tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post4416837401880283181..comments2024-02-15T05:42:18.307-05:00Comments on Nats Insider: Assembling a postseason rosterMark Zuckermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13525315258889435961noreply@blogger.comBlogger113125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-55966682665985378402012-10-05T17:27:32.336-04:002012-10-05T17:27:32.336-04:00Swift Eagle said: "A 2B with a gold glove who...Swift Eagle said: "A 2B with a gold glove who can hit 25 Bombs? Every MLB team would take that, no matter the batting avg or K's..."<br /><br />Agreed. And Danny is already good enough to pla 2b for my team for a career. But the comparison with Desi -- that I'm not sure about. Remember, Desi "got it" in about July or August last year, had a great finish of the season and picked up where he left off. <br /><br />Danny's last two months this year have been more of the same he's always given us. Streaky. Sensational in spurts, a rally-killer the rest of the time. Strikeout-prone. I haven't noticed any improvement over the course of the year.<br /><br />It was Desi's late season success that caused me to say he was going to do really well this year back in ST, when he was getting pounded by his critics. I believe a strong finish in any given year is a predictor of the next season. Can't prove it, but over the years it seems to happen a lot. (See Morse, M., 2010-11.) <br /><br />I'm not saying Davey and Eck can't work with him over the off-season and coach him up. But I don't see the indicators that were there for <br />Desi last year. Maybe he needs to have a kid.<br /><br /> <br />NCNatsiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00208353346925459087noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-23348481619970369522012-10-05T15:58:07.929-04:002012-10-05T15:58:07.929-04:00Great point at 12;21 by JD...I think Danny will im...Great point at 12;21 by JD...I think Danny will improve in that area...I just don't want him to over adjust and become the typical punch and Judy middle infielder...<br /><br />A 2B with a gold glove who can hit 25 Bombs? Every MLB team would take that, no matter the batting avg or K's...Swift Eaglehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18096815132015668857noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-59134865651686940712012-10-05T14:22:29.703-04:002012-10-05T14:22:29.703-04:00Oh, that reminds me. Ken Rosenthal called. He want...Oh, that reminds me. Ken Rosenthal called. He wants his bow-tie back. :-)<br /><br />Section 3, My Playoffs Sofa said...<br /><br /> It has to be humbling to hit a ball as hard as you can and it gets caught at the wall.<br /><br /> Matt Stairs called. He said "Tell me about it!"<br /> October 05, 2012 10:44 AM natsfan1ahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14540238101124316529noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-30869270206972292472012-10-05T13:20:42.132-04:002012-10-05T13:20:42.132-04:00Joe.... agreed on St JohnsJoe.... agreed on St Johnsmickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11829941762393424812noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-47688800426026421522012-10-05T13:17:01.823-04:002012-10-05T13:17:01.823-04:00Ghost... unfortunately you are right about Prep. P...Ghost... unfortunately you are right about Prep. Prep Coach Rodriquez is a terrific coach and a great guy and they won the IAC last season. However, the new head master is their to save money due to the 20 million spent on the Hanley Center, and they will not be giving aid at Prep for next few years as they have in the past. Prep will be back in a few yearsmickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11829941762393424812noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-47153996406235920112012-10-05T13:09:53.560-04:002012-10-05T13:09:53.560-04:00Danny will not be benched in this series come hell...<br />Danny will not be benched in this series come hell or high water. Davey has made it clear that he is his second baseman. I would have agreed on sitting him down once a week early in the season. He was pressing, and Lombo needed AB's. Now, he plays. Period. Has anybody heard anything regarding Morse pulling his hammy on that last homer?<br /><br />Also Mick,on the highschool thing, Lombo,SR may help Good Council for a while, but St. John's has really built great facilities, and Mark Gibbs inherited, and is continuing a great program from his dad. Joe Seamheadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17000259234420985114noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-79470318236604950002012-10-05T12:26:06.625-04:002012-10-05T12:26:06.625-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.A DC Wonkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09732615221598098540noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-77084921112772895452012-10-05T12:25:52.557-04:002012-10-05T12:25:52.557-04:00JD @ 12:21 -- agree. Desi's progress is becaus...JD @ 12:21 -- agree. Desi's progress is because he's continued to learn. Danny would benefit by taking some lessons in plate discipline from Harp over the past 6 weeks.Steady Eddiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11342496530868597550noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-85470784416611905022012-10-05T12:23:27.294-04:002012-10-05T12:23:27.294-04:00Farid -- a few thoughts on your 12:05 post.
First...Farid -- a few thoughts on your 12:05 post.<br /><br />First, it's contextless, because it doesn't consider how those teams were built. Very few dynasties or perpetual powerhouses in recent years because of free agency, most teams win when they cobble together a bunch of players who have career years (oversimplification, sure, but that's the topline message). The Yanks win by buying a bunch of longterm contracts of great FAs. The "Orioles way" until Angelos was more like what the Nats are doing now -- homegrown with a few trades and FAs to fill gaps. Just look at all those graphics about how many Nats are under team control for another 4+ years (and figure ones like JZimm and Desi will be extended when the time comes). These guys have grown up together and want to stay here together.<br /><br />Most of these Nats have not even come close to reaching their ceilings. So this 98 win year isn't a matter of career years, it's an amazing group doing what you could reasonably expect they will do for years.<br /><br />The other point is that you don't have to win 98 games to be good enough to win WSs. Since the current playoff arrangement in 1995, only 3 teams with the best regular season record in MLB have won the WS. So even if we have a few injuries in the next few years, we may win fewer games but hopefully have the horses to contend for going all the way.<br /><br />Steady Eddiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11342496530868597550noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-14281295804706566132012-10-05T12:23:19.364-04:002012-10-05T12:23:19.364-04:002012 was special, but it was also unique. It quenc...<i>2012 was special, but it was also unique. It <b>quenched</b> both our egos and our desire to support a winner.</i><br /><br />I think you mean something more like "satisfied" there?Holden Baroquehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05941566402992955387noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-70860745822075821842012-10-05T12:21:45.251-04:002012-10-05T12:21:45.251-04:00Swift Eagle,
I think he needs to recognize the ...<br /> Swift Eagle,<br /> <br /> I think he needs to recognize the sliders way out of the zone better. Pitchers know that once you get Espi to 2 strikes you can strike him out with pitches way out of the strike zone. It wouldn't be the end of the world if he took a few 3rd strike calls but didn't flail at so many bad pitches.<br /><br /> I think his upside is better than .260 without sacrificing power at all. JDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10464376699196421043noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-55764221739943621952012-10-05T12:17:09.949-04:002012-10-05T12:17:09.949-04:00Danny is a far superior player to Lombo...Lombo...Danny is a far superior player to Lombo...Lombo's numbers look good b/c Davey has used him exactly the right way, as a utility guy...<br /><br />I don;t think Danny needs to change his approach at all...I think he will just get better as Desmond has...He will always strike out a lot, and probably never hit better than .260, but he may end up being a 30 HR guy at 2B...which means 180 K's is just fineSwift Eaglehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18096815132015668857noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-1603675045224496332012-10-05T12:16:31.184-04:002012-10-05T12:16:31.184-04:00Nats Lady,
The main reason I fear the Braves is ...<br /> Nats Lady,<br /><br /> The main reason I fear the Braves is Kimbrel. I don't think Motte brings that kind of domination to the table.<br /><br /> I don't fear Hudson, Maholm or Minor although they are all capable of throwing good games and the Braves lineup is tough but manageable especially with left handed pitchers. JDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10464376699196421043noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-86592736049585367782012-10-05T12:10:58.784-04:002012-10-05T12:10:58.784-04:00I agree with the people who think Espinosa will fo...<br /> I agree with the people who think Espinosa will follow the Desi path. There is nothing wrong with Espi's skill set bot at the plate and in the field; it's about the approach.<br /><br /> Espi has a very aggressive nature and instinctively he wants to club everything and has the confidence to believe that he can. Once he begins to force the pitchers to throw him better pitches he will be an all star caliber player; just like Desi.<br /><br /> Also; keep in mind that he was still productive this year despite all the strike outs. Lombo is a nice player but is not close to Espi in talent. JDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10464376699196421043noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-83743953718102796342012-10-05T12:09:15.053-04:002012-10-05T12:09:15.053-04:00If anyone wants to argue that the Phillies were ne...If anyone wants to argue that the Phillies were neither a playoff contender nor playoff motivated the last three games, fair enough (except they certainly had motivation to deny us the title on Monday). Except you can say the Braves and Cards had no motivation to win for their last two games either.<br /><br />One of those things that's a wash, and doesn't change the picture that they were no better than we were against contenders in the last month of the season -- and they played a lot fewer of those games.Steady Eddiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11342496530868597550noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-76337012073922179022012-10-05T12:05:19.379-04:002012-10-05T12:05:19.379-04:00What a season: 98 wins.
But though 2012 seems li...What a season: 98 wins. <br /><br />But though 2012 seems like a foundation for even better seasons, I wouldn't count on it.<br /><br />Here are some of the best teams in baseball with the number of seasons with more than 98 wins since 1969, the year the Expos/Nats came into existence:<br /><br />Yankees: 8<br />Orioles: 5<br />Reds: 4<br />Phillies: 3<br />Mets: 3<br />Giants: 2<br />Dodgers: 1<br />Red Sox: 1<br /><br />In other words, 98-win-seasons are hard to come by. Just because the Red Sox have only one season of more than 98 wins since '69 doesn't make them bad. They made it to the playoffs 13 times in that span. The Dodgers made it 13 times as well.<br /><br />Going forward, the Nationals need to make it into the post season, which takes about 90 wins. 98-win seasons, while fun, aren't essential.<br /><br />2012 was special, but it was also unique. It quenched both our egos and our desire to support a winner. <br /><br />But I'm not counting on it happening again anytime soon. <br /><br />Farid @ Idaho. <br /><br /> <br />Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07511258100772625570noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-82952063889492910142012-10-05T11:59:12.108-04:002012-10-05T11:59:12.108-04:00I also did a little research this morning in respo...I also did a little research this morning in response to those (like Todd Boss on Nationals Arm Race) who would pick either the Cards or the Braves over the Nats because of their most recent series against us. And others have said that the Braves and Cards were playing better than we were in the last month, that we were stumbling into the playoffs.<br /><br />First, as Boz has written recently, there's a big difference in motivation when a must-win team is facing a nice-to-win team. When you get to the playoffs, everyone's motivation is the same, win or go home.<br /><br />Beyond that, as Harry Truman said, let's look at the record. In the past month, starting with the first series that extended into September, the <br /><br />Braves were:<br />14-5 against non-contenders<br />6-7 vs. contenders (Phi 2x, Mil, Nats)<br />6 of final 18 games played against contenders<br /><br />Cards were:<br />9-6 vs. non-contenders<br />8-9 vs. contenders (Nats 2x, Mil, LAD, Cin)<br />10 of final 19 games played against contenders<br /><br />Nats were:<br />8-2 vs. non-contenders<br />12-11 vs contenders (Cards 2x, Atl, LAD, Mil, Phi 2x)<br />All final 19 games played against contenders<br /><br />Who's the only team of those three with a winning record against playoff-caliber (and playoff-motivated) teams?<br /><br />Your NL East Champion Washington Nationals!<br />Steady Eddiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11342496530868597550noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-63667323372218711232012-10-05T11:57:29.120-04:002012-10-05T11:57:29.120-04:00"I don't think there are rules about whic..."I don't think there are rules about which players are allowed there, just rules that say you have to be a player, coach or trainer to be on the bench."<br /><br />Thank God for rules that kept Charley Finlay, Marge Schott, Peter Angelos and Jeffrey Loria out of the dugout, and Jerry Jones from buying a baseball team.Theophilus T. S.https://www.blogger.com/profile/16532693473198519382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-34910670522145491132012-10-05T11:54:45.116-04:002012-10-05T11:54:45.116-04:00Lombo is good enough to start for some teams, just...Lombo is good enough to start for some teams, just not ours.<br /><br />Danny's record is what it is, .250 hitter w/power and problems making consistent contact. He has been that at every level. His defense is GG caliber and taking all that into account he has been a valuable contributor.alexvahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16607068733172426326noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-87619585343430413022012-10-05T11:54:26.895-04:002012-10-05T11:54:26.895-04:00Let's not be so anxious to retire DeRosa. I&#...Let's not be so anxious to retire DeRosa. I'd invite him to ST next year; if they don't, some other team will. This year he's been either (A) hurt or (B) recovering -- he flat out never got a chance to carry on w/ what he was doing in ST.<br /><br />If you want to retire him, make him manager at Harrisburg, where I think Matt LeCroy is losing it, or at Potomac and move Rupp up to Harrisburg. The point being, when Johnson retires (after 2013), make DeRosa Knorr's bench coach. DeRosa has the ideal make-up to follow the Robin Ventura path to a major league dugout.Theophilus T. S.https://www.blogger.com/profile/16532693473198519382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-26536600988306427552012-10-05T11:52:09.431-04:002012-10-05T11:52:09.431-04:00I vote for Garcia. But if DeRosa is not on the 25 ...<i>I vote for Garcia. But if DeRosa is not on the 25 man, I don't think he'll be allowed to suit up and sit in the dugout. Nor would Stras. I could be wrong on this. Anybody know: are non-active players allowed to sit on the bench during the playoffs?</i><br /><br />During the regular season, players who are non-active because they are on the DL are allowed to sit on the bench. Since there is no DL in the postseason, logic would say that non-active players would still be able to be on the bench. I don't think there are rules about which players are allowed there, just rules that say you have to be a player, coach or trainer to be on the bench. IOW, Mark Lerner can suit up but he can't sit there.<br />The Real Feel Wood. Accept no substitutes.https://www.blogger.com/profile/13147290573966561009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-62856815726468374372012-10-05T11:49:32.574-04:002012-10-05T11:49:32.574-04:00Just got back on ...
Theo @ 9:17 -- I didn't ...Just got back on ...<br /><br />Theo @ 9:17 -- I didn't say <b>I</b> thought Medlen should or would go on Thursday rather than Wednesday, I explicitly said that that's what I read.<br /><br />Now that I'm thinking about it, it doesn't make much sense. The only reason to hold back your best when they're already rested is to not get your starters out of rotation order. But there's every other reason to have your best pitch as early in the series as possible -- either to stave off a sweep, or to get one so you can maximize their availability for the next round. The latter applies even if it's split after two.<br /><br />Steady Eddiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11342496530868597550noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-17143201465302034202012-10-05T11:47:16.763-04:002012-10-05T11:47:16.763-04:002012 was Desmond's year and 2013 will be Espin...2012 was Desmond's year and 2013 will be Espinosa's year to make or break and I don't think Lombo is the answer but Rendon sure could be if he progresses and stays healthy.<br /><br />Espi's .317 OBP was last for the Nats full-time starters and his 189 K's were 51 K's more than the next closest by LaRoche. While you can put up with 189 K's by a pure power hitter, Danny just isn't a power hitter and has to get that out of his mind.<br /><br />Espi is a slick fielder and deserves another year to progress. When Espi is "HOT" he is red hot and when he's not he's hard to watch with a bat in his hand. Hoping for a HOT Danny in the post-season!<br /><br />Ghost Of Steve M.https://www.blogger.com/profile/05745394350047225996noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-27195208338099255592012-10-05T11:42:50.079-04:002012-10-05T11:42:50.079-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07511258100772625570noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-20034790292958773822012-10-05T11:39:36.632-04:002012-10-05T11:39:36.632-04:00JamesFan, you get runs and you prevents runs. Dan...JamesFan, you get runs and you prevents runs. Danny and the pitchers prevent runs. I'm totally OK with that.NatsLadyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06814911056080758503noreply@blogger.com