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Associated Press photo Roger Bernadina watches his fifth-inning homer clear the fence. |
Nationals reason to believe he can be a significant producer at the big-league level.Bernadina, though, has never been able to sustain that level of play for any length of time, forever teasing the Nationals with his skills, but only in spurts.
The 27-year-old outfielder has been at it again the last couple of days. He's homered in back-to-back games and gone a combined 5-for-6 with six RBI and a walk.
One reason for Bernadina's recent surge in power: He's worked with hitting coach Rick Eckstein on staying "inside" the ball and not flying open on his swing.
"That's been actually the key," he said. "I came off the ball a lot, almost roll over. That's been working well for me right now."
Bernadina has also impressed lately in the outfield and on the bases. During today's game against the Astros, he went hard into second base to break up a double play and allow a run to cross the plate. Actually, he and his teammates thought he beat the throw and should have been ruled safe.
"Whatever it takes to get the run in," he said.
Part of the problem in evaluating Bernadina has been the question about what kind of player he should be: A table-setter who uses his speed to score runs, or a run producer capable of providing a big blast.
"You know, with his speed, he's a guy you look at who can kind of bunt and hit a few little soft liners in there," manager Davey Johnson said. "But he's got tremendous power. He's a big, strong guy."
Having used up all of Bernadina's options the last three years, the Nationals face a potentially difficult decision next week. If he doesn't make the roster, he would have to be placed on waivers and exposed to 29 other clubs.
For now, Bernadina appears to be safe as one of two backup outfielders, along with Brett Carroll. The situation, though, remains fluid, particularly with the uncertain status of left fielder Michael Morse and first baseman Adam LaRoche.
"I don't worry about that," Bernadina said. "I want to get in a groove to help the ballclub somehow. Whatever it is, I'll see what happens. I don't worry about that right now."
52 comments:
Just out of curiosity: Why are your and Adam Kilgore of the WaPo's posts always nearly identical in content and timing? Is it just what's available in spring or do you collaborate on content, or what's the deal? It'd be nice to have a bit more variety!!
I'm in the tank for the Shark. Always have been. Guy has more raw talent and speed than anyone on our roster.
So watching Nats classic on MASN.. It's Nats vs Phillies, another Mr Walkoff moment, but that's not what I am watching.. Werth (in a Phillies uni) is playing Center field. Who knew!
Oh and Anon 7:16.. They are beat writers, this is what Happens every day, day in and day out. Columnists give you the variety. However I do recommend following the beat writers on Twitter. Their true personalities comes out then.
To all anonymous posters like the one above. Just go stuff it.
Ask an intelligent question or provide an intelligent baseball observation.
You've got basically 4 news outlets covering the same thing. If 2 of them happen to catch a player being candid at the same time ..... wallahhh! you get the same story. If Amanda was present you'd get 3.
Most anonymous posters have no clue.
Anon @ 7:16:
And a pony.
Hey, this is a free blog -- if you're bored, go somewhere else.
So long as you don't bat the Shark in leadoff, his offensive stats are serviceable.
Hey Dudeee! You must be so impressed with your BRILLIANCE. (I'm not.) So, I recommend you stop "patting yourself on the back" or you might dislocate your shoulders.
The Dude Abides. I don't know about you, but I feel better just knowing that.
The Dude Abides. Unlike this site. Maybe this will help?
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I have always liked Bernadina. Some of his climb-the-wall catches have been unbelievable. It's his hitting that has been so inconsistent. I'm happy to see him becoming more comfortable with his swing and hope his success continues..
Bernadina's going to have a decent year. I have hope in the man that he hits his stride.
LoveDaNats..
Totally agree on Bernie's hitting, but I know that i am inviting a firestorm with this, but MAYBE working with Eck on staying "inside" on the ball will help that
Every now and again, basically by accident, I slip and read some of those posts written by people without the guts to identify themselves in any way, shape, or form.
Threads like this remind me why I slide right past anonymous posts in long threads.
Thanks for the refresher, Anon doofuses.
I do look forward to a decent year from the Shark. He has played some exciting outfield.
Hope he can improve on offense. I will never forget one game against the Mets (last year? 2010?) in which his getting picked off at second base ended the game.
The raves about Bernadina have omitted a brilliant defensive play yesterday - he absolutely nailed a bullet from mid center field to the plate in the third inning, freezing a Mets runner at third.
Bernadina has always been all about "potential". He's had so many chances to prove himself, but has always managed to disappoint. I'd like to see him succeed, but I don't think we can be patient anymore. If he is in left field to start the season in place of Morse, he needs to prove himself right away -- consistent hitting, reliable outfield play, and wise use of his speed on the basepaths. He can be an asset to this team, but he's gotta show that from Day 1.
One reason for Bernadina's recent surge in power: He's worked with hitting coach Rick Eckstein on staying "inside" the ball and not flying open on his swing.
"That's been actually the key," he said. "I came off the ball a lot, almost roll over. That's been working well for me right now."
_____________________________________________
Its a couple of games. This is ridiculous. Do it for a few weeks and I will be a believer and I am a "Shark" guy.
I have said before he has more potential than Ankiel.
Felt psychic about Lannan #5 with Det in pen and Wang on DL these past three months and sticking with this psychic prediction:
Prediction:
Fast forward a few days:
OD: Stras puts the screws to the Cubbies and we win 2-1 cobbling together a couple runs.
Game 2: Gio tightens up his game and we win 3-2 with Zim going 3 for 4.
Game 3: JZimm comes out tough and we power our way to a 2-0 win.
Game 4: Jackson pitches ok and we lose.
Game 5: Lannan pitches pretty darn well but we get shut out.
Remember this prediction all you anons so we can have some fun...
Did not envision Werth's homer heard round the world that set off his car alarm.
Bernadina reminds me a lot of Justin Maxwell. Gosh they both looked like Gods with great body and lots of potential but Justin was a bust and probably will never be the big leaguer we thought he would be five years ago and the same can be said for Bernadina.
Yes he had two great games and is on a roll, but what will we be saying about Bernadina in a week?
See him barely making the team, but once Bryce Harper gets it together, Bernadina will be disposed of like yesterdays newspaper.
Actually, JMax isn't doing so badly for himself.
Berndina needs to get PT in the 2 hole for this club. SOMEONE has to get on for Zim.
Dave YOUR knowledge of baseball is what I question as
Well as your maturity quotient. Another old fogey Mr. Wilson gumming up the blogs. Go away and Uzi Wiily's be sure to protest your inane guest posts on National's Buzz.
Egad numbskull junior journalists piling on Anon's.
The shark is one of the best athletes they have in the system. But as a ball player he has never really had the skills. Here's hoping he finally puts it together.
Watching the Nats Classic from july 2010. Dibble (ugh) is praising Bernadina to high heavens. He is also trashing Tyler Clippard. Clip blew a lot of saves that year, they seem to be showing all of them recently. Dibble and Carpenter are just ranting about Clip's change-up and about how he needs to stay away from the breaking pitch. Why is he throwing that pitch? In hindsight it's interesting to listen to things like this. I think Clip just needed time for his pitching style to develop - now that change- up is devastating to hitters. They talked about how Riggs was trying to stop him from throwing it. Werth is playing for the Phils - and very well, too. It's just kind of strange sometimes to watch and listen to these games and see how things have changed so very much. Of course, Zim hits a walk-off - that never seems to change. Just imagine if the organization had not been patient with Clippard.
Its JMax's last chance as well ... he's spent 3 or so years in AAA, He either got it or he don't. Let's hope he does finally ... after getting screwed up in his development by good ol' JimBo.
If the organization had been more patient with Clippard he might be a dominant starter right now.
Best 25 go North!! Hope all are well. Been away from computers for some time -- man does that feel pretty good (likely for you guys too, not having to read my rants!). :-)
Go Nats!
dfh21
Everyone I am certain is hoping Bernadina makes it. He has a lot of flexibility in that he could be at the top of the order if he could continue to walk as he has this spring. Or he could be a #5, #6 hitter.
He makes a better choice than Ankiel as a starter for a lot or reasons. But, he's not the best CF.
It sure looks to me like the outfield will have a lot of pseudo platoons. Lots of players in and out. Even though Johnson likes a fixed lineup I can't see that with the Nats outfield with the exception of Werth, at least until Morse gets healthy then it will settle down again.
If the organization had been more patient with Clippard he might be a dominant starter right now.
He still comes apart after 2 or so innings. That seems highly doubtful. He just learned to get out of jams with men on. Before last year he was more effective with the bases empty.
The Nats now have plenty of starters and more on the way.
Maxwell is out of options and the Nats need a RH-hitting OF. Cheap, and no pain if they had to cut him -- again. Keep thinking how long Darnell McDonald spent in the minors.
Bernadina has really had plenty of opportunity, including several long stretches in the lineup. And it's probably the third or fourth time the batting coach has straightened out his swing. His Ks are high but not in the Dunn-zone; he doesn't walk very much. He just doesn't seem to (A) find the right pitches to hit; (B) zone in on all the hitting instruction he's been given. Conclusion: it's not his physical skills that are keeping him from reaching his potential.
I think his chances of a breakthrough season this year are slim because -- unlike the previous two seasons -- he's going to be filling in for someone who really needs to be in the lineup if healthy and isn't going to get three or four weeks to demonstrate that he's finally got it figured out and everything under control.
Needs to be Langerhans'd.
Did not envision Werth's homer heard round the world that set off his car alarm.
No, it was his car alarm that was heard round the world. ;-)
If the organization had been more patient with Clippard he might be a dominant starter right now.
Yeah, if only Dennis Eckersley had stayed a starter, he might have really been useful.
Jim Webster said ...
The raves about Bernadina have omitted a brilliant defensive play yesterday - he absolutely nailed a bullet from mid center field to the plate in the third inning, freezing a Mets runner at third.
You're talking about the Mets' long reliever on third--a good throw, to be sure. We were laughing listening to to game at home, imagining Davey's reaction if Shark lets a AA relief pitcher tag and score on a medium fly ball.
Huh? That Pujols analogy makes no sense. Clipaprd was a starter, he has well more than 100 minor league starts, they gave up on him as a SP when he was 23 years old. He's great as a relief guy, but he may have gotten it together as a SP.
Watching Reds @ Rangers on MLB. WTF did Cincinnati do to their uniforms??? Big script "Reds" across a Cardinal jersey?? They had the best logo in the game!
And did I mention they gave it a Dodger stripe?
Bill Bray (remember him?) in mop-up for the Reds. Looks a little out of sorts, like he's working on something basic in his delivery. Or is he always this all over the place?
Yeah, the Reds uniforms have turned ordinary.
Section 3, the Eck reference is worse. Youre; reaching my friend. And the funnky ST unies don't go north with the Reds.
Joe Beimel released.
Old friend JMAX is Mr. March.
Hope he can keep it going.
Beimel released, and his Wikipedia page is updated already.
I hope JMax does OK, too. Fellow Terp, and a nice guy, AFAIK.
You just can't over-value "nice guy." Doesn't win games, but then, that's a short-sighted valuation, IMO.
I hope JMax does OK, too. Fellow Terp, and a nice guy, AFAIK.
There's that AFLAC duck again!
Bernardina is the Dutch word for Maxwell.
Wish 'em both luck: they're good guys with ungodly athletic talent. But they remind me of John Kruk's famous line: "Lady, I'm not an athlete. I'm a ballplayer."
Oops, my bad. Wrong Dave.
Anonymous said...
Dave YOUR knowledge of baseball is what I question as
Well as your maturity quotient. Another old fogey Mr. Wilson gumming up the blogs. Go away and Uzi Wiily's be sure to protest your inane guest posts on National's Buzz.
Egad numbskull junior journalists piling on Anon's.
March 26, 2012 9:08 PM
I am just soooo ready for the real season to begin. I hope the team is ready! Go Nats!!!
I'm intrigued by Bernadina and Eckstein's comment re: his swing: "coming off the ball,flying open". I don't know much about the science of hitting, but could this be a "eureka" moment for Bernie? Will we see a newly-created consistent hitter? Or will bad habits re-emerge once the season starts?
Fast Eddie, it's a fairly common correction, for many (if not all, at one time or another) hitters, so probably not a eureka, but you never know. 90% of this game is half mental, as Yogi said.
Section 3:
I'm sure Eckstein helps certain players analyze and tweak their swings. Let's hope Bernie improves as a result. To me, there's the danger of over-thinking all the nuances of the swing (think golf). Some of the best hitters subscribe to the theory: "See the ball, hit the ball".
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