Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Beltway Baseball -- 6/29/11
Thanks to everyone who watched today's live edition of Beltway Baseball, where we discussed the chaotic managerial events of the last week, plus Jayson Werth's struggles, trade rumors involving Jason Marquis and Tyler Clippard and this weekend's announcement of All-Star selections.
If you missed the show, here's the full episode, broken into two parts. Part II is below...
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47 comments:
I'd like to get your perspective on why the Nats have started making multiple errors per game. For weeks, they made no errors. Obviously perfect defense can't continue forever but recently they've had so many.
Status of Clippard's tired arm Please.. and those pesky trade Clip rumors keep popping up.
Does Davey realize Coffey is most effective when used in short work and shutting down inherited runners and not long relief?
I understand he has a problem with Clip but he has to know what he has there. If this team wants to make a serious run it is time to bite the bullet and get Ross Detwiler here to replace Bally.
Could Jayson Werth be hurt? I am really pulling for him to do well here in Washington but he looks lost at the plate, regardless of last night's double. What can Davey Johnson do to motivate him?
What is the Final Day Roster....Rizzo says he knows what he wants to have at the end of the season....who in your view is he talking about here?
If Johnson, for whatever reason, isn't the mgr next year, who are the leading candidates? The most likely minority candidates?
I would have to believe that they will formally interview Bo Porter to fulfill the minority interview requirement. And if he is as good as everyone says he is, they will probably tell him that he will be the guy to take over in a year or two when Davey decides to retire, so as to keep him in the Nats organization in case other teams start calling. They might even have Davey mentor Bo as the manager-in-waiting the same way Joe Torre mentored Don Mattingly.
Davey Johnson is now the losingest manager in Nats history. What's the over/under on when a "Fire Davey Johnson" blog appears in your lefthand sidebar?
Last night I heard Davey Johnson say "Roger Bernadina is my leadoff hitter" but I know he also has a reputation as being a veteran player's manager. What will he do with Rick Ankiel when he comes off the DL?
Maybe the Nats have become too relaxed with Davey Johnson. Four boots yesterday. Of course, Monday was another lousy Sean Burnett effort, par for the course whether the Nats' manager was Riggs or Davey J. Can't blame Sean Burnett on Johnson, can we.
Some Insiders have insisted on keeping Marquis longer than this season, i.e. extending for couple more years. I would prefer that he is replaced with a top FA pitcher, basically an ace Rizzo has been looking for months. What is your opinion of Marquis?
How long the leash Desmond has? We have been told that Ian is FO's favorite shortstop right now. With Reyes available in free agent, is there a possibility FO looks to move Desmond (trade or utility role) to get Jose to lead-off for us?
What do you think of trade rumors regarding Clippard and BJ Upton? Is that really a smart move to trade our best reliever who is under control for few more years for *insert*? I understand relievers can be unpredictable going from one year to another, but Tyler has been solid for more than two years now. Also I do not understand the interest in Upton and why his asking price is assumed high?
How long does Davey get to really learn these players (as I don't think he knows what he really has)? He has to rely on McCatty to know these pitchers and 2 night's in a row got bad bullpen.
I don't think Marquis did a bad job. He was a victim of too many extra pitches for extra batters from errors. 5 extras in a tough 1st inning and the umpire squeezed him real hard most of the game. This looked like an early season no respect game and bullpen circa 2009.
DFL - Angels should have had another error on that crystal clear play at 1st where Zim was safe and would have been an error on the Angels infielder so both teams have been hampered by the bad field.
I am really concerned about Zim's yips over there at 3rd with these throws. That errant throw to Morse was so off line as someone said looked like John Wall.
I'd like to hear more about Davey hitting and running more; he said as much the last few days.
Balester's errant pickoff had nothing to do with the clearly substandard infield, either.
Nats320 sighting this morning in Hayfield. He was not wearing any apparel of OUR Washington Nationals.
N. Cognito, who cares....Just sayin'
http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?c_id=mlb&content_id=16391353&query=game_pk%3D288091
This is not a flashback. Absolutely incredible. Can the Nats trade Werth for this outfielder?
With Rendon, Espinosa, Desmond, and Lombardozzi already in the system, what flexibility do the Nats have to trade Desmond or move him to center field? Same with first base for next year -- with Morse and a returning LaRoche. We finally have an embarrassment of riches for the entire infield.
How long are they going to attribute Zimm's throwing problems to his injury/surgery? Because, if that is the case, then he's been hurt for four years.
Mark,
Who are the most likely guys to get traded; Which minor league players would replace them?
Been doing some research on Davey, especially his last gig with the Dodgers. There are lots of people out there and in Baltimore who have a less than positive opinion of him. The three years before he got to LA they were 261-225. His first year they were 77-85.
But he did say he has an idea of how to fix Werth--he's going to pitch BP to him--himself. Heck, that might work.
Just for the record, when our last manager left, our record ranked 13th out of 30 teams. Not too bad for a team that ranked 30/30 two of the last three years. Then another guy shows up who wants to get back in the saddle. But there's someone in the way. How do you fix that? Easy. We just saw it happen. And we thought the only soap opera in town was Danny Boy's.
Mark - Is it time to bring up Chris Marrero who is hitting .303 to give Michael Morse a day off every once in a while and allow Michael to play some left field?
Are the Nats the only team in the MLB that hasn't promoted a position player since Opening Day with less than 30 games of MLB experience this season? Bernadina, Bixler, and Espinosa wouldn't be in that list. Veterans are great but its time to get a youngster up here and there's no room as it seems for Lombardozzi and Antonelli.
bgib said... How long are they going to attribute Zimm's throwing problems to his injury/surgery? Because, if that is the case, then he's been hurt for four years. June 29, 2011 11:48 AM
If Zim agreed to move to 1st base when Rendon was ready, LaRoche could be traded and Morse would go back to Leftfield.
June 2012
1) Bernadina CF
2) Werth RF
3) Zim 1B
4) Morse LF
5) Ramos C
6) Espinosa 2B
7) Rendon 3B
8) Desmond SS
June 2013
1) Espinosa 2B
2) Werth RF
3) Zim 1B
4) Morse LF
5) Rendon 3B
6) Harper CF
7) Ramos C
8) Desmond SS
Why in the hell would Zimmerman move to 1B? You're better off sticking Rendon at 1B, assuming he even makes it to the Majors.
How long will Stairs remain on the team? There seems to be little roll for him at this point, especially with his lack of production in his at bats. Bixler appears to be more of an asset with his speed and ability to play defense. Also, is Zim hurt. His current throwing motion appears unnatural and prone to errors. It is as if he is lobbing the ball to first.
Thanks
Looking at Steve M's lineups, I say Reyes is our best bet for a lead-off hitter to keep the OF of Morse-Harper-Werth. Otherwise, we move Morse to 1st, Zimm to 2nd, Danny to SS, Rendon at 3B, and get a OF - leadoff hitter.
I think Danny has proved that he is not a lead-off hitter. He does best with men on bases.
Contrary to what a few posters have said, I thought Davy had a reputation of playing the youngsters instead of the veterans. To follow-up that thought, does this mean Pudge and Cora will get even less playing time than usual? Seems to me it will cause a rusty, cranky bench.
This is the first time since the summer started (I teach) that I can watch. My question where do I watch?
"Are the Nats the only team in the MLB that hasn't promoted a position player since Opening Day with less than 30 games of MLB experience this season?"
The Nats already have two players in the starting lineup who had less than 30 games MLB experience coming into this season - Espinosa with 28 and Ramos with 22. What is to be gained by adding another rookie or two just to say they did?
"June 2012
1) Bernadina CF
2) Werth RF
3) Zim 1B
4) Morse LF
5) Ramos C
6) Espinosa 2B
7) Rendon 3B
8) Desmond SS"
Rendon has not even signed a contract yet. No team in its right mind would bump a Gold Glove/Silver Slugger player from his position to install a player like Rendon as a starter so soon after being drafted.
Also, Morse was a subpar defensive left fielder and seems to have found his niche at first base. Why would you move him back to left field?
"Then another guy shows up who wants to get back in the saddle. But there's someone in the way. How do you fix that? Easy. We just saw it happen. And we thought the only soap opera in town was Danny Boy's."
Oldguy, what are you trying to say, here, in plain English for us denseguys?
Just scrolled trough last night's and these comments.
Good grief, I am going back to sleep.
Sec 3, My Sofa..... I agree totally. What a strange statement?! Jim Riggleman goes Charlie Sheen and Old Guy thinks it's another one of JayB's conspiracies.
And Wally.... the games at 7:05... set the alarm.
NatsJack - Noted. I never miss a JZimm start. Was referring to all the Davey angst going on.
Rizzo needs to send Desmond down and stop dreaming about prying CF's of the future from 2011 contenders in exchange for some shag balls and a fungo bat.
Espinosa should be playing SS; he has the skills to play the position well. Demsond's upside is what we are seeing right now (loads of K's with little pwer and a pension for making costly defensive blunders in the clutch).
Morse has a shot at the ASG as Pujols is not going. Esponosa should have a shot too.
Like Mark Z said, cool nickname sec 3 , my sofa.
Also agree regarding Marquis that he has done well and it is time to sell high. Not sure if we can get someone that is major league ready. Then again, Capps-for-Ramos worked for us. Let's hope Rizzo can work some magic like that again.
Also agree about Danny being our ASG representative. He is top defensive 2B and among the best offensive 2B. Besides having him represent (or even JZ or Storen for that matter) us in ASG will show the direction this team has taken. I can pretty much imagine him coming late in the game with two on, two out and NL trailing by couple of runs. You can guess what I dreamed next. :D
FS..... Is planning to move to move 1st, 2nd and 3rd basemen, all among the league's elite at their positions.... to different spots, all to make room for a prospect who's not even signed, yet....
Really? REALLY?!
"Also agree about Danny being our ASG representative...I can pretty much imagine him coming late in the game with two on, two out and NL trailing by couple of runs. You can guess what I dreamed next."
Stairs pinch hitting for him?
Unkyd, that does seem stupid when I think of it your way. Anyways Rendon is supposed to be like Ryan Z and supposed to come up to majors soon enough after signing (maybe by next June or September, let's hope). To adjust him, Danny, Ryan Z in our infield, keeping morse around, and finding a lead-off hitter, that's the only possible combination I could come up with. Moving Ryan Z to another position has been speculated before so I moved him to 2nd because Morse is doing good enough at 1st. Danny is supposed to be a good SS and so is Rendon at his position (3B). That was my reasoning for suggesting all those moves, based on Steve M's lineups.
Do what I did. Go back over everything that happened. Listen again to all the statements, then go out and do some historical research. Guys, I really want to be wrong about this because I love this team. But some stuff didn't sit with me, and I found confirmation by spending a few hours poking around. I was not looking for trouble--I just wanted to find out why some of what happened didn't feel right.
Davey has gone public with the idea that the Nats can be in the playoffs this year. (Press conference in LA.) Damn, I hope he's right. If so, then I am totally wrong. I hope I am. We'll see.
Ok, FS..... But I'm thinking lets work all the angles with Rendon, in the minors... We'll want to get his bat in the line ip, as soon as he's ready, bit if he has + athleticism, it might be easier to try some outfield scenarios with him, or SS. You know Desi's my boy, but he's the one guy who's not, yet , among the elite at his position. I just LOVE the other three, right where they are, assuming Zimsettlels down.....
Wouldn't it be funny if somehow the Nats got into the playoffs but Jordan Zimmerman was forced to watch because of his innings limits and Marquis and/or Lannan had been traded. Could it be that Matt Chico and Craig Stammen start in the playoffs?
OG, Let me rephrase the question:
What are you trying to say, in plain English?
In the alternative, would you mind supplying a link or two?
Funny scenarios, The Joker.
But can't see it happening.
Unkyd, what you are saying makes sense. but won't his promotion to big leagues will be delayed if we keep trying him at different positions. Anyways, I trust in the FO to make the right decision regarding this.
Question- If healthy, do you pitch Strasburg if the Nats are reasonably in the running on Labor Day?
Sec 3..
IF you want to continue this, I will. But at this point, it doesn't really matter. What's done is done. I'm watching the game now and really have a hard time with Stairs batting 4th!
DFL. Nats in the running on Labor Day????? HAHA They won't make it to the end of July.
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