tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post2349242938205552250..comments2024-02-15T05:42:18.307-05:00Comments on Nats Insider: 23 tried and true Nats factsMark Zuckermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13525315258889435961noreply@blogger.comBlogger49125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-87102750757403682702010-09-27T18:21:04.176-04:002010-09-27T18:21:04.176-04:00DC Tom - Burnett was the best surprise out of the...DC Tom - Burnett was the best surprise out of the bullpen although Clippard's WAR is good too. Burnett is due a raise in arbitration and the top position player in Zim gets a $3 million increase as part of his contract he signed last year.<br /><br />Talking about salary increases, Strasburg gets a nice increase too.<br /><br />I thought before the Nats lose a lot of salary with Guzy and Capps coming off of payroll, and depending on what they do in arbitration and Free Agency and Adam Dunn, I think the Nats will actually increase salary to close to $70 million for 2011.Andrewnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-24743821165879023252010-09-27T16:14:32.094-04:002010-09-27T16:14:32.094-04:00Regarding #6: Sean Burnett as the best pitcher on...Regarding #6: Sean Burnett as the best pitcher on the Nats this year.<br /><br />If you think of the sabermetric stat Wins Above Replacement as being a decent measure of the value a pitcher gives you cumulatively over the course of the year, Livan Hernandez at 3.0 Wins Above Replacement is the "most valuable Nats pitcher" so far.<br /><br />Burnett comes in at 1.4 -- which does ratify the point that win-loss record is a poor reflection of a pitcher's value.<br /><br />Interestingly, the other pitchers that rank between Livan and Burnett are Strasburg (2.6), Clippard (1.7), and Stammen (1.5).DC Tomnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-10497930844722036162010-09-27T16:04:34.112-04:002010-09-27T16:04:34.112-04:00and the reality is neither is appropriate in the t...and the reality is neither is appropriate in the top two spots. this is a roster hole, either way you look at it. nick, when healthy, would be a fantastic #3 hitter. some power, great average/OBP, and still a guy that works the count and drains pitchers (something the yankees do a great job of teaching and that he learned well). <br /><br />i think working pitch counts is one of the least appreciated skills. and it's one of the reasons the yankees have such great offenses over the years. the quicker you can get a starter's pitch count up, the sooner (and more often) you can get to the soft underbelly of a pitching staff (the middle relievers).greghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13848419973469239512noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-47717176816727744952010-09-27T16:02:22.700-04:002010-09-27T16:02:22.700-04:00Speaking of Radio: Two addendums 1) Charlie and D...Speaking of Radio: Two addendums 1) Charlie and Dave are among the best in the league 2)The Nats must get better radio coverage; One English speaking AM station that can not be heard anywhere near an airport or high tension wires due to interfernce. This week, the lightning around the city interference and a five-second live delay at the stadium for the first two innings yesterday demonstrate that Charlie and Dave deserve better.Section 311noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-29765833998537692802010-09-27T15:55:25.254-04:002010-09-27T15:55:25.254-04:00N. Cognito said...
I'd rather have Nick Johns...N. Cognito said... <br />I'd rather have Nick Johnson with a .390 OBP batting 1 or 2 than the guys we have with their .315 OBPs.<br />-----------------<br />Yeah, but that .390OBP only helps when it's not on the DL.BinMnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-74180865979217397502010-09-27T15:43:00.123-04:002010-09-27T15:43:00.123-04:00CapPeterson said...
"Seems like Nats are com...CapPeterson said... <br />"Seems like Nats are committed to hiring folks from the neighborhood for most jobs around the park. Knowlege/curiosity about baseball (forget about "love") is not a priority."<br /><br />As per the stadium agreement with the city. It's another DC jobs program for those who otherwise couldn't get a job pumping gas at a self serve station.N. Cognitonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-19397995100746135532010-09-27T15:40:46.528-04:002010-09-27T15:40:46.528-04:00I'd rather have Nick Johnson with a .390 OBP b...I'd rather have Nick Johnson with a .390 OBP batting 1 or 2 than the guys we have with their .315 OBPs.N. Cognitonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-52507141115673662772010-09-27T15:37:37.409-04:002010-09-27T15:37:37.409-04:00raymitten,
Seems like Nats are committed to hirin...raymitten,<br /><br />Seems like Nats are committed to hiring folks from the neighborhood for most jobs around the park. Knowlege/curiosity about baseball (forget about "love") is not a priority. For concessions/security jobs, no biggie, but difference in quality of ushers at Nats Park and Camden Yards is striking in one area: the upper deck. Nats' lower-deck ushers do a fine job, but upper-deck ushers, from what I've seen, literally do nothing.CapPetersonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-27963367812012606522010-09-27T15:34:48.082-04:002010-09-27T15:34:48.082-04:00as far as the OBP and 1-2 slots go, i agree that O...as far as the OBP and 1-2 slots go, i agree that OBP should trump speed. it's really hard to disrupt a pitcher from the bench.<br /><br />that said, you don't necessarily want lumbering OBP up there, either. they have to at least be good (and smart) baserunners who won't clog the bases. i know a lot of people in the natosphere wanted to see nick johnson hit 1-2 when he was here (and occasionally healthy) because he had a great OBP, and i disagreed with that. <br /><br />unless espinosa or bernadina develops into a top of the order guy (1 or 2) we probably don't have a quality 1 or 2 on the roster right now. morgan hasn't shown he can consistently get on base (or be trusted to be a good or smart baserunner). desmond *could* end up being a decent #2, if he gets better in OBP, but i see him as more of a #6 type guy because of that deficiency.greghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13848419973469239512noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-60559341784016265372010-09-27T15:11:58.548-04:002010-09-27T15:11:58.548-04:00Zim had 106 RBIs in 2009. He had 163 ABs with RIS...Zim had 106 RBIs in 2009. He had 163 ABs with RISP in 2009 compared to 128 RISP in 2010.<br /><br />35 more opportunities with a .313 BA w/ RISP would have yielded 11 more RBIs there and taken the total to 96 plus all of the RBIs you get with runners on 1st would add a few more to that total plus a few more HRs and he would have been real close to 100 RBIs in 2010.<br /><br />It is a long way from Spring Training 2011 to see what the Nats put together but clearly high OBP in the 1 and 2 with speed is optimal while keeping in mind that caught stealings really cost the 2010 team.<br /><br />David DeJesus would be the perfect fit for the Nats as he is a lifetime .360 OBP guy however he is in a option year and not a true Free Agent so would have to trade with the Royals if they pick up his option and do an extension. <br /><br />Next on my list would be Brett Gardner from the Yankees in a trade if they got Carl Crawford. Gardner is over .380 OBP with speed and can play CF and LF.<br /><br />Still the Nats have their own great OBP guy in Josh Willingham so don't count him out.Steve M.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-45205684394088510862010-09-27T14:58:56.751-04:002010-09-27T14:58:56.751-04:00The "clutch hitter" mantra for Desmond i...The "clutch hitter" mantra for Desmond is hollow. His numbers with runners on, runners in scoring position nd runners in scoring position with 2 outs are really no different from his full AVG, OBP and SLG. He does stand out with the bases loaded, but that's only 11 at bats.N. Cognitonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-33641812316570244292010-09-27T14:41:46.197-04:002010-09-27T14:41:46.197-04:00Anonymous 12:56:
I said "OBP is all that mat...Anonymous 12:56:<br /><br />I said "OBP is all that matters" in relation to batting average. In other words, you can throw out batting average as a statistic, because OBP, when considered with slugging numbers, tells you everything you need to know about a hitter. <br /><br />Obviously run production is the bottom line. The most important element run production is getting on base/not making outs. Second is hitting for power. Third is baserunning. Batting average doesn't matter except as an element of the first two.Bowdenballnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-19178555268619809992010-09-27T14:26:26.755-04:002010-09-27T14:26:26.755-04:00Zimm with 25 HR and 85 RBI is about right where he...Zimm with 25 HR and 85 RBI is about right where he should be with a higher batting average than expectedAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-1680079428562786892010-09-27T14:25:15.769-04:002010-09-27T14:25:15.769-04:00Alternate fact (for those who didn't like one ...Alternate fact (for those who didn't like one or more of the above): At the moment, the Nationals have the best record among all MLB last-place teams, plus one fourth-place team. (Give it up for Manny Acta's Cleveland Indians!) There's some comfort to be taken here; every other division has a bigger laughing stock than ours this season.Michael J. Haydehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08072544837488259305noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-44091942372124201282010-09-27T14:20:21.570-04:002010-09-27T14:20:21.570-04:00A scout watching Harper in his first game against ...A scout watching Harper in his first game against a top prospect equals no AFL!? I wonder what this scout would say if he had witnesses Dunnkey's Caseyesque slump awhile back!?<br /><br />Also, while Desmond put up decent numbers, it is nowhere near the projected numbers and his pitch selection is hiorrible, he needs to fine tune his swing and be more selective at the plate to be a long-twerm major leaguer.Harper_ROY_2012noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-34572714593470110452010-09-27T14:17:51.523-04:002010-09-27T14:17:51.523-04:00Nice roundup, Mark. It seems like yesterday I was...Nice roundup, Mark. It seems like yesterday I was in Port St. Lucie watching the Nats lose a game because Willy Traveras let a ball roll under the fence and still touch it. <br /><br />The staff at Nationals Park is decidedly more interested in the Redskins too, and they make no secret of it. I've looked at monitors to see replays at the park and saw a Redskins preseason game instead. The greeters at the center field gate holler out "enjoy the football game!" as you leave the stadium. Several food concession workers told me they were 'waiting for the football'. It would be nice if the Nationals hired baseball fans to work at the stadium too. They often say "enjoy YOUR game". They should be saying "enjoy OUR game"!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-71006079886387752252010-09-27T14:04:16.757-04:002010-09-27T14:04:16.757-04:00Desmond had a pretty good second half with a line ...Desmond had a pretty good second half with a line of .304/.337/.422/.759, but, admittedly, it is pretty Guzmanesque- an empty OBP supported by a good AVG. However, it's also important to remember that Guzman's best season, 2008, was only slightly better than Desmond's rookie season. Desmond just turned 25 and has only had 640 plate appearances in the big leagues. Hopefully more experience will lead to a more patient approach.<br /><br />Regarding high OBP lead off hitters, I hope Rizzo makes a call to Cleveland to check on Grady Sizemore's status. The Indians have been playing Brantley and Crowe in CF, while Sizemore has been injured. They're both young, promising players. The Indians won't compete in the next couple years, and Sizemore only has two years left on his contract. I think he'd be a perfect addition to the team. Maybe an offer of Marrero and a couple of our excess young SPs would pique their interest.<br /><br />Similarly, if the Yankees go after Crawford, Curtis Granderson could end up on the market. He'd be just as good as Sizemore.<br />It's all wishful thinking, but I think that unless we can get Crawford or Werth trades are our only option.Willhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01902355704452340677noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-67959790807401830212010-09-27T14:01:57.475-04:002010-09-27T14:01:57.475-04:00Doc, I agree. Morse is a keeper based on his offen...Doc, I agree. Morse is a keeper based on his offense and hope his defense improves with more time in RF. Like Mark Z. said, he doesn't have errors so it is more of a matter getting better reads on the balls in the air and picking up some speed.Steve M.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-34623458911248086552010-09-27T13:56:24.383-04:002010-09-27T13:56:24.383-04:00Nice compilation Mark, I'd offer the following...Nice compilation Mark, I'd offer the following: <br /><br />1) Maya-I like what I've seen, sustained success or not. As to whether he was rushed, well if he wasn't playing here he wouldn't be playing anywhere in games that count. <br />2) Detwiler - Yes a waste. This year should have been 20-25 AAA starts then promotion. <br />8) Gonzalez - I could not believe that when Carpenter said it yesterday. Still a valuable bench player in that he can play all four positions.<br />23) Radio coverage - Until they get some new radio talk show hosts, maybe this is a blessing. When they do talk about them they have no clue.alexvahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16607068733172426326noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-4704069783991443552010-09-27T13:49:27.874-04:002010-09-27T13:49:27.874-04:00No. 21 bothers me - are we really striving for the...No. 21 bothers me - are we really striving for the highest attendance possible? I suppose the Nats are, but the Nats and I, probably we, part company if bringing in Phillies fans is the way to accomplish this goal.Traveler8noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-58320246266098235242010-09-27T13:37:19.932-04:002010-09-27T13:37:19.932-04:00@ Anonymous 12:24: Thanks for the stats on Morse. ...@ Anonymous 12:24: Thanks for the stats on Morse. I guess he catches anything that he gets to, but his anticipation/range is less than Willingham's at this point. Both Morse and Willingham never had set positions in their minors', and early major's careers. <br /><br />As he adjusts to the hitters, and positions himself better in RF (OF coach, helping out here?)he should get better, just like The Hammer improved from last season, to this season.Dochttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17614998804163989623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-53723760158882483572010-09-27T13:33:07.718-04:002010-09-27T13:33:07.718-04:00Thanks for the reminders of a memorable season. We...Thanks for the reminders of a memorable season. We won't finish last this year! Personally - everywhere I go I see more and more Nats hats, shirts, etc. in NoVa and hear more people talking baseball in checkout lines, etc. Danny Espinosa has been a real bright spot this fall and a reason to keep on watching. Don't tell some of these young guys that these games are "Meaningless" because they don't play that way!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-43036526982349294512010-09-27T13:22:38.652-04:002010-09-27T13:22:38.652-04:00I don't think Barack Obama having attended two...I don't think Barack Obama having attended two games at Nationals Park is noteworthy. I guess it is a true fact, but big deal.<br /><br />Bush came to see the Nats too, and none of the presidential visits, including past presidents who came to see the Senators, had an outcome on the game.<br /><br />This is not intended to be a political statement by the way. I'm just looking at it in a baseball sense.The Great Unwashednoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-22624309160788222462010-09-27T13:22:01.084-04:002010-09-27T13:22:01.084-04:00Wasted Season for Justin Maxwell also. 120 PA in ...Wasted Season for Justin Maxwell also. 120 PA in 63 games?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-41311623522628532582010-09-27T13:01:09.308-04:002010-09-27T13:01:09.308-04:00Bowdenball,
I couldn't agree with you more. ...Bowdenball,<br /><br /> I couldn't agree with you more. If we assume our current roster for next year then Desmond,Espinosa,Ramos need to hit 6,7,8. If you assume Zimermman and Dunn as 3,4 then I would hit Willingham 2nd (high OBP) and Morse 5th which leaves the need for a high OBP leadoff hitter.<br /><br /> The other problem with this alignment is that you have Morse,Dunn and Hammer in the lineup all well below average defensively and I know I left out Bernadina who I am still not sure about; I thought he was much stronger defensively but his numbers don't bear that out.<br /><br /> In conclusion we need some trades; especially to improve the outfield.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com