Wednesday, July 3, 2013

Instant analysis: Brewers 4, Nats 1

USA Today Sports Images
Game in a nutshell: Two steps forward, two steps backward. If the Nationals thought they had finally gotten themselves on track with back-to-back blowout wins to begin the week, they were sorely mistaken. They've been back to their old ways the last two nights, done in by a nonexistent offensive attack and some costly mistakes in the field. Ross Detwiler pitched OK, but he allowed two earned runs and then two more that were attributable to Bryce Harper's dropped line drive in the sixth. It wouldn't have mattered if Harper made that play, though, because the Nationals lineup wasn't going to do anything against Kyle Lohse. Anthony Rendon homered in the bottom of the seventh, and that was it. Francisco Rodriguez did bring the tying run to the plate in the ninth but finished it off, dealing the Nationals their second straight disappointing loss to a last-place Brewers club. They're back at the .500 mark, and now they have to win tomorrow morning just to salvage a four-game split against Milwaukee.

Hitting lowlight: It's become a broken record: Every time you think the Nationals' lineup has snapped out of its season-long funk, it puts forth a lifeless display like this. One night after getting shut out by Wily Peralta and the Brewers bullpen, the Nationals were silenced by Lohse, who through six innings had allowed three singles and a walk. Rendon was the only guy to finally get to him, launching a solo homer in the seventh. But at that point, it was way too little and way too late for a Nationals club that is taking this lack-of-offense thing to new extremes. After scoring 23 runs over 17 innings on Sunday and Monday, the Nats have now totaled one run over their last 18 innings.

Pitching lowlight: It's perhaps a bit unfair to be critical of Detwiler, who had almost no margin for error because of his teammates' offensive struggles, and who wasn't helped either by his defense. But the left-hander still hasn't found his groove this season, especially since coming back from his oblique strain. Detwiler was fantastic early on, tossing four scoreless innings and getting three strikeouts on his curveball, something Davey Johnson and Steve McCatty have been encouraging him to throw more regularly early in games. But then things started to fall apart once the Brewers had a chance to see Detwiler more. He allowed three hits in the fifth, including Norichika Aoki's two-run single. And he couldn't overcome Harper's error in the sixth, allowing a two-out, two-run triple to No. 8 hitter Logan Schafer. Detwiler's final line (two earned runs in six innings) didn't look bad at all, but that didn't tell the whole story.

Key stat: Detwiler's ERA in innings 1-3 this year is 2.77. His ERA in innings 4-6 is 5.76.

Up next: The series concludes with what has become an annual tradition here on South Capitol Street: the late-morning Independence Day game. Rookie Taylor Jordan makes his home debut against Milwaukee right-hander Donovan Hand in the rare 11:05 a.m. start.

132 comments:

David Proctor said...

So we have to win tomorrow, with Taylor Jordan on the mound, to salvage a split of a 4 game series against the awful Brewers. Yuck.

Unknown said...

What a disappointment this entire season has been thus far. Every time we think we're out of this funk, games like these just pull us right back in.

sjm308 said...

Once again they drive me crazy - I just wish the expectations had not been so high. Looking back, Rabbit (who I have not seen on here for awhile) really had this pegged. We just don't have much in the way of offense.

mick said...

Dan...the last 2 games defines this whole season....Nats became worse with harper back and god only knows how bad it will be when ramos returns in this weird season. Bryce looks unhappy and put it all on davey and cueball head Rizzo

MrsB loves the Nats said...

Det wasn't particularly sharp... But again, the Nats bats were asleep...

mick said...

how do Nats get worse with Harper back???

any body???

David Proctor said...

Bryce looks unhappy because he's rusty. Some of you seem to get off on controversy or something. They haven't ruined him. The team's not worse with him. He's not playing great ball because he missed 31 games. He'll get it back.

Jesus people, get a grip!

SCNatsFan said...

I'm sorry, if you think the talent is here then it is time to make a move - and, as the saying goes, you can't fire 25 players.

This is not a great team; at best, it is average, and any of you who think it is a LOD post the numbers back that statement. Unless we are willing to accept this then the time has come to make changes.

mick said...

so are we all excited that Dan the man Haren will back? LOL

Get Some Players said...

So I know it's taboo here to say fire Eckstein but how about hiring a consultant for an extra pair of eyes on the situation? Terrible hitting and atrocious ABs.

mick said...

hell, with Ramos back, Brewers may pitch a perfect game...how about that for a July 4th home game?

Jane Elizabeth said...

Darold Knowles went 2-14 in 1970 with a 2.06 E.R.A. for the Senators, Mick, but I guess Haren is more like Denny McClain, another guy who was good at lifting a buck from the unsuspecting....

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

Would be nice if Rendon was the worse hitter (hitting klike he is), and Span worst fielder (fielding like he is, and Strasburg worst pitcher (pitching like he is).

That would be nice.

mick said...

Get Some Players

reminds me of synder hiring a consultant for Jim Zorn...my goodness are we that bad now, lol

MrsB loves the Nats said...

GSP - it's interesting the situation with Eck... I mean, he has helped some people (according to them) but I seriously doubt he tells them to go up there and let pitchers throw 7 pitch innings, have no patience, not to make contact in situations, stand with the bat on the shoulder, etc....

I guess we will know for sure if he is the proble, next year when a new manager comes in as I am sure he will bring in a new coach....

mick said...

William lol

Anonymous said...

Rusty? Bryce has been playing games for more than a week now. I seem to remember Desi coming off the DL last year with NO rehab assignment and picking right up where he left off.

Something isn't right with Harper--and I go back to that weird exchange when he and Davey were not on the same page about his rehab schedule (just another example of dysfunction on this dysfunctional team). Whether it is physical or mental or both, clearly he isn't having fun out there right now.

Jane Elizabeth said...

I am all for having all of the players get an eye test....

mick said...

karlkolchak

Bingo!

MrsB loves the Nats said...

And I don't think it's taboo to say Fire Eck as its a lot of folks who have been saying that since even last season...

It's just that, he isn't the one at the plate...

mick said...

the entire coaching staff has failed... Nats need to change managers at All star break. there is a better chance that the team would roll with a change as opposed to ZERO chance with the status quo

mick said...

the good news is Davey said if you fire him, fire Eck...YES, that would be a good thing... I like Davey, I just think his time has passed and the players are not responding to him or Eck.

David Proctor said...

Once again, this disagreement comes up with Davey and Bryce. I'm tired of typing out the same thing repeatedly. The difference had nothing to do with injury. They both agreed on the timetable for him to restart his rehab appearance (maybe a day apart). The difference was Bryce wanted 6 rehab games, Davey wanted 3. Bryce said he wanted to do it to regain his timing, Davey said not to worry about that. Now you're saying it has nothing to do with timing...so what's the issue?

Another faux-controversy. I mean, I know it's DC and all, but not everything is Watergate. Also, what Desi did is kind of irrelevant. He's not Bryce. Different people react differently.

Mr Baseball said...

Well, we dress like the Phillies and now we are playing like them. As I have said before, GET OUT OF THOSE UGLY RED UNIFORMS! Or go with the motto - WEAR RED, WE ARE DEAD!! We should be in BLUE OUTLINED IN RED. Then we can say STAY TRUE AND WEAR BLUE!!!

Jane Elizabeth said...

I have tried to piece together what is going on with Harper and it is all rumor and surmising. I think it is highly possible that he feels disrespected by Davey and by Rizzo after leading the team in defensive W.A.R. and then getting moved to his least favorite of the outfield positions and then getting moved back and forth.

He is 20 years old, so who knows, but he does seem different. He was told that this new alignment was going to be for his benefit. It is hard to see how that was possibly true. On the other hand, a few homers and wins might smooth things out but his being out for a month has made it all but impossible for the Nats to win the division, so so much for moving Harper to left field "to relax him" as Rizzo said and to keep him safe.

SCNatsFan said...

You know what, Davey has tied his cart to Eck for the longest time; if he says if you fire Eck you fire me then I say let them both go. I don't understand how you continue to stand behind a hitting coach on one of the worst offensive clubs.

Jane Elizabeth said...

David, you would be a great spokesman for the President, but at some point all you do is say everything is great. It is not.

mick said...

SCNatsFan

I don't know how anyone could argue with that, I totally agree

David Proctor said...

I do not think everything is great. Things are not great. But I think people lose perspective here at times and try to make things much bigger than they are.

mick said...

I hope David is 100% correct and i would be so happy to eat crow...but alas...the evidence in my view is that there are serious issues with this club

MrsB loves the Nats said...

Idk Karl - Bryce looked disgusted with himself this evening really after his last at bat.... His timing looks off... He was robbed twice tonight but still he looks off....

And he will have pains in the OF as he is transitioning....

Jane Elizabeth said...

I think Davey may be at the Casey Stengal point where he left the Yankees back in 1960. The Nats got better a year earlier than expected and I am a huge fan of Davey's, more of his playing career than as a manager, but I just am not sure that I see a lot of insight that he is providing. He is starting to remind me of Art Howe a bit, but we don't have a Billy Beane to keep him in line.

NatsLady said...

Lannan out after 5. Gave up 11 hits, 4 earned runs, 3 walks, 5 strikeout, 1 HR.

MrsB loves the Nats said...

SC - probably becuz Eck isn't the one at the plate... I'm not advocating or supporting or not advocating or supporting but all the fire Eck chants went away a few games ago when the Nats were hitting and scoring runs all over the place...

mick said...

William... excellent comparison, I liked Davey as player more too , i also think he was very good manager, not now...he really needs to go

Jane Elizabeth said...

Jordan Zimmerman passed the no-run support hex he had last year to Strasburg. 1 run in 18 innings won't win many games.

MrsB loves the Nats said...

Ouch for Lannan....

Jane Elizabeth said...

At least we seldom seem to lose more than 2 games in a row. That is a positive that keeps us near .500. San Diego won 82 games in 2005 and won their division. How is that for being positive?

mick said...

to their credit... the best move Rizzo and Davey made was shutting down Stras... i will never question that

David Proctor said...

I legitimately think we could make the playoffs at 88 games. The Cardinals did it last year. I know the NL Central looks super tough, but they haven't played each other very much yet. They have to beat each other up.

I'm not worried about that right now. I'm worried about us playing better, because right now we kind of suck.

mick said...

I don't William, i think 85 losses may be more accurate of where Nats end up if Davey stays the rest of the year....

Jane Elizabeth said...

They could have shut him down and held him on the roster and used him in a poker way. Why show all your cards to the opposition? If Strasburg never makes the play-offs it will be interesting to see what he says about it, but given the paucity of his salary last year, he might as well have left it to the veterans earning all the salary....

mick said...

J Zim should follow Harvey in All Star game

mick said...

so guess the Nats are done eating face?

Jane Elizabeth said...

Eating face seemed a bit low for a refined city like the District of Columbia...

Jane Elizabeth said...

Phil Wood says that the 1969 and 1973 Mets couldn't hit much either.

mick said...

the worst part of all this is that Angelos' team will not only make post season, they could win it all... I always rib my O's friends that the Nats would win before the O's and now they will shove it my face.

MrsB loves the Nats said...

Matt Harvey is sick... Gotta give crew it where it's due....

David Proctor said...

Don't be so sure, Mick. Pitching is important in the postseason and the O's have awful pitching--even after the Feldman acquisition.

Almazar80 said...

Mediocrity, thy name is Nats! To be, or not to be. The answer is not to be.

Jane Elizabeth said...

O's can't keep hitting like that, but who can?

Mr Baseball said...

I know hind sight is better than for sight but we chose the wrong Manager when Jim Bowden walked away. I said then we should have gone after Buck Showalter, but Angelo beat us again and got him. The other thing I have never understood is our draft. It didn't take a genius taking Harper and Rendon, when they fall in your lap. I have never understood why we don't get a position after taking a pitcher high. We should have taken a position player and hitter after selecting Strasburg, in the first round. No, we go back to back with pitchers. I think you can see the results now, we just can hit with any consistency and I don't see any good hitters in our minor league system.

David Proctor said...

On Game 135 in 2011, the Rays were 9 games back and the Cardinals were 8.5 games back. 27 to play. Both made the playoffs.

We're playing like sh*t, but it ain't over til it's over.

David Proctor said...

Speaking of Arizona, they're discussing a trade with the Brewers for Gallardo, Axford and Henderson. I'm not sure what they see in Gallardo, but...

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

In many industries tge one in charge gets canned if the one's he responsible for fail to perform.

Unknown said...

can we trade for chris davis?

sure am glad i missed this slop of a game, am an optimist but getting real tired of this team and their "turn the corner" attitude...hope it happens but it's becoming an awful big hill to climb...i did not read thru the comments so if this is a repeat, sorry...get em' tomorrow (i guess).

MrsB loves the Nats said...

Yeah it ain't over... Until its over... Things can take interesting turns... We will see what happens...

Hopefully, the Nats can play more consistent coming up... Lets start by winning tomorrow... Hopefully, T Jordan will do enough and the Nats bats can get on....

Mr Baseball said...

Natsjack

Every team Buck has managed he left better than when he started. I think he won 100 games with Arizona and finished 1st!

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

Was someone else wearing Harper's uniform tge first 2 at bats? That batter's timing eas fine.

What am I missing.

MrsB loves the Nats said...

Good Star NatsJack.... Gold Star...

Unknown said...

mick said...
Get Some Players

reminds me of synder hiring a consultant for Jim Zorn...my goodness are we that bad now, lol

mick, sherman lewis! haha...good call, that worked well for the skins, didn't it?

Anonymous said...

paul brandt - "real tired of this team and their "turn the corner" attitude"

I've said it before: words is words, but it's actions that count. From WS or Bust to "we're better than this" to weeks on end of blathering about turning the corner, if this team spent as much effort trying to get better as it does blowing smoke they'd be ten games up on the Braves by now.

Sunshine_Bobby_Carpenter_Is_Too_Pessimistic_For_Me said...

Great points, NJ. Great points.

We're at .500 and have played, at best, like crap. That 10-12-game winning streak is out there somewhere. When that happens, and the Barves start gasping, it'll get interesting.

In the immortal words of Lee Elia: "It will flow. The talent's there."

Of course, he got fired that year.

David Proctor said...

What evidence is there of them not trying? Is it Span sitting in on bullpen sessions to try and fix his timing? Is it Zimmerman going out at 10am to try and fix his throwing problems? Is it guys trying to play through injury because they think the team needs them? They're trying to remain optimistic because the second they begin to believe they can't turn the corner, their chances of doing it go down to 0. They're putting in the effort. The results suck so far, but don't say it's because they're not trying. There's no evidence of that at all.

David Proctor said...

Puig is down after crashing into a wall at Coors Field.

Unknown said...

William O. Douglas Loeffler said...

David, you would be a great spokesman for the President, but at some point all you do is say everything is great. It is not.

ok, post of the night, love your posts DP but have to agree with WODL on this one...do you cut Davey's lawn too? watch his dog on road trips? this is all in good fun but come on with the homer stuff...i love the nats as much as anyone but they are not as good as we all thought they were...can it change? sure, and hoping it does.

MrsB loves the Nats said...

Just saw Piug go down.... Uh oh... Wall crash...

Ghost Of Steve M. said...

Braves lose 6-3

David Proctor said...

Marlins beat the Braves, so that helps us out a bit I guess.

mick said...

but Davey does sound like Norv Turner, lol

mick said...

if Davey starts saying in his post game..."we gotta make plays" you know its over

MrsB loves the Nats said...

I'm beginning to care less about what the Braves do... Nats need to take care of business...

mick said...

I wish John Toretella coached baseball, lol. imagine him in Nats dugout

Unknown said...

karlkolchak said:

I've said it before: words is words, but it's actions that count. From WS or Bust to "we're better than this" to weeks on end of blathering about turning the corner, if this team spent as much effort trying to get better as it does blowing smoke they'd be ten games up on the Braves by now.

k-chak, well said, dude...actions, not words prove all us silly posters wrong! i want them to do it but its always 2 steps forward, 2 steps back...encouraging the barves lost though!, things are lookin up...win tomorrow please!

Jane Elizabeth said...

How about a Ryan Zimmerman for David Wright trade? Wright is from Virginia....

mick said...

William..I would do it in sec, and give the Mets Storen too

Anonymous said...

Proctor - there is a little condition known as "buying into your own BS." The Nats bought their own BS and paid a handsome price with that WS or Bust nonsense. They entered the season seeming to think that showing up was all they needed to do to win.

And the maddening part is, they STILL seem to be buying in to their own BS (oh, Auntie Em. Harper's return will change EVERYTHING). Well, money talks and BS walks, and this team is going to talk itself right out of the (playoff) money this year.

mick said...

bottom line, this team is 42-42.... and going no where...something has to change after 84 games...it usually is the manager

nats guy said...

Hmmm

Get Your Re(n)d On said...

"NatsJack in Florida said...

August 1st the FIRST time anyone needs to start evaluating and complaining about playoff possibilities."

When you're playing a last place team at the Fourth of July, and for two nights straight the eighth inning highlights reel at the ballpark consists mainly of Presidents Race, you're probably not going to make the playoffs.

mick said...

d'grviii 8

LOLOLO

nats guy said...

35 and 40 since game 9. Hmmmmm!!! What could that mean?

Unknown said...

mick said...
I wish John Toretella coached baseball, lol. imagine him in Nats dugout

mick, funny! these guys would not last long...

fast forward to a press conf after a loss:

question: hey torts, why do you think Zim threw that ball into the 10th row after a clean pick?

answer: because he sucks and i told him he sucks...next question!

mick said...

paul brandt

ha ha ha ha love it!

mick said...

nats guy said...
35 and 40 since game 9. Hmmmmm!!! What could that mean? tells us more than Rizzo's BS about winning 8 of last 14.

mick said...

nats guy

also...1 run in last 21 innings with your star back in the lineup... that is more reflective of a 35-40 team than it is a team that has won 8 of 14.

Anonymous said...

More crappy news today--Giolito last exactly one-third of an inning in his first GCL outing, allowing a hit, two walks, two runs (one earned) before exiting in what turned out to be an 18-3 debacle.

mick said...

karlkolchak

that just figures

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

They need to quut trying and start doing.

Matter not how hard you try, it is how well you do.

We just don't score enough runs. Simple as that.

Anonymous said...

Oh...and Ramos is hitless for his entire rehab assignment, so he'll fit right in with this offense.

Jane Elizabeth said...

We should move to the West division.

mick said...

karlkolchak

mark my words, Nats will be no hit this season

David Proctor said...

How Giolito did is pretty non-consequential. It was his first game in like 2 years. The fact that he felt good is what's important.

mick said...

William O. Douglas Loeffler said...
We should move to the West division.

better yet, we should stay in the East and use Dr Emmett Brown's time machine and go back to 1973..Mets won division with 83 wins...we may have a shot then

Jane Elizabeth said...

Atlanta used to be in the West so there is precedent....

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

Everyone involved was pleased. Nit sure would come here and say crappy news. It was great news

Big moment is tomorrow and he feels.

mick said...

1.21 gigawatts! 1.21 gigawatts. Great Scott!

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

Crappy,? Are you kidding? Pitxh after TJ first time off mound, that is great.

Results are total uselesd.

Unknown said...

NatsJack in Florida said...

Note to Paul Brandt......whether it's Davey, or Dale Sveum in Chicago or Dusty Baker in Cincy, Collins in NY, or any other ML manager.......they all have forgotten more baseball than any off us will ever know.

It's called respect for the game and the percentage of fans that truly understand that is alot less than it should be.

NJ, help me understand your point, I am not being a smart a#@...I love your posts and often read them x2 or 3...I have never said I know more than any of those managers...I played competitively in HS & college and then coached LL for years and have always had the utmost respect for the game...but you are absolutely correct that they have forgotten more BB than most of us will ever know.

Just wanted to understand your point more clearly, I respect your posts and am just asking for clarification...I am just a die-hard Nats fan that is upset with their under-performing record.

MrsB loves the Nats said...

Hope Giolito works out.... First outting since TJ surgery... So expect him to be rusty...

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

He pitched fine. Goal was 20 pitches.

Results no one cared. Nor did I.

Steve Walker said...

It's over. Season is squandered. Too little offense, too bad a defense to be considered good. Pirates, Cards, Reds, Braves have passed by the Nats, and someone gets the West by default. Team needs fourth, fifth starters and to clear the old deadwood, LaRoche, span, Werth, as soon as they can. Maybe next year will be better. I'm throwing in the towel. Over and out. See you next February when pitchers and catchers report.

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

When coming off TJ it is how you feel the day after that counts most in the first few months. Tomorrow we will know how his effort went.

David Proctor said...

See ya Unknown.

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

I wonder if Giants fan said this last year, they were in about the same spot as we sre now.

Until its over it is not over.

Ghost Of Steve M. said...

Harvey gives up a 3 run jack.

Unknown said...

unknown, too early to do all that you say...am not happy but not losing faith just yet.

MrsB loves the Nats said...

Bye Unknown

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

Ditto.

They do need to start performing. This is getting old.

MrsB loves the Nats said...

MnF - Ask Giants fans this year too.... Most of them I know laugh at Nats fans....

Anonymous said...

Annnnd, our old friend Danny E is now batting .088 at Syracuse after yet another 0 for 4 night. Your right, David Proctor, no dysfunction is this organization, where obviously seriously injured players are allowed to embarrass themselves by continuing to play for months on end and Davey blows smoke just today by saying he thinks Danny will work it all out any time now. It must just be a figure of my imagination.

MrsB loves the Nats said...

Wonder if Giolito will go home and cry after his performance... Has to feel good pitching for the first time in a couple of years...

David Proctor said...

"Your right, David Proctor, no dysfunction is this organization, where obviously seriously injured players are allowed to embarrass themselves by continuing to play for months on end and Davey blows smoke just today by saying he thinks Danny will work it all out any time now."

Since you know so much more than a Hall of Fame manager and Executive of the Year, please tell me what should be done? They cannot force Danny to get surgery. They sent him to Syracuse, probably to try and get him to accept surgery as an option. He hasn't done it yet. What else can they do?

Section 222 said...

August 1st the FIRST time anyone needs to start evaluating and complaining about playoff possibilities.

Anyting before that just shows a lack of patience or knowledge, or both.


Huh? On Aug. 1, we will have played 108 games. If we're still at .500 then, we'll need to win 36 of the remaining 54 games just to get to 90 wins. In other words, we'll be out of it. So what you're saying is that it shows a lack of patience or lack of baseball knowledge to complain about the Nats' lackluster play and how it affects our playoff chances even though if the Nats continue on their current pace, we'll have no chance by the time you say it's ok to evaluate our chances. That makes no sense.

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

We got east in the bag once we start playing cobsistent.

Anonymous said...

David Proctor - been watching baseball for nearly 40 years and I have never seen a debacle like the Espinosa situation. Let's not also forget that the team covered up his injury for months, only letting us fans know during spring training after assuring us this would be his breakout season. Still more dysfunction. Frankly, they should have put him on the DL last September and installed Lombo at 2B since he and his injured shoulder KILLED us in the playoffs last year. This whole situation has been totally screwed up by your beloved Hall of Fame Manager and Executive of the Year from day one.

Hey, and here is an idea for right now: SHUT HIM DOWN ALREADY. Maybe they can't force him to have the surgery, but that doesn't mean they have to keep sticking his injured rear end into the lineup day after painful t watch day. Dude cannot play right now, and it is geting worse by the week. He's now 1 for his last 31, meaning his performance is continuing to deteriorate.

Is their ANYTHING this team does that you won't defend, however indefensible?

Section 222 said...

DP, I admire your optimism, and you have every right to defend each and every decision they make if you want to, but can you cut out the Hall of Fame Manager, Executive of the Year stuff? Who elected Rizzo or Davey Pope? They aren't infallible. And people have just as much right to complain about them as you have to defend them.

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

I will defed a majority of thigs however Espinosa and Eckstein are two of those I won't.

The way we hold runners on is most non defensible pitching part. None of the pitchers are good at it.

Our catchers are not as bad as they appear? They have no chance we hold runners. Relievers are much worse then the starters.

Drew said...

It's great to see Giolito back on the hill. We know from Zimmermann, Strasburg, Taylor Jordan and Solis that it can take a year or more for a pitcher to regain the feel for his pitches after TJ surgery.

The two walks, the hit and the strikeout mean nothing. The five hitter outing is not a disaster. It's a big step forward after months of rehab.

It's a baby step -- similar to Jake Johansen's initial 2- inning outings at Auburn.

Kill the fatted calf and set off the fireworks. Our Prodigal Pitcher has come home.

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

Harvey knocked out. 4 runs and men on secobd and third 0 outs

David Proctor said...

I'll be the first to say that Davey and Rizzo aren't infallible. But the fact is they know more than you. They definitely know more than me. I'm pretty sure they know more than Mark too. They've earned a level of trust. When people come on here and call Rizzo a "scrooge" and ask for them to be fired, you lose credibility. They've made mistakes, but more times than not, they're right.

Section 222 said...

Hmm, maybe Harvey isn't a shoo-in to start the ASG after all. It was pretty funny to see the MLB Network guys have to interrupt their gushing about how awesome Harvey is to show the highlight of Cody Ross's three run jack.

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

Now he has 5 runs with man on third still his.

Jane Elizabeth said...

Storen looked like he was mad last night and just didn't feel like holding runners on after the first runs scored and then especially after Harper missed that catch.

Can you imagine Storen ever getting mad at anyone, ever for blowing an all but meaningless mid-season game, when first of all, he was getting rocked....

I love the new defense of Storen. After he got blown up for 4 runs last night, now people are saying that he has only given up runs in 2 of his last X appearances. Before that they were quoting the E.R.A. of his last ten appearances but it is back close to five now.

Any stat that begins that Player X is blank is his last blank blanks is a useless filler stat 99 percent of the time, sort of like saying that the Nats have won 8 of their last 14 and wearing it as a badge of pride....

Section 222 said...

I have no doubt they know more than me, and more than you. Actually, I don't think anyone here who criticizes them thinks they know more than Rizzo and Davey. But that doesn't make every single one of the criticisms wrong. And the one you were most recently jumping on had to do with their handling of Espinosa. You don't seriously believe that it's illegitimate to express the view that that situation wasn't well handled, do you? If you do, you may be in a minority of one on this board.

Anonymous said...

David Proctor - I'm on record just tonight as saying I don't think Rizzo should be fired. But SOME accountability needs to start being enforced somewhere in this organization, or by this time next year I will be on the Dump Rizzo bandwagon.

David Proctor said...

I've said before I think the Espinosa situation was handled poorly. I think he should've been sent to Syracuse before he was--although I'm not convinced Lombardozzi really played much better. Rendon wasn't ready yet so their hands were tied. Regardless, it probably could have been handled better yes. I don't think that points to the organization being "dysfunctional" though. All organizations make mistakes.

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

I was with you last night.

10 games ago ERA 4.72 now 4.75

Section 222 said...

Well fine. If you agree the situation was mishandled then it's kind of excessive to pull out the old Hall of Fame Manager and Executive of the Year card just because someone who you essentially agree has a point uses the wrong adjective to make it.

Incidentally, I have to disagree with you that their hands were tied. Of course they wanted to give Rendon as much seasoning as possible, but he showed in his first callup that he could hit major league pitching better than Espi at that point. Playing three games at 2B in AAA didn't magically make him ready. They stuck with Espi way too long, hoping he'd turn the corner. Turned out they were wrong. Lots of folks here were calling for him to be benched, sent down, or put on the DL long before they finally got around to it.

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

So 6 weeks in the minor made Rendon ready?

I believe was ready in April as he was late May.

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

I started calling for it late August.

Get Your Re(n)d On said...

I went to the #VoteNats Tweetup before the game tonight, hosted by Dave Jageler and featuring the incredibly hot Julie Alexandria, the bespectacled F.P. Santangelo and Tyler Clippard sans goggles. In response to a question about how many games the Nats will win this year, Clippard said they'd win more than 90. Of course he also said they'd win tonight, so there's that. In response to a question about how they know which pitch a pitcher just threw, both Jageler and F.P. admitted that they guess, based on pitch speed and what FanGraphs says about the pitcher's repertoire. In response to my unasked question about whether she had any plans after the game, Julie Alexandria did not run away screaming.

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