tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post3873783601745173556..comments2024-02-15T05:42:18.307-05:00Comments on Nats Insider: Nats who's hot/who's not-5/1Mark Zuckermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13525315258889435961noreply@blogger.comBlogger59125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-88955765728945197272013-05-01T16:51:01.524-04:002013-05-01T16:51:01.524-04:00I say that Marrero is the best first baseman they ...I say that Marrero is the best first baseman they have. I was also Desi's main supporter when practically everyone this side of Jane B and, I think, Wonk were not. Ditto Detwiler. But when I came to their support, I was thoroughly crapped upon by many. Oh, and Rendon at second--permanently.jeeveshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15555322055547320619noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-45334823826736951942013-05-01T16:20:11.398-04:002013-05-01T16:20:11.398-04:00Mule is cautious.
While our offense needs all the ...Mule is cautious.<br />While our offense needs all the help it can get,<br />it must be remembered that on this squad Lombardozzi is a utility infielder, a downgrade on defense from Espinosa. Moore is a larger defensive downgrade at 1st; given that 90% of out errors have come from the left side of the infield, I am reluctant to take away from 1st base defensively. Both Moore and Lombardozzi are legitimate Major League infielders; it just happens that the regular 2nd and 1st basemen are both Gold Glove calibre.Whack-a-Mulehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05001755518088848800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-39869718629164785612013-05-01T15:38:20.105-04:002013-05-01T15:38:20.105-04:00EmDash -- I love this lineup. Moore's earning...EmDash -- I love this lineup. Moore's earning ABs, Dewsi is hot and Rndon needs reps too. Let's get some runs!Donhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08533703303439123333noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-31633665058953335452013-05-01T15:35:55.753-04:002013-05-01T15:35:55.753-04:00Espi is not THE problem but he is hurting the club...Espi is not THE problem but he is hurting the club. And Zuckerman pointing a finger at Lombo for being 0 for his last 13 suggests that Espi is not such a bad option, but that's not accurate. Lombo has more multi hit games and he barely plays. Lombo makes more contact and Ks less. Lombo is pinch hitting against late innning releivers he's not getting every day reps at the top of the order. <br /><br />Rizzo needs to swallow his talent-evaluating pride and send Espi packing to upstate NY so that he can find his stroke and let Davey use a guy with a much better chance of standing on 1st base when Harper hits HRs. Donhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08533703303439123333noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-39781856448046919822013-05-01T15:31:06.799-04:002013-05-01T15:31:06.799-04:00Rendon back in tonight!Rendon back in tonight!Ghost Of Steve M.https://www.blogger.com/profile/05745394350047225996noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-87812223973059605222013-05-01T15:29:34.372-04:002013-05-01T15:29:34.372-04:00Line-up's out: Span 8, Lombardozzi 4, Harper 9...Line-up's out: Span 8, Lombardozzi 4, Harper 9, Desmond 6, LaRoche 3, Moore 7, Rendon 5, Suzuki 2, Zimmermann 1<br /><br />...the Tyler Moore in left field experiment continues, apparently. Woof.EmDashhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05244048896547770295noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-65312158988106510262013-05-01T15:25:19.718-04:002013-05-01T15:25:19.718-04:00J. Zim is the ace of the staff. No question.J. Zim is the ace of the staff. No question.Kirbshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09446281250617359278noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-44058800314030399142013-05-01T15:22:51.792-04:002013-05-01T15:22:51.792-04:00This is not a case of a player having a normal slu...This is not a case of a player having a normal slump during the season. This is too many players at once having long term issues. You just cannot win when your lineup has this many holes. And when the players who hit don 't play. Ramos comes back and immediately produces a run with a smart at bat. Also- you hear all the time s out slumping players who do NOT bring that onto the field on defense. They ARE bringing it into the defense. Double whammy that triples when the pitching fails also. Really, what are the odds of a good team struggling with offense, defense and pitching all at once? This is just weird!baseballswamihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03473384422940931212noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-7548915809166101812013-05-01T15:12:56.078-04:002013-05-01T15:12:56.078-04:00NatsLady said...
bowdenball--correct. Right on th...<i>NatsLady said... <br />bowdenball--correct. Right on the money. People who are looking to blame everything on Espinosa are looking in the wrong place. It's a rare team that's not playing a light-hitting good-glove middle infielder, if not at 2B then at SS. <br />May 01, 2013 2:46 PM </i><br /><br />I don't think anyone is putting the bulk of the blame on Espi. It's a combination of a myriad of factors. There's been some games this past week with 4 players in the lineup batting under .180 and some pitchers who have stunk up things.<br /><br />Nope, Danny should've been benched on Sunday when he didn't appear ready to play on Saturday and continued his spotty play through last night.<br /><br />There has to be accountability and I think it's Davey making an example of Danny by publicly announcing his benching. What about LaRoche and Tracy?Ghost Of Steve M.https://www.blogger.com/profile/05745394350047225996noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-8833410801333639442013-05-01T15:12:34.664-04:002013-05-01T15:12:34.664-04:00Check the fabulous google machine? Might be able t...Check the fabulous google machine? Might be able to watch it on line.baseballswamihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03473384422940931212noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-14594014650471914332013-05-01T15:08:59.554-04:002013-05-01T15:08:59.554-04:00It was on ESPN. They may re- run it or it might g...It was on ESPN. They may re- run it or it might go on demand. It was really good and made me even more impressed.baseballswamihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03473384422940931212noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-53538768371907790492013-05-01T15:03:58.533-04:002013-05-01T15:03:58.533-04:00Does anybody know whether MLB Network will re-run ...Does anybody know whether MLB Network will re-run the Bryce show? I should've watched it last night, but I didn't. I was in a total non-baseball funk.<br /><br />Now I wished I'd caught it on the DVR. Couldn't find it earlier in the Verizon FiOS online guide.Davehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07243007019646325480noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-15599722182824404312013-05-01T14:55:08.476-04:002013-05-01T14:55:08.476-04:00Also-- Tyler and Wilson scored the Nats only run l...Also-- Tyler and Wilson scored the Nats only run last night in a matter of minutes. Bam, bam-- score. Neither one will be in the lineup tonight probably. baseballswamihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03473384422940931212noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-16177680428704628062013-05-01T14:51:15.775-04:002013-05-01T14:51:15.775-04:00Agreed that Lombo should get a series or a week. A...Agreed that Lombo should get a series or a week. Also agreed about the Stras ace thing. He might have been better as just one of the staff. Even though JZ seems to not mind, who could blame him for going to a team where he is the ace for real ? Hope he stays, but we shall see. Gio had the wins , JZ the era, but our struggling, still immature Stras gets anointed. He does not seem like a very warm and fuzzy person , does he?baseballswamihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03473384422940931212noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-16367741897293576512013-05-01T14:49:28.925-04:002013-05-01T14:49:28.925-04:00I'm not saying Danny s losing games for us but...I'm not saying Danny s losing games for us but he sure isn't winnning any for usSCNatsFanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05521403318226328638noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-81155120621886351152013-05-01T14:46:24.978-04:002013-05-01T14:46:24.978-04:00bowdenball--correct. Right on the money. People ...bowdenball--correct. Right on the money. People who are looking to blame everything on Espinosa are looking in the wrong place. It's a rare team that's not playing a light-hitting good-glove middle infielder, if not at 2B then at SS. NatsLadyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06814911056080758503noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-67464550149302239762013-05-01T14:45:43.372-04:002013-05-01T14:45:43.372-04:00We really need Zim in that lineup and Adam hitting...We really need Zim in that lineup and Adam hitting. When we had Span, Werth, Bryce, Zim in a row that was good. Then if Adam hits? Followed my Desi? This can still be a potent lineup. The talent is there. It worked best when Span and Werth wore the pitcher down. You see Ramos run last night? Pretty speedy!baseballswamihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03473384422940931212noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-36917525868537134122013-05-01T14:44:47.121-04:002013-05-01T14:44:47.121-04:00It all depends what Davey thinks Espi needs. Clear...It all depends what Davey thinks Espi needs. Clear his head, he'll be bench for a few games. Change his approach, will be sent to AAA.<br />Lombo needs to play more than 2 games, he needs at least a week. If none or them work, they need to start playing Rendon in the minors at 2b exclusively or make a trade for a real 2b.Exposremainshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16439979257988115418noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-2422650037664132492013-05-01T14:43:00.777-04:002013-05-01T14:43:00.777-04:00Rizzo said on the radio that Davey "is inclin...Rizzo said on the radio that Davey "is inclined" to give Werth tonight off also. He said Werth would play if this were a "must win" game--so apparently he doesn't regard this as a "must win" to risk further injury to Werth, especially since RZ is not here yet. He said RZ would play six innings in Potomac tonight (3-4 at-bats) and join the team in Pittsburgh.<br /><br />There are things I like about Rizzo and things I don't.<br /><br />Like: He travels with the team when they are not doing wall and leaves them alone "to go about their business" when they are hot. He says he's not there to make changes, but for support, to talk baseball and scouting with the players and coaches. <br /><br />Not so much like: He regards Stras as the Ace of this team no matter what, based on his stuff and his hard work. He went on for several minutes about Stras and his future. Mentioned that his peripherals are as good or better than last April and that he's gotten 1.86 runs per game of support. OK fine, but what about poor Jordan Z??? Not a word, not even "we have five quality started on this team."<br /><br />I got the feeling that being the designated "Ace" is very important to Stras--maybe more important than it should be. (Rizzo also displayed a sense of humor I didn't know he had--said if Stras twitches there is an ESPN special about it). <br /><br />NatsLadyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06814911056080758503noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-29585179880497317202013-05-01T14:41:56.551-04:002013-05-01T14:41:56.551-04:00Wouldn't be surprised if they start Tracy agai...Wouldn't be surprised if they start Tracy again - he has a high OPS against Maholm (though of course any batter vs. pitcher stats are mostly going to be a small sample size, and career rather than necessarily recent performance).<br /><br />Numbers are <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/play-index/batter_vs_pitcher.cgi?pitcher=maholpa01#gotresults&pitcher=maholpa01&min_year_game=2005&max_year_game=2013&post=1&opp_id=WSN&bats=any&opponent_status=&c1criteria=&c1gtlt=eq&c1val=0&c2criteria=&c2gtlt=eq&c2val=0&orderby=PA&orderby_dir=desc&orderby_second=Name&orderby_dir_second=asc&ajax=1&submitter=1" rel="nofollow">here.</a> Your leaders are: Lombo, Suzuki, Tracy, Desmond, Werth. Nobody else has much of a track record of success against him.<br /><br />Lombo also has a good small-sample-size OPS against Medlen, who they're facing tomorrow, so it's almost like Davey is just playing guys with the better career splits against the day's pitcher and telling people he's "shaking things up" just to make it sounds more dramatic while things aren't going well or something. *g*EmDashhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05244048896547770295noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-39192578196767006202013-05-01T14:40:47.918-04:002013-05-01T14:40:47.918-04:00Anyone who thinks this team's woes fall on Dan...Anyone who thinks this team's woes fall on Danny's head doesn't understand position scarcity. A 2B who mostly hits out of the 7 spot isn't the problem. He can't be. Very few teams get anything out of a 2B who mostly hits in the 7 spot. We're not losing much ground to the rest of baseball there. We're losing ground to everyone else on the corners and in the 4 and 5 spots. If Zimmerman is productive in his return and LaRoche returns even to acceptable levels, the team will bounce back. If not, they won't. Very simple, and not really related to Espinosa. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-49618143293624539572013-05-01T14:32:47.420-04:002013-05-01T14:32:47.420-04:00I agree Ghost; I said in ST that Rendon learns 2B ...I agree Ghost; I said in ST that Rendon learns 2B in the minors and the second half of the year he plays there. If you want to lessen the impact on Danny's head you blame it on the shoulder but once Rendon gets there, assuming RZ stays healthy, Danny eventually finds his way out of DC.SCNatsFanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05521403318226328638noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-49229838815100770642013-05-01T14:32:06.447-04:002013-05-01T14:32:06.447-04:00The Nats are a good team going through a mediocre ...The Nats are a good team going through a mediocre stretch. Teams that play .500 are by definition frustrating because they win half their games (great!) and about 1/2 of the losses are "winnable" except for bad luck, bad calls, bullpen meltown, sloppy play, brain cramps or starters having bad day. So every fan visualizes the team playing .750 ball and demands to know why they're not.<br /><br />The Nats are playing .500 ball right now, but they are not a .500 team. I've been watching the Pirates for several days now, as they are our next opponents. <i>They</i> are a .500 team.<br /><br />The reason I say this is that the Nats have a lot in reserve, whereas the Pirates don't. Last night the Pirates came back from 7-2 to make it an 8-8 game. I was thinking, "how admirable of them, I wish the Nats could do that, instead of giving up if the starter gives up four runs." But the Pirates' bullpen didn't hold, and they lost 12-8 on a day when their best hitter (McCutchen) went 4/5 with 2 RBIs. <br /><br />The Nats have all the pieces, really. They had them on April 1, and they will have them for the season. <br /><br />As regards the idea that the Nats came out of spring training "unprepared" -- nonsense! The Nats won 7 of their first 9 games.<br /><br />Ramos and RZ were the most predictable injuries, based on the research that predicts injuries (namely, the best predictor of players who will get injured in the future is players who have been injured in the past). Ramos, RZ, and Dan Haren did not have "normal" spring trainings, as those three were ramping up cautiously. RZ even said that he didn't expect his shoulder to be back to normal until June. <br /><br />There is nothing wrong with this team that a six-game winning streak wouldn't cure. NatsLadyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06814911056080758503noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-46694226161047600622013-05-01T14:25:13.585-04:002013-05-01T14:25:13.585-04:00I'm hoping Davey looks at the stats and realiz...I'm hoping Davey looks at the stats and realizes he needs to find a way to score 3 to 5 runs and maybe take advantage of some small ball.Ghost Of Steve M.https://www.blogger.com/profile/05745394350047225996noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-86049818355376302272013-05-01T14:23:10.194-04:002013-05-01T14:23:10.194-04:00JD, I'm saying the same that Lombo overall is ...JD, I'm saying the same that Lombo overall is marginally better and hope I'm wrong and he can be much better. I still believe Rendon is the answer eventually at 2nd base if RZim can hold his own at 3B.<br /><br />Where Danny can help is a AAA stint to get him hungry again and seeing the ball well where you can bring him back and play him as the hot hand until he cools down.<br /><br />What I noticed about Danny last year was how short his hot streaks were and they always seem to end with a HR as he works back to a long swing and thinks he's a power hitter. July 16 to July 25 of 2012 was his longest hot streak and Sept 2nd to Sept 5th of 2012 he got to his high point for the season.<br /><br />I wish him well and hope he can learn something. He's still young.<br /><br />Ghost Of Steve M.https://www.blogger.com/profile/05745394350047225996noreply@blogger.com