Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Instant analysis: Pirates 4, Nats 2

Associated Press
Game in a nutshell: You had to figure runs would come at a premium tonight, with a perfect storm of events coming together. Stephen Strasburg on the mound for the Nationals. Francisco Liriano starting for the Pirates, a tough lefty against a lineup that struggles against lefties. And Bryce Harper and Ian Desmond out of the lineup to rest some nagging bumps and bruises. Sure enough, both starting pitchers absolutely dominated. Strasburg was brilliant for eight innings, allowing only Pedro Alvarez's second-inning homer while striking out a season-high 12 batters. But once again, the Nationals offered him no run support and left him in line to take the loss. Liriano carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning, finally surrendering an infield single to Anthony Rendon. The Nats remained in the game, though, because of Strasburg's dominance and trailed 1-0 when the ninth inning arrived. Drew Storen and Fernando Abad, though, combined to give up three runs in the inning, though, and suddenly that 1-run deficit became a 4-run deficit. Which proved really costly after Jayson Werth crushed a two-run homer, his fifth in four days. Alas, the Nationals still needed two more runs, which they didn't get. So, the losing streak is now at six games, with the Nats having dropped 11 of their last 13 to fall to five games below the .500 mark.

Hitting lowlight: Liriano is having an outstanding season, there's no question about that. But it's hard to really judge opposing pitchers these days because the Nationals lineup is so anemic. So it was again tonight, with this group (minus Harper and Desmond) completely shut down for eight innings. They had only three opportunities with men in scoring position, failing to produce in all three and leaving them 6-for-81 in that situation over their last 13 games. Yes, Werth homered in the ninth off Justin Wilson, leaving the veteran right fielder red-hot. But that was too little, too late for a Nationals lineup that has truly hit rock bottom.

Pitching highlight: What more can you say about Strasburg, who was absolutely brilliant yet once again was in no way rewarded for his efforts? He did make one mistake: a fat, 96-mph fastball to Alvarez in the top of the second that the Pirates cleanup hitter crushed over the right-center field fence. Otherwise, Strasburg was as good as he has ever been. He didn't allow a hit after the second inning. He didn't issue any walks. He struck out 12, the first time he's cracked double-digits this season. And he completed eight innings for the third time in his career, all this season. Here's the most-impressive stat: This was the fourth time in 65 career starts Strasburg has struck out at least 10 batters without issuing a walk. Two of those starts have come against the Pirates: tonight's game and Strasburg's June 8, 2010 big-league debut.

Key stat: The last time a D.C. ballclub was no hit: June 10, 1966, when the Indians' Sonny Siebert did it to the Senators at Cleveland Stadium.

Up next: The series concludes with a 12:35 p.m. Thursday matinee at Nationals Park. Gio Gonzalez looks to continue his prolonged hot streak on the mound against the Pirates' A.J. Burnett.

153 comments:

Unknown said...

What a terrible call to end the game. Nats have all the momentum, about to cap the comeback, and Mr Selig makes the call to punish this franchise. What a joke.

MrsB loves the Nats said...

That was terrible... But had the BP held the score... Well it could and would have been a wall off...

That was a terrible call...

3 runs were credited to Storen right?

MrsB loves the Nats said...

But SS looked like the ace that we expect... What a great night for him...

mick said...

we know the umpiring is terrible...what makes that call really bad is that the umpire was out of position to make that call...his ass should be fined for his poor mechanics

with that said, the Nats did not lose the game on that call...ALR at bat was weak in the 9th...Storen is simply terrible and the organization owes Stras an apology for not having his back tonight.

Davey should really step down...this ugly and unacceptable!

Ghost Of Steve M. said...

I'm not going to defend Davey and I haven't been for weeks with all the sleepwalking managing he has done lately but I would never want to see him fired.

Again, why pinch-hit with Suzuki unless you are going to have him swing away? Once you have him bunting it makes no sense.

Then you put in Storen which I'm fine with but then you allow him to stay in once a runner gets on base?

This is just a recurring theme here.

NatsLady said...

Another problem with using Suzuki to bunt--> can't pinch run for Ramos. Don't use Suzuki!!!! If you don't want Stras to bunt, have Haren bunt, he is very good at it.

Another_Sam said...

That call is not the problem at all.

mick said...

Ghost...i do not want him fired, I want Davey to resign on his own. Why he has not is simply amazing

mick said...

NL

good point, i agree

terpman33 said...

Allow me to vent, my fellow Nats fans...PATHETIC! PATHETIC, PATHETIC, PATHETIC, PATHETIC, AND PATHETIC. We all know Laz Diaz is a POS umpire, so I wont dwell on that. It shouldn't have even got that far. This loss is on DAVEY JOHNSON! Strasburg is cruising, making it look easy, and we take him out. Storen is the 2013 version of Hrod. What a joke! I'm tired of old baseball strategy that you have to go to your pen, no matter what! Anyway, im not giving up on the season. We still have 60 something games left. Lets see what we can do. GYFNG!!!

Ghost Of Steve M. said...

Mark Zuckerman @ZuckermanCSN
Ramos called out though he wasn't tagged nor did he run out of baseline. Laz Diaz ends the game.


At least Davey got off his perch to argue it. This is why you need replay in a way I described it to take the mistakes out and bias by umpires.

The bad ump calls just seem to go against the Nats most of the time.

Jane Elizabeth said...

Why shouldn't Rizzo resign?

Coolhandbane (formally Bob Saget) said...

The nats had a chance, a small chance to at least tie the game. The ump had a horrible call. It was one of the worst i have ever seen.

Nothing excuses the bats not hitting (credit to the pirates pitcher though)

I am with mick that Davey should quit but not be fired.

MrsB loves the Nats said...

Joe Seamhead said...
The ump made a bad call, but Denard Span cost us the game, the season, and he kicks his dog.I'm sure Vince Coleman would've caught Walker's double.

=====

No JoeS - the BP have this game away... Had they held the pirates, who SS held to 2 hits over 8 innings, then that Werth HR would have won the game...

Again, why did DJ out Storen in there in the first place...

Ghost Of Steve M. said...

mick said...
Ghost...i do not want him fired, I want Davey to resign on his own. Why he has not is simply amazing


Good, I'm fine with that. Maybe LaRoche will hire Davey on his farm.

David Proctor said...

"Strasburg is cruising, making it look easy, and we take him out."

What? He was at 118 pitches. No manager would have put him back out there for the 9th unless he was on the verge of something special.

mick said...

terpman33

I hope your right but this team is done and is headed to 90 losses and last place in the East...this is one of the worst melt downs in MLB in a long time

MrsB loves the Nats said...

That really was a horrible way to end the game... Bad call...

David Proctor said...

last place in the East? That's a new one

Ghost Of Steve M. said...

NatsLady said...
Another problem with using Suzuki to bunt--> can't pinch run for Ramos. Don't use Suzuki!!!! If you don't want Stras to bunt, have Haren bunt, he is very good at it.


That was my point at the time as soon as Suzuki was bunting.

Just a brain dead move by Davey.

MrsB loves the Nats said...

I thought SS came out at the right time... But I would not have put Storen in...

Secret wasian man said...

Davey should resign. Rizzo should be fired.

Dr Trea (formerly #werthquake) said...

wow...............

hiramhover said...

DP

Right - 118 is his season high and the second highest of his career.

Ghost Of Steve M. said...

Davey says Laz Diaz told him he saw the tag?

LIAR! You can't see what never happened. Wasn't even close!

Jane Elizabeth said...

Davey was giving Storen one last chance. If I understand correctly, he just said that Storen basically has to be demoted now....

MrsB loves the Nats said...

DJ has had a lot of brain dead moves... Maybe becuz the a dodgers series is so new but that series right there.... Unh... He got out-everything...

But I don't think they should fire him...

David Proctor said...

I think Storen is the odd man out when Mattheus comes back on Friday.

mick said...

MrsB what upsets me is the ump out of position, if he makes the call on top of the play, I can live with it...that fat ass clown of an umpire was behind the 2nd base bag, left field side...when you see the fielder attempting a tag on a runner, you move your ass in position to see all angles, you DO NOT sit on your ass and GUESS the call!!

mick said...

I think you are right David

MrsB loves the Nats said...

Mick - you don't make me laugh often... But I just got a visual of some of us sitting at Buffalo Wild Wings and you drinking a beer saying your post at 10:17...

I'm upset about that but the bigger issue I have is that had we got our magic number of 4.7 or 5, we would have won at least 4 games after the break....

They have to get instant replay soon...

Anonymous said...

Anyone want to keep blabbing about how Storen has not allowed an earned run in 18 of his last 21 appearances or whatever the heck it was? He needs to spend some time in upstate NY with Danny and the two of them can commiserate about how unfair it is that when you play like garbage you get demoted. Then, like Danny, Drew can have his agent constantly badger Rizzo about how he's losing service time.

I really hope that when Davey is finally replaced it is by a guy who makes Sgt. Hartman from Full Metal Jacket look like Mike Brady.

mick said...

Ghost...exactly, that umpire is not only lazy pile of s@@@, he is a liar... I hope fans ride his fat ass all game tomorrow

mick said...

karl

lololo great flick, ha ha ha ha

MrsB loves the Nats said...

Yeah... If Storen is struggling with command, then I have no issue with sending him down... Not as punishment, I personally don't like that...

However, I don't think DJ helps him either by putting him in certain situations...

But what is really concerning... This team (everyone except Werth) are not seeing the ball well at all... I don't expect Schu to fix that right now, maybe not this staff....

Ghost Of Steve M. said...

Acta was worse but had less talent. I just don't understand the moves and again I WRITE IT AS IT HAPPENS JUST LIKE WHEN SUZUKI SQUARED ON THE 1ST PITCH TO BUNT I made my post on why would Davey use him and not JZim or as suggest Haren or any starter who possesses good skill to bunt. Furthermore Suzuki isn't known as a good bunter.

I hate when people pile on but they always see their 20/20 hindsight.

mick said...

Sgt Hartman should manage this team...could you imagine, ha ha ha

he would be all over storen like he was Gomer Pyle

Jane Elizabeth said...

But that guy in Full Metal Jacket didn't have a happy ending, as I recall.....

Joe Seamhead said...

MrsB, I was being factious, and speaking with sarcasm when I made my Span statement.

mick said...

MrsB

lololo

baseballswami said...

Wow- that was a kick in the gut. Stras was brilliant. Now Det. Seriously- uncle.

mick said...

WOD

ha ha good point ha ha ha

MrsB loves the Nats said...

Oh okay JoeS... I was actually waiting for that comment from someone else... I knew it was coming...

Jane Elizabeth said...

The strange thing is that if the Braves keep getting injured, we could have one of those 85 game winning division winners, but unfortunately, my money would be on the Phils or the Mets over us.....

mick said...

WOD

like 1973 NL east


Nats need a WIN!!!!

MrsB loves the Nats said...

Nats Bats really pooped on SS brilliant performance...

If 4.7/5 is the magic number, we do so much better... Come on guys... Something has got to give...

Ghost Of Steve M. said...

mick said...
Ghost...exactly, that umpire is not only lazy pile of s@@@, he is a liar... I hope fans ride his fat ass all game tomorrow


People say that calls even out. That's bull. The only reason I'm for expanded replay is so s*** like this doesn't happen and I have also called for a system like the NFL has to allow the Manager to also use challenges on anything so he could also challenge a ball/strike call. This way when an ump has a bias against a player like Harper you can attempt to keep the system honest.

The technology is there and you can use the NCAA system where it's reviewed remotely.

Laz should be suspended for lying to a manager. The guy has always been an embarrassment.

mick said...

WOD it would be 40 years exactly, except it was the Mets that won the East

oh boy

Dr Trea (formerly #werthquake) said...

Gotta love people blaming the game on the umps. yes, terrible call. But the team played equally terrible.

Jane Elizabeth said...

Marlon Byrd--OPS+ -- 136

Denard Span--OPS+ -- 86

Span is no upgrade. He is worse than the outfielders we had during our last place years. Byrd was out there for next to nothing, but Rizzo wasted a prospect and more money to get Mr. Lead-Off.

mick said...

Ghost... well stated

David Proctor said...

Very mature interview by Strasburg. He's gotten much better at that part of his job lately. Someone said he needs a win and he corrected them and said "WE need a win, I don't really care about pitchers Wins and losses, we as a team need a win and it's getting to the point where our back's against the wall."

NatsLady said...

Just saw the video of Hudson. Terrible. Eric Young a class act. What happened with Det?

David Proctor said...

Detwiler is out for at least a month with a back issue.

mick said...

I think Det should rehab the rest of the season

MrsB loves the Nats said...

There needs to be some accountability for the umps... I'm not about to get political or anything but something has got to give...

When you continually trot Laz and Herndandez and (can't think of the blue who threw Harper out for no reason), and people continuously complain about them and you see with your own eyes that they aren't cutting it.... Something has got to give...

I swear I have lost the defitiom of a bulk... Thanks Bulkin' Bo ...

Ghost Of Steve M. said...

Actually Davey should be pissed because he needs that RH outfielder who can hit lefties that I have been asking for and the best Rizzo can come up with is Scott Hairston?

There had to be better choices.

mick said...

why rush him back???

Jane Elizabeth said...

1973 Mets beat the 99 game winning Reds and came within a hair of beating the tri-champion A's and they had a team very much like ours, but I am not predicting that, because our fielding is in the toilet and our morale seems to be down since we got rid of Morse and brought in Span.

mick said...

Ghost


Hairston is the face of Rizzo's moves for 2013.

NatsLady said...

This is going to sound negative, well, it is negative--how did they wait so long on Detwiler? Did he have this issue on his previous DL stint, or is this new?

MrsB loves the Nats said...

Clip and Store - I don't think anyone blamed the blue for the loss... Just commenting that that was a terrible way for the game to end... Had he called it correctly, we don't know what would have happened...

David P - Did they say exactly what the injury is???? So I guess Ross O will get his chance since TJ is around his inning limits??

I have been trying to find info on C Garcia...

Jane Elizabeth said...

Haren and Span have been downright awful. Soriano has blown several games and his stats mask how mediocre he has been. Hairston has barely played, but so far, Rizzo must be tearing his hair out over this season, and maybe he should resign immediately.

mick said...

WOD

yes indeed, remember so much that year... Mets were up 3-2 on A's in WS

Buddy Harrelson vs Pete Rose, that was wild!!! NY fans intimdated Rose the rest of the series...remember Yogi, Seaver, Jones and Koosman going out to left field to calm fans down

your right, similar team to Nats, great pitching

MrsB loves the Nats said...

NL - I don't think he was right since his DL stint... His ErA was like 8/9... But yeah, so many questionable things this year, I see why so many look forward to a fresh manager and his crew...

mick said...

except they had Tug McGraw and we have Storen

ugh!!!

Section 222 said...

Davey's reaction when asked if he considered pinch hitting Harper for Span suggests that thought hadn't dawned on him. He came up with an answer, but it seemed like he was thinking about it for the first time. Davey just looks so lost after these losses.

Very good points made in the game post about PHing Suzuki. Totally brain dead move by Davey.

Most importantly, there was just no excuse for bringing in Storen in the 9th. Soriano was well rested. And he even started to warm up when we got runners on in the 8th. No reason not to use him. We had just one more chance to score. But no, closers only get used if we're tied or winning. So bring in Drew whose WPs lost last night's game to blow this one too. Yuck.

Jane Elizabeth said...

Yeah, Mick, I bought the A's World Series DVD from MLB and it has 1972-1975, and 1989 on it. The 1972 and 1973 World Series were fantastic and that was what I wanted to see. It is too bad that with the additional layers of the play-offs now you rarely see great teams in the World Series anymore. Baseball is all about parity and making money and pretending that the best team wins even though the teams don't play the same schedules. MLB follows the NFL way too much to its detriment.

mick said...

sec222

good post..to add..I just think Davey is burned out, similar to Dick Vermil when he burned out, it happens..I feel bad for him because Davey is a good man and a hall of fame manager...he is just burned out.

mick said...

WOD' very well said my friend!

Anonymous said...

Remember that game where the Nats didn't get a hit for the first 5 or so innings, left a bunch of runners on base, and then came up short on a 9th inning rally? Oh wait, THAT'S EVERY FREAKING NIGHT.

Jane Elizabeth said...

Oh, so Soriano is some sort of cinch? Soriano has blown 2 games in the last ten days, although he seems to do it more by giving up homers. Soren seems to have a myriad of ways to blow games via wild pitches, walks, hits, homers and dropping balls at the plate....

Joe Seamhead said...

How do you all like Hairston as an outfielder now? Two throws to the plate that I've seen high school players make stronger than Scott's. When Span was sat down last week and Harper moved to CF and Hairston in left I said it weakened two outfield positions and was put down for it.I have no problem sitting Span, or anybody else if you're strengthening the team. "If" being the operative word.with Hairston you aren't going to get enough plate production to offset the defense.

Ghost, I would've liked to have seen Zimm keep that ball in the infield in the 9th too, but in fairness he was holding real close to the bag. Ryan had a good game at third, other than that one.I think he may have gotten to it a couple of years ago, but you can't say that for sure.

Ghost Of Steve M. said...

mick said...
Ghost... well stated


Thanks. Do you still want me to be your GM? I laughed before when you suggested it but now I know I could do a better job than what I'm seeing.

I'm sending Storen to AAA and bringing up Mattheus. I'm bringing up Corey Brown since he's en fuego and DFA'ing Tracy. I'm going to try to trade ALR for a low level prospect and hand RZim a 1st baseman's glove. The new infield is Rendon 3rd, Desi SS, Lombo 2nd, RZim 1st.

RZim can learn 1st base now when the games don't mean as much.

By the way, Pittsburgh needs a LH 1st baseman.

Jane Elizabeth said...

Actually, apart from his arm, Hairston seems to play a decent outfield to my eyes, but what difference does it make when you can't score any runs anyway.

baseballswami said...

Just saw the video of Tim Hudson's injury - it's devastating- Posey like. I hate all this bad baseball and losing as much as anyone, but something like that just transcends anything else. Horrible. Sometimes I wonder why I think this game is fun.

Jane Elizabeth said...

Espinosa at least has the potential to be a better 2nd baseman than Lombo. No decent mlb team is going to have Lombo starting.

Theo Mackie said...

Are you kidding me? Can't get any damn run support until after the pen had blown any chance we had! Of course, if it was 1-0, Werth wouldn't have homered but that was a truly ridiculous display of ineptitude by everyone other than Strasburg. Even Werth failed when it mattered. At least it's just funny now and no longer painful.

David Proctor said...

No offense to you Ghost, but I thank God every day that nobody on this forum (myself included) is a GM. I can only imagine...

Anyway...

Amanda Comak ‏@acomak 1m
Obvious that Wilson Ramos wasn't tagged out. "Not even close," Ramos said. "Maybe (Laz Diaz) wanted to go home."

Ghost Of Steve M. said...

Joe Seamhead said....

Ghost, I would've liked to have seen Zimm keep that ball in the infield in the 9th too, but in fairness he was holding real close to the bag. Ryan had a good game at third, other than that one.I think he may have gotten to it a couple of years ago, but you can't say that for sure.


Glad you mentioned it. In 2006, he makes the play and probably 2007 and 2008 also. He was not ready. I watched it a few times. The ball was by him when he started his dive. It was embarrassing to watch in replay.

He could have knocked it down for sure. Maybe doesn't get an out but saves a run but he just wasn't set.

It's part of this losing streak that the Nats aren't turning Web Gems.

Ghost Of Steve M. said...

Oh Darn, Royals just got a walkoff win on the Os. ;) O's blow a 3-1 lead.

MrsB loves the Nats said...

Hairston has a very weak arm... Thought I was looking at Mike Morse for a sec...

If they bring C Brown up, don't let him sit on the bench and waste away like they did Kobernus...

Speaking of Kobernus, where did he go???

baseballswami said...

He went back down to Syracuse. Hope they have an express shuttle between here and there.

Ghost Of Steve M. said...

David Proctor said...
No offense to you Ghost, but I thank God every day that nobody on this forum (myself included) is a GM. I can only imagine...


Very true. My point is that the GM isn't giving Davey the best personnel. Sure, Davey has been sleepwalking since the All Star break, but Rizzo didn't help.

Davey isn't batting, fielding or relieving.

I see pitchers give up 5 runs like Haren gave up and get a W. Difference is the Nats aren't scoring runs. Pitchers look a lot better when they have run support.

MrsB loves the Nats said...

So does MLB have a discussion with Laz.. Or does he go back and look at the tape... Just sad...

I recorded tonight's game... Dont even want to bother watching the entire thing...

VP81955 said...

Just ride out this disaster of a season and start anew in 2014. There'l be another manager as well as a few changes on the roster, and the youthful nucleus of this franchise should collectively have a far better year. I could see the Nationals bouncing back into contention next summer -- the Braves aren't overpowering by any means, the Phillies are getting stale, the Mets have financial woes and the Marlins are a joke.

MrsB loves the Nats said...

Thanks Swami - I knew T Moore went back down... Marerro too... Just hadn't heard (or was paying attention to) Kobernus...

David Proctor said...

Dan Kolko ‏@masnKolko 1m
Ramos feels Storen's struggling mentally right now. "Got a good arm, got good stuff. He just needs to go out there and get confidence."

Hopefully he can get that confidence in AAA because we can't afford to lose more games with him out there. I've defended Storen enough. I still think he can be a great pitcher and he will close for us again one day. But right now, he's in a bad, bad place.

Ghost Of Steve M. said...

I'm ok with Scott Hairston being DFA'd now and just call it a mistake. I guess Theo isn't as dumb as he looks. He has 2 World Series trophies. How many does Rizzo have?

baseballswami said...

Lots of moves this season between Syracuse and DC. I usually hate the Barves, but Tim Hudson is a good guy. Badly injured. Isn't Adam a good friend of his?

David Proctor said...

Hairston only has 12 ABs with us. If that's not a short hook, I don't know what is. At least give the guy a chance.

Joe Seamhead said...

MrsB, Kobernus is hitting .161 over his last ten games in Syracuse.
Ghost, any second thoughts on whether Rendon was truly ready to come up?

Ghost Of Steve M. said...

Rizzo has to take the next 2 weeks and work on undoing all of his mistakes. Haren, Hairston, and LaRoche and his long-term contract to RZim which can't be fixed but he has to play 1st base.

MrsB loves the Nats said...

Yeah DP - I think Storen has the stuff... Think he is better than Soriano, too... But his command is all off... And his manager isn't helping him... Put him against batters he is confident against and then in non-pressure situations, ease him against the batters he is struggling with...

It's no way in hell I would have put Storen in tonight... None...

But if he has options, then yeah send him down and hope that he gains his confidence... It's hard to see folks with so much potential flailing at the waist side...

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

Heard a rumor that the Nationals bobblehead series next year will consist entirely of batters tipping their cap to the opposing pitcher.

Theo Mackie said...

Are you kidding me? Can't get any damn run support until after the pen had blown any chance we had! Of course, if it was 1-0, Werth wouldn't have homered but that was a truly ridiculous display of ineptitude by everyone other than Strasburg. Even Werth failed when it mattered. At least it's just funny now and no longer painful.

MrsB loves the Nats said...

JoeS - when Kobernus first came up, he was locked and loaded.. He was on a huge streak...

I guess my greater point was, don't bring anyone up who is hot right now and let them languish on the bench...

Unh thinking about Syracuse, I still get upset that we called Eury up and didnt use him enough...

Ghost Of Steve M. said...

Joe, Rendon was ready to come up. He is in a slump. He could probably use a refresher in AAA but the alternative is bringing back Espinosa.

Rendon is topping almost everything. He's better than that.

David Proctor said...

Kobernus was never on a hot streak. He had an infield hit and then added a couple of decent liners. Then he did nothing until his home run against Cliff Lee. He also didn't steal any bases, which was supposedly his best asset.

David Proctor said...

I remember last year, many here were asking for Harper to be sent back down because he was in an awful slump. (I know I didn't post, but I read here). The league always adjusts to young guys. Harper readjusted and had a red hot September. Rendon will readjust too. We just have to go through those growing pains.

MrsB loves the Nats said...

Ghost - it's not gonna be easy (if impossible) to fix those mistakes...

Haren is the 13 mil man... Not sure there is anyone worth trading for... At best you can move Ross O but that creates yet another problem with Det and TJ and his innings limit...

Hairston, well that's an easy one, as I know he was supposed to come in and help out against LHPs... He has looked pathetic for the most part.... He has not come thru in the clutch...

Removing Adam removes a key defense man and hide saver... And a LHB... I don't think the transition will be that easy for Ryan... When we talk about position of players, I do think he made a mental error tonight but did the coaches have him in the right spot(s)... Just like when Werth looked like he was always out of position last game or the series...

Ghost Of Steve M. said...

I saw the Tim Hudson video and he put his foot in the middle of the base.

Great sportsmanship by EY Jr.

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

"mick said...

terpman33

I hope your right but this team is done and is headed to 90 losses and last place in the East...this is one of the worst melt downs in MLB in a long time"

Nah. It's not even two years since the Red Sox and Braves both melted down in September. BTW, where are those two teams now?

MrsB loves the Nats said...

DP - prior to Kobernus coming up here, he was on fire... Hitting well in AAA... But he got here and DJ didnt use him while he was hot...

Bottom line - over haul of bench is a priority for Rizzo next year, along with another starting pitcher, a catcher (although I like Suzuki but Ramos hasn't shown he can stay healthy), a rh of (I hope roger stays - he provides great defense).

That's all I can think of now...

baseballswami said...

I do feel that there has been some interesting bullpen use and use of guys up from AAA. Do you really use a guy who is struggling in a one run Stras gem of a game? And when Kobernus came up, he was hitting, but sat a long time without being used. And Zuke pinch hitting? Bunting? Just some curious moves. The entire NLEast is a disaster area. Hope the guys can pull together and make some thing happen. Soon.

Ghost Of Steve M. said...

MrsB loves the Nats said...
Ghost - it's not gonna be easy (if impossible) to fix those mistakes...

Haren is the 13 mil man...


Good teams should never look at 1 year contracts to be restrictive on making a DFA move. It's just money.

LaRoche is just money and he has trade value.

Hairston is just money on a 2 year deal.

Tracy is a 1 year deal.

These guys are all paid for. Turn around the mistakes. Get ready for 2014. Get RZim reps at 1st base.

Notice that I am keeping Span. I like him in the 8 hole better than leadoff.

baseballswami said...

Ghost- yes, no fault of Young at all. Still a terrible accident. Young was devastated.

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

I could rant about Storen, but my mind had placed him in persona non grada status. I am pretending he is not around.

I could rant about Davey not batting Harper for Span, but now I know he never thought about it.

Instead I'll rant about MLB and it refusal to remove poorumpires. There are 3 problems as I see it.

1) technology has gotton so good we see all the bad calls clearly now. The ump cant deny it.

2) MLB covers up all the mess and protect the umps fron the press.

3) Most sports reporters are not Woodward and Bernstein who would chase after an interview be it at the hotel or resterant. There is suppose to be a pool reporter chasing it, but I am guessing non did as I said they are not Woodward and Bernstein.

Laz Diaz we all know sucks and has for years. Joe To neds to face the public.

A bad call is one thing, but then to lie is another worse thing. Thete is no way he saw a tag, because tgere was no tag it is one thing to be bad, but if you are going o lie, you need a different job. We cannot have people who non truth tellers ajudicating the game

With the advent of great technology we need replay at this point. I watch about 20 games a week in tge summer (watching Giants now, watched A' s then Angels before Nats game.

I see about 10 just terrible calls a week (not counting balls and strikes which are even worse). i see about 20 real close they get right. So about 2 out of 3 close ones they get right ( who knows maybe it is more 3 out of 4).

Anyway it needs fixing.

Lets see if anyone tweers a thibg about Laz before the game tomorrow. I am guessing no. They will let him lie.

Ghost Of Steve M. said...

2 weeks ago Tim Hudson was rumored to be on the trading block. He was the weak link in the Braves rotation. Since that day he has been pitching much better and the team rallied around him.

He's a good guy. Probably ends his career in Atlanta as Beachy may take his place.

MrsB loves the Nats said...

Swami - yeah... It's baffling... There were opportunities that we could have used Kobernus.. Everyone was excited he came up becuz of what he was doing in AAA but he just sat... That was when DJ seemingly kept giving Chad Teacy opportunities to get pop ups... Which is what he did...

Ghost - I thought LaRoche had a no trade clause... But I like him and hope he doesn't get traded... Haren was a disaster from the beginning (I hated that signing and got major ridicule for it)... Hairston is insignificant...

I just don't think It will be easy now... Or worth it...

David Proctor said...

Strasburg: "You want to be the big dog in the rotation it comes with the territory. Six innings isn’t cool anymore for me. I want to go seven, eight and hopefully nine sometime"

Ghost Of Steve M. said...

MNF, love your summation on the umpiring. It's exactly how I feel. Laz Diaz and Angel Hernandez and Joe West and Hirschbeck, etc. are not good people. They have an agenda.

The phantom non-check swing by Bryce, review it and overturn it. Embarrass these umps. Laz Diaz and Angel Hernandez have poor track records against the Nats.

Joe Seamhead said...

Just to qualify, I only asked if there were any second thoughts on Rendon, I didn't offer my own answer to the question.
David Proctor, I detest weak defensive outfielders. If Hairston can give us a late game pinch hit, great. I never have particularly thought much of him defensively, and his arm seems weaker than ever.
MrsB, I agree that neither Kobernus or Perez was given any reasonable chance, but in the case of Kobernus, he is another one that doesn't play a ML caliber position in the field.

Ghost Of Steve M. said...

MrsB loves the Nats said...

Ghost - I thought LaRoche had a no trade clause... But I like him and hope he doesn't get traded... Haren was a disaster from the beginning (I hated that signing and got major ridicule for it)... Hairston is insignificant...


He's not a 10 and 5 guy so he may only have a limited no trade but I don't think he does.

Rizzo will have to write Pittsburgh a check to take him.

Nats can't go into 2014 with RZim as the starting 3rd baseman and expect better results. When a corner infielder has more errors than HRs, not good plus his range just isn't good.

Steve Walker said...

Strasburg was fabulous. His best game ever in the majors. Better than the debut. But don't forget RZim made 3 outstanding plays at third to help. Storen needs time at Syracuse to get his mojo back. Agree with move to replace Sad Tracy with Stormin Corey Brown, who can do more than just PH. Leave Rendon at 2B. Now, we are spoilers. Time to relax and go .500 or better to close the season.

David Proctor said...

I mean...Zim has one throwing error in the last 6 weeks. I realize his range is diminished, but he's still better than a good number of other 3B out there. He's not exactly Pablo Sandoval. Let's wait until the end of the season before we completely write him off at 3B.

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

Does tonight's call change the game. Probbly not.

Did Hirshbeck's no. We won anyway.

But there is no accountability by MLB.

The sports writers arent given access to expose the problem. (Most want to keep their credentials.)

Would love some with the integrity of Peter Gammons do an honest sit down with Joe Torre to find out why MLB refuses to do real penalties to the bad umps. He will never lose his credentials, and I think he wouldn't wimp out.

Ghost Of Steve M. said...

David, RZim is better than Pablo, Miguel Cabrera, Uribe defensively but he is bottom 1/2 in range. He's still the best 3rd baseman charging balls but also look how shallow he players. Its time if the Nats can trade ALR and upgrade. If they can't then we know what 2014 looks like.

sjm308 said...

Wait - Seamhead - you just asked someone who is moving Zimmerman to first with 60 games left in the season what he thought about Rendon??

Wow!

I have had way too much to drink but there is just crazy talk going on here which is what happens when your team loses multiple games in a row.

Fire Davey - no wait, he is going to resign after years and years of work!!

How many of you have quit a job?? Ridiculous!

I have been forced to resign from coaching my dream job at Maryland. It is not a pretty picture and I hope Davey gets to finish out his last year.

We are not playing well right now. Davey not being in the dugout is not going to make anything better except it will shut JayB and Mick up.

Guess what - JayB will have something else to bitch about when Davey is gone and Mick will still want us to replace 1/2 the team if we lose next year.

Good Night all - Go Nats!!

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

How many of you have quit a job?? Ridiculous!

Riggleman raises hand. Oh wait, he's just ordering another round at Caddies.

sjm308 said...

Yep - Davey and Riggs in the same sentence. Makes about as much sense.

Joe Seamhead said...

Sjm308:
A/ I hope Davey finishes out the year, one way or the other.

B/ Ryan Zimmerman is our third baseman through 2014, no matter who the manager is.

C/ I was reluctant to bring Rendon up until he played at the least the better part of a season in the minors because he not only missed most of last year, but also the year before in his last year at Rice he DH'ed due to injury. When Anthony came up and set the world on fire, I felt like I was as wrong could be. Now, I am just wondering if there are any 2nd thoughts. I'm not sure that he's just in a slump.I hope so, but his last ten games have been shall we say, non-productive.

D/ I haven't seen our magic number say we're eliminated. Hope springs eternal.I just can't defend them right now.

e/ I also have enjoyed my beers tonight!

sjm308 said...

Hate to admit this but I actually liked Riggleman. Still not sure what he was thinking when he went in to see Rizzo that night?

sjm308 said...

I can't defend them either Seamhead but I am not asking Ghost what he thinks after reading his thoughts. I like his access to scouts and all that but I can't imagine his "sources" are telling him that Zimm should be moved in the middle of a season to a spot he has never played.

Joe Seamhead said...

I liked Jim ok, really wanted him to succeed as a local boy done good, but though he knows a lot of baseball, he's not a very good manager, IMHO

sjm308 said...

Hell Seamhead you might as well ask JayB what he thinks? Oh wait, we know that answer. 1. Davey is old 2. Davey held a country club during spring training 3. Davey is old etc etc

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

I went tgrough the twitterverse.

Saw tweets from the reporters quotes from Ramos, and Davey, but none from Laz.

As I said MLB will hide him and the reporters wont find him.

NatsLady said...

Seamhead, I too had reservations about Rendon, both offense and defense. However, I'm not willing to judge on the most recent ten games...guys have slumps, and in particular, young guys have slumps when the league adjusts. Davey is asking an awful lot of him, hitting him 2nd, playing different positions, etc.

NatsLady said...

I expect Davey will finish out the year--but he needs HELP. Let Randy Knorr or someone be at his side, questioning Suzuki as a pinch hitter, pointing out Harper could pinch hit for Span, just stuff that seems to get by Davey late in games.

Davey was wide-awake in his 8 a.m. talk on the radio this morning. He needs to take naps or something, because he sounds SO different after games.

Joe Seamhead said...

I agree, 308.I also think too much venom is directed his way, but that's my opinion. Take my opinion and $9 and you can get a can of swill at the stadium.
Hey, man, this year is a disappointment,(so far!), but guess what? We're all watching it. See, I still loved watching Stephen carve them up tonight. There's a.ways something to be thankful for when watching a game after doing without for so many years.

NatsLady said...

Also, and many of us have said this, there are no games to spare! There are no games to put Storen in to get his confidence back, or any other "teaching." Never mind the future, never mind planning for 5 games ahead, win today's game. We need to win games. Not even series---GAMES.

Joe Seamhead said...

Always something to be thankful for...must've been the beer.

Joe Seamhead said...

I agree, NL. I also am worried about Davey. I think this is all taking a huge toll on him.

David Proctor said...

Davey better manage tomorrow like it's Game 7 of the World Series. I think this team's postseason hopes are pretty much kaput, but the team is still at a crossroads. They can play respectable ball and at least try to make a run (even if they likely come up short because time is running out) or they can continue this downward slide and be competing with the Mets and Phillies for third place. It's up to them. But the season is really teetering on a ledge.

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

In over 50 years I dont remember a team reporters thought was good have 13 games in a row that they hit so poorly.

I have seen teams lose that much that were good, but not hitting this poirly. It is usually the lack of pitching that cause this bad a stretch.

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

Still no Laz sighting. I guess he escaped again.

Joe Seamhead said...

A good read. Personally, this would be my choice for the next skipper:

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1631270-joe-girardi-the-impending-free-agent-that-nobody-is-talking-about

NatsLady said...

I've seen miracle comebacks. It can happen. I listened to Rizzo on the radio--he doesn't sound like he's giving up or planning for 2014 (of course, he probably wouldn't say so if he were). He admitted he made a mistake with one lefty in the bullpen, no one asked him about Dan Haren. He said, he is in charge and the responsibility for the season is his.

That's a little extreme, being as how he isn't in there striking out or dropping balls. BTW,


"I thought we were rock bottom last night, but I guess not." — Jays manager John Gibbons, summing the whole thing up.

Joe Seamhead said...

Laz blew the call, there's no doubt. It shouldn't have come down to us possibly losing, or winning, be decided by the ump. We got beat.

David Proctor said...

I know it can happen. But before I can even think about that, I need to see the team play respectable baseball. I haven't seen that in the last 2 weeks.

NatsLady said...

Seamhead, agreed, we've talked about it before, but the Yanks are unlikely to let him go. Had a chance to get him a few years ago, but wouldn't pay the freight.

NatsLady said...

Yes, I'm a little worried about Davey, saying he wasn't quitting but he might slit his wrists (or later, hang himself). That's hyperbole, but it's hyperbole I don't like, and it's worrisome because it's not the sort of think you should say on the radio.

I'm actually more worried about Adam LaRoche, though. He is skin and bones. Now, I know he loses weight during the season. Before the ASB he said he had lost 17 pounds and was going to put a few back on during the break. Then he had that "flu." I don't think he put any weight on.

Joe Seamhead said...

I don't know that we have the right guy in-house.Part of what Davey agreed on when he signed on for this year was to play a part regarding the next manager, as I remember.

NatsLady said...

Seamhead, I don't think we have the right guy in-house. Suggestions I heard were Sciosca, Gardenhire and Bud Black. (I don't know Bud Black's status, but Sciosca is in trouble despite his long contract, and they are tired of Gardenhire in Minn, he has just been there too long.)

David Proctor said...

Well Davey is going to remain in the front office, I thought. I was under the impression he still has a few years on his contract as a front office consultant. So in that capacity, I'm sure he'd have a say in the next manager.

NatsLady said...

If the Yanks don't lock up Girardi then he should be No. 1 choice. Can't imagine the Yanks letting him go, however.

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

On my phone I dont know how to cut and paste, but i just went and read equivalent websight to this for the Pirates.

Neal Walker was yelling at Gabby Sanchez because he lost count of the outs, as Walker didnt realize Ramos was called out. Walker laughed as he said didnt come close to taging Ramos.

As i said no will call Diaz out about not telling the truth. There was no tag to see, but MLB will cover up sand no one will question Diaz That I can almost bet on.

Joe Seamhead said...

Goodnight, folks. BTW, the Mariner's manager had a slight stroke today. He's been released from the hospital.

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

Consult on what?

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

Eric Wedge has a lot less talent than Davey does, but he gets more out of them.

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

Giants look even worse than the Nats another under achieving team.

But 2 championships in the last 3 years.

ruggeds1000 said...

Ok, Went to the game last night and left as soon as Storen gave up the leadoff single cause I knew what was going to happen... and it did and I couldn't bear to see the train wreck. If he's our best option on a night when preserving Strasburg's gem and the urgency to stop a losing streak, then "turn out the lights the party's over". This rocked my faith in Johnson as well. He's just too much of a Baseball 101 manager with no creativity. I hate to say it but he's starting to reveal he's a 70 year old old timer that isn't what this team needs right now. Rizzo fired the wrong guy.

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

You can count on Rizzo making a move for Joe Girardi. The Nats went after him in 2007 after the fired Robinson, but he had his sights set on winning a World Series with the Yankees. He's done that now, so he has nothing more to prove in New York. He might want to get out of that circus.

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