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US Presswire photo Jhonatan Solano clubbed his second career homer during yesterday's win. |
-- Jhonatan Solano was summoned to make his big-league debut five weeks ago, only after a string of injuries befell four players ahead of him on the Nationals' catching depth chart. These days, there's little reason to believe he'll be heading back to the minors anytime soon.
Solano has proven to be an unexpected surprise for the Nationals, a 26-year-old rookie who not only calls a good game behind the plate but has some legitimate skills at the plate.
With a homer and a single during yesterday's 9-4 win over the Giants, Solano raised his batting average to .393 (11-for-28). He's got two homers, three doubles, six RBI and an 1.128 OPS. Not bad for the Nationals' fifth-string catcher.
"I've said before, I've never seen such depth in catching as in this organization," manager Davey Johnson said. "From [Wilson] Ramos, [Jesus Flores], Solano, [Sandy] Leon, [Carlos] Maldonado ... I mean, all of them are great receivers, catch and throw, block balls great. And all of them have good bat potential. I've never been in an organization, and it's my fifth one, anywhere close to that."
The hilariously nicknamed "Onion" -- he traveled from his native Colombia to Venezuela for a tryout with the Nationals on a bus with a bushel of onions on the seat next to him -- still isn't quite sure what to make of his good fortune. A career .251 hitter in the minors, he's taking pride in the fact he hasn't been overwhelmed by big-league pitching and that he's contributing to a first-place club.
"I feel great right now because everyone's playing good," he said. "It's a little pressure, but I try to do everything good because I don't want to look like: 'Oh, he's the only guy that can do nothing.'"
The more Solano shows he can hold his own at this level, the more starts he's likely to get behind the plate. Johnson has wanted to gives Flores most rest and not burn out his starting catcher before season's end. With Solano establishing himself more and more, that shouldn't be a problem.
-- Chad Tracy began his rehab assignment for Class A Potomac last night and put together a couple of productive at-bats. The veteran corner infielder went 0-for-3 but delivered a sacrifice fly in his first at-bat and later drew a 10-pitch walk.
Tracy, who led the club with a .333 batting average and nine RBI as a pinch-hitter, has been out since late-May with a torn groin muscle. What initially was feared as a potential season-ending injury hasn't proven nearly as serious. Tracy figures spend the rest of the week on rehab but could be activated off the disabled list in time for the Nationals' second-half opener July 13 in Miami.
-- Don't adjust your eyeglasses or TV screens tonight when you check out the series final between the Nationals and Giants. Things might look a tad different, because both clubs will be wearing 1924 throwback uniforms, commemorating the only World Series championship in Washington baseball history.
The team uniforms won't be the only throwback elements to the game. The grounds crew, according to a Nationals press release, will be dressed in "full 1920s attire." The scoreboard will have a 1924 look to it, and traditional organ music will be played between innings. Also, the ceremonial first pitch will be performed with an actual ball from Game 6 of the '24 World Series and will be thrown from behind the first-base dugout as it used to be done.
-- Finally, here's your staggering fact of the day: When play begins around baseball today, the NL's two best records will belong to the Washington Nationals (47-32) and the Pittsburgh Pirates (45-36). Who had THAT predicted on Opening Day?
85 comments:
This team is so much fun to watch! I hope we sweep tonight and hang a big number on Cain.
Can't wait for tonight. Will actually go into the stadium early for the free truck for my grandson (not born yet but I have named him either "willie mo" or "chainsaw"). I have 3 hats I could wear as throwbacks, but I think you know I keep a hat on during a win streak and luckily I am wearing the 1926 hat during this latest streak. Its one of the prettiest of my 12. Red brim, blue block W and white hat. I am not certain but I think the actual hat they wore in 24 had a smaller W then the one they are now selling at the team store but I am not going to be picky.
Oh, one last fashion statement. My son had two shirts made for us which he surprised me with last week. "Goon Squad" on the back and a neat script Nationals on the front. We will break them out today as well.
Their Ace against our #5. Should be an even match don't you think? Actually, looking at Cain's numbers away from SF, he falls from dominate to just very good.
Go Nats!!!
The bummer about the catching replacement situation is Sandy Leon. Poor guy finally gets his taste of the show... for a whopping four innings until he gets barreled into the DL.
I hope Sandy will get another crack at the major-league level, if only to avoid having his MLB career end that way.
In the meantime, I'll enjoy the poised and productive at-bats of the Onion. If Solano sticks, I'm sure the headline and pun opportunities will be sublime. So many big-leaguers have lame default nicknames based loosely on his surname. So few "Big Unit" or "Oil Can" -like handles out there. At least San Francisco has a Panda.
Such a treat this team is! It's making that 103 loss season seem like a distant memory. Question. Could this have happened without Davey? Would the convergence of talent this year been successful with any other coach or is Davey the catalyst? Is the camaraderie among teammates a driver of the winning or is the winning driving the camaraderie? Chicken or egg? Whatever. I'm thoroughly enjoying the ride and will help anyone up onto the bandwagon that wants to come.
Love: not sure even Rizzo could have predicted such great chemistry in spring training so I will give Davey credit for being the catalyst. It is great to read about veterans like LaRoche and Ankiel helping a 19 year old phenom adjust on the road and I realize you don't keep players for roles like that but this year sure has been fun.
This is way way way ahead of where anyone should be focusing but did Ankiel get to pitch in a World Series? I realize most of his self-destruction came in the playoffs but did Tony stick with him through the series or did they even get to the series? Just wondering how many besides Ruth actually pitched and played the field in a world series.
Go Nats!!
I'm bringing my camera to tonights game. Gotta get some photos of this!
Looking forward to the throwback experience tonight. Sounds like they are going all out with lots of nice touches. My furthest back throwback attire is a Jose Vidro shirt, circa 2005, so I'll be wearing that tonight in Sec. 310.
I'd like to see the Nats bats stay hot and give Matt Cain a hard time. Det shoud be able to hold his own against the Giants' lineup and then hand it over to Stammen and Clip to close it out.
GO NATS!
I'm bringing my camera to tonights game. Gotta get some photos of this!
Re the throwback uniforms, the ones they are selling in the team store this week have a player's name and number on the back - although I understand they are also available without the number on the back. I looked it up, and the Senators did not start wearing uniform numbers until 1931. Of course the name above the number came many years after that. So will the Nats be totally authentic tonight and go with no name and number on their jerseys? It might make it hard to tell the players apart (even with a scorecard) but that should not stop them from doing it. MLB sees no problem with putting 42 on every player's back on Jackie Robinson Day, and in the Fenway Park 100th anniversary game the Yankees and Red Sox went number-free. So there's precedent.
Also looking forward to this being a Clint-free event. I suppose they can keep the Presidents Race since all four of them were pre-1924. But they should have Jerome do the player announcements with a megaphone, and fans should be reminded that the wave had not yet been invented in 1924.
So if they use the throwback uniforms for tonight's game...what would they use as a throwback uniform for games against the Texas Rangers? The Washington Senators versus the The Washington Nationals?
Solano looks like Carlos Ruiz to me. He and Flores are the best 1,2 blocked ball catchers I have seen for years.
Both of them are way above average in moving to block balls in the dirt....no sure Wilson gets his job back next year. He was very slow and almost lazy on balls in the dirt.....granted many of those were Rodriquez 55 footers. That is on Davey.
The Rangers have worn 1960s Senators throwbacks. So have the Nationals, in a game in Baltimore a couple of years ago. And in 2008 or 2009 when the Pirates were here, they did a Negro League throwback game that was Homestead Grays vs Homestead Grays. (The Grays played games in both Pittsburgh and DC.) So if the Nats ever played the Rangers in a throwback game, they could do Washington Senators vs Washington Senators.
Nice, I would wanna see lots of pictures for this game. Actually you know what, I am gonna try to go to the game today.
Oh my God--a Clint free event--that is classic! Boy is he and the rest of the Nats Pack annoying. Maybe now that we are winning and our fanbase is becomming more baseball savy, the Nats won't need such asinine "entertainment". You don't see that crap at Fenway or Wrigley and they draw just fine.
I wouldn't worry about throwback jerseys against the Rangers, because they won't allow that kind of distraction in the World Series.
As for the Onion, I too am thrilled that there is at least one more honest-to-goodness nickname to go with Beast and Shark. I can't stand seeing HRod, JZimm, etc. If Sandy Leon continues to play well, he should get back to the Majors, but it might be with whatever team the Nats trade him to.
Given the Nats' difficulty in completing sweeps, and the #5 vs #1 matchup, this really doesn't look very promising. This team is all about surprising upside, though, isn't it? And who would want to face our guys right about now?
+1/2St.
I have tickets for Saturday, but I am thinking of swapping for tonite, in part to see the throwback stuff, in part to beat the heat on Sat.
Is today a holiday, ANYWHERE in the world? If so, can we just tell Zimm? Good gracious he gets hitterish on holidays.
Lee to the Marlins? I guess they are VERY happy with the rest of their defense! And even after his HR, poor Gabby Sanchez gets thrown under the bus by Ozzie last night? Oz said something like "You don't make moves unless a player is not producing." OUCH! Oh my, there will be fireworks in Miami for the next few weeks.
I just did some research, and on this day in 1775, the second Continental Congress adopted the Olive Branch petition.
That has to be good for at least 2 RBI from Zimm.
I am not going to make it to the game today (BOO!) Would love to see that. Might have to have a sidecar or some other 'throwback' cocktail while watching the game at home. Really hoping for the sweep. Loved watching The Onion yesterday. He's like a superhero "The Onion: He makes the opponents cry"
Mayhemsuz.. if you are on Twitter, the beat reporters yesterday were making some funny to awful Onion puns! It was classic!
NatsJack.. Oh to have the view of that dysfunction! If they don't start winning people will NOT show up to that park! Loria deserves this (he is just like Angelos)!
MicheleS.... I'm going to be down there next Friday and Saturday sitting just to the CF side of the Nats bullpen. Here's hoping the Nats bats continue raking after the All Star break and the Fish dysfunction continues.
It's amazing how many Cs the Nats have from Venezula. Lots more on other MLB rosters.
Cebolla comes with a great story, and I hope it continues. Not sure where the new found hitting skills come from, but he deserves all the success that he can generate.
my blog on the rise of the Nationals:
http://scarylawyerguy.blogspot.com/2012/07/embrace-your-natitude.html
LoveDaNats, did we really lose 103 games? I was thinking it was just a bad dream....
Actually, Doc, Solano is from Colombia -- that's the whole thing with the onion truck, that they had to hitch a ride to get to an MLB tryout in Venezuela because there was little opportunity to do that in Colombia.
Surely a key to the Nats success this year is their consistency. If I've got this right, and I welcome corrections, we have had only one 5-game losing streak [Apr 26-May 1: Padres (1)-Dodgers (3)- Dbacks (1)] and one 4 game losing streak [June 15-19: Yankees (3)- Rays(1)] this year.
The first was broken May 2 when HRod won Jackson's start against Arizona 5-4 and the second when Stras beat the Rays 3-2 on June 20.
Moreover, and this is really hard to calculate after the fact, but I think I'm right, on only one day all year, June 25 after the loss to the Rockies, has the team's "Last 10" number been as low as 3-7.
Outstanding pitching is the reason teams are able to avoid prolonged losing streaks, and last time I checked, our staff was pretty good.
Good, timely hitting, on the other hand, makes for winning streaks, so maybe JZimm is right when he says the way the team is going, it should pull away in the second half.
Just think how exciting it will be when the 2100 Nats play in their 2012 throwbacks!!!
MicheleS, I particularly liked Kilgore's comment that Solano hit the ball halfway to Vidalia
At least I think it was Kilgore...
adventurehouse said...
So if they use the throwback uniforms for tonight's game...what would they use as a throwback uniform for games against the Texas Rangers?
Excellent question, but as Halfstreet points out, not a lot of chances for that. Have the Rangers ever had a throwback-uni game against the Twins?
scarylawyerguy said...
my blog on the rise of the Nationals:
http://scarylawyerguy.blogspot.com/2012/07/embrace-your-natitude.html
Nice post, dude!
How can anyone not love the "Onion?" Impossible. FP keeps comparing him to Pudge, but he reminds me more of a compact Roy Campanella - same body type, but smaller, and deceptively quick for a guy with his stocky build. Onion can run, and Campy once stole home in what was one of the most memorable plays in the history of the game.
Hope he can keep it up. With Flo and Onion on the job, the Nats can wait for Ramos to heal. And Rizzo has yet another chip to play with in the trade market. Ramos, Flo and Onion all are major league caliber backstops.
Ladie
'Ramos, Flo and Onion all are major league caliber backstops.'
And we know this based on 30 career major league at bats and about 5 overall games?
Question for Mark and others who enjoy obscure research -- Are Jhonatan (are you impressed with my spelling?) and his brother, Donovan the only rookie brothers in baseball ? I know there have been brothers playing before, Hairstons, LaRoches, Ripkens, Alous, Molinas - but have there ever been brothers called up the same season? Seems like it must be a rare thing. The reasons why I think the Nats are for real and will stay in the post-season conversation -- they are a true team, they are unselfish players and they don't panic. Go Nats! Go Detweiler!! I want to see the Ross that has swagger.
Dang, lost all of my post. Eh. Will try to replicate.
Good one, mayhemnsuz. On a related note, after my previously reported Onion dinger call, my husband noted, "so, he didn't just fall off the onion truck." I trust that yesterday's Tweet fest featured comments about his appeal, multi-layered talent, and so on.
D'Gourds, I don't know that a more savvy fan base necessarily goes along with winning. Yesterday there were still plenty of people moving around during at-bats, despite the fancy new signs the ushers carried (wait for a stop in play to get up, or some such sentiment). Also, in the 8th, the young gal behind me asked her companion, is it the 9th inning yet? Um, scoreboard? Baby steps, I guess.
Our next in-person game isn't until Sunday, when it's supposed to be cooler (knock wood). The throwback stuff should be fun, though. We attended a similar game in Cleveland a few years ago and enjoyed the costumes, music, scoreboard effects - well, just everything except for the fact that the Nats lost the game. It was also Carlos Santana's debut, which was kinda cool. (Who knew that he could play baseball as well as guitar?)
Mark, I think you meant tonight commemorates the FIRST championship rather than the only.
GYFNG!
JaneB - I think it's the 1924 throwback because that was the only WS they won as a DC team, correct? Lost in '25 and '33, and I don't think wins count once the team moves to a new city.
JD
"And we know this based on 30 career major league at bats and about 5 overall games?"
Of course not. Solano has been in the organization and has had the rep of being the best defensive catcher the Nats have got, including Ramos and Flores. He has done nothing but add to his rep as a plus defender since he was called up.
The real surprise is his hitting, which is not likely to continue at the current pace, based on his MiL history. But he is a major league catcher, no doubt.
The Guerrero brothers Vladimir and Wilton made their major league debuts in September 1996 with the Expos and Dodgers respectively.
Nice recall, rdexposfan.
Here's a list of all the brothers
JD
From Federal Baseball:
"Asked if he was surprised how successful Solano's been in his time in the majors since he debuted back on May 29th, Davey Johnson said simply, "No."
"I've said before," Johnson continued, "I've never seen such depth in catching as this organization. From Ramos, [Flores], Solano, Leon, [Carlos] Maldonado, I mean, all of them [are] great receivers, catch-and-throw, block balls great and all of them good bat potential."
NatsJack, we're a little late to be sending Milwaukee bullpen help, though, by a few days.
OK, that makes me think: Rizzo is pretty creative with rosters, DLs, and such, but maybe they're missing an opportunity. They need to stash Henry somewhere for a while--do you think he'd get away with trading him to some team who could use him, one who would put in a waiver claim, just because he's better than what they have now and worth a shot, for a player to be named later, and then have Henry be that player? A literal rental. They get the use of a possibly useful bullpen guy cheap, Nats get him back at the end of the agreed-upon time.
Naah.
How are our catchers bullpen help?
Sorry, slight change of subject there. I meant bullpen help, which they plainly need, separately from catchers, which they could also use.
Because they blew leads to the Marlins, see?
And anyhow, the Nats don't have any extra catchers at the moment.
From youcantpredictbaseball:
The Giants have a higher road ERA than the Rockies.
Ladie,
Of course he's gonna say that. I'm not dissing Solano with whom I've been impressed so far. I do however consider the fact that he has been a career .250 hitter in the minors and does not have a track record in the majors just yet.
I'm just cautioning everyone to temper their enthusiasm same as with Tyler Moore.
JD - this is not the first time that I have heard of a guy doing better in the majors than the minors. I have heard conjecture about better lighting, more consistent pitching, etc. Maybe it's just the pressure being off of wanting to be called up. Bryce is a case in point.Whatever - we'll take it. I know Espi started out like a house on fire and then the league adjusted to him. Heyward, also. I am of the opinion that even if they don't stay quite that hot, it's still an indicator of talent. It's a process - a long, hard process.
I think that in 2013 the catching job is still Ramos to lose although I do agree that his defense this year was troublesome; still he has a great arm, is a good hitter and the pitchers love him.
I think Flores is a good defensive catcher with a passable major league bat; a solid but unspectacular major leaguer. Leon is the most intriguing prospect because he is only 23 and Solano may be a solid backup or better; time will tell. Maldonado is organizational depth; not really major league caliber overall.
I am becoming more convinced with each day that the one area we should upgrade at the trade deadline is starting pitching; not at all costs but as a priority item.
ehay2k said...I just did some research, and on this day in 1775, the second Continental Congress adopted the Olive Branch petition.
That has to be good for at least 2 RBI from Zimm.
July 5, 1811, Venezuela declares its independence from Spain. Half the team should be celebrating that.
JD
"Of course he's gonna say that. I'm not dissing Solano with whom I've been impressed so far. I do however consider the fact that he has been a career .250 hitter in the minors and does not have a track record in the majors just yet."
No one is claiming that he is a great major league hitter. But he has been in the system since he was 18 yrs. old, and has a long track record in the minors. The Nats organization has had about 8 years to evaluate Solano, and they are very high on him as a plus backstop. Do not so casually dismiss a long track record and the opinion of the Nats brain trust to fairly evaluate someone who has been in the organization for 8 yrs in the minors, not just 6 weeks in the majors.
There are Nats folks who have evaluating Solano for longer than Davey. I do follow the Nats minor league prospects, and I think it is fair to say that Solano is widely regarded as the best backstop in the Nats' system.
"I'm just cautioning everyone to temper their enthusiasm same as with Tyler Moore."
How's that? You are giving up on Moore because he has had a bad streak of (what?) 2 games? Moore is now getting the same treatment that Harper has been getting - many fewer FBs and many more slow breaking pitches off the outside of the plate. Moore will have to adjust, just as Harp has been doing.
I would caution you to be a little more circumspect before jumping to any rash conclusions about either Solano or Moore, or Harp, for that matter. All of those guys were brought up on the recommendation of people whose job it is to evaluate the Nats talent pool.
So far, they have been doing a pretty good job. Nobody is perfect, of course, but they have been right on Harper, Moore, and Solano.
JD said...
I am becoming more convinced with each day that the one area we should upgrade at the trade deadline is starting pitching; not at all costs but as a priority item.
July 05, 2012 11:52 AM
Absolutely. Upgrade but you can't deplete the farm system much. Main purpose this year is to make the post-season.
Next year this team has to sign 1 key Free Agent to go to the World Series.
My 2 guys are upgrades: Wandy or Dempster (if healthy). Greinke and Hamels will kill the farm system so I wouldn't do it. In Free Agency, that's when you get one of them.
Ladie,
You are missing my point. I am not giving up on either Solano and Moore; I am just saying that the jury is still out on both of them.
JD said...
I think that in 2013 the catching job is still Ramos to lose although I do agree that his defense this year was troublesome; still he has a great arm, is a good hitter and the pitchers love him.
I think Flores is a good defensive catcher with a passable major league bat; a solid but unspectacular major leaguer. Leon is the most intriguing prospect because he is only 23 and Solano may be a solid backup or better; time will tell. Maldonado is organizational depth; not really major league caliber overall.
July 05, 2012 11:50 AM
I agree. Ramos is the better catcher and outside of who can catch Henry the best, the answer is nobody. As I showed once before, Flores actually had more Wild Pitches per AB on his watch then Ramos. Flores is now better in that stat and mostly because Henry hasn't pitched in weeks.
I go back to Jerry Hairston stating Ramos would be the BEST catcher in the NL this year behind Posey. That's saying a lot putting him ahead of Brian McCann.
I like Solano as a play caller. I like his confidence. I need to see more.
Flores is above average and the Nats were lucky to have him after the Ramos injury. Ramos will continue to improve. We already know the best of Flores.
Ghost,
Olney also suggests McCarthy and Millwood for the Nats; I like both of them.
I wholeheartedly agree on refusing to trade away real talent for a rental but each organization has players that are just short of sure things; they are a tad older but may fit in better with other teams. I wouldn't object to dealing players like Kobernus, Steven King, Bernadina in the right deal.
To obtain someone like Greinke I would absolutely agree to include players like: Perez, Cory Brown, Tyler Moore provided you can get Greinke extended.
To me the most interesting everyday prospect is Destin Hood. I really thought he would have a breakout year at AA this year but injuries and mediocre hitting have definitely slowed down his momentum. Still he is only 22 so he may yet mature into a real good player.
Was listening to MLBnetwork on my satrad a bit ago...
They were talking about the Diamondback outfielder (Upton), his offensive woes and how the fans were getting on him.
The interesting part was how the hosts discussed how they had a chance to gain ground, based on the Dodgers woes and..."How the Giants HAD to go through Washington..."
How cool is it to be seen as a team that the other teams have to endure? Far cry from the last several seasons!
Look, you say to Milwaukee, forget about the extension for Greinke, you can have the window for that, and we'll even give you some $$ toward it, and we'll give you Mattheus. We just want Greinke for the three months (August, Sept, October). Next year we have Stras, et al., we can re-up EJax, we don't need Greinke next year.
Sounds like even though we just traded Derek Norris, by next year Solano maybe a trade chip. I think Rizzo and co. have been very consistent about not giving up more than we can afford to lose. For the Gio trade, we are doing just fine without the players we gave up.We are fairly deep at starting pitching and catching, definitely.If we had traded JZim and Storen in the same deal to get Greinke? No way. There isn't one major league player of any position that I think is worth trading both of those guys. And I think they were not the only names listed. For any of our starters, the trade would have to be straight up, one for one.More starting pitching right now would be kind of nice, but not a bit enough deal to strip the farm system or trade one of our regulars.
If you rent Greinke for 3 months that takes the pressure off Rizzo to pitch Stras--not that he will give in to the pressure, but no one expected the Nats to be in this position this year. Don't give up the farm because Greinke may not work out long term, but surely we (and he) can manage his head for three months. Hell, he can commute to Milwaukee.
I love watching Solano play. He's got energy, he blocks the ball well, and his approach at the plate is solid.
Now for the negatives... First, his hands are rock hard. To say that he is a good receiver is a stretch. I've seen him take a lot of pitches out of the strike zone and he always seems to be fighting the ball. Throws well? Pretty good. Blocks well? Yes. Manages the pitcher? Yes. Receives well? Absolutely not.
As for his offense, he is in absolutely the perfect spot. He plays once a week and bats eighth. The opposing teams are probably spending 10 seconds at most on him in pre-series meetings. I wouldn't want him exposed more than he is.
I root like heck for him, but he's no more than a lovable back-up.
NJ:
Yeah, but hard hands are tough to fix.
I would only offer three years difference in age (Norris 23 and Solano 26) and Solano has caught pro ball for one more year. Solano's probably a finished product. You could be right though, but improvement like that at this age doesn't happen often.
Every skill is subject to improvement with hard work. Baseball is full of late-ish bloomers. I believe one of them was Jayson Werth and another one was Michael Morse. Big League experience, coaching and mentoring are invaluable. All rookies, I don't care if their last name is Trout or Harper, have flaws and weaknesses and will continue to improve. They won't all be hall of famers, but they can have decent major league careers. Even JMax and Bixler have found homes.
Best throw back game I've ever seen live was in Pittsburg Vs. The Royal. The wore the Grays Vs. Monarchs and the scoreboard even listed that. So cool
And I'd offer you don't get labeled a good defensive catcher with "iron hands".
The organizational people have been high on his dfensive abilities for some time now.
That what shocks me. I've heard how highly he was touted. I just don't see it, at least on framing, etc.
There's also a big difference between a 20 year old rookie and a 26 year old rookie. I would argue with Morse that he didn't improve. He just was finally given an everyday opportunity. His stats in the minors were pretty good.
Just to flesh out NCNatsie's excellent point about winning and losing streaks, as he said, the Nats have had one 5-game losing streak and one 4-game losing streak. They've also had three 3- game losings streaks. In contrast, they've had one 6-game winning streak, one 5-game winning streak, two 4-game winning streaks, and five 3 game winning streaks. Those streaks were ended by games in which we scored 2, 5, 1, 3, 4, 6, 1, and 3 runs. (The current 3 game streak hasn't been ended yet.) That's an average of 3.13 runs in those streak ending games. When the offense picks up, we have a much better chance of keeping the streaks going.
Hoping that Det can keep it going tonight.
JD
"You are missing my point. I am not giving up on either Solano and Moore; I am just saying that the jury is still out on both of them."
JD, the jury is out on every player for every day of their careers. You may think that observation is somehow profound, but it is actually shallow and trite. You can choose to think whatever you like. I prefer to believe what I can see with my own 2 eyes.
Solano is a better backstop than Flores, and has been a much better backstop than Ramos was, at least for this year. I do not know what you have seen, but I see a kid who is as quick as a cat, with a plus throwing arm, who has not let a single ball get past him, yet, that I can recall.
He not only knows what he is doing back there, he loves to play the position. He is right up there with Harper on the hustle and intensity meters. Maybe you missed it, but Solano handled EJac's tough 1st inning against the Giants like they have been playing together for years. He has already earned their respect. And mine, too, based on his performance.
Get a clue, or take your blindfold off, because you are all wet. I only knew Solano by reputation until he came up, and he has lived up to his rep. Lord knows what you are looking at.
Those streaks were ended by games in which we scored 2, 5, 1, 3, 4, 6, 1, and 3 runs.
Just for fun, how many runs did they average in the games they won in those streaks?
Wow, is Porcello having a rough day against the Twins. Tried to catch a popped-up bunt, only succeeded in colliding with his catcher (maybe concussed) and Prince Fielder (who was trying to call him off), and then just getting his *pitching hand* on a bouncer over the mound, so his SS had no play at all (might not have anyway, but we'll never know), and then got knocked out of the game in the 4th on a line drive right into his upper (pitching) arm, down 3-0.
White Sox starter Jose Quintana is also from Barranquilla, Colombia. Fwiw.
Just for fun, how many runs did they average in the games they won in those streaks?
That involves looking up the scores of 31 games, rather than 8, demanding a time investment that I'm not willing to make right at the moment. Would be interesting though. I wouldn't imagine it's much different though, given that in three of our streak enders, we lost in games where we scored 4, 5, and 6 runs.
Ladie,
You probably thought Atilano was an all star as well after his 1st 5 starts.
222, I'm normally too lazy, but maybe I'll take a look.
Um, I imagine that its NOT much different, I meant to say...
Some NL East fun tonight. RA Dickey against Cole Hamels. Should be a battle. Good. Marlins leading the Brewers by a whopping 1 -0 in the 8th. Cubs/Braves later. Can I really stand to say Go Phil's?
baseballswami,
I know; it's almost like devil worshiping. I am guilty as well.
JD
"Ladie,
You probably thought Atilano was an all star as well after his 1st 5 starts."
No, but I realized you were a complete fool after you tried so hard to prove it in just one thread. Congratulations, you have made your case. BTW, it's "Laddie", not "Ladie," and such inattention pads your meager resume, such as it is, of utter, wide-ranging incompetence.
What else are you bad at? Oh, never mind, I don't have all day to suffer such a fool.
Laddie,
You are one of the posters who cannot have anyone disagree with him without switching to insults. Knock yourself out. I am done talking to you.
Must be the heat. Can't blame it on a losing streak. Seems like it's been a week since we had a game; I can't imagine how the pointy-ball chats get. Oh, wait, I don't have to, I already know. They start insulting each other when they run out of rational arguments, often well before they run out, in fact.
Chill out. No one here is impressed by namecalling, and you're not that good at it anyway.
Ooh, was that one out loud?
I think it's the weather.
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