) what he does day in and day out working with the players; and (2) what should be done instead. For the record, I don't either. But youT think there's a single magic bullet that will retore our offense. That's just not going to happen.

MrsB loves the Nats said...

Ya know... Our bench hasn't been able to live up to (in a sense) the folks they replaced...

We've miss significant time from Harp, Werth, Zimm.. Had to get thru AdLa's repeated slow starts... Just now getting steady offensive production from our 2nd basemen... Has to deal with issues in our SPs... It's a lot of little things that of course are magnified when we lose...

At this point, the bet we can hope for is a healthy up and we go on a roll...

A DC Wonk said...

"Zimm has struggled hitting this year because there is no power behind him. AKA Morse."

Ooh, ooh, let me try, too:

Zim has had, for the most part, Harper and LaRoche hitting behind him. They have 12 and 10 HR's respectively. How is that "no power"?

jeffwx said...

Nice play that you don't see everyday....like the Nats scoring 2 runs thru 4. Enjoy, would be better with a bobblehead.

David Proctor said...

Zimmerman is getting a workout on the hot corner today.

David Proctor said...

Zimmerman and Desmond are the only opening day regulars on the field for the Nats right now.

Ghost Of Steve M. said...

NatsJack @2:27, so true. They hit that Staples EASY button

SCNatsFan said...

Please carp don't say Davey is just waiting to manage a game, of all the disappointments this year his decisions rank right near if not at the top of the list.

MrsB loves the Nats said...

Wonk - I'm not sure if your post was for me or not... But that's my question... Is it becuz of Kobernus's speed?

Idk, I probably would have lead off with Werth... But I'm glad I don't make these decisions...

baseballswami said...

222- not THE cause-- there is no one cause. But he just has to have some part in this. It is not possible for him to be of no use here or else why in the world are the Nats paying him? If you are not part of the solution then you have to be at least some part of the problem. Or at least get out of the way because maybe someone else CAN be part of he solution.

A DC Wonk said...

SCNatsFan said...

I love that people keep blaming dehydration for Werth's woes. As if it is sooooo difficult to stay hydrated.


Well, yes, it is depending on what illness he had yesterday. I had the flu last summer, and I couldn't stay hydrated no matter how much I drank -- I had to go to the hospital for some IV fluids.

For that matter, there are plenty of instances of players getting IV liquids _during_ a game.

Fact of the matter is this -- on a very hot and humid day, a human can find it impossible to replace his liquids as fast as he can sweat it out.

SCNatsFan said...

Sec222 I don't know what will work with hitting instruction but it is clear Eck doesn't either. Would a change help? I have no idea but hard to believe it would hurt.

Joe Seamhead said...

I agree with you Deuces.
Nice catch by Lombo. I'm writing him in on the all star ballot.

jeffwx said...

Of course, there is no single solution...Just appears the Nats have tried out all their options for the injuries and poor bench. They can play 600 ball but as Mrs B says they can't afford an injury in their starting 8.

baseballswami said...

Gee, Lombo gets on base twice ( wink, wink).

MrsB loves the Nats said...

David - your post at 3:07... Major problem....

BigCat said...

What do you think if you are Bernadina? You got a flea banjo hitter with a pop gun arm playing in front of you....permanently

A DC Wonk said...

MrsB loves the Nats said...

Wonk - I'm not sure if your post was for me or not... But that's my question... Is it becuz of Kobernus's speed?


My answer was for both you and he.

Yes, he has great speed (as I noted 21 SB's in AAA so far), and he also (in AAA, at least) hit for average. If he can hit like he did in AAA, he'd be a terrific lead off guy.

MrsB loves the Nats said...

Well, wonk, that goes back to another post... DJ let Kobernus sit on the bench instead of using him when he was out (which is when he was just bought up)

BigCat said...

In a "normal" lineup the left fielder is normally your worst outfielder, with the weakest arm, but normally can mash the baseball.

Anonymous said...

Eugene in Oregon - yeah, I don't buy that no power hitting behind Zimmerman stuff either. How do you then explain Desmond, who seems to be hitting just fine despite having the likes of Espinosa and Lombardozzi hitting behind him all year?

The problem for Zim is that everyone was expecting that after his great 2009 season he was going to become an elite offensive player. Unfortunately, he hasn't become one and it appears now he never will be anything more than solid--which is far less than we need from him right now, unfortunately.

baseballswami said...

So why have hitting coaches? Are they just scouts for the other team's pitchers? Really- I want to know why teams have them if they are of no use except to compile stats. I also would love to see them throw away the book for a series, tell the hitters nothing except-- go hit the ball.

A DC Wonk said...

BigCat said...

What do you think if you are Bernadina? You got a flea banjo hitter with a pop gun arm playing in front of you....permanently

No -- not permanently. Shark was starting regularly against right handed pitchers until he got the eye infection, and, I would bet would have started today if the Rockies had started a RHP.

But, also remember, Shark has raised his average to .177

So, the answer to: "What do you think if you are Bernadina?" is probably "I'd be playing right now if I were hitting better this year."

David Proctor said...

I can't wait until Rendon and Harper are hitting back to back.

Eugene in Oregon said...

If players like Steve Lombardozzi and Jeff Kobernus are going to stick around in the major leagues, they are going to do so as utility players, not as second basemen. They'll need to play multiple positions -- 2B, 3B, OF, SS if they've got the arm, and it probably wouldn't hurt to buy a 1B mitt and take some reps there in practice. The Nats aren't starting second basemen, they're starting utility players. And they're not doing it because those guys are starters, but because one OF is on the DL and another is getting a day off. That's the way it works in a 162-game season.

EmDash said...

Morse is hitting the same as LaRoche, and on the DL for the second time. He's only played in 56 games this season so far.

For Det - wonder if he's still building up arm strength? Endurance might've taken a hit while he was on the DL. In the 3rd he mostly got BABIPed with a lot of bloops that fell in, but in the 4th he pretty clearly hit the wall. Hopefully that'll pass.

Hope Werth isn't too badly hurt. More injuries are the last thing they need.

baseballswami said...

That's what Desi does, by the way.

jeffwx said...

DP ands some for good reason (Rendon over Espinosa, ALR/Span for the lefty pitcher, Werth did start). So Tuesday, we have 6 of our starters, is that enuf ?

Section 222 said...

SC, it's one thing to say, "let's give Marrero a try, he can't be worse than Moore." Or, "let's give Kobernus some ABs in CF against a leftie, he can't be worse than Span." It's quite another to say, "let's fire the guy who's been working his butt off for this team for years, and had a good deal of success, and everyone likes him and doesn't think he's doing a bad job, but it might help, so let's try somebody else."

MrsB loves the Nats said...

Come on Roger...

A DC Wonk said...

Really- I want to know why teams have them if they are of no use except to compile stats.

The plain fact of the matter is: we can't run a controlled experiment such as: rolling the season back to the beginning and seeing if a different hitting coach would do better.

Do we know that the advice Eck is giving is being listened to? (We have no idea)

Do we know how the players would be doing if Eck were doing a terrible job? (We have no idea)

Do we know why the Nats were among the best hitting teams for most of the season last year, but one of the worst now -- despite that Eck was hitting coach last year and this? (We have no idea).

This isn't to defend Eck -- it's just to say that: we really have no idea what kind of a job he is doing. And so, or me, I'm not going to attack or defend him -- because (wait for it . . . here it comes:) I have no idea.

baseballswami said...

Eugene-- exactly. Lombo and Kobernus are subs who normally would play outfield once in a while- not every day. But they are doing well considering what is being asked of them at this stage of their careers.

MrsB loves the Nats said...

It's understandable to question Eck... I think most of us realize that everyone seems to be batting under their career norms/averages...

But as I said before, not sure if Eck is the problem, but I don't think he is the answer...

BigCat said...

Right Swami. How many years of pitiful hitting do we go through before Eck gets the boot?

And all you people that say it ain't his fault....I don't care. Make a change to make a change, cause right now Eck ain't working out.

jeffwx said...

Here's my problem of the day, we have no good choices for backup outfielders here or nearly ready down on the farm which we have really needed this year. plenty of 2b and 1b backups....a little off balance makeup

A DC Wonk said...

NatsJack in Florida said...

Morse is back on the DL.

Wow -- I feel bad for him.

I wonder of some of the Rizzo haters will concede that LaRoche (who's batting .251 with 10 HR) over Morse (.251 with 11 HR, but last year of his contract) -- and getting Ian Krol -- was not a stupid move.

Section 222 said...

Wonk, I agree that there's been enough power behind Zim, so that's not an excuse, but I don't think Harper has hit behind him more than a few times, if at all.

SCNatsFan said...

Sec222 outside of Desmond and morse who has he helped? Hey everyone works their butts off, even duke and HRod but this is a results oriented sport. Maybe des a great job but why do we have so many poor at bats? Dd you see he rocs payer shorten his swing and bloop a 2 strike hit? Not us, we swing from the heels no matter the situation. Is that Eck's fault? No idea but so done has to be accountable. As I watch Desi flail a strike 3...

MrsB loves the Nats said...

Idk though... Look at that inning with Desi K'ing as he was swinging for the fence instead of just trying to put the ball in play as opposed to the Rockies in the 3rd/4th inning, who were all about making contact...

Is that on the hitting coach???

jeffwx said...

Agreed, wouldn't hurt to change the hitting coach after the season..they've tried more radical changes like putting infielders in the outfield everyday... would make absolutely no or little difference to change him now but would maybe hurt

BigCat said...

In defense of Det. I think if you are a pitcher on this team and you give up an early run or two you pretty much know the game is over cause our hitters can't bust a grape.

A DC Wonk said...

BigCat said...

Right Swami. How many years of pitiful hitting do we go through before Eck gets the boot?


How many years of pitiful hitting have we had?

Do you remember the awesome hitting team way back in, wait, when was that? Oh yeah: 2012? You know, the team that -- despite a terrible April, and a number of injuries -- finished 4th in BA, 2nd in HR

jeffwx said...

I think they need a Morse type backup more than Krol...Good to have Krol, but that's not why they made the trade. I think he was a throwin.

Section 222 said...

And all you people that say it ain't his fault....I don't care. Make a change to make a change, cause right now Eck ain't working out.

Wow. That's just absurd. Luckily in most workplaces, including hopefully yours, they don't fire people because the company isn't doing well and they just want to make a change to make a change, without any evidence that you are responsible for the problem. Managers might be subject to that kind of arbitrary firing, but they are responsible for the performance of the team, like CEOs of companies, but hitting coaches shouldn't be, especially when the manager says he's doing just fine.

MrsB loves the Nats said...

I was glad Morse was traded... I don't think any of envisioned the injuries happening the way they were or the timing as well...

mick said...

I am on record from the early Spring that Det would have the season that J Zim is having..I was clearly wrong...Nats only have 3 reliable starters. Det looked really pathetic today

The Diamondbacks are a first place club...oh boy, will Nats be 2-4 under 500 perhaps after that series? that means there will only be 9 of 12 homes games remaining before the next road trip..so the 17 of 20 at home is dwindling down as is the season

jeffwx said...

True, NJ...you can trade Morse for AJ Cole, but you need to have a viable not a risky replacement outfielder.

Anonymous said...

jeffwx - you are quite right about there being no good OF options down on the farm. Corey Brown is rapidly playing himself off the 40-man roster, Eury Perez hasn't done anything during his call ups and even Brian Goodwin is having a "meh" year at AA. The Nats are stuck, and if Werth goes on the DL again they'll still have a huge hole out there even when Harper returns.

phil dunton said...

Nats Jack, Brett was a great hitter who never had a slump. I doubt he ever needed a tweak but plenty of lesser hitters do. They also need guidance. If a hitting coach has no impact on a team's offense, then why does every other team that has long standing offense problems fire their hitting coach as the very first move to turn things around? Are all those teams dumb while Johnson and Rizzo are just being smart by keeping a guy around who has never had any credentials to be a major league hitting coach?

BigCat said...

Is that on the hitting coach? You're damn right it is! A crappy approach at the plate is what its called. And its gone on waaaay to long. Eck has to go!

mick said...

the lack of hitting in Nats own ball park is just amazing...Harper being out is simply a lame excuse. verse a pitcher that is hittable

jeffwx said...

You don't have to envision them, you have to expect them.... It happens every year in the modern era (eg: post 1900) and Mrs B...since you are Bernadina's espoused spouse, I think you may be biased.

David Proctor said...

phil dunton said...
Nats Jack, Brett was a great hitter who never had a slump. I doubt he ever needed a tweak but plenty of lesser hitters do. They also need guidance. If a hitting coach has no impact on a team's offense, then why does every other team that has long standing offense problems fire their hitting coach as the very first move to turn things around? Are all those teams dumb while Johnson and Rizzo are just being smart by keeping a guy around who has never had any credentials to be a major league hitting coach?


Go look at how successful those teams are. I guarantee you there's little difference in the performance of players before and after firing the hitting coach.

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