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US Presswire photo Edwin Jackson saw his spring ERA skyrocket to 6.88 after today's start. |
worried about his wretched performance today ... or his overall alarming numbers this spring. "I've never had good spring trainings," Jackson said. "So definitely games like this don't affect my confidence. When we get ready to play, I'll have just as much confidence in myself."
Jackson does have a point. His spring ERA in 2010 was 5.32. Last year it was 5.59, when opponents hit .358 against him.
So the 6.68 ERA he's sporting right now after getting tagged by the Orioles today is nothing out of the ordinary.
That said, Jackson has never endured through a Grapefruit League start quite like this. He did, after all, allow 10 runs (seven earned) on 11 hits. He walked in one run, served up a three-run, opposite-field homer and allowed another run to score on an errant pickoff throw. And he was unceremoniously yanked by manager Davey Johnson after allowing seven straight batters to reach in the bottom of the fourth.
"Obviously, he wasn't hitting his spots," Johnson said. "His location wasn't very good at all. But he got his work in, kind of like Gio [Gonzalez]. Not the way you want them in. But he got it in."
Jackson's ragged outing was only the latest by a member of the Nationals rotation. Gonzalez gave up eight runs in 3 2/3 innings Thursday against the Cardinals. Jordan Zimmermann gave up four runs in five innings yesterday against the Astros.
Johnson remains unconcerned with those numbers.
"I like where they're all at," he said. "Results in the spring, I worry about it as a group if we didn't have the arm strength. That's the only thing you really worry about in the spring: the arm strength and what kind of shape they're in. And I'm comfortable with all of them."
Jackson actually displayed moments of dominance today, particularly during a 1-2-3 second inning in which he struck out both Chris Davis and Nolan Reimold on some devastating, off-speed pitches.
But those moments of glory were few and far between. He allowed three straight singles in the first, four more hits in the third (including the three-run homer by Matt Weiters) and then collapsed during the fourth.
The low point was back-to-back walks issued to J.J. Hardy and Wilson Betemit, the latter with the bases loaded. Those two free passes irked Jackson the most at the end of the day.
"The only thing I don't like is if I have games where I'm walking [batters]," he said. "Other than that, I can handle being hit around. That's the objective: Make them put the ball in play. I'll definitely take my chances being hit around like that than walking people and then get hit around. I like the odds in my favor."
Jackson will have to hope he's able to flip the switch on when he takes the mound for his first regular-season game with the Nationals April 9 against the Mets in New York. He's got two more exhibition appearances (Thursday against either the Braves or Tigers, April 3 against the Red Sox at Nationals Park) to straighten things out.
"Just focus and continue to be ready for April," he said. "By the time we get ready to play, I'll definitely be ready to go."
68 comments:
Yep, Jackson stunk today. Glad he still has his confidence.
These starting pitchers are beginnig to make Lannan look good.
$11 million dollars
Can we panic now?
Has Lannan pitched 200 innings 3 years running? Been in a world series? An All Star game? NO. And he likely never will.
$11 million dollars
Still looks heads-and-tails above hide the fact that I'm injured Jason Marquis. Yawn ...
I'm going to remain positive on my Nats because that's what gives me joy. I don't care how bad of a start they have, I will remain positive.
I totally get and respect that position. We're all Nats fans here, even the so-called neganons. What's annoying is commenters who choose to look on the bright side and belittle and complain about those to are more negative (or some might say, realistic). There is nothing inherently superior about a positive outlook. I like the variety of opinion expressed here and respect everyone's right to choose whatever approach feels right (or gives joy). What I don't respect are those who deny that right to others.
With that off my chest, I will say that I'm much less worried about our pitchers' performance than our hitters'. I buy DJ's optimism about the pitchers. They are getting stretched out and building arm strength. I find it more difficult to believe that a hitter who is having an awful spring will all of a sudden put it together come Opening Day. Hoping for the best though.
I'm also very orried about our injuries. The confidence and excitement we had before Spring Training started was based on having our best players on the field. Now, with Morse, Storen, and maybe LaRoche looking like they won't be at full strength, it's hard to be confident.
I'm getting tired of reading all the "dribble" from players imploding on the field. So Jackson is not worried about his ST 6.68 ERA and claims he'll be a changed man and "ready to go" just 12 days from now. Really Edwin? Can we quote ya on that?
Here is some encouraging news...Did anyone know that Burnett was having issues?
Amanda Comak:
Some injury updates: LaRoche progressing, set to run bases fully on Mon. Morse to start throwing Monday. Burnett tossed today, bullpen tom
I was never a fan of acquiring Jackson (you could look it up); thought LaRussa ruling him out of a second appearance in the Series was telling. I haven't said anything about it as I thought I might have over-reacted but now feel like he might be L. Hernandez at ten times the price. Doesn't mean the Nats won't be contenders but I wouldn't bet anything off the McDonald's $1 Value Menu that Jackson will turn out to be anything better than Livo.
Just got back from a trip to Philly - they are in a full-out panic ( worse than ours) about their offense and their injuries. If it wasn't for the terrible philly accents, I would have thought the conversations were about the nats. Two thoughts -- there was a lot of talk about how great the nats were going to be -- this stretch is keeping them humble and hungry - I don't want to see them go into the season thinking their talent is just going to magically make them a contender. We won't see any cockiness with these performances. The other thought - here is the caveat - you know I don't like Davey Johnson, but here goes -- all we heard the first few weeks of spring training was that the clubhouse needed to be "loose" he is a "players manager" and they don't need all those silly, structured, formal practices. Just get some work in and hit the golf course. Maybe a young-ish team like ours does need some structure and discipline after all. Maybe they haven't really been doing enough to get ready. And -- maybe it's just spring training and we shouldn't panic. Who knows? Even if you love this team and are generally optimistic, you have to have some uneasy feelings about now.
This is how silly it is to judge players solely by their spring training stats -- are our best pitchers really John Lannan and MPHRod? The sample sizes are way too small and the players are working on things. However - I really do wish they would work on hitting just a tiny bit more. please.....
"Drivel." Not "dribble." God god, people.
Ha ha: Amazing. The panic is growing.
For all posters having extreme panic attacks.
ITS SPRING TRAINING. (keep repeating)
This is going to be a frustrating year, people. That's SOP for a "bubble" team. Just wait until the Nats have this kind of streak in June--and it will happen.
Um, it's a marathon not a sprint.
NatsLady, I think you are right. For all my optimism, I'm sure I'm going to be frustrated at times this year. In fact I would not be too surprised (disappointed though) if we did not improve on last years win-loss record. That was quite a winning stretch we went on to end last year. What's really important to me is that we improve each year and I think we have improved over last year's team. I think more effort is needed on offense next year, without giving up anything on defense or pitching.
Wow. Ryan Madson signs with the Reds for $8.5M for one year, and will spend that one year on the DL. My goodness, I can not imagine how much grief their GM must be getting on RedsInsider.
Didn't see the game as I was at a conference all day (did record it but haven't yet watched). I will, however, be glued to my radio tomorrow. Well, not literally *glued* but I will be listening. :-)
Oh, and I just ate a bon-bon. Type at you later.
Gosh, ten runs for Jackson. He gave up more runs in just a couple of innings as our offense have scored since there last week almost two weeks ago.
Anyone aware that we are just 17 days to opening day and our Nats are 0-10-1 in their last 11 games.
Two weird things, wonder if Davey shouldn't of said that if he doesn't get into the playoffs he should get fired.
Also, the last time that the Nats won two weeks ago, Brad Lidge opened his mouth and told the Nats Nation what a great team that we had.
Put a tape on his mouth
I find it more difficult to believe that a hitter who is having an awful spring will all of a sudden put it together come Opening Day. Hoping for the best though.
Right. Because once a hitter has a slump, he's never ever ever just as good.
I'm also very orried about our injuries.
Right. Because once a player gets even so much as a hangnail, he never heals and he's never ever ever just as good.
I'm not worried about the pitching. It will shake itself out and be fine. It is the offense that is worrying. Fundamentally, it is the same offense as last year even if Morse comes back. Someone other that Zim, needs to have a serious imporvement over last year's stats. Werth, Desi, Espi, Ramos, Ankiel somebody.
I spent a whole blissful winter without that annoying W.B. Mason Lady. And now she's back. Ugh. I ain't happy about this....
Me, on the other hand? Pure bliss.
Or adrenaline. Or something. I'm gonna go root for bon-bons. Later.
Eh, what the hey. I can't even remember my own name half the time. What day is it again?
Anyhoo. Friend me. We'll talk. Maybe do coffee. I think maybe I've had too much coffee today, though.
Prediction:
Fast forward past all this ST negativity deserved and otherwise:
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.
And this is how it goes. Except when one of the big 3 get beat, Jackson or Lannan steal one for us.
We scrap and hover around 500 until June when Harper comes up. He starts slow but comes on. After a month he's batting about 270, and then Espi and Ramos and even Desi start to wake up...finally. Morse finally starts to feel better. Werth starts to surprise us with his old self occasionally and then a little more often. And Rendon starts to catch on in the minors relieving some of the pressure on everyone giving hope for next year.
Moral: Panic=Expectation already taken for fact.
Just go out and play the games. Lots of unpredictable stuff happens that you're sure won't happen in your GM brains--and this applies to all the optimists and pessimists. These are good players with good characters from Rizzo on down. We need hitters, and we don't have enough right now. Maybe we make the playoffs maybe we come up short. Next year we get a couple bats--at least one big left handed one. Bats we don't have to pray will hit. And we continue to let the cream in the minors rise to the top at its own speed.
I say we win 84 and I consider myself optimistic.
The correlation taken from Spring Training 2011 into the regular season for the Nationals was their abysmal ability to score. Not sure the same circumstances will apply this season, but it may be a harbinger...
Spring training individual player stats do not indicate how a player will perform during the regular season.
Spring training W-L records also do not indicate how well a team will play in the regular season.
I've researched this quite a bit. And I could not find a anyone who knows anything about baseball (writers, players, stat nuts, etc) who believes ST numbers mean anything regarding the upcoming season.
If you look at some box scores and stats from other teams this spring, you'll notice some very good hitters and pitchers with horrendous numbers.
Obviously it would be nice to win every ST game 10-0. But rest assured that ST stats are no indication of how well the Nats will perform in 2012.
Count on it. I'm not just being optimistic, I looked all of this stuff up.
So please people just relax and count down to opening day. :-) That's what I'm doing.
Here is a nice book to read. It's only $1.99 on the kindle (or the free kindle app on your computer).
Under the March Sun: The Story of Spring Training
http://www.amazon.com/Under-March-Sun-Spring-Training/dp/0195372034
That does look like an interesting read NatsLady.
I need a new baseball book. I had tons when I was a teenager, most of which are now lost.
One of my favorites was "The Physics of Baseball"
And of course, before the internet, I would buy the Baseball Encyclopedia every few years.
Also had several biographies.
I will try "The Physics of Baseball" if it is on Kindle. My eyes are not good enough to enjoy reading paper books, it's a strain. :) Got several bio's, plus "Moneyball" and one called "Wilpon's folly."
You know I think NatsLady put it best. I don't care if they have an awful April and May. As long as they pick things and come together as a tea,m by May.
Its a marathon of 162 games and doesn't become a 'sprint' over this same period of time until October ... so ...
Its interesting hearing Brady Anderson's take on lead-off hitting ... especially after Boz's article on how he got covered to CF by Davey Johnson. I would have liked to hear his take on what it takes to be a CF vis-a-vis Harper.
How many times can you say "But it is only ST and we're not worried about it" and have people believe you? How many times can you love your "approach" while getting absolutely pasted? Apparently 11 times is still not the answer to those questions.
@lesatcsc, The reason some of us keep reminding others that Spring Training is an awful predictor of regular season results is that:
(A) It is a hypothesis that has been proven by a HUGE amount of data, and
(B) Many on this blog have not internalized this established fact yet.
We are not being 'optimistic'; we are trying to educate and calm folks down.
Corky
Corky- Exactly. I've been trying to say that for days.
Some people just don't want to be confused by the facts I suppose.
Today, the switch gets flipped. Today I start to observe more closely.
I think I know what is happening with the Nats in st. You know how Texas is trying to keep the Angels from seeing Darvish pitch. Well, the Nats are applying the same strategy to practically their whole team against all opponents. Pretty clever, eh.
I join Corky and Cwj in accepting the facts that most of what happens in ST is meaningless to what happens in the regular season. The one area that is a key is injuries and while it seems most of ours are minor compared to other teams (Yankees, Reds, Braves, Phillies), I am concerned that Morse, LaRoche and Storen won't get enough reps.
That said, as much negativity and woe as I read here by posters. I see none of that on the field or in the dugout or clubhouse of Natstown. I also trust that Mark would feel that negativity or worry, if it were there, and most of the beat writers have constantly reported that no one seems worried.
We are not a perfect team but none of the 30 are. JayB can complain about bench depth and a lack of CF and those are valid but if he was a Phillies phan he could jump on that GM for letting his team get old and not providing a backup for Howard, and he could find something to jump on every team about.
This is way too long but how many teams have 4 infielders under 27 with bright futures and a number one pick getting started? How many teams have two solid catchers both under 27? How many teams have 6/7 solid starting pitchers and a solid bullpen? OK, I will skip the outfield but seriously, we will be fine.
Sorry for the length but I just had to get it out.
Go Nats
Njack....that really made me laugh...thanks.....anyway I expect this team to be much better than last years. i expect this team to win more than they lose for the first time ever......I think they will underachieve due to offensive problems. I think a golden window of opportunity was missed over the past 6 months that should have been used to upgrade the bench at the very least.
Rick E is a great person, coach and nobody works harder.....is he effective? Are his players working hard enough? Why would they go to there High School Coaches for major reworking of a swing he put in place? Should AAA and AAAA types be able to hit any spring training pitching? Is Rick responsible for the lack of production under his watch?
We are going to find out real soon. If what I expect happens, that is, a failure of Ian D to get on base and a bench that continues the 0 for 25 type Pinch hitting with the game on the line in the 8th inning that we know to be our past few years......Hate to say it but I told you so....April is going to be an ugly 7 and 20 record.
Life must be so joyfull always anticipating failure.
JayB, I think the Nats will have a month with a 7-20 record, I just don't think it will be April, because of the opposition and the fact that the Reds lost their closer--here'hoping we don't lose ours.
JayB.. I think going to the high school coach was the classic "Don't think Meat, it can only hurt the team." It sounds like ian was pushing to keep going during the off season and managed to mess up what he had at the end of last season. Hopefully he learned his lesson.
And a note to the individual who commented on my "I've seen this before" and attributing it to being Senators fan......wrong. While I was a Senators fan, my comment came from personally attending 17 years worth of Minnesota Twins spring training camps.Tom Kelley didn't give a rats butt about ST wins/losses.
JayB, you seriously oversimplfy "upgrading the bench". Most of the guys who are solid bench players are also guys who are borderline MLB everyday players. And most of those guys are looking to sign with the team that DOES NOT relegate them to the bench. They are looking for the team that will give them the best shot at getting regular playing time and a lot of At Bats. You can't just offer more money and sign these guys. They are not looking for max contract. They are looking for max playing time.
And look at three of the 5 guys that will make up the bench - Flores, DeRosa and Lombardozzi. That's as good as it gets on an MLB bench. Pencil in Ankiel for the bench, since that's where he'll be when Harper comes up, and you really have a pretty good bench by NL standards.
I was gonna make a positive comment like, "Hey, we got four hits--double the number from the previous day". But I'm too depressed to be sarcastic.
Rays are 6-13 and lost yesterday 19-4. Raise your hand if you think the Rays are a hopeless team.
Phillies bench - Looks something like Jim Thome, Brian Schneider, Laynce Nix, Juan Pierre, Pete Orr.
Braves bench - Looks something like David Ross, Jose Costanza, Matt Diaz, Drew Sutton, Eric Hinske.
When guys like Jason Bartlett, Ruben Tejada, Jose Altuve, Orlando Hudson, Jason Castro, Josh Thole, Nate Schierholtz and Juan Uribe are holding down regular everyday spots in MLB lineups, how can you expect much more from anyone's bench?
Still catching up on my blog reading after being out all day yesterday. Just wanted to say regarding the quote below that Mark would get my vote (if I had one).
When I become commissioner, I'm changing that rule. If a pitcher commits the error that allows runs to score, they should be charged to him.
I disagree. ERA is flakey enough as it is without distorting it by adding in runs where the pitcher is acting as a fielder. Pitchers will get tagged for the loss and miss the chance for a Gold Glove.
Texas is last in the Cactus League at 6-15. You all think that is where they will finish the regular season?
Nats are far from hopeless NLady....this seems to be the approach of most posters here.....we are better than we were....we are no longer the worst team in baseball.....we almost had a winning season for the first time in our 8 year history......ALL IS GREAT....NO IMPROVEMENT NEEDED AND NO WAY WE COULD DO ANYTHING DIFFERENT.....expecting the team to do everything they can to win and win now is the last step in shedding the losing culture that Lerner installed in the first 6 years of their ownership.
I EXPECT MORE....
NatsLady, thanks for the link to the spring training book. I bought it and will read it at the beach after today's win.
NatsJack.....what was your impression of Tyler Moore? Stat wise, he did ok this spring. Quick bat? Do you think he can hit ML pitching?
The Texas Rangers were in the World Series last year. Then over the offseason they did nothing to upgrade their offense and replaced a good pitcher in C.J. Wilson with some Japanese retread. Now they're 6-15 in spring training and will never contend again. Serves them right.
I know I have never cared about ST records.....do not really see anyone here who does.....what I do see is many apologist try to explain poor performance, especially just getting a hit now and then as not mattering because records do not matter....apples and oranges......the fact that players...even AAA types are way way under performing at the plate does matter....wins or loses do not right now.
Show me the hits.....extra base hits and good at bats....that is what is missing still at a very late stage of the spring.
And had the Nats done everything JayB deemed as necessary to reach whatever nirvana he imagines, they' still be tied in the lost column for the division lead with absolutely no guarantee that their future record would be any better.
no guarantees in life or baseball....just better odds based on better decisions and application or max resources......This is my issue...they did not do what was needed.
If we're going to choose up sides, I suppose I'd wear the apologist cap if those in the other camp would agree to wear the polemicist cap. That, or we could respect each other's inclinations without the labeling of fellow Nats fans.
po·lem·i·cist (p -l m -s st) also po·lem·ist (p -l m st, p l -m st). n. A person skilled or involved in polemics. polemicist, polemist. a skilled debater in speech or writing.
Does not really sound like me....I decline the offer
Me, too. :-)
JayB is not a skilled debater. The only thing he is skilled in is hate. Is there a fancy pants word that means "hater", natsfan1a?
yea....I'm the hater....as long timers with perspective now....I am one who wants the team to do whatever it takes to win and win now....I do not hate anything but poor effort and losing attitudes....Nats have had a life time of that in the past 8 years......I expect winning for here forward and that means doing things like spending on hitting and holding those players who fail accountable for bad decision and repeated underperformace.....Ian D.....
AHHhh another Sunday with angst in the air. I am worried again but panic will set in if the performance starting today is still Keystone Cops then we have again another team in DC that reads it's positive prediction reviews and thought that was all they needed to do. Is that what is going on now? I do not know. But you see it reflected in the other teams in town and wonder could the Nationals be the next to fall. Here is to hoping it's just the past that scares and not the present.
JayB makes good points, sometimes, like the rest of us. Overestimates what Rizzo can do, however. Rizzo got enough pitching so that we could withstand the loss of both Wang and Storen--hopefully temporary. The problem with offense is two-fold: not many mid-level outfielders on the market and you don't want to block what you have coming up. Parra (D-Backs) would be a nice fit but how expensive? The bench was addressed above. Short of another team being desparate for one of our spare parts (and we don't have that many left) I foresee we are going with what we got. That doesn't mean there isn't room for improvement but at a certain point you have to let the guys show what they have.
He's not a hater, and he's entitled to his opinions, imo.
Anonymous said...
JayB is not a skilled debater. The only thing he is skilled in is hate. Is there a fancy pants word that means "hater", natsfan1a?
March 25, 2012 10:04 AM
JayB is not a skilled debater. The only thing he is skilled in is hate. Is there a fancy pants word that means "hater", natsfan1a?
Neganon?
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