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Associated Press photo Danny Espinosa and the Nats have scored just three runs in innings 1-7 this season. |
So in the wake of a frustrating, 4-3 loss to the Cubs this afternoon -- one that saw Jeff Samardzija shove it down the Nationals' throats until Adam LaRoche's two-run homer with two outs in the ninth -- is there anything that can be done to try to generate some offense before, you know, they sing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame?"
"Some homers would be nice," Ian Desmond cracked before turning serious. "I mean, it's the third game. We all had great springs."
Success in March, however, doesn't always translate to success in April. And right now, anybody in the Nationals' lineup not named Desmond (5-for-13) or LaRoche (5-for-12, two homers) is finding that out the hard way.
The lack of offensive punch have been especially prevalent early in these games. During this three-game series at Wrigley Field, the Nationals scored a total of three runs in innings 1-through-7. They scored nine runs in the eighth and ninth innings.
"I think it's too early to worry about that," LaRoche said. "I think it's just part of the way it's been going right now. It'd be nice to score some more early, give our pitchers a little cushion. Those guys have been doing a great a job coming in."
The Nationals certainly couldn't find much fault with anything today's starter, Jordan Zimmermann, did during his seven innings on the hill. The young right-hander aggressively went after Chicago's lineup, mowing through guys so efficiently that at one point he retired seven batters on a total of 15 pitches.
The key to Zimmermann's efficiency? He threw first-pitch strikes to an incredible 19 of the first 23 batters he faced. And he was able to get ahead of hitters with his entire arsenal, not strictly his fastball.
"It definitely helps," he said. "When I've got a hitter's count and I can throw a slider in there, and they're out front and rolling over, popping it up, it's always beneficial."
Alas, Zimmermann was done in yet again by the one thing that's out of his control: Run support. It became an all-too-common theme in 2011, and it felt all too familiar in his 2012 debut.
Zimmermann has now suffered 12 losses since the beginning of last season. In seven of those losses, he's allowed two or fewer earned runs.
There's not much the right-hander can say anymore about the lack of support, other than insist it doesn't get to him.
"It doesn't change my approach," he said. "I'm just going to keep throwing strikes and try to get as many outs as possible."
Zimmermann might actually have escaped without taking the loss had the Nationals' bullpen been able to keep the deficit at 2-1. But Ryan Mattheus, so effective yesterday in keeping his teammates within striking distance before mounting their late rally, gave up two runs in the bottom of the eighth, digging the Nationals into a deeper hole.
Even so, the visiting dugout sprung to life when LaRoche belted Samardzija's 110th pitch of the afternoon over the right-field fence, trimming the deficit to 4-3 and bringing a hush over the crowd of 31,973 that now had to hope closer Carlos Marmol could actually record the save for the first time in three tries.
"I mean, I think we're a pretty confident club," right fielder Jayson Werth said. "And never out of any game, that's for sure."
Werth made the Cubs faithful sweat it out even more when he drew a five-pitch walk off Marmol, but the beleaguered Chicago closer quickly rebounded to get Xavier Nady to pop out and end the game.
Thus the Nationals left town with mixed feelings. They could easily have swept the series, but they just as easily could have been swept.
In the end, they head to New York at 2-1, pleased to own a winning record but hopeful they might actually take an early lead at some point in this young season.
"I think you look back at those first two games, and if we don't come through with some big hits late -- which, again, doesn't always happen -- we could have lost those," LaRoche said. "So it's nice to win two out of three. Again, I don't want to press at all, but it'd be nice to get some runs early."
61 comments:
Did anyone see it coming that Desi, ALR and Chad Tracy are carrying the entire offense? And say what you will about Zim being robbed by the wind - perhaps he should have adjusted and stop trying to hit it out against the wind. On Thursday, it just seemed like he was determined to beat the wind. Seems like he should be a good enough hitter to adjust and try to sneak through a 25 hopper or something.
Morse should be back soon ... and then opposing pitchers will have more to think about after Zimmeman.
The injury to Rendon feels crippling ... his start in Potomac already featured an unreal OBP and wOBA. Gets to Harrisburg for the 2nd half ... September call-up. There's your #2 hitter.
Of course Nick "the stick" Johnson was a primo #2 hitter ... when he could stay healthy ... have to wonder if Anthony Rendon doesn't similarly end up at first base batting second given both ankles? That would be a real shame for a prospect with gold glove potential.
I think we also have to be concerned about Werth. Yeah, I heard all the "it's early" stuff, but Werth has yet to get a hit. I thought he was turning things over from last year? Well, at the plate, he looks like he is picking up from where he left off last year, no hits and already FIVE strikeouts.
1. Get Morse back ASAP.
2. Drop Werth to the 7 or 8 slot.
3. Get Flores into the game, catch 1 of 3 and PH.
4. Tell Zim to think March!
WHY DOES JASON WERTH EVEN HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY?!!!!! He should just keep his mouth shut until next year or when he does something constructive, WHICH EVER COMES FIRST! Don't bet on the constructive aspect. Werth shouldn't be dropped to the bottom of the lineup. He should be dropped to Haggerstown.
Still early, and we have a winning record without one of our best hitters. We do seem to make mediocre pitchers look like All Stars, but hitters tend to find their groove later than pitchers. As long as we end April with a winning record, I'll be happy.
Still early, and we have a winning record without one of our best hitters. We do seem to make mediocre pitchers look like All Stars, but hitters tend to find their groove later than pitchers. As long as we end April with a winning record, I'll be happy.
With my rose colored glasses on I see that the Nats took 2 out of 3 in a series. If they do that consistently, we'll be talking playoffs. When Morse comes back the lineup will be ratcheted up a notch. Also, two big questions about hitters look like they may have been answered in our favor -- Ian is off to a fast start and looking like a real leadoff hitter and LaRoche's shoulder seems to be fully healed and he's re-discovered his power stroke. I'm not worried about Zim - he's a proven .300 hitter. Werth does look lost again at the plate - too much like last year, less like Spring Training.
Im starting to wonder about that Werth contract!
Werth didn't look lost today. He got robbed of two hits and took a walk. He'll get there.
Watching ChiSox vs. Rangers. Dunn just went down swinging, missed by a mile.
Swami said:
baseballswami said...
Did anyone see it coming that Desi, ALR and Chad Tracy are carrying the entire offense?
Not the last two. But Desi? I say yes, yes I did/do. But More is coming back, and that will help RZimm AND Werth, and all the pitchers.
OK Natslady, I'll try to see the Werth glass as half full.
Folks, I think this season falls into the category of "it is what it is." This is not the 1927 Yankees. This team is built on pitching and defense and trying to scratch a few runs together here and there. Mickey Morse will help. But anybody expecting this team to hit like, say, the Rangers is delusional.
If we lose a few 2-1 games, let's not pack it in. We're going to be in a lot of nail-biters. That's why I've stocked up on the bourbon and Maalox. See everybody Thursday, and maybe we can be coming off a sweep of the Mets, who are bound to crash and burn shortly.
Lannan shelled in first Chief's game tonight.
Wow, the way people talk, you would think this wasn't a 100 loss team just a few years ago.
It's so ridiculous how carp mocks the soriano contract every time we play the cubs. You think the nats wouldn't be ecstatic if werth put up anything close to his numbers...
If we win every series the entire season it will be roses!! I realize we have not hit and I realize Werth is struggling but we are 2-1, on the road and if we come home 4-2 you can't ask for any more.
Rabbit, take a deep breath. Werth has 6 more years, he is not going anywhere. He will be a big piece of our team and has already changed the culture of this team in the clubhouse. Stop hating and start rooting. He is a pro, his dad was a pro, his uncle and grandfather were pros. He is not playing well right now but he has won a World Series and knows what it takes to win so just relax and let things play out. By the way, if someone at your job offered you a salary that was way beyond what you were making, would you turn it down?? I think not.
Ooooh, that's not good for his trade value. It's one thing to be "stashed" in AAA. It's another thing to get shelled there. Guess I'll take a look at the archive on MiLB.tv.
oldguyjim see you Thurs said...
Lannan shelled in first Chief's game tonight.
Checking the box, looks like Lannan gave up 5 earned in 2 innings and was pulled. Brycie-boy went 0 for 4.
Chiefs vs. Yankees
http://www.milb.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2012_04_08_swbaaa_syraaa_1
I see that Maxwell was picked up by the Astros - wonder if we will see him next week. Apologies if this has already been discussed.
When do we start interleague play? Morse hasn't played the field yet, he's still DH'ing.
Senators vs. Baysox
http://www.milb.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2012_04_08_haraax_bowaax_1
Not scoring and winning 2 out of 3 on the road not bad I say.
How many teams are undefeated on the road so far this year?
ZERO!
Hey that kid Samardzija threw a hell of a game and we were in it to the end. The Nats did not lose that game they were beat.
Overall I think the Nats looked better than I expected and no one got hurt.
Both Desmond and Espinoza looked like they had an actual plan when they came to bat. If A.L. Hits career avg. numbers, Desmond gets on base like he did the last month of 2011 and Zimmerman stays health they will score more runs than they did last year. The pitching staff is better so they should win more games then last year.
The games will sometimes be like torture like the S.F. Giants or winning ugly like they did the first half of 2005, but if the pitching hold up they will be in most games and that's all you can ask.
So far so good.
Thanks for the updates down on the farm...
Morse and Ankiel can't hurt...will take pressure off Zimm, Werth, ...
and the starting pitchers who have to be perfect to get a win.
Good question of when Morse will be able to play outfield. First base aint open anymore.
And think Harper will be looking Major league ready by June. Shoot, even Mantle needed time at Kansas City (when they were a minor league affiliate for the Yanks...He also hit a few 550+ shots while down there and in Spring training...Harper kind of reminds me of MM).
Watching Great Expectations...a good analogy for the Nats.
Watching archive of Chiefs game, hard to see because the camera is in outerspace. The audio not synced with the video, so you see miniature players running around first, then you hear about it.
Harper (RF) saved a run in the first inning with his arm, but then sent in a high throw on the next play, so an extra run scored (not an error).
In the 2nd, after 2 outs, he gives up back-to-back walks, gives up two singles, and the bullpen is in motion. Gets the final out, but that's it. Announcers seemed to have a lot of sympathy for Lannan.
Fox rightly says this aint the 27 Yankeees....but they may come close to the 98 yanks if we have Harper, Rendon, Zimmerman, Morse, Ramos, Espinosa in the same lineup (also Desmond, Werth).
For this talk of how improved the Nats are, how many games their going to win, if they'll make the playoffs and how far they will go. I'd just like to see them make more contact, not get hits mind you. Just make friggin' contact.
jeffwx--yes, that is my worry on Morse. Is he going to come up and just pinch hit? Or can he play the field? I'm not exactly understanding what the plan is because you would think if he is coming back this week he would be getting some outfield reps. Ankiel doesn't need practice fielding.
I'm a Werth fan. I don't care about his contract. I was glad when we signed him. He is a pro, he comes to play everyday etc. But.....we just gotta get something more than .230 58 ribbies and 160K's from him. I wouldn't be worried if he was having good AB's, but he just seems to have no idea at the plate.....again this year. You hear the talk that he's changed, he put on 15 lbs of muscle, fixed his swing etc. Well Jason is 33 now in a post steroid era. I saw him bat twice today. One a horrid k....chasing a slider a foot outside and the other time he got sawed off really bad. That must of been one of NatLady's "got robbed" Anyhow, we desperately need Jason to step up and give us something....anything. Hell, I'll take .250 with 25 hr's and 75 ribbies. And as I said earlier, I wish he would get his eyes checked
Watch out Big Cat. Soon you'll be called a Werth hater for just recognizing his shortcomings, and stating the obvious that he needs to be a lot better. He didn't have a banner series in the field either I might mention.
But just as I'm not convinced that Desmond has turned the corner after one series, I'm not going to conclude that Werth is doomed to repeat his terrible 2011. I'm just glad we're playing regular season baseball finally, and we'll find out soon what this team is made of.
Fun with stats . . . while we're looking at the anemic hitting, let's not miss that the team ERA is fifth in the league -- and that the Nats are the only team in all of MLB not to give up a HR.
the Nats are the only team in all of MLB not to give up a HR.
Wonk, great point, and way cool. GYFNBPG!
Poor Cubbies. Imagine being the only team in MLB after 3 games not to have hit a homer. The shame! Perhaps the only worse thing would be to be one of the five guys other than Wood and Marmol in their bullpen, wondering if your manager will ever have confidence enough in you to bring you in in a close game....
EJax goes against Pelfrey tomorrow night. Maybe the offense will have more luck in NYC. It would be nice to get Morse back for Thursday. Also wondering when Lombo and Jesus get their first starts.
I read the criticism of Werth and understand the disappointment but not the venom. I do think he will come round, but think he needs a good bat behind him. They might have to move him to the 2 hole to get him started then move him back if appropriate. Pitchers don't want to throw strikes to him. But if he's on for Zimm they might pitch him in the zone more often.
222, you miss the point.
Giving up a home run sucks. That's the point. Don't over-complicate this.
Or is my snarkdar malfunctioning?
snarkdar...
nice!! ;-)
An old usage, Wonk. If I had to guess, I would attribute it to Halfstreet.
Found this in a "straight" news story about Ozzie. Guess the reporter couldn't resist.
Guillen sounded genuinely contrite about the Castro comments and said he's finished with addressing political topics, although that still leaves a wealth of subjects in which he can embarrass the Marlins.
sjm308.....That's the problem with Werth. He will be here for six more years and isn't going anywhere. But, this is his second year with us and he is picking up just where he left off from his first, whole, miserable year. He has shown nothing and, yes, he is with us for six more years. Yes,he is a big piece of our team. There are only 9 starters in a game. That also makes him a big headache; a big rally-killer. HE needs to catch HIS breath. Let him do it in Haggerstown. Whew! GO NATIONALS!!!!
I'm so dopey I thought he was talking about STARLIN Castro, not Castro Castro. Now it makes sense. Sheesh.
Since our discussion of Davey's pirate ship here is getting so many silly comments, let's start the week with something upbeat.
"He's so un-hep, when you say Castro,
He thinks yer talkin about FIDEL Castro
(whoever HE wuz!)
Tha man ain't got no Culcha!
But it's alright, ma..."
Not a Werth Apologist here, but I am rooting, I have the jersey. BUT, I do agree that he needs to come in somwhere around career norms. I think they should drop him down to the 6 hole when Morse comes back.
I think part of the problem last year was the injuries during the 1st half of the season. He probably felt the burden of the contract, the fact that he was playing with a bunch of rookies/2nd year players/bench guys and lord knows what was going on in that clubhouse. So I am willing to chuck last year in the bin and forget it. We still won 80 games
Mark Z.. hopefully you are reading this.. Can you give us an update on how Citi field looks with the Fences in this year? Maybe that will help our offense!
Jesus should get a start per series, with no PH opportunities Davey needs to keep him sharp with regular starts. Wilson didn't exactly have a great series, I'm disappointed he didn't get the start yesterday. I realize it's only the opening series, but it's THE opening series and Davey should have gotten him some playing time... must be frustrating for him.
--Jim
Flores and his fans need to be content w/ catching third games in back-to-back-backs, day games after night games, and makeup doubleheaders. Ramos is the better catcher; to be a .275, 25HR, 75RBI guy, he needs to be in the day-to-day lineup to stay in the batting, handling-pitchers groove. Hope he starts 130 games.
Nats don't have a scheduled off-day until April 23. No rain in sight (approaching drought status). You'll see Flores.
It doesn't look to me like Werth has changed his swing. He still has that same twist himself down onto one knee uppercut swing that causes him to swing and miss badly or it leads to popups. He'll get enough at bats to hit 20 HR or so, but another player with a lesser contract would be riding the bench. I get the sense his plan at the plate is to draw walks, not get hits, which is exactly why he should hit lower in the order. Having said that, the Nats are winning despite him. Can't complain about that.
Positive things I have seen -- Desi and Danny DO look like they have a plan at the plate.Danny has been a tough out. Jayson Werth, HAS been walked at really critical times when he could have struck out swinging at those pitches. 2 of our first three pitchers had stellar starts ( but neither one of them got a win, one actually got a loss). We have hits off the bench, our bullpen has looked pretty good, and we are still without Morse for line-up protection. Let's see how that new outfield configuration looks in ny -- I have to admit that EJAX causes me the most consternation of all our pitchers. I am fully expecting that Detweiler will not get deep into his game since he is not stretched out yet, but hoping that Stammen will step in and fill those innings.
I'm a little disappointed that JFlo didn't get a start too! He had a better ST than Ramo, and deserves to be kept fresh.
Strange, Davey's treatment of him, as it was Davey who originally scouted him for the Nats' Rule 5 Draft, on Gary Carter's recs.
TV report: Watching in SD makes everyone look like they have makeup on. Other than that, picture is pretty good. Can go back into the MLB.tv archives and re-watch on HD if I want to. Still no live or archive full games on Android tablets, but I'll be able to peek into the game tonight if students are absent. So far, so good.
Re. having a plan at the plate, I (idly) wonder whether chats with DeRosa may have had any effect.
Hey, a 2-1 record projects to 108 wins over the entire season. That means we just won the NL East!
Yeah, but here's a question. Lets say Werth didn't have the albatross contract. Do you want him or Harper in right?
If you are Davey, how long do you go with Werth before you call him a bust and just pay him off? Sooner or later you gotta cut bait. And this is only his second year of THE CONTRACT.
@fast eddie,
You've got it right - we need to focus on winning each series, not sweeping series.
Swami, good point about Werth drawing walks at critical times, but it doesn't take away from the drag he is on the line up. I know it's only been three games, but Werth 2.0 looks a lot like Werth 1.0. Just sayin'. This whole Werth has a new swing is hype. Look, if he worked on a new approach at the plate in spring training, let's see it in games!
After four games last season, Albert Pujols was 2-16 with one walk.
Just keep repeating "small sample size" and "long way to go" and we'll be just fine.
Anon 9:01, Harper's in the minors where he belongs until he's ready to come up to the bigs. As far as the current roster is concerned, you could make the argument that Bernadina would have the same level of success as Werth if he had the same amount of at bats, but Bernie will never get that chance because of Werth's contract. They have to play Werth no matter what. I'm not trying to be negative; i'm just stating fact.
OK, look at that pic of Espinosa that Zuckerman used for this post and tell me he does not look different, facially, than he did last year? The guy looks like he aged 10 years since September! He's thick as a stump from his cheeks -- his face is bigger -- neck and shoulders. I do not like what I am seeing.
For all you sabremetrics types out there:
So, what's our Magic Number? 159??
Oh man.. that thought hadn't crossed my mind... Say it ain't so, Danny.
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