July has transitioned into August, and that means it's time both to look back at the trade deadline and look ahead to a pennant race that is about to turn an already-blazing D.C. summer even hotter.
CSNwashington.com's Chase Hughes and the Washington Times' Amanda Comak will join me this afternoon for a taping of the latest episode of Beltway Baseball. And as always, we'll take your queries on the Nats.
Submit your questions here in the comments section, then check back tomorrow morning when we post the full episode...
44 comments:
Carrying over a question that occurred to me earlier this a.m.:
How is the team with the better record determined for claims on a player who does not clear waivers? Is it based on the prior season's record or the current season's record? I'm thinking the former but couldn't find definitive info on that with a quick online search.
Expanding on that, do you see the Nats picking up any players via this route and if so what might they be in search of? kaithxbai
What are the rules and deadlines for setting playoff rosters and how will it impact roster decisions in September?
Bryce Harper is batting .171 since the All Star break with only 3 XBH. With Werth coming back, what viable options do you see with Bryce to get him back hitting?
Will Rizzo finally DL or DFA Henry or will this charade continue?
How much longer will we have to put up with HRod and Derosa? Also when will Wang be shown the door?
With Ian's balky oblique and Zimm's bad back and shoulder as well as Flores history of injury do you really think Rizzo will stay with DeRosa and Leon for the rest of the season?
What Wang's status? Could he start on Friday in one of the DH games?
I'm looking forward to Harper getting his groove back, but we shouldn't panic about where he's at right now at the plate.
Compared to his hot start in May, he hit fewer fly balls and more grounders in July, and, not surprisingly, his BABIP was correspondingly lower.
His K rate was up in July but not abominable (up from 16.5% to 19.8%, but actually down from June's 24.1%). His walks are still ok (~11%) and he's seeing about the same number of pitchers per PA.
The thing he should absolutely not do is to start swinging wildly for the fences, and so far, it doesn't look like he has. Not bad, for a 19yo rookie.
Erm, make that pitchES per plate appearance.
I think the # of pitchERS per plate appearance tends to be pretty stable.
Are the Nats working with any specific drill routines with Henry, in between and during games?
Doesn't look like a lot of progress here. Although, he had one good inning, minus the WP, last night.
Question for Beltway Baseball or anyone else: is there any update on the status of the TV rights negotiations? What exactly is the holdup? Aren't they contractually obligated to stay with MASN, making this just a question of a third party coming to a decision?
The baseball gods can giveth and taketh. In the world of crazy coincidences, JZim in 2011 had his 21st start on July 31 and Stras had his 21st start on July 31st and both would have a 3.12 ERA on that day.
They both also had a 2.82 ERA on their 17th starts in their comeback TJ seasons.
If Stras continues to follow JZim's 2011, expect one more shutout and 2 more 2 run performances aif the baseball gods cooperate.
Doc said...
Doesn't look like a lot of progress here. Although, he had one good inning, minus the WP, last night.
August 01, 2012 11:16 AM
____________________________
I think you have lower expectations than I do. I call "good" what Bastardo did and "very good" what Gorzo did.
The Phillies weren't going to run up the score in the 8th. Mayberry would have stolen 2nd in a tight game and scored on the single by Brown.
Davey put him in a low stress inning facing the extreme bottom of the order in a 6 run deficit game. Nix, Mayberry, and Frandsen were the batters due up. That's not a Murderer's Row.
Verlander's 63 consecutive start streak of at least 6 innings completed ended last night.
Vance Worley who the Nats face tonight has been struggling and has a 6.43 ERA in his last 5 starts.
I would be interested in finding out how Strasburg has developed into a good batter. I assume he didn't bat in college and I don't remember him being particularly successful before this year. Has he been working with Rick Eckstein?
Thanks.
bowdenball said...
Question for Beltway Baseball or anyone else: is there any update on the status of the TV rights negotiations?
Business as usual. Selig sets a target date, that date arrives, Selig sets another target date.
What exactly is the holdup?
The Nationals want more money than Angelos is willing to pay them.
Aren't they contractually obligated to stay with MASN
Yes, the Nats are contractually obligated to stay with MASN.
making this just a question of a third party coming to a decision?
No, the question is which party (Angelos or Nationals) is more likely to sue when the decision comes down against it, and then which party is more likely to prevail in that lawsuit. There will be a lawsuit either way. Remember the MASN-Comcast dispute? This will dwarf that.
Jim - That question really, really interests you!
PS - You can delete multiple postings by clicking on the trash can icon after the date/time stamp.
Doc - it appears the staff is working with Henry. They are having him throw from the mound to the backstop.
Mark,
What do you think of what our competition in the NL (SF, LA, Pit, Cincy, ATL) did at the trade deadline?
Ghost Of Steve M. said...
The baseball gods can giveth and taketh. In the world of crazy coincidences, JZim in 2011 had his 21st start on July 31 and Stras had his 21st start on July 31st and both would have a 3.12 ERA on that day.
They both also had a 2.82 ERA on their 17th starts in their comeback TJ seasons.
If Stras continues to follow JZim's 2011, expect one more shutout and 2 more 2 run performances aif the baseball gods cooperate.
August 01, 2012 11:19 AM
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Interesting. What I also noticed was JZim pitched 11 innings more last year at this time than Stras has done in the same amount of games this year.
JZim's season in 2011 ended on August 28th. Strasburg's season may go into mid-September if they stop him at 160 innings.
Rizzo just said on 106.7 that Henry has been dealing with a back issue too. GUESS WHO GOES ON THE DL NEXT???
When we get a Desmond and Werth back in the lineup, there will be no room for Lombo.
Espi is hot enough and his D is better than Lombo, so that Platoon idea is moot I believe.
So, my question is who will lead off?
Before his slump, I would have loved Harper there with Werth batting 2nd and Desi in the six hole, but now?
I know it'll probably be until September til this issue arises, but before Desi went down, it was going to have to be addressed this week.
What Katie said!!!
I still can't figure this out. If rosters are set on the 31st of August, and call ups take place the next day, how does that work? I am pretty sure Strasburg will still be pitching in early Sept but not in the playoffs. Do we option him to the minors, create an injury? what happens with that. I realize it has been laid out here in print by various posters but maybe if I hear it, I will understand. Thanks Mark
Go Nats!!
Also, Wang's DL stint is almost up. What do you do with him when he runs out of time down there?
If you believe this guy, who is evidently a Baltimore native, the latest "target date" is the August owners' meetings. Yeah, I'm not holding my breath on that one, Bud.
Business as usual. Selig sets a target date, that date arrives, Selig sets another target date.
Not-so-serious question, when will FP be on camera sporting the shark hat he talked about in the middle innings of last night's game? Related not-so-serious question, why didn't that trio of Nats fans wearing them (as seen on TV) get out of the way when Tyler Moore was trying to field a pop-up?
I can shed some light on the pitchers' hitting situation. I heard a long interview with McCatty - always entertaining. He said that he is an AL guy, doesn't know about hitting , doesn't want to know, wishes the guys would get over it. He said that they want to hit every day, but he only allows every other day and it's Randy Knorr that works with them. Mark - perhaps it would be nice to know something about this quiet coach in the background that has coached so many of our guys in the minors. What does he do ? What is his role? Seems like he really means something to the younger guys.
My question is how does Rizzo not upgrade his bench (or add a SP knowing Wang is hurt and has been ineffective and that Lannan's struggled in AAA)? Maybe he can explain away the SP as being too pricey or not being much of a need IF Wang and or Lannan is reliable, but those are big ifs. But for the bench, our catching has stunk and Stoppach, Torrealba, Kottaras all could have been got at C, along with a number of middle infield guys without breaking the bank. Mark DeRosa is really going to play a ton over the next 2 months? The nice club house chemistry might get spoiled to the core if the Nats end up missing out on the Division title and potentially a Wild CArd spot, because they lacked a quality bench guy or two. Not sure I understand how Rizzo thinks the club's roster did not need any adjustment.
dfh21
pRAA said...
bowdenball said...
Question for Beltway Baseball or anyone else: is there any update on the status of the TV rights negotiations?
Obnoxious, use a handle to denigrate me pRAA now thinks he's Mark ... and a know-it-all to boot? Ah I love it when the kettle calls the pot black. I am going to have some fun with you old dude.
Rizzo just said on 106.7 that Henry has been dealing with a back issue too. GUESS WHO GOES ON THE DL NEXT???
He would have to go on the 60-day DL to allow Werth back on the roster. H-Rod on the DL does not provide a complete solution unfortunately.
Mark, which of these two cheers do you like best?
Hey, hey, pRAA!
or
pee arrr eh? eh? hey hey hey hey!
The Nats have a pretty good defensive catcher in Koyie Hill. He has been outstanding for Syracuse and coincidentally the Chiefs seem to win most of the games he catches and his pitchers are nigh on to lights-out more often than not ... even though he really doesn't hit due to a table saw accident.
Do you see the Nats bringing Hill as a defensive catcher up to support their playoff run?
The 40 man roster now sits at 38. No one needs to be removed from it to create a spot for Werth. It would appear that Peric is as clueless as he is a hat of a certain kind.
pee arrr eh? eh? hey hey hey hey!
Or pRAA is so old he ends up defecating all over himself as he regresses to Junior High level by choosing a handle with the sole intention of defaming me.
Either I must be as important as Romney and Obama or he is getting too old to post on blogs.
Do I hear an opening to put Henry back on the DL? I hope it's contagious and spreads to Wang. Nothing personal against the guy, but he is toast.
The 40 man roster now sits at 38. No one needs to be removed from it to create a spot for Werth. It would appear that Peric is as clueless as he is a hat of a certain kind.
Actually, there's 39 but I am assuming they have to put Hill on the roster at some point soon. It sure looks to me as if they really need him and soon.
40 man roster, 38 man roster, your face your _____(insert Dice Clay famous quote) what's the difference....
JUST WIN BABY!!!!
lol
Actually, there's 39 but I am assuming they have to put Hill on the roster at some point soon.
How long is it til the twelfth of never anyway?
Christian Garcia...in Syracuse...what can you tell me about him?
Got spectacular numbers, good size, still pretty young, not a lot of innings in recent years...injuries?
Looks like ho could be Henry...but with control.
Have you seen him?
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