VIERA, Fla. -- It looks like the final roster decision the Nationals must make before Opening Day -- Henry Rodriguez or J.C. Romero in their bullpen? -- will go right down to the wire.
Manager Davey Johnson again was noncommittal when talking about the two relievers this morning before the Nationals' final game in Florida, saying only that Romero will come north with the club for tomorrow's exhibition game against the Yankees but leaving the door open where the left-hander will go from there."J.C. Romero is going to go with us to D.C.," Johnson said. "And barring anything -- an injury or anything -- he'll go from there to Syracuse."
That injury could be to Rodriguez, who is returning from elbow surgery and complained of soreness earlier this week. The right-hander is scheduled to pitch tomorrow against New York. If he emerges healthy, he will make the roster. If not, he would start the season on the disabled list and Romero would make the club.
Asked if it's possible Rodriguez needs more time to get his arm back in shape, Johnson replied: "Yeah, that's where we're at. But I think he's closer, he's making progress. I mean, even with his wildness, his numbers are still pretty good compared to everybody else."
Rodriguez has allowed 15 batters to reach base (three hits, 10 walks, two hit batters) in 8 2/3 innings.
17 comments:
Unfortunately, Davey's kind of right about the numbers. Det (1.57),Storen (1.88), Soriano (2.12), and Stammen (1.54) all have higher WHIPs than H-Rod (1.50) this spring. Of course, H-Rod also has those two HBPs and presumably leads the team by a wide margin in pitches thrown to the backstop.
By the way Clipp's WHIP in 9 innings is 0.44!
My money is on JC! Davey loves having extra LH in the pen.
I'm surprised he didn't go with Abad but I guess Davey decided he needs a veteran in the bullpen and killing two birds (needing a back-end lefty) with one stone in Romero. Of course that probably means Abad and Bray might exercise their options. Given the dearth of lefties in the bullpen depth chart that might not be a good thing.
Ooops according to Amanda; Barring an injury that forces them to alter their plans, the Nationals will send left-hander J.C. Romero to Triple-A Syracuse after the team’s exhibition game on Friday in D.C., manager Davey Johnson said Thursday.
Rizzo wins this one ... but the Davey sees it its a long season and if they can keep them around he'll have his choice of 3 lefties before long; Romero, Abad, and Bray.
I still treasure my Sunday alternate home jersey #38 from "shirts-off-their-bscks" signed by JOel Hanrahan. I would not care to see MPH-Rod get away in the same way as #38 Hanrahan.
("Wild Thing, I think I love you . . ."
I'll happily predict that Abad will not see the mound at Nats Park until September at the earliest. And the door is definitely still open for an H-Rod's injured elbow to be re-discovered if H-Rod doesn't pitch well tomorrow.
If you add Henry's HBPs, his WHIP is 1.730. For most pitchers, HBP doesn't significantly affect the total number of baserunners he allows. But Henry's a world of his own.
Maybe we can coin a new category: Pretty Fricken Feo, for outings that are ugly, but marginally effective in that nobody actually scored.
Spring training is an extremely small sample size for calculating bullpen WHIP.
I never cease to be amazed at the access some posters have to inner workings of the Nationals as an organization and even the inner workings of the minds of the players, coaches and management. If only these astonishing powers could be harnessed to work for good ...
Ah, well. Tomorrow afternoon I'm heading for Nats Town! Who's with me?
We're in for tomorrow, JohnC. We kind of got screwed on our seat as with our 20 game plan we sit in 311 under the press box, but for this exhibition we are in the LF bleachers near the flag pole. Got 2 extra tix which I'll give away.Any takers here? Free, no strings attached.
As to Henry, I wish him well, but I don't see him coming through for us. I sure would love to be wrong.
I agree with section 222. If Henry is erratic, they'll discover an elbow issue and send him to Syracuse to 'rehab'.
I agree with section 222. If Henry is erratic, they'll discover an elbow issue and send him to Syracuse to 'rehab'.
It's understandable that Abad was sent to 'Cuse---he just wasn't Agood!
Henry will be in the game tomorrow--sounds excitin'!
Looks to me like the lower 4 in the Nats' batting order are almost as good as the upper 4, when Willy Ramos is part of the wrecking crew.
Hey all you Nattie fans, stand up and clap your hands! S'up Insider fam?! If today was yesterday (what was the wind chill, like 36?) I'd be standin' down, but there is a whiff of spring in the G-Burg air this morning so see you at The Park! 10 game plan, Section 228. Stretchin' the hammies in preparation for the Standing O when our Nats take the field. We are no longer The New Kids On The Block -- when ESPN The Mag predicts the Washington Nationals are World Series champs in 2013, well, the dynamic has changed. But Davey's embracing it, so I embrace it. We're so deep it's silly. But above all...a really good group of guys with clubhouse chemistry that will withstand the tribulations of a 162 game season. Quiet swag. Will to win. Crazy talent. Gonna be fun. Let's get it started, uh huh...
Gonna miss Take On Me tho (sniff)
To win the 2013 world series you gotta play the games. The odds are slim that a particular team will win, so there will be a lot of dissapointed fans as there are every year. Don't expect it. Just enjoy the games and have fun. You have no control over the outcome in any way.
Right on, Rabbit. We don't know where this flight is going, so let's enjoy the tide!
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