tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post2183095706817289049..comments2024-02-15T05:42:18.307-05:00Comments on Nats Insider: Lombo's big night saves StrasburgMark Zuckermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13525315258889435961noreply@blogger.comBlogger68125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-10138760621960133992012-04-17T16:42:51.197-04:002012-04-17T16:42:51.197-04:00I'm all for taking the whole series, but it...I'm all for taking the whole series, but it's four, not three games.natsfan1anoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-25344664380551402852012-04-17T16:05:27.674-04:002012-04-17T16:05:27.674-04:00Espi is incredibly fortunate the team has such pat...Espi is incredibly fortunate the team has such patience with him. Forget .220 - he has batted .200 or less for over half of last season and the first 10 games this season. His Spring Training was a bit of a disaster with the bat as well blaming his troubles on the batters eye. Why can't we just admit that he is not a good hitter or even a promsing one? Outside of a 2 week hot streak at his September callup and a nice power first third of the season last year, he is a .200 hitter with alarming strike out tendencies. His K's even look worse to the naked eye than other players K's. Nice tough kid, nice glove, but he's a Cora with a little pop. Pencil him in as a utility guy or send him down to totally re-tool that swing. MLB pitcher have his many weaknesses figured out completely. Lombo looks so far like at least a tough out, which this teams needs badly. Good things can happen in this game if you don't strike out all the time to kill a rally.<br /><br />Otherwise, I'm so excited to see Gio take his turn tonight. Could be a sweep if we get this one tonight. I predict Zimm takes off now and Derosa gets his Spring stroke back starting tonight.Hanging Onnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-36715352058681785792012-04-17T14:47:35.047-04:002012-04-17T14:47:35.047-04:00UnkyD:
I agree with you--except there is always t...UnkyD:<br /><br />I agree with you--except there is always the possibility that Desi cannot sustain his performance at the plate. Yes, it's been since last July and that is a large sample, but I'm not sold completely just yet. If he can, it is a two-way race at second base--but it is a race. I don't see them putting Lombo in the outfield.JamesFannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-39327271643603583362012-04-17T13:10:35.875-04:002012-04-17T13:10:35.875-04:00JamesFan:
You forgot the part about this being the...JamesFan:<br />You forgot the part about this being the second week of Espi's second MLB season..... Good things come to him who waits....<br />And, HELLO...Desi's been anything but weak, at the plate!!!!UnkyDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10427401050130317607noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-88917731310472184822012-04-17T12:07:49.609-04:002012-04-17T12:07:49.609-04:00Espi is Davey's guy until he isn't. I do ...Espi is Davey's guy until he isn't. I do not think Espinoza is guaranteed the job at second, and frankly, I would like to see a lot more of Lombo at the position. Moving him to left is nuts.<br /><br />What do we know about Espi? He's excellent on defense; he has proven to be a .220 hitter or less with a low OBP and a 125+ strikeouts. He can hit maybe 25 plus homers if we can tolerate the strikouts. He has not shown himself to be a "potential superstar." Given Desmond's weaknesses at the plate, I do not think the Nats can afford to have both these guys in the lineup for the long-term unless Espi turns it around, so this is a three way competition for the middle infield. To me, Lombo is a much more all-round and stable player for the long haul.<br /><br />Sure, start Espinoza for now. I would not even have a problem with sending Lombo back to Syracuse for awhile to get at bats. But if we have the same old Dannie into June, they should put Lombo out there and see what happens.JamesFannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-36795084977328717612012-04-17T10:53:04.033-04:002012-04-17T10:53:04.033-04:00I was lucky enough to be there last night, and we ...I was lucky enough to be there last night, and we were all waiting for Ankiel to heave it home. I disagree with Sec 222 about the throw being too high - Ramos caught it just to the 3B side of the plate, and it was dropping so he easily could have made a sweeping tag. But more likely, the runner would have been caught in a rundown! The was an absolute laser throw. Check the replays for the look that Ramos gave the runner. Priceless. <br /><br />The fans gave Ankiel a (well deserved) standing ovation.<br /><br />Lombo's double was a 2-strike survival swing. It was high and inside, and a batter without an approach at the plate would have swung and missed. Instead, he got his hands in and got just enough of the bat on the ball. I'm pretty sure he was just trying to foul it off, but I'm positive that he will take the hit!<br /><br />What a game, and we are 8-3, which is the ONLY April stat that matters, IMHO.ehay2khttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16441654620820540390noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-55758055957306870902012-04-17T10:52:02.432-04:002012-04-17T10:52:02.432-04:00Can Lombo play CF...? He sure reminded me of Vict...Can Lombo play CF...? He sure reminded me of Victorino at the plate last night.dcvelobrewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01334542266058722781noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-45451784399312543722012-04-17T10:11:12.736-04:002012-04-17T10:11:12.736-04:00or maybe scorer decided to give Ankiel a break aft...or maybe scorer decided to give Ankiel a break after his amazing throw.FSnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-35857817727091665152012-04-17T10:10:45.796-04:002012-04-17T10:10:45.796-04:00Thanks... I meant to comment on Zim's dive... ...Thanks... I meant to comment on Zim's dive... Can we hypnotize him to never dive into base like that again? Some guys are more valuable than any given run...UnkyDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10427401050130317607noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-20621947528572093542012-04-17T10:04:56.868-04:002012-04-17T10:04:56.868-04:00To be fair to Ankiel, like "Soul Possession, ...To be fair to Ankiel, like "Soul Possession, PFB Sofa said"...a line drive hit directly at you is the hardest ball to judge for an outfielder, and to be specific the hardest ball for a center fielder to judge is a line drive hit straight at you. It's not unusual to misplay it; it happens fairly frequently; you can't see it until it's on you literally; that's why it was scored a base hit...UNTERPnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-57545068474465538382012-04-17T10:04:54.542-04:002012-04-17T10:04:54.542-04:00Re: RZ leaping and diving-- it was scary in the re...Re: RZ leaping and diving-- it was scary in the replay, given his previous injury! Apparently the ump explained his ruling satisfactorily to Davey and Zim, and looking at the replay it was the correct ruling, so you have to like that.NatsLadyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06814911056080758503noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-66875315239740139852012-04-17T10:02:40.837-04:002012-04-17T10:02:40.837-04:00Gotta agree about Ankiel's throw. That was sca...Gotta agree about Ankiel's throw. That was scary.<br /><br />I am surprised no one has commented on RZ's dive at the plate. That's the most acrobatic move I have seen. If it was some other player, he would have tried to bowl over the catcher. RZ took a huge risk but I liked the attempt.FSnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-62686661551971297632012-04-17T09:52:22.620-04:002012-04-17T09:52:22.620-04:00Tops not only in K's (108) but in K/9 (9.3), w...Tops not only in K's (108) but in K/9 (9.3), which is a better stat to me because the Nats have pitched more innings than other teams. 11 games vs. 10, and those extra innings.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/2012.shtml" rel="nofollow">baseballreference.com</a><br /><br />Nine errors in 11 games, though (shaking head) and probably should have been 11 in 11 (give one to RZ and one to Ank). That has to improve.<br /><br />http://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/2012.shtml<br /><br />Run differential is at +15.NatsLadyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06814911056080758503noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-11176686205245201392012-04-17T09:46:47.535-04:002012-04-17T09:46:47.535-04:00Sorry, Wonk...Sorry, Wonk...Soul Possession, PFB Sofahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08891662837668214475noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-37764473220998701852012-04-17T09:45:59.603-04:002012-04-17T09:45:59.603-04:00Let's try that again.
Hardest ball to read is...Let's try that again.<br /><br />Hardest ball to read is a line drive hit right at the outfielder--the ball's path is foreshortened, and it's very tough to judge how much it's carrying. Ankiel normally gets good jumps on balls, and he got all turned around on this one. Tough error, if it had stayed that way.Soul Possession, PFB Sofahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08891662837668214475noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-27443139664650301702012-04-17T09:44:39.206-04:002012-04-17T09:44:39.206-04:00because he can't see the parabola at all...
d...<i>because he can't see the parabola at all...</i><br /><br />did somebody say "parabola"?! ;-)A DC Wonknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-53940615261336308122012-04-17T09:43:27.815-04:002012-04-17T09:43:27.815-04:00Perhaps Lombardozzi is the next Pete Rose. A seco...Perhaps Lombardozzi is the next Pete Rose. A second-baseman who became a star in left-field.Clu Gulagernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-13174547369948699542012-04-17T09:40:34.525-04:002012-04-17T09:40:34.525-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.Soul Possession, PFB Sofahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08891662837668214475noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-20708874355264166812012-04-17T09:34:29.470-04:002012-04-17T09:34:29.470-04:00Where is the Nats promotion of the first Stras sta...Where is the Nats promotion of the first Stras start on Half Street? The phenom Ace's first home start gets so pub at all and they wonder why few folks show up on a Monday night against a lack luster opponent for the 5th game of the home stand. <br /><br />dfh21Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-68439466705194885292012-04-17T09:32:11.418-04:002012-04-17T09:32:11.418-04:00I was there and I saw the replays. Ankiel's go...I was there and I saw the replays. Ankiel's gotta make that play. The ball was hit very hard but right at him 320 feet away. Love the arm, it is something special, but it's not so great to give up a triple and be able to fire the ball from the wall to third on a hop. As if a relay would have had the guy any less on third base with a run in when he should have been out.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-8236472056713148812012-04-17T09:31:08.958-04:002012-04-17T09:31:08.958-04:00last year this game would have been 9-11k attendan...last year this game would have been 9-11k attendance. so a nice jump.mr donkeynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-17495920140672000442012-04-17T09:29:13.605-04:002012-04-17T09:29:13.605-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.NatsLadyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06814911056080758503noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-58315458444113248342012-04-17T09:28:20.873-04:002012-04-17T09:28:20.873-04:00One other quick pitching note: I see that the Nats...One other quick pitching note: I see that the Nats are actually third best in WHIP, and yet have a far better ERA than the other two teams.<br /><br />This is a combination of so many K's, and also so few HR's allowed.<br /><br />Nats pitchers have, by far, the lowest SGA allowed. (And lowest BA allowed, and lowest OBP)A DC Wonknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-88296491812029598152012-04-17T09:22:44.845-04:002012-04-17T09:22:44.845-04:00For your viewing pleasure, the Ankiel CannonFor your viewing pleasure, <a href="http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=20682027&topic_id=&c_id=mlb&tcid=vpp_copy_20682027&v=3" rel="nofollow">the Ankiel Cannon</a>Grandstandernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-63259941025742214302012-04-17T09:20:02.047-04:002012-04-17T09:20:02.047-04:00(oops: team ERA of 2.08 . . . still the best in al...(oops: team ERA of 2.08 . . . still the best in all of MLB)A DC Wonknoreply@blogger.com