tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post2326318789504257321..comments2024-02-15T05:42:18.307-05:00Comments on Nats Insider: These guys are legitMark Zuckermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13525315258889435961noreply@blogger.comBlogger45125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-89169870345548563062010-05-15T00:29:01.461-04:002010-05-15T00:29:01.461-04:00Wally World!
Yeah, U wright!Wally World!<br />Yeah, U wright!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-86609635842374314442010-05-14T22:01:39.370-04:002010-05-14T22:01:39.370-04:00If the Nats do decide to trade for a starter for a...If the Nats do decide to trade for a starter for a stretch run, Cliff Lee is the guy I want. The guy is a proven playoff winner and he has a score to settle with Philly. Seattle is going nowhere and we have organizational depth. Derek Norris could be offerred up if we draft Harper.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-75425757621122689182010-05-14T19:27:28.624-04:002010-05-14T19:27:28.624-04:00Speaking of Livo, the guys on MLB Network had the ...Speaking of Livo, the guys on MLB Network had the Livo-Ubaldo matchup as their fave of the night (before it was rained out), and they had some good words for the team generally.<br /><br />And I absolutely agree with DC Wonk re. Rizzo's contribution.natsfan1anoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-87031138773746499962010-05-14T18:29:32.576-04:002010-05-14T18:29:32.576-04:00Hey Mark....
I also believe they are legit. Comp...Hey Mark....<br /><br />I also believe they are legit. Competitive teams usually have a number one guy and that guy right now is Livo. Bullpen work also is a crap shoot and usually they depend on one or two players. It will be nice to see if Storen can lessen the load.<br /><br />I actually like what the right fielders are doing. They are playing defense and I think that is part of the formula that Riggs is using. Just because tradition says you need this or that. All you need it to play sound baseball and the right fielders are doing that with the leather. It is kinda like what the "old" school shortstops use to do. Anything on the offense is gravey.<br /><br />We all know in this area Zim is Zim!<br /><br />Keep up the great work Mark!Timhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16729117630151225205noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-60697383614736814222010-05-14T17:57:14.841-04:002010-05-14T17:57:14.841-04:00Yes, Riggs deserves a lot of credit -- but lots no...Yes, Riggs deserves a lot of credit -- but lots not forget who engineered all this: Rizzo -- who has spent his whole life (as his father did) in baseball. He came in a wiped up the Smileygate and Dominican Republic mess, he's the one who negotiated Strasburg's contract (staring down Boras, and causing Boras to blink with 77 seconds left on the signing deadline), etc etc.<br /><br />All hail Rizzo, the architect of this up and coming team!A DC Wonknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-9500255651169133592010-05-14T17:53:03.341-04:002010-05-14T17:53:03.341-04:00Totally agree with Wally's post.
Give Rigglem...Totally agree with Wally's post.<br /><br />Give Riggleman credit. It went unnoticed that the Nats won their last 7 games last year. It takes a motivator to get a team on its knees to gut it out at the end of a horrible season.nattydreadnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-36312737234070368762010-05-14T17:45:01.224-04:002010-05-14T17:45:01.224-04:00SBrent: Thanks for the kind words, and I appreciat...SBrent: Thanks for the kind words, and I appreciate the sentiment. For now, I'm in decent shape. Haven't made enough yet to make it through the whole season. But I'm good for a while, and if funds continue to come in at the rate I project, I'm hopeful to be able to pull this off.<br /><br />Of course, the way things are going I may need to start up the postseason travel fundraiser! :)Mark Zuckermanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13525315258889435961noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-87200315645105312732010-05-14T17:42:52.082-04:002010-05-14T17:42:52.082-04:00I think this team will go as far as the bullpen ta...I think this team will go as far as the bullpen takes them. Starting pitching, all things considered, isn't a big concern - what team doesn't worry about the back end of the rotation? There are guys in the system who can be plugged into the back end of the rotation if necessary. But the bullpen... it's been great so far, but they'll wear down at this rate. I'd feel a lot better about it if they'd occasionally get 2-3 innings out of their relievers (aside from Clippard).<br /><br />The hitting is going to be there - Pudge won't hit .380 for the year, but right field won't be mired at .180, either. I'm impressed with Desmond, and other than right field the only worry is second base. Even so - Guzman isn't the best player on the team, but he'll get blazing hot at least once this summer, and with Kennedy on the roster you don't have to live through Guzman's droughts.Joenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-7988322045707032262010-05-14T17:18:04.683-04:002010-05-14T17:18:04.683-04:00Every single time we watch Baseball Tonight my wif...Every single time we watch Baseball Tonight my wife and I say to each other, "man, I am so glad the Nats didn't hire Bobby Valentine."Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-67979439353255952102010-05-14T17:14:51.937-04:002010-05-14T17:14:51.937-04:00Hey, Mark,
Speaking of legit, this site continues...Hey, Mark,<br /><br />Speaking of legit, this site continues to be awesome. My guess is that there was an initial wave of contributions when you first announced you were going to keep this going through the regular season, but that flood probably slowed to a trickle. Don't be bashful about letting us all know if the cashbox for covering your costs starts to get thin. I'm sure as the excitement for this team builds, the fanbase will be more willing than ever to help cover the cost of keeping this Best-By-Far source of Nationals news healthy. Yeah, I know that little contribute button is always there up at the top right hand corner, and I've paid up for the season subscription. But don't hesitate to launch another pledge drive if the first wave contributions don't hold up for the long season. I suspect a lot of us could throw a few more shekels onto the pile if we knew that it was needed. On the other hand, if you've still got a King Midas treasury saved up from the first burst of enthusiasm...don't mind me! I'll just keep enjoying this fine journalistic feast.SBrentnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-38915630395688985172010-05-14T16:56:40.392-04:002010-05-14T16:56:40.392-04:00Yeah, yeah, accuse me of plagiarism, but I wrote t...Yeah, yeah, accuse me of plagiarism, but I wrote these words elsewhere this morning:<br /><br />"In case you haven't noticed, and judging by attendance you haven't, the Nationals have managed to win a few here and there and are threatening to climb...into first place(!?)."<br /><br />After watching them confound the Mets, I decided I really like this team.Jon Vedamuthuhttp://forkeepsonthefieldofdreams.mlblogs.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-53900539782328823032010-05-14T16:41:41.585-04:002010-05-14T16:41:41.585-04:00Mark
Any news on Lannans elbow? I am hoping "...Mark<br /><br />Any news on Lannans elbow? I am hoping "no news is good news".aspenbubbanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-56961590062868408972010-05-14T16:24:23.820-04:002010-05-14T16:24:23.820-04:00Wally said...So into that bleak environment, they ...<i>Wally said...So into that bleak environment, they fire Acta, and name Riggleman. I didn't know much about him although I loosely remembered him from the Cubs, so I did some digging and he seemed like a solid baseball guy; not Joe Torre maybe, but clearly a respected guy.</i><br /><br />Wally, you had me at "Hello" then lost me when you mentioned Joe. Joe Torre's managerial record before the Yankees was not great. He couldn't do a thing with mediocre teams. Give a AA manager that can handle egos the Yankees and they will at least get you a winning record. Give Joe Torre any other team besides the Yankees, and he will never get them a World Series. So much for what I think of the luckiest Manager on the face of the earth.<br /><br />Give me Tony LaRussa, Jim Leyland and especially Joe Maddon, and yes, Jim Riggleman.<br /><br />Here's what gets me. There weren't too many people behind Jim Riggleman as the choice last year so it is nice now that he is getting the respect. People were talking Bobby Valentine and others and not many pulling for Riggs which so many thought was a Lerner being cheap pick.<br /><br />Jim got shafted by the Cubs in 1999 and even the Mariners in 2008 only used him for mop up. With interim titles until this year, Jim was out of full-time managing for 10 years which is like an eternity in a Manager's career and maybe the longest stretch of not managing (not sure if that is true).<br /><br />What I always liked about Jim was that he would try to get the most out of his players and tell them the right way to play baseball. There is a good back-story on Riggleman and Sammy Sosa in 1997 going at it as he wouldn't back down from the team's star. <br /><br />Read Page #87 for a glimpse:<br /><br />http://books.google.com/books?id=J2EO74Xa3XYC&pg=PA87&lpg=PA87&dq=riggleman+disciplines+sosa+1997&source=bl&ots=Uhq8nfUhnn&sig=t7tKur4Gz6acwF0UgCWRhiL90xA&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=2&ct=result#v=onepage&q&f=false<br /><br />He took the Cubs to the playoffs in 1998 and after a so-so 1999 was fired by them. Thanks but what have you done for me lately. Dan Radison can tell you some good stories from the old days.<br /><br />So when the Nats got rid of Frank Robinson in 2006, I called one of Jim Riggleman's brothers to see if Jim would want his name thrown in the hat for the job and I emailed Stan Kasten and he responded kindly. At that time, Jim was out of managing for 7 years and in the Minor League system with the Cardinals and I figured off everyone's radar. Obviously he wasn't hired then, and it is funny how things work out.Andrewnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-40015122522003189062010-05-14T16:10:23.870-04:002010-05-14T16:10:23.870-04:00The starting pitching is my biggest concern. I th...The starting pitching is my biggest concern. I think Storen is going to help give us a 3rd late inning reliever we can trust. The minors seem to have a couple of potential helpers as well (Peralta?). But, the other factor will be former starters who get bumped out of the rotation helping in the bullpen. This would be the dream scenario:<br /><br />June: Strasberg takes spot in rotation -> Lannon goes on IR<br />July: Wang takes spot in rotation -> Atilano goes to bullpen<br />Late July: Detwiler takes spot in rotation -> Stammen goes to bullpen<br />August: Marquis takes spot in rotation -> Detwiler goes to bullpen<br />Sept: Zimmermann takes spot in rotation -> Marquis goes to bullpen<br /><br />Final Rotation: 1 - Strasberg, 2 - Livan, 3 - Wang, 4 - Zimmermann, 5 - Olsenkc21https://www.blogger.com/profile/04159935884197706065noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-11414295665365901852010-05-14T15:50:11.718-04:002010-05-14T15:50:11.718-04:00I too think that this positive progression started...I too think that this positive progression started with getting a grip on defense. It was too long overlooked and ignored. Its the defense that has made the pitching look good, when it deserved to look good.Dochttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17614998804163989623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-47081766529130016572010-05-14T15:38:08.308-04:002010-05-14T15:38:08.308-04:00Good post, Wally. I agree with everything you exp...Good post, Wally. I agree with everything you expressed. This team was rudderless last year until the firing of Acta. You could see it in the body language on the field and in the press conferences afterwards. Riggleman, beyond anything else, actually started molding a "team" as soon as he started making them take defensive drills every day before games. I think the players were crying out for a leader and Manny was....well, being Manny. They needed someone who would fight for them, dare them to take risks, and take charge from the front step of the dugout. They got their man, and so did we.dalenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-20468194921048892932010-05-14T14:55:30.325-04:002010-05-14T14:55:30.325-04:00Anon 2:08 says, " ...the NL appears to be hav...Anon 2:08 says, " ...the NL appears to be having its worst year in recent memory .. while the big boys duke it out in the AL ..."<br /><br />... I agree, and I hate it, hate it, I tell you! I'm old enough to know why they call it the Junior Circuit, old enough to remember that baseball means everyone plays the field and everyone comes to bat.<br /><br />... yes, it's a losing battle (maybe even a battle that's already lost) but the struggle against the DH is a battle I'll keep fighting ... just like Monty Python's Black Knight.<br /><br />Go Nats!!natscan reduxitnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-86424748712051355852010-05-14T14:54:33.283-04:002010-05-14T14:54:33.283-04:00@Wally: You are exactly right, and are not alone. ...@Wally: You are exactly right, and are not alone. I thought those very same thoughts when Riggs went out on that lonely limb. You nailed it exactly. The improvement probably began, imperceptibly, when Rizzo took over. But the tangible improvement is showing under Riggs. Plus, the guy is a TREMENDOUS tactical manager. How he twisted Tracy into biting for the left-hander last night so that Goozie would come up as a right-handed pinch-hitter last night in the 8th was a classic. Riggs might be the manager of the year in MLB this year; but for going out on the limb when nobody was in our corner last year, he's my manager of the year forever.Sunshine_Bobby_Carpenter_Is_Too_Pessimistic_For_Menoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-70469852138439993302010-05-14T14:46:37.747-04:002010-05-14T14:46:37.747-04:00Here is a kind of related point - related only by ...Here is a kind of related point - related only by putting this prideful feeling we all have now in contrast to last year. My point, in a too long post below, is that I will always like Jim Riggleman a lot, and so long as he doesn't take a machete to Strasburg's arm, will want to see him managing the Nats. Here is why.<br /><br />Last year around this time was the lowest of lows for being a Nats fan - all of you know what I am talking about. Worst team in baseball two years running, and they weren't just losing, but the way they lost was humiliating; Smileygate, not signing Crow, Bowden, Natinals, Acta's refusal ever to go out on a limb publicly for his team ... all these things were very embarrassing to the Nationals, and by extension made it painful to be an acknowledged fan of the team. I felt, figuratively speaking, like I was sitting in a dark room with my head in my hands, hoping no one would notice me.<br /><br />So into that bleak environment, they fire Acta, and name Riggleman. I didn't know much about him although I loosely remembered him from the Cubs, so I did some digging and he seemed like a solid baseball guy; not Joe Torre maybe, but clearly a respected guy. And he stands up and goes 'you know, this is my dream job. I grew up in Rockville, still think about the area as home, grew up a Senators fan, and there is no job in baseball that I would rather have." Not the usual pablum about doing the best we can, we have a long road ahead of us, blah, blah, blah. But 'this is where I want to be'. I actually couldn't believe that someone with a good reputation would say that about us right then!<br /><br />And oddly, I believed him (odd because I am usually a cynic when people say things like that), and felt a high degree of, I dunno ... gratitude? Gratitude that a solid baseball guy would stand up at a pretty dark time and publicly line up on our side? So maybe, by extension, I wasn't a complete moron for liking this team? And then, lo and behold, after starting off like it was the same old thing, the team actually started playing respectably, and has just kept getting better. Realistically, the path towards respectability probably started when Rizzo took over and management started acting like grown ups, but symbolically speaking, I trace it back to Riggs' appointment.<br /><br />The stat world, which I admit to dabbling in for fun at times, can say all they want about reversion to the mean, pythag expectations and that manager's do not affect the outcome of a game all that much, but I don't care. Riggleman couldn't have known any of it would work out the way it did when he stepped up, and so I am a Riggs guy. <br /><br />Just don't blow up the young guns!Wallyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01557557989122256161noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-72631358591715829582010-05-14T14:40:33.289-04:002010-05-14T14:40:33.289-04:00"Which got me to thinking: This really is a g..."Which got me to thinking: This really is a good team."<br /><br />... glad you jumped aboard the bandwagon, Mark. And none too soon; it's getting crowded. In no time there won't be any room left.<br /><br />Go Nats!!natscan reduxitnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-76831795629075755652010-05-14T14:37:59.304-04:002010-05-14T14:37:59.304-04:00Anyone like the idea of letting Dunn walk and targ...Anyone like the idea of letting Dunn walk and targeting Adrian Gonzales in the offseason?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-15985612303256683822010-05-14T14:36:05.387-04:002010-05-14T14:36:05.387-04:00I wonder if the nats could pull off a trade of thi...I wonder if the nats could pull off a trade of this magnitude. I think we need one solid Ace SP to get us through the year and into the playoffs<br /><br />http://www.royalsauthority.com/?p=2390<br /><br />...Mr. Zach Grienke?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-22473003718181733742010-05-14T14:26:21.277-04:002010-05-14T14:26:21.277-04:00I too think that with this staff every game is a c...I too think that with this staff every game is a crapshoot. Maybe I'll have to relent and five Riggo credit for handling them.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-19459884999764164422010-05-14T14:25:01.640-04:002010-05-14T14:25:01.640-04:00Respect - yes!Respect - yes!cadeck13noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-38601951254197626812010-05-14T14:24:30.012-04:002010-05-14T14:24:30.012-04:00Anon at 2:08, great debate point, are they overach...Anon at 2:08, great debate point, are they overachieving or have they been chronic underachievers in the past?<br /><br />Last September, I thought 2011 was the year as I was looking at how well this team performed then. I figured just with Strasburg and JZim they would have 2 top line starters and the Nyjer factor was undeniable and the glimpses of Desmond in September were a big hope.<br /><br />So, I think this team has a legit chance this year based on where they are now, where they will be with Strasburg/Storen in June and then a little bit of luck with Marquis and Wang and a Rizzo trade for that RF, this team can make a run this year.<br /><br />This is why Rizzo has to pull the trigger on ADunn for a 2 to 3 year deal now to lock him up to keep the pieces together.Steve M.noreply@blogger.com