tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post7694034604201519988..comments2024-02-15T05:42:18.307-05:00Comments on Nats Insider: Harper or not, Nats struggling to scoreMark Zuckermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13525315258889435961noreply@blogger.comBlogger80125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-69522959806233479832012-05-02T14:46:19.315-04:002012-05-02T14:46:19.315-04:00Wonk, correct. The order doesn't matter very ...Wonk, correct. The order doesn't matter very much (a miniscule %) except that hitters think it does, and they envision themselves in certain roles. <br /><br />Obviously there are some basic things that matter, especially in the NL with pitchers hitting, but in general, unless there is some reason not to, if Desi is happiest and most productive as leadoff, put him there. If he sees it as "punishment" or even "incentive" that he's moved down, that may not work. <br /><br />I think the team misses RZ-- way more than Morse. It's destablizing to be waiting for someone to return, but they've adjusted to Morse being out because LaRoche and Werth have stepped up. I think RZ being out, even "short term" was a punch in the gut, a real punch in the gut.NatsLadyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06814911056080758503noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-19086605999715086832012-05-02T13:14:39.111-04:002012-05-02T13:14:39.111-04:00@ mick, I am right with ya on the comparison. Jus...@ mick, I am right with ya on the comparison. Just making light of our current injury situation.Davehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00616855563210757915noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-17982165466566727492012-05-02T12:56:14.291-04:002012-05-02T12:56:14.291-04:00@ mick, I am with ya with regard to the hitting co...@ mick, I am with ya with regard to the hitting comparison. Just trying to make light because of the current injury situation.Davehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00616855563210757915noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-44492435393634632652012-05-02T12:48:18.847-04:002012-05-02T12:48:18.847-04:00@ Section 222 - re: LOB
Try this: http://content.u...@ Section 222 - re: LOB<br />Try this: http://content.usatoday.com/sportsdata/baseball/mlb/stats/team-totals/2012#nl<br /><br />TEAM LOB<br />Houston Astros 191<br />New York Mets 191<br />Washington Nationals 175<br />St. Louis Cardinals 170<br />Arizona Diamondbacks 169<br />San Diego Padres 168<br />Atlanta Braves 167<br />San Francisco Giants 167<br />Los Angeles Dodgers 166<br />Cincinnati Reds 160<br />Philadelphia Phillies 156<br />Colorado Rockies 153<br />Chicago Cubs 144<br />Milwaukee Brewers 141<br />Pittsburgh Pirates 141<br />Miami Marlins 139Martyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08974275173765700692noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-61279910087587518272012-05-02T12:21:21.349-04:002012-05-02T12:21:21.349-04:00Dave:
I meant in terms of hitting with men onDave:<br /><br />I meant in terms of hitting with men onmickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11829941762393424812noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-73867984532693931852012-05-02T12:14:38.865-04:002012-05-02T12:14:38.865-04:00If you take this out of context "Ripken was l...If you take this out of context "Ripken was like Zim now" this is the worst comparison ever.<br /><br />Ironman vs. 115 gpy<br /><br />I wish Zimm had a name like Chris Chandler (crystal chandelier) so we could give him a cool nickname.Davehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00616855563210757915noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-1487177250174229132012-05-02T12:08:20.313-04:002012-05-02T12:08:20.313-04:00Doc said...In spite of his winter league work, I s...<strong>Doc said...</strong><em>In spite of his winter league work, I still think that [Ramos] came to camp somewhat out of shape. His throws to 2nd have been less than the performance we saw last year. </em><br /><br />That appears to be putting it mildly. Base stealers are 15 for 16 against him so far this year. Is he hurt, too?Candidehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02384645593063095481noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-71279175944732935752012-05-02T11:56:37.115-04:002012-05-02T11:56:37.115-04:00Flashing back to Davey's O's team of 96 an...Flashing back to Davey's O's team of 96 and 97 for some perspective on the NATS. Nats pitching staff and relef when healthy is far better and most importantly deeper. However, the hitting comparison are eerily similar. Palmero was a choking dog whose on base percentage in post seasons was one of the worst I ever saw. Ripken was like Zim now, not overly reliable at the plate but somehow found a way to get on base. Hoiles had a pretty good stick as did Alomar. Surhoff was the most consistent hitter as was Harriston. If you look at the Nats today, you see similarities. Those O teams were so close but the had and still have a horse ass of an owner who let his ego destroy a franchise that could have been in a few WS.mickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11829941762393424812noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-2791144760334998442012-05-02T11:54:33.156-04:002012-05-02T11:54:33.156-04:00MicheleS said...
Standing next to Wonk and cheeri...<i>MicheleS said... <br />Standing next to Wonk and cheering him on..<br /><br />Yes, the last 5 games have stunk, but guess what.. we are 14-9 and are in first place. <br /><br />May 02, 2012 11:40 AM </i><br /><br />I was okay with that over the weekend thinking the Nats could feel good about their stature at the top of the East while I was also thinking the Nats would beat Billingsley and Capuano with Strasburg and Gio pitching and I certainly thought JZim would best Cahill.<br /><br />Its back to the Nats making every pitcher look like Cy Young.<br /><br />That is why small ball/smart ball has to be employed to just get single digits on the board and hopefully do what they did in most of their innings this year, 1 run at a time.<br /><br />When Zim comes back, the team can get back to thinking big innings as they will have a much better 1-5 in the order and if Harper can get going Davey can move him to the 6.Ghost Of Steve M.https://www.blogger.com/profile/05745394350047225996noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-14660315146692326582012-05-02T11:47:30.326-04:002012-05-02T11:47:30.326-04:00164abb6e-9075-11e1-aba1-000bcdcb471e said...
Espi...<i>164abb6e-9075-11e1-aba1-000bcdcb471e said... <br />Espi may be a sucker for the high heat but he's also striking out on a lot of sliders in the dirt. Chasing either is a problem, chasing both explains why he is struggling to put balls in play. <br /><br />May 02, 2012 11:28 AM </i><br /><br />Right you are. They have Espi all set up for the ole high/low and he's swinging and missing at both. Watching Ankiel swinging at high heat too tells me that Arizona had a scouting strategy for both Espi and Ank.<br /><br />Worst part on Ank is when Cahill needed either a K or a grounder he went high outside for pitch #1 and Ank swung through it. Then he had him in a 2 strike count and got him to hit over the next pitch for the grounder that turned into the doubleplay.<br /><br />It was the most critical point in the game as mentioned. Again, he didn't execute. He got himself into a 2 strike count and Cahill had him set-up even with 2 men on base and no one out. I'm not saying he should have bunted but that seemed like a good option at the time with LaRoche your big RBI man on deck. One out with men on 2nd and 3rd with LaRoche looks pretty good in hindsight.Ghost Of Steve M.https://www.blogger.com/profile/05745394350047225996noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-40434697858907108412012-05-02T11:40:13.248-04:002012-05-02T11:40:13.248-04:00Standing next to Wonk and cheering him on..
Yes, ...Standing next to Wonk and cheering him on..<br /><br />Yes, the last 5 games have stunk, but guess what.. we are 14-9 and are in first place.MicheleShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04972863154063796569noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-26103354971736705302012-05-02T11:39:39.061-04:002012-05-02T11:39:39.061-04:00A DC Wonk said...
Ghost Of Steve M. said...
Nats...<i>A DC Wonk said... <br />Ghost Of Steve M. said...<br /><br />NatsLady says the order doesn't matter. I disagree. <br /><br />Well, for one, I think stats-geeks show that order doesn't matter anywhere near as much as everyone thinks.<br /><br />But even if you disagree with that -- I think what NatsLady was saying is: order doesn't matter one whit if you're only getting four singles per game. <br /><br />May 02, 2012 10:50 AM </i><br /><br />You want your lighter hitters in the back of the lineup and your higher OBPs at the top of the lineup. In the middle you need your higher OPS guys.<br /><br />Most of all you need hitters that execute in the role they are in. Only Desmond and Lombo executed in their roles last night.<br /><br />Striking out isn't going to move up runners.Ghost Of Steve M.https://www.blogger.com/profile/05745394350047225996noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-49983588556350567582012-05-02T11:31:56.529-04:002012-05-02T11:31:56.529-04:00Rizzo's ego is holding the team back. His guys...<i>Rizzo's ego is holding the team back. His guys are not as good as he wants to believe. </i><br /><br />Davey has as much say as Rizzo JayB. You have to know that by now right? Davey is going to tell Rizzo he wants to wait for Marerro, evaluate Harper, and perhaps Tyler Moore ... that's three players. Its likely Harper will end up in CF so that Morse can be situated in left and Werth in right. And I suspect Werth may be benched sooner than later for the next wave of prospects.<br /><br />The big problem is the dearth of left-handed bats. That's where Chad Tracy, Mark Teahen, et al come in. Corey Brown and Matt Skole are probably there two best potential prospects.<br /><br />I thought they should go after Seth Smith for the bench and a part-time starter's role. Instead Oakland acquired him in a trade with the Rockies. He seems to have returned to his mean instead of progressing with his break out. Then there's Fielder and Pujols ...<br /><br />The best bat Rizzo was after was probably Upton and Tampa wanted too much. <br /><br />Its not Rizzo's "ego", its as much the Lerner's and Johnson. At this point the Lerner's are going to be more likely to be reluctant to give up prospects ... the farm has been depleted by the Gonzalez trade. The bonuses already paid out. Rizzo has to work hard to sell Ted Lerner on trades ... harder than he does the other GM's! What part of that are you missing?perichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02669200119049715758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-64150082439500080272012-05-02T11:28:52.885-04:002012-05-02T11:28:52.885-04:00Espi may be a sucker for the high heat but he'...Espi may be a sucker for the high heat but he's also striking out on a lot of sliders in the dirt. Chasing either is a problem, chasing both explains why he is struggling to put balls in play.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-23280925238971577242012-05-02T11:25:13.299-04:002012-05-02T11:25:13.299-04:00How good has the Nats pitching been? The Nats are...How good has the Nats pitching been? The Nats are tied for 28th in all of MLB in runs scored, and tied for 26th in hits. Yet we sit atop the NL East and our 14 wins is tied for 6th in the majors behind only the Rangers, Dodgers, Rays, Orioles, and Cardinals. The Marlins (9 wins), Pirates (10 wins), and Padres (8 wins) are down at the bottom of the standings with us in hits and runs. <br /><br />Davey said yesterday in the postgame presser that we must lead the league in runners left on base. I can't find that team stat (can someone tell me where it is on Fangraphs or Baseball Reference?), but I doubt it. We aren't getting on base enough to have a high number of LOB.Section 222https://www.blogger.com/profile/17106128453333996193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-77051555026914160932012-05-02T11:24:12.216-04:002012-05-02T11:24:12.216-04:00Good posting, Peric... I'm going back t what I...Good posting, Peric... I'm going back t what I used to do; compose on my iPhone's note pad... proofread, and copy&paste. Doesn't take any extra time, and the blogger can't interrupt me....UnkyDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10427401050130317607noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-57686670189818926402012-05-02T11:23:52.315-04:002012-05-02T11:23:52.315-04:00Its just possible Espinosa may have an issue with ...Its just possible Espinosa may have an issue with his eyes ... apparently Corey Brown does ... acquired some special glasses he wears for a certain amount of time each day to correct it.perichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02669200119049715758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-21918355139078247202012-05-02T11:21:19.718-04:002012-05-02T11:21:19.718-04:00Don't tell me that there were not any good hit...<i>Don't tell me that there were not any good hitters available.</i><br /><br />THE GOAL THIS YEAR was actually to develop the Nat's prospects. What part of that didn't you understand? Not to win the world series out of the box! Sheesh.<br /><br />Davey the consultant hired himself to do that job. Why? He historically loves evaluating talent in the minors and bringing those up with the most promise. As we saw last year he was the one who initiated all the September call-ups. Also, his self-confidence borders on arrogance ... he believes he can win while prospects develop. So far, it looks like Davey is right, he is winning.<br /><br />They still have Morse, Marerro, and Tyler Moore to try out. Hood and Perez are still adapting to AA. Kobernus is going gangbusters but hits like Desmond, he never walks. Desmond is the better fielder. Corey Brown is still working through his new approach to the plate. Carlos Rivero is starting to come on ... advanced stats showed him as a potential breakout candidate and he is still young. If Zim goes down and he is hitting he's a potential replacement. Looks Matt Skole's big bat will show up in Potomac sooner rather than later. If he does well there Harrisburg is next and Davey will notice. He is a big left-handed bat.<br /><br />Time to stop bellyaching and start attending games to root the prospects on instead of blogging to flagellate them. The prospects will appreciate it.perichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02669200119049715758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-77174992288773068632012-05-02T11:19:01.455-04:002012-05-02T11:19:01.455-04:00With all the talk of Espi being sent down, it prob...With all the talk of Espi being sent down, it probably doesn't happen until after Nady is exiled. Maybe Rizzo has a moment to look at AAA again and swaps Corey Brown for Nady and Espi gets sent down on Saturday when Zim comes off the DL.<br /><br />Espi needs time where he can learn again and the only place he can do that is in AAA. <br /><br />Blaming the batter's eye in Florida may have placated the eager media assembled in one of those "oh that makes sense" moments since they all wrote about it, and while it may have answered a small percentage of those strikeouts, the root of the problem is a long swing and poor eye at the plate leading to this sub-Mendoza line and like NatsJack pointed out, he is a sucker for the high heat. How frustrating that he can't lay off of that.Ghost Of Steve M.https://www.blogger.com/profile/05745394350047225996noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-46244676392744966642012-05-02T11:12:18.128-04:002012-05-02T11:12:18.128-04:00Meant to say Strasburg's first close-to-full y...Meant to say Strasburg's first close-to-full year in baseball ...<br /><br />It would be nice (since we can no longer post anonymously?) if we could edit the content of our posts instead of having to delete and repost them? You can do that on the MASN site why not here?perichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02669200119049715758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-89979849370453114132012-05-02T11:10:55.957-04:002012-05-02T11:10:55.957-04:00I'll bet you dinner that Prince and Albert wil...I'll bet you dinner that Prince and Albert will be ok in the end, and when you spread the years, it's not that bad. There was also this guy in Dodger blue, and another guy in Tiger Black.....the list goes on. I believe it actually is that simple, and don't bring up the yankee first baseman, they knew they had no shot at him. I am also 100% behind the Werth deal, but not all that keen on the Zimmerman one.320R2S15https://www.blogger.com/profile/10072406797380875600noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-18568660170046254632012-05-02T11:10:09.011-04:002012-05-02T11:10:09.011-04:00Um, Willie Harris wasn't on the Nats last year...<i>Um, Willie Harris wasn't on the Nats last year, but Riggles definitely was enamored of the vets (Matt Stairs anyone?) and underestimated Michael Morse for years. Davey won't make that mistake. </i><br /><br />I know replaced with Alex Cora ... but I'm afraid Riggle's constant yanking of Morse early in games was unbelievable. Would HAVE CONTINUED had La Roche not been injured and unable to hit.<br /><br />THAT IS WORSE FAR,FAR, FAR WORSE glad the Blue Wahoo's have to put up with him now.<br /><br /><i>I was sure with this rotation that the Nats couldn't possibly lose 5 straight. But they just did. Our team ERA over the last 5 games is 3.20, and the starters' is even better. Just goes to show that you have to have at least a little hitting to win this game.</i><br /><br />I think the part that escaped pundits and fans a like is that the Nats stopper failed to stop LA. When Strasburg went down to defeat with Harper in the lineup it had to take some air out of the balloon. Baseball is a very long marathon made up of short series ... emotion has to be a big part of getting out there and getting at it don't you think? <br /><br />The players, fans and pundits have to realize Strasburg may be the "stopper" but this is really HIS VERY FIRST close to first year in baseball? I like the fact the Nats are going young but development takes some time and not everything will fall in place according to plan. The nice thing is what they learn will benefit them for years. These aren't veterans who are long in the tooth ... they are still budding prospects with high ceilings.<br /><br />I'm not worried.perichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02669200119049715758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-75088888742322663472012-05-02T11:08:09.220-04:002012-05-02T11:08:09.220-04:00BTW, Espinosa's RBI numbers since the 2011 A-S...BTW, Espinosa's RBI numbers since the 2011 A-S break should be 16 RBI not 54.Pilchardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03596434657477682005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-14465433345982773872012-05-02T11:05:37.819-04:002012-05-02T11:05:37.819-04:00Danny Espinosa offensive numbers since the 2011 A-...Danny Espinosa offensive numbers since the 2011 A-S Break:<br /><br />88 games 375 PA 329 AB 72 H 6 HR 54 RBI .302 OBP .219 BA .328 SLG .630 OPS<br /><br />Can't stay in an MLB line up with those numbers over a 4 month period. He needs to be sent down to find his stroke. <br /><br />Similarly, Rick Ankiel has proven that he can not produce enough offensively to justify playing everyday. <br /><br />No team to get away with playing two guys everyday that are so offensively challenged.Pilchardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03596434657477682005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-15416579524760099282012-05-02T11:03:07.894-04:002012-05-02T11:03:07.894-04:00Ways to fix hitting problems:
1) Get Morse and Zim...Ways to fix hitting problems:<br />1) Get Morse and Zimmerman back<br />2) Get a new hitting coach who knows what they are doing<br />3) Hope for the best!<br /><br />GO NATS!lefty1950https://www.blogger.com/profile/13672676320681429644noreply@blogger.com