tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post5922742344447718318..comments2024-02-15T05:42:18.307-05:00Comments on Nats Insider: Center of attention for wrong reasonsMark Zuckermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13525315258889435961noreply@blogger.comBlogger37125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-25260213127915610532010-09-11T13:52:29.751-04:002010-09-11T13:52:29.751-04:00Obviously the media have a ready-made storyline in...Obviously the media have a ready-made storyline in Nyjer Morgan, which is the only explanation for why he is the first topic of this article. The fact that the journalist admits "Morgan had little to do with the outcome of tonight's 3-1 loss to the Marlins," just proves the point that, were we interested in the game of baseball, this would've merited a single graf. The only reason Morgan was the "subject of discussion" after the game was that subjects of discussion are created by the ones asking the questions, who of course ask the questions because it fits a storyline. <br /><br />I myself have been wondering WHY this is such an overwhelming storyline at the moment, and it strikes me that Morgan's struggles in the game this year primed him for criticism. Nonetheless, the only one of his incidents for which he seems blameworthy is the first incident with the Cardinals catcher; so why does he take such disproportionate heat for the others? I think we can find it in the way these stories are written. There is something very unsavory in the tone of the discussion of Nyjer Morgan, probably going back to before the brawl with the Marlins, but certainly evident in this authors writings (as well as others; the WaPo beat writer calls him a "thug") at that time. I write this from the perspective of someone who has been very disappointed in Morgan this year, and who wishes he had been replaced much earlier in the season- for baseball reasons. Hopefully someday soon we can gain some perspective on how Morgan's failings are a really small part of the problem with our beloved, but very sorry, team.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-4420015526874997562010-09-11T13:34:08.239-04:002010-09-11T13:34:08.239-04:00Golfersal wrote at 7:42 AM: "as a season tic...Golfersal wrote at 7:42 AM: "as a season ticket holder that pays $9,300 for two seats."<br /><br />You're nuts, dude!<br /><br />A) Who has that much free time to attend 81 games?<br />B) Who has that much money to blow on entertainment?<br /><br />You're a sucker!<br /><br />And you call the Nats "such losers." Look who's blowing nearly $10,000 a year to see the "losers!"Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-76800128315831127842010-09-11T12:56:56.612-04:002010-09-11T12:56:56.612-04:00It has been said here and elsewhere that the diffe...It has been said here and elsewhere that the difference between a good manager and a bad manager is 4 or 5 wins over the course of a year. I wonder if the Showalter experience up the road might cause anyone to re-think that notion? Could it be giving Rizzo or SranK some ideas? I have been a fan of Riggs, but many strange lineups and his overall handling of the Nyjer soap opera is wearing on me.Slidellnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-75545649236989674602010-09-11T12:20:01.038-04:002010-09-11T12:20:01.038-04:00Great stuff, Mark, as usual.
The breakeven point ...Great stuff, Mark, as usual.<br /><br />The breakeven point on stealing bases is 71%. If you can't reach that number, you shouldn't be running. Morgan hasn't even been close.Mark Lnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-84341060080679154852010-09-11T11:01:37.273-04:002010-09-11T11:01:37.273-04:00Coming late to this party, but was at the game las...Coming late to this party, but was at the game last night (definitely not a party) and catching up now. <br /><br />Great article, Mark. Huge blunder on the part of everybody from Stan Kasten on down to have allowed the last part of the season to have become the Nyjer Morgan Show. Can only wonder what the effect on the clubhouse is when they hear their manager defending and acquiescing in Nyjer's bad decisions. Riggleman and Rizzo can't have it both ways: you can't say that he's a "young" player, still learning the game, and then give him carte blanche to do what he wants, as if he's a 21st-century Rickey Henderson. Yes, this situation may (or may not) be cleared up in the offseason, but why make us suffer til then?<br />Also wonder how other players going into free agency are viewing the Nats as a potential destination in 2011. Remember back in May when Roy Oswalt allowed as he'd be open to the possibility of coming to Washington? Them's were the days.CapPetersonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-53418602865670845992010-09-11T10:50:39.163-04:002010-09-11T10:50:39.163-04:00Great column Mark! Smart baseball beats aggressive...Great column Mark! Smart baseball beats aggressive baseball over a 162 game schedule. Baseball is a game of odds putting yourself in the correct situation at the right time. Some players play for themselves they know what is right for them, baseball however is a team sport the sum of the parts is greater than the whole. Some teams can win just on talent most teams need to be smart and play as a team to succeed. When a player puts himself before the team the team usually suffers only superstar athletes can get away with that type of behavior.Tegwarhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05014621891563545863noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-86825022140108594952010-09-11T10:49:37.615-04:002010-09-11T10:49:37.615-04:00AriasIn26--
Absolutely agree with you. Riggleman ...AriasIn26--<br /><br />Absolutely agree with you. Riggleman sets the tone on this club. Accept losing with grace.<br />Nyjer Morgan is the only player showing any fire on this club. Caught stealing and being picked off is a symptom of being aggressive. It's leaning forward and the equivalent of blitzing in baseball. Sometimes you get burned.<br />But if you want "a spark" on offense you have to expect to get burned. <br /><br />Nyjer Morgan sticks out on a club that is cool, dispassionate, analytical and remote-- a club that "showers it off" and moves on. He will do much better and be a lot happier on a club that throws chairs around the clubhouse after losses and refuses to go quietly into the second division. A club that valued aggression instead of frowning upon it, and its consequences, would likely be a winner. <br /><br />Winning erases all problems, particularly quirky personality problems. If only Nyjer had a brain. If only the Nats had a heart. Where is the wizard?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-60390966252332556632010-09-11T10:37:12.025-04:002010-09-11T10:37:12.025-04:00I see the problem clearly now: Nyjer is a kleptoma...I see the problem clearly now: Nyjer is a kleptomaniac. Maybe some intense therapy or medication can help him.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-59776501214917259962010-09-11T09:43:48.659-04:002010-09-11T09:43:48.659-04:00Say, if by some miracle, we are in The Hunt next y...Say, if by some miracle, we are in The Hunt next year. What are the odds that Nyjer doesn't blow at least 1 game down the stretch with some idiocy?Bzl.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-40222696077873060202010-09-11T09:13:01.621-04:002010-09-11T09:13:01.621-04:00Morgan is allowed to play stupid baseball - day in...Morgan is allowed to play stupid baseball - day in and day out all year long. Teams that play stupid baseball will never amount to anything. Morgan's the poster boy for the low standards that the Nats represent. That's why this matters. No important consequences - reduced playing time - for hurting the team by playing stupid. Where's the management? Where's the clubhouse culture? On what other team would playing stupid be considered "his game - I can't take that away from him?" <br /><br />So yeah, the Nats stunk last night and Morgan's play wasn't critical in the final score, but the season is long and there are thousands and thousands of plays. Teams with low standards of acceptable performance will never win. Like the Nats right now. Mark is on the money.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-11543853117562110112010-09-11T09:08:46.626-04:002010-09-11T09:08:46.626-04:00Lots of heat generated here, maybe even some light...Lots of heat generated here, maybe even some light. That's the central purpose of this blog, and the subsequent commenters' opinions.<br /><br />We're all fans, and a really good article by Mark helped to fuel our responses. The bottom line is that if this team were winning the way it was supposed to be, Nyjer's behavior would go mostly unrecorded. For me, that was a central point in Mark's artile.<br /><br />Nyjer might have been a catalyst in the way Ariasin 26 has suggested, but the game probabilities were against such an outcome. One out yeah, 2 outs and the pitcher at bat, no. Nobody likes to see a pitcher leading off an inning.<br /><br />I'm really past blaming Morgan for his inadequacies, irrationalities, etc. The problem, from my perspective at least, is lack of management. It's fine to be a players' manager. But most times you have to be a manager's manager. <br /><br />I hate to see the Orioles quoted, but Buck Showalter has demonstrated how a manager can fulfill both roles. Something I thought Riggleman was doing last year.Dochttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17614998804163989623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-70396038521663423672010-09-11T08:51:35.091-04:002010-09-11T08:51:35.091-04:00Njyer Morgan: Gots to go. You can't teach a ...Njyer Morgan: Gots to go. You can't teach a knucklehead not to be a knucklehead. The good he does on the field is undone by his stupid, selfish play. Great article Mark!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-75709667244208862722010-09-11T08:51:13.953-04:002010-09-11T08:51:13.953-04:00My only problem with Mark on this on,e and it is s...My only problem with Mark on this on,e and it is small compared to MASN, is he is so very late tot he party on these issues of Morgan's harm to the team and Riggs lame leadership and lack of honestly or worse I fell, his lack of focus on winning a game. <br /><br />You only have 1 for sure and 2 or 3 times tops when your leadoff hitter comes up with no outs......that is what you had designed as your best chance to score runs....Riggs is a fool if he had no problem with Morgan taking one of those best chances away.JayBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11448827055342357809noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-24177308807702913282010-09-11T08:39:44.338-04:002010-09-11T08:39:44.338-04:00Boy I can now see why the Nats are such losers.
W...Boy I can now see why the Nats are such losers.<br /><br />With fans like the last five posts, we don't have a chance.<br />Mark just wrote the story of the year to explain a big, big problem and you guys are ripping him???<br />For all you nut cases it's not about Nyjer Morgan in a slump. It's not about getting on Adam Dunn's case for a slump. This is all about bad baseball and making the right choices and that is the problem with Nyjer, he has played some incredibly bad baseball and showing bad decisions.<br />Last night was a perfect example, you don't run when there is two outs and your pitcher is up.<br />Again Nyjer showed bad judgement in that and the fact that he just wanted to showup the Marlins. It's not about what is best for the team, it's what is best for Nyjer Morgan to show how great he is.<br /><br />Get rid of this cancer that is on the team and while your at it, get rid of Riggleman for allowing this to get out of hand. It's become a know fact that Riggleman must not know much about Baseball if he is putting up with this Nyjer crap.<br /><br />Mark keep up the good work and don't worry about those dummies that really don't know much about baseball.Golfersalnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-38396695509376774382010-09-11T08:37:07.595-04:002010-09-11T08:37:07.595-04:00… the Marlins have the Nats number. That's the...… the Marlins have the Nats number. That's the current common wisdom among fans: the Fish handle the Gnats with gay abandon, never even breaking a sweat.<br /><br />… I think it's much deeper than that. To me, and I'm willing to be corrected but only by someone who knows for sure I'm wrong, the Marlins take their lead from their devilish owner, Jeffrey Loria, and make it a divine duty to beat the Nationals, who of course were once the Expos, jettisoned by the aforementioned Jeffrey Loria.<br /><br />… and I have other conspiracy theories to discuss, if anyone is interested.natscan reduxitnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-30469929321282031422010-09-11T08:35:53.913-04:002010-09-11T08:35:53.913-04:00I'm fed up with Nyjer and Rigglemans lame comm...I'm fed up with Nyjer and Rigglemans lame comments enabling him. Rizzo has to step in and end this now. <br /><br />There are too many things positive in nature about the direction of this club to be constantly misdirected to discussions of Nyjer MorganNatsJack in Floridanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-84055162172123825952010-09-11T08:30:38.921-04:002010-09-11T08:30:38.921-04:00Richard nails it....the follow up question from Ma...Richard nails it....the follow up question from Mark of someone other than MASN clearly, would be...."Jim, why is Morgans, needs being put above the teams needs. Your response clearly indicates you feel his place in the order, his ego is being put above the need to win games and play good fundamental baseball, is that how you really feel?"JayBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11448827055342357809noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-38902118007884319672010-09-11T08:23:05.818-04:002010-09-11T08:23:05.818-04:00With all due respect to Njyer Morgan's mom, Ar...With all due respect to Njyer Morgan's mom, AriasIn26, and in keeping with the opera theme, Morgan is a huge prima donna, the most selfish I've ever watched, and not too bright, either. But, alas, there's nothing to be done. That's our Nyjer. He has to do his thing. It's his team.Richardnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-74753550542958239722010-09-11T08:23:04.503-04:002010-09-11T08:23:04.503-04:00" ... all we're talking and writing about..." ... all we're talking and writing about is Nyjer Morgan."<br /><br />... well Mark, you're the man with the pen and notepad. Stop writing about him. We're mere fans and readers with a comments box where we can vent. There's nothing in the 'Wretched Scribe Manual' that says writers must focus on fans' interests. Rather writesr must focus on what they see before them; must be leaders, not followers.natscan reduxitnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-40530409065652970692010-09-11T08:17:24.056-04:002010-09-11T08:17:24.056-04:00.. so let me get this straight. Nyjer M. goes into..... so let me get this straight. Nyjer M. goes into a slump and responds with visible frustration, and the rest of the baseball world cries for his head on a platter. Adam D. goes into a slump and responds with a silent shoulder shrug, and the rest of the baseball world cries to bring him back next year since he's such a pro. <br /><br />… what's wrong with this picture?<br /><br />Let's go Nats! Just you and me!natscan reduxitnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-38157373279546273002010-09-11T08:10:15.415-04:002010-09-11T08:10:15.415-04:00Quite frankly, I was more upset about Pudge not mo...Quite frankly, I was more upset about Pudge not moving Morse over to third after his lead off double. Another ground out to short. It didn't even look like Pudge was trying to hit behind the runner. That's fundamental, team baseball, and Pudge looked to be more interested in hit #3000.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-72182809003683673762010-09-11T08:09:36.591-04:002010-09-11T08:09:36.591-04:00"... the Nationals, who at this point have to..."... the Nationals, who at this point have to just want the Nyjer saga to go away."<br /><br />... but surely Mark, you don't suggest the Nats want Nyjer to go away? Surely they want him in, rather than out of, the game. N'est pas?<br /><br />Go Nats! ... and keep your ear plugs in!natscan reduxitnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-57022366678471719662010-09-11T08:07:41.811-04:002010-09-11T08:07:41.811-04:00What an excellent article Mark. This puts everyth...What an excellent article Mark. This puts everything about Nyjer Morgan's embarassing nutjob antics in context. I couldn't agree more with everything you've written.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-33355357385158804412010-09-11T08:04:32.322-04:002010-09-11T08:04:32.322-04:00Really Mark.....when did you come to this conclusi...Really Mark.....when did you come to this conclusion......Riggleman is ineffective manager and Morgan hurts the team.....check back to June posts and you will see tons of fans including me beat you to this story but hey better late than never like the MASN crowd who all are just shilling for Stan at this point.JayBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11448827055342357809noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-60269770346692856392010-09-11T07:42:02.440-04:002010-09-11T07:42:02.440-04:00@Ariasln,
Wow. Couldn't disagree with you more...@Ariasln,<br />Wow. Couldn't disagree with you more.<br /><br />Who runs the team, Morgan or Riggleman?<br />I have to say in this case it's a very easy decision that Riggleman shouldn't be our manager anymore, if he is letting the Nyjer Morgan's of the world to make crappy decisions then that is the reason that the team is going to lose 95 games this year.<br /><br />Going to the game tonight and tomorrow and you can be assured that I will be looking for Rizzo in the stairways/hallways of Nats Stadium to express my opinion as a season ticket holder that pays $9,300 for two seats that on October 4th he needs to not only get rid of Nyjer Morgan but Riggleman. We need a manager that is on top of everything and making the tough decisions. I don't care if he has demoted a guy for bad hitting, I don't care if it's not the makeup of a player not to run, Riggleman has to me the guy making these decisions, not anyone else.<br /><br />I am getting pissed off at all the excuses he is making for crappy, boneheaded playing, Riggleman has to goGolfersalnoreply@blogger.com