tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post6101562749908087377..comments2024-02-15T05:42:18.307-05:00Comments on Nats Insider: Harsh reality sets inMark Zuckermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13525315258889435961noreply@blogger.comBlogger55125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-75901258729938456122013-08-08T13:42:33.624-04:002013-08-08T13:42:33.624-04:00I don't see them firing Davey. I do see him r...I don't see them firing Davey. I do see him retiring early if this continues. The agony of this must be terrible for him.<br /><br />I see a late August early retirement for the good of the team.JamesFanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17176931883287954229noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-27280852009292657022013-08-08T13:10:04.432-04:002013-08-08T13:10:04.432-04:00NatsFan agee 100% almost ...especially the sit dow...NatsFan agee 100% almost ...especially the sit down. But if Gio had been ejected and suspended, where is the pitching coming from…especially down the road if it accelerated Jordan’s eventual departure. Sometime reality prevents you from doing what’s bestKiterphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04584402961720957171noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-76395780299949852212013-08-08T12:44:20.707-04:002013-08-08T12:44:20.707-04:00Now that the harsh reality is setting in, whose Na...Now that the harsh reality is setting in, whose Natitude will be reflected on the playing field? <br /><br />From Nationals Arms Race Blog<br />One more thought on this series since i’ve got nowhere else to put it; I’m disappointed we didn’t see retaliation of some sort last night for the BS of the night before. I’m sorry; you HAVE to protect your best player out there, and i’m not surprised to hear reports and see evidence that Bryce Harper was on edge last night with his own manager. As J.P. Santangelo succinctly pointed out; not protecting one of your own players can and does blow up clubhouses. I think somebody on Atlanta needed to get hit last night (likely McCann). I’m more than a little worried right now about the state of the clubhouse, given this lack of reaction.<br /><br />From a comment in Nationals Arms Race made in reply.<br /><br />Harper has already been hit 3 times in 2 years based on his reputation. He’s clearly a target and if they don’t retaliate it will continue to happen and he could get injured. Hopefully Rizzo can hire a tougher manager who sticks up for his players and doesn’t let the ovepaid, underperforming vets(Zim and Laroche) run the clubhouse.<br /><br />My own thought is that Rizzo must sit Harper, Werth and Zimmerman down and get throgh to them that each of their playing styles and philosophies are needed if this group of players is going to succeed as a team. Harper's energy, Zimm's quiet relentlesslunch pail approach and Werth's combination of both physical and mental determination. That is Rizzo's most important job.Nats Fan 204https://www.blogger.com/profile/14326381320140733210noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-43695218527758400742013-08-08T12:03:48.700-04:002013-08-08T12:03:48.700-04:00well said, well said.well said, well said.D'Gourdshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15698019917520842852noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-55720037475873509042013-08-08T11:35:00.658-04:002013-08-08T11:35:00.658-04:00Davey won't be back next year, so it doesn'...Davey won't be back next year, so it doesn't matter if they fire him now or not. And they won't. As a side note, they never should have hired him in the first place as this was a young team about to go on an extended run and there is no reason to hire a short term manager in those circumstances.<br /><br />The Nats have to improve the lineup before next year. That is all that matters. They cannot fall victim to this ridiculous notion that there is no room for improvement because they are locked into their starting nine. They can move people to make room. They have no choice but to do so if they have any intention of being legit contenders next year.TexNathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16511311395978787880noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-36484935409679343612013-08-08T10:24:12.954-04:002013-08-08T10:24:12.954-04:00Mattingly was set to be fired back in May, but aft...Mattingly was set to be fired back in May, but after bring on target for a playoff spot - he isn't going anywhere. So it is a non-issue.<br /><br />I was there last night, and everytime Freeman was up with a runner in scoring position I feared he might get a hit. When our guys have runners in scoring position , I hope he will get a hit, but don't think we will...Tcostanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13264565854413303198noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-83203763260111455242013-08-08T10:23:34.224-04:002013-08-08T10:23:34.224-04:00Agree Davey's in-game moves are formulaic and ...Agree Davey's in-game moves are formulaic and predictable (which makes it puzzling why he didn't have Clip pitch the 8th last night). I was also thinking of his "coaching" and "teaching" which were so lauded. Maybe he helped out Rendon, but whatever he tried for Danny didn't work and apparently he completely misread (and mis-used) Storen. NatsLadyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06814911056080758503noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-853178981003373142013-08-08T10:11:43.051-04:002013-08-08T10:11:43.051-04:00Not to sound like a broken record, but it's no...Not to sound like a broken record, but it's not lack of clutch hitting with runners in scoring position that is the problem for the Nats. <br /><br />Yes, they were terrible with runners in scoring position against the Braves. But they were also terrible without runners in scoring position. By my quick count, they were 16/77 without runners in scoring position against the Braves for a .208 average. That's not going to win many games.<br /><br />And as I noted earlier, on the season the Nats' OPS (on-base plus slugging) with runners in scoring position is actually slightly better than their OPS without runners in scoring position.<br /><br />The problem with the Nats is that they don't hit, period, not that they don't hit in the clutch. Mississippi Snopeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00862629656751498133noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-36863186157658755422013-08-08T10:07:22.106-04:002013-08-08T10:07:22.106-04:00Still in the building phase, says Werth? Wow, tha...Still in the building phase, says Werth? Wow, that is some excuse-making there. You know, now that I think about, as we're a gazillion games back and losing to beat the band after having been picked to go far, we're just not that good of a club, yet. <br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05956082412123240315noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-88864930988335281092013-08-08T10:07:21.896-04:002013-08-08T10:07:21.896-04:00Can anyone explain the continued fascination with ...Can anyone explain the continued fascination with Mattingly as our future coach? He's always struck me as not the brightest bulb on the tree and there are persistent rumors that Trey Hillman, his bench coach, is unquestionably the brains of that operation. I, for one, am not anxious for us to hire a name just for the sake of doing it. Nothing wrong with someone young and/or new to managing at this level if they've got the chops.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-35472734367331317082013-08-08T10:03:57.391-04:002013-08-08T10:03:57.391-04:00NL -- One of the biggest problems with Davey this ...NL -- One of the biggest problems with Davey this year, that we've identified repeatedly, is that he's gotten inflexibly formulaic, especially with in-game handling of pitchers and pinch hitters.<br /><br />"Wanted to leave him in to give him the chance for a win" with starters who've clearly run out of gas, or on the other side "he'd thrown enough pitches" for a dominant starter (most appallingly pulling Gio against the Cubs back in May), or "I wanted to give him the chance to work his way out of the inning" for a reliever with a terrible matchup, or "I'll always use Tracy as my PH against a RHP in the 8th or 9th", etc. ad nauseum.<br /><br />Or not bringing in Clip last night, for that matter, to hold the tie against 3 RH hitters with lousy records vs Clip.<br /><br />We've all seen how he's repeatedly gotten outmanaged game after game, mostly because he's gone by predictable formulas that beg the opposing managers to take the preventive steps to counter, which they generally do.<br /><br />Overarching all is his formulaic coaching style of "giving them the confidence" to "let the talent express itself." Then when it doesn't work this year, he's left with nothing. He may have had more fire in the past, but with what he's gone through in his personal life in the past decade or so (and I raise that with the greatest of empathy), there seems to be little passion and energy there any more. Never takes off at an ump even for the most egregious of blown calls and when it might fire up at least some on the team.<br /><br />Might have been much better off if he could have gotten them to the WS last year (regardless of outcome there) and enabled him to leave on a high and gotten Bo Porter for manager....<br /><br />Oh well, woulda coulda shoulda.Steady Eddiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11342496530868597550noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-37861059710315908032013-08-08T10:00:23.735-04:002013-08-08T10:00:23.735-04:00Muddy on Rizzo contract, I think that is a sign th...Muddy on Rizzo contract, I think that is a sign that they are going outside the organization for the next manager and they want that manager to know that the guy who hired him will be there a while.<br /><br />Saw something disturbing last night at the game. Was in the Lexis seats right behind home, and a Braves fan a few secitions away (maybe the home feild reserve seats) had a home made shirt that say "The Braves Love to Watch Harper Cry", I saw it, noted to my wife and we both laughed a little. Well a few innings later, a Nats' official came and made him cover it up (he had a Braves jersey with him). I just think that is wrong - shame on the Nationals for doing that, and I'm a huge Nats fan.Tcostanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13264565854413303198noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-72502317427398079412013-08-08T09:59:23.192-04:002013-08-08T09:59:23.192-04:00The Nats are right back to NOT playing meaningful ...The Nats are right back to NOT playing meaningful games in AUGUST So when will they stop the delusion that they are a good baseball team. They are not good they not even watchable right now. At least in 08 09 10 you could count on some drama but this group has take n boring to whole new level I did not think possible. The NOT doing anything about Harper getting hit was an example of how little they care about anything right now. For the bulk of this I hold Davey Johnson fully responsible he should just go and leave us to pick up after the disaster of 2013CBinDChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07356397302161780348noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-40930834808930731942013-08-08T09:47:55.114-04:002013-08-08T09:47:55.114-04:00I think it was the cigarettes, not the baseball, t...I think it was the cigarettes, not the baseball, that broke A. Bartlett Giamatti's heart.The Real Feel Wood. Accept no substitutes.https://www.blogger.com/profile/13147290573966561009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-36467896666491955702013-08-08T09:47:32.265-04:002013-08-08T09:47:32.265-04:00Another thing to remember is that we are not the o...Another thing to remember is that we are not the only fanbase going through disappointment. So are Toronto, LAA, and the Giants. Baseball is not that easy. <br /><br />I think Jayson Werth would be a terrific player=manger, but not now, when he is focusing on his game. In a couple of years, when he is a bench player.NatsLadyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06814911056080758503noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-84871145741296205462013-08-08T09:44:54.437-04:002013-08-08T09:44:54.437-04:00Reality is starting to set in on the Nats. In rela...Reality is starting to set in on the Nats. In related news, reality starts to set in Romney that he won't be President. SCNatsFanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05521403318226328638noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-91765012721316577102013-08-08T09:37:20.603-04:002013-08-08T09:37:20.603-04:00Yeah, Candide, agree. With all his faults, what is...Yeah, Candide, agree. With all his faults, what is the point of firing Davey? Not gonna turn the season around, isn't even "symbolic." Just get a better guy next year.NatsLadyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06814911056080758503noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-83386713021912861812013-08-08T09:36:04.921-04:002013-08-08T09:36:04.921-04:00All last year I tried to understand Davey Johnson&...All last year I tried to understand Davey Johnson's moves. I figured he had more baseball knowledge in his little finger than I had as a lifelong fan. His players seemed to adore him, said the would "go to the wall for him." Sometimes I thought I figured out his reasoning, other times, not.<br /><br />This year, I've been puzzled on so many in-game moves, line-ups, bullpen alignment, etc. etc. Haven't been able to figure his reasoning, even when he "explains" it. His prized talents (Espinosa, Storen) are gone, and he didn't coach them into productivity. I understand he's not out there hitting or fielding. But this is just not a well-coached team.NatsLadyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06814911056080758503noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-89069919821350087052013-08-08T09:34:22.183-04:002013-08-08T09:34:22.183-04:00[Baseball] breaks your heart. It is designed to br...<em>[Baseball] breaks your heart. It is designed to break your heart. The game begins in the spring, when everything else begins again, and it blossoms in the summer, filling the afternoons and evenings, and then as soon as the chill rains come, it stops and leaves you to face the fall all alone. You count on it, rely on it to buffer the passage of time, to keep the memory of sunshine and high skies alive, and then just when the days are all twilight, when you need it most, it stops.</em><br /><br />― A. Bartlett Giamatti<br /><br />I think we can all relate...Candidehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02384645593063095481noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-54271299053704570172013-08-08T09:30:57.918-04:002013-08-08T09:30:57.918-04:00Yeah, fire Davey because with Davey gone the Nats ...Yeah, fire Davey because with Davey gone the Nats will go on an insane tear and against all odds win the wild card and go on to sweep the Tigers in the World Series.<br /><br />You read it here first. And probably last.Candidehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02384645593063095481noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-51617983219879500182013-08-08T09:30:45.570-04:002013-08-08T09:30:45.570-04:00I hope the team just plays good baseball the rest ...I hope the team just plays good baseball the rest of the year. "Meaningful"? Maybe not. But the Fillies and the Giants are even more demoralized than the Nats. Two sweeps and back to .500.;NatsLadyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06814911056080758503noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-1523035535576162612013-08-08T09:30:45.004-04:002013-08-08T09:30:45.004-04:00As for Rizzo, on paper he put together a good team...As for Rizzo, on paper he put together a good team. The preseason media accolades indicate nearly everyone agreed. Then it imploded. Sometimes your best laid plans don't turn out the way you hope. His real test is going to be his response to this season. Harper is the centerpiece. Werth's contract makes him immovable. Ramos is your catcher. Rendon and Desi are probably keepers. He has 3 solid starters. Other than that, he needs to go back to the drawing board and no one should be off the table.RaleighNathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05979716044637134484noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-81089173409097247322013-08-08T09:30:10.752-04:002013-08-08T09:30:10.752-04:00It just make no sense that Clipper was not used in...It just make no sense that Clipper was not used in the 8th of a tie game, when he didn't pitch the night before and off day the following day. I think Davey is doing all this because they fired his hitting coach.<br /><br />It has been noted, he has never left a team on good terms. I'll be shocked if he is advisor or in the front office next year.Tcostanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13264565854413303198noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-33052498623569014652013-08-08T09:19:37.504-04:002013-08-08T09:19:37.504-04:00One discouraging element for me is Rizzo's rec...One discouraging element for me is Rizzo's recent new contract and promotion. It's a vote of confidence in a difficult year, I guess. Maybe that's admirable. But Rizzo frequently says promotion in baseball is based on results, that results are the measure of success -- except for him and his team? This year the Rizzo-built team is an ugly failure. He had to have Span for whom he traded Alex Meyer and sacrificed much loved Mike Morse. He hired Haren for $13 million. He didn't need lefties in the pen. Espinoza was the his secondbaseman. Lombardozzi's told by Davey he isn't a utility man except that's what he is. The Rizzo promotion shows a "tolerance for losing and for mediocrity." This team is unable to "[bunt], or [hit] a sacrifice fly, or [keep] a runner close to 1st base, or [hustle] to get an extra base." It doesn't hold runners on lst. Its baserunners get thrown out doing careless stuff. "The little things add up, but more importantly, they show character." And it is getting worse as the season goes on. I'd have preferred that the Lerners make Rizzo show them a better team in 2014 before extending his contract. Muddyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05972390929033068525noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-89274749838095432332013-08-08T09:07:59.161-04:002013-08-08T09:07:59.161-04:00Fire Davey Johnson Fire Davey Johnson CBinDChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07356397302161780348noreply@blogger.com