 |
| Photo by USA Today |
Hitting lowlight: The back end of the Nats' lineup was a major liability in the loss. Their six through nine hitters (Tyler Moore, Chad Tracy, Kurt Suzuki, and Danny Espinosa) went a combined 0-for-12 with three strikeouts and six runners left on base.
Pitching highlight: Dan Haren put in one of his best starts of the 2013 season, dominating for the most part all evening. He allowed one run off the Markakis double, and another late off a Manny Machado RBI hit, yet went home with the loss. Washington could not have asked for much more from the veteran right-hander, they just couldn't hit.
Key stat: 1) Freddy Garcia had six strikeouts tonight through his first seven innings, he had nine in his previous 27 1/3 this year. 2) The Nats are back to .500 for the first time since May 21 with the Braves up next.
Up next: The Nationals travel to Atlanta to face the first place Braves with Stephen Strasburg and Julio Teheran facing off. First pitch is at 7:30 p.m.
107 comments:
2 takeaways right off the top of my head:
-Should've watched the spelling bee on ESPN
-I hate these orioles announcers.
Well, I guess that answers the question whether the Nats have heart. None whatsoever.
Sad to see Zim last night and Haren tonight with great individual performances go to waste. If they had been on the same night that would have been cool.
Our offense has become so bad even HRod and Storen could have 1-2-3 innings against us.
If Werth's hammy is weeks away then Rizzo has to do something. Can't keep trotting out 4 guys a night - at least - who aren't hitting their weight. Not even their wives weight.
Its really not a mystery, we made Freddy Garcia look like a cy young candidate. This has happened enough now to know that this team is what it is. Yes when Harp is back (if they aren't rushing him, which i think they are) it'll be better. But its clear that we had a bunch of guys with career years last year.
What a dream season it indeed was.
Oh yeah and good point, DJB, no heart on this team whatsoever. So if they aren't gonna care, why should we?
So the final tally for the bottom of the order. 0-12. That's what happens when you keep telling yourself that they will break out of their slump 2 months into the season.
This is ridiculous. Mr. Zuckerman, pleaser have the guts to call out Masn. Jim Hunter is the most biased announcer that I have ever heard. Every single time Ray mentioned a Nats player, Hunter came right back with a chirpy comment about an O's player. Every single ad was for a Baltimore product. The telecast signed off with a promo for tomorrow's O's game. Do the Nats play tomorrow? I thought they did. I am not one of those people, but Jim Hunter is pathetic. Give me Palmer over Jim Hunter anyday.
"But its clear that we had a bunch of guys with career years last year."
That's not true at all. ALR had a career year, but it wasn't much more than his career norms. And he's doing fine. Zim didn't have a career year. Nor did Esi. Desmond did, but he's mostly been fine this year (slumping now). Morse? Not with the team now, doesn't matter, but not a career year. Werth? Not even close to a career year. Suzuki? Nope. Ramos? Didn't play much. Flores? HAHA.
Clippard? Nope. Storen? Nope.
Who exactly had a year way above what they've shown they can do? Tell me. MAYBE the Shark, who was a role player? Moore, who we still don't know much about? Those are minor pieces.
No heart, no fight, no chance.
Done with this team.
Thankfully the phillies lost, preventing us from 3rd for at least 1 more day
Chase Hughes @chasehughesCSN 2m
Davey: 'We'll probably make some changes. #Nats
Let's see what that means.
Dave... well stated
So glad to see this series end for so very many reasons-- boorish Balmer fans with their rude O during the National Anthem hurts my heart, horrible joint coverage. So very glad it's over.
I am actually the calm one tonight, lol
ON the other hand, you could blame Harper and Werth for insisting on coming back early from an injury, reinjuring themselves and leaving this team stuck with Tracy, Moore, Bernadina starting.
baseballswami said...
So glad to see this series end for so very many reasons-- boorish Balmer fans with their rude O during the National Anthem hurts my heart, horrible joint coverage. So very glad it's over.
excellent point, especially on the National Anthem
and those Balmer fans can all return to Dundalk with their toothless girl friends lol
I am a lurker. I just wanted to say in advance of all the regulars and trolls who seems to always criticize this team; this is a team with good players. They have great pitching for the most part. The teams bats will get better as the season progresses. But to say the team "sucks" and is "done"; to me, this says you dont follow other baseball teams. Look at the Astros, Marlins, Dodgers (they could be doing better) and Angels (they could be doing better) . They are all not doing too well. I think if any teams "suck" and are "done", it is the Marlins and Astros.
I dont know what is up with our hitters. As a team, they are not making adjustments second and third at bats. Maybe they need better scouting and a different hitting approach to their games.
Hey Dave Proctor,
Espinosa is debatable, compared to this year he dramatically outperformed it.
LaRoche did, though i will say not as much as it felt like.
Desmond: Very much, yes.
The bench incredibly outperformed, especially while filling in for injured guys.
(My statement was in regards to the offense if i forgot to specify)
More Jim Hunter on Nats Extra. Every compliment he gives our team is one of those backhanded comments that are basically intended to show how great the O's are. The O's will not keep hitting like this. Mark my words. Baltimore will finish lower in their division than the Nats will in theirs.
This team, with a few exceptions, has no fight and no heart. They are lightyears away from the team we watched last year. And, for God's sake Davey, put Espinosa on DL, on the bench, in AAA -- anywhere but in the starting lineup!!! What more does Johnson need to see before he makes a decision about this man that most of us could see needed to be made weeks ago?
I don't care what anyone says, Davey is to blame for a lot of what is going on too, not just the players. He is the one who allowed Werth and Harper to play before they were ready, he is the ONLY one with the blind faith in Espinosa, he is the one who regularly mismanages our bullpen. Of course, he is retiring in about 4 months, so why should he care? We, the fans, are the ones left holding the increasingly empty bag!
They are now 5 games under .500 since game 9. That is a very long spell. Got to do something about Espinosa. He can't be at MLB level hitting like this. Either he needs to get himself fixed in body or hitting at a lower level. Hard to watch this team. Lucky this was the series with the O's announcers so I really did not want to watch or listen. Even Charlie and Dave are beginning to get bored with this team. It's gotten so that when they get behind by a run early in the game I know its over. Its almost June, time to make some hard decisions.
Teresa ... best post of the night.
I would equate your post to Chad Dukes' lashing out at Dan Synder 3 years ago
both are SPOT ON!!
I will say that if the Baltimore Orioles organization had any class, they would make an announcement before the National Anthem instructing their "fans" not to deface the National Anthem, and yet they do nothing for 30 years now. Stay classy Baltimore, and I wish you well,(I honestly do) on your season.
The O thing needs to go now and Washington reporters should stop being meek and bring this up. If Redskins is offensive, shouting "O" during the National Anthem is incredibly offensive and yet, the media give Baltimore and their organization a free pass on this, because apparently the media think it is charming.
If they do it one time in DC again, we should stop the National Anthem until the boorish O's fans cease....
In fairness to Davey, he did say "or bust"
lol
William O. Douglas Loeffler well said
Natsfan12345 we don't have to follow the Astros et al; we were them for years. The fear is we stuck our head out of the ground, were seen and ducked right back in the hole.
Well Davey said we would probably make some changes. We'll see what that entails...
think I will watch big Roy Hibbert beat the Pacers... from little Hoya to big Hoya to NBA champion!
Even though it is almost June, maybe a major shake up in the roster and lineup is what they truly need. If you are playing dumb ball and or not contributing to the team, then you will be benched or worse.
Someone needs to slap the everyone in their faces and tell them they are NOT the team they were last year, YET. Someone needs to be brutally honest with how each and every person is playing. No babying.
Nats didn't need much of the bullpen tonight which makes the game last night the reason you go one game at a time.
David Proctor,
Hopefully they are a little more substantial. That was a pretty empty effort tonight. I think last night took an awful lot out of that team.
So, by your comments, I am guessing you all think we will be attending World Series games at OPACY when the birds play ATL. Freddy Garcia will be the starting pitcher? I honestly don't think we are going to have the season we all dreamed of, but I also don't think it will be as bad as it is now , either. Very concerned by Harper and Werth. Even if they return, they will be nowhere near full strength. I am not inspired by Davey's vow to make changes. He makes changes every day. He just never gives any of the changes time to settle in. Rarely is anything the same a few days in a row. Bad way to operate. And you cannot tell me that the Espi situation has no effect on the players. Things are not in control right now, but these are very talented players. I am frustrated but far from done.
I saw plenty of fight and heart out there tonight on our side, just not much offense. Don't take short series too seriously. Where will Baltimore be after their "Strasburg" gets annihilated by the Tigers on Sunday? The Nats play-off chances are much better than the O's once we get healthy.
What can be done? I'm absolutely against bringing Rendon up. I think Lombardozzi is in the lineup tomorrow. I can't really think of much more that can be done until Werth and Harper are back.
David.
Maybe Lombo and jeff kobernus start. One plays 2nd while the other plays a corner outfield position. It couldnt hurt.
Nats opportunity was early in the game with men on 2nd and 3rd and Tracy up with 1 out.
William O, Douglas,
If it were only this series I would agree with you. But the have been playing at a 20 and 25 level since game 9. That is 27% of the season. Hard to change things quickly. This series against Atlanta is crucial to how the rest of the season goes. If they get swept down there it could get very bad in that clubhouse. If they could by a miracle sweep the Braves maybe a fire will get lit. Got to happen this weekend. No more time for screwing around.
William-Man, you are one delusional fan!!! Orioles have beat the Nats 7 out of 10 the last 2 years. They ARE the better team, even with below average pitching. The Nats just happen to play in a weaker division.
I know I am in the minority but I think there have been way too many changes. I really thought with Espi's injury Lombo would play for at last 10 days at second. No one is getting any chance to settle in with the other players in the lineup or on defense. It's very frantic and chaotic. So he makes more changes. If you only keep them for a few days and then you immediately go back when you don't get instant results, then there is just more mess. It all feels like it's not thought through or well planned.
William O although I absolutely loathe Bmore and there uneducated fans, they are good. They have better players then the Nats and a lot better manager. Davey has done a terrible job this season. And as far as telling Bmore to be classy? Well you can put lipstick on a pig. But its still a pig.
Mick How can you Hibbert beat his own team?
Folks, because of the history of DC being screwed by Baltimore, for us it sucks to lose series to the F-ing O's for the fourth year of five. the players, however, know how relatively meaningless interleague games are in the big picture. Also, it is time to move on from last year, but stop denigrating that club - the earned EVERYTHING, the backed into nothing, they did not all have career years and they DID have the best team in baseball - a whole season is a better measuring rod than a short-series playoffs where randomness rules. It FEELS better to win the Series, but the best team often does not. Last year's best tea, was ours, the Nats. They and we as fans can be ultra-proud of last year.
But last year is over -however, check out last year at this point, the Tigers were twenty-five and twenty-nine, Cards and Braves twenty-seven and twenty-seven, Giants thirty and twenty-four, Nats thirty and twenty-two, thus sixteen and eighteen after their fourteen and four start.
Bottom line - there are hundreds of games left, all is not lost, but it is now time to get healthy, get moving, and make some obvious decisions like sitting Lombo and letting Solano play once a series like he did last year and excelled.
Let's start by winning that series in Atlanta then getting hot. It may not get better, but if it does, this rough patch will pay off in the crucible of the pennant race -- or -- it will just be a crappy season of transition to a younger, better team next year....just glad Baltimore series is over - Nats just regularly suck and get no luck against them - hopefully, that changes for the next decade next year, but, for now, it's winning time. Let's go Nats, GYFNG for crying out loud....
Lets see what we can do.
The Royals fired their hitting coach and brought in George Brett to fix tgeir major hitting whoas. FYI going into tonight Royals are hitting a poir .261.
What can we do batting .233 going into tonight?
Last 13 innings 3 for ,43.
What can we do?
I have had the same answer for four season.
Uh, sit ESPI For Lombo is what I meant....
I am sick and tired of "last year the Cards were this and the Giants were that..... We are not those teams. Last year was great. But Rizzo has tweaked this team just enough that it just stinks of mediocrity. its a 75 to 80 win team and that is it. I am now watching games with NO expectations anymore. ITS OVER FOLKS. 8.5 back by next Monday. Gnight all.
What are the chances of the nationals getting rid of ECK and bringing in a new hitting coach or adding another hitting coach to the staff?
If they look up to 7-10 in a row with little to no offense, then it will happen. Until, the hitters have to make adjustments and play their HEARTS out.
Swami,
I don't disagree with you. I wish they would either use Kobernus or get him back to Syracuse. The Espinosa issue is entirely different. At his very worst Lombardozzi is a better player than him right now. Talent has nothing to do with results. Espinosa can't be playing at MLB right now. The Nats play better without him. Play Lombardozzi and figure out what to do with Espinosa short of playing him.
If Kobernus is going to get some serious playing time use him to replace Espinosa. I agree that Rendon should stay at AA through this season. He needs the work after missing two seasons.
Last year, the Nats were not good enough to win it all. This year, they're not good enough to win against good teams. Basically, they're a mediocrity. Looks like Rizzo won't get that new contract. What exactly has he assembled? He made the Nats worse. I guess the illusion was good while it lasted.
Oh and I have a right to be pissed. were you in crackmore "unknown" with your family getting verbally berated to support the NATS??
mick - Thanks. I have been a season ticket holder since baseball returned to DC and never have I been so disheartened by a team as I am now by the Nats. In the early years, we didn't expect much and were just glad to have baseball back. But, after last year, we had every reason to expect a whole lot more than we are getting so far this year.
And why do so many seem to think that, if only Werth and Harper would return, our offensive problems would be solved? Werth has never been all that great at the plate. Harper's return would make a difference for sure. But what I see is a team that simply does not have enough decent hitters to regularly compete in games, especially when they fall behind. And it's also a team whose bullpen is a mere shadow of what it was last year.
Rizzo, too, bears some of the blame for this mess. He, after all, is the architect of the team. He got rid of certain players, both hitter and relievers, that I think played crucial roles in our success last year. Sadly, it's too late to undo what has been done.
If the rest of this season is a repetition of what we've already been seeing, I probably won't renew my season tickets next year. I'll still go to some games, but the Nats won't get my unwavering allegiance and the money I've spent on season tickets, as they have gotten from me since 2005.
David, to start with look at some facts about tonight's lineup:
Danny Espinosa .162 BA
Chad Tracy .160 BA
Roger Bernadina .154 BA
Tyler Moore .144 BA
Now, I know a lot of you all like to use advanced stats, and you can twist almost anything with one stat or another, but I've looked through all of theirs and it ain't pretty. You know, if you start with a bucket on manure, paint the bucket all pretty as you please, when all is said and done you still have a bucket of crap.
Danny is lost at the plate and showing no signs of improvement. And if it's because he's hurt then put him on the DL. Play Lombo, and/or Kobernus.
Chad Tracy? He's toast.Milk toast. Cut him. Bring up Owings.
Roger Bernadina? I've said for years that he's good enough to win with as a fourth outfielder and good enough to lose with as a starter. Keep him as a # four and when Harper gets back, sit him down.
Tyler Moore? The guy is still striking out at 36% clip. He is hitting .144 and 97 plate appearances is no long a small sample size. Send him down to Syracuse, he has shown he's not ready for prime time. And give him a course in outfielding 101 while he's down there. Bring up Corey Brown.
Seriously. look again at just the batting averages of those four guys. If Werth and Harper are going to miss more then a couple of more games, which seems inevitable, if we keep marching those guys out there we will be in serious trouble. And I am not, nor have I ever been, a Legion of Doom guy. I will continue to cheer them on, and to keep the faith. I still think that the NL East does not have a dominate team and we will still win the division, but jeezy-peezy, Davey, it's time to make a couple of changes.
GREAT POST Almazar80!!!
Unknown,
There are actually only 108 games left. A third of the season is over.
I as usually assume we will sweep Atlanta.
Bob Saget the chances are zero Eck goes. Like with Espi Davey is nothing if loyal, he gets his guys and sticks with them, evidence be damned. There is a better chance Davey quits then Eck gets fired.
Rizzo doesnt need Davey's approval to fire Eck.
Just do it. How could it hurt?
Seamhead HAHAHAHAHA bucket of crap. good stuff.
"He got rid of certain players, both hitter and relievers, that I think played crucial roles in our success last year."
He got rid of Morse. ALR has outperformed Morse. He got rid of Burnett, who has been very good, but hurt for most of the season. He got rid of Gonzales who has been awful.
I have no problem with any of the suggestions that Joe made. Send Tyler to AAA, cut Tracy. I'm fine with that.
"And why do so many seem to think that, if only Werth and Harper would return, our offensive problems would be solved? Werth has never been all that great at the plate. Harper's return would make a difference for sure. But what I see is a team that simply does not have enough decent hitters to regularly compete in games, especially when they fall behind."
Do you not see the contradiction here? Werth is one of our best hitters, period. I'm not sure where you got the idea he's never been great at the plate. But at the least, he's a HUGE upgrade over whoever is hitting under .200 in his spot now. Harper obviously is Harper. The team has enough good hitters to win when our starters are playing.
I had tickets for Monday's game, but got sick at the last minute and couldn't go. Honestly, it was the first time since 2009 that I was not sorry I wasn't able to make it to a game. What an embarrassment for a team that spent the whole offseason rubbing people's noses in their World Series expectations.
Hey Joe, no love for Marrero? He finally is starting to hit like a first round pick.
Secret was man, I work with Baltimorons every day. I know what idiots they are, BELIEVE me I do. Go ahead and be pissed that Nats failed you these last two nights, but don't give up on the season. I choose to be optimistic and not give Angelos my cash. I ignore folks at work as much as I possibly can! Try it!
It's a sad day when you have to make a case for Werth by comparing him to players who can't bat .200. Of course he's better than that, but being better than .200 is simply not good enough. I stand by my comments that he is not "great" at the plate. Average hitter, but good at getting on base thru walks. His return will improve things somewhat, but not nearly enough in my opinion. If we had 2 Harpers waiting to return, I'd feel a lot more optimistic, but we don't.
I never said the O's were good. They have excellent sluggers and poor pitching. No Secret there. Everyone knows it. No they were not better last year and I don't care if they won 7 of 10 from the Nats. Who cares? The Mets took 3 in a row from the Yankees.
Are the Mets better than the Yankees?
Baseball fans who analyze baseball like football are my bane. It is idiotic. The 1975 San Diego Padres beat the Reds from time to time, and guess how much that plus fifty cents got the Padres?
Another problem with Werth is that he's missing increasing amounts of time with injuries over the past couple of seasons. And as he ages, I expect his production to further drop and the injury problems to worsen. He is in no way an answer to what ails the Nats.
If the Royals can can hitting coah at .261 we can at 230.
This is the stage before disgruntlement (by our starters), finger-pointing (by players and fans), looking-for-exits (by players), and a touch of clubhouse cancer (Espi if they sit him down). Man I hope we don't get to that ugly stage.
If we don't win the series in Atlanta, the ugliness will begin.
Quiter?
I heard one of the masn talking heads casually saying that Pearce had just returned from the minors where he spent 10 days getting his hitting worked out. That's it. It wasn't a punishment, just something necessary -- and it worked. Sometimes I think Davey relates too much to the players. He sees himself in Danny, he loves it that Harper doesn't want to be out of the lineup, spring training was casual , the guys know what they need , right? Can't say no, they just need to express their talent. He relates to them like a fellow player and empathizes with them. Maybe not the best thing for the manager, who needs to set some limits.
karlkolchak, Chris Marrero only plays one position, and not great, and that's first base.I don't see him as an off the bench pinch hitter. I certainly wouldn't replace Adam LaRoche with Chris. Where would you play him? N, baring injury, Chris will at best get another cup of coffee in September.
Teresa, I disagree with you regarding Jayson. Is he a great hitter? No, but he is a very good hitter, and he plays a very good right field. Combine Jayson, Bryce and Ramos and Davey is scrambling to fill in the blanks. He's not having much luck with what he's doing. It doesn't take an advanced degree in statistics to see that we have lost as many as we've won. We have been told that we have guys in the minors that will help this team wins when the time comes. My watch says that it's half past time.
Maybe my expectations were too high but I just didn't expect mediocre. I didn't expect bring. I didn't expect one of the worst hitting teams in the majors.
help this team win.
It's tired and I'm getting late!
Werth as hitting instructor?
I think a lot of the bitterness is a deep disappointment , based on those super high expectations. It's tough to see that dream fading.
I thought it was Flahrity that went for 10 days. Did Pearce go too?
We swung at a number of pitches that were probably balls. Not much discipline being tought.
Good comment.
Could be I just got the wrong name-- point still applies.
Through 54 games last year, the Cardinals were 27-27. We're 27-27. It's not ideal, but we're hardly sunk.
Point is taken, just wondering if they did it with 2 players.
Espi obviously cant hit poor enough to get managements attention.
When you 4 pathetic hitters in the lineup you are asking to lose.
We pitched a lot beter first 54 games last year. Hitting about the same. Fielding much lower.
Good riddance.
Meant fielding lower this year.
MNF-- I think I just got the wrong name. So hard to listen to those guys.
The Tigers were 25-29 (!!!) at this point last year. They only made it to the World Series.
How on earth are they worse?
My thoughts:
1) Dan pitched one hell of a game.
2)Can we get a Steve Lombo petition signed or something?
3) somebody will no hit us this year.
White flags for all!
1, 2, and 3. Check.
Meanwhile down on the farm, Harrisburg and Akron are in the 14th inning. [No Rendon]
Also Billy Burns, CF for the P-Nats has 25 SB with only 3 caught stealing.
I just got back from Snake Charmer city. Haren pitched a great game. I don't know what was up with the Nats hitters as they went right back in hiding.
They need Harper back real bad.
David Proctor said...
The Tigers were 25-29 (!!!) at this point last year. They only made it to the World Series.
May 30, 2013 11:07 PM
________________________________
It can happen!
Why do you continue to comment since you have given up?
I posted up photos on my Twitter of how empy the outfield was in the upper deck and club levels on both the 3rd base and 1st base side.
The Orioles can BS all they want and add crowd noise but there were probably only 25,000 there.
Watching MLB Network. How is Nick Franklin doing as the replacement for Dustin Ackley?
Looking through the Houston Astos lineup tonight and not one starter has a BA lower than .218. We started four guys hitting that are now hitting .162 or less. Any questions as to why we're losing half of our games?
Astros
Secret wasian man said...
...And as far as telling Bmore to be classy? Well you can put lipstick on a pig. But its still a pig.
Loved your comment SWM. Got a big chuckle out of that!
Ok....why keep Eck? All you defenders, tell me and Manassas why. And please don't use that lame excuse "eck doesn't swing the bat." If that is the case, why have a hitting coach at all. None of them swing the bat.
Look y'all, a..holes are everywhere but I love Baltimore. Is it more blue collar dock crime than white collar political crime like DC? Sure. So what. There are good people in Baltimore just like in DC.
So what if their team beat ours this series?
That's all I got tonight. Onward to Atlanta. Go Nats, and well done Haren!
No reason to keep Eck.
New coach might actually bring new thought process and preparation.
NatsJack, pitch recogniion seems a big issue. These guys didnt make it from A to majors not recognizing pitches, so how they lose it? Coaches job to figure it out and have players fix it.
Hey Davey. That was real good use of Lombardozzi the last 2 nights ( He never played at all) after saying "Lombo 's playing real well right now. I'd like to get Espy going as well as all 25" CAN SOMEONE EXPLAIN THIS TO ME? What class being shown by this kid Lombardozzi for remaining quiet and ready. That's the kind of player we need.
Jack, I think the batting instructor is getting entirely too much venom thrown his way for the same reasons you mention, along with it has been said that in Danny's case he seems to listen to his instruction until he gets up to the plate. Then he pretty much reverts back to his same approach that isn't working.
My point is, how can this team be expected to play winning ball with four, or even three players hitting below .165?
I also agree with you in that the league has figured out the holes on each of these guys, and they can't make the adjustments to the adjustments.
Unknown, my compliments on your 10:14 post.
Looks like Haren had a good start but the bats were cold. Should I watch before deleting?
Good news: no more mixed broadcasts. Bad news: still have to listen to those periodical cicadas for a couple weeks (wheewooo...wheeewoo).
Post a Comment