tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post5376024053458707598..comments2024-02-15T05:42:18.307-05:00Comments on Nats Insider: Espinosa on slump: It's the batter's eyeMark Zuckermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13525315258889435961noreply@blogger.comBlogger51125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-88336104127039925032012-03-31T18:24:05.390-04:002012-03-31T18:24:05.390-04:00Espinosa worries me. Me thinks he 'ain't ...Espinosa worries me. Me thinks he 'ain't to bright." I cut him slack for the entire season last year -- but this year? Nope. He still has a loop in his swing. His pitch/swing selection is still poor -- AA poor. He wants to jack everything out -- like last year. Only the K's are still there -- worse.<br /><br />Yet, he denies what we all can see: a player going backwards. He'll have to prove me wrong beginning Tuesday.NatsFanJimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04469853617141172183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-102544543591078512012-03-31T13:04:43.730-04:002012-03-31T13:04:43.730-04:00Thank you for teaching me what the "battery&#...Thank you for teaching me what the "battery's eye" is. I never knew that green wall had a name, though I did know it's purpose.JaneBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04882101532666365432noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-12455111282100385822012-03-31T12:31:52.356-04:002012-03-31T12:31:52.356-04:00Love espi but derosa is a solid 2 hole hitter. I a...Love espi but derosa is a solid 2 hole hitter. I am happy to see Desmond has been lighting it up the last week. <br /><br />I was also stoked to see ALR hitting the ball.<br />Best 24goN. + Harper in May.Kirbshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09446281250617359278noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-28273998987775910132012-03-31T11:34:18.385-04:002012-03-31T11:34:18.385-04:00Well said Laddie, hit the nail on the head as it w...Well said Laddie, hit the nail on the head as it were.DWSnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-5884767544334568162012-03-31T11:31:52.721-04:002012-03-31T11:31:52.721-04:00Nice to know the area around the Nats park is goin...Nice to know the area around the Nats park is going to be developed. IMO that was the demise of the Expos. "The Big Owe" wasn't a baseball park and it wasn't near downtown Montreal. Hopefully you'll have a team for the long run and I hope to get there one day. Washington is crying for a winner, I think you've got one.<br />As a previous poster mentioned (on subject) nice to see a backup in the middle infield.DWSnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-16173091285261536932012-03-31T11:29:20.545-04:002012-03-31T11:29:20.545-04:00Richard,
I think Spinner is a special talent. He ...Richard,<br /><br />I think Spinner is a special talent. He is compactly built, has excellent speed and range, and remarkable power for a guy his size. He reminds me of Joe Morgan, only with more raw power, and that's saying something. Danny has the tools to not only be good, but to be All-Star good.<br /><br />When he was putting up those big numbers, HRs, RBIs at a ROY pace last year, he was doing it from the 6-7-8 slots, coming up with men on base, and delivering. He was then known as a clutch hitting run producer, because he was. Opposing pitchers with men on base are more likely to throw strikes - and if Danny sees something he can hit, as we all know, he can just crush a baseball.<br /><br />At the top of the order, more often than not, he comes up with no one on. Pitchers do not have to come to him, and they have discovered that it is better for them if they do not. His own aggression is killing him at the plate, and his inability to recognize pitches way out of the zone is leading to those wild swings and misses.<br /><br />Danny must force those pitchers to throw him his pitch. When, or if, they do, he could be a solid hitter with plus power, but he has to force them to come to him. He is doing just the opposite by letting them off the hook. No need to throw him anything he can hit, because he tries to hit almost everything they dish up.<br /><br />The reason he is not hitting is because they are not giving him anything to hit, and they never will, until he learns to recognize the difference and develops the patience to wait out the guy on the mound. He is losing that duel because he is fighting it on their terms, not his.<br /><br />I think he will come around. There are plenty of veteran guys on that club who are patient at the plate and very, very successful - the FOF, for one. And DeRosa is a great example of a guy who is winning the duel with the pitcher just by waiting him out. If he has to take a walk, so be it.<br /><br />OTH, if Danny does not improve his approach at the plate, he will lose his job, sooner or later. His competitive fire must now take a back seat to his drive to succeed. Right now, patient discipline would be much more of a virtue than unrestrained aggression. He can do it.<br /><br />Laddie_Blah_BlahAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-25538950196532321082012-03-31T11:22:45.194-04:002012-03-31T11:22:45.194-04:00Here's the official site for the park, with m...Here's the <a href="http://www.yardspark.org/" rel="nofollow"> official site</a> for the park, with map, rules and regulations, FAQs, and more. Note that, while grilling isn't allowed, picnics are. hmmm...natsfan1anoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-56409381118411762232012-03-31T11:18:09.792-04:002012-03-31T11:18:09.792-04:00fwiw, I walked around the park there a couple of t...fwiw, I walked around the park there a couple of times after games last season. It's very nice.natsfan1anoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-50787220365641237472012-03-31T11:16:16.272-04:002012-03-31T11:16:16.272-04:00We'll work on that, sjm. For now, here's a...We'll work on that, sjm. For now, here's an item on <a href="http://www.jdland.com/dc/sfc.cfm?tab=no2&filter=park" rel="nofollow">The Yards.</a><br /><br />btw, just realized I had a synapse lapse while posting yesterday evening and was referring to you as sm13. Apologies to both of you. :-)natsfan1anoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-27592627893047815342012-03-31T11:08:56.426-04:002012-03-31T11:08:56.426-04:00As natsfan1a knows, I can't send links but I a...As natsfan1a knows, I can't send links but I am sure someone else can get that done.sjm308https://www.blogger.com/profile/01236550495879254916noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-29647566159492346952012-03-31T11:08:06.136-04:002012-03-31T11:08:06.136-04:00sm13: (great initials by the way) - if you really...sm13: (great initials by the way) - if you really want to get excited about development, check out what is going to happen in "The Yards". There is already a beautiful park that opened over a year ago and now they are seriously talking about both residences and some great dining/drinking establishments as well. Most excited about the Churchkey venture and there will be another brew pub as well.<br /><br />Things are looking up down on the waterfront!!<br /><br />Go Natssjm308https://www.blogger.com/profile/01236550495879254916noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-72849637925780277412012-03-31T11:04:11.303-04:002012-03-31T11:04:11.303-04:00Good news Espi gets to see lots of breaking pitche...Good news Espi gets to see lots of breaking pitches.Mark'dnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-89516895306714836082012-03-31T10:39:59.645-04:002012-03-31T10:39:59.645-04:00While I hate seeing Espi struggle, I can't hel...While I hate seeing Espi struggle, I can't help but think how great Lombo's emergence has been. He gives them an immediate option if it does become apparent that Espi or Desi need to be taken out of the lineup for a while. We talk all the time about how amazing it is to have pitching depth finally, but this is also the first time we've ever had real middle infield depth and won't be relying on Aaron Boone to play 3B and bat cleanup at some point.bdrubenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-14274820220981753312012-03-31T10:32:15.102-04:002012-03-31T10:32:15.102-04:00"Good points above about many of the swing an..."Good points above about many of the swing and misses were balls way low in the zone."<br /><br />I guess that's part of my point, Mark'd, if by "way low in the zone" you actually mean "out of the zone". The wild swings last night at balls so far out of the zone seem to me at another level than we saw last year. Last year it appeared he was being attacked in the 2nd half in areas of the strike zone where he had holes. He was swinging at strikes, just missing them. Last night looked much worse. <br /><br />I guess time will tell.#4noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-29385725238014123982012-03-31T10:32:09.496-04:002012-03-31T10:32:09.496-04:00Sad to watch Espi flail away. Goes back to mid-sea...Sad to watch Espi flail away. Goes back to mid-season last year, as Insiders have noted. If it continues you'd think the Nats would have to demote him and let him try to work out the demons in Syracuse, however painful that'd be for all. But this is MLB not the boyscouts. There's lots money on the table and lots of competition. The mind turns to Lombardozzi -- or even DeRosa. Lombardozzi's outplayed Espi this ST for sure and yet apparently he isn't the anointed one. Eventually though either Espi works it out or not, but I fear the worst case: he struggles through the year with promising spurts but strikes out a lot, doesn't drive in runs, and has a sub .300 OBP; and we hear a lot of "he's my boy" from Davey.Richardnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-5234124053166852362012-03-31T10:07:23.193-04:002012-03-31T10:07:23.193-04:00#4 Honestly, watching last nights swing and misses...#4 Honestly, watching last nights swing and misses reminded me of the July and August strikeouts. Still, this current K rate is way out of whack.<br /><br />Good points above about many of the swing and misses were balls way low in the zone.<br /><br />Trying to stay optimistic and still thinking he is a back of the lineup hitter.Mark'dnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-50264613191151391632012-03-31T10:02:00.679-04:002012-03-31T10:02:00.679-04:00Anon @ 9:35
I see a difference between his worst ...Anon @ 9:35<br /><br />I see a difference between his worst moments last year and last night. Last year his swings and misses seemed aggressive - almost overswinging in an effort to do too much. It looked like he was pulling his head and coming around the ball. It was the "loop" that everyone talked about correcting this spring. Last night he looked like he was batting in the dark - late and defensive.<br /><br />Davey's comments make me think that Espi's in a pretty good place with his swing. Let's hope he's right.#4noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-81331006285369913332012-03-31T09:59:13.357-04:002012-03-31T09:59:13.357-04:001A.. I have gotten the 503 error message as well. ...1A.. I have gotten the 503 error message as well. hmmm..<br /><br />Mark Z, Any ideas?MicheleSnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-38279735418909292342012-03-31T09:53:03.559-04:002012-03-31T09:53:03.559-04:00Thank you 1a and Annon! We've been waiting fo...Thank you 1a and Annon! We've been waiting for this spurt of development since the park openned.sm13https://www.blogger.com/profile/08687722615029160319noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-28118900784574948482012-03-31T09:47:17.109-04:002012-03-31T09:47:17.109-04:00For the record, getting the 503 error message this...For the record, getting the 503 error message this a.m., with no active game thread.natsfan1anoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-29012580025287562322012-03-31T09:46:12.643-04:002012-03-31T09:46:12.643-04:00Thanks, Anon, you beat me to it. :-)Thanks, Anon, you beat me to it. :-)natsfan1anoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-40211663797372135332012-03-31T09:45:30.398-04:002012-03-31T09:45:30.398-04:00http://www.jdland.com/dc/index.cfm/3633/Half-Stree...http://www.jdland.com/dc/index.cfm/3633/Half-Street-Fairgrounds-Shipping-Container-Market-Events/Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-50593022744401445302012-03-31T09:43:36.053-04:002012-03-31T09:43:36.053-04:00natsfan1a -- would you mind reposting the link to ...natsfan1a -- would you mind reposting the link to the half street story? <br /><br />Thanks!sm13https://www.blogger.com/profile/08687722615029160319noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-8693668908698408662012-03-31T09:38:15.456-04:002012-03-31T09:38:15.456-04:00Anon @9:35, not sure what your 2nd paragraph means...Anon @9:35, not sure what your 2nd paragraph means.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-61653854367603069022012-03-31T09:36:33.499-04:002012-03-31T09:36:33.499-04:00natsfan1a said...
Second the thanks to Phil&#...natsfan1a said...<br /><br /> Second the thanks to Phil's brother for the link, although the initial question had me thinking that the containers were in the ballpark's bullpen. :-)<br /> March 31, 2012 9:35 AMnatsfan1anoreply@blogger.com